As detailed during Nintendo’s Mario Kart World Direct, the Switch 2-exclusive racer will allow its players to unlock a literal smorgasbord of costumes inspired by a menu made up of “dash foods” from around the world.
During the show, we got a look at some Free-Roam-style portions of Mario Kart World, which are populated by Yoshi restaurants. The restaurants serve food themed on the region you are currently visiting and, by gobbling some up, you’ll give yourself the chance to unlock a costume to suit the food style – as well as giving yourself a handy speed boost!
Nintendo hosted a Mario Kart World Direct this morning, showing off all the features of the upcoming launch game for the Nintendo Switch 2. Amid all the new tricks and modes, Nintendo also confirmed a slew of new and returning tracks and racers for Mario Kart World.
On the course side, there were several new courses shown off as part of the roamable world. From the streets of Crown City to the water of Salty Salty Speedway, there are plenty of places to explore and shortcuts to discover. Mechanics like wall-riding and grinding seem like they’ll add quite a bit for players to uncover. Here’s what we spotted in today’s Direct.
Mario Kart World Confirmed Courses Shown in Today’s Direct
Mario Bros. Circuit
Crown City
Salty Salty Speedway
Starview Peak
Boo Cinema
Toad’s Factory
Peach Beach
Wario Shipyard
Whistletop Summit
DK Spaceport
Desert Hills
Shy Guy Bazaar
Wario Stadium
Airship Fortress
DK Pass
Sky-High Sundae
Koopa Troopa Beach
Faraway Oasis
Crown City
Peach Stadium
Dino Dino Jungle
Great ? Block Ruins
Rainbow Road
But what’s a world full of courses without a universe’s worth of racers to speed across them? Mario Kart World looks to be making some deep pulls from Mario’s history. The usual suspects of Mario, Peach, Luigi, and Yoshi are joined by the likes of Spike, Conkdor, Penguin, and more. Here’s everyone we spotted in a kart during today’s Mario Kart World Direct.
Mario Kart World Confirmed Racers From Today’s Direct
Mario
Luigi
Peach
Daisy
Rosalina
Pauline
Yoshi
Toad
Koopa Troopa
Baby Mario
Baby Luigi
Baby Peach
Baby Daisy
Baby Rosalina
Wario
Waluigi
Bowser
Goomba
Spike
Cow
Lakitu
Toadette
Bowser Jr.
Birdo
King Boo
Shy Guy
Donkey Kong
Nabbit
Pirahna Plant
Hammer Bro
Monty Mole
Sidestepper
Cheep Cheep
Dry Bones
Wiggler
Cataquack
Pianta
Rocky Wrench
Conkdor
Chargin’ Chuck
Penguin
Stingby
Swoop
Dolphin
Para-Biddybud
Pokey
Coin Coffer
Peepa
Snowman
Fish Bone
It’s quite a line-up so far, and will probably only expand as we learn more about this game. Today’s Mario Kart World Direct went over everything from Grand Prix and Knockout Mode to the camera-fueled social options.
Mario Kart World is set to arrive on the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch day, June 5, as an exclusive for the newest Switch console. There certainly seems to be quite a bit to do here, which will hopefully measure up to its $80 price tag. The newest Kart is being sold both standalone and as part of a hardware bundle though, and given Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s massive popularity, World is likely to find a home on many Switch 2 consoles.
You don’t need to drop two grand to play in the big leagues. Right now, Dell is offering its Tower Plus Gaming PC with an RTX 4070 Ti Super for $1,649.99, and it’s quietly one of the smartest buys in the prebuilt space. Free shipping included, no hoops, no rebates, just solid specs at a better price than any RTX 5070 Ti system out there. If you’ve been waiting for a high-performance gaming rig without paying a “new GPU tax,” this is it.
Civilization 7 introduces a few massive changes to the series, most notably the Ages mechanic that has you swap out your civilization for a new one as the game progresses through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. Your choice of leader, though, sticks with you throughout the entire game.
While they don’t provide as many traits and units as Civilizations, Leaders still have powerful abilities that can create some excellent combinations when mixed and matched. To help you out, we’ve created this tier list of every Leader and highlighted their strengths and weaknesses. This should help you choose who you want to be the face of your empire as you build your future all the way into the Modern Age.
Civilization 7 Leader Tier List
S-Tier – Confucius, Xerxes King of Kings, Ashoka World Conquerer, Augustus
A-Tier – Ashoka World Renouncer, Benjamin Franklin, Charlemagne, Harriet Tubman, Hatshepsut, Himiko High Shaman, Isabella, Jose Rizal, Machiavelli, Trung Trac, Xerxes The Achaemenid
B-Tier – Amina, Catherine The Great, Friedrich Oblique, Ibn Battuta, Lafayette, Napoleon Emperor, Napoleon Revolution, Tecumseh, Himiko Queen of Wa
C-Tier – Friedrich Baroque, Pachacuti
S-Tier Leaders
S-Tier: Ashoka, World Conquerer
+1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities.
+10% Production in Settlements not founded by you.
Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration. +5 Combat Strength against Districts for all Units during a Celebration.
Ashoka, World Conquerer is all about keeping your own citizens happy while terrorizing other civilizations. Happiness is a very strong yield, and as long as you can keep a strong flow of excess Happiness, you will get continual benefits. Settlements not founded by you and excess Happiness result in extra Production meaning you can make a lot of Units and maintain a strong base to fuel your war efforts. Also, declaring a Formal War grants you an automatic Celebration. This gives you an instant +5 Combat Strength against Districts and All Units. This makes you excellent at putting your enemy on the back foot immediately once a war is declared.
With all the excess Happiness, you can likely get one or two extra Celebrations during a war, so you go through periods of extreme military power. The only thing to manage is, as you take over Settlements from your fellow civs, dealing with the unrest they bring. However, if you can manage that and keep everyone happy, Ashoka, World Conquerer is one of the strongest leaders in the game.
S-Tier: Augustus
+2 Production in the Capital for every Town. Can purchase Culture Buildings in Towns.
+50% Gold towards purchasing Buildings in Towns.
Augustus gets a lot of benefits from a relatively straightforward style of play. He is all about going wide with his Settlements and establishing as many Towns as possible, be that through settling or conquest. Interestingly though, his value comes in not upgrading Towns to City. That saves him Gold, but he gets a nice bonus to Gold and Production for maintaining as many Towns as possible.
He can turn his Capital into a powerhouse, with all of his towns feeding his central base. On top of he can buy buildings cheaper in Towns, and has access to buying Culture buildings. This can really add up, both giving him immense amounts of Production and Culture, but also saving him money along the way. It’s a nicely rounded style of play with great benefits and an easy-to-understand goal. Just get out there and settle lots of Towns – or take them by force.
S-Tier: Confucius
+25% Growth Rate in Cities.
+2 Science from Specialists.
Confucius is a master when it comes to expanding his Cities. The natural +25% Growth Rate in Cities is just powerful, especially early on when land-grabbing is important. You can expand your borders much faster than your opponents, absorbing key Resources before they can. And you can do it without the pain of going to war.
He also has ease becoming one of the best producers of Science in the game thanks to getting +2 Science from Specialists. This can make him particularly potent, especially in the end game where his Specilasits stack up, and he has access to much more advanced Technology than other civilizations. He may need a little help defending his lands, so a strong Civilization pairing, or making a powerful ally can go far. Outside of that though, there’s not a lot that’s going to stop Confucius from gobbling up all the land he can, all while being one of the most technologically advanced.
S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings
+3 Combat Strength for Units that are attacking in neutral or enemy territory.
Gain 100 Culture and Gold per Age upon capturing a Settlement for the first time. +10% Gold in all Settlements, increased even further in Settlements not founded by you.
+1 Settlement limit per Age.
Xerxes, King of Kings is as straightforward as it gets. He has one specialty – attacking other players and taking their Settlements. It’s not complicated or highbrowed, but it is undoubtedly effective, especially if you are looking for a Military Victory.
He benefits from being the aggressor in every situation, getting free combat strength, that doesn’t require anything to activate past initiating fights in foreign territory. He’s also incentivized to take over as many Settlements as his limits will allow, though he even gets a higher Settlement limit. For doing so, not only is he advancing the Military Legacy Path, he gains Culture and Gold further fueling his military aims.
A-Tier Leaders
A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer
+1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness.
+10% Food in all Settlements during Celebration.
All buildings gain a +1 Happiness adjacency for all Improvements.
While not as militarily spooky as the World Conquerer version of Ashoka, the World Renouncer is certainly nothing to sniff at. While the other version is about turning Happiness into military might, this version of Ashoka is all about turning Happiness into population.
This changes the play from trying to take over as many Settlements with your units, into going for a land grab and establishing Districts. This can be excellent in the right hands, especially those who know how to manage big populations and city construction. You can also bypass the unrest of taking over Settlements, so there is an argument the World Renouncer is as strong or even stronger. That said, it requires a little more finesse and doesn’t receive the powerful production bonuses. Either way though, as long as your population is happy, your borders should be expanding if you choose to go the World Renouncer route.
A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin
+1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in CIties.
+50% Production towards constructing Production Buildings.
+1 Science per Age active Endeavors you started or supported.
Can have two Endeavors of the same type active at a time.
Benjamin Franklin is an exceptional and versatile Leader if you intend to go down the Science route in your game. What’s nice is his specialties are in Science and Production, meaning not only can you research a lot of Technology quickly, but you can then make the product of your labor soon after too.
His traits create a nice feedback loop around Production Buildings where constructing Production Buildings can be done fast, and he then gets extra Science for each one. He also benefits from having good relations with those around him, and can further his Science generation by entering into Endeavors.
A-Tier: Charlemagne
Military and Science Buildings receive a Happiness adjacency for Quarters. Gain 2 free Cavalry Units, once unlocked, when entering a Celebration.
+5 Combat Strength for Cavalry Units during a Celebration.
Military and Science are always a powerful combination, allowing you to be on the cutting edge of new warfare Technologies, and then pressing that advantage. Charlemagne is encouraged to push for Military and Science buildings to help prop up some powerful Happiness traits.
As long as he can keep his population happy, he can continually enter Celebrations, which in turn gives him free Cavalry Units. While that’s going on too, these already strong early and mid-game units gain even more strength. It’s a very horse-centric strategy, but stampeding over your fellow Civilizations is a very strong tactic in the early parts of the game. While he may struggle more in the Modern Age once the likes of Tanks and Planes are introduced, he should be established with a very strong empire by then.
A-Tier: Harriet Tubman
+100% Influence towards Initiating Espionage Actions.
Gain 5 War Support on all wars declared against you.
Units ignore movement penalties from Vegetation.
Harriet Tubman is undoubtedly one of the stealthiest choices in Civilization 7. Influence can be a powerful yield, and Harriet can wield it perhaps most powerfully of all. She can cause some real trouble for other Civilizations by messing with them through means of Espionage, allowing you to disrupt or steal advantages from others.
Even if you get caught and anger a powerful force, the 5 War Support you get when a war is declared against you is an enormous drain on them, that should allow you to grind out a victory. On top of that, her armies are nimble, and able to ignore vegetation, making her hard to pin down, tricksy, and a pain to deal with when she’s defending.
A-Tier: Hatshepsut
+1 Culture for every imported Resource.
+15% Production towards the construction of Buildings and Wonders in Cities adjacent to Navigable Rivers.
Hatshepsut can get access to really strong spikes in Culture. It benefits her to have good relationships and establish Trade Routes for imported Resources. She gets +1 Culture for each one, so every time she enters into a trade with another civilization, it gives her a nice boost of Culture.
She’s also one of the very best at producing Wonders, but also, Buildings in general. This makes her very strong in the early Culture Legacy Paths. While she needs to be utilizing a Navigable River, most cities should be on one anyway, so this is not a difficult requirement to satisfy.
A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman
+2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings.
+50% Production towards constructing Happiness Buildings.
+20% Culture but -10% Science, and these effects are doubled while in a Celebration.
Himiko is perhaps the best producer of Culture in Civilization 7. Her traits are very powerful, and the mixture it has with Happiness is a potent one. Constructing Happiness Buildings is fast thanks to the production bonus, and the Happiness Buildings only get stronger with age. She also gets a ridiculous +20% passive boost to Culture, which doubles during Celebrations, further feeding into Happiness.
However, it comes with drawbacks. She also has a -10% passive to Science, which also doubles during a celebration. This will require you to be aware of your handicap and work around it. That said, as long as you either utilize Endeavors or compensate for the Science loss with Buildings and resources, these potential peaks of Culture boosts far outweigh the negative Science nerf.
A-Tier: Isabella
Gain 300 Gold every time you discover a Natural Wonder, doubled if the Natural Wonder is in Distant Lands.
+100% additional tile yields from Natural Wonders.
+50% Gold towards purchasing Naval Units, and -1 Gold maintenance cost for Naval Units.
Isabella can absolutely catapult herself early on if she can find a Natural Wonder. Especially in the Antiquity Age, if found early enough, 300 Gold is a massive boon. This allows her to buy units or buildings that should put her quite a bit ahead if done at the right time. If she is able to incorporate the Natural Wonder into her borders too, she will get massive tile Yields, making it again, very powerful the earlier you can do it.
That said, this of course is dependent on your finding and securing the Natural Wonders. She can fall victim to unlucky map placement. If there’s no nearby Natural Wonder early on, then she’s not going to be getting many benefits. That said, no matter what, she should have a strong Navy, by buying water-based Units and maintaining them with no problem.
A-Tier: Jose Rizal
When gaining rewards from Narrative Events, gain an additional 20 Culture and Gold per Age.
Has additional Narrative Events.
+50% Celebration duration.
+50% Happiness towards Celebrations.
Jose Rizal is a master of Celebrations. The 50% Celebration Duration and +50% Happiness towards Celebrations tandem is very strong. This can help him make massive gains with powerful Celebration effects, especially if he moves in the direction of Culture. He will have Celebrations often and have them active for longer. That’s excellent.
He also gets nice boosts of Culture and Gold for the Narrative Events he participates in and thankfully they happen more frequently to him than over civs. While these likely won’t sway a game on their own, they are a nice garnish on the Celebration synergy available to him.
A-Tier: Machiavelli
+3 influence per Age.
Gains 50 Gold per Age when your Diplomatic Action proposals are accepted or 100 Gold when they are rejected.
Ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars.
Can Levy Military Units from City-States you are not Suzerin of.
Machiavelli is a great option for those who like to get positively devious. He has a powerful synergy of Influence and Gold that makes him a threat at all times. While he may not be on the offensive every second, his ability to ignore Relationship Requirements to declare wars means even allies aren’t safe from a stab in the back.
Even his apparent power level can be deceptive, as thanks to his ability to gain a lot of Gold from Diplomatic Actions made with his Influence, he can buy meaningful military force quickly. On top of that, he has the very powerful ability to levy units from City-States he isn’t Suzerain of. He’s not best at taking on strong armies and has to be considered in his actions, but he excels at a smash-and-grab playstyle, even at the expense of his friends.
A-Tier: Trung Trac
Gain 3 free Levels on your first Army Commander.
+20% Commander experience.
+10% Science in Cities in Tropical Spaces. This bonus is doubled while in a Formal War you declare.
Trung Trac is the master of utilizing the powerful new Army Commander units. These units let you command multiple units at once while providing them with powerful bonuses. While they aren’t necessarily the strongest to begin with, the more levels they get, the more of a deciding factor they become. Trung Trac not only gets 20% Commander Experience, but her Commanders spawn with three free levels. This can make for some pretty sizeable spikes in military power that can influence wars. If her Commanders get really powerful and get multiple Commendations too, her armies will be some of the most powerful on the map.
She also gets a nice boost to Science on Tropical Spaces, a whopping 20% boostwhen at war, supercharging the formidable Science and Military combo. That said, it’s map-dependent, as she will need access to those Tropical tiles.
A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid
+1 Trade Route limit with all other leaders.
+50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age when you create a Trade Route or Road.
+1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Unique Improvements.
Xerxes, The Achaemenid has access to a nice variety of yields and benefits. The 100 Gold and 50 Culture he gets from creating Trade Routes and Roads are excellent and can provide you with massive spikes of both if you set up multiple around the same time. Considering he gets access to one extra Trade Route too for each Leader, there is a nice synergy here.
That’s only helped by his buff to Culture and Gold on Unique Buildings and Improvements. Make no mistake, this is a massive amount of both, and when utilized properly, it’s very, very strong.
B-Tier Leaders
B-Tier: Amina
+1 Resource Capacity in Cities.
+1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned to Cities.
+5 Combat Strength on all Units in Plains or Desert.
Amina is definitely a decent Leader who does well with Resources. Resources are powerful in Civilization 7, so having access to more is not a bad thing. While the +1 capacity is nice to have, the +1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned to Cities is an excellent Gold generator.
Of course, you will need to get access to as many Resources as possible while housing them too, so that is where your game plan should be focused. Her Units getting a +5 Combat Strength on all Units in Plains or Desert is a bit situational, but it could come in clutch in the right circumstances.
B-Tier: Catherine the Great
+2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works. Building with Great Works slot gain 1 additional slot.
Cities settled in Tundra gain Science equal to a percentage of their Culture per turn.
Catherine the Great is generally a great producer of Culture. Displaying Great Works is a part of the Culture Legacy Path, so her getting access to extra slots to display them can be useful when trying to run through that as fast as possible. The Culture boost for doing so will also feed more Great Works, making a nice feedback loop.
That said, she can be a little situational. Her cities being on Tundra do make for excellent Science output in tandem with her Culture generation. That said, if you can’t settle on Tundras or their barrenness ends up hurting you in terms of resources, she can be a little trickier to utilize.
B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique
Army Commanders start with the Merit Commendation, granting them additional Command Radius.
Gain an Infantry Unit when you construct a Science Building.
The Oblique version of Friedrich is likely his better option, though he’s still far from the best in the game. That isn’t to say he isn’t without merit though. Army Commanders are strong Units and the Merit Commendations provide the most powerful effects among them. Starting with one of those is a good way to boost your army’s power early on. The additional Command Radius is as powerful as any buffs and debuffs, allowing you to affect more Units.
He also can get an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building, which is a nice incentive to put your Gold and Production into those. That said, he has no access to Science, Influence, or Culture buffs. Even for a scientific-focused Civilization, he can end up hurting his viability a bit as he will likely lag behind other specialists.
B-Tier: Ibn Battuta
Gain 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age.
+1 Sight for all Units.
Gain a unique Endeavor called Trade Maps that allows you to gradually see other Leaders’ Explored area.
Ibn Battuta could become a powerful Civilization if played correctly, though he is so versatile, his strengths may not be apparent to those not sure how to utilize Attribute Points. Getting 2 of these after the first Civic in each Age means that he is flexible, and can spec himself into the situation he finds himself in. That said, with that flexibility comes more choice and complexity that might be a little unwieldy for new players.
Likewise, his visibility of the map granted from stealing other Explored areas and the extra sight from units is something that can be powerful in experienced hands. However that value might not be apparent to those less versed in how to make use of that information. He brings a lot to the table and is very flexible. Just be sure you know how to utilize that.
B-Tier: Lafayette
Gain a unique Endeavor called Reform, which grants an additional Social Policy slot. Supporting this Endeavor also grants the other leader an additional Social Policy Slot.
+1 Combat Strength for every Tradition, but not Policy, slotted into Government.
+1 Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements, doubled in Distant Lands.
Lafayette has access to some nice traits, though they aren’t the most eye-catching in isolation. Him being able to use Reform to get additional Social Policy Slots is nice, and can help provide yield boosts. The +1 Combat Strength he gets from Traditions too is nothing to sniff at. That said, even with yield-focused policies, he may struggle to keep up with more specialised Leaders.
The +1 to Culture and Happiness per Age, which is doubled in Distant Lands, is a completely unconditional buff though. That’s nice to have. This all comes together to make him a good Civilization, with a nice selection of good traits, though nothing here is entirely compelling here on its own.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor
Gain a unique Sanction called Continental System that reduces the Trade Route limit of the targeted Leader to all other Leaders. Causes massive Relationship penalty, and costs more to reject.
+8 Gold per Age for every Leader you are Unfriendly or Hostile with.
Can reject endeavors for Free.
Napoleon, Emperor is for those who like being a bit of a brat. He gets benefits from being a troll, gaining a very good +8 Gold for every Leader he is Unfriendly or Hostile with. That can be a lot if he’s annoying everyone. His Continental System Sanction messes with other civilizations’ ability to trade, making it an excellent option to tick off his neighbors.
The difficulty comes in managing that dislike. This means it will be very hard to enter into Endeavors, or even keep Open Borders with those around you. Of course, it will also paint an enormous target on your back. Since he provides no buffs to his Units militarily, that’s a dangerous game. So, if you’re going to be a jerk to everyone, make sure you have the army to back it up just in case the consequences of your actions catch up to you.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary
+1 Movement for all Land Units.
Defending an enemy unit provides Culture equal to 50% percent of its Combat Strength.
Napoleon, Revolutionary is an interesting Leader. All of his land units get +1 movement which is helpful when trying to both traverse large areas, as well as being nimble when maneuvering around enemy units.
However, how you utilize his other trait is likely going to be what decides if you do well with him or not. Culture equal to 50% of enemy Combat Strength when defending can be very spikey, giving you a lot of Culture if you find yourself defending multiple times per turn. However, to make the best of this, you need to find yourself in this position relatively often. That means you’re going to want to be provoking enemies, but holding your ground. It’s a pretty unique playstyle and may be a bit awkward for some. But if used well, it could be a big source of Culture. Just expect to be putting other resources into maintaining your army as you continually take hits.
B-Tier: Tecumseh
+1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements for every City-State you are Suzerain of.
+1 Combat Strength for all your Units for every City-State you are Suzerin of.
Tecumseh has the potential to be very good, but it will need time and setup. He is all about becoming the Suzerain of City-States. If you can rack up three or four of these, that’s a significant bonus to Food and Production, as well as Combat Strength.
The issue is that becoming a Suzerain takes a lot of Influence and he doesn’t have an inherent trait that helps. So he will need a good pairing with a Civilization, Policy, and Buildings/Districts to facilitate this. On top of that, it will just take time for you to get the Influence you need and convince these states they should come under your wing. However, if you have the infrastructure for it, the rewards can be pure and consistent value.
B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa
Gain a unique Endeavor called Friend of Wei that can be performed in an Alliance to grant you and your ally +25% Science.
+4 Science per Age for every Leader you are Friendly or Helpful with.
Can support Endeavors for free.
Himiko, Queen of Wa is the opposite of Napoleon, Emperor. She is all about being everyone’s best friend, and if you can maintain that, you will reap enormous benefits. The +4 Science per Age for every Leader you’re Friendly or Helpful with is only helped by the Friend of Wei Endeavor. Multiply that by several allies, and that’s serious Science production.
However, you do have to be a little careful with it too. Make sure being nice to everyone doesn’t come at the cost of your defensive military. Your Technological advances and sunny demeanor may make others jealous, so don’t get caught out thinking everyone is your friend. That can go out the window quickly when they want what you have.
C-Tier Leaders
C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque
Gain a Great Work when you capture a Settlement for the first time.
Gain an Infantry Unit when you construct a Culture Building.
Friedrich, Baroque has two traits and neither is particularly strong or distinct. Gaining a Great Work for capturing a Settlement for the first time is decent, but is unlikely to outright help you win games. In a field of very strong Leader traits, this feels merely ‘fine’.
Gaining an Infantry Unit when building a Culture Building is also useful, and can help fuel your military ambitions, but it’s not exactly going to make up for having no yield bonuses here. There are just many stronger options when it comes to Culture and your Military.
C-Tier: Pachacuti
All Buildings gain a +1 Food adjacency bonus for Mountains.
Specialists adjacent to Mountains do not cost Happiness maintenance
Pachacuti is not a bad Leader. In fact, in some games, he can be exceptional. The problem is, he can also do next to nothing if the map hasn’t favored you. To excel, you need Mountains. If he can settle near them, then he will get good access to a good amount of Food and have little drawback from Specialists. That can be really good, especially when paired with Civilizations that utilize Mountains too.
The problem is, that’s a strict requirement. Without Mountains, he provides little else, so if you spawn on a map with none around you, you’re out of luck. Of course, you can start over, or move the map sliders in your favor before picking him, but if you want a neutral experience where you start and play on a normal map, know you’re rolling the dice when you start.
Patrick is a a freelance journalist with over 13 years of experience who loves going deep on games and getting into their systems. His four-figure hours into both Overwatch 2 and Destiny 2 are a testament to that.
Sega are among the big games publishers who are currently feeding large swathes of their business to the flames of profit growth. In September 2023, they cancelled Creative Assembly’s looter shooter Hyenas and announced plans to cut costs across their European business. Last January, they laid off 61 workers at Sega of America in California. Then, they chopped another 240 jobs across Creative Assembly, Hardlight, and other Sega operations in Europe.
Grim times, but there have been brighter moments. In November last year, Endless Legend and Humankind developers Amplitude Studios announced that they were splitting from Sega and going independent, care of a management buyout or MBO. Without wishing to sound too fatalistic about Sega, it put me somewhat in mind of the Millennium Falcon flying out of the exploding Death Star. Amplitude’s co-founder and CEO Romain de Waubert de Genlis tells me, however, that the Amplitude buyout wasn’t an emergency response to Sega’s restructuring. He himself started thinking about going indie over two years ago.
What are the best 4K TVs for Nintendo Switch 2? Switch 1 was limited to 720p in portable mode and 60Hz, but Switch 2 ups the ante with 1080p in handheld and 4K output when docked to a compatible display. Throw in 120Hz and HDR and you’re looking at a serious tech upgrade with Nintendo’s latest console.
Most of us have wrapped our heads around 4K resolution and HDR, but what about Variable Refresh Rate? What is 1440p? Do you really need an ultra-high-def monitor to play and enjoy Switch 2 games? Worry no longer because we’re going to break everything down for you and recommend the best 4K TVs for use with Nintendo Switch 2.
I want to say I have self-control, but when Amazon drops prices on Pokémon cards and limited edition gear, my budget takes the hit. These deals hit that magical combo of actually useful and just tempting enough to justify with “well, it is on sale.
Pokémon TCG, DOOM Xbox Controller, and a Last of Us Vinyl Set
I think today’s lineup is especially worth a look. There’s a Charizard box packed with collectibles, a DOOM Xbox controller that looks like it could double as a weapon, and a Last of Us vinyl set that might just make you cry on your living room floor. Been there.
Pokémon TCG Charizard ex Super Premium Collection
This is one of those sets where I blinked and it was sold out the first time. I’m glad it’s back and actually on sale. You get a shiny Charizard ex, Charmander and Charmeleon promos, a display figure, and ten booster packs. That’s a solid value for under 50 bucks.
In my opinion, this is the kind of product that works for both collectors and anyone trying to build out a fire-heavy deck. The packaging alone makes it feel like a gift, even if you’re just giving it to your future self. You get the following packs:
– Stellar Crown
– Twilight Masquerade
– Paradox Rift
– Temporal Forces
– Obsidian Flames
Xbox Wireless Controller – DOOM: The Dark Ages LE
I want this just to display it. This controller has matte green armor, silver spikes, a sinister red thumbstick, and buttons labeled in the Sentinel alphabet. I’m convinced it could survive a drop from orbit.
It’s still a standard Xbox and Bluetooth controller underneath all the theatrics, so it’ll work across consoles, PC, and cloud. I think it’s the best kind of extra. Completely over-the-top, but still totally usable.
The Last of Us 10th Anniversary Vinyl Box Set – 4LP
I don’t even play vinyl and I still want this sitting on my shelf. The music from Last of Us is unforgettable, and this set leans all the way into the emotion. It includes four colored records, a slipcase that looks like it’s been through some stuff, and two beautiful lithographs.
Gustavo Santaolalla’s soundtrack is about as iconic as game music gets. In my opinion, if you felt anything during that main theme, you’re going to want this in your collection.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Journey Together Elite Trainer Box
I think this box is for anyone who loves both strategy and structure. It comes with nine booster packs, a full-art promo of N’s Zorua, a mountain of energy cards, dice, sleeves, and even a collector’s box with dividers. It’s basically a starter kit for organized chaos.
It’s not the cheapest trainer box out there, but the amount of content here definitely gives it an edge if you’re all in on the Scarlet & Violet era.
Return to Metroidvania Game Bundle
This bundle is a steal. For fourteen bucks, you’re getting eight quality indie games, and at least three of them could easily stand on their own. I picked it up for Gato Roboto, which is exactly what it sounds like: a cat in a mech suit.
In my opinion, this is ideal for anyone who wants games that actually let you explore and experiment. The titles are highly rated, weird in the best way, and don’t take up 80 gigs of storage. It’s refreshing.
Pokémon TCG – Scarlet & Violet: Journey Together Sleeved Booster
Alright, I’ll be honest. This one’s a bit of a wildcard. You get one booster pack, randomly selected, and that’s it. The listing makes it clear you don’t get to pick the pack art or contents.
I wouldn’t build a collection around this, but if you need to nudge your cart over the free shipping threshold or just like rolling the dice, this might do the trick.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Journey Together Booster Bundle
This bundle skips the extras and gets right to the point: six booster packs from the latest expansion. If you’re just here for the cards and not the fluff, this is a clean, solid option.
I like using these as a supplement to the bigger trainer boxes, or as a low-effort gift for a Pokémon fan who definitely already has more cards than they need.
Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet: 151 Booster Bundle
This bundle brings back the original 151 Pokémon with modern mechanics and new artwork, making it a highly sought-after product among longtime fans and collectors. It’s marketed as a great way to access the set without buying a full booster display box, and it consistently sells out quickly. Still, at nearly twice the standard retail price, it’s worth thinking twice unless you’ve had trouble finding it elsewhere.
Pokemon TCG Surging Sparks Sleeved Booster Pack
Currently the number one best-seller in collectible booster packs on Amazon, Surging Sparks includes over 250 cards, new Pokémon ex, ACE SPEC cards, and more than 50 cards featuring special illustrations. With solid pull potential and a modest price point, it’s an easy recommendation for casual players and serious collectors. Each pack contains 10 cards and is eligible for fast, free Prime shipping.
The Last of Us – Joel With Hatchet Bust
Available now for pre-order, this officially licensed Joel bust from Dark Horse and Naughty Dog stands 8.5 inches tall, reaching 11 inches at the top of the hatchet. The statue features detailed texturing on Joel’s flannel, backpack, and face, all set on a battle-worn concrete base with moss and bullet holes. It includes a certificate of authenticity and is scheduled to ship in August 2025. Ideal for collectors and fans of The Last of Us looking to lock in a centerpiece item.
Pokemon TCG: Azure Legends Tin
This newly released tin includes five booster packs and one random foil promo card featuring either Kyogre ex, Xerneas ex, or Dialga ex. Inside, you’ll find a mix of packs from recent expansions including Surging Sparks, Temporal Forces, Stellar Crown, and Obsidian Flames. It’s a solid mid-tier pickup for anyone looking to expand their collection with newer sets in one convenient package.
Dice & Destiny Game Bundle
This bundle features seven well-reviewed indie RPGs including Disco Elysium, Citizen Sleeper, Broken Roads, Roadwarden, and both Pillars of Eternity games. With ratings as high as 94 percent positive on Steam, the value here is undeniable for turn-based and narrative RPG fans. Plus, 15 percent off Citizen Sleeper 2 is included as a bonus coupon. The deal supports Care.org and is available for the next 15 hours only.
Pokémon TCG – Scarlet & Violet: Journey Together Sleeved Booster
Marked down from $15.99, this pack is part of the Scarlet and Violet expansion and comes in assorted packaging. Each blister contains 10 cards, with a chance to pull some of the newer generation cards and artwork styles. While the pack style you receive is random, this is a good opportunity to sample the set at a much lower price than usual.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Journey Together Elite Trainer Box
This is the first time I’ve seen the ETB for a reasonable price without having to buy it from someone’s backseat eBay hustle. Nine booster packs, full-art N’s Zorua promo, card sleeves, energy, dice, the works. I’ve seen this box selling for $90+ since launch, so $70.31 from Amazon is genuinely solid. Lillie’s Clefairy ex is still floating around $180 and N’s Zoroark ex has dropped to $13, which tells me the hype has deflated and we’re in “buy because it’s fun” territory again. I like it here.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Journey Together Booster Bundle
This is the low-frills version for people who just want to open packs without pretending they’re going to organize their collection. Six Journey Together boosters and none of the ETB fluff. Honestly, this is how I like to test a set when prices cool off. You still have a shot at cards like Salamence ex SIR, which tanked from $250 to around $106, or a sub-$20 N’s Reshiram. Even if you pull nothing, at least you didn’t overpay trying to win the cardboard lottery.
Pokémon TCG – Scarlet & Violet: Journey Together – Sleeved Booster
I threw one of these in my cart last week just to hit the free shipping minimum. One pack, random art, decent discount. There’s no reason to expect anything big, but the price is finally low enough that I don’t feel bad if I just pull a Furret. And if you happen to land something like Articuno’s Illustration Rare (now $18.69) or Wailord (around $14.55), it’s a nice win from a $10 impulse buy.
Train Sim world 5 Route Remix Bundle
I don’t know how many people wake up wanting ten train simulator add-ons, but if you’re one of them, today is your day. For $15, you get Train Sim World 5’s Starter Pack plus nine routes and loco add-ons. Antelope Valley, Cajon Pass, Thameslink, Santa Fe F7—the whole diesel buffet. It’s Steam keys, it supports CALM, and the value is so off the rails (pun fully intended) that I bought it just to mess around with the Railpool BR193 Vectron. Don’t judge me.
Lepro O1 AI Floor Lamp
This is one of those “tech that doesn’t make sense until you try it” products. It’s a smart LED floor lamp with AI-generated lighting modes, music sync, voice control, app scheduling, and a vibe for every mood. It’s absurdly bright at 2300 lumens, and it looks clean in any corner setup. The AI stuff isn’t just fluff either. Say “I want relaxing light” and it’ll give you ten preset scenes. I think it’s great if you want one light to do everything without fiddling with settings for half an hour.
Lepro B2 AI Smart Light Bulbs
These are the same AI bulbs as the ones in the floor lamp, but in classic 75W-equivalent LED form. They’re bright, colorful, and weirdly helpful if you’re too tired to fine-tune your lighting manually. The music sync is fun, the AI scenes work well, and the voice commands actually feel smart instead of gimmicky. I bought a set of these last month and haven’t touched the wall switch since. At $8 per bulb, it’s kind of a no-brainer.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet – Surging Sparks
I picked up Surging Sparks because six booster packs under $50 is lower than what Amazon has been charging recently (It’s still above MSRP though) Honestly, I wanted something new to crack open. It’s part of the latest Scarlet & Violet expansion, so if you’re trying to keep up with current sets or just enjoy the chaos of pulling a good card, this one’s a smart grab.
Pokémon TCG: Iono’s Bellibolt ex Premium Collection
This one’s for the collectors who care as much about presentation as they do the pulls. Iono’s Bellibolt ex Premium Collection comes with six packs, a full-art promo, and a display sheet that’s more elaborate than it needs to be — in a good way. It’s also a cool way to snag Journey Together packs with a fantastic promo card.
Mass Effect Merchandise
I think anyone who’s replayed Mass Effect more than once knows exactly why these statues are tempting. I pre-ordered Jack immediately because, well, it felt necessary. The line includes Shepard, Tali, Legion, and others, and they look good enough that I’ve already made space for them on the shelf. If you’re still quoting Garrus unironically, these are for you.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Paldean Fates: Booster Bundle
Paldean Fates is priced a double MSRP, but it’s also very hard to come by in 2025. I grabbed it because the baby shiny sub-set is awesome, but if you just want to grab the single cards from this set, it might actually save you money.
Fellow Traveller Publisher Bundle
This bundle has some of the better narrative indies from the last few years. I paid the $12, added the games to my backlog like I always do, and immediately booted up The Pale Beyond. It’s a strong lineup if you like character-driven games and don’t mind occasionally being emotionally wrecked by minimalist storytelling.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box
I think of this one as the all-in-one box for when you want cards and a bunch of gear you probably won’t use but still want around. Nine booster packs, a promo, sleeves, dice, and enough extras to make you feel like you’re doing more than just opening packs. It’s a solid option if you like having a little structure with your chaos.
Pokémon TCG: Terapagos ex Ultra-Premium Collection
I hesitated on this one, then immediately remembered it includes 18 booster packs and a playmat. It’s definitely a big spend, but if you’ve been waiting for a premium bundle that actually justifies the price, this checks out. I picked it up more for the experience than the individual cards, and that’s the right way to approach it.
Pokémon TCG: Shining Fates Collection Pikachu V Box
I grabbed Shining Fates Pikachu V mostly because I never actually opened it when it first dropped, and now seemed like a good excuse. Four booster packs, a Pikachu promo, and the oversized card that ends up somewhere near your desk — standard stuff, but still a nice throwback if you missed it the first time around.
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.
Tabletop Tavern is, currently, not quite where it needs to be to properly scratch that Total War: Warhammer itch. The units can be a bit flaky, charges lack impact, and there’s just not enough to do to keep early battles interesting. What is it, however, is a great concept with a lot of personality: you’re playing actual tabletop miniatures inside a medieval tavern, gradually building up your army across Slay The Spire style branching progression nodes. I’m absolutely rooting for it, simply because there’s still so little offering a comparable strategy experience to Total War, and also because it’s made by a solo dev. Trailer below, and here’s a Steam demo.
Updated descriptions in US, Canada, Japan, not yet in Europe.
Nintendo Switch 2 is sporting all sorts of modern technology and one other addition is variable refresh rate (VRR) support.
This has been highlighted on Nintendo’s official website alongside all the other upgrades for this new hardware. Nintendo has been nice enough to provide a description about what exactly this technology does:
