Posts

Posted on

Naughty Dog Will ‘Fully Reveal’ Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet In 2027, But Is Going Quiet The Rest Of This Year

Naughty Dog Intergalactic The Heretic Prophet Action Sci-Fi RPG 2026 2027

Naughty Dog celebrated The Last of Us series yesterday alongside fans as part of its usual September 28 “Outbreak Day.” That’s when studio head Neil Druckmann revealed that the team is working on two “projects” that will expand The Last of Us canon beyond Part I and Part II. It’s also where Druckmann shared the studio’s latest update on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, its in-development sci-fi action game revealed during The Game Awards almost two years ago. 

Since that initial reveal, we’ve learned very little, though Druckmann has discussed the game’s casting in interviews, and it sounds like we won’t be seeing any more of it in 2026 either. In a Naughty Dog blog post made yesterday for Outbreak Day, Druckmann says the team needs to cook for just a little bit longer. 

“The team is heads down on what is shaping up to be Naughty Dog’s most ambitious yet,” Druckmann writes as a response to the Naughty Dog fan community wondering when Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet will be shown again. “There’s an electricity around the studio right now as all the pieces come together, and we’re stoked to finally unveil Intergalactic in all its glory. But… we need to cook for just a little bit longer. So we want to set expectations: we’re going to be quiet for the rest of this year. In 2027, that changes. We’ll fully reveal Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and give you a proper look at Jordan’s wild sci-fi adventure.”

Druckmann closes by saying Naughty Dog knows it’s been a long time since it’s shared anything about the game, and it doesn’t take continued support for granted. “We’re working incredibly hard to make something worthy of your patience,” he writes. 

Here’s a piece of new Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet art included in the Naughty Dog blog post: 

Game Informer

In the meantime, read Game Informer’s reviews of The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II. You can also read about the latest casting for season 3 of HBO’s The Last of Us, which includes John Goodman. After that, check out our list of the top 10 PlayStation 5 games. 

Posted on

Exclusive: Grand Theft Auto VI Includes Over 170 Animal Species

Game Informer

The digital version of our exclusive Grand Theft Auto VI cover story is now live, and the story focuses on how Rockstar Games approached making the game’s state of Leonida as accurate as possible to its real-world inspiration, Florida. A crucial element of Florida’s patchwork is its native, exotic, and outright invasive wildlife.

Leonida will teem with over 170 animal species across land, air, and sea, several of which have never appeared in a Rockstar Game. Native Florida animals such as flamingos, manatees, pelicans, and, of course, alligators will coexist alongside invasive creatures such as green iguanas, cane toads, feral cats, and even rhesus macaque monkeys (Yes, Florida has monkeys). 

Additionally, Rockstar is building upon its work on the Red Dead Redemption series by having animals demonstrate iridescence, bioluminescence, translucency, and feather types, plus new hair and fur systems for coats and pelts. You can also track certain animals categorized as Rare, Discoverable, and Legendary, though the identities of these harder-to-find creatures are being kept secret. 

To read Rockstar’s full developer details and insights into GTAVI’s wildlife and other game features, be sure to subscribe to read the full cover story.

Posted on

Exclusive: Grand Theft Auto VI Features Tropical Storms And Hurricanes

Game Informer

For our exclusive cover story on Grand Theft Auto VI, Rockstar Games details the game’s advanced weather systems. Designed to simulate the tropical climate of real-life Florida, the game’s setting, Leonida, will feature not only sunny weather but also plenty of the state’s more violent weather phenomena.

Rockstar confirms that the game features dynamic cloudscapes that roll across Leonida, creating a broad spectrum of weather from clear skies to cloudy days. The game also features localized storms, meaning you can occupy a dry, sunny area and spot storms in the distance where it is actually pouring down. Drive to that spot after the storm passes, and you’ll be able to tell it just rained thanks to persistent puddles and other wet surfaces. Under the right lighting conditions, you can even spot rainbows following a fresh shower. 

Florida is known for experiencing tropical storms and seasonal hurricanes; the same is true in Grand Theft Auto VI’s Leonida. While we don’t know how often these larger, more violent storms occur or how they affect gameplay and storytelling, it’s exciting to know they’ll be present. 

To read Rockstar’s full developer details and insights into GTAVI’s weather systems and other game features, be sure to subscribe to read the full cover story.

Posted on

The Grand Theft Auto VI Digital Issue Is Now Live

Game Informer

The digital version of our November 2026 issue featuring Grand Theft Auto VI is now live! Subscribe to Game Informer now to get a physical copy of the GTAVI issue as your first magazine in the U.S. and in 52 countries internationally. 

Our 14-page cover story features new details on Leonida, the setting of GTAVI, which includes new developer interviews with Rockstar Games and 12 exclusive new screenshots. If you want to learn how far Rockstar has gone to recreate the state of Florida as accurately as possible, both ecologically and culturally, you don’t want to miss this story.

Game Informer

Elsewhere in the issue is a 10-page preview of Tides of Annihilation, written by senior associate editor Wesley LeBlanc, who traveled to China to play the upcoming action game. Comedian Mike Drucker wrote an entertaining (and, naturally, hilarious) feature defining, in his mind, what makes a “good” bad game. Editor-in-chief Matt Miller spoke with Invoke Studios to learn more about Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, an upcoming dark fantasy action game set in the popular tabletop universe. After traveling to Gamescom last month, Wesley LeBlanc wrote his thoughts on attending the event in person and how the show reflected the broader state of the game industry. Executive editor Kyle Hilliard even spoke with Finn Wolfhard (AKA Mike from Stranger Things) about his music career, his favorite video game soundtracks, as well as his fandom for Pokémon. 

The Grand Theft Auto VI issue also features extensive previews for upcoming games, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metroid Ravenous, State of Decay 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, Kirby and the World Beyond, Stage Tour, Rhapsody in Scarlet, and many more. We also have plenty of reviews, including Marvel’s Wolverine, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Star Wars Zero Company, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, and Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter.

Subscribe to Game Informer now to receive 10 issues over the course of your membership, both physical and digital. 

Posted on

The Last Of Us: Naughty Dog Is Working On Two Projects That Will Expand The Canon Of The Series Beyond Part I And Part II

Game Informer

Naughty Dog kicked off The Last of Us with the launch of the first game on PlayStation 3 way back in 2013. Since then, it has released a beloved DLC, Left Behind; a remaster of the PS3 release for PlayStation 4; The Last of Us Part II on PS4; a remake of the first game on PlayStation 5; and a remaster of its sequel on PS5. That’s a lot of Last of Us from Naughty Dog, but it doesn’t seem to be the end, as studio head and Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann has revealed that the team is working on two “projects” that will expand the series’ canon beyond Part 1 and Part II. 

This news arrived yesterday as part of Naughty Dog’s usual Outbreak Day celebration, which takes place every year on September 28, the same date the Cordyceps brain infection took over the world in the Last of Us games. While the day is meant more for fans to celebrate the series, Naughty Dog also uses it to tease what’s happening at the studio, so it’s no surprise Druckmann teased glimmers of more Last of Us. 

“Since Grounded II, we’ve talked about the possibility of telling more stories in the world of The Last of Us,” Druckmann writes in a Naughty Dog blog post made yesterday. “We have a couple of very exciting new projects in very early stages – so we can’t say much about them at this point. I will tell you that both projects will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part I and Part II. The world of The Last of Us means a great deal to us, and we wouldn’t return to it unless we had something meaningful to say. We believe these stories are worth telling.” 

It’s important to note, however, that Druckmann doesn’t specifically say “games” – he writes “projects.” While one would hope these are games, since that’s what Naughty Dog is best at, it could indicate more of this world in the form of TV, movies, comics or books, or something else entirely. 

Considering Naughty Dog has yet to release Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, its upcoming action game revealed during The Game Awards 2024 almost two years ago, it will likely be a while before we see these additional Last of Us projects. In the meantime, read Game Informer’s reviews of The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II. You can also read about the latest casting for season 3 of HBO’s The Last of Us, which includes John Goodman. After that, check out our list of the top 10 PlayStation 5 games. 

Let us know where you want The Last of Us to go next in the comments below!

Posted on

The Last of Us Season 3 Casts John Goodman And Last Of Us Part II Actors Laura Bailey And Ian Alexander

HBO's The Last of Us Part II Season 2 Naughty Dog PlayStation Neil Druckmann

Season 3 of HBO’s The Last of Us has three new cast members, Deadline reports. John Goodman, Ian Alexander, and Laura Bailey have joined the cast.

Deadline reports that Goodman (The Big Lebowski, Monsters, Inc., 10 Cloverfield Lane) will play Joey, the partner of Ian Alexander’s (The Gatekeeper, The OA)  character Paco. The pair are billed as a friendly duo who call themselves the Heroes of the Highway. Laura Bailey, best known as a prolific voice actor in animation and video games, plays Elizabeth, a leader of the Seraphites religious faction.

 

Fans will remember Laura Bailey and Ian Alexander as the voices of Abby and Lev, respectively, in The Last of Us Part II. However, they’re portraying different characters in the show since it features Kaitlyn Denver as Abby and Kyriana Kratter as Lev. 

The plot of The Last of Us season 3 has not been revealed beyond that it continues to adapt the events of The Last of Us Part II. The season has no premiere date but is expected to arrive sometime in 2027. Season 3 may also be the show’s last, according to HBO’s CEO. 

Posted on

The Top 10 PlayStation 5 Games

Game Informer

Ever since the PS5 launched in 2020, people have wanted to see what games are the best showpieces of PlayStation 5’s power and also which ones take their beloved medium to new heights. The Game Informer staff has selected 10 games that we consider to be the PlayStation 5’s absolute best. Over time, this article will be updated with the latest releases that we think crack the top 10.

Please note that while the list below contains 10 entries, we aren’t ranking them. If a game has made it this far (and managed to stay here), it’s a must-play, period. As such, we’ll be listing entries in reverse chronological order. Also, with future updates, you’ll find a rundown of previous entries at the bottom of the list. While those titles have gotten bumped over time, they are still all great games in their own right and worth exploring if you’re already caught up on the latest hits.

Here are Game Informer’s picks for the top 10 games on PlayStation 5:

Game Informer

Resident Evil Requiem

Release: February 27, 2026

Capcom has found a good rhythm with the Resident Evil franchise as it moves back and forth between remakes and new entries. Requiem is the latest entry (at the time of publication), and to date it has been the most successful at finding the middle ground between tense exploration and bombastic action. Grace Ashcroft explores intimidating locations, carefully preserving ammo and solving puzzles, while Leon worries less about counting bullets and more about kicking zombies. It gives Requiem a fun alternating pace while retaining many of the absurd elements we’ve come to love and expect from the larger franchise. | Our Review

Game Informer

Ghost of Yōtei

Release: October 2, 2025

Developer Sucker Punch – despite its string of quality games like Sly Cooper, Infamous, and Ghost of Tsushima – often feels like an underrated studio. In Ghost of Yōtei, the studio took Tsushima’s framework and delivered a stellar follow-up. Virtually every element of the game has been improved, from very obvious details like better visuals to harder-to-quantify elements, like a stronger story. Atsu’s journey of vengeance is one we’ve explored often in video games and other media before, but it is still a stirring, expertly executed journey through her difficult life that you won’t soon forget. | Our Review

Game Informer

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Release: April 24, 2025

There is a reason we (and many others) picked Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the Game of the Year for 2025. Developer Sandfall Interactive boasts impressive creatives who worked at studios like Ubisoft, but it still felt like it came out of nowhere to floor us all. Taking place in a universe where how long you live is dictated by the mysterious Paintress, Clair Obscur follows the 33rd expedition to explore the Paintress’ home and confront her. What follows is an emotional and unpredictable RPG journey that takes clear inspiration from games like Final Fantasy X all while looking and sounding beautiful and unique. Clair Obscur’s world is melancholy, but it is one we wish we could experience all over again for the first time. | Our Review

Game Informer

Astro Bot

Release: September 6, 2024

What began as a relatively obscure PlayStation VR character in 2016’s The Playroom VR has blossomed into both a mascot staple for PlayStation and a sign of quality game design and joy. Astro Bot Rescue Mission showed us that developer Team Asobi was quietly a powerhouse of platformer design, and Astro’s Playroom (included with every PlayStation 5) showed that it wasn’t a VR fluke. And it all culminated in our 2024 game of the year. We loved it so much that we awarded it the rare 10/10 in our review, where Marcus Stewart wrote, “Astro Bot has always been good at propping up its contemporaries, but the adorable little robot can now proudly stand beside the PlayStation icons it so fondly celebrates.” | Our Review 

Game Informer

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Release: February 29, 2024

Square Enix created an impossible task for itself when it set out to remake one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. Not only would it be visually overhauling the PlayStation classic, but it would be rewriting it, changing the combat, and expanding it into a three-game trilogy. And so far, the plan is coming together. 2020’s Final Fantasy Remake kicked the series off with fantastic visuals and combat, and the sequel took it all a step further. Not only did the story continue its steady march toward conclusion and showcase one of the game’s most impactful moments, but it moved the party out into the open world and gave them lots of tasks to complete, all in the interest of letting everyone get to know one another. | Our Review

Game Informer


Final Fantasy VII Rebirth


Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC

Release Date:
February 29, 2024 (PlayStation 5), 
January 23, 2025 (PC), 
June 3, 2026 (Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2)

Game Informer

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Release: October 20, 2023

Coming off an incredible second act in its Spider-Man series starring Miles Morales, Insomniac Games had its work cut out for it. Thankfully, the studio was beyond capable, delivering one of the greatest superhero video games of all time with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Swinging through New York while in pursuit of iconic foes remains as amazing as it was in the first two games, but it’s the additional moves and traversal options (including the game-changing web wings) that make this the stand out entry in one of PlayStation’s most beloved exclusive franchises. | Our Review

Game Informer

Baldur’s Gate 3

Release: September 6, 2023

The role-playing video game emerged from the dream of being able to go on a Dungeons & Dragons-style adventure with the convenience and immersion that only video game consoles and computers can offer. Perhaps no game has better captured that fantasy than Baldur’s Gate 3. Complete with a built-in DM, story-altering player choices, and front-facing d20 rolls – not to mention the ability to play cooperatively with your friends – Baldur’s Gate 3 is the electronic D&D experience players have been waiting decades for, and delivers one of the greatest RPGs in recent memory. | Our Review

Game Informer


Baldur’s Gate 3


Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Release Date:
August 3, 2023 (PC), 
September 6, 2023 (PlayStation 5), 
December 7, 2023 (Xbox Series X/S)

Game Informer

God of War Ragnarök

Release: November 9, 2022

When 2018’s God of War turned the series upside-down by changing the action, combat, pacing, and its hero’s emotional range – all to widespread critical and fan acclaim – many wondered how Sony Santa Monica could possibly top its accomplishment. The answer was God of War Ragnarök, a sequel that stunningly pushes forward the gameplay, narrative, and characters. Following Kratos and Atreus’ adventures through Norse mythology is a blast, while the meaningful evolutions of both the puzzle-solving, world exploration, and combat cement it as one of the best action games available on PlayStation 5 today. | Our Review

Game Informer

Elden Ring

Release: February 25, 2022

The wait for Elden Ring was excruciating, but it was nothing compared to the trials and challenges that awaited us when From Software finally delivered its masterpiece to the masses. But those who persevere through the studio’s trademark difficulty are handsomely rewarded with incredibly tight combat mechanics, rewarding exploration, and one of the greatest open-world action games ever crafted. Elden Ring smacked us down with its daunting boss battles and unfathomably massive world time and time again, but we kept lining up for more punishment with smiles on our faces, and we loved it so much that we awarded it a rare 10 out of 10 review score and it was an easy choice for Game of the Year 2022. | Our Review

Game Informer

Returnal

Release: April 30, 2021

As both a fast-paced third-person shooter and an atmospheric, mysterious journey through alien horror, Returnal succeeds at delivering an incredibly competent and cohesive experience. Returnal takes advantage of all that next-gen gaming has to offer, including comprehensive feedback from the DualSense controller. With adrenaline-fueled and creative boss fights, hundreds and hundreds of impressive “bullet-hell” projectiles to dodge, and an assortment of impressive weapons to experiment with, Returnal keeps you enthralled to the very end. | Our Review

For more lists about the best games on other platforms, check out our lists of the top 10 games on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch.

Previous Entries: 

Posted on

New God Of War Laufey Weapon Revealed Alongside Pre-Order Details

Game Informer

Santa Monica Studio has revealed new combat details for God of War Laufey, chiefly a new weapon for the titular protagonist. With the game slated to launch in February, pre-order details and a Digital Deluxe Edition have also been announced.

God of War Laufey stars Kratos’ wife, Faye, as she battles to liberate and survive the Everywhen, the afterlife of the Gods, after she dies at the beginning of God of War (2018). A PlayStation Blog post reveals a new weapon for Faye alongside her sword: the Serpent’s Bow. This mythical bow gives Faye a ranged option to keep foes at bay, and its quickness allows players to weave arrow shots into their melee attack strings. Short clips posted on the blog show Faye knocking opponents in mid-air and peppering them with a few quick arrows before resuming her melee combo. 

Game Informer

Holding down the fire button charges precision shots to target weak points that can hinder enemy movement and offense. Charging shots also allows Faye to notch and unleash up to five arrows at once. Faye also has an arsenal of arrow types, including rapid-fire, explosive, and multi-targeting options. The Serpent Bow can also be customized by equipping scales that alter its appearance and performance. 

God of War Laufey pre-orders open tomorrow, September 29, and include the following items. According to the blog post, items with an asterisk are denoted as “Unlock in-game items via story progression.”

Game Informer

  • Last Wish Armor Set*
  • Phranque Golden Leaves Appearance* (cosmetic) 
  • In-game resource pack

Game Informer

A Digital Deluxe Edition, which currently has no listed price, includes the following bonuses:

  • Dark Alchemy Armor Set*
  • Dark Alchemy Blade* 
  • Dark Alchemy Bow Scales*
  • Dark Alchemy Catalyst*
  • In-Game Resource Pack
  • Digital Mini Artbook 
  • Official God of War Laufey Digital Soundtrack

God of War Laufey launches on February 16 for PlayStation 5. 

Posted on

Minecraft Dungeons II Review – Built Better Than Before

Minecraft Dungeons II

Reviewed on:
Xbox Series X/S

Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC

Publisher:
Xbox Game Studios

Developer:
Mojang, Double Eleven

Release:

Rating:
Everyone 10+

Minecraft Dungeons II truly sang when I reached its endgame and settled on a character build I loved. I wielded an Emerald Hammer that electrocuted nearby enemies and a crossbow that pierced through them. I upgraded and enchanted all my armor pieces so they either healed me or made potions even more effective. I felt powerful, in control of every encounter, and like nothing could stop me. I wish Minecraft Dungeons II didn’t wait for its endgame to give me that incredible power fantasy.

Minecraft Dungeons II is a step up from its 2020 predecessor, which gave the action RPG dungeon-crawling formula popularized by Diablo a Minecraft makeover. The added jump mechanic makes traversal and movement more fluid, in-game menus surface important information effectively, and there’s more enemy and weapon variety than before. It even adds meaningfully to Minecraft as a franchise by introducing a new ethereal dimension called the Sift, coming to Minecraft proper in 2027.

Shortcomings from the original persist, though, like its eschewing of a class-driven character progression approach in favor of an item-driven one. Player abilities aren’t tied to character classes like Barbarian or Monk. Instead, every weapon, piece of armor, and ability-granting artifact or talisman I found had unique effects. I then had to mix, match, upgrade, and enchant those at different vendors to create the tank-like build I settled on by the endgame.

 

This approach should have been freeing, since I wasn’t locked into a specific character build. In practice, progression is linear yet aimless, as no individual piece of loot stood out to me until I improved it with enchantments. I never felt I was mastering a certain playstyle in Minecraft Dungeons II, just that I stumbled onto something powerful. I went with the flow and learned to like whatever the most powerful loot I had was until something better dropped.

At first, the fun came primarily from the boss fights. By the time my artifacts and other loot made the standard enemy encounter entertaining, I was already playing through the most repetitive endgame content. That stings, as Minecraft Dungeons II is quite short, and its endgame currently just consists of wrapping up unfinished side quests and destroying Storm Generators for randomized loot and upgrade currency. I beat it in under 10 hours, and after 15 or so hours, I feel like I’ve seen everything the game has to offer. Now, I mostly just enjoy randomly matchmaking into co-op sessions to help weaker players.

Those obsessed with the little bits of lore we occasionally get about the Minecraft universe will find revelations to enjoy here. The story pits players against the Illiger High Council, who discovered the soul-filled Sift dimension and are wielding its power to take control of the Overworld. It’s a light, breezy narrative that unfortunately ends unsatisfyingly.

The story ultimately serves as a backdrop for its open-world setup across the Overworld and Sift, though players’ actions don’t impact the world as much as I would have liked. Minecraft Dungeons II’s connective tissue to Minecraft is mostly aesthetic; it offers a beautiful isometric rendition of the Overworld and recognizable tools-turned-weapons, but I never did much mining or crafting during the adventure.

Minecraft Dungeons II proves this spin-off franchise can stand on its own and improve with subsequent entries at a time when Xbox is refocusing on its biggest IP. There’s plenty of room to expand, improve, and let me reach that endgame feeling of satisfaction much sooner, though. Right now, Minecraft Dungeons II is simply a straightforward, entry-level action-RPG.

Score:
7.25

About Game Informer’s review system

Posted on

The Video Games And More You Should Play This Weekend – September 25, 2026

Game Informer

Hey! I hope you’re getting ready to have a good weekend or whatever, but did you see that we announced the next Game Informer cover? It’s Grand Theft Auto VI, baby. We have a 14-page story with exclusive interviews with members of the Rockstar development team, brand new screenshots, and gorgeous original cover art. We’re very, very excited about it. Subscribe now to make sure you get your copy of the issue in the mail!

The cover story? That will be available for subscribers to read digitally next week. And the actual Grand Theft Auto VI game? That releases November 19. That doesn’t help you right now. Thankfully, we have weekend recommendations below that you can play right now. But before all that, here are some of the biggest stories of the week.

Game Informer

Control Resonant

Marcus Stewart

I wrote in my review of this sequel to Control that I love the storytelling, characters, and world, but that the enjoyable combat suffers from way-too-tanky enemies. Thankfully, Remedy swiftly released a day-one patch addressing this very concern. Although I haven’t yet tested the game to see how much it remedies my biggest criticism, I feel even better about recommending Control Resonant. Fans of the first game will have plenty to love and more, as Resonant boasts the same alluring surrealism and fascinating lore as the original, only blown out and spread across a big city. Dylan Faden’s powers make traversing a distorted and visually impressive Manhattan like a superhero feel appropriately cool, and the action only gets deeper and more entertaining as the story progresses. Boasting a strong cast and several memorable moments, Dylan’s adventure is a worthy successor to his sister Jesse’s.

Game Informer

Silent Hill: Townfall

Kyle Hilliard

Silent Hill has been on an impressive streak (as long as you don’t think too much about the bizarre 2024 streaming series, Silent Hill: Ascension, or the recent 2026 film, Return to Silent Hill), and Silent Hill: Townfall does not break the streak. Since deciding to go all back in on the franchise, Konami has been doing a good job of enlisting development partners that all seem to understand what makes the series work. Townfall is not without its shortcomings, which primarily lie in the unfair difficulty of its stealth and combat, but the mood is spot on. I also enjoyed the narrative, which is about corporate nihilism among other fascinating and emotional topics. It also features Terry O’Quinn (of Lost fame) in a prominent role, and he is an actor born to be in a Silent Hill game. You can read Game Informer‘s Silent Hill: Townfall review by following the link.

Game Informer

EA Sports FC 27

Brian Shea

If you’re still buzzing from World Cup fever, EA Sports FC 27 is out now. Though this new version doesn’t change up a ton from its predecessor, it does give you more control of the players on the pitch, requiring more strategy as you push toward the goal. Off the field, a new social playground called The Grounds funnels players toward the multiplayer features, while continued refinements to Ultimate Team and the Career modes offer more long-form options. You can read Game Informer‘s EA Sports FC 27 review by following the link.

Game Informer

Kingdom Rush 6: Genesis

Matt Miller

It’s pretty rare that I’ll step in to offer a full-throated endorsement for a mobile game, but Kingdom Rush is one of those consistently fun series that always manages to pull me in. The new (sixth!) installment just released this week, and its tower-defense formula remains as fun as ever. While the game will feel mostly familiar to returning fans, Ironhide Game Studio has gone to pains to add some new twists to this iteration, including additional replayability for each of the 18 stages through five unique victory paths for each. The game has a whimsical presentation that belies the high challenge that can define some of the later stages. If you want an approachable game on your mobile device for wherever you’re headed this weekend, it’s a sure bet. It’s also on Steam if that’s your preference!

Game Informer

Wardogs

Eric Van Allen

There’s been a hunger in the FPS space writ large, I think; a desire for the days of server browsers, lively interactions, and team-based asymmetrical warfare. Wardogs, an Early Access game from Bulkhead currently dominating the Steam charts, ticks all of those boxes. It’s easy enough to understand that Battlefield fans can hop in, but it still veers plenty hard into the military sim to have plenty of craftsmanship in your chosen niche. Be a supply driver or builder, constructing forward operating bases, or a helicopter pilot ferrying freshly respawned fighters to the field, or one of those grunts, keeping a body in the hot zone at all times; anything you do builds towards capturing and holding the zone, and accruing your account match-over-match cash in the process. Wardogs has become a nightly ritual for my group, and has been the closest I’ve felt to days of scrolling Battlefield 1942 servers in ages.

Game Informer

Twisted Tower

Wesley LeBlanc

Twisted Tower does not try to hide its BioShock inspiration. Instead, it embraces it, using what players know of BioShock to set expectations and surprise; after playing through its story in about 8 hours in just two sittings, I can now add “delight.” It takes place in the 20th Century and stars a man trying to save his love. To do so, he must travel to the Twisted Tower amusement park, a mix of BioShock’s Rapture and Walt Disney World, with the abandoned twistedness you’d expect from the former and the hokey thrills and theming you’d expect from the latter. Using first-person, mostly gun-focused combat and some unlockable toys that give you abilities like dash and grapple, you will traverse five themed levels as you make your way up the titular landmark. All the while, Mr. Twister goads and mocks you along the way, in a very Andrew Ryan-esque way. Of course, there are narrative twists, scares, lots of blood, and plenty of demented employees who haven’t clocked out of their Twisted Tower shift yet, awaiting you in each, and it remains fun from start to finish. It can feel a bit rudimentary in how much it leans on its inspirations, but it’s one of the best BioShock-likes I’ve played in a minute, and it’s perfect for an exciting weekend gaming jaunt.

Game Informer

Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance

Brian Shea

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance was one of the best action games from last year, but the Switch version wasn’t quite as amazing as the other platforms. Sega hopes to remedy that with this week’s Switch 2 edition. Whether you’re acrobatically exploring, slicing through hordes of enemies, or taking on daunting boss fights, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is one that no fan of 2D action games should miss. You can read Game Informer‘s Shinobi: Art of Vengeance review by following the link.

Game Informer

Tabletop Pick – A-Way

Matt Miller

This recent card game is packed inside a tiny box that belies a surprisingly rich (if brisk) tactical play experience. You are charting a route for your spaceship to get from point A to B, gradually laying out square cards that will let you cross the far reaches of space. However, certain routes are only one-way, and specific actions (including those played by your opponents) can rotate the cards and block a previously accessible path.

Game Informer

As much as you’re aiming to speed to your own finish, you’re looking for ways to block your opponents. That adds a mean streak of play interaction that will delight many, but frustrate others. But the short playthrough length lessens the sting of being messed with, making this an extremely fun filler game in between other larger experiences during your evening of play. (edited)