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Daily Deals: Dell 27″ Gaming Monitor, Nerf Halo Needler, Super Mario RPG

We’re officially halfway through the week, and new deals have popped up at various retailers. If you know where to look, you can almost always find great deals and save some extra dollars on games, technology, and more. The best deals for Wednesday, May 22, include a 27″ 165Hz QHD Dell Monitor, Super Mario RPG, Super Mario Odyssey, Tekken 8, and more.

Dell 27″ Gaming Monitor for $179.99

This Dell Gaming Monitor is perfect if you’re looking for a new monitor or an upgrade. At QHD, you’ll be able to play titles in 1440p, which looks significantly better than 1080p. Additionally, this monitor supports 165Hz, leaving a smooth and quality visual experience. The G2724D is also FreeSync and G-Sync compatible. At $179.99, it’s hard to find many better deals than this one.

Save 33% Off Nerf LMTD Halo Needler Dart-Firing Blaster

This Nerf Needler Blaster is a perfect replica of the iconic Halo weapon. Fit with a rotating drum, you can hold up to 10 darts to unleash each in a row without compromise! Additionally, the needles on the top of the blaster light up when you shoot off the darts. If you’d rather just display the blaster on a wall, you can turn on display mode, where the lights go in and out on the top.

Super Mario RPG for $42.93

The remake of Super Mario RPG is $42.93 at Amazon right now, which is a great price for this classic title. If you’ve yet to either play the original or check out the remake, this is the perfect time to do so. Composer Yoko Shimimura returned to compose the remake’s original soundtrack, and each boss and environment has been expertly recrafted for the Nintendo Switch. It’s the perfect Mario title to check out if you’re looking for a fun title while awaiting Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door tomorrow!

Elden Ring for $28

Elden Ring is one the greatest RPGs of the past decade, with many praising it as FromSoftware’s greatest title. Right now is the perfect time to pick this one up, as Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, a major expansion, is due out next month on June 21. This PS4 copy has a free upgrade to PS5, so rest assured you can play either version on your console.

Tekken 8 for $49.99

Tekken 8 is still on sale for $49.99. With Summer approaching, the next DLC fighter is likely not too far away. This title runs on Unreal Engine 5, delivering a massive improvement in visual clarity over Tekken 7. 33 characters are playable as of now, which is the largest roster of any current fighting game. In our 9/10 review, we stated Tekken 8 is “an amazing new entry in the long-running series.”

Super Mario Odyssey for $44.95

Super Mario Odyssey is still one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch. From the stunning Kingdoms to the numerous new gameplay elements, this is a title any Switch owner should have in their collection. Odyssey is best known for its Capture mechanic, which allows Mario to use Cappy and take over different enemies and objects in the environment. This title doesn’t go on sale too often, so pick up a physical copy at a discount this week!

WD_BLACK 2TB SSD for $139.99

Currently, Amazon has the WD_Black 2TB SN850X SSD available for just $139.99. Normally priced at $189.99, this 2TB SSD features speeds up to 7,300MB/s to ensure your games load as fast as possible. This model will work with PlayStation 5, but you will need to purchase an SSD heatsink separately.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $19.99

If you’ve been holding off on the first Metal Gear Solid collection, now is the time to pick it up. Target has the Nintendo Switch version of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for just $19.99 with Target Circle. You can score this deal for a limited time, so be sure to pick it up before it’s gone.

Save on Sony WH-1000MX Series Headphones

Both the Sony WH-1000MX4 and WH-1000MX5 headphones are available on sale. These are two of the best over-ear headphones on the market, especially in the noise-canceling area. Eight microphones are utilized to ensure you have the best listening experience possible. You can instantly silence all of your surroundings with the press of a button, or choose to listen to close sounds like voices, horns honking, etc. Overall, you can’t go wrong with either of these headphones.

Unicorn Overlord for $39.99

Unicorn Overlord is available at Amazon for only $39.99. This title was developed by Vanillaware, most recently known for 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Over 60 unique characters are available to choose from within Unicorn Overlord, where you command armies in tactical battle. We gave the game a 9/10 in our review, stating, “Unicorn Overlord is a visual delight that’s brimming with creativity, and an absolute must-play for any fan of strategy RPGs.”

JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth Speaker for $99.99

Target has the JBL Flip 6 on sale this week for only $99. If you’re looking for a fantastic speaker to use throughout the Summer, this is the one for you. The JBL Flip 6 is completely waterproof, which means it is perfect for the beach or pool. With exceptional sound quality and a heavy focus on bass, the Flip 6 will deliver a quality listening experience no matter where you are.

Persona 5 Royal on Switch for $24.99

Persona 5 is one of the most important RPGs of the last ten years for a variety of reasons. It brought millions of new fans into the scene with its exciting combat, gripping story, and interesting characters. Persona 5 Royal is the ultimate version of P5, and it’s now playable portably with Nintendo Switch! This deal was also available at Target but has since sold out. With Persona 6 still a ways out, now is the time to experience this installment. Be sure to pick this one up before it is sold out.

The Best Pocket-Sized Board Games (2024)

The great appeal of pocket-sized board games is the ability to take them anywhere. A family get-together, office lunch room, or group camping trip–just toss a game in your pocket or bag and everyone is sure to be entertained. The portability of these smaller games allows you to carry them around just in case the opportunity for play arises.

One of the really wonderful things about this hobby is the sheer variety of styles on offer. This quality extends to these tiny boxes. This list is comprised of 10 titles that offer a wide range of mechanisms and playstyles, all while containing those experiences into a modest package. Some may require cargo pants, but all of these offerings are modest in profile and easy to transport.

TL;DR: The Best Pocket-Sized Board Games

Art Robbery

This stylish wonder arrives courtesy of prolific designer Reiner Knizia. The pitch is enticing: in the aftermath of an art heist, players bicker and fight over splitting the loot. This conflict is resolved through card play. You alternate taking turns by playing a single card, with these cards mapping to loot tokens in the center of the table. By playing a card you snatch the corresponding token and place it in front of you. The twist is that you can steal a token from another player instead of taking it from the middle. The second twist is that some of the lower scoring tokens offer alibis. At the end of the game, the player with the fewest amount of alibis is eliminated from play, regardless of their final score. The result is an entertaining back and forth where you gank loot from others yet must balance high scoring options with those that offer protection.

Trio

Everyone is familiar with the classic board games Go Fish and Memory. Trio splices the two, asking players to flip over three cards of the same number. These cards are facedown on the table, but some are also spread among the hands of the players. When flipping a card from a player’s hand, however, you can only ask them to reveal their highest or lowest card. The goal is to claim three of these trios or just the set of sevens. It’s a simple thing, but it’s one that elicits little moments of drama where a player has flipped two of the same number and is trying to remember where the third card is. It features hand management and surprisingly clever play.

Love Letter

When Love Letter hit the market in 2012 it created quite the stir. This little 16-card game has players holding and playing only a single card on their turn. It’s maddeningly simple, but it works, capturing a degree of bluffing and risk management. Love Letter is fun and flexible, but it’s particularly noteworthy as it kicked off the microgame movement that spawned dozens and dozens of offspring. Most of those titles have long since faded, while Love Letter remains a clever and engaging experience. There are now a bevy of different versions of this game, including a Star Wars, Batman, and wedding-themed set. They all play similarly, so you can’t go wrong whichever you choose.

Radlands

Radlands is one of the best head-to-head card games in recent years. Each player draws from a shared deck of mutants, raiders, and weirdos, playing these fighters down into one of three lanes on their side of the table. Each lane corresponds to a base that must be protected. The goal is to vanquish your opponent’s defenders and destroy their bases. The magic is in the multi-use aspect of each card. Beyond using them for the characters depicted, they can also be discarded for a card-specific resource. Performing well requires strong tactical intuition and judicious play you’d use in all the best strategy board games. All of the interlocking abilities and effects collide to produce a swift-playing and tense battler.

Friday

This small box is unique in that it’s for solo board game play only. This card game is based on the story of Robinson Crusoe. You take on the role of his companion Friday, attempting to help Robinson survive and prepare him for the impending pirate attack. This is a deckbuilding game where you add cards to your deck during play. Each turn you confront a jungle hazard and then play fight cards from your hand in order to overcome the challenge. If you do, the hazard is then added to your deck and may be used in a later fight. You must pick your battles wisely, as you can’t win them all and must be careful in how you shape your deck for the big finale. This is a difficult game that offers a tremendous amount of play and strategic depth.

For Sale

For Sale crams the buying and selling of real estate into a brief yet satisfying 30 minutes. In the first phase of the game, players bid on a set of buildings by using a limited pool of personal currency. You must bid higher than all previous bids on each of your turns, or bow out of the round and claim the lowest value property available. Determining how long to hang in the auction depends on the value of the property on offer, as well as how stubborn your opponents are. The second portion of the game reverses the process with money cards worth various amounts flipped faceup in the middle of the table. Players secretly select a property they’ve purchased from their hand in an attempt to secure these monetary bids. You all reveal simultaneously and the money is split. It’s an exceedingly easy game to learn, but it’s one full of subtle play that relies on intuition. It’s paramount to squeeze every ounce of value out of your resources, and the player who manages their assets most judiciously will secure victory.

That’s Not a Hat

This is the type of game that is both maddening and hilarious. Each player is dealt a card that sits out in front of them faceup. Cards depict simple objects with black and white line art. These are common things such as a basketball, lava lamp, or a hat. Once play begins, players take turns flipping their card facedown and passing it to an adjacent player. Soon, all cards are hidden and players are trying to track which is which. When you pass a card to a neighbor, you claim what the object is. The receiver of the card may challenge your claim, creating a confrontation of memory. It’s simple but sparks moments of laughter as it’s surprisingly easy to lose track of what card sits in front of you. Eventually someone messes up and the game begins again. This is a wonderful design that consistently delivers joy.

Regicide

Regicide is a fully cooperative board game where players work together to overthrow the royal line and claim victory. Each of the 12 enemies must be dealt with one at a time. These bosses map to the face cards in a standard set of playing cards. They are shuffled together and one is revealed. Players then take turns placing a single card on the table to attack the enemy and deal damage. The value on the played card is the strength of the attack with the suit triggering a special power. There’s a fairly thoughtful decision point here in weighing the needed attack versus the desired effect that would most help the other players. It’s a fairly intuitive card game where hand management and timing is everything. The strongest trait is that it’s full of tension as the group is constantly on the brink of defeat. Often, it will appear hopeless until another player tosses out the exact card the group needs, allowing everyone to refill their hands and persist. Regicide is an intriguing experience with a distinct feel. It’s a wonderful little pocket game.

The Mind

The Mind is a special game. Players are dealt a hand from a deck of cards numbered 1 to 100, with a portion of the cards left out and unknown. Play then flows in real-time. The player with the lowest card in hand must play it on the table. Then the next lowest card must be played atop the previous, and so on. The enormous twist is that players cannot communicate. You can’t talk or nod or gesture. You can just look into each other’s eyes and try to divine the proper time to play your card. It sounds ridiculous, but I assure you, there is a game here. It’s about pausing and feeling out the situation, eventually playing the proper card when it feels like enough time has passed. If approached with the right attitude it can brush up against a metaphysical element, achieving a playstate with similar vibes to a Ouija board. This may not have universal appeal, but it’s a game that presents a singular vision that is capable of achieving transcendent entertainment.

Werewords

This small box is basically the classic 20 Questions with the inclusion of a traitor. One player receives a word they must get the group to guess, and everyone else is allowed to only throw out “yes or no” questions. At least one person in the group is a werewolf trying to trip up the villagers. They know the word before play begins and can attempt to mislead or stall the group. If everyone fails to figure out the correct word, however, they get to vote as a group to hang a player they suspect to be the werewolf. If they select the villain, the villagers win regardless of failing to land on the proper word. This strongly mimics the structure of social deduction games such as One Night Ultimate Werewolf and The Resistance: Avalon, but it allows for a more simple and streamlined process with a broadly enjoyable classic game at its core. It’s frankly surprising how effective this concoction is, but it manages to offer inspired play with all kinds of players and tastes. This is one of the most reliably fun pocket-sized games ever designed.

Gamers Are Becoming Less Interested in Games With Deep Strategy, Study Finds

Video games with deep levels of strategy are becoming increasingly unappealing, according to a new study.

The report from Quantic Foundry collected nine years of data from the researcher’s own Gamer Motivation Profile tool, which tracks how appealing different aspects of games are to different people. Categories include Destruction, Excitement, Competition, Community, Challenge, Strategy, Completion, Power, Fantasy, Story, Discovery, and Design.

Quantic Foundry looked back on what’s motivated gamers across the years and found all of these have remained relatively consistent except one: Strategy. “Gamers who score high on this component enjoy games that require careful decision-making and planning,” its summary states. “They like to think through their options and likely outcomes.

“These may be decisions related to balancing resources and competing goals, managing foreign diplomacy, or finding optimal long term strategies. They tend to enjoy both the tactical combat in games like XCOM or Fire Emblem, as well as seeing their carefully devised plans come to fruition in games like Civilization, Cities: Skylines, or Europa Universalis.”

But across its 1.7 million surveys, Quantic Foundry found that two thirds of strategy fans worldwide (except China, where gamers “have a very different gaming motivation profile”) have lost interest in this element of video games. “67% of gamers today care less about strategic thinking and planning when playing games than the average gamer back in June 2015,” the report reads.

“When we looked for long-term trends across the 12 motivations, we found that many motivations were stable or experienced minor deviations over the past nine years,” Quantic Foundry said. “Strategy was the clear exception; it had substantially declined over the past nine years and the magnitude of this change was more than twice the size of the next largest change.”

The trend was analysed but Quantic Foundry couldn’t find any distinct separations between, for example, men and women or gamers based in or out of the U.S. It was likened to other trends related to a decrease in attention span, like shorter YouTube videos now generating more views and shorter lengths of time between cuts in films, but Quantic Foundry admitted “it’s difficult to pin down cause and effect” and said there’s a lack of evidence to solely blame social media, as many do.

“67% of gamers today care less about strategic thinking and planning when playing games.

The likes of Facebook, X/Twitter, TikTok, and other social media apps could have “accelerated the underlying trend”, however. “Another potential hypothesis is that the increasing negativity, polarization, intrusiveness, and emotional manipulation in social media has created a persistent cognitive overload on the finite cognitive resources we have,” Quantic Foundry said. “Put simply, we may be too worn out by social media to think deeply about things.”

Regardless of the cause, Quantic Foundry said “it’s clear that gamers have become less interested in strategic thinking over the past nine years,” which “implies that gamers are now more easily cognitively overloaded when they play games and are more likely to avoid strategic complexity.”

This trend may even affect how developers create and market games, though there are still plenty of strategy titles on the way. Capes, a gritty turn-based strategy role-playing game about villains ruling the streets and a new batch of superheroes having to rise up, launches just one week after this report was released on May 29, 2024.

Firaxis Games, the developer behind XCOM: Chimera Squad and Marvel’s Midnight Suns, is also developing a new Civilization game but there’s no word on a release date yet. A team of former Blizzard developers are working on Stormgate too, a real-time strategy game set in a post-apocalyptic future due out in the third quarter of 2024.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

The First Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Teaser Is Here

Activision’s Call of Duty marketing machine has kicked into gear with the release of the first teaser for Black Ops 6.

The teaser, below, posted by the CharlieIntel X/Twitter account, shows live action footage depicting Mt Rushmore’ being vandalized with the phrase “The Truth Lies”.

The clip comes as part of a teaser website that features an interactive television with just six channels, referencing the name of the game.

Microsoft will reportedly announce its intention to release Black Ops 6 straight into Game Pass during its June Xbox showcase. Microsoft has so far declined to comment on the reports, but they tally with recent comments from Xbox president Sarah Bond, who indicated all Microsoft’s games, including those developed by the recently acquired Activision, will launch straight into Game Pass.

Activision is reportedly targeting a late October 2024 release for this year’s Call of Duty, which is expected to be called Black Ops 6 after teasers discovered in battle royale Warzone were acknowledged by developer Treyarch. Microsoft is also rumored to be ready to release the Call of Duty back catalog of video games into Game Pass ahead of Black Ops 6’s release.

Developing…

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.

After Helldivers 2’s Huge Success, Arrowhead Wants to Be the Next Blizzard or FromSoftware

After a shakeup at the top of the business and the enormous sales success of Helldivers 2 behind it, developer Arrowhead has said it has a grand ambition to become the next Blizzard or FromSoftware.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, former Arrowhead CEO and now Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt and new CEO Shams Jorjani insisted they have no plans to sell the company, but do want to realize their ambition of taking it to the next level, with the developers behind the critically acclaimed and commercially successful World of Warcraft and Dark Souls games a particular inspiration.

“We pride ourselves on being an independent studio,” Pilestedt said. “We have to see what the future holds, but there’s nothing in the plans where we want to be acquired by somebody. I want to see how high we can fly. And bringing Shams on board, we have a good potential to realize that future of turning into the next From Software or Blizzard.”

Jorjani added: “The goal of the studio is to make really great co-op games. We really want to turn Arrowhead into a flagship studio, where people who want to make these kind-of games say to themselves: ‘I want to work at Arrowhead.’ When we were growing up, we really wanted to work at Blizzard, it was one of the bucket list places to work at. I think Arrowhead has the potential to be that.”

Arrowhead will inevitably grow in size after Helldivers 2 sold 12 million copies in 12 weeks to become the fastest-selling PlayStation game of all time. However, Pilestedt and Jorjani insisted Arrowhead wants to focus on “measured growth”, and has no plans to go public.

“We have a good potential to realize that future of turning into the next FromSoftware or Blizzard.

“We don’t run the business for monetary gain,” Pilestedt said. “The humbleness and the desire to just make great games is the only reason we exist.”
Meanwhile, Arrowhead has sald Helldivers 2’s success has brought with it a huge amount of toxicity to deal with even as it works to add more content to the game’s live service. To that end, Arrowhead has indicated it plans to take more time with patches in order to get them right.

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.

Helldivers 2 Dev Says It’s Seen a ‘Horrifying’ Amount of Threats and Rude Behavior From Some in the Community

Helldivers 2 is a smash hit for developer Arrowhead and publisher Sony, but its huge success has caused a problem for the studio: there’s more community toxicity that it’s ever had to deal with before.

The co-op PlayStation 5 and PC shooter has sold an incredible 12 million copies in just 12 weeks, becoming PlayStation’s fastest-selling game of all time ahead of previous record-holder God of War Ragnarok.

Prior to the release of Helldivers 2, Arrowhead had enjoyed big hits with the first Helldivers game and Magicka, but the success of its latest game is on another level. Now, according to former Arrowhead CEO and now Arrowhead Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt, bigger success means bigger toxicity.

“The big difference now, which is horrifying, is the amount of threats and rude behavior that people in the studio are getting from some really shitty individuals within the community,” Pilestedt told GamesIndustry.biz. “That’s something new we have to deal with.”

When Helldivers 2 launched it faced significant server issues that made the game unplayable for many, sparking an initial backlash. But since that issue was largely resolved, Arrowhead has faced complaints about everything from weapon balance to low impact Premium Warbonds. But by far the biggest backlash was sparked by Sony’s controversial decision to force PC gamers to link to a PlayStation Network account to play. Sony eventually reversed its decision, but not before a review-bombing campaign savaged Helldivers 2 on Steam. Arrowhead community managers have said the PSN backlash caused staff to lose a week simply having to deal with the fallout.

“The big difference now, which is horrifying, is the amount of threats and rude behavior that people in the studio are getting from some really shitty individuals within the community.

That’s plenty to contend with in just a few months post-launch. But Pilestedt suggested the way Helldivers 2 was designed, with frustration deliberately in place to craft the co-op experience hardcore players fully understand and appreciate, may also fuel toxicity from the wider playerbase. “If you don’t have those lows, you can’t get those highs,” Pilestedt said.

New Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani added: “Arrowhead’s philosophy has always been ‘a game for everyone is a game for no-one.’ That is the company slogan. It’s how our games are designed. You can feel it in every feature. I think it’s one of the big reasons that Helldivers 2 has been so successful. It feels fresh because it does a lot of unpopular stuff.

“When you hit this big, much bigger than anyone thought – Sony, us, everyone – what happens is the game finds an audience outside of that niche fan group. So you get this amplification of different voices. Almost all games have a bit of toxicity in the community, but with these big numbers you just get so many, so we need to work with the community to get them to self-moderate, give people the tools to speak with each other in a positive fashion, so we can keep talking to the players openly. The more voices being added to the choir does add complexity.”

“The more voices being added to the choir does add complexity.

Jorjani said that Arrowhead is currently “learning painfully” how to create systems to deal with this level of toxicity, but the work will benefit the studio’s “next thing, whatever that may be.”

Arrowhead isn’t the first developer to call out toxicity within video game communities. Earlier this year, Cities: Skylines 2 developer Colossal Order asked players to help create a more positive environment after noticing “a growing tendency of toxicity” in its community.

As for Helldivers 2, Arrowhead is full steam ahead on adding content to its live service, although it has indicated plans to slow down the frequency of patch releases to make sure it gets them right.

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.

5 Games You Can Finish in a Long Weekend

There are plenty of games with huge worlds that take dozens or even hundreds of hours to complete. Sometimes, you don’t have time for all that. There’s something to be said for games that are short and to the point. It’s easier to find time in your busy schedule for a game you can knock out quickly, and you don’t have to worry about forgetting what you were doing the last time you played. If that sounds like your kind of fun, here’s a selection of five games you can play from start to finish in a long weekend.

For a family-friendly adventure: Princess Peach: Showtime!

Playable on: Nintendo Switch

Princess Peach gets her first starring role in almost 20 years in Princess Peace: Showtime! It takes place entirely within a grand theatre, a setting it uses to cast Peach in just about any role you can imagine. She can be a superhero, figure skater, martial artist, detective, and more, each with a different gameplay focus to keep things fresh.

The game is bright, colourful, and cheerful from start to finish. It has simple controls and is not particularly challenging, which makes it a great option if you’re a parent who wants to find a game you can play with your kids. Each of Peach’s roles function a bit like a beginner-level introduction to different game genres, so Showtime! is also a fun way for video game newcomers to learn what other games they might like. With an average play time of only about seven and half hours to complete the story, you can easily complete it in a long weekend. Get your physical copy of Princess Peach: Showtime! from EE for just £39.99.

For a gorgeous work of art: Gris

Playable on: PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, iOS, Android

Simply put, Gris is beautiful — both its art style and its approach to storytelling. You play as a young woman dealing with an emotional crisis. With no dialogue in the whole game, her story is told using music, body language, and colour. The game starts largely colourless and bleak, with just the ability to run and jump between platforms. But as the game progresses, dealing with emotions unlocks new abilities and adds colour both to the story and gameplay experience. You’ll feel like you’re playing a moving watercolour painting.

We’re being as vague as possible here to avoid spoiling things, which you need to experience firsthand to really appreciate. But it’s truly a beautiful journey and a work of art, one that only takes a few hours to complete. Gris is available on just about any platform you play games on, and is currently available through Xbox Game Pass. If you don’t have an Xbox yet, pop over to the EE Game Store for a bundle that includes an Xbox Series S and two years of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

For a fluid, poignant platformer: Celeste

Playable on: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac

Celeste is a deceptively simple platformer. You can jump, dash, and climb walls. That’s it. But the game introduces mechanics and increasingly elaborate level design to keep you on your toes and expand the ways you use those three basic moves. It can get pretty tough and requires problem solving and meticulous timing to get from one side of a level to the other. But when you die, you instantly reload in the same section and can try again within seconds. Plus, if things get too tough, you can turn on assist mode to slow things down, give yourself invincibility or infinite stamina, or even skip whole chapters.

Celeste also tells a surprisingly relatable story. Just like the gameplay, things start simple. You play as Madeline, a young girl attempting to climb Celeste Mountain. The characters’ you meet on the journey all have synthesised voices that add to the charm of the old-school pixel graphics and soundtrack. But hidden under that adorable exterior is an examination of depression and anxiety. It uses the challenge and fear of climbing the mountain to teach the main character about facing things about yourself that scare you and learning to confront and understand them instead of avoiding them. So if you’re looking for an impactful story and challenging but rewarding gameplay Celeste has both!

While there are lots of additional challenges, including collectibles and more difficult B-sides of each level that will extend your play time, the main story takes about eight and a half hours, perfect for a bank holiday weekend. Celeste is available on both PlayStation Plus Extra and Xbox Game Pass, so users of either service can enjoy it for no extra cost. EE customers can add PS Plus or Game Pass to their mobile bill, so you can take care of your preferred service in one simple payment.

For atmospheric tension: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Playable on: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC

Fair warning, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is dark, tense, and heavy — uncomfortably so, at times. It puts you in the shoes of Senua, a norse warrior experiencing psychosis, hallucinations, and delusions. Throughout her quest to rescue the soul of her lover from Helheim the audio and visuals will routinely become distorted. Light will get blindingly bright, you’ll see things that aren’t really there, and hear the voices in her head whispering all around you.

When in combat, there won’t be a UI telling you how much health you have or where enemies are coming from, you have to listen to the voices in Senua’s head. They’ll warn you if someone is trying to attack you from behind, and they’ll become increasingly panicked as you get closer to death. It’s a lot to take in and creates an immersive experience that is unlike any other game. To take that immersion to the next level it is recommended you play Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice with headphones, and you can get a Razer Kaira for Xbox headset from the EE Game Store to do just that. Clocking in around seven hours, you can complete Senua’s Sacrifice in a weekend and then move onto the anticipated sequel Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.

For horror fans: Until Dawn

Playable on: PS4/5

Until Dawn is the video game equivalent of a classic slasher film. A group of eight young men and women drive up a mountain to stay at a creepy lodge together for a weekend. Like a typical teen-focused horror flick there’s sexual tension, cars that won’t start and people getting separated from the group. Given periodic control of each of the young adults, you choose their dialogue and actions as they attempt to make it through the night.

Depending on the decisions you make, relationships will deepen or disintegrate. Each little thing you do will cause butterfly effects that can ultimately determine who lives, who dies, and if you’re able to solve the mountain’s mysteries. There are hundreds of possible endings thanks to the branching pathways of all the decisions you can make. With a talented cast that includes Hayden Panettiere and Rami Malek, it feels like you’re directing a great horror film. Until Dawn is part of the PlayStation Plus Extra catalogue, so if you’re already subscribed, you can play right now at no added cost. If you’re looking to get a new console, a bundle is available from EE that includes a PS5 and two years of PS Plus Extra.

Hunt: Showdown Leaves PS4 and Xbox One Behind With Its Free Next-Gen Update

Hunt: Showdown developer Crytek has announced the end of support for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game as it readies the release of a significant free next-gen upgrade.

Hunt: Showdown is a tense multiplayer first-person shooter in which players work to survive with and against each other as they hunt mythical monsters before reaching an extraction point.

Crytek is treating August 15 as a “significant relaunch” of Hunt: Showdown, which launched first on Steam in Early Access form in February before a release on Xbox in 2019. The full release followed later in 2019, before a launch on PS4 in 2020.

The free PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S update goes live on August 15, and brings with it a new map, an upgrade to CryEngine version 5.11, performance improvements for the PC and console versions, as well as a new UI/UX design.

After the update goes live on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, you will no longer be able to play Hunt on the last generation of consoles, Crytek warned. Crytek said player accounts, entitlements, and all DLCs carry forward to the new version for free “when you’re ready to make the hardware transition.”

Crytek said it will reveal details in the months leading up to the next-gen update. Here’s what to expect from the developer:

  • Community surveys, lessons learned, and how this data will affect future events
  • A sneak peek into the new UX/UI design
  • Technological upgrades and performance improvements coming to Hunt via CRYENGINE 5.11 and what that means for players
  • An update on the Fair Play Task Force and the steps being taken to address cheating, exploitive play, and toxic interactions
  • The evolution of Hunter recruitment/ Prestige systems, as well as changes being made to the progression system
  • Overall design vision for game mechanics and the decisions being made around Hunter revival, Health Chunks, restorations, burning downed Hunters, and more

Crytek is also working on first-person shooter sequel Crysis 4, announced in 2022 but without a release window.

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.

Daily Deals: Super Mario Odyssey, WD_Black 2TB SSD, JBL Flip 6

With so many deals each day, it can be hard to keep up with the best sales. Luckily, we’ve rounded up some of the best deals you can find for Tuesday, May 21. Whether you’re searching for a new accessory for Steam Deck or just looking for a new game to start, we’ve got you covered. The best deals of the day include Super Mario Odyssey, a 2TB WD_Black SSD, Unicorn Overlord, the JBL Flip 6, and more.

Super Mario Odyssey for $39.99

Super Mario Odyssey is still one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch. From the stunning Kingdoms to the numerous new gameplay elements, this is a title any Switch owner should have in their collection. Odyssey is best known for its Capture mechanic, which allows Mario to use Cappy and take over different enemies and objects in the environment. This title doesn’t go on sale too often, so pick up a physical copy at a discount this week!

WD_BLACK 2TB SSD for $139.99

Currently, Amazon has the WD_Black 2TB SN850X SSD available for just $139.99. Normally priced at $189.99, this 2TB SSD features speeds up to 7,300MB/s to ensure your games load as fast as possible. This model will work with PlayStation 5, but you will need to purchase an SSD heatsink separately.

Unicorn Overlord for $39.99

Unicorn Overlord is available at Amazon for only $39.99. This title was developed by Vanillaware, most recently known for 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Over 60 unique characters are available to choose from within Unicorn Overlord, where you command armies in tactical battle. We gave the game a 9/10 in our review, stating, “Unicorn Overlord is a visual delight that’s brimming with creativity, and an absolute must-play for any fan of strategy RPGs.”

JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth Speaker for $99.99

Target has the JBL Flip 6 on sale this week for only $99. If you’re looking for a fantastic speaker to use throughout the Summer, this is the one for you. The JBL Flip 6 is completely waterproof, which means it is perfect for the beach or pool. With exceptional sound quality and a heavy focus on bass, the Flip 6 will deliver a quality listening experience no matter where you are.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $19.99

If you’ve been holding off on the first Metal Gear Solid collection, now is the time to pick it up. Target has the Nintendo Switch version of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for just $19.99 with Target Circle. You can score this deal for a limited time, so be sure to pick it up before it’s gone.

Save on Sony WH-1000MX Series Headphones

Both the Sony WH-1000MX4 and WH-1000MX5 headphones are available on sale. These are two of the best over-ear headphones on the market, especially in the noise-canceling area. Eight microphones are utilized to ensure you have the best listening experience possible. You can instantly silence all of your surroundings with the press of a button, or choose to listen to close sounds like voices, horns honking, etc. Overall, you can’t go wrong with either of these headphones.

Persona 5 Royal on Switch for $24.99

Persona 5 is one of the most important RPGs of the last ten years for a variety of reasons. It brought millions of new fans into the scene with its exciting combat, gripping story, and interesting characters. Persona 5 Royal is the ultimate version of P5, and it’s now playable portably with Nintendo Switch! This deal was also available at Target but has since sold out. With Persona 6 still a ways out, now is the time to experience this installment. Be sure to pick this one up before it is sold out.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Remake Restores Character’s Trans Identity

Warning: Slight spoilers for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door follow.

The Nintendo Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door marks the first time Vivian has been written as a transgender woman in English versions of the game.

At the start of the adventure, Vivian is one of The Thousand-Year Door’s villains, working alongside her sisters Marilyn and Beldam to track down and defeat Mario. But due to incessant bullying from Beldam, Vivian eventually leaves her sisters to join Mario’s party.

In the original Japanese version of The Thousand-Year Door, Vivian was written as a transgender woman, but that element of Vivian’s identity was removed in the English localization, where instead of bullying Vivian about her gender, Beldam called her ugly.

Now, when Vivian is traveling with Mario in Chapter 4’s Twilight Town, it’s revealed that her original backstory is intact: “Truth is, it took me a while to realize I was their sister… not their brother,” Vivian tells Mario. “Now their usual bullying feels heavier.”

The new localization smartly tones down much of Beldam’s bullying from the GameCube original’s script. In the 2004 Japanese version, Vivian is consistently misgendered by Beldam, Goombella’s tattle, and her in-game character description, but the remake is much more affirming of Vivian’s gender, as Beldam’s comments are less direct and all other characters and text refer to Vivian as a woman.

Goombella’s tattle now says, “The youngest of the Three Shadows. She’s so cute, she’s able to infatuate anyone”, while her character bio says, “Vivian was one of the Three Shadows but has now chosen to leave her two sisters behind.”

We called the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake amazing in our review, saying, “There’s a reason The Thousand-Year Door has been considered one of the greatest Nintendo games for the last 20 years, and this brilliant remake ensures it will maintain that reputation for at least a thousand more.”

Logan Plant is IGN’s Database Manager, Playlist Editor, occasional news writer, and frequent Super Ninfriendo on Nintendo Voice Chat. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.