Hail to the 9 Kings: Say Hello to Your New Auto-Battler Obsession
Joe Robinson, Director of Communications, Hooded Horse
Summary
9 Kings launches today on the Microsoft Store, and into PC Game Pass via Game Preview.
It’s a roguelite strategy game about making tough choices, and optimizing your board to conquer all who oppose you.
Thousands of hours of productivity have already been lost (probably), and now you too can join in the fun!
Do you have what it takes to be the King of Kings? Hooded Horse and developer Sad Socket’s roguelite auto-battling strategy game will throw you into fight after fight, testing your strategic prowess until you either win or die trying. If you pick the right combos, you might even get the secret third option by completely breaking the game!
At first glance, 9 Kings is simple – every round, play a card from your hand to your 3×3 board, and then fight a battle. If you win, you get to pick a new card as spoils, and then you repeat until you win, or you lose. But that’s only the tip of this regal iceberg.
Take the first step – playing a card. Do you place a new troop or building down to expand your capabilities, or do you play a duplicate on an existing space to enhance its abilities? If you’re placing a new card, where do you place it? Over in the corner will leave you room for other combinations further down the line, but placing it right next to your Keep might make it more powerful.
But what about picking a card as a reward? Do you take something that offers a short-term gain that’s easier to secure, or try setting yourself up for a better combo further down the line? One risks hampering your power scaling as you grind through your opponents, but the other could easily fall apart if you don’t pull the right cards.
The depth of strategy in these simple decisions will unravel quickly as you play, and we haven’t even gotten to the bits about board expansion, perks, and the random quests that can pop up from time to time
Thanks to the automated system – you don’t really have to think about the battles – your forces will march out of your Kingdom and fight whoever has dared challenge you this time around, and clash according to their specific role or ability. Pixel minions will clash, numbers will go brrrr, and with any luck, your forces will be the ones left standing. Don’t fear a pyrrhic victory – thanks to the magic of game design, everything resets and everyone regenerates between rounds. Handy, right?
The troops and buildings in the game are all tied to a specific King, with each of the 9 kings having nine cards of their own, with a dozen “special” cards. Whether you’re fielding the hulking grey siege engines of the King of Stone, the demonic red minions of the King of Blood, or the glistening gold legions of the King of Greed, each faction has a distinct look about them. As you claim cards from other Kings through victory, your army’s makeup will change over time.
9 Kings is launching into Game Preview, but it’s already benefited from a lot of updates in response to player feedback, and the developers recently released the eighth king – the King of Nomads. If you like dragons, adapting strategies on the fly, and consider yourself a long-lost descendant of the great Khans of old, then we have some fantastic news. Once you’ve gotten a taste of how the game works (and met the unique unlock criteria), the King of Nomads’ troop-focused deck is a great way to step outside your comfort zone and try out new ways to play.
So, what are you waiting for? Check out 9 Kings via PC Game Pass today, and see if you have what it takes to become the King of Kings.
Bringing together characters, creatures, locations, and moments from all sixteen mainline games, the set is no longer the hot new inclusion (more on its legality shortly), but you can still find packs, decks, and plenty more. Here’s everything you need to know about buying Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy set now that it’s not the latest one released.
All Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering Products
Firstly, it’s worth stressing that Final Fantasy is a little different from some Universes Beyond products. Whereas the likes of Warhammer 40K and Fallout Commander Decks were never considered ‘Standard Legal’, Final Fantasy is.
That means you can use the cards in Standard until February 2028, and as a result, cards are still being printed outside of Collector Boosters, Secret Lair drops, and the foil versions of Commander Decks (more on that in a moment).
Since they’re still being printed, expect Play Boosters, Starter Kits, and Commander Decks to return to store shelves if they’re not available right now.
Play Boosters
Play Boosters contain 14 Magic: The Gathering cards.
Every pack includes 1 to 4 cards of rarity Rare or higher and 3–6 Uncommon, 6–9 Common, and a Land card, with a single foil included in each pack.
You can also buy Boosters in boxes of 30 packs, or in a Bundle that includes a life counter, card storage box, extended art cards, and both foil and nonfoil lands.
Collector Boosters
Collector Boosters offer 15 cards, including 5–6 cards of rarity Rare or higher and 3 – 6 Uncommon, 3 – 5 Common, and 1 Full-Art Land card, with a total of 8 – 12 Traditional Foil cards and 0 – 3 cards with a special foil treatment.
They’re harder to get hold of, and much pricier, but you can get them in Booster Boxes if you have the money to spend.
Starter Kit
A solid way to learn how to play Magic: The Gathering, the Starter Kit contains a Cloud deck and a Sephiroth deck to teach two players the ropes.
None of the cards included offer any real monetary value, but there is a code included to get both decks in Magic: The Gathering Arena for you and a friend.
Commander Decks
Commander is Magic’s most popular format, offering a way for two or more players to duke it out in a ‘Last Player Standing’ format.
Each Commander Deck, Final Fantasy or otherwise, comes with 100 cards and is playable right out of the box.
There are four available for Final Fantasy: Revival Trance (Final Fantasy 6), Limit Break (Final Fantasy 7), Counter Blitz (Final Fantasy 10), and Scions and Spellcraft (Final Fantasy 14).
The standard versions (with the Black boxes), will be reprinted, but the much pricier Collector’s Editions (with the white boxes) won’t be. These are functionally the same decks, but you’re paying for the entire deck to be given foil treatments.
Singles
Naturally, if you’re looking for specific cards for your deck or collection, you’ll want to buy single cards rather than gambling on opening packs.
With that in mind, we recommend a site like TCGPlayer. Not only do its sellers adjust to market value (which is visible for all), but you can view price history and see seller feedback (it’s part of eBay’s network).
Secret Lair x Final Fantasy
Secret Lair offers a series of collectible sets called ‘Drops’ that are only available for a limited time, and while Final Fantasy’s sold out quickly, they’re still available via third-party sellers like TCGPlayer.
There are three drops to look out for, each in Foil and Non-Foil versions.
Weapons:
Yuna’s Sending Staff (Staff of the Storyteller) – Final Fantasy 10
Clive’s Invictus Blade (Blade of Selves) – Final Fantasy 16
Cloud’s Buster Sword (Umezawa’s Jitte) – Final Fantasy 7
Gaia’s Dark Hammer (Colossus Hammer) – Final Fantasy 14
Tidus’s Brotherhood Sword (Sword of Truth and Justice) – Final Fantasy 10
Grimoire:
Yuna’s Holy Magic (Prismatic Ending) – Final Fantasy 10
Hope’s Aero Magic (Cyclonic Rift) – Final Fantasy 13
Noctis’s Death Magic (Damn) – Final Fantasy 15
Vivi’s Thunder Magic (Lightning Bolt) – Final Fantasy 9
Aerith’s Curaga Magic (Heroic Intervention) – Final Fantasy 7
Game Over:
Spira’s Punishment (Day of Judgment) – Final Fantasy 10
Absorb into Time (Temporal Extortion) – Final Fantasy 8
Merciless Poisoning (Toxic Deluge) – Final Fantasy 6
Unseat the Usurper (Praetor’s Grasp) – Final Fantasy 15
Meteorfall (Star of Extinction) – Final Fantasy 7
The Most Valuable Singles from Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering
The priciest card around right now isn’t a hero or villain from the Final Fantasy set. In fact, it’s the Travelling Chocobo in Borderless Neon Ink, and it’s currently close to $5,000.
It was a Japan exclusive, but other Travelling Chocobos in different colorways go from between $1,700 and $2,200.
Elsewhere, Borderless Surge Foil treatments of characters like Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER, Cloud, Midgar Mercenary, or Yuna, Hope of Spira are in the hundreds.
Amazing Magic: The Gathering Cards That Are Still Affordable
While there are some super pricey versions, you don’t have to spend all your money (or Gil) on those fancy variants.
We’ve put together a handy list of Extended Art, Surge Foil, and other treatments that are great cards for collectors or deckbuilders but won’t break the bank.
Final Fantasy Standard Legality explained
As we’ve explained above, Final Fantasy will be a legal set for tournament play (and Magic: The Gathering Arena) until February 2028, even though Edge of Eternities has launched since.
That means even if you can’t find packs or decks on shelves right now, there’s every chance it’ll change in the coming weeks and months, so try and avoid paying steep mark-ups where you can!
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He’s a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife’s dismay.
Into the Unwell is a cooperative hack n’ slash roguelite where your characters – cartoonish yet barely upright lost souls, one and all – draw fighting prowess from their vices. My vice, it turns out, is booting sentient pizza slices off cliff edges. It certainly makes me feel better.
The sale spans Spark of Rebellion, Legends of the Force, and Shadows of the Galaxy products, with savings up to 52% on booster packs, prerelease boxes, and beginner-friendly starter kits. Several items are already selling out, so this might be the time to fill out your deck or grab a sealed display for later.
TL;DR: Deals For Today
Magic fans can start getting ready for one of the biggest Universes Beyond releases yet. Best Buy has posted its listings for Magic: The Gathering – Avatar: The Last Airbender, with preorders expected to open within the next 48 hours. The set launches November 21, 2025 (digital release November 18) and brings bending-themed mechanics such as airbending, waterbending, earthbending, and firebending, plus cards for Aang, Katara, Zuko, Toph, and even the Cabbage Merchant. Best Buy will carry the $41.99 Scene Box, $189.99 Play Booster Box, $69.99 Play Booster Bundle, and $109.99 Commander’s Bundle, each featuring collectible foils, full-art treatments, and Standard-legal cards. I’ve got even more deals for you outside of trading cards, so let’s get into it:
Best Buy and Amazon have posted its listings for Magic: The Gathering – Avatar: The Last Airbender, with preorders expected to open within the next 48 hours (stay tuned for more news!).
The crossover Universes Beyond set officially launches November 21, 2025 (digital release November 18) and introduces bending-themed mechanics such as airbending, waterbending, earthbending, and firebending, along with fan-favorite characters including Aang, Katara, Zuko, Toph, and even the Cabbage Merchant.
I’m expecting this MTG Universes Beyond expansion to web zip off shelves when it drops at the end of Feburary, so if you see a preorder like I have, just secure it.
The money won’t be taken from your bank until it ships either, so it’s a no brainer. I’ve also included the listings for the rest of the set from TCGPlayer incase you needed a massive ripping session.
Pokémon Card Price Watch
In a revelation that shouldn’t suprise anyone at the moment, TCGPlayer is cheaper than Amazons instock products. Black Bolt Binder Box is an embarassing example of big box retailers ripping off their customers with Pokémon TCG right now.
It’s currently $68.49 on Amazon, where as TCGPlayer (A secondary market that should be more expensive) is $51.75. That’s over 28% cheaper, and there’s even more savings for those who want to rip open packs.
Most Expensive Pokémon Cards from Japan’s Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia
Japan’s Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia Pokémon TCG sets have quickly gained popularity with collectors and competitive players alike, thanks to their focus on iconic Mega Evolutions, powerful Supporter cards, and premium artwork. High-value chase cards like Mega Gardevoir ex 092/063 and Mega Lucario ex 092/063 are priced at $664 and $444 respectively, while many others remain above the $100 mark.
These sets combine strong gameplay mechanics such as Psychic energy acceleration and hard-hitting Fighting-type attacks with visually stunning Special and Ultra Rare treatments that elevate their appeal. Booster boxes and Premium Trainer Boxes are available on TCGPlayer and include guaranteed rare pulls due to Japanese packaging rules. While the most expensive cards draw attention, more affordable options like Lillie’s Determination 086/063, Mega Kangaskhan ex SAR, and Mega Absol ex SAR offer great value with solid gameplay and collector-friendly art, making these sets a standout release for fans looking for both playability and display-worthy cards.
This Week’s Pokemon Crashers and Climbers
Special Illustration Rares from Temporal Forces have cooled from their spring highs, with Raging Bolt ex, Iron Crown ex, and Walking Wake ex falling 11%, 13%, and 20% respectively due to limited competitive use and shifting collector focus.
In Twilight Masquerade, Supporter cards Perrin and Carmine have also dipped 11% each, but several other singles are trending upward as player experimentation and collector interest grow.
If you’re running low on outlets or USB ports at your desk, Amazon is offering the Baseus 10-in-1 desktop charging station for $29.99 after a 40% discount, with a bonus 3.3ft 100W USB-C cable included for free when both items are added to your cart at checkout.
This compact cuboid hub includes three USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and six AC outlets spaced across four sides for easy access and minimal obstruction. It delivers up to 67W of USB power output, enough to fast charge devices like the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, iPhone 16, and Galaxy S25. The AC outlets support everyday electronics such as monitors, printers, and speakers, and the unit offers 1200J surge protection.
LEGO Game Boy
Back up for preorder once again, LEGO Game Boy has to be one of the kmost preordered LEGO sets this year, and it’s got so much nostalgia for me personally. The Super Mario Land and Links Awakening Paks / screen inserts are such a thoughtful touch.
LEGO Preorders and Deals
These LEGO preorders and deals are still available from last week, so it’s 100% worth having a look through and grabbing a new project. They were amongst our best sellers last week, so make sure you’re not missing out on best selling preorders like the Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse minifigure set.
Apple iPad Sale
There’s some cracking deals on the latest M4 chip iPads all the way back to the very reliable A series bionic chip models. There’s a tablet here for everyone, and Apple certainly knows how to make one. They’ve been at the top of the tablet market for just over 15 years now.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Standard Edition
Best Buy is currently offering Doom: The Dark Ages for PlayStation 5 at its best physical price from major retailers, $44.99, down from $69.99 (a 36% saving). This brutal 2025 shooter just got even better with the arrival of Update 2, which adds new skins, bug fixes, and the Ripatorium, an infinite arena where you can customize your battles, from enemy types and numbers to time limits and respawn rules. You can even select the soundtrack and one of three arenas to set the tone for your carnage.
Arcane League Of Legends: Season Two Limited Edition Steelbook
The Arcane: League of Legends – Season Two Limited Edition Steelbook [4K UHD] brings the award-winning animated series to a stunning close, now available for $45.99 (was $59.98) a 23% saving. This collector’s Steelbook release is packed with bonus content, including in-depth writer’s room features, voice acting insights, music and sound breakdowns, artist showcases for each act, music videos, and behind-the-scenes looks at pivotal episodes.
American Pie – Limited Edition Steelbook
The American Pie Limited Edition Steelbook [4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital] brings the outrageous 1999 teen comedy back in stunning ultra-high definition, now $29.99 (was $34.99) for a 14% saving. This collector’s release includes the original unrated film in 4K with Dolby Vision and HDR10, plus Blu-ray and digital formats.
Higround Gaming Sale
Every look at your gaming setup and think “This needs more Pokémon and Apex”?, Higround make some of the best branded keyboard, mice and deskmats around. Better yet, their range in Best Buy has had some serious price cuts, so it’s worth scoreing something unique for your gaming rig. The full sale is here.
MSI Monitor Sale
I’ve been running the MSI eSports 40″ gaming monitor since the start of this year, and it’s a fantastic monitor for the money. Getting it for $250 is an even sweeter deal, it’s a perfect 1440p monitor with no ghosting, great extra features and a lovely color balance. Fortnite and Oblivion Remastered at 140 FPS+ never looked so good. The full sale can be found here.
A Charlie Brown Christmas 60th Anniversary Zoetrope
Pressed onto a two-sided Zoetrope picture disc, this collectible vinyl transforms into a moving animation when played under the right lighting conditions, displaying classic scenes from the beloved Charlie Brown Christmas special. Featuring Vince Guaraldi Trio’s timeless jazz tracks like “Christmas Time is Here,” “O Tannenbaum,” and “Linus and Lucy,” it’s both a visual and musical throwback.
Baseus Laptop Portable Charger 100W
Baseus Laptop Portable Charger 100W 20000mAh in Cosmic Black is currently 50% off with code QR9CPGXL, dropping the price from $99.99 to just $49.99. This slim and FAA-compliant power bank is designed for travel, offering 100W USB-C PD fast charging—enough to charge a MacBook Pro to 50% in 30 minutes.
With two USB-C and two USB-A ports, it can handle laptops, tablets, phones, Steam Deck, and more all at once. A real-time display shows remaining power, and its 20,000mAh capacity delivers multiple charges on the go.
There’s also a buy one, get one free deal currently live on-site, making this one of the best portable charging deals available today.
This retro-inspired set features authentic 1989-style stickers, a working elevator that goes from street to sewer, and a high-voltage battle swing for dynamic action scenes.
Kids (and collectors) can drop figures down hidden passages, launch sewerballs, and stage surprise attacks, just like the old days.
BOOKOO Jump Starter 2000A for Car/Boat/Lawnmower
No one wants to wait for the breakdown service to jump a car battery, so just keep one opf these bad boys in the trunk for emergencies. This is a life saver, making sure you can jump a battery to get the car to a safe location and take the headache out of gettin your car to your local garage for repairs. It isn’t going to fix your cars problems, but it’s peace of mind for a little bit more than a month of Netflix.
Courage the Cowardly Dog: The Complete Series (DVD)
For a month of streaming, you could just own the complete series of Courage the Cowardly Dog forever on DVD. Assuming you still have a DVD player, if not, just buy one and thank me later.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of “Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior”. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
If you’ve tried to pay for something on Steam via PayPal over the past month and a bit, only to be told you can’t, Valve have now offered an explanation as to why, pointing to a bank that previously handled PayPal transactions in certain currencies as having suddenly terminated its support.
Folks in affected countries first noticed notifications informing them PayPal was “currently unavailable” in their part of the world around a month ago. There’s been a steadystream of Redditposts from folks who’ve gotten to checkout and been told this since then.
Japan’s Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia Pokémon TCG sets have quickly established themselves as powerhouse expansions in both collector and competitive circles. Released with a focus on iconic Mega Evolutions and beloved Supporter reprints, these sets offer everything from energy-accelerating Psychic titans to nostalgic Trainer cards with new full art treatments.
Japan’s Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia – Best Chase Cards
These cards are commanding such strong values because they combine competitive play power, iconic Pokémon status, and premium rarity tiers like Special Art Rare and Mega Ultra Rare. The artwork across both sets is a major draw, with illustrators leaning into dramatic poses, thematic backgrounds, and rich color palettes that any Pokémon trainer or collector will love.
For collectors, the top cards here represent long term anchor pieces that are likely to remain in demand. For players, many of these cards offer unique abilities or powerful damage scaling that makes them staples in certain deck.
10. Lillie’s Determination – 086/063 ($46.99)
In competitive play, this version of Lillie’s Determination functions as an early game draw engine. By shuffling your hand into your deck and drawing 6 cards, or 8 if you still have all 6 Prize cards, it can refresh slow starts and keep your options open. It fits best in slower control and setup decks that benefit from a full hand, giving it a niche but dependable role.
From a collector’s perspective, this Super Rare captures Lillie’s focused expression in an art style faithful to her Sun and Moon era origins. At under $50, it is one of the most accessible Lillie cards for fans, making it a strong value entry point into her broader and often pricey card history.
9. Mega Kangaskhan ex – 089/063 ($57)
Mega Kangaskhan ex offers both utility and unpredictability. Its Run Errand ability lets you draw two cards when it is in the Active Spot, and Rapid Fire Combo can snowball into serious damage with a streak of heads flips. While it may not dominate the meta, it gives casual decks a fun high ceiling in battle.
Collectors value this Special Art Rare for its dynamic double character composition, showing both Kangaskhan and its baby in an active, playful scene. At $57, it offers unique artwork of a long-standing fan favorite without reaching the price heights of more competitively dominant cards.
8. Mega Venusaur ex – 087/063 ($81.96)
Mega Venusaur ex is a durable Grass type wall with strong energy control thanks to its Solar Transfer ability, which lets you move Grass Energy freely between your Pokémon. Its Jungle Dump attack deals 240 damage while healing itself, making it a reliable choice for tank-oriented strategies.
This Special Art Rare features a towering Venusaur in a vibrant jungle scene, perfectly fitting its type identity. For just over $80, it offers high HP, competitive potential, and lush, display-worthy artwork, giving it excellent all-around value.
7. Mega Latias ex – 088/063 ($83.95)
With Strafe, Mega Latias ex can deal early damage and switch to safety, while Illusory Impulse delivers a massive 300 damage for a potential knockout, albeit at the cost of all its Energy. This gives it flexibility as both a tactical hit-and-run attacker and a late-game closer.
Collectors are drawn to its flowing, elegant Special Art Rare illustration, which captures the aerodynamic grace of this Legendary Mega Evolution. At under $85, it is an affordable way to own a premium Latias card with strong visual appeal.
6. Acerola’s Mischief – 090/063 ($100.98)
Acerola’s Mischief is a defensive powerhouse in late game situations, preventing all damage and effects from opponent’s Pokémon ex to one of your chosen Pokémon. In control or stall decks, it can shut down an opponent’s final push toward victory.
The card’s Special Art Rare features Acerola in a lively, mischievous pose with vibrant colors and a playful backdrop. Its current price reflects both the enduring popularity of Acerola among collectors and the scarcity of full art Trainer cards featuring her.
5. Mega Lucario ex – 088/063 ($112)
Mega Lucario ex is a high-impact Fighting type attacker with Aura Jab, which accelerates up to three Basic Fighting Energy from your discard to your Benched Pokémon. Its Mega Brave attack hits for 270 damage, putting it in knockout range against most cards in the format.
As a Special Art Rare, this card shows Lucario in a fierce, battle-ready stance, highlighting its martial arts inspiration. At $112, it offers both competitive strength and one of the most striking Lucario artworks released in recent years.
4. Mega Gardevoir ex – 087/063 ($179)
Mega Gardevoir ex excels in Psychic acceleration through Overflowing Wishes, attaching a Basic Psychic Energy to each of your Benched Pokémon. This setup enables a devastating Mega Symphonia attack that scales damage with the total Psychic Energy in play.
Its Special Art Rare illustration uses soft colors and glowing effects to give Gardevoir an ethereal presence. At $179, it delivers on both competitive utility and collector desirability, particularly for those building Psychic type display collections.
3. Lillie’s Determination – 091/063 ($300)
This Special Art Rare shares the same in-game effect as the Super Rare version but elevates it with a far more detailed and premium visual presentation. In the right decks, it remains a dependable draw Supporter with the potential for a big early game hand advantage.
Collectors prize this version for its painterly rendering of Lillie, which captures her as both determined and elegant. At $300, it stands as one of the most desirable modern Lillie cards available and a core piece for character-focused collections.
2. Mega Lucario ex – 092/063 ($444.44)
This Mega Ultra Rare version of Lucario retains the same high damage attacks and energy acceleration as its SAR counterpart, making it equally formidable in competitive play. Aura Jab and Mega Brave combine for aggressive, consistent pressure across multiple turns.
Visually, the Mega Ultra Rare finish adds depth and shine to Lucario’s dynamic pose, giving it an even more premium appearance. At $444.44, it is a top-tier Lucario card for both serious collectors and competitive players who want the most exclusive version.
1. Mega Gardevoir ex – 092/063 ($664.01)
Mega Gardevoir ex is a competitive giant, with Overflowing Wishes enabling one of the fastest and widest Psychic Energy spreads in years. Its Mega Symphonia attack scales damage based on total Psychic Energy in play, allowing for one-hit knockouts in the mid to late game.
As a Mega Ultra Rare, it features breathtaking detail and luminous effects that elevate it above most chase cards in recent memory. Its $664.01 price reflects the perfect combination of meta relevance, scarcity, and visual excellence, making it the definitive prize of Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia.
Where to Buy Japan’s Mega Brave and Symphonia Sealed Boosters
Fancy ripping packs and pulling some of these cards yourself? TCGPlayer is the best place to pick up a booster box or pack.
There’s the Premium Trainer Box to kick off the Mega era of Pokémon TCG which is a good deal if you want a mix of both Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia, but I prefer a booster box.
Thanks to Japanese gambling laws, each box is guaranteed one secret art rare, ultra rare (gold card) or secret rare and four to five art rare cards. This is also why Japanese single cards are usually cheaper than English Pokémon cards across the board.
Honorable Mentions
These cards may not crack the top 10 in price, but they pack strong value for what you are paying when considering competitive utility, iconic Pokémon appeal, or just awesome artwork. Several cards from Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia offer outstanding value for their price, making them smart pickups for collectors and players who want quality without paying premium chase card prices.
Riolu 068/063 is a lively partner piece to higher end Lucario cards at $8.20, and Helioptile 070/063 rounds out the list with bright, cheerful Electric type artwork for only $3.92. These cards may not top the market in price, but they deliver strong aesthetic, nostalgic, and gameplay value for their cost.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of “Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior”. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
Capcom is “aware” of crashing issues introduced to Monster Hunter Wilds via today’s crucial 1.021 update, and stressed it is now “working on the issue.”
It’s dreadful timing for Capcom, which has been struggling to keep the beleaguered RPG on track so much that yesterday, August 12, the team released early patch notes alongside a message to the community apologizing for the state of the game. However, it now appears that the new patch has introduced a fresh bug that sees your game “crash” should you “faint and return to camp during Fast Travel or a quest under certain conditions.” It doesn’t seem to matter what platform you’re playing on, either.
“We are aware of the following issue being reported in Monster Hunter Wilds on all platforms and are currently working on a fix. Once the fix is complete, we plan to release a patch Ver.1.021.01.00,” Capcom explained on social media.
“We have confirmed that the game may crash when you faint and return to camp during Fast Travel or a quest under certain conditions. Once the update is available, online sessions will be discontinued, and you will need to update to the latest version to continue playing online.”
The statement concluded with: “We are currently working on this issue and will provide further updates when we have them. Thank you for your patience!”
Crucially, the update didn’t provide any timeline on when the update may be available, nor was Capcom able to provide any workarounds in the meantime — though we’ll keep you posted as best we can, of course.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Subnautica 2 publishers Krafton have issued their response to the lawsuit filed against them by the game’s former lead developers. If you’re wondering whether things have cooled off a bit between the two parties now we’re in Saul Goodmanville, think again, because the second paragraph of the response sees Krafton accuse the leads of having “resorted to litigation to demand a payday they haven’t earned.”
It’s an almost impossible task at this point to sum up the Subnautica 2 saga in less than a War and Peace length novel, but here’s my attempt to give you the abbreviated version. Krafton delay the game from a 2025 early access release to 2026 and fire three leads on it: Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire, and Ted Gill. The company accuse those leads of abandoning their duties and argue the game wasn’t ready for early access. The leads disagree and file a lawsuit. A big part of what makes the disagreement so noteworthy is a $250 million bonus to be paid to Unknown Worlds staff if the game hit certain targets by the end of 2025, which Krafton have now said they’ll still pay out a fraction of. Annnnddd breathe.
Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription-based online gaming service for the Nintendo Switch gaming platform. Memberships include online functionality, allowing you to compete or cooperate with friends, as well as a collection of classic Nintendo games spanning four decades, including titles from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and, most recently, the new GameCube library. A free seven-day trial is also available.
We thought Chibi-Robo! was great when it released way back in 2006, awarding it an IGN’s Editor’s Choice award and scoring it a healthy 8.2/10, imploring you to: “Give [it] a chance.”
“I expect that too many people will glance at this game and conclude that it’s not for them, simply because it’s either too weird or too cute,” we wrote in IGN’s Chibi-Robo! review. “Truthfully, it’s both, but it’s also a very enjoyable, fun, and rewarding puzzle-platformer.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
We’re slowly learning more about the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie, and following the reveal of the first cast members in July, it appears an official social media account has now been opened on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
It’s tagged as @The_Zelda_Movie and in the bio mentions how the film is coming “exclusively to theatres in 2027”. This follows the previous confirmation that the film would arrive on 7th May 2027.
