The Finals developer Embark Studios has responded to criticism from voice actors and developers after it was slammed for using AI voice overs in its hit shooter.
The studio said "making games without actors isn't an end goal" and claimed it uses a mix of both recorded audio voices and audio generated via AI text to speech (TTS) tools for its games.
"We use a combination of recorded voice audio and audio generated via TTS tools in our games, depending on the context," an Embark spokesperson told IGN.
"Sometimes, recording real scenes where actors get together — allowing character chemistry and conflict to shape the outcome — is something that adds depth to our game worlds that technology can’t emulate. Other times, especially when it relates to contextual in-game action call-outs, TTS allows us to have tailored voice over where we otherwise wouldn't, for example due to speed of implementation."
The studio previously said it uses "AI with a few exceptions", with those being the random grunts and breathing noises the AI TTS tools can't create yet. Embark said in July these sounds are recorded by the normal developers and not paid voice actors though, as they're "something we use us in the studio to record, just grunting".
The developer has now walked back these comments, however, saying the open beta uses a mix of professional voice actors and temporary voices from Embark employees.
"In the instances we use TTS in The Finals, it's always based on real voices," the spokesperson said. "In the open beta, it is based on a mix of professional voice actors and temporary voices from Embark employees. Making games without actors isn’t an end goal for Embark and TTS technology has introduced new ways for us to work together."
Genshin Impact, Dying Light, and Ghostrunner 2's Kit Harrison also slammed Embark on X/Twitter. "What really sticks with me is that they needed to bring in real actors to get the grunting, effort, and breathing sounds because the AI can't do it," the voice actor said. "It can't replicate the noise that I make when I stand up from my chair, but it wants to take my job? Don't make me laugh."
The developer's comments were also criticised by Elsie Lovelock, who appears in Baldur's Gate 3, Wargroove, and more. "The kicker is, it still sounds like crap regardless of how realistic they think it sounds," she said on X/Twitter.
In our preview of the game, IGN said: "The Finals is a fast-paced first-person shooter that focuses on arcadey game styles and game-show mechanics. What makes it unique is that everything, and I mean everything, can be destroyed. It’s a lot to take in, but after playing a bunch of it, all of the elements manage to work really well together when the game isn’t stuttery and buggy."
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
Nintendo Switch Online’s game library swells this week with the addition of two obscure NES games and a Castlevania Game Boy game for Halloween.
First up is 1984’s Devil World, one of Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka, and Koji Kondo’s early NES games, now available in the U.S. for the first time. In this puzzle adventure, the player navigates mazes and avoids the machinations of the devil (the demon from Devil World is an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate). In Devil World, wherever the devil points, the maze scrolls in that direction, potentially restricting movement and closing off escape routes.
The second NES game is 1986’s The Mysterious Murasame Castle. In this feudal Japan-set game, a mysterious evil force takes control of Murasame Castle. You join a young samurai apprentice called Takamaru and use his sword and shuriken attacks against swarms of enemies.
And finally, 1998 Game Boy game Castlevania Legends sees the player take up arms as Sonia Belmont in a story set before the original Castlevania game.
A paid Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership is required to access Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online, SEGA Genesis – Nintendo Switch Online, and Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Switch Online libraries of games, and to access the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise, and Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion DLC at no additional cost.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop is one of the quintessential action movies of the 1980s. It pushed the envelope with over-the-top violence, killer one-liners, and fantastic special effects, mixed with a biting anti-corporate social commentary under the surface that resonated with audiences. There have been multiple attempts to resurrect the series over the years, including an ill-fated reboot in 2014, but nothing has captured the ephemeral “it” that struck a chord when the series debuted. That’s what is most impressive about RoboCop: Rogue City: it’s not just a solid first-person shooter set in the RoboCop universe – developer Teyon absolutely nails the look and feel of its film inspiration in ways that nothing else has. It’s a good game, and the most authentic adaptation the series has ever seen.
The story itself is nothing groundbreaking: a bad guy who looks like he is fated to be thrown off the top of Naktatomi Plaza in Die Hard is up to no good, and you need to stop him. OCP is still an evil corporation, and drug-fueled gangs rule the streets. If you’ve ever seen an old-school action movie set in a city you’ll know what to expect.
RoboCop himself is also treading familiar ground, with what remains of Officer Alex Murphy still struggling with figuring out the line between man and machine within himself, this time with the help of a therapist. That’s the most compelling thematic thread, and it felt like it could’ve been interesting to explore. Unfortunately, it exists exclusively in dialogue options and cutscenes, with no ramifications in gameplay. That’s too bad, as it relegates us to being an observer in his introspective crises, rather than sharing in it.
DEAD OR ALIVE, YOU'RE COMING WITH ME
It also makes some degree of sense in that Rogue City is primarily a first-person shooter about blowing through hordes of criminal scum, but it is also smart about focusing on what makes the titular character unique. Robo (as his friends call him) is a walking tank. The slow, plodding bounce of his gate, with a heavy thunk accompanying each footfall, makes him feel like a juggernaut. The street gangs, bikers, and mercenaries that make up the bulk of the enemy fodder aren’t anywhere close to as powerful as he is, and it is so fun to walk right at these evil doers, shrugging off their small arms fire, and shredding them to literal pieces with the brap brap of Robo’s iconic Auto 9 machine-pistol.
It’s exceptionally violent, as it should be.
It’s exceptionally violent, as it should be. Arms and heads explode like pressurized watermelons, bodies tumble and ragdoll all around, and enemies scream about lost limbs. There are often a lot of enemies on screen at once, and turning them into a shower of crimson is a frequent and entertaining occurrence. It may not be appropriate for all ages, but it’s true to the R-rated source material, and here it is ratcheted up to a degree that is humorous and over the top rather than gratuitous and excessive.
There’s a decent variety of enemies, including some that can make more than a dent in Robo, like snipers, heavy troops, and infamous big boy ED-209, and those present opportunities to get more strategic with your approach than simply charging in and busting heads. You can pick up and use guns dropped by enemies, like shotguns and assault rifles, though their ammo is limited (while Auto 9’s is not). You can also grab and throw a lot of things, like explosive barrels, motorcycles, and unlucky henchmen, which is as hilarious as it is effective.
The wonderfully destructible environment plays a key role in the combat design, too. Sometimes it’s purely aesthetic, as monitors explode, papers scatter, and shattered cement rains down from damaged structures. Other times it’s strategic, as you blast apart the cover your foes are trying to hide behind. The most exciting is the breach opportunities, pre-designated spots where Robo smashes through doors or compromised walls and takes the bad guys by surprise, offering you a few seconds of slow motion to take out enemies before they can return fire or shoot their hostages.
Peter Weller reprises his best-known role.
This translation of a nearly 40-year-old action movie into a game is so detailed and strictly loyal to the films that it almost resembles something fan-made – and I mean that in the best way. There’s very little artistic license taken, favoring nearly 1:1 translations from the source material across the board. RoboCop looks and sounds like his original self, complete with Peter Weller’s piercing gaze under his helmet, and voice reprising his best-known role. Officer Anne Lewis is there as RoboCop’s partner and confidant, and looks exactly like actress Nancy Allen portrayed her. Whether it's the Detroit West precinct office, the OCP corporate office, or the mean streets of dystopian Detroit, Rogue City nails the look and feel of the movies to an impressive degree.
The entire ‘80s-ness of the presentation is brilliant. The heavy use of synth in the soundtrack fits it to a tee. The dark grimy streets and mohawk-sporting gangs that were central fictional goons throughout the decade are present in force. There are CRT monitors in all the cubices, a green wireframe HUD, and police cruisers that look an awful lot like the old Ford Tauruses that were used in the movies. Small touches, like the visible scan lines when you zoom in and aim down your weapon sights (which also highlights enemies so you can pick them off through smoke and darkness), is exactly the right vibe. Similarly, there’s no modernization of the original’s satirical critique of police brutality – and arguably, none is needed.
The appeal to nostalgia is strong.
The appeal to nostalgia is strong, and that can have a significant impact on how much mileage you get out of this. As a pure shooter, Rogue City isn’t overly ambitious, but it’s a lot of fun to play even if you don’t know anything about the series. However, if you grew up with RoboCop or recently watched the movies then it is chock-full of references and nods that add a lot to the experience. I found myself laughing out loud the first time I saw someone driving a 6000 SUX out in the wild. Exploding the groin of a baddie is a silly bit of over-the-top violence on its surface, but it’s so much more entertaining if you know that it’s pulled directly from the film.
At the same time, this isn’t the most technically impressive game when held up next to the flashy big-budget adventures we’re regularly treated to these days. Textures are kind of flat and lighting effects are minimalistic, plus a lot of the gang members’ voices are extremely similar to one another, but there’s something B-movie quality that makes it more forgivable, if not a bit charming. Still, another coat of polish would have gone a long way, especially in cutscenes where all of those issues are more apparent in close-ups. More than once I had audio and video get out of sync, had frozen faces accompany dialogue, and had total game crashes on two occasions.
I'D BUY THAT FOR A DOLLAR
Levels alternate between very linear A-to-B stages in which you charge through enemies looking for the “New Guy” in Town who’s taken over the Nuke business in the aftermath of RoboCop 2, and self-contained sandbox areas that put the “cop” in RoboCop. As you walk around the mean streets of Detroit you’ll come across side missions focused on Robo’s prime directives of Serve the Public Trust, Protect the Innocent, and Uphold the Law. Some are simple, such as having you issue fines for small infractions. It sounds kind of silly, but it’s a fun bit of roleplaying to see an oversized truck parked on the curb leaking oil and slap a ticket on the windshield. One memorable scene had me manning a podium at the police office, listening to a litany of citizen complaints. The image of Robo standing there while a wanted criminal tries to turn himself in for the reward money makes me laugh every time I think about it.
Other side missions are more expansive and are the sort of contained side stories that feel worth playing on their own merits. One subplot spanning multiple quests has you helping to reform a drug addict turned informant. Seemingly mundane things like helping him return a watch he stole, or picking out a VHS tape from a video store, are poignant palette-cleansers from the brutal action sequences, though there are certainly a few good shootouts along the way.
Completing all the side quests and main story took me just over 17 hours, a pretty solid runtime for a single-player-only campaign. A simple leveling system does a good job of offering a basic sense of progression as you go, feeding skill points into things like increasing damage resistance or extending the slow motion timeframes, as well as some non-combat skills that open up new dialogue options or allow you to open safes. Every few upgrades spent on a particular skill add a perk, like a rapid dash maneuver, or armor that reflects small arms fire back at enemies. Finding bits of evidence scattered around, reading notes, and completing bonus objectives are good sources of XP, giving a nice incentive to go off the beaten path in the open areas.
Players digging into the opening chapters of Alan Wake 2 are reporting a number of audio and graphical bugs alongside significant lip-sync and subtitle timing issues.
While Remedy Entertainment’s long awaited second instalment in the Alan Wake series launched October 27 to positive reviews and fan reception, numerous players are also taking to social media to report a series of audio glitches and other issues that are troubling the opening sections of the game.
Players have found issues with both the PC and console versions of Alan Wake 2, with many reporting intermittent audio cutout or a complete loss of sound soon after triggering the first few cutscenes. Others have been left frustrated by lip-sync timing issues, and incorrectly timed subtitles.
just played around 2½ hours of Alan Wake 2 and finished up to chapter 2. im enthralled. some major audio bugs mostly affecting cutscenes (the morgue scene especially) definitely have hampered my first couple hours but some settings tweaks helped a bit. that 1st boss fight was gr8 pic.twitter.com/eJ7rklvUtG
alan wake 2 has horrible audio bugs on xbox for me. most times i start there is just no audio at all and i have to keep restarting. really killing the experience for me and i feel like waiting for a patch.
“Does anybody know how to fix cutscene audio issues for PC?" asked Briguy241 in the replies to a Reddit post tracking issues with Remedy Entertainment's latest title. "The second cutscene of the game is pretty much unwatchable, audio completely cutting out and voice and mouths are completely off.”
Others have noted instances wherein the audio quality varies significantly during cutscenes and gameplay. “Is the audio for some dialogue kinda muffled or low quality for other people on PS5 as well,” wrote Redditor Isitbroke57. “Im wondering if its on purpose or perhaps just some audio bug”
IGN has reached out to Remedy Entertainment for comment on the bugs.
Having weird audio quality issues in Alan Wake 2. Haven't seen other people talk about this, so I'm not sure if it's just me. The voice quality varies drastically #PS5Share, #AlanWake2pic.twitter.com/4GrbkPGrqN
The game was otherwise well received, of course. In IGN’s 9/10 review we said “Alan Wake 2 delivers one of the boldest and most brain-bending survival-horror storylines this side of Silent Hill 2, presents it with uniformly immaculate art direction and audio design, and reinvigorates the series’ signature light-based shooting as though it’s been locked and loaded with a fresh pack of Energizers”.
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has officially arrived and tells an epic story starring Peter Parker, Miles Morales, MJ, Kraven the Hunter, Venom and so many more. While swinging around New York City as both Pete and Miles is as fun as it ever was, there is so much more that makes this sequel what it is.
To learn all about Marvel's Spider-Man 2, we sat down with Insomniac senior creative director Bryan Intihar for a spoiler-filled chat that dives deep into some of the greatest moments and reveals in the sequel. You can listen to and/or watch our full chat in the video above or by clicking here, but we also wanted to share with you the 10 biggest things we learned from our discussion. Enjoy!
Insomniac Had a Venomized Sandman Concept but Ditched the Idea
We all know and love the opening of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 as our Spider-Men face-off against a massive version of Sandman across NYC. However, our dear friend Flint Marko almost had a much larger role as Insomniac had the idea to make a Venomized version of Sandman.
“I will tell you… I haven't told anybody this,” Bryan Intihar told IGN, “we did have a Venomized Sandman concept.”
While that obviously sounds very cool, the reason they chose not to go forward with the idea was a production consideration rather than a veto from Marvel above.
“It was hard enough to make Sandman,” Intihar continued. “No, nothing like, ‘you can't do this because of this extra Y or Z.’ I think it comes down to more of like, can we do it with the time we have and at the quality we want to hit?
“Like I mentioned, there was a discussion to a point where it's a concept image of Venomized Sandman. Super cool idea. Maybe one day… I'm probably getting in trouble for saying it, but whatever. It's a really cool image. It's really cool. We were never going to get it done at the quality we wanted to, and it was going to be… it was enough of a challenge to make regular Sandman cool.
“And I'm like, ‘okay, now we're going to do it as a Venomized version?’ This team went above and beyond anything I could have ever expected when we first started this. So I was like, ‘we're not going to do it.’ So it's more about that.”
Why Was It So Important to Have Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Be a Peter Parker and Miles Morales Story?
It's pretty easy to see that Marvel's Spider-Man and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales were all leading to a much bigger story of these two Spider-Men coming together, but why was it so important to have it be in this game?
"We knew eventually we wanted to get to a point where Pete and Miles were together as peers, as Spider peers," Intihar said. "But I think if you look at, obviously, when you're working with the symbiote, the theme of addiction is very prevalent. I know people in my life who suffer from a different type of addiction. It doesn't just impact the people, that person impacts the people around them. And that was something we wanted to show. So, it's not only how is it impacting Peter, but also how is it impacting MJ? How is it impacting Harry? How is it impacting Miles? And then the fight with Miles and Pete is when we try to say is like, Miles is there for Peter, right?
"He's trying to connect with him. But at the very end, it's Peter who is the one ripping the symbiote off. The final step needs to be taken by the person, right? And I think that's what we try to show in a superhero way."
Beyond that, Intihar discussed how great it was to also see their relationship blossom and grow and see Miles take the lead at times after Peter had been his mentor for so long.
"Over the course of the game, you actually see them kind of flip to the point where Miles is the one saying, 'Hey, we're going to do this, we're going to do that,'" Intihar says. "It gets to the point where in the second to last mission in the main story, when Pete has the Anti-Venom suit and Miles shows up with his new suit, is when Miles is the one telling Pete, 'Remember what my dad said and remember what Aunt May said,' to the point where Pete actually says to Miles, 'What's the play coach?' If you remember from the first game, Miles was the one who says to Peter, 'What's the play coach?'
"That's something I'm so proud of the team for. That they were able to really make a game that not only is, 'Oh, it's Spider-Man 2, there's two heroes," but it's a story that requires both of them. And we see their relationship, change, evolve, grow, as much as we see any of the other relationships in the game."
Spider-Man 2 Senior Creative Director Bryan Intihar Discusses What Happened to the 'Undies' Suit and Other Missing Costumes
Intihar was willing to discuss why this was the case, and he wanted to remind everyone that bringing every suit over from the original game is not as easy as clicking one button and making it work.
"A lot of those are PS4, and then even the ones that showed up in the remaster, they have to be basically PS5-sized or whatever," he says of the suits. "They have to be upgraded. So there's a work factor to get it in there."
There were also issues with the transfer as Marvel's Spider-Man 2 features web wings and capes and these would require an even more in-depth rework of the original suits.
"So it was just picking and choosing," Intihar continues. "We had our favorites. We had things that we wanted to introduce, new things we wanted to do, and it's a little bit of "Here are our favorites, here are what we know the fans might like.' I knew from day one, every movie suit that they want is going to be in there. It's got to be in there...Then, also, the other thing was it was really important to me that Miles and Pete had the same number of suits."
As for what happened to the "Undies" suit, Intihar first joked that maybe Peter is now "a little shy" and didn't want that one anymore. The real reason is more that he thinks it wasn't as exciting for the team that prioritized other suits.
"The other thing is we talked a lot to the character team," he says. "What are the character team excited about making? They put so much time and effort into those suits. I want them to wake up every morning and go, 'I'm excited to work on this character. I'm excited to work on this suit.' So we leaned on them as well, because a lot of them are hardcore comic-book fans, and they have their suits."
We Learned Why Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Didn't Have Any Big Wolverine Crossovers or Teases Besides the Suit
PlayStation fans will never forget that one PlayStation Showcase where Insomniac announced not only Marvel's Spider-Man 2, but also Marvel's Wolverine. As soon as they were both revealed, fans around the world started thinking this could be the start of PlayStation's MCU and that we'd soon see Wolverine and Spider-Man together on PS5.
As it turns out, we aren't quite there yet. Intihar explained why there wasn't a tease or crossover with Wolverine besides that awesome "Best There Is Suit" that honors Logan's classic look, but he far from shuts the door from having these two heroes cross paths in the future.
"We wouldn't be true Marvel fans if we didn't have discussions like that," Intihar said. "I think for us it was, 'Hey, working on these games is really hard. They're really complicated.' And I think it was just like, 'Hey, let's let the Wolverine team cook. Let's let them cook and if something ever happens in the future, great. But right, now let's just make sure that let's not box anybody into a corner and let's just make sure that they have a clear runway to make the best Wolverine possible and it's going to be awesome.' So I'm really excited about it. But we wouldn't be like Marvel fans if we didn't talk about things."
Intihar Discusses Where He Would Like to Set a Spider-Man Game Outside of New York City
With the launch of Marvel's Spider Man 2, Insomniac now has three Spidey adventures under its belt. While each game offers a ton of surprises and improvements from what came before, all of the games are set in New York City.
Sure, NYC is obviously so much a part of Spider-Man, but that doesn't mean he can't leave the confines of the Big Apple for a bit, right? Intihar doesn't go so far as to confirm one way or another that we'll see Spidey and his amazing friends in another setting, but he does share where he'd personally like to see the hero swing to.
"I don't know if I would say a particular thing," Intihar tells us. "I think some type of natural setting. I do love that. I do love that moment in No Way Home when he's swinging through the forest and eventually, he finds Electro and Sandman."
Spider-Man 2 Director Explains Why Those MJ Stealth Scenes Had to Be Included
"We had two choices," Intihar said. "We could say, 'All right, we'll make it easy and just not do it.' And everybody would go, 'Great. No MJ missions.' Or we could say, 'Hey, we've talked about showing the world from all different angles. We're going to make her moments better. We're going to take on the challenge. We're going to make people like playing as her.' We pick and choose our spots. We knew we had to make her more of a proactive, capable person. And if she's a little OP, I don't give a shit. She's fine. I don't care."
Insomniac belives in the importance of showing MJ as a "capable hero" despite her not having powers, and this thought process led to her increidble powerful stun gun.
"In Spider-Man 1, there was a really, really early, super-early in development, we never made it, but it was part of a story treatment where Pete was going to be injured, and he could barely walk," Intihar recalls. "She was going to actually try to get him to safety, and she was going to grab one of his web shooters and she was going to put it on, actually fire at enemies that were trying to get to them but that never happens. I think that's where the web-shooter idea came from, because I was like, 'Let's give her the ability to stun enemies in the first mission.'"
What Happened to Nelson and Murdock in Marvel's Spider-Man 2?
Eagle-eyed players of Marvel's Spider-Man may have spotted Nelson and Murdock's plaque on a building in Hell's Kitchen, which appears to have teased these Daredevil characters may have been working out of there. These same players were surprised when they noticed the plaque was still there in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, but the names were not.
Was this a error or a mistake from the dev team or is there more meaning to the missing words?
“That's a good question,” Intihar said. “Stay tuned. Good find though.”
What Sets This Venom From Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Apart From Other Venoms?
Venom is obviously one of the most iconic Spidey villains, so a big challenge for the team at Insomniac was how you tell the story of the symbiote to make it feel fresh and surprising. As it turns out, it all has to do with love and a different motivation that we've seen from characters like Eddie Brock.
"We wanted Venom to be overwhelming," Intihar said. "Whereas Ock was more about the intellect of challenging Peter and Spider-Man, Venom is power. And we wanted there to be these overwhelming odds in a way that a villain that requires two Spider-Men, that was kind of our goal.
"With Venom, there are certain things people expect and things we can't screw up. Then there's the other thing of how can we make it our own? And I think that all starts with Harry. Early in the game, you see Harry with the symbiote, and we see him in many ways being a hero and using it to not only feel better, but to basically be one of Pete's partners.
"Venom's motivations are very different than a comic. I would say, I tend to think you think of the Eddie Brock Venom, it's a story of revenge, right? Whereas in many ways, our Venom and Harry, it's about they have kind of a twisted way on how they want to heal the world. Harry doesn't want anybody to suffer like he has suffered, and symbiote's like, 'Well, I can show you how we can do it. It's a really effed up way, but we're going to do it.'
"And so I think that's kind of like, find the elements of the character and story that people love and bring that to them, but how can you add your own spin? And I think that kind of direction what we've done with the whole franchise from the beginning is like, respect the DNA of the character, but don't be afraid to mix things up from time to time."
Was It Always in the Plan to Let Us Play as Venom?
One of the biggest and coolest moments of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 was when we finally got the chance to play as Venom. It's undoubtedly cool to get to jump out of the shoes of our two Spider-Men and play a new character, but one of the biggest reasons Insomniac wanted to let us play as Venom was to let us see how dangerous and vicious he is.
"Even though Pete does some crazy things with the symbiote, he never totally crosses the line," Intihar said. "With that in mind, we wanted to show a kind of unfiltered Venom and give players this ultimate power fantasy of what you could do with the symbiote. We wanted the player to go, 'This is how brutal this character could be.' We wanted to show that it's really going to take both Pete and Miles to take him down, because Kraven couldn't do it, all of the hunters couldn't do it, and all the Oscorp people couldn't do it either."
So, in a way, having Venom playable was just as much a story-telling device as it was a way to include an awesome moment of inhabiting legendary villain. However, Intihar doesn't want us to think we'll get to play as every villain in the Spidey-verse because it's cool. So, don't just assume we'll get a chance to become Green Goblin in a potential Spider-Man 3 after that tease in the game, even though we'd be all for it! In truth, however, the choice of who we get to play as has to serve the greater story.
"I think we've always wanted to show our world from all levels," Intihar said. "So, we obviously want to show Pete and Miles in their suit doing super things, but we feel it's just as important to show their lives and have playable experiences outside the suit like with Venom. Because I think if you have relatable human stories and motivations, the moments in the suit matter more.
"That being said, I'm also not a dummy. People love Venom and you sometimes just got to give them what they want. And I think if we're going to pick a villain to play as, that's the one you want to get. You want to get right."
Does that mean we might play as Carnage in a future installment, especially after that tease? Intihar wasn't willing to reveal much, but he did mention that Carnage is on a different level than Venom.
"I think with our Venom there's still some morality," Intihar said before laughing. "But with Carnage, it's like playtime. So, who knows? Things can happen in the future."
What Is Insomniac Most Proud of With Marvel's Spider-Man 2?
We all know Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is about the big set pieces and swinging around an open-world NYC and all those wonderfully loud comic book moments, but the thing Intihar and the team at Insomniac are most proud of are the quieter moments. The moments that show us being a hero is more than throwing punches and saving the world.
"I wrote a letter to the people who reviewed Spider-Man 2 and basically begged them by saying, 'Please do the quests in the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man app and the ones related to Brooklyn Visions Academy.' Those little stories really mean a lot to me because it shows the world doesn't need to be ending or you don't just need to fight a giant sand person in order to be a hero," Intihar said. "These side missions aren't the longest things in the world, but they show that you have to be a hero at all times and for all different people. And I hope that whether it's The Miles helping out the fellow students of Brooklyn Visions or Peter talking to Howard, it shows that."
Speaking of the Howard mission, that was created by a designed named Brian Matheson for a game jam Insomniac had before a holiday break. He made it in two or three days and, when the team saw it, they knew it needed to be in the game. This was the importance of giving the team the runway to tell their own stories and be creative in different ways than the typical save-the-universe comic book way.
This is also seen in the Bebop and Hard Bop side-missions, where Miles is working to uncover the truth behind the Cultural Center robbery. This was very meaningful for the team as it was not only a way to expand Miles as a character, but to also honor his culture.
"So when the Miles team was working on Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, what I thought they were brilliant at was them not only showing Miles learning the kind of Spider-Man he wanted to be, but also him connecting to his new community in Harlem with those quests. I mean, all those people that show up at the very end are all the quest givers of that area.
"And someone said very early on, how can we expand upon his connection to his community? And someone had the idea of how can we use the music history of that area, his love of music, and connecting the two. So our writers went into overdrive to learn about that stuff, to the point where they were contacting people and family members of those artists to make sure we could get permission to do that.
"This all goes to show that Miles is just not the kid in the suit. He's a 17-year-old kid who lives in Harlem, who has a love of music, and wants to give back to his community. Being a hero just isn't being in the suit all the time. It's being a good person and connecting to your friends, your family, your community. And I hope that shows some of that."
Intihar is also proud of that Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus tease in the mid-credits of Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and he shared that tease had been planned from early in the days of developing the first game. Otto is Intihar's favorite Spider-Man villain, so he couldn't be happier to see this plan realized.
The Cindy Moon/Silk tease? That was a new one and was decided upon during the development of the sequel.
With how much Dead Island 2’s apocalypse parody poked fun at the Los Angeles area earlier this year, I guess it was only a matter of time before it turned its attention from vicious zombies to equally mindless cultists. I mean, how could they forget California’s reputation for welcoming eccentric people who then take advantage of our tolerance by brainwashing vast swathes of the population? Thankfully, this is something developer Dambuster Studios has corrected with its first DLC, Haus, which transports your character to a cult compound in Malibu where you’ll rub elbows with rich elites and smack down zombies who look like they’re dressed for the runway. And while I won't turn my nose up at a few more good laughs from a game I enjoyed, a three-hour runtime and very few new wrinkles to change up Dead Island 2’s basic zombie slashing formula make this jaunt extremely short-lived and a little unexciting.
When it comes to story, Dead Island 2 is back up to its old tricks in Haus, with some amusingly dumb but ultimately incomprehensible hijinks. With zero explanation, starting the first of the DLC’s two story missions takes you to the headquarters of a cult obsessed with immortality that has been preparing for the zombie apocalypse their leader predicted since before it happened. From there you’ll do silly things like fight a giant zombie dressed as a pig at a barbecue diner and toss dismembered heads at your enemies just because. It’s not exactly highbrow stuff and, frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. That said, in the second half it makes the very odd decision to present the cult (who brainwashes and tortures its members) as a benevolent organization, which makes your mission hard to get behind. But questionable moral implications aside, the moment-to-moment writing remains amusingly top-notch, with a few goofy new characters to meet and silly one-liners that made me smile. That was easily the best part of the base game and remains a strong suit here.
There are very few new tools or ideas introduced to freshen things up.
The one new location you’ll visit also has some surprising environments in store. Though the whole thing takes place indoors, the eccentrics running the place have made each room visually surreal, like one area that’s been made to look like a creepy cul-de-sac and another that looks like haunted woods out of a fairy tale. Per usual, Dead Island 2 continues to flaunt it’s fantastic graphics and top shelf art, and I’d say they’ve even managed to raise an already high bar in this DLC, which makes some of the monotonous action that takes place in these neat locations a lot more bearable
Which brings us to the biggest issue with this slim package: there’s very few new tools or ideas introduced to break up a structure that was already pretty stale to begin with. Apart from the admittedly cool new crossbow, you’ll still mostly slice and dice the same handful of enemy types as before. There’s also a small number of new skill cards that offer some different options for your build, though none I found were massive game changer, like the Sugar Rush ability that makes healing items restore more health and grants a boost to agility. I haven’t played Dead Island 2 since it launched, and even then I had more than enough time to refamiliarize myself with its mechanics and subsequently grow bored with them during this short add-on. This package definitely would have benefitted from some distinct new mobs to fight or perhaps some expanded crafting options to address the limitations that system still suffers from.
You’ll still mostly slice and dice the same enemy types as before.
The crossbow is at least a solid addition that feels much better than the rest of Dead Island 2’s ranged weapons. Its high damage and pinpoint accuracy make it a great option for picking off enemies from afar when you’re sick of rushing into melee, although it’s probably still faster to just jump into the fray and hack away. More importantly, the crossbow is required to destroy a new obstacle called Dark Brains, which are literal brains hidden throughout the DLC levels that block your path with creeping tendrils until you give them a bolt straight to the squishy dome. Why can’t an assault rifle can’t take out these abominations? I couldn’t tell you. But making the crossbow’s use mandatory definitely made me play around with it more, so mission accomplished in that regard, I guess.
A recruiting drive at FromSoftware suggests a major expansion of the Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne developer is underway.
As reported by IGN Japan, FromSoftware is currently recruiting employees across several departments as it works on "several new projects". The developer currently has no announced games in development beyond the Elden Ring expansion Shadow of the Erdtree, however, and FromSoftware didn't share anything more in the job advertisements either.
Roles are available in game planning, research and development, programming, character design, background design, cinematic art, motion design, production, sound design, and more than a dozen other departments, certainly suggesting FromSoftware is looking to expand its development capabilities.
Fans have been calling for new entries in its most famous franchise for years now, of course, with sequels to Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne perhaps the most sought after new games. FromSoftware last released a Dark Souls game, the franchise that properly put it on the map, in 2016, while Bloodborne is fast approaching its ten year anniversary after launching in March 2014.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice also set up a sequel, but these games releasing as solo entries proves FromSoftware isn't afraid to create brand new franchises. Those who enjoy the tough as nails action role-playing games will therefore just have to wait and see what the developer announces next.
Shadow of the Erdtree currently lacks a release date, with FromSoftware only sharing a handful of concept art images for the expansion when it announced it in February. It more recently released Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon in August, which earned an 8/10 in IGN's review.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
It’s been six years since the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, and after a long and successful reign, you may be wondering what new piece of hardware will be next. We’ve seen updates to the current switch with the OLED and Lite models, though we’re still in the dark on what Nintendo’s next-gen offering could be.
After becoming the 3rd best-selling console in history this year, it’s fair to say that Nintendo might want to keep things close to its chest. Yet, even with all the secrecy surrounding the possibility of a new Nintendo Switch, we’ve collected all the details we could find about the mystery follow-up ahead of its eventual official announcement and release.
Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
While Nintendo hasn’t yet announced any official follow-up to their incredibly successful Nintendo Switch console, there are some rumors swirling about how close we might be to a potential product reveal.
Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, confirmed in an interview with Nikkei, and translated by VGC, that Nintendo will support the current-gen Switch until at least March 2025. This sentiment is also backed up by previous comments Furukawa made regarding the future of the Nintendo Switch in a financial briefing Q&A in 2022. In this interview, he committed to focusing on “building long-term relationships with our consumers (through Nintendo Accounts)," he went on to reiterate ", While continuing to release new Nintendo Switch software for consumers to enjoy, we aim to maintain relationships across hardware generations through services that utilize Nintendo Accounts and by providing opportunities for them to experience our IP through other non-gaming channels."
During Gamescom 2023, Eurogamer reported that the Nintendo Switch 2 was being demoed at the show, showing off a “souped up” version of one of the Nintendo Switch’s most beloved games, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While a potential demo device doesn’t directly mean a consumer product will be on the market soon, it does indicate Nintendo may be looking forward to what’s next and likely wants game developers to get ready for what the future can offer.
Even with all the juicy gossip, it’s best not to hold your breath on what’s coming from the Japanese tech titan’s next console until there is an official announcement; fingers crossed we’ll get that confirmation soon.
Nintendo Switch 2 Price
There are plenty of Nintendo Switch models to consider while shopping right now, with pricing shifting dramatically depending on the version you’re looking to invest in. Looking forward to a potential Switch 2, inflation and internal specs, amongst other variables, will likely play a part in what we’ll pay for a new console at launch.
It’s hard to know what the pricing of this mystery device will be, but we’ve listed the RRP of the current range of Nintendo Switch models as a reference:
Nintendo Switch Lite: $199.99
Nintendo Switch: $299.99
Nintendo Switch OLED: $349.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Models
With the range of Nintendo Switch consoles currently on the market, you may be left wondering if you’ll have the same number of choices to pick between when the next iteration rolls around.
The latest Nintendo Switch OLED model features a remarkable screen, and it feels like the future of the console, it being the most recent edition to Nintendo’s lineup. However, according to a VGC report, the next-gen Nintendo Switch may potentially feature an LCD screen instead.
The current array of Nintendo Switch models are numerous and were released over the console’s multi-year lifespan, so it’s reasonable to believe there may be several versions of a potential Nintendo Switch follow-up, too.
Nintendo Switch Design - What Will the Nintendo Switch 2 Look Like?
There isn’t a lot of information on how Nintendo’s next-gen console will look, though there are plenty of features in the current-gen Nintendo Switch we’d love to see return for a follow-up console.
VGC reported that development kits for the potential new console are already with partner studios, with sources citing some returning features. According to VGC’s report, the new Nintendo Switch could keep the portability of its predecessor and feature a cartridge slot for physical games.
The patent details a magnetic field for controls rather than the plastic circuit boards seen in the current generation console. However, it’s worth mentioning that patents don’t necessarily translate directly to future products, so there’s no guarantee on whether the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature updated Joy-Cons, and we’ll have to wait for official word from Nintendo on that front.
It's been notoriously difficult to get your hands on a PS5 since its launch in late 2020 between industry-wide chip shortages and scalpers reselling consoles for nearly $2,000, but the supply has finally caught up to demand for the most part, and now it's far more common to see the consoles in stock in-store and online at most retailers.
If you're looking for the best places to purchase PS5 consoles online in 2023, we've got you covered with a full breakdown below, including pricing on current PS5 consoles, the best time to buy a PS5, information on PlayStation Plus plans, as well as where to trade in your exisiting PlayStation consoles and games.
Where to Buy PS5 Consoles Online Right Now
If you're looking to buy a new PlayStation 5 this year, here's where you can purchase them online in 2023. You can also check out our guide to PS5 deals for potential discounts.
PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 is Sony's latest and greatest and features true 4K visuals with support for ray tracing, an ultrafast 825GB SSD, and the all-new DualSense controller that immerses you in your games through haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
PlayStation 5 - Digital Edition
The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition is identical to the standard PS5 in every way, save for the fact that it does not have a UHD Blu-Ray drive affixed to the side and retails for an MSRP of $399.99. As the name implies, this console requires all of your games to be purchased digitally from the PlayStation Store, as it does not accept any physical media.
How Much Does a PS5 Cost?
There are currently two editions of the PlayStation 5: the standard PlayStation 5 console and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console. The standard PlayStation 5 (which plays both physical and digital games) retails for an MSRP of $499.99, while the digital-only PS5 Digital Edition retails for an MSRP of $399.99. There is also going to be a PS5 Slim released in November that will cost between $449.99 and $499.99 depending on if you add the Blu-Ray drive.
There are also a number of limited-edition PS5 bundles throughout the year that feature a unique color or design, and sometimes include a download code for a game in the box, as well.
PlayStation Plus Pricing
PlayStation Plus is Sony's online membership that allows you to play online with your friends, upload your save data to the cloud, as well as granting you access to a handful of free games each month. Last year, Sony added two additional tiers to PlayStation Plus: PlayStation Plus Extra and PlayStation Plus Premium. These additional tiers provide access to a library of games akin to Xbox Game Pass, with the latter giving you access to classic PlayStation Games and more recent first-party PlayStation titles.
Here's what each tier of PlayStation Plus will get you:
PlayStation Plus Essential
PlayStation Plus Essential is effectively what the standard PlayStation Plus experience has been for the past decade or so. This basic plan costs $9.99/month or $79.99/year and allows you to play multiplayer games online with your friends, upload your save data to the cloud, and get exclusive discounts and pricing on games and add-on content. Additionally, you'll receive a few games each month that can be added to your library and accessed as long as you have an active subscription.
PlayStation Plus Extra
PlayStation Plus Extra costs $14.99/month or $134.99/year and includes everything in the PlayStation Plus Essential tier, while also adding a game catalog featuring hundreds of games that you can download and play, as well as access to a curated collection Ubisoft+ Classics that includes titles from popular Ubisoft franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and more.
PlayStation Plus Premium
PlayStation Plus Premium costs $17.99/month or $159.99/year and includes everything in the PlayStation Plus Extra tier, while also adding access to the Classics catalog - a number of games from PS1, PS2, and PS3 that you can play on your PS5 console. Additionally, you'll be able to play game trials for specific PS5 games, as well as stream many games from the cloud to your console, PC, and mobile device.
Best Time to Buy a PS5
Generally, the best time to buy a PS5 console is during major yearly shopping events such as Black Friday and the various Amazon Prime Day sales. Although PlayStation consoles rarely go on sale, you can often scoop up limited-time bundles that include additional an additional game or two, and more.
How to Trade in Your Old PlayStation Consoles
If you're looking to trade in your old PlayStation consoles, you can do so at select retailers in-store and online. Often, the most widely available retailers are GameStop and Best Buy. However, you can also trade your used devices online at retailers such as Amazon and Microsoft.
Some retailers will offer you cash for your used goods, while others may provide you with a gift card that can be used in-store and online. This is a great way to offload your old gaming gear and get some money that you can put towards a newer console and games.
While trading devices in at retailers will often net you the lowest amount for your used consoles, there are also online marketplaces such as eBay, Craigslist, and OfferUp that may fetch higher prices, but you'll often be responsible for packing and shipping costs, or be required to meet someone in person for the transaction, the latter of which poses its own risks.
Where to Trade in PlayStation Games
Similar to PlayStation console trade ins, you can also trade your existing games in at specific retailers. The most widely available retailer accepting used video games is GameStop, but they are notorious for giving you pennies on the dollar for your pre-owned titles. However, if you're looking for an easy way to offload some of your library for cash or in-store credit, this is a convenient option. You can always look up the expected trade-in value on GameStop's website before heading into a store, so you know exactly how much you'll receive. Additionally, you can trade in your used games online through Amazon in exchange for an Amazon gift card.
Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter@MatthewAdlerand watch him stream onTwitch.
One of the most expensive industries in the world, the movie biz has been steadily increasing its income as well as its production costs to keep up with the new tech and content demands of viewers and filmmakers alike. Due to this, most of the movies on this list are from the past few years. With big-budget Hollywood movie companies like Disney, Amazon, and Universal buying up and utilizing all the smaller names in film, it’s easy to see how the movies on this list got here–most notably all the movies owned by Disney.
To clarify: the movies on this list are all movies that are finished and released to the public, not including films that aren’t. The numbers in this article reflect the costs of filming, not including costs such as promotions, advertisements, commercials, posters, etc. Since most production companies do not release actual production costs, this data has been estimated–more than likely underestimated–by movie industry professionals and writers tasked with doing so.
12. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
$300 Million
In a three-way tie for 10th on this list, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is by far the most impressive as the oldest by 4 years. Unfortunately, the returns on that investment didn’t go quite as planned as the $300 million movie grossed just $309 million in domestic box offices. As the third installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, the quality was a bit lacking from the previous two and shows in financial records as well as reviews.
11. Justice League (2017)
$300 Million
DC’s response to the wildly successful Marvel movie franchise, Justice League shoots for the stars with their first ensemble cast film. Not well received by audiences and critics alike, the huge $300 million budget returned a lifetime domestic gross of $229 million: ultimately a box-office failure. This prompted the Zack Snyder cut to be released years later, which only somewhat increased overall revenue but still cost the studio millions.
The last movie tied for 10th on this list, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the first of the new Star Wars trilogy movies to be mentioned. Grossing an impressive $620 million at the domestic box office, this addition to the canon had a lot to offer general audiences. As it is still the lowest budget out of the three, the visual effects in the movie are still extremely entertaining and exciting to behold.
The first of the big-time ensemble cast Marvel movies on this list, Avengers: Infinity War was and continues to be a smashing success in the new era of superhero movies. While the market is definitely over-saturated and overdone, this particular sequel will likely go down in history as one of the best, most action-packed superhero movies of all time. Raking in almost double its budget from its gross domestic box office earnings, the cost and the effort was most certainly worth it.
In the 10th installment of this absolutely over-the-top film franchise, Fast X carries on the 22-year tradition with glorious, shameless gusto. Undoubtedly boosted by its international following after all these years, the film barely surpasses its giant budget, only earning $146 million domestically. Despite this, Fast X is part of a super film franchise chock-full of recognizable names and faces that has shown zero signs of slowing. Who knows how many more Fast and Furious movies there will be.
The highly-anticipated sequel to the visual masterpiece that preceded it, Avatar: The Way of Water is surprisingly low on this list due to the amount of special effects and CGI it required. With James Cameron’s revolutionary camera technology developed by him and his company, this is the first of many sequels to come that will break budget and box office records for years to come. As it stands, Avatar is third highest grossing movie of all time.
One of the most impressive cost/income spreads on this list is Avengers: Endgame: the incredibly successful final installment to the Avengers ensemble cast films. Due to the rippling success from Avengers: Infinity War, the Avengers’ creative team for this film had few financial concerns. Showing returns of $858 million in domestic box offices, any and every cost for this film was well worth it.
Higher on this list than one might expect: Avengers: Age of Ultron places with the highest budget of all the Avengers ensemble films. Though it was not as successful as the following two installments, the cost of CGI and added visual effects can be clearly seen in the third act of the film.
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
$379 Million
One of the less-successful contributions to the film franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides continues the saga but ultimately falls short of its financial goal. Costing $379 million and returning $241 million domestic, it seems that Johnny Depp was the only one to gain from this considering he made $55 million for this role and $265 million for all 5 films combined.
One of the three financial Star Wars giants on this list, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker didn’t perform quite as well as the studio must have expected. As the third and final installment of the new Star Wars trilogy, expectations from audiences were high and pressure on the studio was even higher. Overall, the film performed well but just barely gained a net profit.
One of the more ridiculous films on this list, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is what happens when a huge CGI budget is handed to dino-nerds: two hours of big explosions, big dinos, and a paper-thin plot. While the visual effects and CGI were all on point for this film, the lackluster writing appeared to be an afterthought for the studio. Thankfully, audiences will always want to watch more dino action, so the Jurassic Park film franchise retains a promising future.
With the highest budget and highest domestic box office earnings on this list, Star Wars: The Force Awakens steals the show and deepens the already crater-deep pockets of Lucasfilm i.e. Disney. As the first of the newest Star Wars trilogy, audience anticipation was extremely high. Knowing this, the studio went for the safe route and made the plot quite similar to Star Wars: A New Hope. Despite viewers seeing through this, audiences came back again and again to watch it in theaters, taking in the solid visual effects and giving the film $936 million in domestic box office earnings.
Connor Sheppard is an Oregon-grown culture writer for IGN with previous work on The Manual. Intrigued from a young age by pop culture and movies, he has developed into an experienced critic and consumer of all things media. From his time earning a bachelor's degree in digital communications at Oregon State University, he found a love for writing and appreciating specific actors and directors in the many films he watches.
Disney Dreamlight Valley developer Gameloft announced earlier today that its popular cozy Disney life sim game will not be going free-to-play in December as planned. And unsurprisingly, its bustling player community has, well, a lot of thoughts about that!
While on its face, the above sentence sounds like it might spark anger, the Disney Dreamlight Valley community's questions and concerns are far more nuanced than one might expect from the outside. While some players are upset, others are celebrating the change with some caveats, and others just want more clarity on what to expect regarding future pay structures and update plans.
It's a complex, unexpected situation - so we poked around in the community to see why there's such a broad range of emotions around a game about doing neighborhood chores with cute and friendly Disney characters.
What's going on?
Earlier today, Gameloft unveiled some major Disney Dreamlight Valley news: the game's not going free-to-play after all. That had originally been the plan, ever since it launched in early access last year. Players have been paying to access the game during that period, but it's been intended from the start to eventually go free-to-play and be available to all, and has included numerous microtransactions and other structures that seemed more appropriate in a free-to-play game than a paid one.
When Dreamlight Valley exits early access on December 5, it will see a price increase from $30 to $40 for the base version, with more expensive versions of the game coming with various goodies. Additionally, the game's first paid expansion is in the works, and will cost an extra $30 on top of that.
"It's important to us that we maintain our promise to keep delivering free content updates that add new characters, realms, clothing, furniture, and more surprises to your Valley," the developer said in a blog post. "Purchases requiring moonstones will remain optional, fair, and match the level of quality players have come to expect. Players will still be able to collect free Moonstones via Dream Snaps and Chests, or optionally choose to purchase them."
Many members of the existing Disney Dreamlight Valley player community are actually quite happy with the change for one major reason: they've already paid for the game. Since its early access launch, Dreamlight Valley has cost $30 (unless played through Xbox Game Pass), so anyone who is currently an active part of the community has spent money for the game already, and will continue playing as before. Game Pass users will also retain access for the foreseeable future.
Taken at face value, it sounds like Gameloft's decision will by and large preserve the status quo of Dreamlight Valley going forward. But some players aren't so sure that's the case, though their actual concerns about the game span a wide gamut of worries.
What the Community is saying
Much of the community's fears stem from a perceived dissonance between what a free-to-play game looks like, and what a premium game looks like, as well as uneasiness with Gameloft's commitment to making Dreamlight Valley one or another, rather than a deeply expensive hybrid of both.
For instance, a number of players have pointed out long-held fears that the originally planned move to free-to-play was always intended to inundate the game with microtransactions. Currently, Disney Dreamlight Valley has a currency called Moonstones that can either be purchased with real money or acquired through normal gameplay, and then used in turn to buy cosmetic upgrades or progress along the Battle Pass-like Star Path. As it stands, you can actually collect Moonstones fairly easily just through playing the game normally, but many players were worried that a move to free-to-play would ultimately make this currency harder to get ahold of, necessitating more real-money purchases over time to obtain the same rewards.
Still others are worried about the upcoming expansion pack, A Rift in Time. Some are frustrated with Gameloft's plans to sell the pack for real money, without allowing it to be purchased with saved up Moonstones. Others have expressed concerns about the lack of clarity as to what content will be free in the future, and what will be locked behind more purchases. Disney Dreamlight Valley has an ongoing story with new characters and locations that are unlocked over time as a part of major game updates. But which characters will be free, and which will be paid going forward? How will this tie into the game's story and overall gameplay and continuity? Why do Founder's Edition owners still have to pay for the expansion pack, too? Sure, Gameloft is promising that everything will remain fair and free content will still be delivered, but if the studio was willing to change its mind about one major monetization issue, it might change its mind again later on.
While the various worries and fears expressed by the community today are broad and diverse, the overarching theme is that of fear that Dreamlight Valley will eventually inhabit the worst of both worlds: charging users to play at all, and then charging them constantly for major gameplay elements after that indefinitely. One community member compared a worst case scenario for Dreamlight Valley to The Sims - a beloved game that nonetheless can be exceedingly expensive if you want to stay up on all the latest updates.
With Gameloft so willing to promise one kind of game and ultimately deliver a different one, it's no surprise that the community is uneasy about the details, especially the ones Gameloft clearly isn't ready to talk about just yet. IGN reached out to Gameloft for clarity on these concerns, and will update this story when we hear back.
Trepidations aside, we loved Disney Dreamlight Valley at its early access launch, giving it an 8/10 and calling it "an awesome life simulator that flexes its iconic characters to riveting, satisfying effect." Here's hoping it stays that way.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
The snowball of games delayed out of 2021 and 2022 has settled in 2023, coalescing into the most exciting games lineup of the decade so far. This year, arguably, marks the proper start of the PS5 and Xbox Series X generation with Unreal Engine 5 support building and an increasing number of developers dropping support for last-gen hardware.
Each of the three console manufacturers has at least one blockbuster release scheduled this year — Starfield for Xbox, Spider-Man 2 for PlayStation, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo — complemented by a generation-best third-party lineup that includes Hogwarts Legacy, Resident Evil 4, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Street Fighter 6, Diablo 4, Final Fantasy 16, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Hades 2, and Mortal Kombat 1.
10 months into 2023, the year has lived up to its lofty expectations: 70 games have received a review score of 8 or higher from IGN, including four 10s. Click through the gallery below or continue scrolling for our list of the best-reviewed games of 2023 so far.
This list only includes standalone software; despite qualifying scores, expansions/DLC (e.g.,Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania) and hardware (e.g.,PSVR2) are not included. This list will be updated weekly as new releases receive qualifying review scores.
Review Score: 8 (“Great)
These games leave us with something outstanding to remember them by, usually novel gameplay ideas for single-player or multiplayer, clever characters and writing, noteworthy graphics and sound, or some combination thereof. If we have major complaints, there are more than enough excellent qualities to cancel them out.
Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp
From our review: With nicely redone graphics and excellent music bringing the classic turn-based tactical action up to modern standards, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a great return for this long-neglected series and gives me hope for a follow-up that includes the DS games. While there isn’t much variety in the game modes, Advance Wars’ depth comes from the number of variables you can adjust to make every match feel unique. The biggest miss is the lack of multiplayer matchmaking, which makes it harder to get into a game than it ought to be in 2023, but at least you can play online. Playing against the AI will keep me interested in the short term, but I predict the inability to play against random opponents online will limit my spontaneous play sessions. However, the sheer number of maps, playable COs, and options for each match means that when I do, it's sure to be a unique experience. – Jada Griffin
Age of Wonders 4
From our review: As much as I enjoy building a legacy in a 4X game before starting over to do it all again, the fact that my legacy follows me in Age of Wonders 4 feels much more rewarding. And the faster pace of its very strong campaign mechanics and pretty good tactical battles make it feel like I can write a new chapter of this saga in a reasonable amount of time and still have time to do something else on my day off – especially with the very well-done story realms. Cranking all the dials up to maximum weirdness can lead to some edge cases that ruined my fun a bit, but it's not that big of a price to pay for the vast map and empire customization we get to play with. It really is wonderful. – Leana Hafer
Amnesia: The Bunker
From our review: I can't say Amnesia is still a groundbreaking horror franchise like it was at the beginning. The larger story it was building has already been played out with Rebirth. But Amnesia: The Bunker proves that smaller, anthology-style episodes within its universe can still bring the tension and the scares. And Frictional's bag of tricks is far from exhausted when it comes to getting our hearts pounding and making us carefully consider how to use the limited tools available to us. It's not an unmissable experience, but as an Amnesia fan, it definitely sated my appetite for some gut-churning horror and moody, bleak storytelling. – Leana Hafer
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
From our review: Armored Core 6 doesn’t look to reinvent the bipedal legs of the mech action genre, but it does update, refine, and polish them to an aggressive shine. Every sortie is a satisfying combat puzzle to solve thanks to fantastic mission design, intense boss encounters, an extremely wide assortment of weapons and parts that can dramatically affect how your mech plays, and excellent, explosive combat that manages to take very complex systems and mechanics and make them easy to understand and execute. Its interesting premise is stifled by bland storytelling told through mission briefings and radio chatter, but this is still nonetheless a welcome return of a classic mecha series. – Mitchell Saltzman
Assassin's Creed Mirage
From our review:Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s return to the stealthy style that launched this series doesn’t do everything right, but everything it does feels like it was done with purpose. This means a shorter game with a smaller map, fewer collectibles, smaller scope in combat, and a limited selection of gear to play with – all of which I found refreshing relative to the arguably bloated scale of 100-hour games like Odyssey and Valhalla. It also means an overly simplistic plot with mostly forgettable characters, but what the story lacks in depth it makes up for with its straightforward quest progression and fast pacing. Though there's no big standout “wow” moment, Baghdad is a beautiful location in its own right, and the world’s detail is focused inward, making every alley and hovel feel well traveled and full of detail and history. I’d recommend Mirage to anyone who’s lapsed on Assassin’s Creed, as its back-to-basics approach is a successful first step in returning the feeling that the earlier industry-defining games gave me so long ago.– Jarrett Green
Atomic Heart
From our review:Atomic Heart is a deeply ambitious, highly imaginative, and consistently impressive atompunk-inspired attempt at picking up where the likes of BioShock left off – something it’s done with a lot of success. It certainly makes missteps, chiefly with an irritating leading man and a self-indulgent habit of using the same tired tropes it tries to make fun of, but this stern, superpowered, and stringently solo shooter has worked its way under my skin despite these flaws. Atomic Heart didn’t always blow me away, but it definitely has the ticker to punch well above its weight. – Luke Reilly
Blasphemous 2
From our review:Blasphemous 2 is an excellent Metroidvania and a marked improvement over the original, even if it did occasionally make me cancel my lunch plans with its grotesqueries. What it lacks in originality with its design it more than makes up for with its bizarre world, appalling story, and inspired look and sound. The new weapons and focus on platforming definitely helped sustain my enjoyment for the campaign’s sizable duration, even when underwhelming enemy variety and unchallenging bosses leave something to be desired. Its stomach-churning religious torture porn might be as far as you can get from the adorable world of Hollow Knight, but you’d be hard-pressed to find something better to play while you continue your interminable wait for Silksong. – Travis Northup
Company of Heroes 3 Multiplayer
From our review: It doesn't have the bells and whistles that you might consider standard in a competitive RTS in 2023, but the core experience of Company of Heroes 3 is what really matters. What I'm saying here is that CoH3 has heart – it has that special something where moving your units to outplay opponents doesn't just look pretty or mean you've played more hours and memorized the metagame, but genuinely out-thought the other player. A combination of interesting army design, good maps, and RTS fundamentals means I'm confident that playing Company of Heroes 3 multiplayer is going to be a fixture of my time off for years to come. – Jon Bolding
Darkest Dungeon 2
From our review: Interesting turn-based RPG combat keeps Darkest Dungeon 2’s roguelite progression fresh for hours – if you can push past the early, intentionally punishing humps and like it for what it is, rather than the close retread of Darkest Dungeon that it isn't. Its structure may be frustratingly random at times, even so much as to feel meaningless or pointless, but a gambler's spirit can see you through those weird patches of bad luck or directionlessness. Besides, this game would have to be really bad to drag down the vibes of the moody lines and grumbling narration that live at the heart of Darkest Dungeon 2. – Jon Bolding
Dredge
From our review:Dredge erupted out of the left field as 2023’s most unforgettably creepy fishing simulator. Without spoiling anything, its slow dive into Lovecraftian horror intermingles with subtle elements of seabound thrillers like Jaws and Moby Dick, and yet despite its twists, its fishing and sailing mechanics are simple enough to be relaxing – just as long as you don’t stay out past dark. Its colorful graphics, intelligent story, and seafaring sound design are alluring, but calling it a management sim betrays how simple and approachable it is. Though it still may not excite anyone in search of abyssal depths, its world map, upgrade tree, and story offer more than enough interesting decisions of their own to make a 12-hour fishing expedition feel concise. At the same time, a lack of combat and meaningful customization give little weight to its excessive grinding, and these are clear opportunities for improvement on the next voyage. – Gabriel Moss
Endless Dungeon
From our review: It requires an almost brash confidence to mash up a twin-stick shooter with a tower defense game, and then further mix that into a sci-fi roguelite. But somehow Endless Dungeon pulls it off, blending them all seamlessly into a great package that strikes just the right balance of action, strategy, and rewarding progression. It can occasionally be frustrating when the random elements stack the deck completely against you, but strong persistent upgrade options make each run still feel like you’ve accomplished something. With a great cast of heroes, a deep roster of monsters, and stellar co-op, Endless Dungeon is an audacious blend that’s worth opening that next door to find. – Justin Koreis
Exoprimal
From our review: As a familiar-looking hero shooter with dinosaurs added in, Exoprimal is much bolder than it may initially seem. This is a game that I envision many people will play and enjoy for a few hours, feel like they’ve gotten their fill of it, and then move on to something else. But that will be an incredible shame because they’ll never experience Exoprimal’s best content, which is hidden in the back half of its bonkers sci-fi story, and features some of the most surprising and innovative gameplay moments I’ve experienced in a team-based multiplayer game in a long time. I wish it took a little less time to get to those moments, as repetition starts to creep in before they hit, but Exoprimal’s unique PvPvE formula is impeccably designed, features fun and distinct exosuits regardless of what role you play, and is a breath of fresh air in the multiplayer hero shooter genre. – Mitchell Saltzman
F1 23
From our review:F1 23 is a far heartier package than F1 22, with 26 tracks, the enjoyable next chapter of the Braking Point story mode that began in F1 2021, and – for players who love to recline back into the couch and race – the best gamepad handling in the series, ever. The racing-focused secondary career mode F1 World is also likely to be a step in the right direction after last year’s F1 Life for some, although it's equally probable its arcade-inspired, loot-based upgrade system will be divisive amongst traditionalists.– Luke Reilly
F1 Manager 2023
From our review:F1 Manager 2023 proves that Frontier isn’t one and done; it’s a championship contender. Race Replay is an absolute show stealer, and there’s nothing better than solving the strategic puzzle laid out for you in a single go. F1 Manager 2023 is as enjoyable to listen to at normal speed as it is to play, and although you can rush at 16x speed for an entire season in an afternoon if you want, it’s far more relaxing to treat it like an actual race and just chill out and watch. F1 Manager 2023 is a deep sports management experience that understands that racing can be a sport everyone can enjoy and, if you enjoy any type of management game at all, you should consider adding this to your collection. – Christopher Edgerton
Forza Motorsport
From our review: After six long years, Forza Motorsport is off the lift and back in our lives. It looks great, feels great, sounds great, and it’s brought with it the most impressive multiplayer we’ve seen in the series so far. With 500 cars and 20 track locations it’s hardly a small start but, now positioned as a platform, Forza Motorsport has the potential to expand into a seriously rich racing destination over the coming years. If Flight Simulator on four wheels is the plan, I’m here for it. First on the list of improvements Turn 10 should focus on is revamping the new RPG-inspired upgrade system that turns progression into an unnecessarily long road ahead of each individual car, and maybe bringing back the joys of split-screen multiplayer racing to complement the excellent online modes. – Luke Reilly
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie
From our review:Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a powerful visual novel that mixes a world-bending story with deeply personal stakes. Helpful quality-of-life features like the ability to go back and re-read earlier messages are also as approachable as they are omnipresent. It takes a while to get going, though it also makes familiarizing yourself with its somewhat dense lore easy thanks to a built-in codex that explains most of the in-world jargon required to understand what’s going on. But hidden between Reverie’s magic and metaphors is a story firmly rooted in the power of community, reflecting the resilience of the human spirit itself. – Gabriel Moss
Have a Nice Death
From our review:Have A Nice Death is a punishing but satisfying roguelike with some diabolically tough boss fights. The darkly dorky setting and office humor lend it more than enough charm to make me want to discover more of its world. But it's made significantly more frustrating than it probably needs to be by very stingy long-term progression and limited defensive abilities in comparison to its huge array of fun-to-use offensive weapons. When I wasn't feeling the discouraging void inside dragging me down, I was reveling in the hundreds of ways I could make these visually and mechanically memorable undead wish they never lived at all. – Leana Hafer
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
From our review: An impeccably detailed and blisteringly fast racer with incredible graphics and rock-solid arcade underpinnings, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 picks up where the surprisingly excellent 2021 original left off. That is, it’s not just the best thing on the breakfast bench since Micro Machines – it’s one of the strongest and most imaginative arcade racers available today. It’s definitely guilty of forgetting to suitably cater to its wide audience at times, it’s stingy on older cars, and it would’ve been a much bigger and better package if it didn’t completely shed its previous track locations, but the last time Mattel had wheels this worthy of a whirl they were welded beneath Ryan Gosling’s rollerblades. – Luke Reilly
Immortals of Aveum
From our review:Immortals of Aveum is an impressively confident first-person shooter that successfully trades muzzles and magazines for mages and magic. Its fast-paced, spellcasting combat is both satisfying to master and spectacular to look at, and it features a lengthy and hearty campaign packed with secrets to keep us going well after the story has wrapped. As someone who desperately hopes that unapologetically single-player shooters will live forever, these Immortals have done a great job of making sure they’re definitely not dead yet. – Luke Reilly
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie
From our review:The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie is one of the best games in this almost 20-year-old franchise and a great RPG. While its overall story is a bit of a retread, its amazing pacing, and in-depth battle system, make it a satisfying conclusion to the Crossbell and Cold Steel arcs. It also makes good use of its admittedly way-too-large cast of playable characters. That said, newcomers who are unfamiliar with the series will certainly be lost without having played the previous games. However, it's well worth doing so in order to experience one of the best RPG universes ever crafted. – George Yang
LEGO 2K Drive
From our review: One part The Crew 2, one part Mario Kart, and one thousand parts… LEGO parts, LEGO 2K Drive is a wild and whimsical all-ages kart racer that’s buried itself under my skin like the pointed edge of rogue plastic brick underfoot in a messy kid’s bedroom. Better still, it’s one that embraces the total creative freedom real LEGO affords like few games before it, with an incredible custom vehicle creation tool that’s just about worth the price of admission alone. The current inability to share those designs with others is disappointing – particularly in the shadow of another tedious microtransaction store – but LEGO 2K Drive is certainly the fastest and funniest way to rock out with your blocks out in recent memory. – Luke Reilly
Lies of P
From our review:Lies of P might not branch out particularly far from its soulslike inspiration, but like a marionette controlled by a skilled puppet master, it plays the part extremely well in a wonderfully dark fantasy world. It must be said that its uneven difficulty didn’t always make me feel like an underdog, especially when playing as a brawny, overpowered version of Pinocchio with a massive weapon, and combat pigeonholed me into a specific playstyle while the levels are less open and twisting than most. But with an awesome weapon crafting system, some really memorable boss fights, and one of the better stories we’ve seen in this genre, I can enthusiastically recommend you spend your time hanging out with Gepetto and friends. If you’ve been waiting for a Bloodborne remaster or sequel that may never come, Lies of P is the next best thing. – Travis Northup
Lords of the Fallen
From our review:Lords of the Fallen is a great soulslike, and its killer new idea of swapping between two versions of the world to solve puzzles and slay enemies is an excellent twist to set it apart from the pack. That concept is unfortunately hamstrung by numerous, highly annoying technical issues and weak boss fights, but awesome explorable areas and fantastic buildcrafting more than make up for those shortcomings. If, like me, you’re a sucker for a quality action-RPG even amid a clear overabundance of them, then this reboot is well worth your time. – Travis Northup
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
From our review: As a sequel in a spectacular series, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is both blessed and cursed. Its story of two Spider-Men is a great time and a Spidey fan’s dream to play through as comic book pages are brought to life, elegantly walking the tightrope between light humour and heavier themes. Meanwhile, Insomniac refines a successful formula of combat and web-swinging without revolutionising either in major ways, making them comfy and familiar with just enough new tweaks and abilities to elevate them to fun new heights. The part that feels like it actually needed a radical rethinking is the open world of New York City, which has been made bigger but not better, with an exhausting checklist of mostly repetitious side activities. But it’s safe to call this another thrilling Spider-Man adventure that delivers Insomniac's best tale yet, and despite its open world falling short, it's a reliably fun superhero power trip. And, you know what? Screw it. It really did make me feel like Spider-Man, too. – Simon Cardy
Meet Your Maker
From our review:Meet Your Maker is an awesome action game that beautifully executes on a terrific concept. It’s missing some depth in its tools of destruction, has some bugs and wonkiness, and its thin story is a big ol’ nothing burger, but as a starting point for another live-service game from the team that brought us Dead By Daylight, it's extremely impressive. Running through dungeons to best whatever unknown deviousness your fellow player has left for you is a great time, limited only by what the community can concoct, and building your own bases is the ultimate reward for your hard work that never stops being hilarious. As someone who loves a good heist and relishes any opportunity to watch others fall before my evil genius, Meet Your Maker has been hard to put down. – Travis Northup
Mortal Kombat 1
From our review:Mortal Kombat 1 is another great entry in this legendary series, but it’s not one without issues. The new Kameo system is excellent, there are smart changes to the fighting mechanics that address many of the fundamental issues that cropped up over Mortal Kombat 11’s life, and predictably, the fantastic single-player story mode that continues to be the gold standard of the genre. But certain elements of online play are starting to feel dated, and Invasions mode is not nearly engaging enough to hold my attention for as long as is needed to unlock a majority of the goodies hidden behind its many treasure chests and gimmicky battles. Still, Mortal Kombat 1 marks a new beginning for the franchise, and it’s a very exciting launching point for the next era. – Mitchell Saltzman
Moving Out 2
From our review: Moving Out 2 is an extremely colourful and calamitous co-op sequel that’s as challenging as it is charming, serving up an enjoyably distinct set of crazy cargo collections that task you with bending at the knees while consistently splitting your sides. Spreading its preposterous brand of pass the parcel across multiple dimensions has empowered the developers to get really creative with the setup of each stage, although that added ambition has meant that some smaller corners have seemingly been cut. Still, the addition of online multiplayer should mean that more players will be able to rope in a moving buddy whether they share the same couch or not, which will hopefully go a long way towards making up for its lingering deficiencies as a single-player experience. If you’re up for another hectic house party with friends, Moving Out 2 hits harder than a thrown fridge. – Tristan Ogilvie
Resident Evil Village VR
From our review:Resident Evil Village VR is far more than just a gimmicky afterthought, adding enough improvements and tweaks to justify fans of both the series and virtual reality reliving Ethan’s not-so-great European vacation one more time. While the controls be a little cumbersome as you take the time needed to master them and the VR perspective can cause a few awkward viewing angles, this is still a very enjoyable return to an already great game. – Taylor Lyles
Sea of Stars
From our review:Sea of Stars is an excellent tribute RPG that channels the best parts of its ‘90s-era forebears like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6, and even Star Ocean: The Second Story. Because of that, it’s fair to say that its world, graphical style, and mechanics aren’t wholly original, but there are enough interesting twists in its 30-hour story to make for a rich and enjoyable experience of its own merit. This isn’t just nostalgia fodder. That said, its twitchy combat can be difficult to get a handle on, and once you do, it only stays interesting for so long before its limited customization options make it start to feel just a little repetitive. That’s made up for by a strong soundtrack, an approachable and endearing story, and a wide number of fun zones and boss fights that make this a trip worth taking. – Gabriel Moss
Sons of the Forest (Early Access)
From our review:Sons of the Forest takes everything its predecessor did well and does it a little bit better. And considering how much I enjoyed the original, I can easily recommend this strong follow-up. Exploring a huge, beautiful, deadly island through the changing seasons is a treat on its own. The new base building mechanics could entertain me for days without ever touching the main story. And to top it all off, we have smarter and more unsettling enemy behavior paired with thoughtfully improved combat. It's already great, and it's still in Early Access. With some healthy performance optimization and shining up of an impactful but sloppy ending, it could become incredible. – Leana Hafer
Station to Station
From our review:Station to Station is a relaxing, cozy railway planner with clear goals, flexibility in how you accomplish them, and the absolute perfect amount of challenge. It doesn't try to be anything more than a fun and easy going experience, and the fact you can randomize levels and crank their difficulty up a bit provides some nice variety to how you approach each session. I love its voxel-based graphics so much, the music is soothing, and it just oozes charm. Even failing a level didn’t frustrate, because it just meant I got another opportunity to roll through the blocky countryside and do a little better. Its biggest strength lies in its simplicity, and it doesn't stray too far from that initial gameplay premise. Honestly, it doesn't have to. – Seth Macy
Total War: Pharoah
From our review:Total War: Pharaoh looks incredible, with diverse and interesting battles complemented by an uncommonly deep and rich campaign layer. The focus is firmly on Egypt, and the experiences available outside that region don't really match up in terms of content or quality to what is on offer to the civilizations of the Nile. But when I'm sailing up and down that majestic river, fending off invasions from hostile tribes, politicking my way to the top of the power pyramid, and sending my besandaled soldiers to spill blood across the shining sands, I feel confident in saying historical Total War is back, baby. Creative Assembly Sophia has refined every part of its take on this franchise since Troy, and the results are just shy of glorious. – Leana Hafer
Trepang2
From our review:Trepang2 is a delightful tribute shooter that brings the relentless yet intelligent and often creative action of games like F.E.A.R. to the modern standards of 2023. Its diverse enemy encounters and smart level design are top-notch, though it’s less successful when it occasionally dips into lukewarm survival-horror elements, and that’s when it becomes apparent that it could’ve really used a stronger story and better scares. In light of that, it’s wise that it leans harder on action than stealth throughout, often keeping pace with the best first-person shooters when firefights heat up. However, it still ends a bit more quickly than I’d have hoped, even after padding out its length in higher difficulty modes and side missions. Trepang2 feels like a strong prototype for a Trepang3 that pairs this great action with a less paint-by-numbers story and an extended campaign, but in the meantime, I’ll happily go back in and play it all over again with the myriad cheats I’ve already unlocked. – Gabriel Moss
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy
From our review:Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is an awesome sequel that keeps the good times rolling for one of the best co-op puzzle-platformer series out there. This set of puzzles are some of the strongest they’ve ever been, and boss fights are creative and original – even if those highlights are occasionally cut short with snooze-inducing combat sections and a predictable story. It may not do much to innovate beyond what we’ve done four times before, but Trine 5 plays to its strengths extremely well and makes some important tweaks here and there that definitely make it worthy of a playthrough or two. – Travis Northup
Viewfinder
From our review: What Viewfinder lacks in story substance and compelling characters it more than makes up for via the pure, mind-boggling exhilaration of its perspective-warping puzzle solving. Its superb, photo-based environmental deformation doesn’t just break ground – it bends and stretches it into entirely new shapes and forms in the wake of each puzzle completed, while also introducing regular game-changing parameters that forced me to continually think outside the frame of my shots. The ability to transport yourself into paintings and screenshots makes for a journey that consistently captivates in between each carefully considered camera capture, and the rapid rewind function emboldens you to get creative with puzzle solutions without fear of retribution. Spellbindingly surreal and stimulating to the end, Viewfinder is the freakiest form of photo mode in which every snap is a happy one. – Tristan Ogilvie
Wargroove 2
From our review:Wargroove 2 is a lot bigger, even if its tactical combat isn’t much better to match – but with how good the original Wargroove was already, that’s forgivable. The story of its three campaigns isn’t as cohesive as its predecessor and there aren’t many truly new gameplay features in the campaign levels themselves, but its Advance Wars-style tactical combat once again manages to make the hours fly by.A satisfyingly challenging new roguelike mode also provides a new way to play that could have practically been a whole game of its own. It’s a familiar package even with that mode, but if you loved the original then Wargroove 2 provides a whole lot more of what made it so great. – Malindy
Wild Hearts
From our review: If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force is using Wild Hearts to flirt hard with Capcom right now. But using a beloved game as the template for a new one isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and Wild Hearts manages to introduce plenty of fun new ideas to the Monster Hunter formula while recapturing it well enough to stand proudly alongside the series that so clearly inspired it. The way it simplifies and streamlines things makes for a slightly shallower package, but its karakuri building adds a fresh new way to interact with the map in its place. And while its lower monster variety is certainly disappointing, I’m still having enough fun that I’m excited to party up with some friends and dive back into both challenging endgame fights and fanciful karakuri decorations alike. – Tom Marks
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
From our review:Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s combat plays very differently from Team Ninja’s own Nioh games – more in the mold of Sekiro than Dark Souls – and yet it manages to excel and falter in just about the same areas. When it comes to the clashing of melee weapons, Wo Long is among the best in the genre, full stop. Its action is fast and thrilling, the options for taking down its ferocious enemies are many and immensely rewarding to master, and its deflection-heavy combat is one of the most satisfying since Sekiro. All of those strengths outweigh an overbearing loot system, poor storytelling, and even a disappointing lack of variety in enemies. If not for that, Wo Long might’ve been one of Team Ninja’s greatest achievements – as it is, it’s simply a great one. – Mitchell Saltzman
WWE 2K23
From our review: Whether you want to experience a TV-inspired story of young wrestling talent rising to glory, chop your way to the top at your leisure, take a guided tour of the most humbling moments in the career of one of the greatest to ever do it, or some other more nerdy diversion, WWE 2K23 is worth pinning down. It’s at least incrementally better in almost every way from last year’s entry in that combat feels more rewarding, flexible, and consequential. Where it overachieves, like in MyGM, it starts to finally restore the feeling that we could be on the ramp watching a new golden age of pro wrestling games make its glorious entrance. – Jarrett Green
Review Score: 9 (“Amazing”)
We enthusiastically recommend that you add these games to your to-play list. If we call a game Amazing, that means something about it seriously impressed us, whether it’s an inspired new idea or an exceptional take on an old one. We expect to look back at it as one of the highlights of its time and genre.
Alan Wake 2
From our review:Alan Wake II delivers one of the boldest and most brain-bending survival-horror storylines this side of Silent Hill 2, presents it with uniformly immaculate art direction and audio design, and reinvigorates the series’ signature light-based shooting as though it’s been locked and loaded with a fresh pack of Energizers. Even though its skill-upgrade systems seem a little superfluous and there were a few repeated cliches in Saga’s story that stuck in my craw, I nonetheless found both sides of this twisted tale to be endlessly fascinating, frequently fear-inducing, and consistently surprising. Alan Wake II is a superb survival-horror sequel that makes the cult-classic original seem like little more than a rough first draft by comparison. – Tristan Ogilvie
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon
From our review: You know you’ve just played something special when you’re left with a bittersweet feeling while the credits roll. As I closed the book on Bayonetta Origins, I kept thinking about how it was an absolute joy through and through. From its impressive, fantastical story moments full of childlike charm to its clever platforming puzzles and satisfying battles, this is a superb action-adventure where every piece comes together to create a wondrous playable storybook. Its wild dual-character concept doesn’t really evolve much once you get the hang of it, and maybe its conclusion could have done more to leave a lasting impact. But it’s a journey I’ll cherish all the same, and one that’s been brought to life through a beautiful art style, stellar voice performances, and an outstanding soundtrack. Bayonetta Origins puts a neat little bow on an iconic franchise, and I’m glad we got to see that there was so much more to our beloved witch. – Michael Higham
Cocoon
From our review:Cocoon is a breathtaking puzzle-platformer that borders on psychedelic. Building on what made Inside designer Jeppe Carlsen's previous work stand out, Cocoon not only presents a mind-bending journey through the cosmos via fascinating worlds-within-worlds puzzle mechanics that beg you to delve another layer deeper, but an interesting take on the repetition of work, life, and being part of a "bigger picture." With a relatively short playtime and some well-hidden collectibles that make it worth replaying, Cocoon is a must-play for fans of Limbo or Inside, or anyone looking for a new puzzle adventure to play and then sit down and think about for a while. – Hana Kim
Dead Space Remake
From our review: With its stunningly redesigned spaceship, smartly and subtly enhanced story, and spectacularly reimagined action scenes, Motive Studio has managed to successfully breathe new life into the seminal sci-fi horror universe of Dead Space. Despite the fact I’ve returned to the 2008 original several times over the years and found it to hold up fairly well, my latest journey through the darkened hallways of the USG Ishimura still managed to consistently surprise me and pull me into Isaac’s plight far more than ever before, while still satisfying my desire to butcher undead astronauts with an enjoyable arsenal of wildly unsafe mining tools. It’s clear that this superb Dead Space remake has been a labour of love for the team at Motive Studios, who’ve very carefully balanced innovation and renovation with preservation, and to their credit the end result is undoubtedly the definitive way to experience – or re-experience – one of the best survival horror shooters that Capcom never made. – Tristan Ogilvie
Diablo 4
From our review:Diablo 4 is a stunning sequel with near perfect endgame and progression design that makes it absolutely excruciating to put down. The story is a pretty big disappointment despite still being a noticeable improvement over Diablo 3 and there are some annoying bugs that need squashing, but the combat, the loot game, and both the sights and sounds of this world are impressive enough to smooth over those rough edges. Diablo 4 takes the strategy of refining things the series already did so well rather than giving it a more substantial overhaul, and that careful and reverent path has shaped this massive sequel into one of the most polished ARPGs ever created, which makes slicing through the legions of the damned a hell of a good time. – Travis Northup
EA Sports UFC 5
From our review:EA Sports UFC 5 is the best MMA game yet. Its next-gen presentation and refreshed mechanics are a dramatic improvement over previous games in the series, allowing for a more seamless and exciting recreation of the sport. The new damage system makes adjusting your strategy mid-fight more involved with plenty of risk-versus-reward decisions, making both offline and online modes all the more enjoyable and replayable. Career Mode has been fine tuned with welcome lifestyle improvements and a deeper story with Coach Davis. UFC 4 may have been the best MMA game mostly due to lack of competition, but UFC 5 stands a class above it, earning that title on its own merits as both an amazing sports simulation game and fighting game alike. – Tanner Smith
Final Fantasy 16
From our review:Final Fantasy 16 will very likely be looked back upon as a turning point for mainline Final Fantasy games, taking its combat fully in the direction of an action game, but I hope that conversation doesn’t overshadow its dark and captivating tale, memorable characters, and the innovative ways in which it helps you keep track of it all. The Active Time Lore feature is incredible, and should be standard for all story-driven games going forward, and while the combat may not live up to the sky high standards as some of the best games in the character action genre, among other action RPGs, it’s near the top of the heap. Pair all of that with one of the best soundtracks of the year, incredible performances from top to bottom, and drop dead gorgeous visuals, and you’ve got a game worthy of an orchestral Final Fantasy victory fanfare. – Mitchell Saltzman
Fire Emblem Engage
From our review: It’s no small feat that Fire Emblem Engage is able to tell a simple-but-fun story that celebrates the vast history of its series in a way that doesn’t rely on prior knowledge of that legacy. Building the perfect team of diverse characters and pairing them with the Emblem Rings of past heroes allows for tons of customization and strategy, and blasting through the enemy ranks with their special powers is always immensely satisfying. Both its main and side missions provide a good deal of challenge, and clever twists and obstacles offset a reliance on overly familiar mission objectives. Couple all that with a suite of quality-of-life improvements that immediately feel vital and Fire Emblem Engage proves itself worthy enough to be counted alongside the legacy it honors so well. – Brendan Graeber
Ghostrunner 2
From our review:Ghostrunner 2 is an electric sequel that supercharges everything that was great about the original and elevates it to a whole new level. The lightning fast, skill-heavy, one-hit kill combat is as exciting as ever, packed with even more tricks that give you plenty of new options to approach every scenario. The parkour also remains as smooth as silk, and some of the new motorcycle sequences are among the most exhilarating moments I’ve had all year. Those who didn’t vibe with the intensely reflex-heavy gameplay of the first Ghostrunner probably won’t be swayed by any of these improvements, but if the original was up your alley, I can’t imagine a better sequel than this. – Mitchell Saltzman
Gran Turismo 7 VR
From our review:Gran Turismo 7 is the same amazing simulation-focused racer it always has been, but playing in a PlayStation VR2 headset has elevated it in ways I wasn’t expecting. Driving its intense and alluring races in VR adds such a high level of tactility that you can physically feel the tweaks you make to your car, demystifying a lot of the otherwise intimidating optional customization for the average player. It also looks stunning, making up for flat menus and the lack of interactivity in its cabins with impressive lighting and audio alike. If you’re buying a PlayStation VR2 headset anyway, and you had to buy just one game to keep you busy for an indefinite amount of time, make it this one. – Gabriel Moss
Hi-Fi Rush
From our review: I swear Hi-Fi Rush could be a premier cartoon series. It’s got best-in-class animation, endearing heroes to cheer for, and villains you love to hate, all wrapped in good-natured humor. But on top of that everlasting charm, it turns a dynamic rock soundtrack into its greatest weapon, putting meticulous detail into syncing the beat to all aspects of the experience. It gives combat a uniquely satisfying momentum that other stylish-action games don’t offer, even when the platforming and targeting system drop a couple notes along the way. Hi-Fi Rush is a memorable journey that marches to the beat of its own drum and without a doubt stands among the action greats. – Michael Higham
Hogwarts Legacy
From our review: In nearly every way, Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter RPG I’ve always wanted to play. Its open-world adventure captures all the excitement and wonder of the Wizarding World with its memorable new characters, challenging and nuanced combat, and a wonderfully executed Hogwarts student fantasy that kept me glued to my controller for dozens of hours. It’s certainly weighed down by technical issues, a lackluster main story, and some poor enemy variety, but even those couldn’t come close to breaking its enchanting spell over me. – Travis Northup
Honkai: Star Rail
From our review:Honkai: Star Rail is the best free-to-play game of the year so far. Its stellar storytelling and satisfying progression systems offer dozens of hours of content that a HoYo newcomer can enjoy, even without paying for gacha items or having played Honkai Impact 3rd or Genshin Impact. Combat boasts layers of strategy for those willing to dig into details without barring more casual players from enjoying it. Its worldbuilding also expands outside of the main story into the side missions and interactable objects, making an already captivating world even more lively. It surpasses even Genshin in my mind, and I can see myself playing even months from now. – Jess Reyes
Humanity
From our review:Humanity is a beautiful, modern reimagining of Lemmings that feels as esoteric and artsy as Enhance’s previous games, while ambitiously stepping onto new terrain for the action puzzle genre with the pitter-patter of countless little feet. It somehow manages to intermingle platforming, action, and real-time strategy elements with mind-bending finesse, and its open-endedness means I could be sitting here and tinkering with it for years – much like I have with other games with great level creators like Dreams and Little Big Planet. Humanity bursts out of left field with something so unexpectedly brilliant that I can’t help but recommend it to everyone who’s ever enjoyed a puzzle game. – Gabriel Moss
Jagged Alliance 3
From our review:Jagged Alliance 3 is a smartly-built, action-packed throwback tactical extravaganza that I enjoyed the whole way through. Its madcap sense of humor is very hit or miss – for me, it's usually miss. But for the most part, that doesn't hurt its ability to tell a story with just enough intrigue to keep you guessing, while not overcomplicating things too much. The huge variety of distinct characters, hand-built tactical maps, and objectives assure that a long campaign never goes stale, with limited but meaningful merc progression that let me build my dream squad and play almost exactly how I wanted to, with the added tension of trying to keep them alive through each combat encounter. If you know your way around a squad management game you may want to turn the campaign difficulty up a notch for your first playthrough, but even when you're rolling in cash, this lead-slinging blow-out is a hell of a good time. – Leana Hafer
Laika: Aged Through Blood
From our review:Laika: Aged Through Blood is an unrelenting motorcycle ride through a bloody wasteland with one of the most unique and compelling spins on the metroidvania genre. It expertly blends ruthless death-defying combat with a beautiful hand-painted side scrolling world with a riveting story of revenge, desperation, and survival. Though uncompromising in its insistence that you quickly become adept at handling your bike in addition to taking on multiple threats, a heaping helping of checkpoints guarantees revenge is always within striking distance. If you’ve ever considered yourself a fan of exploring and platforming across 2D landscapes, you’ll find these open roads well worth your time. – Brendan Graeber
The Making of Karateka
From our review: Before playing The Making of Karateka, I had no interest in Karateka beyond it being a historical stepping stone to Prince of Persia. But I get it now. I I see its many parts: The animation that was hand drawn from Jordan Mechner’’s snapshots of his family’s karate instructor; the music that began as a fatherly lesson in Wagner’s leitmotifs; and the cinematic framing of a story that cuts between scenes in a far more complicated way than, say, the “They Meet” cutscene in Ms. Pac-Man. Karateka is significant, but the story behind it is remarkable, and The Making of Karateka tells that story in the coolest way possible. – Samuel Claiborn
MLB The Show 23
From our review: After a somewhat disappointing 2022, it’s amazing how far forward Sony San Diego has pushed MLB The Show 23. It seems like every element has received attention, whether its the improved scouting in the Franchise mode, updates to match the current MLB rulebook, or a vastly more helpful practice mode. This remains a gorgeous showcase for baseball, with some of the most lifelike sights and sounds to behold in a sports game. It remains to be seen if Sets and Seasons in Diamond Dynasty will frustrate in the long run, but the crowning achievement this year is the Negro Leagues mode. This playable piece of baseball history is a triumph, presented with care, grace, and attention to detail. It’s courageous and bold, like the pioneers it highlights, and it’s astonishing to experience something so affecting from a baseball game. If for nothing else, that alone makes MLB The Show 23 a must-play. – Justin Koreis
Pikmin 4
From our review: Like the three wonderfully weird mainline games before it, Pikmin 4 has once again captured my heart with its charming creatures that fearlessly follow commands regardless of their own well-being. The difficulty leans a bit too much toward the easy side, but all-new features like ability upgrades, a pair of new Pikmin, and our loyal sidekick Oatchi add some variety to the traditional gameplay by offering options other than the grab-and-throw Pikmin formula of the past. Coupled with the largest number of enemies to battle, treasures to collect, and awesome post-game content that incorporates some great callbacks to the earlier games, I’m left with not just a positive outlook on Pikmin 4, but the direction the series is heading as a whole. – Jada Griffin
Pizza Tower
From our review:Pizza Tower is a very special 2D platformer that transcends its inspirations and becomes something even greater. It’s a short ride, and it’ll be most appealing to those who are keen to restart levels in an effort to improve their score, but even if that’s not you, there’s a ton to like here. It is one of the most straight up fun and refreshing platformers I’ve played in recent memory, sporting an unforgettably unique art style, excellent animations, immensely rewarding platforming, wonderfully creative level design, a joyful sense of humor, and one of the best soundtracks of the year so far. Move over Wario, Peppino Spaghetti is-a number one now. – Mitchell Saltzman
Remnant 2
From our review: It’s astounding to think that if I were to create a list of my favorite soulslikes, my favorite looter shooters, and my favorite procedurally generated games, Remnant 2 would appear on all of those lists. This is a triumphant sequel that doesn’t just reimagine the soulslike genre as a co-op looter-shooter, but absolutely nails that concept in nearly every way – including many that the original did not. With completely engrossing combat, challenging and memorable boss fights, ultra-dense buildcrafting options, incredibly cool procedurally generated levels, and a clever multiversal concept that allows for a ton of different adventures in one package, it’s very likely going to become one of my most-played games this year. No matter which part of the multiverse you find yourself in, you should do yourself a favor and play this gem. – Travis Northup
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
From our review:Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a peak example of the stealth tactics genre from a studio that is clearly mastering its craft. Its mission structure is spread across excellently entertaining levels with rich detail to find and master, while characters shine with voice performances, endearing humor, and colorful art that both delight and impress. With innumerable ways to approach its levels and an extremely smart integration of the practice of saving and reloading into the world’s fiction, it’s firing on all cylinders in all categories except perhaps enemy AI. Frankly, I don't know anyone I wouldn't recommend it to. – Jon Bolding
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
From our review:Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes what Fallen Order achieved and wall-runs with it, then double-jumps and air-dashes straight into an epic lightsaber battle. Rather than taking us back to square one to begin Cal’s journey as a Padawan again, we’re trusted with control of a full-fledged Jedi Knight who we can grow into a master of superhuman mobility and fantastic and challenging combat. With a new set of larger, more diverse, and densely packed worlds to explore and a memorable cast of returning characters, Survivor tells a story that may be predictable but is still fun and at times emotional to watch play out. Launch performance issues aside, it’s a sequel that does virtually everything better than the original – which was already an exceptional Star Wars game. If Respawn makes one more like this it’ll complete the best Star Wars trilogy in 30 years, hands down. – Dan Stapleton
Street Fighter 6
From our review: Street Fighter games are always benchmark moments for the 2D fighting game genre, but Street Fighter 6 feels extra special. The Drive System is an incredible addition to the fighting mechanics that gives you a veritable Swiss Army knife of options and meter-management decisions right from the start of every single round, the starting roster is the best Street Fighter has ever seen, its online netcode through three betas has been impeccable so far, and the number of smaller details that it nails right out of the gate is unprecedented. It’s so good that even the poor story and extremely slow progression of the single-player World Tour amounts to only a jab’s worth of damage on its metaphorical health bar. Whether you’re completely new to fighting games or are a seasoned vet, Street Fighter 6 is a must play. – Mitchell Saltzman
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
From our review:Super Mario Bros. Wonder establishes a new standard for what 2D Mario platformers should look like. It is colorful, it is alive, and it is joyful. It also managed to surprise and delight me in continually more creative ways thanks to its unpredictable Wonder Effects, which transform levels into something completely different for a brief while. Like dessert in the middle of the main course of each stage, they were irresistible and always put a smile on my face – as did the absolute beast that is Elephant Mario. In every way other than advanced challenges, Wonder feels like a 21st-century successor to Super Mario World, and I’m not sure I can give it a higher compliment than that. – Ryan McCaffrey
System Shock
From our review: Where many modern games invite you to sit back and enjoy the ride, System Shock wants you to sit up and experience the SHODAN. Tweaking the technical workings of Citadel station to come out on top and foil SHODAN's machinations is just as compelling as it ever was, making the original System Shock one of gaming's classics for a very good reason. Nightdive's remake masterfully brings most of the aspects that haven’t aged as well into the present day, with excellent new graphics and nearly all the modern gameplay conveniences you could want. Get out there and give her hell, hacker. – Jon Bolding
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
From our review:Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is full of charm and nostalgia alike, with cutesy versions of my favorite Final Fantasy characters and excellent remixes of the iconic songs that accompanied them. The light RPG mechanics, coupled with traditional rhythm mechanics, is easy enough to get into and deep enough to entertain fans of both. It's a little bit of a letdown that there isn't any storyline for your party of heroes to follow or another hook to keep me playing beyond beating my own scores in Endless mode, but its impressive tracklist makes Theatrhythm Final Bar Line an enjoyable way to listen to and play along with the most memorable songs from the Final Fantasy series. – Jada Griffin
Review Score: 10 (“Masterpiece”)
Simply put: this is our highest recommendation. There’s no such thing as a truly perfect game, but those that earn a Masterpiece label from IGN come as close as we could reasonably hope for. These are classics in the making that we hope and expect will influence game design for years to come, as other developers learn from their shining examples.
Baldur's Gate 3
From our review: I don't want to say every CRPG going forward should aspire to be like Baldur's Gate 3. Not everything needs to be nearly this big and ambitious, or even this dense. But it is a landmark moment in the genre, and if I had to point to one paragon that I would like everyone else making these to take inspiration from, this is absolutely it. I waited 14 years for the stars to align again so that we could get the ideal mix of crunchy, tactical, old-school RPG combat, an epic and well-written story with complex characters and lots of meaningful choices, and a level of polish and cinematic presentation that let me see the sweat and the sorrow on characters' faces in their darkest hours. Plenty of other games have partially completed that list, but the last time they all came together was Dragon Age: Origins in 2009. And I can finally say that game, and its Infinity Engine predecessors, have a worthy successor that’s not just matched their RPG greatness, but surpassed it. Baldur’s Gate 3 is just about everything I could have asked for. – Leana Hafer
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
From our review:The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an unfathomable follow-up to one of the greatest games ever made, somehow improving upon it in nearly every way – be that with simple quality-of-life improvements, a genuinely exciting story, or wildly creative new building mechanics that make you rethink what is possible. It both revamps old ground and introduces vast new areas so immense it somehow makes me wonder if Breath of the Wild was actually all that big, with an almost alarming number of tasks to complete, mysteries to discover, and delightful distractions to keep you from ever reaching that place you naively thought you were headed. Nintendo has followed up a triumph with a triumph, expanding and evolving a world that already felt full beyond expectation and raising the bar ever higher into the clouds. – Tom Marks
Metroid Prime Remastered
From our review: Metroid Prime has been one of my favorite games for decades, but I’m still shocked that its bones are so strong. 21 years later, in 2023, Metroid Prime Remastered had to do so little beyond modernizing the controls and updating the graphics to become one of the best games you can buy once again. This ultimate solo mission is a respite from the noise of hint-giving companions and lengthy cinematic cutscenes that make up much of today’s single-player games. Those things have their place, but Metroid Prime Remastered shows that you can tell a story and create a grand adventure by building an amazing world and creating unique and fun tools to explore it with. I strongly encourage you to delve into Metroid Prime Remastered, and get lost. – Samuel Claiborn
Resident Evil 4
From our review: Whether you're a fan of the original or a newcomer with a hankering for some action-heavy horror of the highest quality, Resident Evil 4 is like a parasite-riddled Spaniard: a total no-brainer. Its combat is friction-free but no less stress-inducing thanks to its ferocious cast of creatures, its story rapidly shuttles through a series of action scenes that are diverse in structure but uniformly unwavering in intensity, and its world is rich in detail and full of fun and often snarling surprises. Its improvements over the original are too numerous to list, from simple quality-of-life changes to completely overhauled boss fight mechanics, and with the exception of the disappointingly diminished personality of the merchant, the team at Capcom has barely put a foot wrong. Whaddaya buying? Only the most relentlessly exciting Resident Evil adventure of all time that’s been rebuilt, refined, and realised to the full limits of its enormous potential. A wise choice, mate. – Tristan Ogilvie
If you want an easy way to track all the top games we've reviewed so far, check out our corresponding list on IGN Playlist. By logging in with your free IGN account, you can track games, get stats (eg: how long it takes to beat them), add them to your wishlist and backlog, or rate and review them yourself. Start here:
Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.
