One Of 2025’s Best-Reviewed Games Has Quietly Released On Switch Today

Crawl through dungeons and learn Japanese in Shujinkou.

2025 has been an absolutely stacked year for video games — Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Clair Obscur, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Split Fiction are just a few games that have picked up over a 90 average on OpenCritic. But until Hades II arrived, there was a game that stood head and shoulders above the rest, and you might not have even heard of it.

Shujinkou launched on PC via Steam and PS5 earlier this year and the Switch version is out today (2nd October) on the eShop for £26.99 / $29.99 (or your regional equivalent). The port was actually announced about a month ago, but given the craziness of September, it completely slipped by us!

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Disco Elysium devs at ZA/UM form the UK industry’s “first recognised videogame union”

Videogame developers at Disco Elysium studio ZA/UM have founded what they’re calling “the first recognised workplace union in the UK games industry”, operating as part of the Independent Works Union of Great Britain. It’s yet another twist in the tale of a once-feted development studio who are now heavily associated with toxic layoffs, alleged fraud and diasporic feuding.

Read more

Star Wars Outlaws Gets Another Switch 2 Patch, Further Improves Performance And Visuals

Bugs and UI issues also fixed.

Star Wars Outlaws is already one of the most-impressive ports on the Switch 2, and Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft are ensuring it maintains that title with today’s brand new update.

Switch 2 Title Update 2 generally focuses on graphical and visual stability along with a few bug and UI fixes. We won’t say no to that, especially just under a month since its release.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

How to Start Playing the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Multiplayer and Zombies Beta

How to Start Playing the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Multiplayer and Zombies Beta

Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Multiplayer Spotlight

After an exciting week of news and reveals from Call of Duty: Next, we’re capping it off with a Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Multiplayer and Zombies Beta! Over the next few days, you’ll have a chance to dive in and get hands-on with a handful of the new maps – as well as Zombies Survival. Read on for a full breakdown of the info you need to know to start playing today!

Beta Early Access – October 2 to 5

If you have pre-ordered Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 or you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, you can jump into Early Access to the Open Beta starting Thursday, October 2 at 10am Pacific you can find the Beta client here on the Microsoft Store. Also, if you’ve pre-ordered digitally, you’re automatically registered to participate in the Early Access period.

The Early Access will kick off with three maps and four modes playable during early access: The Forge, Cortex, Exposure, and Imprint. The available game modes will be Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint and Kill Confirmed. The brand-new game mode Overload and the classic mode Search & Destroy will also be added to the playlist with Overload being added on October 3 and Search & Destroy being added on October 4!

In Overload, teams will fight for control of the Overload Device, which they must pick up and carry into one of the enemy’s two control zones. The device’s position is shown via HUD and Tac-Map, and any Operator carrying it receives extra map intel.`

Open Beta – October 5 to 8

Once Open Beta kicks off on October 5, the doors will be open for players across all platforms to jump into the Black Ops 7 Beta. In addition to all the content available during Beta Early Access, Open Beta will unlock two new maps – Blackheart and Toshin.

Zombies Survival – October 3

For the first time ever, Zombies will be in a Call of Duty Beta! Zombies Survival, set on Vandorn Fam, will be available for a limited time starting in the Early Access to the Open Beta starting October 3. Survival is a focused, unfiltered Zombies experience with no quests or objectives — it’s just you and your squad surviving against the relentless undead for as long as you can. This is a bite-sized portion of what’s waiting for you in Ashes of the Damned, giving you a great opportunity to jump in and slay some zombies with no distractions.

Also, GobbleGums will be available to use during the Zombies Survival which these will be complimentary during the Beta. Be sure to read the in-depth GobbleGums guide for more details.

Check out the official Call of Duty Blog for a full breakdown on the maps and modes that will be available to play this weekend.

Don’t Forget Your Training

If you need a refresher on Multiplayer, make sure you check out the Training Course – you can find this alongside the other Beta modes. Here you’ll get acquainted with the updated Omnimovement system as well as other traversal evolutions that Black Ops 7 has in store. It’s recommended to start your Multiplayer journey here whether you’re a new or returning player.

Progression in the Black Ops 7 Beta

When you jump into your first game, you’ll find that there are a handful of weapons, Perks, Scorestreaks, and Equipment already unlocked and ready to use.In addition to that, you’ll have 30 levels of unlocks for you to progress through during the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Beta. Once you hit Level 4, you’ll gain access to Custom Loadouts and Weapon and Gear customization. Each level will unlock additional options for your Loadout.

You can also achieve Beta rewards that will transfer over to your Black Ops 7 inventory at launch:

  • Level 2: “Beta Player” Animated Emblem
  • Level 6: “Gun Flex” Emote
  • Level 11: “Beta Neon” Sticker
  • Level 15: “Beta Beasts” Weapon Charm
  • Level 20: “Beta Maverick” Wei Lin Operator Skin
  • Level 20: “Beta Leader” Falkner Operator Skiin
  • Level 23: “Beta Survivor” Loading Screen
  • Level 27: “Beta Conqueror” Calling Card
  • Level 30: “Beta Legend” Weapon Blueprint – M15 Mod 0

Pre-order Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Today

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches November 14, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Cloud – with support for Xbox Play Anywhere and day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass – as well as PlayStation 4 & 5, Battle.net, and Steam. Pre-order any digital edition or subscribe to select Game Pass plans and receive Early Access to the Open Beta (Terms), as well as the Reznov Challenge Pack and Guild Override Weapon Camo (Terms). Learn more here.


Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Open Beta

Activision Publishing Inc.


182

PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass

Pre-order any digital edition or subscribe to select Game Pass plans* and get Early Access to the Open Beta**.

– Early Access is October 2nd – October 5th
– Open Beta access is available for all players from October 5th – October 8th

Experience your first taste of the cutting-edge combat in Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 with the Black Ops 7 Beta.

– Map Variety: Jump into brand-new 6v6 Multiplayer maps coming at launch on November 14th, all combining a new level of visual fidelity along with refined Multiplayer design for the most engaging Black Ops MP ever.

– Near-Future Weaponry: Set in 2035, Multiplayer delivers an arsenal of new, near-future weaponry and gear, including a selection of Black Ops 2 inspirations.

– Overclocked Gear: Scorestreaks, Field Upgrades and Equipment can be upgraded with the new Overclock system, growing more versatile the more you use them. Every match becomes a step toward unlocking their full potential.

– Next-level Omnimovement: including Wall Jumps and a complete refinement of core movement, open-up creative possibilities and fresh dynamics to gameplay.

Earn in-game rewards including an Operator skin, weapon blueprint and additional cosmetic items for playing the Beta, which will be immediately available in the Beta once unlocked and playable in Black Ops 7 once the full game launches.

TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required for PC, other security measures may be enforced. Learn more at https://support.activision.com/tpm.

*Requires active subscription to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console.

**Actual launch date(s), time(s), and platform availability of Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. Game Pass Core subscription may be required for Beta.

Content, features, services, online play, and support not available in all regions, and may vary, change, or terminate.

Requires an Activision account and acceptance of the Activision Software License and Services Agreement. A mobile phone number linked to your Activision account may be required to play Black Ops 7.

For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.

©/TM/® 2025 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2025 Id Software, Inc.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Vault Edition

Activision Publishing Inc.

$99.99

Pre-order any digital edition and receive:

– Early Access to the Open Beta*
— Early Access starts on October 2
— Open Beta access (available for all players) starts on October 5
– Items for immediate use in Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty®: Warzone™**:
— Reznov Challenge Pack – unlock the SOG Reznov Operator Skin. Plus, get access to unlock the Stalingrad Reznov and Memory Reznov Operator Skins
— Guild Override Weapon Camo – unlock the Guild Override dynamic Weapon Camo

The Vault Edition includes:

– Cross-Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7
— Includes Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox PC versions of the game
– BlackCell (1 Season)***
— Includes: Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more
– Operator Collection
— 4 Operator Skins: Harper, Karma, T.E.D.D. and Reaper EWR-3
– Mastercraft Collection
— 5 Mastercraft Weapons
– Ultra GobbleGum Pack for Zombies
— 8 GobbleGums of Ultra rarity for Black Ops 7
– Permanent Unlock Token for Black Ops 7 (available at launch)

In Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players the most mind-bending Black Ops ever.

The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by violent conflict and psychological warfare. David Mason leads an elite team on a covert mission to the sprawling city of Avalon. While there, they discover a sophisticated plot that won’t just plunge the world into chaos, it will pull them into their own haunting pasts.

Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience.

Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with an evolved Omnimovement system.

In Treyarch’s legendary Round-Based Zombies mode, the nightmare begins where reality ends. Trapped in the heart of the Dark Aether, the crew is thrust into a vast, ever-shifting hellscape.

Game requires a Game Pass Core subscription (sold separately).

TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required for PC, other security measures may be enforced. Learn more at https://support.activision.com/tpm.

*Actual launch date(s), time(s), and platform availability of Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. Game Pass Core subscription may be required for Beta.

**Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 or Call of Duty®: Warzone™ on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by November 14th, 2026.

***BlackCell, Battle Pass, Call of Duty® Points and Tier Skips will be accessible in Black Ops 7 upon availability of the Season 1 Battle Pass in-game. Redemption applies to one Season of the Black Ops 7 Battle Pass only.

Content, features, services, online play, and support not available in all regions, and may vary, change, or terminate.

Requires an Activision account and acceptance of the Activision Software License and Services Agreement. A mobile phone number linked to your Activision account may be required to play Black Ops 7.

Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates.

For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.

©/TM/® 2025 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2025 Id Software, Inc.


Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Vault Edition Upgrade

Activision Publishing Inc.


65

$30

Upgrade to the Vault Edition and receive the following bonus content*:

– BlackCell (1 Season)**
— Includes: Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more
– Operator Collection
— 4 Operator Skins: Harper, Karma, T.E.D.D. and Reaper EWR-3
– Mastercraft Collection
— 5 Mastercraft Weapons
– Ultra GobbleGum Pack for Zombies
— 8 GobbleGums of Ultra rarity for Black Ops 7
– Permanent Unlock Token for Black Ops 7 (available at launch)

*Requires existing ownership of the digital version of the Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Cross-Gen Bundle on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC (sold separately), or active subscription to select Game Pass plans (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console).

**BlackCell, Battle Pass, Call of Duty® Points and Tier Skips will be accessible in Black Ops 7 upon availability of the Season 1 Battle Pass in-game. Redemption applies to one Season of the Black Ops 7 Battle Pass only.

For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.

©/TM/® 2025 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2025 Id Software, Inc.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Cross-Gen Bundle

Activision Publishing Inc.

$69.99

Pre-order any digital edition or subscribe to select Game Pass plans* and receive:

– Early Access to the Open Beta**
— Early Access starts on October 2
— Open Beta access (available for all players) starts on October 5
– Items for immediate use in Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty®: Warzone™***:
— Reznov Challenge Pack – unlock the SOG Reznov Operator Skin. Plus, get access to unlock the Stalingrad Reznov and Memory Reznov Operator Skins
— Guild Override Weapon Camo – unlock the Guild Override dynamic Weapon Camo

Includes:

– Cross-Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7
— Includes Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Xbox PC versions of the game

In Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players the most mind-bending Black Ops ever.

The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by violent conflict and psychological warfare. David Mason leads an elite JSOC team on a covert mission to the sprawling Mediterranean city of Avalon. While there, they discover a sophisticated plot that won’t just plunge the world into chaos, it will pull them into their own haunting pasts.

Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience. Take on high-stakes challenges across a wide spectrum of environments, from the neon-lit rooftops of Japan to the Mediterranean coast, and even into the deepest corners of the human psyche.

Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. From futuristic Tokyo vistas to the frozen, unforgiving wilds of Alaska, every environment is brimming with danger and opportunity. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with an evolved Omnimovement system.

In Treyarch’s legendary Round-Based Zombies mode, the nightmare begins where reality ends. Trapped in the heart of the Dark Aether, the crew is thrust into a vast, ever-shifting hellscape. This isn’t just survival. It’s a descent into madness.

Game requires a Game Pass Core subscription (sold separately).

TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required for PC, other security measures may be enforced. Learn more at https://support.activision.com/tpm.

*Requires active subscription to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console. Subscribers must login to Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 or Call of Duty®: Warzone™ on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC by November 14, 2025 to redeem the Reznov Challenge Pack.

**Actual launch date(s), time(s), and platform availability of Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. Game Pass Core subscription may be required for Beta.

***Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 or Call of Duty®: Warzone™ on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by November 14th, 2026.

Content, features, services, online play, and support not available in all regions, and may vary, change, or terminate.

Requires an Activision account and acceptance of the Activision Software License and Services Agreement. A mobile phone number linked to your Activision account may be required to play Black Ops 7.

Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates.

For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.

©/TM/® 2025 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2025 Id Software, Inc.


The post How to Start Playing the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Multiplayer and Zombies Beta appeared first on Xbox Wire.

PlayStation Store: September 2025’s top downloads

It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, and free-to-play games topped last month’s download charts. September saw sports rise to the top again as NBA 2K26 led the league in the US, while EA Sports FC 26 took charge in the EU charts for PS5, with Borderlands 4 and Hollow Knight: Silksong also performing strongly. Meanwhile, Dragon Ball Gekishin Squadra found success on the free-to-play charts in both the US and EU.

Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month?

PS5 Games

US/CanadaEU
NBA 2K26EA Sports FC 26
Borderlands 4Hollow Knight: Silksong
EA Sports FC 26Borderlands 4
Hollow Knight: SilksongNBA 2K26
EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26Dying Light: The Beast
Dying Light: The BeastGrand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto VForza Horizon 5
NHL 26Minecraft
SILENT HILL fReady or Not
EA SPORTS College Football 26SILENT HILL f
Ready or NotNo Man’s Sky
HELLDIVERS 2Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Forza Horizon 5Hogwarts Legacy
MinecraftNHL 26
METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATERMafia: The Old Country
Sonic Racing: CrossWorldsUFC 5
No Man’s SkyMETAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER
Gears of War: ReloadedHell is Us
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice ChroniclesDragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Hell is UsIt Takes Two


*Naming of products may differ between regions
*Upgrades not included

PS4 Games

US/CanadaEU
Red Dead Redemption 2EA Sports FC 26
Hollow Knight: Voidheart EditionRed Dead Redemption 2
Batman: Arkham KnightHollow Knight: Voidheart Edition
Hollow Knight: SilksongBatman: Arkham Knight
Grand Theft Auto VHollow Knight: Silksong
EA Sports FC 26Grand Theft Auto V
Need for Speed HeatAssassin’s Creed Origins
MinecraftThe Forest
Mortal Kombat XA Way Out
The ForestAssassin’s Creed Odyssey
Call of Duty: Black Ops IIIMafia: Trilogy
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Game of the Year EditionNeed for Speed Heat
A Way OutMinecraft
Mafia III: Definitive EditionKingdom Come: Deliverance
Assassin’s Creed OdysseyUnravel Two
Assassin’s Creed OriginsMortal Kombat X
STAR WARS Battlefront IISekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Game of the Year Edition
Mafia: TrilogyHogwarts Legacy
PsychonautsMafia II: Definitive Edition
NBA 2K26Descenders


*Naming of products may differ between regions 

PS VR2 Games*

US/CanadaEU
Alien: Rogue Incursion VRAlien: Rogue Incursion VR
Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship EditionCreed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition
Beat SaberHorizon Call of the Mountain
GORN 2Beat Saber
Job SimulatorJob Simulator
Vampire: The Masquerade – JusticeMetro Awakening
Arizona Sunshine 2Arizona Sunshine 2
Among Us 3D: VRMoss: Book II
PavlovPavlov
Arken AgeRagnarock

*PlayStation Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included

Free to Play (PS5 + PS4)

US/CanadaEU
DRAGON BALL GEKISHIN SQUADRADelta Force (F2P)
Delta Force (F2P)Roblox
Fortniteskate.
Marvel RivalsFortnite
RobloxDRAGON BALL GEKISHIN SQUADRA
Call of Duty: WarzoneCall of Duty: Warzone
skate.Rocket League
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X – Free AccessTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X – Free Access
Rocket LeagueeFootball
Fall GuysMarvel Rivals

‘Pokémon Don’t Sue Me’: Sora 2 App Opens Floodgates to AI Videos of Pikachu, Mario and More

OpenAI’s Sora 2 generative video app has gone live, and immediately it’s been used to create countless videos featuring licensed characters, such as Mario, Pikachu and an array of other Pokémon.

While videos featuring Pikachu in Saving Private Ryan, or Mario in Star Wars, might look surprising, a statement from OpenAI earlier this week suggested the company knew exactly what people would be getting up to when Sora 2 arrived — and what the company’s own algorithms had apparently been trained on.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, OpenAI has already begun contacting movie studios and other intellectual property owners to discuss next steps — and offer them the chance to retroactively opt out of their fictional characters being available within Sora 2’s AI videos.

But, for now, it’s open season on Pikachu and his pals, as these initial results from Sora 2 demonstrate (thanks, Nintendo Life):

Ever wondered what Pikachu would sound like if he could actually chat away in human speech (and wasn’t secretly Ryan Reynolds)? Well, wonder no longer — though you may regret listening to this.

While characters are fair game, OpenAI has previously said that real-life people, whether that’s users of the app or the those seeking to use the likeness of celebrities, will need to have manually opted in to having their appearances generated. Of course, OpenAI boss Sam Altman has allowed for his likeness to be used — so here he is having a lightsaber battle with Pikachu:

Alongside Pokémon, Nintendo’s own Mario characters have been getting plenty of use. And then there’s the final clip below, which mashes together Valve’s Portal and Activision’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (and also Twin Peaks).

Is any of this legal? “In short, we don’t have a definitive answer yet,” business lawyer and creator of the Virtual Legality podcast Richard Hoeg told IGN today. “There are indications in some quarters that training on protected materials is likely going to be deemed legal so long as the materials themselves were acquired for some lawful purpose (and not pirated). But on the output side, the Disney/Dreamworks lawsuit makes some good arguments for why/how the law should expect these platforms to police prompts for infringing requests, especially if they are already policing for something else (porn, bigotry, etc.). But all of those are still just arguments, not settled law..

Hoeg continued: “The law moves slowly, far slower than technology, which is why you see these tech companies racing ahead of it a bit. My best guess is that OpenAI is probably going to be okay long term on the training sets they used (assuming they weren’t pirated), and that the ‘opt out of training’ option therefore won’t do much of anything. Where they really need to concern themselves is on the output side and/or if they are marketing their software’s abilities with protected content themselves.”

IGN has contacted Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for comment.

Last week, the famously litigious The Pokémon Company formally responded to the use of Pokémon TV hero Ash Ketchum and the series’ theme tune by the Department of Homeland Security, as part of a video showing people being arrested and handcuffed by law enforcement agents. “Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content,” a spokesperson told IGN, “and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property.”

But while The Pokémon Company may not begin legal action over that usage, the firm is still keenly battling on against Palworld developer Pocketpair in its claim that the game infringed upon multiple patents. Earlier this week, former Capcom designer Yoshiki Okamoto sparked a backlash in Japan after suggesting that Pokémon and Nintendo’s legal action against Palworld was justified, since Pocketpair’s game had “crossed a line that should not be crossed.”

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

Nearly a third of all gaming PCs are still running Windows 10, even as Microsoft prepare to kill it

It must have been a stressful few days for Microsoft. Game Pass changes nobody likes, admitting the first Xbox-branded handheld costs a thousand bucks, having to tell the Israeli military that they need to see other people. Yeesh. No wonder they’re so intent on blowing off steam by taking a scythe to Windows 10 security updates this month, a move that will effectively end official support for the operating system.

Read more

Tekken: The Board Game Preview

I enjoy a good bout in a fighting game from time to time, with Bandai Namco’s Tekken being my favorite 3D fighter out there. Conveniently enough, I am also a fan of board games, so when these two passions of mine mingle with one another, such as with the Guilty Gear Strive or Street Fighter V board games, I make sure to check them out. Now, thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign over on Gamefound, it’s time for the King of Iron Fists to enter the cardboard ring with Tekken: The Board Game.

The game is made by Go On Board, the publisher of The Witcher: Old World and Cyberpunk 2077- The Board Game among others. I’ve had a chance to get some rounds in with a prototype of Tekken: The Board Game, graciously sent to me by the developer, and I have to say, it may have nailed the feeling of “reading your opponent” in a fighting video game better than any other board game I’ve played.

In Tekken, two players (the final release will include a solo mode and optional tournament expansion for up to eight) pick from their favorite fighters and duke it out until one player’s life is gone. Characters I got to try out and that will be included in the base game are Jin, Kazuya, Paul, King, Nina, Asuka, Yoshimitsu, and Jack-8, each coming with detailed minis featuring the character and a pretty nifty colorful accent.

Playing a match of Tekken feels a bit like a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors, and is fairly quick to pick up and learn. Matches are short, too, taking 10 to 15 minutes. Attacks are dictated by cards that you play in front of you, which show not only the area they are targeting, either high, mid, or low, but also the effects and damage the attack will do, indicated by icons.

At any given time, only one person is on the offense, laying out cards and trying to dish out damage. The idea behind this system is born out of the need to keep Tekken feeling fast and dynamic, Go On Board told IGN. “To truly capture the dynamic feeling of the video game, we needed a mechanic that keeps the fight fast-paced and full of tension. In Tekken, reading your opponent’s intentions and reacting at the perfect moment is crucial – blocking a key attack can break a combo and turn the tide of battle. The ‘guess the right card’ mechanic embodies that essence. It’s simple and intuitive, like pressing a button on a controller, but mastery comes from deeply understanding your opponent and predicting their moves. It’s all about timing, reading, and skill – just like in the original game.”

For the defending player, your only goal is to read the opponent and try to guess which area the attacker’s card is going to target, indicated by a card played face down in front of them. Guessing correctly will stop the attack in its tracks, and the defending player becomes the attacker, with their first attack being unblockable. Guessing wrong, however, not only will let the attack go through and connect, but the player who played the card continues their assault and is able to play another card, extending their combo and potentially triggering added bonuses based on their character’s specific combos or how lanes on cards may line up with the next.

Only three attacks can happen before roles reverse, with the exception of a once-per-game HEAT action that each player can take, which allows one additional attack to be played, or lets the player continue attacking after a correct guess by the defensive player.

This element of trying to read your opponent to guess what they are going to do next is an intrinsic part of fighting video games. Having it condensed in such a way to a one-in-three chance to guess correctly works shockingly well. The actions that an attack can trigger are also rather straightforward: you can deal damage, move your character, push an opponent, or sweep an opponent, causing them to fall down, letting you deal extra damage. Your character’s special Rage attack is a bit more complicated, but my friends and I never felt overwhelmed.

Tekken also uses mechanics that make it feel like you’re playing, well, Tekken. Pushing an opponent into the wall causes a wall bounce, dealing damage. You can break through stage walls or floors into other areas and dish out that extra hurt on the ground. Even the small arenas you fight on feel very Tekken-like, giving you enough space to move around, but not so much that it turns reaching your opponent into a chore.

Tekken has never been about playing keep-away and hurling fireballs at one another; instead it’s about getting in close and letting loose devastating punch-and-kick combos, and I think Go On Board has captured that spirit perfectly. “Each fighter in Tekken: The Board Game feels truly unique thanks to a combination of design elements. Each character has a distinct deck composition, combo structure, and a Rage ability that reflects their iconic playstyle from the video game. Some characters also feature unique components or mechanics that set them apart even further.”

When the game comes out, fighters will have a variety of ways to check out Tekken and prove themselves. The core box contains eight fighters (Jin, Kazuya, King, Paul, Jack-8, Yoshimitsu, Asuka, and Nina) and four stages (Sanctum, Urban Square, Descent into Subconscious, and Into the Stratosphere). Or, if you just want a taste, a starter set featuring Jin and Kazuya and the Descent into Subconscious will also be available.

But any Tekken fan knows that one of the defining aspects of the series is its characters, and Go On Board is bringing many of them over through various expansion sets that you can purchase separately, too. These include the following.

Expansion 1

  • Fighters: Jun, Leroy, Xiaoyu, Panda
  • Stage: Yakushima

Expansion 2

  • Fighters: Heihachi, Reina, Lee, Kuma
  • Stage: Secluded Training Ground

Expansion 3

  • Fighters: Azucena, Leo, Lili, Shaheen
  • Stage: Ortiz Farm

Expansion 4

  • Fighters: Lidia, Eddy, Victor, Raven
  • Stage: Seaside Resort

Expansion 5

  • Fighters: Lars, Alisa, Claudio, Zafina
  • Stage: Rebel Hanger

Expansion 6

  • Fighters: Hwoarang, Law, Steve Fox, Feng
  • Stage: Arena

Expansion 7

  • Fighters: Dragunov, Bryan
  • Stage: Midnight Siege

“Legendary” Expansion

  • Fighters: True Ogre, Mokujin
  • Stage: Tekken 3 Stage “Carnival”

When asked about what went into deciding the character pairings, the design team not only wanted to make sets that played well together, but also ones that made sense from a narrative standpoint. “When creating the character packs, we took into account several key aspects. We wanted each box to include characters that work well together mechanically, but also share meaningful narrative connections. For example, the pack featuring Jun, Xiaoyu, Panda, and Leroy with the Yakushima board was designed this way because Yakushima is Jun’s stage. Xiaoyu once fought off the Jacks units attempting to reach the Sanctum near Yakushima, while Panda is Xiaoyu’s close friend, and Leroy served as her mentor.”

With so many characters, including my personal favorites Leo, Steve, and Hwoarang all making appearances, it has my blood pumping, and I can’t wait to see how they play. Even in the core box, I could already tell that care was being put into highlighting qualities of the characters to make them feel different from one another, such as King’s ability to throw opponents around or Yoshimitsu’s special wheel that lets you bid life to spin for a potential big payoff. I can’t wait to see how all the other characters feel.

From the different stage hazards, the quick-to-learn systems, and highly detailed miniatures, Tekken: The Board Game has quickly shot up my list as one of my most anticipated board games next year. My biggest worry is that, with just how many characters they’re promising, some will run the risk of feeling samey. Time will tell how successfully the team is able to avoid that potential pitfall, but considering that by taking the expansion approach with the characters, not to dissimilar to something like Unmatched, means fans can pick and choose from those packs they want, and aren’t required to buy them all. Even the core box offers a good bit of variety on its own. You can have a perfectly good time with that alone.

While Tekken’s initial campaign is over, late pledges will be starting soon with an expected delivery date of April 2026, but if you want to try it out for yourself, head over to Board Game Arena right now, or check out the WIP rules.

Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with tabletop games and guide coverage. Follow him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A Gets A 6-Minute Overview Trailer For Switch 2

Game launches this month!

Nintendo has released a new overview trailer for Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (with a brief mention of the OG Switch version at the end), providing more than 6 minutes of information on the upcoming game.

Launching on 16th October 2025, Z-A is the sort-of-sequel to Pokémon Legends: Arceus and takes place in Lumiose City with a revamped real-time battle system. The trailer goes over this along with the character customisation features, photo mode, the ‘Z-A Royale Tournament’, and more.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com