Grow a Garden has released its Summer update 1.11.0, propelling the Roblox game to comfortably the highest recorded concurrent player count in video game history. The patch notes are below.

The microtransaction-fueled free-to-play farming simulator had already shot past Fortnite’s concurrent peak of 15.3 million players, achieved during the Marvel-themed season finally back during Covid-era 2020, with an incredible 16.4 million concurrent players. At the time of this article’s publication, with players logging in for the Summer update, Grow a Garden was at an astonishing 21.3 million concurrents.

Minor spoilers follow for the opening scene of 28 Years Later.

At the turn of the millennium, a low-budget British production suddenly became an international hit. Its small gang of characters making their way in an eerily empty world resonated with millions, propelling their story into the zeitgeist, where it remains decades later.

That story is not 28 Weeks Later, although the lo-fi zombie thriller, which returns to the forefront of popular culture this weekend with the release of a long-awaited sequel, certainly fits the bill. But in this case, the British export we’re talking about is none other than Teletubbies, the delightfully weird kids’ show that makes a surprising cameo in 28 Years Later.

In the process, director Danny Boyle’s new horror movie may have inadvertently confirmed something that some Teletubbies fans have known all along: This children’s program about four humanoid creatures with TV screens where their stomachs should be is downright terrifying.

The 28 Years Later/Teletubbies Connection

Teletubbies only makes a brief appearance in 28 Years Later, but it’s a memorable one. In the movie’s opening scene, which takes place during the early days of the zombie-like Rage Virus outbreak that kicks off the entire franchise, we see a group of children huddled together in one room. They’re watching Teletubbies, but they don’t seem pleased about it — not necessarily because they dislike the show, but because a bunch of infected are about to burst into the house and murder everyone inside.

Moments later, that’s exactly what happens, as a gaggle of infected breaks down the door and overwhelms the children. Boyle thankfully spares us from watching it happen, but the blood splattered across the TV as the Teletubbies continue their adventures is all the confirmation we need. The movie mostly moves on from Teletubbies after that, as it jumps forward 28 years to tell its post-apocalyptic story, but the kids’ show does get one more nod in the final scene of 28 Years Later, which we won’t spoil here for anyone who’s still waiting to see the film for themselves.

But while there is plenty to say about how Teletubbies may explain where 28 Years Later is headed next in a planned trilogy of new movies, there’s even more to say about the Teletubbies themselves, and the nefarious truth behind their cold, empty eyes.

Theories of the Teletubbies

A quick rifling through the internet reveals endless theories about what Teletubbies is really about. The Teletubbies are all atoning for their sins in Purgatory, or perhaps they’re biogenetically engineered slaves, or human prisoners using a shared delusion to survive their incarceration. As for the Baby Sun that opens and closes each episode, it’s actually god — or maybe a demon. (These are all actual fan theories that people have posited about Teletubbies, most of which were rounded up by the good people at TV Tropes.)

In 2023, one disturbing theory, which claims the Teletubbies were inspired by a Bulgarian children’s mental facility where four patients died, went viral on TikTok. That theory has since been debunked, and, as far as we can tell, the facility in question never even existed. Still, the fact that Teletubbies inspires unsettling ideas like that clearly says something about the show itself.

A (Colorful) Post-Apocalypse

The most common Teletubbies fan theory centers on the idea that the show takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting, and the evidence is pretty compelling.

For one thing, there’s the bunker the Teletubbies call home. The structure, which also resembles the Hobbit houses in The Lord of the Rings, is built into the landscape. But unlike those Hobbits, the Teletubbies’ home appears to go much deeper underground. It’s also technologically advanced, with various panels, buttons, and levers lining the interior walls. It looks like the kind of thing one might build if they needed to be able to survive underground for long periods of time.

Then there are the Voice Trumpets, essentially megaphones that emerge from the ground like periscopes. The Voice Trumpets give the Teletubbies their orders (and sometimes narrate the events of the show), but who controls them? Could it be surviving humans hiding even deeper below the surface of the Earth?

As for the Teletubbies themselves (Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po), they’re clearly not human. So what are they? The television sets in their stomachs suggest some sort of robotic design, while their human-looking faces could be the result of mutation — possibly caused by whatever destroyed their world in the first place.

But whether the Teletubbies are robots, mutants, or something else entirely, their purpose is likely the same. As the theory goes, these creatures have been sent up to the surface of their post-apocalyptic world to repair it for the humans surviving deep underground. Based on the state of things in Teletubbies, it seems like their mission is already well underway. But the distinct lack of life (aside from some plants and the occasional rabbit) suggests there’s still plenty of work to be done.

So what does all of this have to do with 28 Years Later? On the surface, not much, but the deeper you go into Teletubbies fan theories, the clearer it becomes that something evil is lurking beneath. Whether Danny Boyle meant to or not, his new movie gives a boost to those theories by using one post-apocalyptic story to reinforce the existence of another.

What are your thoughts on the 28 Years Later/Teletubbies connection? Let's discuss in the comments...

With both director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland returning the the infected fold, continuing the 28 Days Later franchise they started over 20 years ago with 28 Years Later, we're diving into the best apocalypse movies of all time.

Or post-apocalypse movies. Or, you know, just movies where civilization is either on the verge of collapsing, actually collapsing, or has already collapsed. Whatever stage of apocalypse you're after, we've got you covered.

The only true rule here is that the world has to actually end in some meaningful, impactful way. None of that "the Empire State Building got blown up!" or "an asteroid fragment just took out France!" mass destruction. We're talking nature batting last. Humanity is, for all intents and purposes, wiped out. No close calls here. So sorry to ID4, Armageddon, and others of that disaster movie ilk. Be better. And by that we mean be more cataclysmic.

You'll find almost every flavor of world-ending peril here: from zombies to plagues to Lovecraftian demons to the tried-and-true nuclear wipe-out. Let directors like John Carpenter, Stanley Kubrick, George Miller, Alfonso Cuarón, and more take you through our worst nightmares. You know, for fun!

10. Melancholia (2011)

Part of auteur Lars von Trier's (apropos) Depression Trilogy, Melancholia is insightful, existential, and emotionally raw. Sure, it involves Earth's impending impact with a rogue planet, but instead of being a giant action spectacle, it's a beautiful, honest, difficult-to-watch story about two sisters -- played by Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg -- who are affected dramatically differently by the world's oncoming end. It's a devastating movie that also vibrates with sensitivity and tranquility.

9. In the Mouth of Madness (1994)

Part of what horror master John Carpenter refers to as his Apocalypse Trilogy (preceded by The Thing and Prince of Darkness), In the Mouth of Madness stars Sam Neill as an insurance fraud investigator who's sent to find a missing best-selling horror author (think this world's Stephen King). What he unravels instead is a Lovecraftian New England town where a true madman has ushered in the End of Days thanks to his pact with the Old Gods. It's a meta exploration of the effects of horror on readers and consumers (that old pop culture-causes-violence chestnut) with a mix of paranoia, insanity, and a stubborn skeptic getting his unholy comeuppance.

8. Miracle Mile (1988)

Imagine you get a heads-up about nuclear armageddon. A 70-minute head start to get the eff out of dodge. The lucky stars align and someone in the group you're with has a clear, easy exit plan. The only hitch? You just found the love of your life and can't leave them behind.

That's the premise of the underrated white-knuckle '80's gem Miracle Mile, in which Anthony Edwards' character has to take, what he hopes is, a slight detour to rescue his new gal, played by Mare Winningham. Will he make it to her in time? And, if so, will the two of them make it out of LA without being disintegrated? You think Los Angeles traffic is bad now? Yeeesh.

7. 12 Monkeys (1995)

Is Bruce Willis a frazzled convict who time-travels back from a grim post-apocalyptic future to stop the mysterious Army of the Twelve Monkeys from unleashing a killer man-made virus that wipes out most of the world?

Or is he just insane?

Remaking French short "La Jetee," director Terry Gilliam coaxes a heartbreaking performance out of Willis -- one of the finest of his career -- as he stumbles between institutionalized anarchist Brad Pitt and sympathetic doctor Madeleine Stowe. Complex, emotional and rewarding, this dystopian mystery demands to be watched on repeat.

6. Dawn of the Dead (1978)

It was hard to grab just one zombie flick for the list, and while 2004's Dawn of the Dead remake is a vicious, terrifying journey, we're heading back to the '70s for George Romero's original.

What Romero began in 1968's Night of the Living Dead expanded into horrific proportions with Dawn of the Dead, as the zombie outbreak that seemed to last only one night in the original now transformed into an unending zompocalypse with no reprieve in sight. During the hellacious hysteria of death and carnage, survivors barricade themselves inside a mall, hoping for the calamity to blow over. With landmark makeup effects, social commentary about materialistic modern society, and an unrelenting brutality, Dawn of the Dead is where it's at.

5. Threads (1984)

In the early to mid '80s there were a handful of movies that dealt with the horrors of nuclear war and radiation fallout in ways that shocked the world -- like Special Bulletin, Testament, One Night Stand, When the Wind Blows, and more.

More effective, simply because of how many people TV was able to reach back then, were two TV movies. America had The Day After, which was bone-chilling, while England (and Australia) had Threads. Threads is a scary, rattling reminder of how easy it would be for a few people to wipe out everything we know and love. It's a visceral cautionary tale of what it might be like if the bombs fall, ushering in misery and death to all. Quite literally Hell on Earth. This is not for the faint of heart.

4. Children of Men (2006)

Exploring a different avenue than most apocalyptic dystopias is Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men, where world-wide infertility has basically doomed the human race to die out within the next 60 to 70 years. Because society must now slowly watch its numbers dwindle, as everyone spirals toward inevitable extinction, civilization is in chaos and the world's become a morose, fading empire.

Children of Men is a pivotal drama, a technical marvel, a violent thriller, and a sophisticated look at a world ending in a whimper. Clive Owen plays a former activist tasked with transporting a very special package (the first pregnant woman in 18 years), leading to a possible glimmer of hope for humanity. But is this one miracle enough to hold back the tide of doom?

3. Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Stanley Kubrick's Cold War slapstick masterwork, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is also one of the most original, daring and best apocalypse movies ever made.

Paranoid loony General Jack D. Ripper initiates a plan to nuke the Soviet Union. General Buck Turgidson, US President Merkin Muffley, and Soviet ambassador Alexei de Sadeski bicker in the War Room. The drunken Russian president threatens to unleash a Doomsday Machine device that will automatically destroy life on Earth. The film is funny ("Gentleman! You can't fight in the War Room!"), absurd (Slim Pickens rodeo-riding his way to mass destruction) and chilling (Vera Lynn's end-credit song over the mushroom clouds). Sometimes laughing through the End Times (This Is the End, Shaun of the Dead, etc.) is the only way to go.

We'll meet again, my friend.

2. The Road Warrior (1981)

Though there have been some jokes over the years about whether or not the economic and environmental house of cards collapse that creates the Mad Max Wasteland may only actually be in Australia, no other movies have influenced, and changed the course of, post-apocalyptic movies like the Max movies.

What began as a demolition derby Ozploitation sensation with George Miller's Mad Max evolved into a whacked-out, carnage-filled every-man-for-himself death ride in the sequel, The Road Warrior.

Decades later, after the original Mad Max Trilogy, George Miller even returned to the Wasteland, going bigger, bolder, and bronzer with Mad Max: Fury Road and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. It was between Fury Road and Road Warrior for this spot on the list and while Fury Road is a modern action masterpiece that builds out the world of Max like never before, we're gonna sit pretty here with Road Warrior given how much it changed the entire '80s movie landscape.

1. The Road (2009)

Based on the acclaimed Cormac McCarthy novel, The Road is an unyielding, haunting look at the remnants of humanity carrying on... just to keep carrying on. It's never explained how the world ends, though it's clear some environmental cataclysm has occurred (one that's observable in a flashback from a window) that's coated the globe in death. Everything is either dead or dying off, people have turned to murder and/or cannibalism, and it will only be a generation or two before humans gasp their final breath.

A father and son, played by Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee, travel down the Eastern coast, hoping to find better, warmer living in Florida. The Road is as apocalyptic as you can get. Just a dire, bleak trek through exponential decay, where one clings to hope just for the sake of sanity.

Well, that was grim! How are y'all feeling? What's your personal favorite apocalypse movie? Vote above and let us know below...

Jane Austen's work has been widely celebrated for its social commentary, wit, and overall exploration of a very specific era. Her most famous book, Pride and Prejudice, has been adapted into various films and tv shows as well as repurposed for modern audiences. As the book that inspired the hit Netflix series, Bridgerton, it isn't hard to see just how far the work of Jane Austen has spread into our culture.

Now LEGO is taking it one step further by creating the first ever Jane Austen set. The tribute is the current gift with purchase you can get directly from the LEGO website, and it will only be available until June 27 or while supplies last.

LEGO Tribute to Jane Austen's Books Set

Jon Bernthal will reprise his role as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bernthal has been cast in the Destin Daniel Cretton-directed Sony/Marvel film. Shooting begins in England this summer.

It remains to be seen how Bernthal’s ultra-violent vigilante Punisher will quite fit into the MCU’s PG-13 Spidey franchise.

While other actors have played Punisher in feature films before, this is the first time Bernthal’s incarnation will be on the big screen after appearing in both the Netflix and Disney+ Daredevil series as well as his own solo streaming series.

The Punisher's ally Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, previously made the leap to the big screen in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Bernthal and Spider-Man star Tom Holland previously acted together in the 2017 movie Pilgrimage. Bernthal recently explained the advice he gave Holland at that time as they were both auditioning for their respective Marvel roles while making Pilgrimage.

Before they reunite for the MCU's fourth Spidey film, Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal will next be seen together in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will also bring back Zendaya’s MJ and Jacob Batalon’s Ned, while also introducing Sadie Sink to the franchise in an unknown role (although rumor has it she’s playing the X-Men’s Jean Grey).

The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas has also been cast, which has fans speculating that she might be playing Miles Morales’ mom, Rio.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in theaters on July 31, 2026, which means it’s now opening before the recently delayed Avengers: Doomsday.

In the future, the human race has been divided into 14 different color castes that determine every individual's role and placement in the hierarchical structure of society. This underlying idea is at the core of Pierce Brown’s epic science fiction series, Red Rising, and tells the story of one man, Darrow of Lykos, and his mission to tear it all down.

First released in 2014, the first title, Red Rising, introduces us to the series' protagonist, Darrow, a Red Helldiver of Mars and the lowest of the citizens. Events out of Darrow’s control put him on a path that will see him go from the bottom of society to the top, becoming a symbol and legend that strikes fear into his enemies and inspires hope in his allies. Unlike many other science fiction series, Red Rising isn’t a tale of a utopian society that has spread out amongst the stars. Instead, it is a world of war, betrayal, and uneasy alliances, where some of the worst societal practices have flourished and evolved. Yet it is still a universe where hope still finds a way to survive, and joy and love can still be found, even in the darkest and most profound places.

Compared to other series, like Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere or George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, reading through the Red Rising series is a straightforward affair. The series is divided into two arcs, with the first three novels - Red Rising, Golden Son, and Morning Star- being referred to as the “Red Rising Trilogy”. The second half, which takes place 10 years later, being the “Iron Gold Quadrilogy” and consisting of the remaining novels. Despite being a science fiction series, this series deals with mature themes and graphic violence, and isn’t advised for younger readers.

How Many Books are There in the Red Rising Saga?

Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series will comprise seven books in total, but currently, all but the final book have been released. The first three titles, composing the Red Rising Trilogy, are told strictly through the viewpoint of the character, Darrow. In contrast, the rest of the books, the Iron Gold Quadrilogy, are told through multiple characters' viewpoints.

Red Rising Trilogy Reading Order

Red Rising

Iron Gold Quadrilogy Reading Order

Iron Gold

The Colors of the Society, Explained

In the world of Red Rising, humanity is divided into distinct castes, each associated with a specific color, with individuals born with both a sigil and eye color that correspond to their class. Ruled over by golds, this “Society” has been in charge for over 700 years by the start of the first book. Here is a breakdown of all 14 colors and their respective roles within the Society.

The High Colors

• Golds
  • Rules over all other colors.
• Silvers
  • Composed of business owners
• Whites
  • Members of the clergy and judges
• Coppers
  • The lawyers, administrators, and bureaucrats of the Society

The Mid Colors

• Blues
  • Pilots and the bridge crew of ships
• Yellows
  • Doctors and scientists
• Greens
  • Programmers and techs
• Violets
  • Artisans and creatives
• Oranges
  • Mechanics and engineers
• Grays
  • Infantry, police, and security

Low Colors

• Brown
  • Janitors, cooks, and groundskeepers
• Obsidians
  • Large soldiers bred for war
• Pinks
  • Pleasure workers and slaves
• Reds
  • Miners and laborers

Russell Crowe is set to reunite with his Man of Steel co-star Henry Cavill for the upcoming remake of Highlander.

First details on what is no doubt a major addition to the cast come from Collider, which says the 61-year-old Gladiator star is now onboard in a key role for John Wick creator Chad Stahelski’s new reimagining. Fans can expect to see him serve as Cavill’s mentor in the film, providing a new version of the part played by Sean Connery in the 1986 original (via Deadline).

How the Highlander remake will update the story for modern audiences, as well as additional casting information, remains under wraps for now. However, Stahelski previously told Collider: "We’re bringing it forward from the early 1500s in the Highlands to the beyond present-day New York and Hong Kong. There’s big opportunity for action… and it’s a bit of a love story — but not how you think.”

IGN Store has partnered with Bethesda Softworks and world-renowned artist Dave Rapoza to create Hellwalkers - the latest piece in IGN’s exclusive museum-quality IGN Artist Series.

Available only on IGN Store, Hellwalkers - IGN Artist Series 004 vividly captures the menace and power of the legendary Doomslayer, as made possible by the equally legendary artist Dave Repoza, a lifelong Doom fan himself.

IGN Store has 400 premium weight art prints ($70) and 100 premium acrylic art prints ($275) - both measuring a bold 18 x 24 inches. These pieces are brutal, iconic, and highly-collectible.

Each print is individually numbered and signed by Dave Rapoza and the acrylic print is truly fine art, backed on gator board and featuring a Certificate of Authenticity (laser-etched on the Doomslayer’s Shield Saw).

Id software has proven for more than 30 years that Doom truly is eternal. Since its world-shaping debut in 1993 to the epic, weighty, powerful play style of The Dark Ages, the Doom franchise’s Doomslayer has stood at the forefront of gaming as an immortal icon. This IGN Artist Series is a must-own for any serious Doom fan, and will not be reprinted once it is gone. The piece is destined to become a collector’s item, and is a perfect edition to any Doom fan’s wall.

Dave Rapoza is a self-taught artist who grew up in Carver, MA. For nearly 20 years his stunning artwork has been turning heads. Rapoza’s artwork has graced Marvel Comics covers, Magic: the Gathering, Paizo Publishing projects and a huge range of others. He has also contributed art to Diablo IV, League of Legends and the Witcher 3, among many other games.

"My first experience with Doom was playing the original in my neighbor’s kitchen on their ancient computer—it made a big impression on me, especially the music and definitely helped spark my love for games,” Repoza said. “Whenever I take on something like this, I try to tap into what made me a fan in the first place and boil that down into a single image. It’s a fun challenge, and I’m proud of how this one turned out. Hope you enjoy it!

The IGN Artist Series is IGN’s love letter to the pop culture icons we all love to watch, play, and discuss. Available for under a day, IGN Artist Series 001, 002, and 003 was produced in partnership with Bethesda and Amazon Prime Video and featured Fallout’s The Ghoul, Maximus, and Lucy MacLean, from artist Kevin Tong.

Wizards of the Coast took to MagicCon Las Vegas 2025 to show off its Magic: The Gathering (MTG) and Avatar: The Last Airbender collaboration, revealing a sneak peek at the art and abilities featured on the Avatar Aang and Aang, Master of Elements cards.

Aang’s introduction into the MTG universe was unveiled with a time-lapse showing how some of that shiny new, hand-drawn art was created. The first of the two new cards is the all-encompassing Avatar Aang, a Legendary Creature – Human Avatar Ally. It reads, “Whenever you waterbend, earthbend, firebend, or airbend, draw a card. Then if you’ve done all four this turn, transform Avatar Aang.”

Coming November 21, 2025https://t.co/Iu2diNITry#MTGxATLA pic.twitter.com/G1Q4Az3bSC

— Magic: The Gathering (@wizards_magic) June 20, 2025

Meanwhile, there’s the very space-y Aang, Master of Elements, Legendary Creature – Avatar Ally card. While Avatar Aang sees the titular character in his all-powerful Avatar state, this one shows Aang connecting to his power in another way. It reads, “At the beginning of each upkeep, you may transform Aang, Master of Elements. If you do, you gain 4 life, draw four cards, put four +1/+1 counters on him, and he deals 4 damage to each opponent.”

A closer look at the Magic: The Gathering and Avatar: The Last Airbender collaboration will arrive August 12, 2025. The set will then see its full launch come November 21, 2025.

Each Magic: The Gathering collaboration marks a major moment for Wizards of the Coast and fans alike. Its most recent crossover introduced a set of Final Fantasy cards into the mix, including appearances from locations and names from across the series, including Cloud, Moogles, Tidus, Sephiroth, Noctis, and more. It’s been such a hit that many cards have been subjected to significant price increases.

For more on the world of Magic: The Gathering, you can see read up on all of the other expansions dropping throughout 2025. This includes the long-awaited Marvel’s Spider-Man set, which fans got a closer look at in March.

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).

Last week, Microsoft unveiled what we all suspected was coming: an Xbox handheld. And while the ROG Xbox Ally X isn’t the true “handheld Xbox” some people probably wanted, it has the chance to bring handheld PC gaming into the mainstream in a way we haven’t seen since the Steam Deck launched back in 2022.

If Microsoft and Asus are able to nail the details, particularly around the operating system and the price, the Xbox Ally could be the first glimpse at Microsoft’s next generation of “consoles.” But there’s a catch: Handheld gaming PCs are by their very nature exercises in compromise. Microsoft did say that every shiny game it showed off at its summer games showcase would be "playable" on the Xbox Ally X, but it’s a little more complicated than that.

I have no doubt the Xbox Ally X, with its Z2 Extreme SoC (system on a chip), will be more than powerful enough to run AAA games. But the real star of the show is going to be the less demanding indie games that Microsoft quietly adds to Game Pass every month – and that might be the point.

Limited Power?

The AMD Z2 Extreme was announced back at CES 2025. But six months later, there’s still not a single handheld you can buy on a store shelf that’s powered by this chip. Meanwhile, the forthcoming Xbox Ally X isn’t just using the Z2 Extreme – it’s using the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, which is basically the same, but with a 50 TOPs NPU stapled onto it. Still, we have no idea how well it will actually play games, just that it’ll at least be faster than the Z1 Extreme.

Even with the added performance, you should temper your expectations, especially when it comes to AAA games with high-end graphics effects. The highest-performing handheld I’ve used, the Lenovo Legion Go S with the Z1 Extreme and SteamOS, still struggles to run games like Cyberpunk 2077 at higher settings at its native resolution – and that game came out nearly five years ago.

Cyberpunk is a bit of an outlier, as it’s still capable of pushing even the RTX 5090 to its limits, but as games get more demanding on the high-end, system requirements are only going to go up. So while the Xbox Ally X will technically be able to run this upcoming crop of AAA Xbox games, it’s going to be at low settings, and likely a lower frame rate.

That shouldn’t discourage you, though. I’ve spent the last two years obsessing over these little handheld gaming PCs, and out of my hundreds of hours playing on them, I can tell you that very little of that was playing games like God of War or Cyberpunk. Instead, indie games like Hades 2 have consumed my life.

Indie Games are Magic

When the Nintendo Switch came out back in 2017, I initially thought games like Breath of the Wild were the point – and maybe they were. But as I grew continually sick of poor performance in games that were trying to be huge AAA console experiences, my Switch settled into its role of being a second place, after Steam, for me to buy my favorite indie games to play in bed or on the train. Then the Steam Deck came out.

Handheld gaming PCs were around before the Steam Deck, mind you, but they were niche products that were fiddly to use, especially without some kind of keyboard attachment. Now that we’re living in this post-Deck world, though, computer manufacturers like Lenovo and, yes, Asus, have found ways to make handheld gaming PCs genuinely excellent. And I don’t have to buy indie games a second time to play them, either.

Instead, if I want to put some time in Hades 2, I just log into Steam and I’m good to go – my save even carries over. The beauty of the Windows-based handhelds is that applies to all the PC game storefronts, whether I’m playing games on Game Pass or even the Epic Games Store.

For me, this has resulted in a sort of multi-tiered PC gaming setup. I still play beautiful AAA games like Doom: The Dark Ages on my desktop, where I can pump the settings up to max and enjoy high frame rates. I don’t even try to install that kind of game on my handhelds anymore, instead, they give me a chance to dive deeper into games like Rift of the Necrodancer or Slay the Spire. Before handheld gaming PCs blew up, those were the types of games I’d play for a few hours to see what the hype was about before I inevitably went back to playing World of Warcraft.

I’m not alone in this either. Earlier this week, I polled my colleagues here at IGN, and I was surprised to find that most aren’t using their handhelds to play blockbusters. Instead most are using their handheld to play indie games and JRPGs, the latter of which tend to be much less reliant on a high frame rate to be enjoyable.

The compatibility that’s inherent to Windows PC gaming handhelds is a great way to make indie games a much bigger part of your gaming diet. But for that wider compatibility (read: playing a game from something other than Steam), either I have to fiddle around with Linux on SteamOS or deal with the headache of using Windows on a handheld. But that’s why the prospect of a handheld-friendly version of Windows 11 is so exciting.

By removing the friction it takes to get into games from third-party launchers on Steam Deck, while also hopefully maintaining the benefits of a streamlined, gaming-centric operating system, the ROG Xbox Ally X has the chance to be the best of both worlds. After all, Asus markets both its existing Ally X and the upcoming Xbox Ally X with the hashtag "#PlayAllyourgames.” Now, hopefully this team-up makes that happen without the touch screen-induced headache I get from existing Windows handhelds.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

Netflix’s Castlevania and Devil May Cry showrunner Adi Shankar has turned his attention to the Duke Nukem series after acquiring the screen rights from Gearbox Software.

The animated adaptation creative lead teased his next project during an interview with Esquire. Although projects like Devil May Cry Season 2 are currently top of mind, it sounds like something based on the legendary tongue-in-cheek first-person shooter franchise is currently in the works.

“I'm being approached with different IPs and companies that want to work with me,” Shankar said. “I bought the rights to Duke Nukem. Not the gaming rights, but I bought it from Gearbox.”

Duke Nukem is an unmistakably ‘90s video game franchise that got its start in 1991, but it wasn’t until 1996 that it would find its FPS footing with Duke Nukem 3D. Although a laundry list of sequels arrived throughout the 15 years that followed, its 2011 entry, Duke Nukem Forever, was heavily criticized by critics and fans alike. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360-era title did so much to damage the blond, buzzcut hero’s reputation that there has not been a new Duke Nukem installment since.

Shankar is already cooking up ideas for what a present-day take on Duke Nukem could look like. It’s unclear if fans can expect to see an animated Duke Nukem show in the vein of Shankar’s other projects, a movie, or something completely different, but it’s clear Shankar is trying to put together a project of some sort behind the scenes.

“It's a middle finger to everybody,” Shankar said when describing his vision for Duke Nukem. “When Duke Nukem blew up, a bunch of people sat around trying to turn it into a brand, when it's just a middle finger. Duke Nukem can't be made by a corporation, because the moment a corporation makes Duke Nukem, it's no longer Duke Nukem. I don't intend on having anyone tell me what to do on this one.”

We’ll have to wait to see what Shankar has in store for the ‘90s icon. For now, no casting, plot, or release date details for the Duke Nukem show have been revealed. It's unclear how the recent rights aquisition will impact the Legendary Entertainment Duke Nukem movie reported on in 2022.

For a better look at what to expect, you can read up on his other Netflix projects. We gave Season 1 of Devil May Cry an 8/10 in our review, with Castlevania Season 1 earning an 8.1/10 from us upon its release in 2017. Shankar is involved in other Netflix projects, too, including the Castlevania: Nocturne spinoff series, an Assassin’s Creed series, and even an animated PUBG show.

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).

Amazon has recently dropped the price on the 2TB SK Hynix P41 Platinum PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVME solid state drive (SSD) to only $129.99 shipped. The SK Hynix P41 Platinum is one of the fastest PCI-E 4.0 SSDs available, has DRAM cache, and is considerably less expensive than other comparable SSDs like the Samsung 990 Pro ($168) and the WD SN850X ($154). This is an excellent SSD for either your PlayStation 5 console or gaming PC.

SK Hynix P41 Platinum 2TB M.2 SSD for $129.99

Need codes for Anime Rising? We've got all the latest active codes so you can earn mythical fragments, tokens, and more. You can rely on us for when new ones are released and updates on when codes expire. And if you're not sure how to redeem codes, we have a quick explanation for that too.

Working Anime Rising Codes (June 2025)

These are all the current active codes for Anime Rising that you can redeem for a variety of rewards:

• DUNGEONREWARDS - 10 Quirk Tokens, 3 Arise Luck Boosts, 3 Summon Move Speed Boosts, 5 Class Quirk Tokens, 8x 1 Hour Quick Income, 5 Random Chests, 25 Mythical Fragments, 2 Altar Summons, 3 Shiny Luck Boosts, 3 Player Move Speed Boosts (NEW)
• UPTUESDAY - 10 Quirk Tokens, 6 Arise Luck Boosts, 6 Summon Move Speed Boosts, 1 Class Quirk Token, 2x 1 Hour Quick Income, 5 Random Chests, 25 Mythical Fragments, 2 Altar Summons, 6 Shiny Luck Boosts, 6 Player Move Speed Boosts
• THANKYOU - 1 Hour Break Orbs, 3 Arise Luck Boosts, 1x 1 Hour Quick Coins, 3 Shiny Luck Boosts, 5 Revive Scrolls, 1x 1 Hour Quick XP, 1 Class Quirk Token, 1x 1 Hour Quick Income, 5 Random Chest, 25 Mythical Fragments, 2 Altar Summons, 3 Player Move Speed Boosts, 3 Summon Move Speed Boosts
• RISEUP - 10 Quirk Tokens, 6 Arise Luck Boosts, 4x 1 Hour Quick Coins, 6 Shiny Luck Boosts, 5 Revive Scrolls, 4x 1 Hour Quick XP, 1 Class Quirk Token, 2x 1 Hour Quick Income, 5 Random Chests, 25 Mythical Fragments, 2 Altar Summons, 6 Player Move Speed Boosts, 6 Summon Move Speed Boosts

Expired Anime Rising Codes (June 2025)

There aren't currently any expired codes for this Roblox experience but if that changes, we'll be sure to update this section with them.

How to Redeem Anime Rising Codes

Redeeming codes in Anime Rising doesn't require too much effort unlike some other Roblox games. Fortunately you don't have to reach a certain level or join a specific group. Here are the quick simple steps to redeeming them:

1. Launch Anime Rising
2. Press the green "Store" button on the left side of your screen
3. Then press the "Codes" button of a blue bird near the bottom right.
4. Enter your code here and press the blue Redeem button to get your rewards.

Why Isn't My Anime Rising Code Working?

If you're having trouble redeeming a code, there are two main reasons why one usually doesn't work. Here's what you need to know:

• The code is expired
• The code has been entered incorrectly

If a code is entered incorrectly or doesn't exist, you'll see a message that says, "Invalid code". To avoid running into this problem, we recommend copying and pasting directly from this article. Just make sure you don't accidentally end up with an extra space in your code when copying one. This is why it never hurts to double-check before redeeming a code.

Where to Find More Anime Rising Codes

You can always check back here for whenever new codes are added since we try to update as often as we can. However, if you want to search for Anime Rising codes yourself, there is a dedicated Discord server where they're announced. The in-game window for codes mentions each developer's Twitter account but they don't seem to post any on there.

What is Anime Rising in Roblox?

Anime Rising is a collector game that seems to be inspired by Solo Leveling. You can defeat all sorts of enemies and then resurrect them to fight for you. Over time, you'll amass a large squad of teammates to help you complete quests. Using free summons from the codes in this article, you can also get characters heavily inspired by other popular anime shows too.

Jeffrey Lerman is a freelance game journalist for IGN who has been covering games for over a decade. You can follow him on Bluesky.

Lenovo has finally released the latest and best model of the Legion Go S. It comes with SteamOS pre-installed, plus the powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, along with a whopping 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. That kind of power doesn’t come cheap (it’s $829.99 exclusively at Best Buy), but it’s certainly a killer handheld gaming PC. It’s so good that it became our new pick for the best handheld gaming PC.

Alma & the Wolf is now playing in select theaters and available on digital.

Alma & the Wolf is a frustrating type of movie to talk about, in part because it’s really more like two types of movie pressed together. On the one hand, it’s an intentionally schlocky horror movie about a town being terrorized by a supernatural threat – a bit of a creature feature blended with a dash of the ol’ Wicker Man folk-horror. On the other, it’s a more psychological, unreliable-narrator yarn about a cop (Ethan Embry) trying to find his missing estranged son. For a while, both movies are pretty compelling, with director Michael Patrick Jann relying on his deep comedy background to walk the tonal tightrope of laughs and scares in Abigail Miller’s screenplay. But despite their best efforts, and those of Embry and Sinners breakout Li Jun Li, this curious hybrid topples over during a conclusion that cheapens much of what comes before it.

Our cop, Deputy Ren Accord, is actually the main character, first glimpsed in the rather striking image of Embry standing in a field holding a red balloon. As you might expect, he’s not a particularly good dad: He drinks a bit too much and he’s almost late for his son’s critical baseball game. The titular Alma enters the picture a little earlier; we first see her covered in blood and cradling a mysterious bundle. Anyone entranced by the badass, vampire-fighting mom Li played earlier this year will still recognize her here, though she transforms herself into a meek, traumatized presence for Alma’s introduction. She also has a bit of a drinking problem that’s known to the whole town of Spiral Creek, Oregon, which means Ren isn’t exactly keen to believe Alma when she says a giant wolf attacked her and her dog.

As the pair forms a tentative relationship, Ren’s own sanity comes into question, and Alma & The Wolf begins weaving together the threads of its various genres. Jann, who got his start with influential sketch troupe The State before directing the cult classic Drop Dead Gorgeous, maintains a slightly off-kilter tone and sense of humor, best represented by material like a running joke about wolf hunting being a Class-C felony in Oregon. But that also means that it’s hard to figure out exactly what kind of movie we’re watching: Does that wolf suit look intentionally low-rent, or is it a result of the low budget? Is the dialogue, delivered by comedy pros like Jann’s State mate Kevin Allison and fellow Reno 911! alum Mather Zickel, knowingly corny and awkward? Miller’s script entertains well enough to suggest it’s aware of and capitalizing on this dissonance, and combined with Jann’s direction, it actually begins to gel together with all the dream sequences and surreal fakeouts and possible gaslighting orchestrated by the people of Spiral Creek. You may even forget for a bit that Li is disappointingly absent for long stretches of time.

The thing is, Alma & the Wolf does eventually have to decide what kind of movie it is, and the result is a third act that lets the wind out of the sails. It’s not so much that it’s an out-of-nowhere twist or that it’s stupid; in fact, the most frustrating part is that taken on its own, it’s actually quite suspenseful. The climax breaks out some impressively gnarly FX, and feels like it’s delivering the cult werewolf freakout promised by the rest of the movie.

Unfortunately, when the waning runtime forces Miller and Jann to come down on one side or the other, their decision ends up feeling a little obvious and cheap in a way that reverberates back through the preceding scenes. The characters just aren’t drawn well enough for it to be emotionally devastating or hit at a some deeper thematic level. That’s not helped by the way Alma & the Wolf goes out of its way to show us “the truth” about what’s really going on for 90 minutes and change. It dampens the blow, but it in a way that feels mildly defensive – like it needs to cross the “t”s and dot the “i”s so people don’t get mad. The final scene itself seems to come from an entirely different movie – and the thing is, that movie would’ve been great. It’s a testament to all involved that there’s something to appreciate in Alma & the Wolf even when you just wanna say “Man, come on” to it all.

The Switch 2 has quickly become the fastest-selling hardware in Nintendo history. With upgraded graphics and new enhanced games, it's an overall great follow-up to the original Switch console. But unless you were able to wrangle a preorder before it came out on June 5, it has been incredibly difficult to find any Switch 2s in stock anywhere.

Thankfully, we are finally starting to get some updates about when we can expect more consoles to be available. Walmart has recently confirmed that it will have more Switch 2 stock starting on Wednesday, June 25. The only catch is, Walmart+ members are getting a full one-hour head start to buy one before everyone else.

Walmart Switch 2 Restocks on June 25

Whatever your budget may be, there's an AirPods for you. Apple's newest AirPods are all on sale including our favorite earbuds for iPhone, the AirPods Pro. The second generation model with USB Type-C charging has dropped to $169 from $249 after a 33% off instant discount. The next step down, the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC (active noise cancelation) is down to $148 (normally $179). Finally, the value-packed AirPods 4 without ANC drops to $99.99 (normally $129).

Apple AirPods Pro for $169

Are you wondering if 28 Years Later has any post-credits scenes? We’ll tell you right here: No, it does not. That said, the ending is a doozy, and we’re here to fill you in on what it all means.

Full spoilers follow from here!

Stock up on your survival supplies, horror fans, because 28 Years Later is now in theaters. The long anticipated follow-up to 28 Weeks Later comes from original 28 Days Later creative team Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, who return to directing and screenwriting duties respectively. This has led to the latest entry in the pseudo-zombie series receiving stellar reviews as it heads into its opening weekend, including a 9/10 rave from IGN. We also know that we’re receiving a direct sequel in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple from director Nia DaCosta of Little Woods, Candyman, and The Marvels fame, which was shot back-to-back with its predecessor and is set to debut on January 16, 2026. A third film, with Boyle prospectively returning to direct, is also planned… depending on how 28 Years Later does at the box office.

Since the franchise seems to be sticking around, let’s take a look at how the new film sets the stage for future sequels. Specifically, we want to look at 28 Years’ ending, which has left many early viewers flabbergasted. Join us as we dive into all the spoilery details of 28 Years Later.

A Small-Scale Apocalypse

Stop us if you guessed this one already: This movie takes place 28 years after the last one. After a small flashback to the original outbreak, the opening text reveals that the Rage virus that transforms humans into mindless monsters was contained to the United Kingdom. Although this detail may come across as a light retcon of the ending of 28 Weeks Later, which showed the infected spreading to Paris, Boyle has debunked the idea that 28 Weeks didn’t happen, instead telling Inverse that “somehow the French had managed to drive the virus back across the channel to its origin in the British mainland.” This serves two purposes: to dial back the scale so the film can focus on a small handful of characters, and to evolve the franchise so it can speak more to contemporary culture.

In a similar way to how the modern Planet of the Apes movies focus on specific, smaller scale emotional stakes over abstract, world-ending ones that would be common in the sci-fi genre, 28 Years Later feels like a direct continuation of 28 Days Later’s narrative sensibilities. Both movies have a tiny cast we spend a lot of time with, with the larger apocalyptic science-fiction setting providing a catalyst for the character journeys instead of being the main course. Besides, plenty of zombie media has already depicted a global downfall. 28 Years does something different, and arguably more realistic (as realistic as movies with viruses that turn people into bloodthirsty monsters can be, anyway) by confirming the world didn’t stop progressing once the Rage virus was quarantined to the British Isles.

In the time since 28 Days Later’s release, we’ve seen isolationism and disassociation become the order of the day in response to real world traumatic events. From Britain formally withdrawing from the European Union, to the COVID pandemic, to the global ramifications of climate change, and to the ongoing violence in the Middle East, the response from much of society to events of such magnitude has been to just pretend they’re not happening if they’re not directly in front of you. Boyle confirmed that Brexit was an inspiration for the film in an interview with IGN, saying that he considers films like 28 Years Later “not lectures or anything like that, but they do reflect or there is a reflection in them of where you are and what’s happened to you really as individuals and as people.

“Certainly in terms of Brexit, it's unique,” he continued. “There's a couple of things that have happened to us in the intervening period since the first film that you thought, ‘Well, this is the opportunity to look at that.’”

In 28 Years, we meet a Swedish navy trooper named Erik (Edvin Ryding) who has a smartphone and talks about delivery app drivers and the internet, things a whole generation of children born in post-outbreak Britain, represented here by 12-year-old main character Spike (Alfie Williams), have never heard of. Outside of navy patrols to enforce the quarantine, the rest of the world has long since stopped caring about what happens to the Rage-infested UK. It doesn’t just help keep the focus on the primary cast as Spike goes on a quest to find a doctor to help his ill mother Isla (Jodie Comer), but it’s also a potent parallel to how much we compartmentalize horrific tragedies in today’s landscape. Yet that somber, meditative tone is subverted in the film’s final moments, in a way we’re having trouble wrapping our heads around.

28 Years Later Ending Explained

After Spike has to say goodbye to his mother, who doctor Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) consensually euthanizes after diagnosing her with cancer, he returns a newborn baby recovered from an infected mother (the baby is uninfected because of the way the placenta works) to his island village. He also leaves a note for his father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), where he explains that he’s going to keep exploring the mainland and may return home someday. Spike has become more assertive and independent over the course of the film, and at the end we see him hunting for his own food and battling infected with his bow and arrow. But when he’s pursued by a larger group, Spike is saved by what we can only describe as a parkour ninja gang (PNG?) led by a man named Jimmy (Sinners’ Jack O’Connell), an older version of the only child to survive the film’s grisly prologue. Boyle told IGN that the Jimmy character is a “hugely significant figure” in the upcoming second film.

It’s hard to overstate just how tonally inconsistent this last scene is with the rest of the movie. What had up to this point been a fairly depressing and atmospheric film suddenly drops in a bunch of tracksuit-wearing gangsters killing infected with kick flips and golf clubs. It feels like something from an entirely different movie, but according to Boyle, it’s a deliberate lead-in to the next film: “It’s the epilogue or an end theme at the end of the first film that gives you a handover to the second film.” The tonal shift seems to indicate that The Bone Temple will be a more humorous and off-kilter affair, with new characters and factions that Spike encounters as he explores more of the mainland having found different ways of existing among the infected.

We’d be remiss not to mention that Jimmy and his gang appear to be an homage to Jimmy Savile, a figure who may not be familiar to people outside the UK. Savile was a media personality who made many appearances on British television, particularly in children-oriented programs. He died in 2011, and afterwards was revealed to have been a prolific sexual predator, accused by hundreds of victims. It seems that in the universe of 28 Years Later, Savile’s predatory behavior was never revealed to the public (since the outbreak happened before his death), hence this gang that seems to exist in tribute to him. It’s hard to evaluate this as a creative choice since it’s a thread that will be expanded upon in the next film, but it’s certainly an odd one.

Either way, the ending of 28 Years Later proves that the franchise will continue to keep fans guessing as we wait for the upcoming sequels.

28 Years Later has arrived in theaters. While it may not have Cillian Murphy, early reviews have certainly suggested a return to horrifying form for the zombie franchise. If you’re anything like me, you might be planning to rewatch the originals before heading to the theaters. It's not entirely necessary for enjoying the new movie, but it gives good context and prepares you to eagerly point out any callbacks or references.

Whether you’re catching up before seeing 28 Years Later or just interested in some good ol’ zombie movies, I’m happy to report that 28 Days Later is streaming for free.

Stream 28 Days Later for Free

Prime Day 2025 is officially set to run from July 8 through July 11, but there are already a handful of early deals and promotions you can take advantage of now. Kindle Unlimited is one such promotion, and you can get three months free and start reading thousands of books and graphic novels. The service has a massive collection of Batman comics and graphic novels you can read, from modern masterpieces to timeless classics. If you're not interested in using Amazon, there are a couple of other ways to read free Batman comics online, but this deal is the best option right now. Be aware, this promotion is offered only to Amazon Prime members and if you do not already have a subscription or have used a free Kindle Unlimited trial in the past.

Be sure to also check out the six PC games Amazon is offering Prime members as another early Prime Day promotion.

Get 3 Months of Kindle Unlimited For Free

Red Dead Redemption fans believe they've now worked out the truth behind recent teases that suggested something was going on with Rockstar's beloved cowboy franchise — but it's not what many fans had been hoping for.

Last week, John Marston actor Rob Wiethoff teased that he had "exciting news" to share that was "absolutely killing" him to keep quiet, while chatting with fans during a livestream. Wiethoff suggested that, whatever the news was, fans would hear about it by the end of this week — and that he wouldn't be the only one sharing it.

The mystery deepened when Red Dead Redemption 2's Arthur Morgan actor Roger Clark subsequently confirmed that he was also aware of the news, but couldn't yet say more. Immediately, fans began to speculate that the pair were involved in some kind of announcement regarding the future of the franchise, such as the reveal of an upgraded Red Dead Redemption 2 — something that has previously been reported as in development for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

With fan hopes at fever pitch, Wiethoff released a statement earlier this week clearly designed to manage expectations. In it, John Marston's voice actor said he "possibly misled some people" in regards to how exciting the announcement was, and said he did "not make announcements for Rockstar games."

"I do have something I'm really excited about, I truly am, and I think you will be too," Wiethoff said. "I really do think so, but I possibly misled some people when I announced that I have something to announce that I can't talk about right now.

"Just please recognize – and I know that you know this, but let me remind you, I guess – I do not make announcements for Rockstar Games. We all know that, I'm just reminding you I do not make announcements for Rockstar Games. Rockstar Games makes announcements for Rockstar Games, and they don't use me to do that."

@cyberboiuk @Mctannen
Rob Wiethoff has clarified that his announcement has nothing to do with rockstar. pic.twitter.com/WmlWJD1GSQ

— jon🚬 (@jonbranham_) June 17, 2025

So what is the big mystery announcement? Well, fans have now spotted confirmation of a Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 cast reunion, which is set to take place at the National Gaming Expo in Tampa, Florida from August 8 to August 10.

"Was this the announcement [Wiethoff] was so excited for?" wrote one fan on reddit.

"I think so," added replied.

"It would be great if they waited for this convention to reveal there's going to be SOME kind of update, remastering, DLC, a next chapter etc," said a third. "It's definitely wishful thinking on my part."

Red Dead Redemption 2 originally launched for PS4 and Xbox One back in October 2018, and arrived on PC a year later. Fans have long hoped for a revamped version designed to take advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, but, more than five years after those consoles launched, a re-release or remaster is yet to arrive.

Of course, Rockstar has been busy during this time building Grand Theft Auto 6, which after its recent delay will now launch on May 26, 2026. Surely there's time to pop out a Red Dead Redemption 2 patch before then?

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

If you've been waiting for a great deal on a high-end OLED TV, here's one you should seriously consider. Woot! (owned by Amazon) is offering the 65" Samsung S90D 4K OLED Smart TV for only $1,074.99. Amazon Prime members get free shipping, but the rest of us pay just $6 for delivery. This is a brand new TV with a full 1 year Samsung warranty. According to RTINGS, the Samsung S90D is a brighter TV than the popular LG C4 OLED TV with a wider color gamut, better color volume, wider viewing angle, and better HDR gradient handling. It's also an excellent TV for your PS5 or Xbox Series X.

65" Samsung S90D 4K OLED Smart TV for $1,074.99

Looking for active Parasite Testing codes? We've got all the working codes for this Roblox experience, so you don't have to search for them. Redeem each one for rewards like credits to buy weapons or leveling up to access the armory sooner!

Working Parasite Testing Codes (June 2025)

Here are all the current active codes you can redeem in Parasite Testing as well as the rewards you'll get from them:

• 2KSERVER - 5 Credits, 5 Levels (NEW)
• 1M VISITS - 75 Credits, 25 Levels
• PUPPETEER - 5 Credits, 5 Levels

Expired Parasite Testing Codes (June 2025)

The below codes have unfortunately expired and will no longer work. We've included them here so you know not to bother trying to redeem them:

• 1KSERVER

How to Redeem Parasite Testing Codes

Redeeming codes in Parasite Testing isn't too hard once you know where to look. Follow these simple steps to start getting those rewards:

1. Launch Parasite Testing
2. Interact with the laptop in the first room you spawn in. You can see it in the screenshot above.
3. Enter a code in the box that says, "Enter a code..."
4. Press the big green Submit button to redeem your code.

Why Isn't My Parasite Testing Code Working?

If you're having trouble redeeming a code, there are two common reasons why it may not be working:

• The code is expired
• The code has been entered incorrectly

If a code has been entered incorrectly or has expired, you'll see a message that says, "Not a valid code". In order to avoid this, we recommend copying and pasting the code directly from this article. As long as you don't accidentally get an extra space in there when copying it, it should work if it's active. We make sure to check and test every Parasite Testing code before we add them to this article.

Where to Find More Parasite Testing Codes

We always recommend checking our article here for up to date codes since you can rely on us to verify which ones are working. But, if you'd prefer to search for some Parasite Testing codes on your own, you can check the dedicated Discord server.

What is Parasite Testing in Roblox?

Parasite Testing is a Roblox experience that revolves around shooting eldritch creatures. A large red biomass will keep spawning parasites that evolve when attacking players. If you let them get too close, you'll become infected and have to worry about your teammates taking you out. Depending on the parasite type, you'll either respawn or can fight researchers while infected.

Eliminating creatures and infected players will give you credits and level you up. This will help you unlock new weapons for taking on tougher creatures. But you can also use traps to wipe out hordes of parasites via decontamination or electricity.

Jeffrey Lerman is a freelance game journalist for IGN who has been covering games for over a decade. You can follow him on Bluesky.

It’s safe to say that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the most successful indie comic book series of all time. What started as a labor of love by creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984 quickly grew into a global phenomenon and a multimedia franchise that spawned all manner of toys, animated shows, and movies.

Even as the TMNT franchise enjoys a resurgence on the big and small screens, the comics are continuing to thrive. In fact, there’s probably never been a better time to start reading the comics. But how does one do that in 2025? How do you make sense of the different continuities and various relaunches? What comics should an aspiring Turtle fanatic read first?

We’re here to answer those questions. Read on for a full breakdown on the differences between the various universes and which TMNT comics are best for newcomers, as well as helpful links for which graphic novels to buy.

Which TMNT Universe Should You Read?

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has evolved a lot over the years. Just as there are numerous different animated series and movies taking place in their own, separate universes, there have been several different incarnations of the franchise in print form.

First, there was the original Mirage Comics series that started it all. This is the version of TMNT from which all others have sprung. That said, the Mirage universe lacks some of the franchise hallmarks fans have come to expect over the years. The Mirage comics are generally much darker than those that have come since (given that Eastman and Laird were heavily inspired by Frank Miller’s Daredevil comics), and the Turtles’ happy-go-lucky personalities and obsession with pizza would come later. Even the color-coded bandanas are absent in these early comics.

• Buy TMNT: The Ultimate Collection on Amazon

Later, Archie Comics established its own TMNT series as an extension of the 1987 animated series. Dubbed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, that book first adapted episodes of the cartoon before transitioning into telling new stories set in that universe. There have been several other comics published over the years that tie into the various animated series.

In the late ‘90s, during a time when Mirage was no longer publishing new TMNT content, Image Comics published its own comic that continued the Mirage continuity. That series proved even darker still, with plot twists like Raphael becoming the new Shredder. The series was canceled and left unfinished after Mirage resumed publishing its comics, but IDW Publishing would eventually reprint the Image material and publish several new, concluding issues under the title TMNT: Urban Legends.

• Buy TMNT: Urban Legends Vol. 1 on Amazon

These older TMNT comics certainly still have value, particularly the early, formative Mirage issues by Eastman and Laird. But for the vast majority of readers, IDW Publishing’s TMNT universe is the ideal entry point into the franchise. IDW acquired the TMNT publishing rights in 2011, at which point they began reprinting classic material and publishing a new monthly series with a completely rebooted continuity.

IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series takes a holistic approach to the franchise. It draws on characters and elements from past comics and cartoons, intending to provide the most complete and fully realized TMNT universe to date. With the original IDW series spanning 150 issues (plus numerous spinoff miniseries), it’s certainly achieved that goal by now. But where do you start?

How to Read IDW’s TMNT Universe From the Beginning

There are basically two options for diving into IDW’s TMNT universe in 2025. The first is to start at the beginning, with 2011’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1. Again, with this being a complete reboot of the franchise, it’s easy for Turtle novices to dive in with the series. You’ll get the full origin stories for the various characters and see their world steadily grow and evolve as new villains and conflicts are introduced.

IDW’s series has added many new elements of its own to the TMNT mythos, not the least of which being the fifth, female Turtle Jennika. It helps that Eastman himself co-wrote the early issues of the new TMNT run alongside Tom Waltz, giving this rebooted universe a certain extra weight and legitimacy. The IDW series ultimately lasted 150 issues before reaching its conclusion in 2024 (making it by far the longest-running TMNT comic ever). It’s since been followed by a relaunched volume, which we’ll get to in a minute.

• Buy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol. 1: Change Is Constant on Amazon.

But complicating matters is the fact that IDW published a lot of spinoffs of the main TMNT series over the years, bringing the total number of comics to well over 300. These spinoffs do everything from shining a solo spotlight on various characters to establishing the history of Shredder and the Foot Clan to thrusting the Turtles into crossovers with other franchises like Ghostbusters and Power Rangers. The main series will frequently reference the events of these spinoffs, so reading them is generally worthwhile (particularly the Mateus Santolouco-drawn Shredder and Foot Clan books).

If you just want to read the core IDW series, it’s been collected in a series of numbered trade paperbacks. That lineup includes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vols. 1-23 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Reborn Vols. 1-9. The various spinoffs each have their own trade paperback collections as well.

• Buy TMNT: The IDW Collection Vol. 1 on Amazon.

On the other hand, if you want to read everything in the IDW-verse, including the spinoff books, you’re better served looking at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection lineup. These books collect both the main series and the spinoffs in chronological order, totaling 18 volumes so far. While the IDW Collections were originally published in hardcover format, IDW has recently begun reprinting them as cheaper paperback versions, too.

IDW’s 2024 TMNT Relaunch

Starting from the beginning is all fine and well, but not everyone has the time, money, or inclination to catch up on 300+ issues. What about those who just want to dive into the current monthly TMNT comic?

Thankfully, IDW has made things very easy in that regard. The previous IDW volume finally reached its conclusion in 2024’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #150, as writer Sophie Campbell wrapped up her 50-issue storyline. From there, IDW quickly relaunched the series with a new #1 issue, a new creative team that includes writer Jason Aaron, and a new status quo.

2024’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 serves as a very easy jumping-on point for new readers. To be clear, it isn’t another reboot of the TMNT canon. The new volume does continue to build on the universe established in the original IDW series. But it’s intentionally designed to be accessible, with many of the previous volume’s supporting cast fading into the background and the spotlight narrowing on the four main Turtles and their renewed fight against the Foot Clan.

• Buy TMNT Vol. 1: Return to New York on Amazon.

The new TMNT volume is still pretty young. The first trade paperback collection, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 1: Return to New York, is scheduled for release on June 24, 2025. IDW will continue to collect new issues in both softcover and hardcover format.

For those who miss some of the supporting characters who have faded out of the spotlight in the relaunch, IDW still has you covered. They’re currently publishing several ancillary TMNT comics, such as TMNT: Mutant Nation and TMNT: Nightwatcher. Later in 2025, Shredder and Casey Jones will each receive new solo series. As before, we assume new volumes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection will be released that collect all of these books in chronological order.

How TMNT: The Last Ronin Fits In

There’s another option out there for TMNT fans who just want to dive into a good book without having to worry much about continuity. IDW’s TMNT: The Last Ronin is easily one of the most popular Turtles comics to come along in years, and it only requires a basic familiarity with the franchise.

The Last Ronin is best described as this franchise’s answer to Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. The Last Ronin is set in a grim, futuristic version of New York where all but one of the Turtles is dead (we won’t spoil which one survives). The sole survivor embarks on a quest to kill Shredder’s grandson and avenge his fallen brothers. The series is also notable for springing from an idea Eastman and Laird originally developed back in the late ‘80s, making this what will likely be their final collaboration together.

The Last Ronin isn’t a sequel to any one particular incarnation of the TMNT comics. It’s instead part of its own continuity dubbed “The Ronin-verse.”

• Buy TMNT: The Last Ronin Vol. 1 on Amazon.

“I think we're creating our own universe here, but I call it very Mirage-adjacent,” co-writer Tom Waltz told IGN. “The Dark Knight Returns, for me, works so well, because if somebody really wants to say, ‘It's Adam West's future,’ it could be Adam West's future, because all the basic elements are there for a Batman story… I think it works so well in a generic sense, because there's just certain elements of Turtles that you have to hit, and everybody knows those things by now. Most people know what those things are, where they come from, that you can write this kind of story and let people fill in the blanks as they want.”

Those interested in reading The Last Ronin saga won’t find the reading order too complicated. There’s the original Last Ronin miniseries from 2020. That’s followed by 2023’s The Last Ronin: Lost Years, which acts as both a prequel and sequel to the first story. Then there’s The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution, a direct sequel that focuses on a new generation of Turtles defending New York. Eastman and Waltz confirmed to IGN that another sequel is currently in development, though we wouldn’t expect it to debut until 2026 at the earliest.

All three Last Ronin books are available as collected editions, with the TMNT: The Last Ronin II hardcover due in stores on July 8, 2025.

Which TMNT comic book universe is your favorite? Let us know by voting in our poll and telling us what you think in the comments below.

For more on the TMNT franchise, find out how the Turtles conquered Hollywood and check out IGN's review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown.

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

It's been roughly three weeks since Elden Ring Nightreign dropped on May 30, and players have started to get their heads around all the different tools and abilities available to them in Limveld. What some are starting to do with those abilities, though, is pretty fascinating.

One of the top posts on the r/Nightreign subreddit this morning was from user u/Quantam-Law, who was playing with a Raider under the username "BRO....". BRO had a pretty great idea: the trio of Nightfarers had the Noklateo Shifting Earth event, and rather than storm the front gate of the city, BRO popped Raider's ultimate to provide a new platform for entry.

Noklateo, and other Shifting Earth events, are random, map-changing alterations that can appear, adding new encounters and areas to explore in the process. But while this usage of Totem Stela is good for that, it gets the gears turning on other places and ways you could use the massive brick to get up and around designed obstacles.

Raider's not the only one with tricks, either. u/Mockz_ also had a recent skip posted up on the Elden Ring Nightreign subreddit, this time for the Crater Shifting Earth event. In this one, Mockz uses their abilities, and a little bit of good ol' fashioned gravity to get where they need to go, at the bottom of the Crater.

Another user, u/ninjabladeJr, posted a feasible—albeit challenging and dangerous—skip of their own to the bottom of the Crater, using a spectral hawk and specific line-ups. Are these Crater skips dangerous? Absolutely. Is it awesome to see someone breeze past the many, many encounters of the dungeon and straight to the big boss, the ultimate goal and prize of the Shifting Earth event? You betcha.

Heck, there are people even finding ways to the top of the Mountaintop event by just Skyrim-jumping their way up the side of the cliffs like an ibex. Shifting Earth events are a fun, fascinating part of Nightreign's construction and layout, and it's amazing how players are already finding ways to navigate them faster and smarter.

The actual usability of these is absolutely up-in-the-air. I could see popping the Noklateo totem-skip in a random lobby, but I think attempting the spectral hawk Crater skip in a room with two random players who don't know what I'm doing is a fast path to two, if not three, Nightfarers down.

But the fact players are getting so creative with their abilities and finding such interesting uses for them bodes well for the long-term health of Elden Ring Nightreign. As of this writing, the speedrun leaderboards for Elden Ring Nightreign still aren't live, but these community-discovered skips already have me intrigued to see what speedrunners can showcase with the game.

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.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and if you're looking to pick up some extra items to go with your brand new console, we've found some very nice Switch 2 deals that are worth looking at right now. These range from sturdy carrying cases to keep your new Switch stored in, to screen protectors and a selection of accessories to stock up on.

If you're in the Switch shopping mood, now is a good time to pick up some of these items with great discounts available. Have a look through the latest Switch 2 deals we could find below.

TL;DR - The Best Nintendo Switch 2 Deals

Switch 2 Carrying Case Deals

If you're planning on taking your Switch 2 out on any trips or adventures you have planned this summer, a carrying case is a very wise investment. Thankfully, there are plenty of great deals to check out right now on a variety of different case styles, whether you want something slimmer or with a very sturdy build.

Switch 2 Accessory Deals

If you've picked up your Switch 2 console and are now on the hunt for some accessories, there are a few deals worth checking out at the moment. From thumb grips to a charger to a protective case that can be wrapped around your Switch 2 in handheld mode, we've included some of our favorite deals above that are available at the moment.

Best Switch 2 Screen Protector Deals

Once you've picked up your new Switch 2, it's important to find some extra protection for it. Screen protectors are a worthy investment and, thankfully, there are plenty of deals available right now. Even though these items are usually pretty affordable on their own, the discounts are a nice little treat to take advantage of while they're available.

Best Switch 2 Power Bank Deals

And lastly in our list of Nintendo Switch 2 deals for right now, you'll want to make sure you've got plenty of power to keep you going once you start playing your new console. If you've been looking for a new power bank to have for when you're on-the-go, we've included a few great deals above that are worth checking out.

Where to Buy Official Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories

If official Nintendo Switch 2 accessories have been on your radar, we've included where you can buy those as well. Some of these have been going out of stock quick, though, so if something that catches your eye is still in stock you'll want to be quick to scoop it up while it's still available.

Where to Buy Nintendo Switch 2 Games

Most importantly: the games. If you're looking to fill up your Switch 2 library with some brand new games, or Nintendo Switch 2 editions of your favorites, we've included a wide variety of Switch 2 games that are available to preorder or buy above. Again, be quick to grab your favorites while they're still in stock.

Where to Buy Nintendo Switch 2

If you're curious where you can buy the Nintendo Switch 2, have a look through the retailers above. Stock has been in and out online, but keep an eye on our Nintendo Switch 2 buying guide for more updates on restocks and availability.

Even more Switch 2 deals are sure to pop up in the weeks to come. We'll make sure to update this when more noteworthy discounts appear.

In the meantime, if you're curious to see what's on offer for other consoles, have a look at our roundups of the best PS5 and Xbox deals.

We also have an overall roundup of the best video game deals that highlights our favorite discounts at the moment that we've found across each platform, including PC.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.

After a three-year wait between previous chapter releases of Deltarune, developer Toby Fox is promising a faster turnaround on the next episode of the saga. Chapter 5 is currently set for a 2026 release.

This information was revealed in the end credits of Deltarune Chapter 4, which released alongside Chapter 3 earlier this month. No further specificity about dates or windows was given.

Deltarune is a "sequel" of sorts to beloved indie RPG Undertale, and has released chapter by chapter starting in 2018, with Chapter 2 releasing in 2021 and the two most recent chapters dropping alongside the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 earlier this month. The game follows a human named Kris who lives in a peaceful town of monsters familiar to those who played Undertale. Together with the school bully Suzie, they fall into a mysterious "Dark World" and meet a prince named Ralsei, who charges them with saving both the dark and light world by sealing dark fountains. Each chapter tackles a different dark fountain in something like a "monster of the week" format, though Chapter 4 goes off the rails a bit in exploring the game's overarching meta-plot that fans speculate may eventually tie the game back to Undertale.

Chapters 1 and 2 are available on all major platforms for free, while the full game including Chapters 3, 4, and all future chapters (up to at least seven) costs $25. With the paid release, we reviewed all of Deltarune so far, giving it a 9/10 and saying that "its incredible and well-refined culmination of captivating characters, hilarious and earnest writing, and stellar music has already left one hell of a lasting impact I’m not likely to forget."

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Remedy has posted a candid statement acknowledging "not everything has gone well" at the launch of its multiplayer Control spin-off FBC: Firebreak, and outlined how it hopes to improve the game in the coming weeks.

FBC: Firebreak launched on June 17, but already sits on a "mixed" user score on Steam. Calling the launch an "exciting and nerve-wracking time," developer Remedy told players it had heard feedback "loudly and clearly," and admitted "it's clear there are features that need to improve, and they will improve."

"We are improving some features starting now. While we can improve some features today and in the near term, some others will take longer and require more thinking from us. We will keep you informed every step of the way.

"But you’re not here for platitudes," the statement added. "You want to know how we will improve your player experience in FBC: Firebreak, so let’s get into it."

The team has immediately identified a problem with "the first hour experience," saying that FBC: Firebreak's opening gameplay was not "a great experience due to a combination of things," including issues with onboarding, poorly explained systems and tools, and "a lack of clarity as to what to do in the Jobs and how to do the work effectively." The developer also said: "the power fantasy isn't great in the first hours of the game as starting weapons feel weak, and unlocking higher-tier weapons requires a bit too much grinding."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, Remedy wants better onboarding and user-interface clarity, as well as making Jobs easier to access. This means you'll no longer need to play the first two Clearance Levels of each Job, and new players start off with a "full three-zone Hot Fix Job run." There are also plans to speed up progression and gear unlocks.

Remedy says these changes are just the beginning, and represent the most "immediate changes" coming to the game. It is also actively discussing broader improvements based on player feedback.

"Right now, despite how sparse the story can seem in moments, there’s a lot of fun to be had wrangling erratic monsters in Remedy’s spectacularly absurd bureaucratic setting," we wrote in IGN's FBC: Firebreak review in progress. "I’ll be playing more this week and wrap up this review as soon as I’ve tested the limits of Remedy’s chaotic cooperative job simulator."

Remedy also recently confirmed its plans for ongoing support post-launch, including two new Jobs (missions) coming in 2025. More updates will arrive in 2026, the developer said. All playable content released post launch, such as Jobs, will be free to all players. Players have the option to buy cosmetics, but none of these items will affect gameplay, and there will be no limited-time rotations or daily log-ins, Remedy insisted.

It's a busy time for Alan Wake developer Remedy, which has a number of projects on the go. As well as FBC: Firebreak, it's working on Control 2 and the Max Payne and Max Payne 2 remake compilation.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Elden Ring Nightreign is getting an official strategy guide, and preorders are now live on Amazon. It's being published by Future Press, the team behind the acclaimed guides for Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree, and the Bloodborne Anniversary Edition.

The James Gunn-helmed Phase 1 of the DC Cinematic Universe is upon us, beginning with Gunn’s upcoming Superman film — and as it turns out, the filmmaker and studio head considers the project to be absolutely crucial to making the Gods and Monsters phase work as an overall storytelling experience.

“Oh, it is very important,” Gunn explained to Entertainment Weekly in an interview published on June 19. “I wouldn't say [animated series] Creature Commandos is important, but Peacemaker and Superman are both pretty important in terms of getting to the bigger story.”

That said, the boss did note that it’s really about striking the right balance between giving audiences vital information and moments while also not alienating those who might be more casual fans — because after all, if you don’t shut them out completely, you might just hook them.

“At the same time, I am really trying to be careful that anybody can dip in and see the story that is up next and not feel like they're missing information. The other stories can provide added texture to what you're watching,” Gunn explained to the outlet. “That might change down the line as we get deeper into what's happening in this universe. It could be like Infinity War and Endgame, where you kind of have to see Infinity War to know what's going on in Endgame.”

He continued, “But right now, I'm trying to keep it so that you don't have to see Superman to see Supergirl, for example. Even though there's a lot of stuff in Superman that leads to Peacemaker, you certainly don't need to see it to see Peacemaker. It's just good if you have, but we also say ‘Previously in the DCU’ before every episode, so the TV stuff's pretty easy.”

Gunn’s Superman film will arrive in theaters on July 8, but we’ll have to wait another month and change for season 2 of Peacemaker, which hits Max on August 21.

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

With the release of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, director Hideo Kojima enters his fourth decade in game development as a director. While the celebrated “auteur” has spent the majority of his career so far working on the Metal Gear series, Death Stranding 2 sees him expanding upon his newest universe, where he both introduces new concepts and revisits some of his most enduring ideas.

With a truly staggering list of credits in his impressive resume, there’s no better time to revisit every genre-defying adventure Kojima has taken us on. Here is every Kojima game that he directed or designed, ranked from worst to best.

12. Policenauts

Before the Metal Gear Solid series took over his life, Kojima dabbled in the graphic adventure genre. One of his earliest games, Policenauts is a point-and-click, visual novel game for the PC-9821 billed as a hard science fiction detective story. Set in the not-too-distant future, players take on the role of Jonathan Ingram, an astronaut turned hard-boiled L.A. detective investigating a man’s disappearance. As a visual novel, Policenauts doesn’t have the level of gameplay innovations Kojima would eventually be known for, but this early work highlights how movies — in this case buddy cop films like Lethal Weapon — would seep into his video game works for years to come.

11. Snatcher

Before there was Policenauts, Kojima had already dabbled with graphic adventure games. Clearly influenced by cyberpunk stories like Blade Runner, Snatcher is set in a futuristic city where human-like robots known as Snatchers are murdering humans, with special members of the anti-Snatcher force tasked to stop them. While the plot may sound very derivative of Ridley Scott’s iconic movie, critics praised Snatcher for how Kojima took these ideas to even more extreme places with violence, humor, and an operatic scope that was ahead of most visual novels at the time.

10. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

Following the success of the very first Metal Gear, Konami pushed forward with a sequel called Snake’s Revenge that was being made entirely without any involvement from Hideo Kojima. Unaware a sequel was even being made, a coworker finally told Kojima about the sequel and convinced him to create a true follow-up to the 1987 original. While Metal Gear 2’s visuals are more sophisticated and its story introduces some important characters to the Metal Gear canon, Metal Gear 2 largely feels like a half-step. Thankfully, Kojima would go on to completely revolutionize the series with the 3D Metal Gear Solid games, eventually righting the wrongs of his iterative attempt at progress in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

9. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was originally designed to be the finale of the series, capping off the Solid Snake storyline with a bang. This mega-budget, PS3 exclusive was released in 2008 and set a technological benchmark thanks to its breathtaking graphics and cinematics. Snake is back, but this time he’s aged significantly. The familiar faces of Otocon, Meryl, and Revolver Ocelot all return, as well as other fan-service surprises. Together, these characters work through a story that finally closes the book on an extremely complex tale that began with the very first Metal Gear game.

Despite being the dramatic final act in an iconic game series, MGS 4 also represents Kojima indulging in some of his worst creative tendencies. While the plot ties up a lot of loose storylines and gives Old Snake a hero’s farewell, the majority of cutscenes border on self-parody (including one character’s constant need to find a toilet) and Kojima, in general, seems too focused on his nostalgia for older games in the series, which has an impact on the overall execution of Solid Snake’s final tale. There are also a lot of big gameplay ideas here that aren’t fully fleshed out, perhaps due to the technological limitations of the PS3 – some of these mechanics, like active camo, would finally be refined in Metal Gear Solid 5. With all this in consideration, Metal Gear Solid 4, despite being an incredible spectacle in its own right, is our least favorite game from the Metal Gear Solid series.

8. Metal Gear

The original Metal Gear on the MSX2 was the game that started it all, introducing the world to the iconic Solid Snake. Metal Gear combines compelling (and revolutionary for the time) stealth action gameplay with a twisting story of Cold War era paranoia, nuclear proliferation, and espionage. You play as Solid Snake, a young member of the special forces group FOXHOUND sent to stop the development of a new weapon known as Metal Gear. Inspired by James Bond stories and the original Mission: Impossible TV series, Metal Gear stood out in 1987 thanks to a heavily twisting plot that culminates in Snake facing off against Big Boss, Snake’s commanding officer-turned-villain. Metal Gear’s unique stealth gameplay made waves at the time and although its plot was relatively simple, it would end up starting one of the greatest decade-spanning stories in gaming history.

7. Death Stranding

Death Stranding was a complete departure for Kojima and his first game developed outside of the walls of Konami. Starring Norman Reedus as the post-apocalyptic mailman Sam Porter Bridges, the game is less about sneaking past Soviet agents and more about sneaking past goopy monsters from beyond the astral plane. Despite all the sneaking action, this time around stealth takes a backseat to lots and lots and LOTS of walking. While Death Stranding indulges in heavy use of sponsored products, bizarre character names like Die Hard Man, and an aggressive number of celebrity cameos, underneath all that questionable content might be one of Kojima’s most prophetic stories yet. Set in a world where humans are painfully disconnected from each other due to an apocalyptic event that forces everyone to seclude in bunkers, Death Stranding was actually released before the COVID-19 pandemic. The journey of Sam Porter Bridges as he goes on foot to re-connect the United States with a mystical form of the internet feels like something written in 2023 with all the experience of an isolating lockdown, instead of a game that began development several years prior.

6. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

When Kojima announced the PSP-exclusive Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, he made clear that this was a full-fledged, canonical entry into the Metal Gear series with ramifications for the overarching storyline. And he wasn’t bluffing. The events of Peace Walker, which is set after Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, forms a substantial chapter in the legend of Big Boss and Outer Heaven, and plays directly into the events of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.

Kojima found a way to cut up his stealth-action gameplay into bite-sized chunks that are perfect for on-the-go fun. Despite the limited technical capabilities of the PSP, mechanically this might be one of the most fun and creative games in the Metal Gear series. New systems like base building, weapons R&D, and recruiting enemy soldiers by fulton-ing them up into space means that Peace Walker not only delivers way beyond expectations for a handheld game, but also stands out as an excellent addition to the series in its own right. These mechanics and plot connections go on to reappear in Metal Gear Solid 5, proving how vital Peace Walker is to the entire Metal Gear canon.

5. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain + Ground Zeroes

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain would end up being Kojima’s last Metal Gear game, but in our opinion he left the franchise on a banger, with Metal Gear Solid 5 being the best-playing Metal Gear game in the entire series. Combining decades of stealth action experience and every mechanic Kojima ever fiddled with, MGS 5’s stealth combat feels better than ever. That’s largely thanks to the variety of tools and weapons that can be mixed and matched, ensuring you can infiltrate using your exact preferred playstyle. Want to go in guns blazing on an enemy camp? No problem. Prefer to be the sneaky stealth warrior utilizing camouflage, distractions, and even the time of day to your advantage? You can do that, too.

Metal Gear Solid 5 and its prologue, Ground Zeroes, is set after the events of Metal Gear Solid 3 and Peace Walker, focussing once more on Big Boss’ quest to build a private army in the middle of the ocean. If we’re being uncharitable, Metal Gear Solid 5’s big twist feels like Kojima put a lot of effort to explain how Big Boss survived the first Metal Gear game. But Metal Gear Solid 5 feels more like a tone piece where Kojima gets to explore the many horrors of war. From child soldiers, torture, and chemical weapons, to other nightmarish scenarios born of humanity’s never-ending thirst for conflict. Yes, on the whole, the events of MGS 5 don’t affect the overall canon of Metal Gear too much, but by the end of the experience you will begin to feel ashamed for your words and deeds.

4. P.T.

One of gaming’s most famous almosts. P.T. (or Playable Teaser) was meant to be an interactive preview for Kojima’s Silent Hills, the doomed-to-be-cancelled next installment in Konami’s legendary horror series starring Norman Reedus and developed in collaboration with director Guillermo del Toro. P.T was something of a demonstration of Kojima’s intent for that project. At just a couple of hours long, P.T. is set almost entirely within the confines of a single hallway in a non-descript, American house, and is genuinely one of the most terrifying games of all time.

Trapped in a loop, you are forced to endure terrifying events on every lap of the house, such as the radio recounting a gruesome murder, unimaginable horrors found in the bathroom, and a blood-chilling ghost stalking your every move. This self-contained teaser is so full of terrifying ideas that it’s truly a tragedy that Kojima never got a chance to complete Silent Hills. P.T., however, is so satisfying that even though it can barely be considered a full game, it still feels like a complete experience.

3. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Kojima famously said that there was a chance that Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty would never be released. Scheduled to hit shelves in 2001, a few months after the events of September 11, Kojima explained to Konami’s board of directors the story of Metal Gear Solid 2 and, from his recollection, “they all turned pale”.

Set against a backdrop of government conspiracies, United States war profiteering, and presidents-turned cyborg warriors, Metal Gear Solid 2 is proof that Kojima’s thematic obsessions with nuclear proliferation, memes, and the military-industrial-complex aren’t just for show. He even goes as far as to replace everyone’s favorite Solid Snake with newcomer Raiden to hammer home his points about how the world operates under the shadow of duplicity, and you can never trust anyone to be who they really are (and also because Kojima really did want to introduce a younger playable character to the series).

Metal Gear Solid 2 is such an astronomical leap above the first Metal Gear Solid in terms of gameplay that it’s hard to believe the two games were released just three years apart. It's Metal Gear Solid on steroids thanks to massively improved graphics that truly capture Kojima’s cinematic intentions, and controls that finally give Snake and Raiden the proper tools to be the ultimate stealth warriors.

2. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Metal Gear Solid 3 is considered one of the greatest games of all time, and rightly so. With the third entry in his ever-popular series, Kojima took on his biggest challenge yet. Gone are the narrow corridors, tankers and military bases as Metal Gear Solid 3 welcomes the open jungles of the southern USSR. Naked Snake, the code name for the character who’d eventually go on to be called Big Boss and our hero this time around, is forced to brave harsh environments crawling with Soviet soldiers, perform emergency on-the-field first aid, and eat whatever creatures he could catch in the wild (hence that subtitle). It was the ultimate marriage of stealth combat and survivalist wish-fulfilment that would go on to inspire games like Escape From Tarkov.

With Metal Gear Solid 3, Kojima created one of history’s best tributes to James Bond. Snake’s mission brings him face to face with disfigured villains, sees him fall for a mysterious femme fatale, and is even prefaced by a big, brassy theme song that’s a clear homage to 007’s best intros. But while it features a checklist of Bond’s key tropes, there’s a deep and emotionally resonant story beneath them all: Naked Snake is forced to confront his former mentor, who defects to the Soviet Union to ally herself with the certifiably insane Colonel Volgin. A treatise on the global divisions caused by the Cold War and a continuation of his long-running anti-war themes, Metal Gear Solid 3 stands at the pinnacle of playability, storytelling, and technical achievement.

1. Metal Gear Solid

Metal Gear Solid is the game that put Kojima on the map. While the older Metal Gear games were lauded for their creative gameplay, 1998’s Metal Gear Solid on PlayStation took that innovation and creativity to the next level. At the time, its cinematic storytelling techniques were considered second to none (and even by today’s standards, it remains special), its interactive movie-like presentation demonstrating Kojima’s love and understanding of cinema. The plot of a special ops soldier sneaking into a remote military base to take down a stolen nuclear weapon may be simple compared to some of the later games’ deep lore wells, but it became an instant and enduring classic.

With Metal Gear Solid, Kojima’s extraordinary skills as a game developer are clear to see. Advanced stealth mechanics that made extensive use of enemy vision cones, a variety of unique and ingenious boss battles, and uncovering brilliant surprises such as having your game controller “taken over” by Psycho Mantis are long-standing reminders that Kojima’s ideas about how players can interact with video games (and how video games can interact with their players) were ahead of their time. In an era where so many game developers were focused on pushing the boundaries of graphics and gameplay, Kojima managed to stand head and shoulders above the rest, pushing the medium forward in ways few others could dream of. With MGS, Kojima evolved how games look, play, tell stories, and ultimately, mature.

Metal Gear Solid is a true masterpiece. It’s the game that created the blueprint for generations to come, and truly is Hideo Kojima’s Magnum Opus.

And that’s every Hideo Kojima game ranked. Disagree with our picks? Let us know which Kojima game is your favorite in the comments below.

Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.

For a limited time, Amazon is offering the lowest price I've ever seen on one of the best Windows-based gaming handhelds. Right now you can pick up a Lenovo Legion Go with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU and 512GB of storage for only $499.99 shipped after a 30% off instant discount. The Legion Go boasts a larger and sharper display, detachable controllers, and a larger battery compared to the Asus ROG Ally. And now that Valve has made SteamOS widely available, you can install it and turn this device basically into a super-powered Steam Deck.

30% Off Lenovo Legion Go 512GB Gaming Handheld