It’s time to see which top downloads for PS5, PS4, PS VR2, PSVR, and free-to-play were showered with the most downloads to make the list this month. The U.S. and EU PS5 charts shared the same frontrunners, while the PS4 charts had a surprising first-place winner across the board. PS VR 2 charts saw a lot of movement across genres in both regions.
Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month?
PS5 Games
US/Canada
EU
STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor
STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor
Dead Island 2
Dead Island 2
MLB The Show 23
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V
FIFA 23
NBA 2K23
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
NBA 2K23
Resident Evil 4
Hogwarts Legacy
EA SPORTS PGA TOUR
Resident Evil 4
Hogwarts Legacy
FAR CRY 6
FIFA 23
DREDGE
WWE 2K23
Cyberpunk 2077
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
PGA TOUR 2K23
EA SPORTS PGA TOUR
Madden NFL 23
WWE 2K23
Mortal Kombat 11
GRAN TURISMO 7
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Diablo II: Resurrected
DREDGE
Among Us
Cyberpunk 2077
Watch Dogs: Legion
GRAN TURISMO 7
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
The Last of Us Part I
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
*Naming of products may differ between regions *Upgrades not included
PS4 Games
US/Canada
EU
The Last of Us Part II
The Last of Us Part II
Minecraft
FIFA 23
NBA 2K23
Minecraft
Red Dead Redemption 2
Grand Theft Auto V
MLB The Show 23
Red Dead Redemption 2
EA Sports UFC 4
A Way Out
FIFA 23
Gang Beasts
Gang Beasts
EA Sports UFC 4
Grand Theft Auto V
NBA 2K23
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
ARK: Survival Evolved
Dead Island 2
theHunter: Call of the Wild
theHunter: Call of the Wild
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
7 Days To Die
The Forest
ARK: Survival Evolved
7 Days To Die
Batman: Arkham Knight
The Last of Us Remastered
A Way Out
Monopoly Plus
Final Fantasy VI
Dead Island 2
Resident Evil 4
Tekken 7
Mortal Kombat X
Star Wars Battlefront II
Star Wars Battlefront II
Batman: Arkham Knight
*Naming of products may differ between regions
PS VR 2 Games*
US/Canada
EU
Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition
Pavlov
Pavlov
Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution
Kayak VR: Mirage
Job Simulator
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution
Kayak VR: Mirage
Job Simulator
The Dark Pictures: Switchback
The Dark Pictures: Switchback
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge
Synth Riders
Synth Riders
PISTOL WHIP
Swordsman VR
Swordsman VR
PISTOL WHIP
*PS Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releases this Friday, May 12 (yes, the day is so close!), and for those who want to get their hands on a guide to help them explore every inch of it, both the Standard and Collector’s Edition Official Guides are now up for preorder with a release date of June 16, 2023.
With these, you’ll have a detailed overview of Hyrule, a helpful walkthrough to get you through the game, and much more. Not only that, but they have gorgeous covers as well, especially the Collector’s Edition. The Standard Edition is available for $29.99 and the Collector’s Edition runs for $44.99. You can find preorder links to both Editions on Amazon below.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – The Complete Official Guide: Collector’s Edition
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – The Complete Official Guide: Standard Edition
In the lead-up to Tears of the Kingdom’s release this week, you still have time to jump on preorders for various collector’s items as well. If amiibo are up your alley, you can still preorder a variety of reprinted Link amiibo alongside the latest amiibo release of Link for the new game. As far as the reprints go, there’s a Majora’s Mask Link amiibo, Twilight Princess Link amiibo, and Ocarina of Time Link amiibo that you can still preorder.
And, more importantly, if you’re still looking to preorder the game itself, head to our preorder guide here to see every retailer that’s carrying it. Not only that, but in this preorder guide you can also still find links to the gorgeous new Tears of the Kingdom-themed Switch OLED, which is available at a variety of different retailers, and the Tears of the Kingdom Switch carrying case.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Nintendo Live 2023 will run from 1st to 4th September at the Seattle Convention Center alongside PAX West, Nintendo has announced.
It will be a ticketed event, and tickets are free — although you’ll need to register and be selected. Registration for tickets starts on May 31 at 9am PT and runs until June 22 at 11:59pm PT.
I am an Xbox software engineer and a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. My passion is to connect the world through video games. In my lifetime, I have experienced an incredible shift in technology that now allows video games to revolutionize the way we communicate and maintain relationships with others. Based on my own time in service, my wife’s ongoing service, as well as my upbringing in a military family, I know that utilizing technology to maintain contact with loved ones is essential for the wellbeing of service members and their families.
When I was young, I took pleasure in dismantling objects to investigate their components and then attempting to improve them as I reassembled them. Once, my mother discovered me with a screwdriver in hand, attempting to fuse the Nintendo console to our tube TV after my cousins had tried to hide the console from me. So, it was a natural fit for me to serve in the United States Coast Guard as an Electronics Technician, where I developed innovations to integrate different kinds of technology to computers including radars, televisions, radios, and even engines. During my service, I saw the transition from modular equipment to fully integrated technology with real-time communication capabilities, which allowed us to solve problems more quickly, disseminate information faster, and triangulate search and rescue operations with efficiency.
I also witnessed the revolution of video game technology from cartridge-based platformers to online, open-world RPGs and strategy games with multiplayer and chat capabilities. While we were busy in the Coast Guard and didn’t often have time for play, when we did, we played hard. One of my favorite weekends was when we hosted a gaming festival and connected buildings through gaming with Xbox and LAN (Local Area Network). When I was stationed out on a cutter (a ship), I could be out of contact with the land and my wife for several weeks at a time. But my wife and I often used video games to reconnect and play after stressful times of separation, whether it was creating towns in Fallout 4 or competing for the best score in Zuma. Laughing with her put me at ease and helped me transition back into my family.
For a while, I was deployed overseas. My experience there was difficult and left me with complex post-traumatic stress disorder. But playing games like Halo and Call of Duty enabled me to process my reality in a way that was separated from it and safe. When I completed my service, playing video games helped me transition back to civilian life. In a sense, my brain felt broken, but when I discovered I could play a game on the hardest mode and conquer it, I also discovered I was still able to analyze problems and solve them successfully and I was able to feel confident that I could still engage with a hobby I had enjoyed since I was a little girl with a screwdriver in one hand and a controller in the other.
In honor of military families and service members, here are some ways you can join in supporting service members and their families.
Xbox Supports Military Families via Partnership with USO
From a civilian perspective, it’s challenging to truly understand the sacrifice and commitment that service members and their families make. Sacrifices like being able to hug their partner after a stressful day. Being able to hang out with their best friends after a long workday. Missing their child throw their first strike out in little league. Walking the family dog through the neighborhood at sunset. But through all of these sacrifices and commitment, there are so many things working to keep them connected to family, home, and country. Letters from family, friends, and loved ones. Favorite books and records. Phone calls. Video games.
Something that makes every player unique is the same thing that unites us: “Gaming is different for everyone.” What serves as a method of socialization to somebody is relaxation to others. It’s a way to connect with family and friends and a way to step away from reality. For some it’s a way to decompress, connect/compete with their fellow service members, or check-in with their family back home.
The USO is a nonprofit organization that has served those who serve us since 1941. The organization works tirelessly each and every day to support and strengthen service members and their families throughout their entire military experience. Throughout the world, service members can take refuge in USO Centers, brick and mortar facilities featuring comfortable amenities like Wi-Fi, gaming equipment, pool tables, snacks and drinks, and programs designed to connect service members to their loved ones back home. Programs like USO2GO and Entertainment help the organization reach service members in austere locations of particular hardship, providing morale-boosting connectivity in places where it’s needed the most. Military Family programming supports both military children through programs like the USO Reading Program and military spouses with Coffee Connections.
The USO continues to revolutionize the way it delivers its mission and in 2019, the USO launched its Gaming Program as another way to provide support. Recognizing the importance of gaming, the USO strives to create a comprehensive gaming program that captures a little bit of everything for everyone. Tournaments like the Salute to Service Showdown give service members the chance to compete for all-inclusive trips to the Super Bowl. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Esports program enables military children the opportunity to compete against their peers in scholastic competition. Gaming Coffee Connections gives military families the ability to play games with others – providing the opportunity to connect. USO Centers house gaming equipment giving service members the ability to play with family, friends, or step away from it all and jump into the latest single player story.
Video games are so much more than a screen, a game console, and the act of putting on a headset for a few hours of fun. They provide service members with a moment of normalcy and a brief respite from the pressure of their service to this nation – and through the USO, they can do just that. Throughout the last year, Xbox has partnered closely with USO to open gaming centers around the world. Whether supporting the launch at a state of the art facility at Eglin AFB, or a brand new USO center at Pituffik Space Base 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Xbox is committed to helping USO deliver on their mission. To celebrate the connection gaming can provide, Xbox is announcing the sponsorship of two Rapid Response Gaming Kits to be deployed where needed most. More about USO’s Gaming program, including Rapid Response Kits, can be found here.
Gaming and Impact with Microsoft Rewards
To celebrate the connection created through gaming, the USO has been added to Microsoft Rewards on console in the following marketplaces: AU, BE, CA, DE, ES, FR, GB, HK, IE, IT, JP, MX, NL, NO, NZ, SE, SG, TW, and US. Xbox gamers can download the Microsoft Rewards app and join to start earning points for doing what they already do: play on Xbox, shop on the Microsoft Store, search on Bing, solve daily puzzles, and other fun activities. Earning points with new promotions every day and redeeming them for cool prizes such as games, gift cards, sweepstakes entries, or donating points to their favorite organizations like USO and more, is fun and easy. Join us today and donate through Xbox.
Click on the good boy below to see how you can support USO with Microsoft Rewards:
Play Together, Near or Far
Games bring people together in a powerful way. No matter where you are in the world, you can connect with someone by playing a game. Sharing an immersive experience with a loved one brings us close in many unique ways, such as shared goals, talking through decisions in emotional narratives, and the fun of competition. These connections not only allow families to feel closer together but can also help provide huge boosts to mood and mental wellbeing, especially when someone might be feeling homesick or isolated while stationed far away for long periods of time.
Xbox Game Pass provides families with a variety of multiplayer games to choose from, including new titles that are added all the time. For the month of May, we are highlighting a collection of games that are great to play together. Featured titles within the collection available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass include:
Minecraft Legends (Available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) – Experience an epic legend from the Minecraft universe in this new action-strategy game with multiple ways to play online with friends and family. Team up and strategize together to overpower groups of fierce piglins in cooperative mode or challenge your loved ones to a Player-vs-Player match for two teams of up to four players each.
Human Fall Flat(Available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) – Up to eight players can team up for silly, lighthearted challenges in this puzzle platformer that is fun for all ages. With over 20 levels of floating dreamscapes to navigate, get ready to make memories full of laughter as you flop around together to solve physics-based puzzles in this playful adventure.
Madden NFL 23(Available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) – Lots of people connect over a shared love of sports. Madden NFL 23 lets people take their love of football to the next level by being a part of their favorite teams. The best part is that you can go head-to-head with friends and family online to prove which team is better, play on the same team to try and win together, or create your own franchise with 31 other players.
The Elder Scrolls Online(Available with Xbox Game Pass and Rated M) – Begin your fantasy journey with friends, play together with family, or chart your own path in the ever-expanding world of Elder Scrolls. Enjoy epic story quests, take on dangerous enemies, and create your own style of play in a role-playing adventure that is even better when experienced with a full party of explorers.
Grounded (Available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) – Shrunken to the size of an ant, you must explore the mysterious backyard, build a base, and defend it against roaming creatures. But you don’t have to do it alone in this cooperative survival-adventure. Share the backyard with up to three friends or family members, with the option to come and go as you please and play together when you can.
USO and Xbox: Gaming Career Kickstart
As part of our partnership between the USO and Xbox, Larry Hryb, Xbox’s Major Nelson, Jenn Panattoni, Head of Social Impact, Tech Advisor Chris Lamb, Senior Producer iAsia Brown, and Senior Sustainability Specialist Gina Kirby recently launched our virtual series, “USO Career Kickstarts with Xbox,” on Thursday, May 4, with their session “Explore Communication Careers in the Game Industry.” Supported by the Microsoft Software and Systems Academy, Xbox is set to deliver two additional sessions for this special virtual series, with each one-hour session spanning a variety of game career roles in Game Production and Game Engineering. Register for our July and September sessions.
Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA)
Participants specialize in Cloud Application Development (CAD), Server and Cloud Administration (SCA), or NEW! Cybersecurity Operations (CSO) starting in May 2023.
MSSA is a 17-week technical training program that equips former and transitioning service members for entry-level careers in high-demand fields in IT. Upon completion of MSSA, participants have a pathway towards Microsoft certifications and direct hiring opportunities with Microsoft or one of its 1,000+ hiring partners.
Our tested curricula incorporates live virtual instruction, hands-on labs tackling real-world scenarios, and industry-recognized certifications to prepare participants for a meaningful tech career in any industry.
MSSA also delivers a robust professional development curriculum that includes career planning, professional skills-building – including resume writing and interview techniques – and job search strategies.
Our MSSA program is designed to get our graduates jobs and not put them on the bench, so we will continue to work with our graduates until they land a job – once an MSSA grad, always an MSSA grad.
Are you tired of searching every nook and cranny in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for hidden collectibles? You can change that by obtaining secret map upgrades by completing challenging exploration puzzles, Jedi Meditation Chambers, and complex Rumors. These map upgrades will display all unfound Seed Pods, Chests, Upgrades, Databanks, and Treasures on your Holomap.
While map upgrades are worthy of seeking out, understanding exactly how to get to collectibles will still bring its challenges, so be sure to check out our Collectibles Guide, where you’ll find detailed descriptions for locating all Cosmetic Chests, Stims, Databanks, Essences, and more, that can be found across the planets of Coruscant, Koboh, Jedha, and Shattered Moon.
Before continuing, please keep in mind that the following guide will contain minor spoilers, such as mission names, locations, and unlocked abilities, so proceed with caution.
While exploring the Phon’Qi Caverns, you’ll discover a terminal at the very bottom of the cavern that BD-1 can slice to unlock the Chests map upgrade. This upgrade will uncover all unfound Chests, Stim Upgrades, and BD-1 Upgrades on your Holomap.
Prerequisites: Plant all ten species of plants and unlock all gardening plots.
Location: Plyoon’s Saloon, Koboh
After recruiting Pili Walde, the Gardener from Jedha, you’ll unlock the ability to start planting the Seeds you have discovered throughout your journey. Once you have planted all ten species of Seeds and unlocked all available gardening plots, BD-1 will be able to access the terminal that’s found by the water feature, which will no longer be covered in vines. Upon interacting with the terminal, you’ll unlock the Seed Pods map upgrade.
You can learn more about the requirements to unlock all plots in our Gardening Guide.
Location: Alignment Control Center, Untamed Downs – Koboh.
Upon completing all seven Jedi Meditation Chambers, make your way to the Untamed Downs and enter the Alignment Control Center, where you’ll find that all the mysterious computer screens have now turned green. Opposite these screens, have BD-1 slice the newly unlocked terminal, where you’ll gain access to the Upgrades map, which will display all unfound upgrades on your Holomap.
After completing all three ruin puzzles on Jedha, you’ll unlock the ability to access the Central Ruins, where you’ll find an elevator leading to the Wayfinder’s Tomb.
Inside the tomb is a terminal BD-1 can slice, earning you the Treasures map upgrade, which uncovers all unfound Priorite Shards, Jedha Scrolls, and Datadiscs on your Holomap.
After defeating Lank Denvik during the main mission, Nova Garon – Locate the Traitor, head right of his desk, where you’ll find a terminal that BD-1 can slice.
Upon doing so, you’ll unlock the Databanks map upgrade, which will display all unfound Databank entries on your Holomap.
Last month Rachel made us aware of a life sim called Grave Seasons, a kind of mash up of perennial favourite Stardew Valley and, er, the half-season serial killer arc of a police procedural TV show. Naturally this turned my head, like Tarantino walking past a ladies shoe store, and I emailed the developers Perfect Garbage to find out a bit more. They describe the game as “fun, campy and spooky” and hint at yet more secrets to be revealed. Appropriate for a game where, every time you start a new run, one of the townsfolk starts killing everyone else.
The latest UK charts are now in and this week has been a slightly quieter one from Nintendo (at least, as far as the top ten is concerned).
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Odyssey are the only Nintendo titles to land in the upper portion of the rankings this time, though Mojang’s Minecraft Legends continues to sell well on the console, with 78% of purchases coming from the Switch.
It’s an incredible feeling when you’re fully immersed in an open world game. Whether it’s the vast wild west or sprawling magical worlds, there’s so much to take in and explore and interact with. This year will see the arrival of even more exciting new ones to play in as well, from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to Starfield. But jumping into a new open world game often requires you to set aside an abundance of time to work through it, and if you don’t have 50 hours to devote to a new save, it helps to know about shorter open world games to play that won’t take up too much of your time.
In this list, we’ve collected the top 12 shortest open world games, according to How Long to Beat, to help you find something quick to get through. To complete their main stories, these games range from a little over an hour long to around seven hours. They offer a wide variety of experiences as well, from short and sweet indies to stellar action-packed expansions for games you already know and love. Starting from the shortest open world game on How Long to Beat’s site, here’s our list of the 12 shortest open world games to play in 2023.
Time to beat: 1h 20m, on average, for the Main Story
Platforms: Available on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita (Note: sadly not on PS Store)
If you’ve got an hour to kill and are looking for something simple to pass the time, look no further than Proteus. This game just requires you to roam around, listen to the sounds of the world around you, and watch the season’s change. Our review called it a, “a joyous experiment in exploration from start to finish – even if it is a very, very short-lived one.” They also explain that there’s “a beauty in Proteus’ unmatched simplicity,” which makes it a great fit for those who just want to sit back, relax, and take in its pixelated scenery. It’ll only take you a little over an hour to complete as well.
In a similar vein of simple (and very, very short) open world games, Copoka is a little indie that takes you on a journey where you play as a bird flying around a city. You can also listen in on the conversations unfolding in the city below, but it’s mainly for flying around and exploring. Its main story only takes around an hour and a half to complete, or two hours if you feel like completing it in full, so you can easily cross it off your list in an evening.
From playing a bird to playing a lynx, Shelter 2 has you playing as a mother lynx trying to protect her babies in the snowy wilderness. It boasts a lovely art style and a big open world to roam around in, with a main story that’ll take you about two hours to complete. If you want to be a completionist with it, though, it takes (on average) upwards of 13 hours to accomplish everything in it.
Have you ever wanted to be a photographer for dogs? I mean, who wouldn’t want to be? And thankfully, Pupperazzi gives you the opportunity to do just that. Roam around its open world and take pictures of all the sweet pups that you come across while building your career along the way. It’s a quick play as well, only taking a little over two hours on average to finish its main story, so you can easily spend an evening perfecting your photography skills while petting cute dogs. Perfect, right?
And, if you feel like leaving the world of dog photography behind, perhaps you’ll be interested in a game like Sludge Life, where you play as a tagger named Ghost. In this game, your open world playground is a polluted island that’s yours to explore and make a name for yourself. The main story will only take around two and a half hours to complete, but if you feel like completing all that Sludge Life has to offer, it’ll take you close to five hours.
For when you get tired of Sludge Life’s pollution, you can find fresher air in Grow Home. This is a sweet and short little game where you play as a robot named BUD (which stands for Botanical Utility Droid) who’s on a mission to save his home planet. Upon release, our review stated that it’s “not particularly long, or dense, or even deep,” but it’s “completely comfortable in its own skin, and that makes it a joy to play.” It won’t take too terribly long to complete, either, as the main story runs for a little over two and a half hours, while getting 100% will take you about eight hours.
If you long to explore more planets, Lost Nova follows a young adventurer named Mia who crash lands on an alien planet and finds her ship in need of repair. Throughout the game, you’ll explore the planet, make new friends, and salvage materials, craft, and trade to repair your ship. To complete the main story, you’ll need just over three hours, and if you want to see all that Lost Nova has to offer, it’ll take you around seven hours.
If adorable characters win you over easily, you’re sure to love the titular Lil Gator from Lil Gator Game. This ridiculously cute adventure game sees you roaming around and exploring a small island where you can make new friends and beat up cardboard baddies that get in your way. It was even our Game of the Month on IGN Plus in March! It’ll only take you around three and a half hours to complete the main story, but if you feel like going for a full 100% playthrough, it’ll take you a little over five hours.
If you crave an open world game with a lot more action than Lil Gator Game, look no further than Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. This standalone expansion for Far Cry 3 is one wild ride, with our review at the time explaining that, “Nobody in their right mind would create something as wonderfully absurd as Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon – so I’m glad someone in charge at Ubisoft is at least a little nuts.” In this game, play as Sergeant Rex “Power” Colt and save the world. It’ll take you just over four and a half hours for the main story and roughly nine hours to complete everything.
While not as action-heavy as Far Cry, No Straight Roads: Encore Edition still offers some exciting gameplay. This little game drops you into Vinyl City, where you’ll form a rock band to take down the EDM Empire, NSR. It also features rhythm-infused combat that’ll keep you on your toes as you battle each district’s boss. The main story will take you around five hours to complete, and going all-in on this battle of the bands for 100% completion will take you around 24 hours.
In keeping with the action genre, Retro City Rampage DX has plenty to offer but in 8-BIT form. This game parodies games like the Grand Theft Auto series and comes complete with a full Story Mode, over 60 missions, over 40 arcade challenges, and much more. It’s a big world to explore, but won’t take up too much of your time. The main story only takes around five and a half hours, while 100% completion will take around eighteen and a half hours.
This remake of 2005’s Shadow of the Colossus is a fantastic, must-play open world game for those wanting something short and thrilling to dig into. It was awarded a 9.7 from us upon release, with our reviewer calling it “outstanding” thanks to “improved controls, performance, and sheer graphical beauty.” Its main story will only take you just over seven hours to complete, but if you want to go in for a full completionist playthrough, it’ll take you roughly twenty six hours.
Best Reviewed Short Open World Games
While it’s rare for games to reach as high as Shadow of the Colossus’ 9.7, there are other games on this list that still earned high review scores. Proteus, for instance, earned an 8.5 from us and was praised as “a beautiful getaway from gaming traditions.” Grow Home is another that earned an 8.8 due to its “charming personality, feel-good physics, and satisfying controls”.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon also earned high praise from us in the form of an 8, with our reviewer calling it “a nutty, hilarious shooter you deserve to play.” The expansion remains one of the best Far Cry games and beloved in the franchise as well, making it well worth your time to play.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
It may be hard to believe, but The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is only a few days away and will finally bring the long-awaited sequel to 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to Switch owners worldwide. However, we know the wait for May 12 is still a tough one, so we thought one of the best ways to make that a bit easier was to have you help us decide what the best Zelda game of all time is before we jump into Link’s latest adventure.
Do you think The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time deserves the top spot? How about its sequel Majora’s Mask? Maybe Breath of the Wild rose above all others to claim that special place in your heart? We’ve selected 18 of the best The Legend of Zelda games to “Face-Off” against each other two at a time, and you’ll have to make the tough choice between them to help us crown a winner worthy of the Triforce. Will you choose Skyward Sword over A Link to the Past? Twilight Princess over the original? The choice is yours…
Oh, and there is a very good chance we will bring this Face-Off back after we’ve all had some time to dive deep into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to see how it stacks up against the rest, as it will be fun to compare how the results differ!
(And don’t forget, you can pass on a Face-Off round if you don’t know a character by just hitting “skip” at the bottom of the page.)
Like the name suggests, a Face-Off pits two things against one another and you decide which one is the superior of the two. In this case, you are voting to determine what the best game in The Legend of Zelda series is. It’s possible to see certain games multiple times, so you can keep voting for your favorites to ensure they get ranked higher than the rest. IGN’s resident team of Zelda experts pre-selected 18 games for you to choose from. These get randomly paired up and each time you pick a winner, it’s tracked.
How Is the Winner Determined?
When voting ends on May 11, the day before The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom arrives, we’ll tally up the total number of “wins” and “losses” each Zelda video game has and create a ranked list based on your choices that will go live on May 12. The game that won the most match-ups will be crowned the “winner,” and in the event of a tied number of “wins,” the game with the least “losses” will take the top spot. If you continue to keep voting for your favorite game, they’ll have a better chance of ranking high on the list. You can vote as many times as you want until the Face-Off closes.
How Do I Know When I’ve Clicked Through Everything?
It’s difficult to know when you’ve seen every Zelda video game included because they are matched randomly, and there are many possible match-ups. Playing until you vote for all your favorites or ensuring that certain games don’t get in the winner’s circle are different options you can take with a Face-Off. By deciding the winner throughout all these match-ups, you’re ensuring that your picks for the best Zelda video game will have a fighting chance to reach the top of the list.
Which The Legend of Zelda Video Games Have You Included?
The list of games from The Legend of Zelda series we’ve chosen all come from the mainline Zelda games we all know and love. This includes everything from the original back in 1986 to 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on all platforms, but it does not include separate entries for remakes/remasters. This means Ocarina of Time for N64 and Ocarina of Time 3D for 3DS are all the same entry, so you can consider all of that when you make your vote! We’ve also not added spin-offs like Age of Calamity: Hyrule Warriors, games where Zelda characters show up like Super Smash Bros., or the hilarious Philips CD-i titles like Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon. We wanted to focus this Face-Off on the main series so we can truly see what IGN’s audience believes is the best Zelda of them all.
Warning: Spoilers follow for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a tailor-fitted exit for James Gunn from Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (should DC be his new forever home). It’s the “Gunniest” Guardians of the Galaxy film (review) as the interstellar outfit sees Gunn’s trilogy come to a close, arguably the most individually-voiced Marvel film down to the universe’s first uncensored F-Bomb. Gunn injected every ounce of himself into the Guardians trilogy, from soundtrack to screenplay to Baby Groot’s motion capture, and found the best version of characters he emphatically adores, since each film allows a bit more of his background telling comically bleak stories into the DNA of the Guardians films. Pound for pound, the Guardians trilogy is one of the best character-focused substories in the MCU — and that’s wholly thanks to freedoms that allowed Gunn to be himself with minimal interference.
From Peter Quill’s thievery set to Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love” at the beginning of the first Guardians of the Galaxy to Vol. 3’s bittersweet finale set to Florence + The Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over,” Gunn puts a premium on cinematic personality through songs. What other Marvel film generates excitement around filmmaker-selected mixtapes before a movie releases? Gunn’s ability to accentuate his story’s impact by picking the perfect backing track adds another layer of depth to his cosmic rock operas, because Gunn’s thinking about how every piece fits his Guardians puzzle. Tracks on Gunn’s at-home playlists become the rhythm behind Quill’s antics, Drax’s beatdowns, and deeply emotional confessions like he’s writing scenes to fit pre-selected needle drops, not vice versa.
James Gunn Cares a Lot
Music is just one ingredient that makes up Gunn’s special sauce. There’s a consistency to the Guardians’ evolution, from unlikely prison-break unions, to battles against Celestials that bring them together, to rescue missions that cause teary goodbyes. The complaint that Marvel movies feel churned out of a machine is nullified by the Guardians trilogy, written (with co-writers) and directed by Gunn. No one’s better at making us fall in love with misfits than Gunn, never losing Drax, Gamora, Rocket, or Groot in the shuffle of Quill’s continued battle to save the galaxy instead of confronting his mamma and papa issues. Unlike lesser superteam movies that fail to elevate all their members, Gunn wants you to love each Guardian as much as he loves them, especially his personal favorite, Rocket Raccoon.
Unlike lesser superteam movies that fail to elevate all their members, Gunn wants you to love each Guardian as much as he loves them.
His wacky-yet-weighty signatures are subtler in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Gunn’s tasked with creating an origin story worthy of the MCU limelight for superheroes without the mainstream recognition of Captain America or The Hulk. It’s the most neatly tucked and uniform of his Guardians films, minus a dance-off distraction or Groot’s violent skewering-and-slamming of Ronan’s Kree guards as they charge down a hallway. Guardians of the Galaxy is Gunn playing nicely in Marvel’s sandbox, because it’s enough that Vol. 1 is the MCU’s first foray into “Cosmic Marvel.” Gunn knows the spectacle is inherent as Ronan brattily threatens Thanos or we speed around in Quill’s Milano spacecraft. The sights, the sounds, they were MCU unseen back in 2014.
Gunn’s attention to the little details sets his films apart, starting with Vol. 1. Quill’s dedication to his battered walkman and sentimental mixtapes opens the character like a pop-up picture book. The messiness of Rocket and Drax’s alcohol-soaked fight outside The Collector’s den reveals background trauma. The quieter conversations and bonding moments outside Nova Corps fleets zipping around Kree fighter crafts above Xandar echo loudly throughout all three films. The foundation that Gunn lays for his Guardians in Vol. 1 is impeccable, allowing for durable storytelling arcs to ruin and revitalize heroes who have no idea what to do with conditional love. Gunn never gets distracted by the grand spectacle in Guardians of the Galaxy, always ensuring the Guardians themselves are the main focus.
There’s no more prominent beneficiary of Gunn’s character building than blue-meanie slash secret softy Yondu — not Quill’s father, but damn sure his daddy. Quill and Yondu banter about how the Ravager captain kidnapped an Earth boy and threatened cannibalism daily, which plays for jokes on the surface, but that’s a cover as Gunn sneaks father-son compassion under Yondu’s supposedly callous motivations. Again, little touches like Yondu’s dashboard tchotchkes or the approving smiles Quill doesn’t see lead to the waterworks flood at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 that’s one of the most beautiful celebrations in the entire MCU. Gunn’s stealthy development of Quill and Yondu’s parent/child fondness hits like Ronan’s hammer as Cat Stevens’ “Father and Son” plays over Yondu’s fireworks-filled Ravager funeral, rendering even the stoniest watcher an emotional wreck.
He Takes (and Lands) Huge Tonal Swings
What’s impressive is how Gunn does this in an immensely sillier Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Baby Groot’s opening credits boogie to ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky” not only doubles down on Quill’s groovy introduction from Vol. 1 but tonally prepares audiences for even more Gunn. The twisted prankster who thinks it’s funny to have Baby Groot sever and steal a Ravager’s toe. The childlike jester who includes scenes out of rejected Looney Tunes cartoons, like when Rocket sends Ravager hordes bouncing into the air like they’re made of Flubber. The hallucinogenic 700 hyper-jump gag that leads to Baby Groot puke, a Hallmarky father and son catch scene between Quill and Ego, Rocket’s continued obsession with stealing bionic body parts — Vol. 2 is Gunn embracing his Scooby-Doo past, approaching the Guardians as Saturday Morning staples.
Through it all, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is richly rewarding as a character study amidst all the gags and goofs. Quill and Gamora’s will they, won’t they is brimming with warm romantic gazes; meanwhile Mantis bursts out sobbing in a tragic display after reading Drax’s blood-dashed memories. Rocket’s admission as King Asshole after Yondu’s pep talk is simple yet impactful as the mutated mammal learns to be vulnerable. Yondu’s pure face-turn earns cheers, and his proud declaration that he’s Mary Poppins is more than just a throwaway laugh. Kraglin — even Yondu’s second hand — tugs our heartstrings as Quill gifts the now deceased Yondu’s Yaka Arrow weapon, and Kraglin’s voice touchingly squeaks a sobering “thank you.” Gunn makes a single line, the littlest of little things, feel so gigantic.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the full circle of Gunn’s career that started with a mentorship under cult horror figurehead Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Studios. All the darkest humor within Gunn — prevalent in scripts from Tromeo & Juliet to The Belko Experiment — pushes as far as it can under Marvel’s oversight. Adam Warlock’s inability to understand the difference between some light hostage punishment and laser-beam evisceration is hilariously inappropriate for the MCU, and yet wholly par for the filmmaker’s catalog. The High Evolutionary is one of Marvel’s most detestable bastards, and his animal war machine armies are nightmare fuel (even when voiced by Judy Greer). Gunn explodes innocent Counter-Earth inhabitants, finds humor in material that will stir questions inside younger MCU fans that their parents might fret about answering, and confidently embraces his fullest form in a way that suits the O.G. Guardians’ swan song. Gunn’s all-in, and Marvel’s ability to let Gunn be himself is what drives this trilogy capper home.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Is Full-Force Gunn
Where Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 align more with Gunn’s safer comedy leanings, Vol. 3 isn’t afraid to let his nastier tendencies in scripts like Super or Slither find a home. Dare I say there’s comparable heartbreak to Elliot Page’s fate in Super as Young Rocket tries to spring Lylla and the others from their cages? The High Evolutionary’s gorily disfigured face is something I’d expect to see in a Rated-R zombie flick (it makes Red Skull look like an America’s Next Top Model winner). Yet Gunn still acknowledges what his Guardians deserve at the end of the day and doesn’t pull a no-hope ending like his Dawn of the Dead remake script. Even Drax gets his due, as his companions finally recognize his true calling as a corny-as-heck father, not a vengeful berserker bred to vanquish enemies with an insatiable bloodlust. Gunn channels his compassionate caretaker mojo and reaches deep into his bag of tricks, but stops before entering the abyss of cynicism and societal failures found in some of his harsher horror features — his Guardians fight for the future we all deserve.
As Gunn-ho Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 becomes, it never loses that thread of humanity that endears the Guardians and helps us feel their connection. Flashback sequences where Rocket is subjected to The High Evolutionary’s soul-crushing animal abuse are the tear-jerker moments you’d expect. Quill’s rage-fueled devotion to an injured Rocket, Gamora’s not-so-soft deflections of Quill’s lovesick pleas, the whole “last hurrah” sting of watching characters split for their betterment yet not wanting the Guardians to change — Gunn doesn’t get lost in selfish indulgences. Gunn never stops caring about the Guardians through every tonal embellishment and diversion. Each movie in the trilogy remains a character piece at its core, no matter how easy it is to boil Gunn’s signatures down to borderline juvenile humor and chart-topper music video sequences where baddies get embarrassed.
Gunn made these Guardians films for the outcasts, the misunderstood, and the broken among us, never conceding his vision.
Gunn fires on all cylinders for the most complete trilogy imaginable. Guardians of the Galaxy is his Star Wars. He lets us ride shotgun with wild-card protectors who mostly need protection from themselves, and lets their flaws lay naked. There’s no current sub-franchise run in the MCU that’s had me openly cry in every entry outside the Guardians — an ode to Gunn’s innate ability to tell affecting stories with characters others might turn into freakshows. Payoff is everything in these Guardians movies, and Vol. 3 nods endlessly to its previous entries. To finish it all with us being able to understand Groot because we’re all one big family with the Guardians now? If that doesn’t sock you, stick your heart in an incinerator because it’s frozen solid.
Ant-Man might make me laugh. Captain America: The Winter Soldier may thrill me. They’re proficient at playing to singular strengths. James Gunn’s Guardians movies are just a different breed that lets you belly laugh, shed tears, howl with excitement, and feel a rainbow of experiences all in one sitting. “We are Groot,” the Ravager funeral, the Guardians’ salute to Rocket — Gunn knows precisely how to meet swelling story highs with a tidal wave of meaning. Over three films, the Guardians have become the unsung heroes of the MCU thanks to the man supporting their imperfect perfection. Gunn made these Guardians films for the outcasts, the misunderstood, and the broken among us, never conceding his vision. As it turns out, Gunn’s emphatic individuality is the secret weapon these underdog Guardians needed to show the MCU how it’s done.
