With so many great games coming down the pipeline, now’s a great time to hop on the Xbox Game Pass bandwagon. If some titles joining the catalog this year have caught your eye and you’re itching to join in on the fun, we have good news: You can score some savings on a three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership right now at Amazon, which is worth taking advantage of.
You can learn more about that deal, what’s coming soon to Game Pass, and the big releases still to come below.
Amazon’s offering three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $49.99. Considering the new price of Game Pass Ultimate is $19.99/month, you’re saving $9.98 with this three-month deal. That’s a nice little discount that allows you to enjoy the massive Game Pass library for less.
What’s Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass?
Game Pass has a nice rotation of new titles to play every month. If you’re curious about what’s in store for the start of March, we’ve got you covered. The Xbox Game Pass March wave 1 lineup is:
Balatro (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Out Now: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Monster Train (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Out Now: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Galacticare (Xbox Series X|S) – Out Now: Now with Game Pass Standard
One Lonely Outpost (Cloud, Console, PC) – March 6: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Enter the Gungeon (Cloud, Console, and PC) – March 11: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Mullet Madjack (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – March 13: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
33 Immortals (Game Preview) (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – March 18: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Unfortunately, for those subscribing to the new Standard tier (available for $14.99/month), this does not give Game Pass users access to day one releases. This means that some big new releases on the platform, like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, will not be available on that tier.
What Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass?
Unfortunately with new games joining the catalog it means a few must take their leave. Below, we’ve listed the games that’ll be leaving Xbox Game Pass on March 15.
Evil West (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Yakuza 5 Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Solar Ash (Cloud, Console, and PC)
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The latest big release on the platform is Avowed. In our review, writer Travis Northup said, “Even if it doesn’t swing for the fences or leave a memorable mark on the genre, though, it’s still perfectly competent with all the tried-and-true stuff I expect, including chaotic combat, leveling systems and a loot progression that lets you build the kind of character you want to play, and meaningful decisions that can have a massive impact on the world.”
If you’re looking for even more savings on all things Xbox, have a look at our roundup of the best Xbox deals. There, we’ve highlighted all of the latest and greatest discounts on the platform, from incredible game deals to fantastic offers on high-quality headphones. Or, if you’d rather see what’s going on with other platforms, check out our roundups of the best PlayStation deals, the best Nintendo Switch deals, and our overall roundup of the best video game deals.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Earlier this week, Konami treated classic RPG fans to something special: a live stream dedicated entirely to Suikoden. The franchise has lacked a brand new entry since a Japanese and PSP-only side story over a decade ago, so expectations for what this would entail were all over the place. So it was with an unusual mix of feelings that fans met the announcements of a Suikoden anime (yay!), and a brand new Suikoden video game at last…for mobile (okay, sure!). With gacha mechanics (oh no!).
Let’s start with the anime, which is simply titled Suikoden: The Anime. It’s based on the events of Suikoden 2, and will be the first production of Konami animation. We didn’t really get to much of what it looks like just yet, nor did we learn any details about whether or not it will be easy to access outside of Japan. All we got was a brief scenery clip:
Still, that’s exciting news for Suikoden die-hards, and tentatively a cool entry point for Suikoden newcomers if the anime becomes widely available.
The second major announcement has fans feeling a little more conflicted. A brand new game, entitled Suikoden Star Leap, was announced, and it looks really beautiful, with that Octopath Traveler-style of 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds. It apparently takes place a few years before Suikoden 1 and a few years after Suikoden 5, and includes the traditional 108 characters just like the other Suikodens.
However, it’s getting released…on mobile. And for now, seemingly nothing else. That alone may not deter die-hard Suikoden fans, but we also learned that Star Leap will have gacha mechanics and some sort of ongoing monetization. It’s a rather disappointing inclusion for a game series that has historically existed only in premium games released on console and PC, but we’ll have to wait and see if the monetization decisions end up holding back players’ ability to enjoy the game or collect all 108 characters.
In the meantime, Suikoden fans can content themselves with the re-releases of Suikoden 1 and 2 via Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars. A new trailer for this collection was also shown during the live event, and it’s officially out tomorrow, March 6.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
The God of War series has been an important fixture across four generations of PlayStation consoles. But when Kratos’ vengeance-filled journey to becoming the new god of war began in 2005, few could have foreseen where the angry deity destroyer would be 20 years later. Where other long-running franchises have struggled to stay relevant for multiple gaming generations, God of War has survived thanks to its willingness to change. The most important change, of course, was the radical 2018 reboot that plucked Kratos out of Ancient Greece and immersed him in the world of Norse mythology. It dramatically changed both the presentation and gameplay style of the series. But even before that critically acclaimed reboot, developer Sony Santa Monica had implemented a number of smaller, but nonetheless interesting changes that ensured the series’ survival.
Reinvention will be key to God of War’s continued success in the future, too. When the series moved to its Norse setting, director Cory Barlog spoke of his wish of “going on to the Egyptian era and the Mayan era and so on and so forth.” Recent rumours have once again brought up an Egyptian setting. Even if this is all hopeful thinking rather than genuine insider news, it’s understandable why people yearn for Kratos to visit the land of the pyramids: Ancient Egypt has a distinct culture and powerfully rich mythology. But a new setting is just the start: wherever God of War goes next, it must reinvent itself in much the same way as when it took the components that worked so well for the series’ Greek trilogy and updated (and, in some ways, improved) them for the highly acclaimed Norse games.
The series has never shied away from making changes from entry to entry, of course. The original Greek games evolved across the span of a decade, refining their hack and slash gameplay and polishing it to a mirror shine by the release of God of War 3. At the end of the trilogy, Kratos had access to a revamped magic system that complimented the combo-based rhythms of melee combat, and faced an even greater variety of challenging enemies. That final chapter was built for the PlayStation 3, which offered a substantial power increase over the PS2 that the first two games were designed for, and so new camera angles provided even better views of what was in 2010 a graphical powerhouse.
Much of what defined these original games was lost in the reboot. The Greek trilogy incorporated plenty of platforming and puzzle game elements to help Kratos achieve his goals. Those platforming sections were phased out of the Norse games, in part due to a change in camera angles – the new third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective just didn’t work for that kind of approach. The puzzles remained, but were reformulated to fit God of War’s new adventure-first design.
By returning to the series’ Greek roots both mechanically and narratively in Valhalla, Kratos’ story came full circle.
We can see this kind of re-fit applied to a number of the series’ original concepts. From God of War 2 onwards, the games featured battle arenas that allowed players to set difficulty levels and choose their opponents. These formed some of the most memorable moments of the original series, but were lost in the 2018 reboot. But Valhalla, the roguelike DLC for God of War Ragnarök, featured the return of battle arenas, which had been adapted for the new Norse mythology setting. This return to a feature of the past was poetically mirrored by the DLC’s story, which saw the Norse god of war, Týr, invite Kratos to Valhalla to confront the ghosts of his past. By returning to the series’ Greek roots both mechanically and narratively, Kratos’ story came full circle.
The Norse God of War games are not just reinterpretations of past ideas, though. This second iteration of the franchise includes a swathe of new additions, including the unique throwing mechanics for the Leviathan Axe, a combat-defining parry system enabled by a series of shield types and, in Ragnarök, a magical spear that allows for a much faster, explosive attack style. These are your tools for travelling across the Nine Realms, each of which has its own particular foes, visuals and other disparate characteristics.
But while the mechanics of battle and exploration are the obvious changes, the creative gulf between the original trilogy and the Norse duology is most clearly observed in the games’ approach to story. Across the second era, we feel the loss and heartache Kratos experiences for his late wife and how this fuels a fire within him. He is outwardly bitter towards his son, Atreus, and the pair’s uneasy relationship is at the heart of the two games. Both uncover unexpected hidden truths about themselves. All this is a far cry from the more brutish storytelling of the original trilogy, and the more emotive approach is almost certainly the key to the Norse era’s resounding critical and commercial success.
God of War’s radical shift in both mechanical design and storytelling approach is the result of a different kind of thinking when it comes to franchises. The series’ creators have said that they don’t view the Norse games as sequels in the traditional sense, but rather as extensions of Kratos’ journey. This attitude should sit at the core of any future installments.
The Norse games are not sequels in the traditional sense, but rather extensions of Kratos’ journey.
Of course, radical reinvention on its own is not a foolproof way of generating escalating success. Just look at Assassin’s Creed, another series that has frequently changed location and time period. While consistently profitable, Ubisoft’s long-running series has struggled to secure continued fan adornment across multiple console generations in the same way God of War has. Following the 2017 shift to an open world RPG design with Assassin’s Creed Origins, the series links to its foundational Assassin’s guild lore has become more and more tenuous. What began as a series linked by the story of Desmond Miles has lost much of its narrative connective tissue, and the new RPG era of games have ultimately proved more divisive with each passing installment. General criticism has been aimed at the series’ increasing content bloat – the classic “bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better” argument – but long-term fans are increasingly frustrated by the series drifting away from its assassin roots towards Spartan and Viking power fantasies. Fantasies that many believe would have been better served as standalone RPGs.
The series has now attempted a couple of course corrections, starting with 2023’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage; a soft reboot and return to the series’ Middle Eastern roots. It revived the gameplay and structure of the earlier games and offered a considerably shorter story, which was reasonably well received by both critics and fans. This year, Assassin’s Creed Shadows looks to be continuing in a similar vein thanks to the introduction of Naoe, a character wholly dedicated to the stealth gameplay that was foundational for the original Xbox 360-era games.
The mixed fortunes of Assassin’s Creed’s shift in style shows that abandoning what made a series successful can cause rifts within the fanbase. This is something the God of War series has skilfully navigated. On paper, the Norse series is a radical departure, but it never lost sight of what made Kratos a compelling character, nor the series’ mechanical roots. It identified the very core of the Greek trilogy – that fiery, unrelenting combat – and built something new atop it. And with each new game, that foundation supported new evolutions. More Spartan Rage options. Cooler weapons. A stronger variety of combat options and adversaries. The ability to play as another character for sizable chunks of the story. All these additions enhanced what came before and never distracted from the foundations that made the previous games such a success. They maintain a clear sense of identity for the series, and deepen the lore rather than annex it. That is something a follow-up, be it set in Egypt or elsewhere, must continue to do.
Regardless of if the rumours of an Egyptian setting prove true, whatever comes next must ensure that its evolutionary upgrades maintain what has made God of War such a success. Back in 2018, that meant a focus on combat – the new games had to live up to the standards of the Greek trilogy when it came to butchering foes. But the next God of War will surely be judged by its story, the true gemstone at the heart of the Norse duology. The development of Kratos’ character from the rage-filled monster encountered in the original series into a sombre, complex father and leader showcases how important the writing has been in making the post-2018 games such a monumental success. Whatever comes next must be built upon that strength, while also striving to make bold new changes that will (hopefully) be remembered as the pinnacle achievement of the next era of God of War.
Chris Connor is a coffee and whisky driven culture wordsmith, with work published at NME, Radio Times, Yahoo, and others.
For newcomers to Monster Hunter, the sudden success of Wilds might seem like it came out of nowhere. But Capcom has been fine-tuning its massively successful Monster Hunter series for global domination for years and the result is what looks to be one of the best-selling games in the series.
In Monster Hunter Wilds, players can immediately choose from an almost overwhelming arsenal of weapons, each with their own unique playstyle, whether that’s heavy, brutish weapons like the Great Sword, something more nimble like the Dual Blades, or ranged weapons like the Bowgun.
There’s a temptation – I think partly because it is Monster Hunter’s most iconic weapon – to start out using the big swords and switch axes first, but these cumbersome weapons have to be used in a very specific way, prioritizing intentional swings instead of brute force. As such, they’re not the easiest thing to get to grips with at first. Instead, I’d opt for something a little more nimble like the Dual Blades, which unlocks a world of quick attacks and dodges. The difference is transformative: when maining a big sword, Monster Hunter echoes the considered combat and careful approach of Dark Souls; using Dual Blades, it’s reminiscent of Devil May Cry’s action-focussed combat.
Indeed, compared to previous Monster Hunters, Wilds changes up the combat to make it a bit more in-line with modern action games. While you still need to sheathe your weapon if you want to heal, combat feels more intuitive to anyone who’s played an action RPG from the last five years. That said, the main difference – and why picking a weapon that best suits the way you play – is unlike other action RPGs, which let players customize the way they want to play through skill trees, in Monster Hunter it’s all down to weapon choice.
The decision you make at the start defines the experience you’ll have, then. If your preference is something super fast and combo heavy, that makes you feel like Dante’s been transported to the Monster Hunter series, go for the Dual Blades, which relies on fast attacks, quick dodges, and building up a meter that, when full, can unleash a rapid combo on downed enemies.
On the flip side, if you prefer something that can deal heavy damage while keeping your defences up and maintain mobility, the sword and shield is a great starter weapon. The lance – one of the least popular weapons in the game because it favors defense over flashy attacks – combines both a big weapon and shield. Its parries and counter-attacks aren’t for everyone, but practice and you get a very unique combat experience.
There are also ranged weapons like the Bowguns, which are equally if not more powerful than melee weapons. If you’re going to pick one of these, remember to pack enough ammo and make sure you’re bringing the best ones for the particular monster you’re fighting.
There are 14 weapons to choose from, each with unique abilities and characteristics, but they’re effectively divided into three main types – heavy, which deal massive damage in exchange for speed, light weapons that deal rapid attacks, and technical weapons. But there are also those that sit between these archetypes – the Gunlance has range capabilities, the Charge Blade can become a big axe or smaller blade with a button press, and the Insect Glaive and Hunting Horn can be used to gain unique buffs with the right combos.
There’s a ton of choice but don’t get overwhelmed. Try out every weapon in the game’s tutorial before you fully commit, because you will definitely find the right fit for you, whether that’s kicking up a frenzy like Dante or prioritizing strategy like Dark Souls.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is set to release July 11 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One Nintendo Switch, and PC (see it at Amazon). However, the more expensive editions release on July 8. This collection features remastered versions of THPS3 and THPS4, both of which have additional features, including cross-platform online multiplayer. They’ll be available in a handful of editions, the details of which you can find below. Let’s dive in.
Doom Slayer and Revenant playable skaters: each includes 2 secret moves. The Doom Slayer includes 2 unique outfits and the Unmaykr Hoverboard skate deck
Additional songs included with the in-game soundtrack
Exclusive Doom Slayer, Reveneant, and Create-a-Skater skate decks
If you can do without the extras, grab the standard edition. It comes with the game itself, plus the preorder bonus (see below).
It’s also worth noting that the digital versions of this game are cross-gen, meaning the PS5 version also works on PS4, and the Xbox Series X|S version also works on Xbox One.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 – Digital Deluxe Edition
The digital deluxe edition costs $20 more, plays on current-gen and previous-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and includes the following digital extras:
3 day early access (July 8)
Doom Slayer and Revenant playable skaters: each includes 2 secret moves. The Doom Slayer includes 2 unique outfits and the Unmaykr Hoverboard skate deck
Additional songs included with the in-game soundtrack
Exclusive Doom Slayer, Reveneant, and Create-a-Skater skate decks
Exclusive themed Create-a-Skater items
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Will Be on Game Pass
If you plan to play on Xbox or PC, you might want to subscribe to Game Pass. The standard edition of the game is coming to Game Pass on day one (July 11) and will be available to play for no additional cost for all members.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Preorder Bonus
Preorder the game, and you’ll receive the following:
Access to the Foundry Demo
Wirefram Tony shader
What Is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4?
Just like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 did for the first two games in the series, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 collects the next two games. THPS3 originally launched in 2001, and THPS4 came out the following year. This collection also polishes these classic extreme sports games for modern hardware and TVs. It also offers new skaters, parks, tricks, music, and more.
You can now play with up to 8 players in cross-platform online multiplayer. The Create-a-Skater and Create-a-Park modes have been expanded, and you can now share your creations with others. There’s also an “enhanced” New Game+ mode. For more, check out Everything You Need to Know about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4.
Other Preorder Guides
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.
Monster Hunter Wilds has not only surpassed eight million units sold in just three days, but it has also become the fastest Capcom game ever to reach this milestone.
In our Monster Hunter Wilds review, we said it “continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge.”
Speaking of the Monster Hunter series, Capcom revealed the franchise that began in 2004 on PlayStation 2 has exceeded 108 million units as of December 31, 2024.
The Sony PSVR2 Headset is the best VR headset for PS5 owners, but it has always been an expensive purchase. Thankfully, Sony announced just yesterday that the company would be dropping the recommended retail price of the headset down to $399.99. This price cut brings it more in line with the Meta Quest 3 competitor, which is currently $499 for the Quest 3 and $299 for the Quest 3S.
If you’re hoping to pick up the PlayStation VR2 headset for yourself at this new price, now you can! Retailers have already started adopting the price cut and you can purchase the PSVR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle for just $399.99 at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy. The bundle had previously sold out at Amazon, but is now back in stock.
The Best PlayStation VR2 Deal Today
Along with the headset, this bundle also comes with a copy of Horizon Call of the Mountain which we gave a 7 out of 10 in our review. This game is exclusive to PlayStation, but that doesn’t mean you can only use the headset with your PS5. Sony released a PSVR2 PC adapter just last year that allows you to connect the headset to your PC and play SteamVR games. This has elevated the PlayStation VR2 headset to be one of the best VR headsets for PC gamers. You can check out our guide on how to connect it to PC for more info.
Xbox has just announced a number of indie games dropping on Xbox Game Pass in the first half of March 2025, including Enter the Gungeon, Monster Train, and several more.
Up first is Monster Train, which is out today on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC, and Standard across cloud, console, and PC. Monster Train has been on Game Pass in the past, but returns today. Per Microsoft’s description, “Monster Train brings a new strategic layer to roguelike deckbuilding, with three vertical playing fields to defend. Hell has frozen over and only you can protect the final burning pyre from the forces of heaven and restore the inferno.”
Xbox also lists the ever-popular Balatro in its lineup, which dropped on Xbox Game Pass last week following the ID@Xbox showcase. The release came alongside another “Friends of Jimbo” update adding cosmetic changes based on Bugsnax, Civilization, Assassin’s Creed, Slay the Princess, Dead by Daylight, and Fallout to the game.
More games follow in quick succession. Tomorrow, March 5, we’ll see Galacticare drop on Xbox Series X and S for Game Pass Standard users, having already been available on Ultimate. Then on March 6, we get One Lonely Outpost on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass for cloud, console, and PC users.
Next week on March 11, we’ll see indie darling Enter the Gungeon return to Game Pass Standard, PC, and Ultimate for cloud, console, and PC. As Xbox describes it, “Enter the Gungeon is a gunfight dungeon crawler following a band of misfits seeking to shoot, loot, dodge, roll and table-flip their way to personal absolution by reaching the legendary Gungeon’s ultimate treasure: the gun that can kill the past.”
Two days later on March 13, Mullet Madjack will join Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass for cloud, PC, and Xbox Series consoles. Then the following week, on March 18, a preview of 33 Immortals will drop on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. 33 Immortals “is a co-op action-roguelike for 33 players. Play as a damned soul, and rebel against God’s final judgment. Dive straight into epic, 33-player co-op battles with instant “pick-up and raid” matchmaking. Cooperate with your allies to survive against hordes of monsters and massive, challenging bosses. Expand your arsenal and equip powerful new relics to permanently upgrade your soul.” The full game will be available for purchase.
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Mullet Madjack (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – March 13
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
33 Immortals (Game Preview) (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – March 18
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
As always, as new games hit Game Pass, existing games leave the service. You can save up to 20% off your purchase with your membership to keep these games in your library.
Games leaving Xbox Game Pass on March 15:
Evil West (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Yakuza 5 Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Solar Ash (Cloud, Console, and PC)
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Lies of P (Cloud, Console, and PC)
No More Heroes 3 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
The year is young, but 2025 is already shaping up to be a big year for excellent video games. An increasing list of big games is set to release this year for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. In March, we’ll see new entries in franchises like Assassin’s Creed, WWE 2K, MLB The Show, and many more. Below, you’ll find release dates for all the biggest games and expansions that have been announced for the rest of the year and beyond. Let’s get right down to it.
If you’re someone who likes to preorder your games, you can click the links on the platform of your choice to make sure it arrives on launch day.
March 2025 – Video Game Release Dates
March finallly sees the release of the often-delayed Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the installment that finally delivers what fans have been pining for for over a decade: an ancient Japan setting. Too bad Ghost of Tsushima got there first, but this game still looks awesome. Also out this month is a remaster of the JRPG Xenoblade Chronicles X, plus MLB The Show 25, remasters of the first two Suikodens, Split Fiction, and more.
Age of Mythology: Retold – March 4 – (PS5)
Carmen Sandiego – March 4 – (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC)
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on (long inhale) Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and the social network formerly known as Twitter.
When Pokemon TCG Pocket first launched, the meta quickly came to be dominated by a very small handful of decks. One of those, centered around Misty and water-type Pokemon, came to be hated early on due to its potential to overpower opponents early on based entirely on how well some coin flips went.
Now, three expansions later, you would think other cards would have swooped in to replace or counter Misty decks. But instead, Pokemon TCG Pocket’s latest expansion just added a new card that makes Misty decks stronger than ever, and a lot of players are kind of over it.
For context, it’s not that Misty decks are necessarily the most powerful in the game. It’s that the luck-based nature of Misty makes losing to them feel very, very bad. Misty is a Supporter card, with the unique ability to allow the user to pick a water-type Pokemon, and flip a coin until they land on tails. They then attach a water-type energy to that Pokemon for every heads they flipped. This could result in a player attaching 0 water-type energy, effectively wasting a deck spot on the card and a supporter card play. Or they could attach 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 energy, or more, if luck is on their side that day. A well-flipped Misty could allow a player to win on turn one in certain situations, before the opponent even has a chance to make a move. Or, in more common scenarios, the user gets enough bonus energy to bring extremely powerful cards online before their opponent can build a meaningful defense.
All that’s fine and dandy, but what’s made Misty worse are the numerous cards in subsequent expansions that have made it even more powerful. Mythical Island added Vaporean, which has an ability allowing players to essentially move all that bonus energy freely around between their water-types. Space-Time Smackdown brought Manaphy in, which adds even more water energy to the board. Both expansions saw new, powerful water-type Pokemon that can make use of that energy, such as Palkia ex and Gyarados ex. As a result, water decks have been at the top of the meta consistently for multiple expansions in a row.
And now, with Triumphant Light, there’s another card out there making Misty decks even more hellish: Irida. Irida, like Misty, is a Supporter card, but its effect is that it can heal 40 damage from each Pokemon that has any water-type energy attached. Up to this point, grass-type decks have been the healing experts. But with Irida, water-type decks can make significant comebacks as long as they’ve collected and spread out enough energy…and between Misty, Manaphy, and Vaporeon, they’re very likely to do so.
For what it’s worth, some Pokemon TCG experts are offering a pretty logical explanation for Irida. In TCG Pocket, decks are limited to 20 cards That means if you want to add something like Irida, you need to take something else out. Water decks are simply swimming in good cards – at a certain point, players must weigh whether or not it’s actually worth removing Misty for a card like Irida. Some players are speculating that developer DeNA added Irida in an effort to crowd Misty out and force players to make tough choices about which Supporters to include. But that doesn’t mean plenty of wise deckbuilders haven’t found ways to include both.
As the player above points out, Pokemon TCG Pocket is gearing up for a regularly-scheduled event, where rewards will be doled out for going on win streaks in the game’s online competitive mode. The best reward, a gold profile badge, will be given out for winning five matches in a row. This is surprisingly difficult to do, and even moreso when many decks you’ll be facing can sweep you away within the first few turns if they flip coins correctly, and have backups like Irida to save them even if the flips go bad for them.
Expect to see a lot of water decks during this event and for a long time to come. In fact, at this point, it may just be worth playing one yourself if you’re not already.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
