The popular Cult of the Lamb franchise has taken on new life on the printed page, already spawning a graphic novel adaptation called Cult of the Lamb: The First Verse and the follow-up one-shot Cult of the Lamb: Schism Special. Now Oni Press is back again with another sequel dubbed Cult of the Lamb: Last Sacrament Special #1.

Last Sacrament Special reunites writer Alex Paknadel and artist Troy Little for a new 48-page adventure. This issue is again a collaboration between comic book publisher Oni Press, game publisher Devolver Digital, and development studio Massive Monster.

Best Buy's 12 Days of Gaming sale is a great opportunity to stock up on some new games to play over the holidays at a lower price than usual. As for today's selection, one of the best deals available from the retailer is on Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch, which has seen its price drop to $39.99.

This is $30 off its PS5 and Xbox Series X price and $20 off its Switch price, but these discounts won't last for long. These offers are only running through the end of today, so in true Sonic fashion, you gotta go fast to grab them on sale while the deals are still available.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for $40

Ten years ago this week, a new era of Star Wars kicked into gear with the debut of Episode VII in the series. Given the drama that would follow in the years since, as far as the fan reactions and debates that have accompanied most other Star Wars releases, it may be hard to believe it, but… everyone was pretty damn happy after they saw The Force Awakens!

Look, obviously there is literally no movie in human existence about which everyone is on the same page, and Star Wars especially has simply been too big and too popular for too long to ever have a uniform reaction to anything new. But still, between the reviews and initial audience response, it was clear that the majority felt like there was a lot to enjoy about The Force Awakens, and a lot to be optimistic about going forward.

Then The Last Jedi came out, and, well, people are still losing their minds arguing about that movie, which has to be one of the most divisive films in the history of major Hollywood franchises. The Rise of Skywalker got the fandom a bit more back on the same page… except that page was that most viewers seemed to be at best indifferent if not outright unhappy about what that conclusion to the Star Wars sequel trilogy had to offer.

That makes the tenth anniversary of The Force Awakens land differently than it might, because it’s understandably forever connected to the two films that followed it in this particular trilogy. And if you didn’t like where those films went – and so many didn’t – it’s easy to think negatively about the entire sequel trilogy as a whole.

But The Force Awakens is still a really strong Star Wars movie; it has its notable flaws, to be sure, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. Rewatching the movie this month, I was struck by how much fun I was once again having, and how much it holds up. So grab some portions from Unkar Plutt, and read on for what makes The Force Awakens work!

Recapturing Those Star Wars Vibes

With The Force Awakens, co-writer and director J.J. Abrams and his collaborators were clearly trying to atone for where the prequel trilogy had gone wrong by delivering things fans had been missing in those films… some would even say to a fault (we’ll get to that). But overall, it remains very impressive and gratifying how The Force Awakens managed to truly feel like Star Wars in a way that no live-action project in the franchise had accomplished since Return of the Jedi 22 years before.

Yes, a big part of that is in the visual approach, with a return to far more actual locations, physical sets, and characters brought to life via puppetry, elaborate makeup, and costumes, as opposed to George Lucas leaning so heavily on digital environments and characters for so much of what was on screen in the prequels. To be clear, this isn’t a case where things were completely opposite on either end; after all, the prequels did still use some awesome miniatures, physical sets, and real life locations for many elements. And, clearly, The Force Awakens is also packed with terrific, highly realistic digital effects. But just look at the opening scene of The Force Awakens and how much more effective and immersive it is to see a group of real people wearing real Stormtrooper outfits vs. the completely digital Clone Troopers in the prequels – always one of the more egregious examples of Lucas turning to digital creations in a distracting and unnecessary manner. There is a stark contrast, with The Force Awakens approach innately more inviting and more at home for Star Wars.

Beyond the visual language of the movie feeling so much more welcoming, one other major strength of The Force Awakens is in how its main characters behave, and how they interact with one another. Abrams got his start on TV, and one thing his shows prior to Force Awakens – including Felicity, Alias, and Lost – have in common is that they are very well cast and have strongly defined, likeable characters at their core. This talent has served Abrams well throughout his career, including in The Force Awakens, where he assembled a wonderfully talented young cast and effortlessly establishes their characters as an engaging, charismatic group you enjoy watching. Daisy Ridley’s Rey, John Boyega’s Finn, and Oscar Isaac’s Poe all quickly make you want to spend more time with them and see what’s in store for their characters. Where the prequels had nearly every character speak in oddly stilted, formal language, these people sound like, well, people, letting you buy into the bonds that form between, say, Finn and Poe or Finn and Rey (Finn’s just making friends left and right, honestly).

There’s a lot of nice little character moments throughout the movie, from genuinely funny banter (“That’s not how the Force works!”) to small exchanges or observations. When Rey, who’s been raised on a desert planet, first arrives on a planet filled with foliage, her awed reaction – ”I didn’t know there was this much green in the whole galaxy” – is a sweetly human one, adding an appreciated touch to a universe where often characters seem to be pretty blasé about experiencing an entirely new environment unlike anything they’ve ever seen before.

Harrison Ford and Han Solo: Awesome Again!

Prior to The Force Awakens, the thought of Harrison Ford playing Han Solo again actually had many filled with trepidation, myself included. After all, Ford had long made it clear he wasn’t exactly a Star Wars super-fan, clearly appreciating what George Lucas and the series had done for his career while also having little investment in the story being told… and having famously suggested Han Solo be outright killed off in Return of the Jedi, feeling there was nothing else left of interest to do with the character.

On top of that, during the years between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, Ford’s public persona had gradually become an easy-to-parody grump – a semi-muttering, often seemingly disinterested guy we saw in talk show interviews, which began to bleed over into a feeling he was rarely giving his all in his performances any more. So it was easy to fear that when he came back as Han, it would feel incredibly insincere and like a hollow shell of the character audiences fell in love with.

Instead, as it turned out, Ford was really great in Force Awakens! In many ways, he felt like a newly revitalized actor, bringing with him all of the wit, charm, and not-so-hidden depth that made Han – and Ford in turn – beloved in the first place. It wasn’t just a huge relief; it was vital to the movie, with Han’s prominent role being more than justified by the legendary actor living up to his own legend once more.

Yes, it was sad to learn Han and Leia were no longer together, and how their marriage fell apart after their son, Ben, had fallen to the Dark Side. But Ford made sure we saw the regret on Han’s face about all that occurred, even while he forged a really touching surrogate parent-and-child bond with Rey that I found especially effective on this most recent rewatch. Here’s a girl who grew up without a parent, and a parent who’s essentially lost his child, and we see a genuine connection grow between them that each desperately needs.

All of this, of course, makes it all the more upsetting when Han is killed by his own son, Kylo Ren – the man who was once Ben Solo. While the death of any iconic hero will always have some pushback, Ford plays Han’s final moments just right, from the way he pleads with Kylo Ren to come back with him, to how he lovingly touches his son’s face even after he’s been mortally wounded by him.

In the years since The Force Awakens, Ford has continued to not only give many wonderful performances, but maintained a notably more upbeat, accessible attitude in his media appearances. Maybe all it took was stepping foot on the Millennium Falcon again to put the pep back in Harrison’s step!

The First Order’s Empire Echoes Make an Impact

Yes, The Force Awakens leans more heavily into the iconography of the original trilogy than it needs to, but the depiction of the First Order as a group who are mimicking everything they can about the Empire, including the look of their vehicles and their uniforms (as they likewise bring back the Empire’s attempt at galactic domination), always felt like something that made sense when looking at our real world. Unfortunately, and somewhat chillingly, this only feels more genuine a decade later.

Seeing members of a new generation take on the mantle, beliefs, and imagery of a hate-filled group from the past? Yeah, that sadly tracks. The fact that our main onscreen representatives of the First Order are Kylo Ren and General Hux, two guys who read as a hell of a lot younger and less confident than Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin did, also feels appropriate. We never get Hux’s backstory in the films, but it’s easy to imagine the sort of crappy upbringing and hateful holonet media a guy like him might have been consuming to make him into this genocidal brat.

The Nazi imagery for the Empire was clear from the start in Star Wars, but Abrams goes even further with the echoes here for the First Order, especially in Hux’s big speech. The idea that a bunch of people are buying into what he’s selling sadly resonates even more now than when the film opened.

Alright, Let’s Deal With What Doesn’t Work

So where do these echoes of the past go too far? Well, as much as the First Order specifically trying to look like the Empire feels appropriate, it’s notably forced that the Resistance in turn just looks like the Rebel Alliance with a few tweaks. These guys are still using X-Wings as their main combat starfighters? Come on, change that up! It’s been a few decades; let some of the original trilogy elements go, and show us that for those representing the light side, there actually has been progress. Hell, let’s give Poe and his fellow pilots some new uniforms that aren’t so similar to the orange ones Luke and his buddies wore. Everything doesn’t need to look like what came before. A cool thing about the prequels was how different the ships looked from the original trilogy, and how even when they began to introduce visual elements we’d recognize – like how the cockpits on the Jedi Starfighters in Episode III resembled those on a TIE Fighter – it wasn’t just the same exact ship, design-wise.

And then there’s Starkiller Base, which is just a dud. I’ve never had an issue with the basics of Rey’s situation mimicking Luke’s for a simple reason – George Lucas already did this when he introduced young Anakin Skywalker, and we learned he too started out as a nobody on a desert planet. So having all three trilogies introduce their protagonist this way? Sure, let’s do it, because it’s now a fun recurring element. As a great man once said, it’s like poetry; it rhymes.

But The Phantom Menace doesn’t also lead towards a showdown with a Death Star like the original Star Wars did. Oh, it sure evokes that battle, with Anakin joining a bunch of Naboo pilots in a battle against a sphere-shaped threat, but that particular threat – the Droid control ship – is not anything like the Death Star in terms of its capabilities.

It was already a bit silly when Return of the Jedi said, “Hey, there’s another Death Star.” The Force Awakens saying, “Hey, there’s another Death Star, but now it can destroy entire star systems at once, not just a single planet,” just feels lazy, especially because it feels like it wasn’t even a concept anyone making the movie was excited about, given how little weight it has in the story even after we see it used to kill, presumably, countless billions of lifeforms.

There were a million other purposes Starkiller Base could have served, and different missions that Han, Chewbacca, and Finn could have been sent on while also rescuing Rey, because as much as I like Poe Dameron, the least interesting part of the third act is those X-Wings attacking Starkiller Base…

The Explosive Finale

…but it’s not a dealbreaker, because so much else works so well around it from start to finish. In that third act, Han’s death is legitimately wrenching. Then you get that final lightsaber battle, and man, when Rey pulls that lightsaber to her, and it whips past Kylo Ren’s face into her hands as John Williams’ music soars, it is still absolutely thrilling. And I should know, since I let out a cheer from my couch while watching it happen the other day!

All of that “Rey’s a Mary Sue” crap that burbled up in the aftermath of the film’s release is ridiculous (it’s a good rule of thumb in life to never use the opinion of Max Landis as your basis for any argument), because the movie has already done plenty to earn her a fair shot in this fight. She may not have held a lightsaber yet, but Rey’s been established as skilled with a melee weapon from the start thanks to her staff, and Kylo Ren can quickly sense she’s strong in the Force even if she’s untrained. Yes, she was completely overwhelmed the first time she faced Ren, when she was notably armed with only a blaster. But in this final battle, he’s just been shot in the gut by Chewbacca’s bowcaster, and though he’s still walking after a blast that has killed many a stormtrooper, he’s clearly in bad shape. (As an aside, what a wonderfully weird touch it is having Kylo Ren keep punching the wound in his stomach, as though amplifying the pain is somehow helping to keep him on his feet).

Of course, he still dominates most of that lightsaber fight, keeping her on the defense. Yes, she then manages to turn the tables on him and come out on top, but only after she has her own “use the Force, Luke” moment, calling upon the Force even without completely understanding it yet… because she’s inherently freaking strong in the Force, like the dude whose face she just split open understands! It’s a thrilling conclusion to a really well done and involving film, and by the time Rey reaches the man, the myth, the legend – Luke Skywalker – and offers him his old lightsaber, it’s a reminder how wonderfully involving Star Wars can be, and how stirring it is as a modern day mythical story.

I know, I know – you may absolutely hate what comes next for Rey and Luke in a different movie that opened a couple years later, or you may hate what happens in the movie after that. Or you may hate both of them! I get that there’s a lot of people who feel like if they don’t like where follow-up installments go, then an early entry is now worthless – a retroactive waste of time. But how can it be a waste of time when it’s still so entertaining in and of itself? Even if you feel like the new hope that The Force Awakens offered was eventually squandered, it’s still comforting to look back and once more connect with the good feelings that hope on its own elicits.

After all, I hear you can build some pretty cool stuff with hope.

Nintendo has finally won damages in a Wii Remote lawsuit it's been fighting since 2010, over an unofficial controller that infringed on the company's patents.

15 years on, Nintendo has claimed victory in its extremely long-running battle against Bigben Interactive (since renamed Nacon), and has been awarded a judgment worth $7 million (around $8.2 million). The actual damages Nintendo has been awarded count for around half the amount, while the rest is made up of interest, since the case has dragged on for so long.

Why has it taken a decade and a half to sort? As reported by GamesFray, Nintendo won an early ruling on the case back in 2011, though Nacon has been able to delay a further decision on damages until now. And the matter still isn't over, as Nacon is now appealing the verdict — holding off on paying for even longer.

Back in 2010, Nintendo said a third-party Wii controller made by Nacon, then Bigben, infringed on its own patents and had caused the company to lose money. Without that third-party controller on the market, Nintendo argued, customers would have otherwise bought more of its official Wii Remote instead.

In response, Bigben said that customers could have chosen other third-party controllers as well as its own, so Nintendo couldn't claim it would have definitely lost out. But Nintendo ultimately won this argument, as a court decided that the company's patents were strong enough that no other third-party controller could have been made without others infringing on Nintendo's patents also.

Nintendo has a reputation for being a litigious company, pursuing video game pirates and instances where it feels its trademarks have been infringed — such as in its current legal action against Palworld maker Pocketpair, which it currently seems to be struggling with.

If nothing else, this latest development shows that Nintendo is nothing if not persistent. And if the company does want to pursue you, prepare to still be fighting, three console generations later.

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

Yes, it's true — Microsoft is bringing two of its hottest gaming franchises together for a Fallout Season 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 crossover event.

If you're wondering how, exactly, that may work, the official Call of Duty X/Twitter account has shared a brief video teaser which shows silhouettes of Fallout TV series characters The Ghoul, Lucy, and Maximus in the smoke of war, with bullets whizzing by in the background.

"Okie dokie — stay focused, stay alive," the text on the post reads. "[Fallout TV show] is coming to Call of Duty in Season 01 Reloaded."

Okie dokie - stay focused, stay alive ☢️@FalloutonPrime is coming to Call of Duty in Season 01 Reloaded 💥 pic.twitter.com/uyFl3mRDkG

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) December 17, 2025

The implication here certainly seems to be that Call of Duty fans will see skins of those characters, which may or may not be tied to a premium event pass. Without further details — let alone a release date — it's hard to say for sure, though. We'll keep you posted, as always.

It's an opportune time to unite these two blockbuster games, of course. Battlefield 6 now looks "extremely likely" to beat Black Ops 7 to be crowned 2025's best-selling game, with the latter seemingly not only struggling against Battlefield's sales, but also that of its predecessor, Black Ops 6.

Fallout, however, has never been more popular, and its highly anticipated second season premiered on Amazon Prime yesterday (December 17). The new Fallout season picks up in the aftermath of Season 1’s finale and travels through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas. Fans of Obsidian's much-loved video game will be interested to hear that Season 2 takes a "fog of war" approach (which sure does match the video we see above) to how it juggles Fallout: New Vegas' various endings.

We gave the opening episode of Season 2 a Good 7/10 but if you've yet to watch the first season, don't forget that Bethesda and Xbox recently teamed up with Amazon and Samsung so fans watching via Samsung TV Plus can stream Fallout Season 1 for free. This means Season 1 is available subscription-free on Samsung TV Plus from now through to December 25. Samsung TV Plus is a free, ad-supported streaming service available on Samsung TV, Galaxy, Smart Monitor, and Family Hubs devices.

The team behind Amazon's hit show are gearing up to film Season 3 "next summer," with the hope that there won't be a huge gap between the end of Season 2 and what's next. As for the games? Fallout 5 will indeed take into account the canon events of the TV series, Bethesda development chief Todd Howard has confirmed.

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.

After the disappointment of Magic: The Gathering’s Spider-Man set, Avatar: The Last Airbender has been a breath of fresh air.

And, ahead of the Holiday season, the latest set of the long-running card game is not only discounted at Amazon, but it’s slated to arrive before Christmas, too.

Looking for the Aang vs Zuko Beginner Box at a 20% discount, or a whole Jumpstart Booster Box for under $100? You’ve come to the right place.

Save Big on Magic’s Avatar Products Before Christmas

Tencent's upcoming post-apocalyptic open-world adventure Light of Motiram, widely-criticized for being a "clone" of Horizon Zero Dawn, has disappeared from Steam and the Epic Games Store.

You may recall that Sony was suing Tencent over the project, which it had officially dubbed a "slavish" Horizon Zero Dawn copy, via a copyright lawsuit filed in a California court at the end of July. Sony's argument outlined numerous similarities and compared various marketing screenshots from both games, as well as their descriptions.

Just like Horizon, Light of Motiram takes place in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by giant robot dinosaurs who roam large, natural environments such as tropical forests, deserts, and snowy mountains. Both games even feature red-haired women protagonists that wear very similar outfits and styles, and devices similar to Aloy's "Focus" earpiece.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, Sony formally accused Tencent of developing a "knock-off game" and asked the court for a preliminary injunction against Light of Motiram to stop the Chinese megacorp from commencing pre-release promotion of its upcoming version.

Just days after Sony filed its lawsuit, Tencent quietly updated its Light of Motiram Steam page and swapped out a number of screenshots, including its cover image, before responding to Sony's lawsuit by claiming it was only making use of "well-trodden" tropes and suggesting the PlayStation maker's own game was too similar to Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Indeed, Tencent hit back by describing Sony's lawsuit as an overreach, highlighting other game franchises with similar elements such as The Legend of Zelda and Far Cry. It was "startling," Tencent said, that Sony was now attempting to claim Horizon's concept was original, rather than an idea based on "ubiquitous genre ingredients."

The bitter battle now seems to have come to an end, however. As spotted by The Verge, new court papers filed yesterday, December 17, show both parties have reached a "confidential settlement" that appears to have ended Sony's lawsuit, and Tencent's counter-suit, too. All parties are reportedly responsible for their own fees and costs.

Without publicly sharing the terms of the deal, it's not possible to know how it all ended, although the disappearance of Light of Motiram is a fairly significant clue. The original URLs to both storefronts now redirect to each site's respective landing pages, and there's been no formal update from Tencent on the game's date. It seems unlikely we'll see it again, and almost certainly not in its present form.

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.

Magic: The Gathering’s 2025 might be remembered for the highs of Final Fantasy and the less well-received Spider-Man Universes Beyond set, but between those, one set was snubbed.

Landing in August, Edge of Eternities adds a space flavor to Magic, and comes with two great preconstructed decks. Now, thanks to a discount at Amazon, you can save on a bundle of them with two for each player.

Avengers: Doomsday directors Joe and Anthony Russo have posted a fresh tease for their upcoming Marvel blockbuster, exactly a year before it arrives in theaters — and featuring a countdown clock seen in the movie's apparently-leaked first trailer.

The 10-second clip, posted to the Russo's Instagram, features a clapperboard for Avengers: Doomsday, and then a countdown clock that begins ticking down from 12 months, showing the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the movie's arrival.

If this ticking clock looks and sounds familiar, well, it's because the same animation has been floating around the internet all week at the end of Doomsday's seemingly-leaked first trailer — the one that confirms the return of a major Marvel star who had previously been kept (mostly) under wraps.

While Marvel is yet to come out and confirm the leaked trailer's legitimacy, it is now all but certain to be is real. Not only does it feature the same countdown as in the Russo's post, but the trailer has been repeatedly removed from social media via copyright claims, only further confirming it's the real deal.

As IGN reported this morning, some fans have claimed to have now seen the full Doomsday trailer in theaters today, attached to early screenings of fellow Disney blockbuster Avatar: Fire and Ash. But others have left disappointed without seeing the trailer — its rollout currently sounds somewhat sporadic.

Over the past 12 hours, IGN has seen fresh clips of the Avengers: Doomsday trailer surface on social media apparently taken from within busy movie theaters — and we've also seen those same clips removed by a copyright claim, again adding weight to their legitimacy.

A plan to roll out four different Avengers: Doomsday trailers over Avatar: Fire and Ash's first four weeks was also previously verified by The Hollywood Reporter, further prepping audiences for what's to come. Currently, it's unknown if or when any of these trailers will be available publicly, rather than being kept to theaters to encourage Avatar attendance.

To date, Marvel has only officially released its infamous cast reveal "chair" video showing off the film's enormous ensemble cast that takes in surviving members of the old Avengers, the Thunderbolts (AKA The New Avengers), the Fantastic Four and several high-profile members of the Fox-era X-Men. A few production photos have leaked out over the film's shoot, and fans certainly have their theories over where Doomsday's story is headed, but much of the movie remains officially under wraps. When will we see more? The clock is now ticking...

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

Paramount has announced a star-studded cast set to join Johnny Depp in Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, a fresh take on the festive classic.

Harry Potter's Rupert Grint, The Hunger Games' Sam Claflin and Star Wars' Daisy Ridley will all join the former Pirates of the Caribbean legend, alongside Lord of the Rings' Ian McKellen, The Grudge's Andrea Riseborough and Severance's Tramell Tillman.

Depp will play the title role of Christmas-despising miser Ebenezer Scrooge in this retelling of the Charles Dickens' novella. The movie will be Depp's most prominent project since 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, following his recent high-profile legal issues with ex-wife Amber Heard.

FIFA has announced its next soccer game will be published in partnership with Netflix and developed by new studio Delphi Interactive.

Following the end of its partnership with EA in 2022, FIFA announced it was working on a portfolio of Web3 games ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, but it has been pretty quiet since then. According to its president Andy Kleinman, however, Delphi has been working for the past 30 months "to continue the legacy of one of my favorite video games of all time, FIFA."

Delphi, seemingly established in 2023, hasn't yet shipped a game, but describes itself as "the architects" behind 007 First Light and "uncompromising about quality."

While we haven't seen any screenshots yet, let alone gameplay, a press release claims the game will be "fast to learn, thrilling to master, and built for anyone to jump in," and playable — either solo or online — without a controller, as "all you need is Netflix and your phone."

"Football is the biggest thing in the world. As lifelong FIFA fans, we're honoured to help usher in the bold, next generation and reimagine the future of the franchise. Our mission is simple: make the FIFA game the most fun, approachable, and global football game ever created," said Casper Daugaard, founder & CEO of Delphi Interactive. Kleinman called it "one of those pinch-me" moments and hailed the project as "a historic exclusive partnership to launch the next generation of the FIFA football simulation titles."

"FIFA is very excited to team up with Netflix Games and Delphi Interactive ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026," added FIFA President Gianni Infantino said. "This major collaboration is a key milestone in FIFA's commitment to innovation in the football gaming space, which aspires to reach billions of football fans of all ages everywhere in the world and will be redefining the pure notion of simulation games. Our reimagined game truly marks the beginning of a new era of digital football. It will be available for free to Netflix members and is a great historic step for FIFA."

Partnering with Netflix and enabling soccer fans to get involved "with just the touch of a button" does sound like the sports sim will be more accessible to a casual audience. However, Netflix stresses the game will only be available "on select TVs in certain countries."

As Netflix subscribers can presently only play games in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, France, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Finland, Germany, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, that leaves a lot of soccer-loving countries without access. And while Netflix's CEO claims the game will be playable for "free," it's not entirely clear if this access will be paywalled behind certain subscription tiers.

FIFA 23 is the most successful game in the franchise, despite the fact EA delisted from online storefronts when it was just a year old.

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.

Magic: The Gathering has had a big 2025, but cardboard waits for no Planeswalker - so 2026 looks even more packed, with no fewer than seven sets.

The year kicks off with Lorwyn Eclipsed, and thanks to a surprise Amazon discount ahead of launch, you can save on a pack of four Commander decks to bring them down to a snip at under $34 each.

Marvel fans eagerly awaiting the new Avengers: Doomsday trailer say they've left Avatar: Fire and Ash midnight screenings disappointed when it didn't turn up — though others report successfully catching a glimpse.

The rollout of Disney's highly-anticipated first look at Avengers: Doomsday has been chaotic, following footage widely-believed to be from the trailer leaking online earlier this week, confirming the return of a major fan-favorite character. A plan to roll out four different Avengers: Doomsday trailers over Avatar: Fire and Ash's first four weeks has also been verified by The Hollywood Reporter, further prepping audiences for what's to come.

Now, with Avatar: Fire and Ash releasing around the world and early screenings taking place, Marvel fans are headed to their local theaters expecting the Doomsday trailer to appear. Many have been left disappointed, though there have also been reports of it popping up, and even more leaked footage of the trailer has now appeared online.

Many of the disappointed reports come from European theatergoers, who attended Avatar: Fire and Ash screenings in the early hours of this morning.

"POV: you're going to see Avatar at Pathe Cinemas, you're all excited to see the first images of Avengers Doomsday since everyone's talking about it and... nothing," French Marvel fan AlexDC815 wrote on social media. "Am I the only one who didn't get the teaser for Avengers Doomsday before Avatar 3?" questioned another French fan, Cov_Universe.

A third fan complained that they went to see Avatar at Disney Village, housed within the Disneyland Paris resort, and still didn't get the Avengers trailer. "I didn't get an Avengers Doomsday trailer before Avatar AT DISNEY VILLAGE???" wrote Pau7line, accompanying their post with a gif of a confused-looking dog.

The same was true for some fans on the other side of the Atlantic. "I WANT MY MONEY BACK!" demanded NacaoMarvete616, based in Brazil. "As I suspected, in my session at Cinemark, 10 minutes of advertisements and not a single trailer was shown! Neither for Avengers: Doomsday nor for any movie. Brazilian cinemas are a joke! Then they complain that the public doesn't go to the cinemas!"

But not everyone has said they've left disappointed. Over the past 12 hours, IGN has seen fresh clips of the Avengers: Doomsday trailer surface on social media apparently taken from within busy movie theaters — and we've also seen those same clips removed by a copyright claim, all but confirming their legitimacy.

Meanwhile, French pop culture blog JournalduGeek has reported that it attended an Avatar: Fire and Ash screening and did see the Avengers: Doomsday trailer. Indeed, in a second report, the outlet says it's conducted research and confirmed that the trailer will play at Paris' iconic Grand Rex theater in all screenings, while showings at the major French theater chain UGC are not guaranteed.

For more on what everyone is saying is in that trailer (or rather who), IGN has rounded up the clip's supposed contents.

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

Millions of digital horses were clad in armour on April 3, 2006. The survivors of this phenomenon called this downloadable content purchase a “microtransaction.” They lived only to face new nightmares: season passes, live service models, always-online single-player, loot boxes, pay-to-win, ship-now-fix-later patches, and more. Make no mistake, the team at Terminator 2D: No Fate developer Bitmap Bureau has seen this future, and they clearly don’t like it. As such, Terminator 2D is an unapologetically nostalgic sidescroller, specifically designed to send players directly back to the 16-bit era of the ’90s to experience the greatest T2 game we never played. Exceedingly short by modern standards but brimming with love for James Cameron’s indisputable sci-fi classic, Terminator 2D is part time machine, part uncommonly terrific movie tie-in. In an insane world, it’s the sanest choice.

Terminator 2D’s main story mode – which follows the events of T2, with a few expanded diversions – takes roughly an hour to complete successfully. However, it took me a few runs to actually achieve this. Admittedly, this is incredibly short by contemporary standards – but it’s nonetheless authentic to an era where a game’s perceived girth was significantly inflated by the amount of times you’d need to play through nearly the entire thing in order to reach the end.

This philosophy feels pretty heavily baked into Terminator 2D and, even though I no longer have the time, the patience, or the sugar-enhanced reflexes of a 12-year-old with no job, I do respect the format. Sure, burning through my continues on an encounter I didn’t quite understand immediately was frustrating, and needing to start all over again is never fun. However, pushing past punishing sections that gave me grief on previous playthroughs is undeniably rewarding. I only wish you weren’t limited to accumulating a maximum of just nine continues. Whenever you have nine in the bank, any further ones you collect are converted to bonus points instead. Failing on the last level does sting a little harder knowing I could’ve easily had a few more cracks at it.

Are We Learning Yet?

On account of Terminator 2D’s modest length, I’m hesitant to drill down too specifically on how and when it shifts up its various mechanics, because encountering and learning this stuff for yourself is really all part of the process. What I will say, however, is that Terminator 2D doesn’t stagnate as a one-speed sidescroller, and there are tweaks throughout that typically require a slight adjustment to your approach. That is, one moment you might be cutting a plasma-fueled path through a Skynet-ravaged future in an overtly Contra-inspired run-and-gun action section, and the next you’re sneaking through the Pescadero State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, engaging in mild stealth and hiding from the T-1000. This level loses its suspense on subsequent visits thanks to its scripted nature, but the tension the first time around was palpable thanks to the excellent use of T2’s original music and the predilection of the deadly T-1000 to pop up out of nowhere.

T2’s music is actually used to incredible effect all throughout. It essentially does all the heavy lifting in terms of atmosphere in the absence of voice acting, with the dialogue relayed through on-screen text. The power metal version of T2’s main theme is a major highlight, and there’s a fabulously engineered bit of licensed music available in the biker bar that had me grinning like a cybernetic organism in a well-stocked weapons bunker – just be sure to punch that jukebox.

Happily, Terminator 2D is as fabulous to look at as it is to listen to. Its pixel art isn’t just brilliantly handsome, either; it’s also silkily animated. It oozes character at every opportunity, from the way the T-800 disdainfully tosses that unlucky biker onto a burning grill, to the desperate backpedalling of Sarah in the shadow of her worst nightmare, to the final flailings of the T-1000 as it cycles through its most recent shapeshifts in the pool of molten metal.

I Know Now Why You Cry

My biggest disappointment overall is the surprising lack of T-800 sequences, resulting in a Terminator game where you unfortunately spend limited time as the Terminator itself. When playing the core story thread – that is, the one that runs faithfully to the film – you’ll only play as the T-800 during the biker bar beatdown and the canal chase. It’s true that, in the spirit of the film, Bitmap Bureau can’t simply turn the T-800 into a mass-murdering WMD. After all, as we all know, it’s under strict instructions from John not to kill anyone. As regularly as ’90s movie tie-ins coloured outside the lines – present company included – it would’ve been quite discordant to have the Terminator arbitrarily massacre his way through a few levels.

Nonetheless, it does feel like there are some missed opportunities here. For instance, the biker bar beat ’em up gameplay could’ve made a very logical reappearance in, say, a mall level where the T-800 was forced to slap down some security on his way to rendezvous with John for the first time. This could’ve crescendoed with the T-800 blasting at the T-1000 with his shotgun. As it stands, this iconic encounter occurs in a brief still screen before the motorcycle chase, with no associated gameplay. It feels brushed over considering just how mega that moment is in the context of the movie.

It’s odd, too, that the T-800 blasting the cop cars assembled outside Cyberdyne Systems is only a playable portion in runs destined for one of Terminator 2D’s alternate endings. We actually don’t get it in a regular canon run. It’s stranger still that the T-800 is a passenger for the entire final showdown at the steel foundry with the T-1000. You get a glimpse of the fight between the two as you hustle through the area as Sarah – and the part of the slugfest you can watch does contain some terrific fan service – but I feel like it would’ve been nice to be able to participate in that. I’m not sure whether or not the slight sidelining of the T-800 is related to the fact Arnold Schwarzenegger's likeness is not actually featured in Terminator 2D, while Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, Edward Furlong, and Michael Edwards are.

The T-800 does get some minigun action if you dabble with the decision options that become unlocked after completing the main story for the first time. These decisions send the story on a split path towards new endings that are bespoke to Terminator 2D. They’re an interesting novelty, and these paths result in some different riffs on previously completed levels, but I wouldn’t say they’re a massive boost to proceedings.

Completing these other paths is the key to unlocking several bonus modes, like a Boss Rush and one dubbed Mother of the Future (which focuses exclusively on Sarah). However, they’re really just slightly altered ways of playing the same thing over again – which is something I’ve done a whole bunch already just pounding through Story Mode. There’s also an ‘Arcade Mode’, which appears to just be Story Mode without continues. This one doesn’t interest me at all, and I’m not quite sure what it’s supposed to emulate. Going to the arcade with a hole in your pocket?

At any rate, T2 is already a perfect film with a perfect ending, so any perversion of it is naturally going to be pretty unsatisfying in comparison (which is a lesson I thought we all learnt watching the first five minutes of Terminator: Dark Fate).

The ecosystem around Turtle Beach’s competent VelocityOne Race wheel and pedal set, which grew earlier this year with the arrival of the great value VelocityOne Multi-Shift, recently expanded again with the introduction of a butterfly-style racing rim: the F-RX Formula Wheel (which is also compatible with Turtle Beach’s newest, entry-level direct drive bundle, the KD3). If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of a formula wheel, picture a steering wheel with the top and bottom completely cut away, and the only way to grip it is at nine and three o’clock. In the context of sim racing, they’re the best way to replicate virtually racing modern open wheelers, prototypes, and GT cars, because these are the sorts of steering wheels these cars typically come equipped with in the real world.

There are a variety of reasons for this. Race cars like those listed above run with a very narrow steering range, and you’ll only ever need to grip the wheel at nine and three o’clock to tackle any circuit (meaning the remainder of the rim is superfluous). Your hands also need to remain at one place on the wheel because that’s where the shift paddles are. The driving position in a race car is also generally much different to that in a regular production car, and a full steering wheel may block a driver’s view in a way a formula wheel (with the whole top portion of the wheel cut out) does not. Formula wheels aren’t perfect for all sim racing scenarios (they’re wildly impractical for drifting and rallying, nor are they natural for NASCAR), but they make a lot of sense if your driving tastes include any of the most popular games in the sim racing space (like iRacing, F1, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Le Mans Ultimate, Project Motor Racing, and many more).

The Turtle Beach F-RX Formula Wheel is actually a pretty attractive upgrade for both of Turtle Beach’s current wheelbases, particularly since it sits at the lower end of the budget when it comes to formula-style sim racing wheels. It’s a very sturdy rim with a satisfying and logical button layout, and it’s definitely been largely enjoyable to use in the right racing contexts.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne F-RX Formula Wheel – Design and Features

I should note immediately that the Turtle Beach F-RX Formula Wheel’s quick release collar is bespoke to Turtle Beach wheelbases, so that means it’s currently only compatible with the VelocityOne Race and the VelocityOne Race KD3. You can’t just pop it onto any wheelbase you might own. This makes it a very specific product for a very specific customer, but it does represent a genuine boost to Turtle Beach’s increasingly decent VelocityOne racing ecosystem.

The F-RX is constructed with an aluminium frame, and it feels very strong and rigid in the grasp. It’s 304mm in diameter (11.97”), which is a pleasingly realistic size, and the grips are rubberised and well curved and shaped for comfortable and confident control.

There are 10 mechanical, RGB-backlit buttons – five on the left and five on the right of the rim, arranged in rough semicircles for easy thumb access. These buttons feature customisable lighting. In addition to these, there are three rotary encoders on the face of the wheel, as well as two more angled towards where your thumb rests – one facing the left grip and the other facing the right. Below those angled encoders are two analogue-style nubs; they have a very short throw but their small, concave surfaces and clicky actions make them simple to use.

On the back the F-RX features four paddles – two magnetic shifters and two programmable clutch paddles (the latter of which use Hall sensors).

A 10-LED shift light runs across the top of the wheel’s face, framed between some minimal branding (which is considerably more subtle than the large logo that adorns the rims that come with the original VelocityOne Race and the new KD3). I don’t find these particularly crucial; only the brightness of the shift lights can be customised (as opposed to the colours) and virtually no Xbox games actually appear to be sending this kind of info to Turtle Beach wheels, anyway. That is, when I’m playing something like, say, Assetto Corsa Competizione on Xbox, I’m focusing on the on-screen HUD for these kinds of visual aids. The only Xbox games listed to send telemetry data to Turtle Beach wheels are F1 24 and F1 25.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne F-RX Formula Wheel – Performance

First and foremost, the F-RX is suitably satisfying to hold and race with. Considering I have rather large hands, that’s not always a given. My personal preference would have been a flocked finish because I like the feel of it and my hands get less clammy (I don’t play racing sims with gloves, but I do know it’s not an uncommon trait in the sim racing community). However, the rubber finish on the F-RX’s grips is fine nonetheless. I enjoy not only the shape of the rim, but also the thickness of the grips. It feels comfortable to grasp for extended periods, and sufficiently chunky. That is, it doesn’t feel dainty or toy-like at all, which is pleasing.

It’s also a very nicely weighted rim, giving it a robust and firm feel with no real flex or creaking, although at just 1.38kg (3.04lbs) it’s not too heavy for the lower torque VelocityOne Race KD3 wheelbase. It does wiggle very slightly at the base of the quick release collar, but not in a way I detected while actually racing.

The buttons on the face of the rim have a satisfyingly tactile action which requires more than an accidental amount of force to activate. Their audible, mechanical click takes away any of that mushiness you sometimes get from buttons without it. I would wager this would be particularly useful feedback for players who do like to wear gloves. The buttons are set in metal plates fixed to the rim’s outer shell and appear they’ll be quite hardy.

The three rotary dials on the face of the wheel each have 12 settings, and they have a nice, heavy click to their rotation. They all need a very firm twist to clunk into each available setting. That kind of mechanical feedback is very useful in knowing the adjustments you’re making without needing to take your eyes off the racing. As usual, I should note that while the F-RX rim is compatible with both PC and Xbox (like the original VelocityOne Race and KD3), you won’t get the functionality of all these buttons and dial settings when playing on Xbox (where the ceiling for controls is limited to what can be assigned to a traditional, 16-button controller).

The magnetic shifters have firm and sharp actions. There’s a little flex at the base of the thick metal paddles, but it’s nothing severe and only noticeable if you’re squeezing significantly harder than necessary. The equally thick clutch paddles are just as rigid as the shifters, but they have a softer action, and the return force is consistent however much they’re depressed.

The VelocityOne Race KD3 racing wheel and pedals set is the most recent bundle of driving sim gear from Turtle Beach, and each part of it is an all-new piece of kit for the company’s small-but-growing racing ecosystem. The KD3 wheelbase itself is less potent than the original VelocityOne Race, but it’s also markedly cheaper. Overall, in terms of torque, it’s actually a more level competitor to the similarly-specced Moza R3 bundle (the original Velocity One, for reference, has more than double the force feedback power of the KD3).

With a 3.2Nm wheelbase, a swappable, 300mm/11.77’’ rim, and a two-pedal accelerator and brake assembly, the KD3 is a competent, ready-to-race package that far eclipses similarly-powered gear- and belt-driven alternatives (that are becoming increasingly outmoded as the prices of starter direct drive wheels trend lower) in terms of driving feel and performance. However, the caveat is that the upgrade environment for Turtle Beach racing equipment is nowhere near as extensive as it is with Moza right now so, while there’s a lot I like about the KD3, it can’t represent my first recommendation at this time.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3 Racing Wheel & Pedals – Design and Features

The VelocityOne Race KD3 racing wheel and pedals set is a complete, plug-and-play racing system that’s ready to rock, right out of the box – and all the gear inside is new to the Turtle Beach racing line-up. The package comes with the new 3.2Nm KD3 wheelbase, a round, 300mm Xbox-compatible steering wheel that’s very different from the one that comes with the original VelocityOne Race, and a new pedal set with a throttle and brake (two pedals, so no clutch). A table clamp is also included for those without dedicated racing rigs to bolt it all into.

The design of the wheelbase itself is a lot sleeker than the original VelocityOne. The plastic shell around Turtle Beach’s first wheelbase was admittedly pulling multiple duties (housing the integrated display, disguising the built-in table clamps, and even providing a storage cubby for the multitool it ships with to put it all together). However, that’s a bulkier unit that resembles older (and larger) gear- and belt-driven bases, even though it’s actually just a plastic shell housing a direct-drive system. The KD3 is small and compact in comparison (185mm x 133mm x 291mm/7.28” x 5.24” x 11.46”, 3.3kg/7.28lbs), and its cylindrical design is modern and effective.

The base and separate table clamp are metal and feel nice and sturdy. The clamp does not bolt to the KD3’s base, and instead holds it down by pinching it against the surface of your table or desk. This was actually a little fiddly to initially slide in, as it won’t be jimmied in while the KD3 is at 0° elevation (the instructions could’ve been a little clearer about that), and the adjustable knob used to tilt the unit back wasn’t entirely cooperating out of the box (it didn’t want to budge).

However, after loosening the adjuster it’s all quite straightforward to install. The angle adjustment has three preset slots at 0°, 10°, and 20°. It’s nice to be able to run the wheel at 0° when I clipped on the new Turtle Beach FR-X Formula Wheel (which is a separate add-on) to race GT cars in Assetto Corsa Competizione, but tilt it back a little when driving more conventional production cars in something like Forza Horizon 5. For comparison, the Moza R3 has a very good (and extremely strong) table clamp, but it does have a fixed, 15° lean on it.

The wheelbase features five USB-C ports on the rear (for the pedals, plus other accessories you may acquire separately), an emergency stop on top, and a light ring and small display. The display can feature telemetry for supported games (which is largely a PC thing rather than Xbox, where live telemetry is mostly unsupported). I personally don’t really find this kind of thing massively useful because realistically I just look at my dash and/or HUD display on screen and not at the wheel itself while driving. However, the screen means you can access and change certain settings without going into the Turtle Beach VelocityOne tuning app, so there’s certainly no harm in it.

The wheel that comes with the KD3 is 300mm (11.77’’) wide, which is actually a great size (and a fraction bigger than the Moza rim that comes with the R3. It’s also round, rather than D-shaped, like the wheel with the original VelocityOne (it’s not perfectly round and there is a slight flat spot on the bottom of the wheel, but it’s very, very close). This makes it way more suitable for rallying and drifting.

It does feel pretty cheap, though, and there’s a lot of hollow plastic that’s screwed together from the rear. I don’t love the noticeable screw holes; thankfully there aren’t any directly behind where my hands naturally sit at nine and three o’clock, but I have a habit of finding the holes right above my forefingers when rotating, and they feel odd being there. That said, it doesn’t feel flimsy or creak in the hands, which is obviously important. The flat buttons on the face of the wheel are all pretty close together, so I needed to be deliberate with my thumb presses to not mash multiple ones accidentally. The shift paddles are a great size, and they have a soft but suitably clicky action.

The pedal box is nice and large (it’s a little over 400mm/16’’ long) and comes with an accelerator and brake. It’s a bespoke, two-pedal frame in a plastic shell and there would be no scope to add a third pedal to this box for a clutch. The brake pedal can be shifted laterally slightly, and the resistance on both pedals comes from a pair of springs (rather than a more expensive load cell like on the original VelocityOne Race). These springs are adjustable; I left both on how they came out of the box, but if you want more resistance you can tweak it.

You can switch out these pedals on the KD3, but the three-pedal Turtle Beach set with the load cell brake is only available in the original VelocityOne Race bundle right now.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3 Racing Wheel & Pedals – Performance

3.2Nm of torque is admittedly about as mild as you’ll get from a direct drive wheelbase, but it is an entry level product. It otherwise sits around the level of old gear- and belt-driven wheels like the Logitech G29 and G923, and the Thrustmaster T128 and T248. The Moza R3 (which is also a direct drive wheelbase) has 3.9Nm.

The feedback quality, however, is pretty good for this level of price and power. Curbs buzz, bumps feel decent, and there’s enough resistance to communicate enough cornering force to get by. I’d love it to do better at translating the front end scrubbing and clawing through corners, although I don’t always know whether that’s something I can dial in better at a setting level, whether in the wheel itself or in my sims.

Above everything, however, the feedback is silent (and instant). At the risk of repeating myself, this is the massive benefit of direct drive, and why I find it very hard to go back to gear- or belt-driven alternatives.

As mentioned, the 300mm/11.77’’ rim is a great size, and probably a little bigger than I might have expected given the low torque KD3 wheelbase. However, it is very light (1.21kg/2.67lbs) so we’re not losing feedback through a heavy rim. The rim snaps on with the same, ball bearing-style quick release collar that’s bespoke to Turtle Beach’s VelocityOne gear, and there’s minimal wiggle.

The Hall Effect pedals don’t require a ton of force to activate, but at this price point that’s really to be expected. I do like the size of the pedal box, as it’s easily big enough to get both heels on. This prevented it tipping up under either hard acceleration or braking, and I had no problems using the pedals totally unattached to the floor of my sim seat (which just has a rail at the front to stop them sliding forward). The pedals are connected to the wheelbase from a port on the side of the pedal box, so you won’t have to worry about smooshing that connector against a wall if you were to use this set-up under your desk.

Few gifts would be as universally appreciated as a spanking new iPad. Just in time for Christmas, Target has lowered price of the latest 2025 Apple iPad Air 11" M3 128GB tablet to the lowest price of the year. Right now you can pick up the 128GB WiFi model for $399.99 after a $200 off discount (normally $599). This beats the lowest price I saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday by $50. Your order should be delivered before Christmas, although it depends on your location.

2025 Apple iPad Air 11" M3 128GB for $399.99

Piecing together a puzzle is a great way to relax. Whether you enjoy the hobby on your own or with others, there's quite a few different formats to choose from these days, too. There are some puzzles that offer fun 3D builds that bring your efforts to life and some even tell a story with a secret ending that ties it all together. If you don't frequently build puzzles, though, finding a good option like the ones previously mentioned means tracking down a reliable brand first and going from there.

One visit to Amazon will show you that there's an abundance of companies offering different puzzles at varying price points, which can feel quite overwhelming. We're here to help, though. In this list, we've gathered up some of our favorite puzzle brands that we believe are worth dropping money on and noted some puzzles from each that we highly recommend. If you've been itching to pick up something new to get stuck into, have a look at our collection of the best puzzle brands below.

Ravensburger

Ravensburger is a brand that's been around for a while, offering a wide range of puzzle sizes from smaller 500-piece options - and even lower, if you prefer - to one of the largest puzzles with 40,000 pieces. Yes, really! The puzzle pieces are cut to fit neatly into place, with the company stating on its website that its "puzzles are made using custom-built tools and steel strips, handcrafted by skilled artisans. This meticulous process ensures each piece fits perfectly, providing a flawless puzzle experience without any false fits." The company also notes that each puzzle goes through quality checks, so you know you're getting a product that'll last. It's also worth noting that Ravensburger puzzles are even used in the world jigsaw puzzle championship.

Below you can find some Ravensburger puzzles we'd recommend in a wide range of sizes. Starting from just 500 pieces and going up to a whopping 5,000, there's a puzzle for every challenge level available. We've even included a couple of their 3D puzzles if you want a finished product that you can set up afterward. Ravensburger also has many officially licensed puzzles from franchises like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and The Lord of the Rings.

Recommended Puzzles From Ravensburger

Magic Puzzle Company

The Magic Puzzle Company really lives up to its name. Its magical puzzles combine a "traditional jigsaw puzzle experience with ideas from the worlds of tabletop games and magic," according to its website. It's become a very beloved brand as well, with its Kickstarter boasting 62,284 backers from when it was last updated. Each of its 1,000-piece puzzles features over 50 easter eggs for you to find, but the coolest part about them is the special secret ending you get after finishing the first part of the puzzle. This important element helps tie together the story from the first set of pieces in the box, making it even more satisfying to finish. There are now a total of four full series' releases of these puzzles with series four arriving at Amazon earlier in 2025. The first official Series Five Magic puzzle is available on Amazon as well, but the full set has yet to arrive.

Each puzzle from the Magic Puzzle Company offers a unique experience with original art, to boot. We've included a few of our recommended puzzles below that each have something interesting to bring to the table, from the magical Mystic Maze to the colorful Gnomes' Homes.

Recommended Puzzles From Magic Puzzle Company

Springbok

Springbok is another well-regarded brand that's been around for a very long time - since 1963 to be exact. The company offers a variety of different puzzles to choose from so you can find an option that best suits your personal tastes and skill level. Each one is made with a lot of love, too. The company prides itself on creating quality puzzles, stating on its website that, "The quality of our dies and above average thickness of our chipboards ensures the interlocking pieces will come together flawlessly multiple times."

From piecing it together to admiring the final work and all of the details within it, Springbok's puzzles will keep you busy for quite a while. Below we've included a few fun puzzles from their collections, from a selection of sweet treats to a puzzle paying homage to some excellent films.

Recommended Puzzles From Springbok

Heye

Heye's puzzles come in a fun variety of unique designs and ones with incredible amounts of detail. On its website, you can find the 'Puzzle' category broken down into five sections: Art Lab, Cartoon, Fantasy, Fine Art, and Photo Art. Each of these is further broken down into more sections so you can explore the many different styles of puzzle that are available. Not only that, but Heye also offers a range of puzzle sizes, from 500 pieces to 6,000, so you can easily find one that fits the challenge level you're looking for.

On top of its creative puzzle designs, the company also notes on its website that, "HEYE puzzles have been successively converted to plastic-free production without plastic bags and shrink wrap." That's a very big win for sustainability. Below you can find just a few of our recommended puzzles from Heye.

Recommended Puzzles From Heye

Rokr

Not all puzzles come in a 2D format. If you're looking for something a little different to work with, Rokr offers a great collection of 3D builds that can up your puzzling game with their intricate designs. With 10 years of experience and, according to its website, 4,190 Happy Members, Rokr is a reliable brand for those looking to expand on their puzzling skills. Its models are built to last, too. On its website, the company states that it prioritizes, "the use of durable, child-safe materials to ensure that our products not only withstand the rigors of play but also provide a reliable and secure play environment."

Below we've listed just a few of our favorite puzzles from Rokr, from an illuminated globe to a miniature pinball machine. These come with varying amounts of puzzle pieces as well, so there's a little something for every challenge level here. If you're looking for a good LEGO alternative, we recommend starting witht his brand.

Recommended Puzzles From Rokr

Buffalo Games

Buffalo Games is another brand that's been in the game for a while, since 1986. The company has crafted numerous puzzles since then, with care for their construction at the forefront of its mind. According to its website, the company states that, "With a careful eye for quality and sustainability, our puzzles use the thickest graphic board, premium paper, and sturdy set-up boxes." Each puzzle is also "manufactured using a precision cutting technique that guarantees every piece snaps into place with our signature Perfect Snap™ technology."

Whether you want a puzzle with a scenic view or one that captures your favorite piece of entertainment, Buffalo Games has quite a few options to choose from. We've included just a few of our favorites below in varying sizes, from 300 to 2,000 pieces. It's also worth noting that this brand makes some of the very best Pokemon puzzles on the market for both kis and adults.

Recommended Puzzles From Buffalo Games

New York Puzzle Company

The New York Puzzle Company was founded in 2007, but it has grown substantially since then. It now includes licenses from quite a few popular franchises including Harry Potter, Peter Rabbit, and The New Yorker. According to the company's about us page, these puzzle makers try to focus on picking evocative images and providing the right level of challenge. You can really see that idealogy in every puzzle, and each and every one is fit to be framed once you're done. New York Puzzle Company jigsaw puzzles are full-on art pieces just waiting to be put together.

How Do You Know if a Brand Has Quality Puzzles?

It's always worth researching a brand when you come across a puzzle that interests you to learn more about them. Quite a few companies will have further details about them on their website to read so you can have a better idea about who you're buying from. Another great way to learn more about a brand is by reading reviews or comments from fellow puzzlers online who have bought from the brand previously. Doing this can help you make a good judgement call about a brand and if they're worth your time and money. New York Puzzle Comap

Jigsaw Puzzle FAQs

What is the best piece count for puzzles?

Puzzles come in a pretty wide variety of piece counts, but some of the most common are 300, 500, and 1000-piece puzzles. Choosing what piece count is right for you depends on a mixture of how good you are at puzzles, how much time you have, and whether or not you have a dedicated space to do puzzles. Lower piece counts are usually better for casual puzzlers and kids, but higher piece counts are better for adults and challenge seekers. That being said, the most common piece counts you'll see from the best jigsaw puzzle brands are 500 and 1000-piece puzzles.

What type of material is good for quality puzzles?

For most quality jigsaw puzzles, a sturdy cardboard base is what you'll find used as the material. You can usually judge a puzzle's quality by just how sturdy and thick the cardboard is. Puzzle cardboard (also known as chipboard) comes in a pretty wide variety of thicknesses and this can affect how easily the puzzle fits together. Lower-quality puzzles will usually use thinner base coardboard resulting in flimsier pieces that don't have that same 'click' when you put them together. Outside of cardboard, wood can be a good material for puzzles. However depending on the type of wood used you might end up with chipped or splintered pieces. Most of the time high-quality cardboard is what you should be looking for.

3D Puzzles vs. 2D Puzzles

In the world of jigsaw puzzles, there are multiple dimensions in which you could be working with. 2D puzzles are the standard flat versions most folks are used to, but the 3D variety brings the puzzle into model kit territory. If you're trying to choose which type of puzzle to buy, it really just comes down to whether or not you want to display the end result. 3D puzzles are great if you're looking to build something to keep on a shelf or a desk, whereas 2D puzzles are great for framing and hanging on your wall. If you're just looking for a jigsaw puzzle to put together at your leisure and then stuff back in the box, 2D is the way to go.

If you're interested in 3D puzzles, we recommend you check out some of the coolest book nook kits for adults. These are designed to sit on your shelf among a book collection. You can also see our guide to the best 3D puzzle alternatives to popular LEGO sets if you're looking for something specific.

Are Expensive Puzzles Better Quality?

Puzzling can certainly be an expensive hobby if you do a lot of puzzling. Because of this there are a lot of really cheap jigsaw puzzles available at online retailers like Amazon from brands you've likely never heard of. The general rule of thumb is that a cheaper puzzle will most likely be lower-quality than a more expensive one. This is because higher-quality puzzles are usually made of higher-quality materials (thicker cardboard, wood, etc). That being said, not every expensive puzzle is going to automatically be better quality than something cheaper. It all depends on the brand and what licensing has gone into the making of that puzzle.

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

Give the gift of Sonos for Christmas. As part of a greater Sonos Cyber Sale on select certified refurbished sound bars, speakers, and subs, you can pick up the Sonos Arc for just $399 with free delivery before Christmas. That's nearly $500 less than its original retail price of $900. It's a better value than picking up the Arc Ultra, currently "on sale" for $879.

Sonos refurbished products go through rigorous testing; they come with all accessories, manuals, and documentation and are reshipped in "pristine" packaging. Most importantly, Sonos includes the same 1-year warranty as buying new. I like when retailers offer the same warranty as new because that means they have faith in the reliability of their refurbs.

Sonos Arc Soundbar (Refurbished)

As avid puzzlers know full well, the humble jigsaw puzzle is a thing of beauty in multiple ways. Not only are jigsaws an absorbing time sink, but multiple studies have demonstrated they are good for you both mentally and physically. As you fit the pieces into place, they can be enjoyed alone or as a communal activity, and remain to be a fun hobby for all ages. Plus, when you’re finished, you’re often left with a delightful piece of art and sense of accomplishment.

The only downside to puzzles is they can take up a surprising amount of space, especially puzzles with 1000+ pieces. If you get into working on bigger puzzles, they can eat up your dining room table, coffee table or desk space for long stretches of time. This is why many jigsaw fans have a dedicated puzzle-solving table or board these days, often equipped with useful accessories. You have foldable and portable options, multi-purpose tables (for playing cards and the like), and ones with drawers to organize the pieces as you go. No matter what you're looking for or what your budget is, we've found some viable options for you below.

TL;DR: These Are the Best Puzzle Tables and Boards

If you’ve got the puzzle bug or simply want an easier setup for regular puzzling, below are our top puzzle table and board picks right now to solve your space and storage problems, no matter your budget. Each of our picks represent a different category of table or board to fit different jigsaw puzzle needs. There are a lot of different options to choose from within these categories, so we've narrowed it down to one entry for each that we think fits the category best.

1. Bits and Pieces Fold and Go Table

Best for portability

I have a dangerous relationship with digital storefronts, and this week did nothing to improve it. I went in to check one price, came out with a mental shopping list and a lighter conscience. These are the deals that genuinely stopped me scrolling.

Contents

• Retro
• Nintendo
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• PC
• PC Gear
• LEGO

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I'm using a lit deku stick to light a 27-candle cake baked for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I don't unabashedly gush about too many games, but this one warms my very soul. On launch day I happened to find myself in a place of loss and uncertainty in my life; all I wanted to do was retreat from the world. Fortunately, I found solace and, frankly, absolute wonder in the theretofore unimaginably boundless and bountiful 3D land of Hyrule. Truly, OOT is a masterpiece of gaming -- the grandpappy that sired many more masterpieces in a ridiculously storied franchise. GOAT of GOATs.

During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there were surprisingly few GPU deals. Fortunately, if you've been waiting for one of the more affordable Blackwell cards to come back in stock at a reputable retailer, there are a couple of good deals available right now. Walmart is offering two GeForce RTX 5070 12GB graphics card models starting at just $489 shipped. That's better than most 5070 deals I've seen because both GPUs feature a triple-fan cooling system. The RTX 5070 is an excellent GPU for gaming at up to 1440p at comfortable framerates, and even at 4K with the help of DLSS4.

MSI Shadow RTX 5070 12GB OC Graphics Card for $489

Samsung has announced it will offer its Micro RGB TV in a lot more sizes. Starting sometime in 2026, you'll be able to get one of the company's OLED alternatives in sizes as low as 55 inches – all with AI features, of course. Can't not have that.

The TVs will also come in 65, 75, 85, 100, and 115 inches. Samsung isn't ready to say how much they'll cost, though. I'm sure they won't be cheap, but I'm sure the smaller ones' price tags will be easier to stomach than the $30,000 the company charges for its current 115-inch model. Why so expensive? Well, the tech is new and promises a richness of color not possible with current LCD panels, apparently hitting 100% of the BT.2020 color gamut. That's something even IGN's favorite gaming TV, the Samsung S90F OLED, can't manage.

As Stardew Valley fans continue to wait patiently for the previously announced 1.7 update, creator Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) has dropped a couple small, vague, yet exciting hints about what said mysterious update might entail: a new farm type, and "more character/social stuff."

This comes from a tweet/X post from ConcernedApe, where he was asked if he could give any hints about the upcoming update. His response was pretty simple: "there will be some more character/social stuff, it's also traditional to add a new farm type. Lots more but I don't want to reveal much yet."

there will be some more character/social stuff, it's also traditional to add a new farm type. Lots more but I don't want to reveal much yet

— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) December 17, 2025

That's not a ton of detail, but certainly enough to spark the imagination. The new farm type was indeed to be expected. Stardew Valley started with just one style of farm map, and since its release, most major new content updates have added at least one for a total of eight different options. Each farm map centers around a different specialty, with the Standard map being fairly generic and open-ended, and other maps promoting fishing, foraging, mining, combat, multiplayer, a combination of fishing and foraging, and animal raising. Currently, this means that basically every type of playstyle is supported, so there's a lot left to wonder about when it comes to imagining what new farm type could be added. Perhaps something that encourages building NPC friendships?

The "character/social stuff" is a little more vague. This could mean anything from new scenes and events with existing characters to new characters entirely. It's really hard to say at this stage!

Popular fan requests for future Stardew Valley features include more NPCs, including more romanceable NPCs, more dialogue and world lore, but also just generally more of everything: more animals, more crops, more decorations, more clothing, more enemies to fight, dishes to cook, and so forth. ConcernedApe hasn't really revealed anything so far about what 1.7 will contain, or even when we might expect it. He's given no release date, only suggested that it's possible it doesn't come out until after Haunted Chocolatier releases. Maybe. It'll be ready when it's ready.

ConcernedApe did drop one other thing, though. When asked about a potential Nintendo Switch 2 edition, he said he's announce something "very soon." A Switch 2 edition was first announced back in September, and will bring mouse controls, four-player split screen multiplayer, and Game Share multiplayer to the Switch version. No release date has been given yet.

We re-reviewed Stardew Valley in 2024 to account for its many, many updates since launch in 2016. While our original review gave it an impressive 8.8/10, the re-review called it a 10/10 masterpiece, saying, "Stardew Valley is not only the best farming game I’ve played, it is one of my favorite games of all time. That myself and others keep returning to this eight-year old gem each time it gets even the smallest update speaks to how it’s truly a masterpiece in the genre it both reinvigorated and has come to define."

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.