Category: IGN

The first of Blumhouse Games’ newly announced slate, Fear The Spotlight promises throwback horror with a more approachable take on PS1-era horror gameplay designed for non-horror fans to enjoy. Set on the night of a break-in gone wrong, this story follows two high schoolers on a night they won’t soon forget as they unravel their school’s dark past.

Fear The Spotlight follows a trend that has yet to get old in that it looks a lot like an updated PS1 game. Chunky character models wearing low-resolution textures and a CRT filter might have you believe that this is a lost game from the late ‘90s. But don’t let its homage for bygone games like Silent Hill or Resident Evil mislead you – Fear The Spotlight is no hollow nostalgia trip. Wandering around the school’s dim halls reveals a free camera, modern lighting systems, and most importantly, modernized controls.

Sunnyside High can get pretty spooky after hours. The high-pitched whir of security cameras and exaggerated creak of every door make everything just a bit more tense; you never know who or what could be around the next corner, with almost certain detention threatening any misstep. Ducking below desks to avoid the watchful eye of a rotating security camera or running from room to room exploring empty halls feels smooth and responsive. Overall, Fear The Spotlight seems intent on avoiding a lot of the pitfalls that hold its predecessors today, instead letting its story and mechanics shine in their own right.

That story shows immense promise. The half-hour demo I played followed two girls: Vivian and Amy. The picture of a perfect student, Vivian’s hesitant approach to their quest to break into the school’s library and perform a seance using a Ouija Board-like Spirit Board paints her as the goody-two-shoes foil to the rebellious and morose Amy. This punky goth kid is constantly pushing Vivian outside of her comfort zone. Meanwhile, something’s not quite right with Amy, but it’s hard to care… Her dynamic with Vivian was so compelling during the first half-hour of the game that all I wanted to do was see what happened next, no matter what the consequences were.

We learn that decades prior, Sunnyside High had a fire that claimed dozens of students’ lives. The ghost of these victims loomed over the school’s library as I found my way into the librarian’s office, fished the key for a display case out of their desk, and eventually freed the ‘Spirit Board’ from its glass prison. Small interactions like moving the Spirit Board’s planchette myself revealed just how much love and care has gone into building this experience with multiple dialog trees and responses to my trickery before ending the seance with an abrupt shock as Amy was seemingly possessed. Suddenly, the school started shifting, turning the familiar library into something else entirely as the hallway emitted a bright light, creating a concerning silhouette.

A mysterious letter for Amy sits in Vivian’s inventory. Its vague description, which hints at the hopes of giving it to her at the end of their adventure that night, adds an extra layer of tension of another kind; one that’s the perfect blend of teenage pining and fear of what might come between Vivian and making her confession.

Interestingly, this first project from husband and wife duo Cozy Game Pals already released on Steam in 2023 before the pair pulled it from storefronts following their deal with Blumhouse Games in order to add more into the game. Cozy Game Pals promised me that this updated version of Fear The Spotlight is getting about two more hours’ worth of content, according to their estimates. Given how detailed the first section was, I’m confident that the new additions to this short-but-sweet-seeming experience will be just as detailed as the original release when it comes out on PC and consoles sometime later this year.

Fear The Spotlight sets up a great premise for a horror game. With well-realized characters in a fun, trope-y premise, Cozy Game Pals teased something with lots of potential in this demo. Although I wish I had the opportunity to see more of the puzzle and exploration mechanics, its story has me really excited—and scared—to see what happens next.

With a focus on ecological restoration and a cool approach to exploration and crafting, Aloft shows a lot of promise as a feel-good survival-crafting game. This cozy take on the genre encourages players to glide between floating islands in the sky and fight corruption to restore their ecosystems while discovering the ruins of an ancient civilization. Notably, its first-person town-building and crafting systems seemed exceptionally deep based on my hands-off demo of the game.

In just half an hour, one of Aloft’s developers walked me through the beginning of the game and showed me in-depth tutorials for its myriad systems; so many that I’m glad I went hands-off to watch an expert at work. Nearly everything I saw seemed clever and engaging at the very least and was always framed around Aloft’s core conceit of creating a survival game with a positive, restorative message and vibe.

Off the bat, Aloft’s setup is immediately cool: you start out on a floating island in the sky with nothing. As you work your way through the starting area, you’ll eventually get a glider (think somewhere between Avatar: The Last Airbender and Breath of the Wild), and take flight to another island. Zooming from island to island looked really freeing, and developer Astrolabe Interactive made a point to incorporate systems to keep it engaging and interesting rather than just a hollow jump from one floating rock to another.

Aloft’s momentum systems fuel a lot of its moving parts. It’s crucial for successfully navigating the sky, and certain environmental bits like updrafts can help you gain some extra momentum—and height—as you make your way to the next island. Once you build enough momentum and land on another island, you might find yourself in a corrupted ecosystem.

Overrun with mushrooms and a dense, gray-brown fog, it’s immediately clear that something’s not right here. You can’t even harvest or mine anything from these out-of-whack biomes until you stave off the fungal corruption. Based on what I’ve seen, this is the only place where Aloft has combat. Using timing-based real-time systems (kind of like active reload in Gears of War) to gain small bonuses to boost your attack rate, you’ll fight off small waves of goblin-like mushrooms as you attack the root of the corruption.

Clearing these tree-like fungal structures from the biome will allow you to begin restoring it. Aloft more or less tells you exactly what you need to do to help bring it back to life, which will usually involve diversifying the flora on the island by planting new plants to help improve that microcosm’s sustainability. Once it’s flourishing, you can finally harvest plants from the island and you might even chance upon a helpful critter like a sheep to help produce wool.

With the right materials, you can even pitch a sail on your island. All you need is a rudder, a wheel, and a few sails to catch the wind that’s constantly blowing thanks to the massive hurricane at the heart of Aloft’s map. Crafting in general might be the most interesting system Aloft has going for it, in fact – especially in how you unlock new recipes.

The first is tied to the game’s story. Stumbling upon stone frescoes left by an ancient civilization will reveal new ideas to you, teaching you how to make stuff that’s important to Aloft’s story and progression. This is going to be how you unlock critical pieces like the Glider Stand or the aforementioned rudders and sails.

Next is the more traditional route, which strikes the perfect balance between leaving it up to you as the player to discover a new recipe and showing you how to make it outright. Instead of just showing you everything you can craft with an item from the get-go, small indicators will tell you whether or not you’ve explored every possible combination of materials without explicitly saying what those combinations will make. This seems like the perfect balance of mystery and encouragement and plays well into Aloft’s overall sense of discovery and mystery.

The last crafting method might be the coolest thing I saw in the demo. You can fill out the empty pages of a notebook by drawing things you see in the world around you. Let’s say you stumble on an abandoned house with some cool furniture you haven’t seen. By drawing that piece of furniture, you’ve suddenly unlocked its crafting recipe for your own home.

Like a delicate ecosystem, seemingly every system in Aloft feeds into another. Momentum from gliding can affect combat, succeeding in combat can earn you helpful crafting materials, those crafting materials can then enable you to raise sails on your island and fly it into a storm to help water your crops. With so many systems at play, all coming together with impressive cohesion, it’s hard to believe that Aloft is still in Early Access. I’m really interested to see how this interconnecting web of systems and ideas continues to evolve as the game expands beyond its current state.

Both Amazon and Walmart have dropped the prices on official Microsoft Xbox Series X Wireless Controllers to under $50. This includes the Arctic Camo White color released last year as well as Pulse Red, Shock Blue, Electric Volt, and Velocity Green. For those of you who like to keep it simple, the original Cargbon Black and Robot White colors are discounted as well.

Xbox Core Wireless Controller for Under $50 Each

Aside from a different color scheme, these controllers are identical to the one that’s bundled with the Xbox Series X and S consoles. They feature textured grips, hybrid D-pad, button mapping with the Xbox app, a 3.5mm audio jack that works with any wired headset, and a Share button to send your screenshots and video out into the world. They charge via universal USB Type-C cable.

The Xbox Core controller also features both Xbox wireless and Bluetooth connectivity. That means you can also use it for your PC or mobile device as long as it supports Bluetooth. In fact, the Core controller is considered one of the best PC controllers you can get. If your PC doesn’t have Bluetooth, then you can connect your controller via a USB Type-C cable or with the Xbox wireless adapter.

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 for $95.99

Target offers the fancier professional-grade Xbox Series X Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Controller in Red/Black for $95.99. Note that Target RedCard members get an extra 5% discount.

The Xbox Elite Series 2 Core wireless controller is a nice upgrade from the standard Xbox Core controller with pro-gaming features like adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger locks. Unlike the original Xbox Elite controller, the new verison doesn’t come with any accessories The Elite Series 2 Core doesn’t come with any of those accessories. If you end up deciding you want more customizability, you can pick up a component pack , which includes an extra sets of paddles, thumbsticks, D-pad, and a travel case, for $59.99.

Check out the best Xbox deals today for more discounts on Xbox accessories.

Whether you’re looking for a more immersive experience or fast high frame rate multiplayer gaming , pairing your Xbox Series X with a new gaming monitor will get you there.

Gaming monitors have all the same picture offerings as a TV, but with features more suited to enhance your gaming experience – such as high or variable refresh rate, low input lag, or wider color range. With the Xbox Series X being capable of 4K gaming at 120 frames per second, and the Series S capable of 1440p resolution, also at 120 fps, your TV may not make the most out of your console, while its size leaves you stuck playing from the couch.

TL;DR – The Best Monitors for Xbox Series X/S:

• LG 27GP850-B – Best Monitor for Xbox Series X/S
• AOC 24G15N – Best Budget-friendly Monitor
• Acer Predator XB283K – Best 4K Monitor
• Alienware AW3225QF – Best OLED Monitor
• ASUS TUF Gaming VG279QM – Best Competitive Gaming Monitor
• Cooler Master GP27Q – Best Mini-LED Monitor
• Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 – Best Curved Monitor

A new monitor is the simple solution to our sofa-gaming woes, but not all are built the same. The hardware limitations of the Xbox Series X/S add some complications as well, and you may be stuck figuring out what features you need and which ones your system will even use. For example, while most monitors are HDR (high dynamic range) compatible – the Series X/S is only able to display HDR on a compatible 4K monitor, any other resolution is out of luck.

It’s important to be picky when choosing your gaming monitor. Not only do you have to dig into the details of each display – but also see how they will interact with your game system, and play into your personal gaming preferences.

With that said, if you’re new to gaming monitors or looking for an upgrade, I’ve done the shopping for you with this guide that’ll fetch your Xbox Series X/S the level-up you’ve been after.

1. LG 27GP850-B

The Best Monitor For Series X/S

It may be tempting for Series X owners to gloss over 1440p monitors like the LG 27GP850-B for the coveted 4k, but this monitor still has a lot to offer regardless of which system you use. With a 27” Nano IPS panel, this Ultragear monitor has excellent viewing angles, presented in a crisp 1440p resolution.

It may not be a 4K monitor, but don’t underestimate the LG27GP850-B. With variable refresh rate active on your Xbox, this monitor is capable of running both Series X and S at 120fps (frames per-second) in QHD, provided that your game is compatible. While it isn’t capable of using the Series X’ HDR gaming feature (only 4k monitors can do that) its 400-nit peak brightness makes for a vivid display with colors that pop.

It also comes seated on a large, fully-adjustable stand that can raise and lower the monitor with ease. Stands with a lot of movement like this one can make some people nervous when it comes to durability, however this monitor’s build is heavy and sturdy, allowing for easy adjustments that won’t make you afraid to damage the screen. The back of the monitor itself has a large onboard speaker, and a sharp design that will fit right in with your gaming setup.

2. AOC 24G15N

Best Budget Xbox Series X/S Monitor

A firm entry-level option, this monitor is highly accessible for those that want to dive right into desktop console gaming, without waiting around for a deal on a high-end monitor. For those willing to pay slightly more for extra immersion, it also comes in a larger 27-inch variety (AOC 27G15N) with identical specs. If you’re looking to take the plunge into gaming monitors sooner than later, this one will get you there while being enough of a deal to justify a future upgrade.

Other than price-point this gaming monitor’s other main appeal is its refresh rate: At 180hz the AOC 24G15N can handle Xbox Series X games running at maximum speed. For a low price you also get Adaptive Sync, that’ll keep your head in the game during any pesky frame rate drops. While this is a step below QHD the 1080p Full HD resolution still looks fantastic for next-gen consoles, especially on a 24-inch display.

The VA panel is one of the few drawbacks of this monitor, though, as this panel technology is known for color shifting when viewed from side angles, and ghosting (when previous frames overlap with your current frame). The ghosting on this monitor is tolerable, however, and shouldn’t impact high motion gameplay, and the VA panel does come with some advantages. This monitor has quality color depth and contrast without the need for a painfully bright screen. This monitor’s panel is no different, with really dark shadows and rich colors; next-gen lighting effects look great on this display.

Keep in mind, though, this monitor doesn’t have built-in speakers. But it does have a 3.5mm audio jack so headphones or speakers can easily be plugged in to remedy this. Hardly a trade off for gamers that prefer to play with a gaming headset anyway.

3. Acer Predator XB283K

Best 4K Xbox Series X/S Monitor

The Acer Predator XB283K has an extra bright IPS panel that projects upward of 400-nits of brightness when HDR is active. The monitor is only rated at DisplayHDR 400, which isn’t the most encompassing HDR, but combined with the monitor covering 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut colors on this display are still incredibly accurate and vibrant..

Now, while the monitor is limited to a 144Hz refresh rate, that’s still fast enough to get the smoothest gameplay the Series X can manage. And even when the monitor isn’t running at its maximum frame rate, FreeSync Premium eliminates screen tearing. Beyond poor button placement that gives the onboard menu a bit of a learning curve, the overall design is well up to par. The display mount is highly adjustable, while built in cable management and headphone rack keeps things tidy.

This monitor has the potential to run Xbox games at maximum resolution, frame rate and with HDR – but don’t forget to double check what settings are actually going to work with your gaming library.

4. Alienware AW3225QF

Best OLED Monitor for Series X/S

The Alienware AW3225QF is an extra-large 4K monitor that’s probably only worth it if you have the Xbox Series X. The Quantum Dot OLED back panel beefs up the 4K resolution, by giving each pixel its own individual brightness adjustment for tremendous clarity and depth. In SDR, the monitor has access to over 200 nits of brightness that explodes up to 1000 nits of peak brightness when HDR is enabled.

The very slight curvature radius is immersive and approachable, and makes for a great experience, whether you’re watching movies or playing games, and allows you to sit closer without the size of the display being completely overwhelming. This 32-inch display is also perfect for longer splitscreen sessions, especially if you don’t want the eye-strain from squinting at a smaller monitor.

The Xbox Series X can’t use the full 240hz refresh rate, but it does mean the monitor has all the bandwidth it needs for playing games at 120 fps, and if you upgrade to a gaming PC down the road, this will still be one hell of a gaming monitor. You also get an extremely low 0.3ms response time, which should all but eliminate input lagThe stand is just as appealing to look at itself with a simple but cool design, and two built-in RGB lights on the back for added flair you can set straight from the menu.

Thanks to the OLED panel, though its possible that over time the monitor may develop some burn-in from fixed HUD elements in games. If you play a variety of games, make smart use of brightness settings and also use the monitor’s built-in pixel/panel refresh settings – you can mitigate this issue and get the longest lifespan possible out of your monitor.

5. Asus TUF Gaming VG279QM

Best Monitor for Competitive Gaming

You may be curious why a 1080p monitor would be best for online and competitive gamers. 1080p monitors, while not offering the highest visual fidelity, are capable of higher refresh rates at a lower cost. So, if you’re the type that’s always playing esports games like XDefiant, a high frame rate will always outweigh a higher resolution.

Not only is the Asus TUF VG279QM with an exceptionally fast refresh rate of 240hz, but it also has Asus’ Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync onboard. ELMB Sync works alongside Adaptive-Sync, making for lightning fast refresh rates with minimal smearing ensuring you won’t miss a millisecond of the action.

The IPS panel allows for an on-average 400 nits of brightness, which helps make up for its lack of HDR compatibility with the Xbox Series X because, at peak brightness, every pixelshines, even in sunny rooms. With this dazzlingly bright display we also have a large 27-inch screen that builds your immersion even more in first-person shooters and gives a comfortably wide viewing area for fighting and racing games. This is also a large enough display to hook up two Xbox Series X/S controllers and go at it in splitscreen, provided you don’t mind sitting a little close together. It also has two built-in 2W speakers which, while unimpressive in sound quality, saves the headache of purchasing and setting up any more equipment.

Asus also includes a fully adjustable and weighty stand you can tweak to your heart’s content. For a great monitor, specialized for performance gaming, this sits at a relatively low barrier-to-entry price; typically listing for just under $300 on Amazon.

6. Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q

Best Mini-LED Xbox Series X/S Monitor

Mini-LED is a relatively new panel technology that offers extreme shadow and color depth, brightness and a true HDR experience. Similar to OLED monitors, the Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q relies on 576 Mini-LED dimming zones and a Quantum Dot layer that automatically brightens and dims depending on what is happening on the screen. Thanks to these dimming zones, this is a fantastically well lit monitor, with none of the burn-in risk of an OLED display. Even though it’s super bright at max settings, colors don’t appear desaturated and black levels stay inky-dark.

While there’s still the hiccup of Xbox Series X/S not allowing HDR on anything less than a 4k monitor this is still a gleaming display without HDR enabled. The Tempest also provides more than enough performance to run your Series X/S games at 120 fps, thanks to its native 165Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium.

If you’re falling in love with the idea of Mini-LED, have a Series X and want an even better HDR experience it also comes in a 4K variety, but you’re going to have to shell out the extra dollars to access that higher resolution.

7. Samsung Odyssey G7

Best Curved Xbox Series X/S Monitor

One of the biggest draws of gaming monitors is the ability to use multiple monitors in order to create a highly immersive battle station. Xbox Series X/S aren’t able to support multiple monitors in the same way a PC can,but curved monitors, like the Odyssey G7, can bring console gamers a similar experience.

The 16:9 aspect ratio and 27” screen fits perfectly with the display’s curvature, which comes in at a nice radius that doesn’t stretch or squash the image. It’s easy to get absorbed into high quality graphics with the handsome 1440p resolution, and 240Hz refresh rate

Samsung added an SVA panel with Quantum Dot LED backlighting to this generation of Odyssey monitors. This is a type of VA panel enhanced for stellar viewing angles, with the same intense contrast and color depth that are usually found in IPS panels.

I can’t shrug off the design sensibilities of this monitor either: The Samsung Odyssey G7 is a sharp and futuristic monitor, thanks to eye-catching Infinity Core lighting built into the back and front of the monitor’s chassis. This monitor is what we consider mid to high-end and so it’s proportionally priced – you can net a Samsung Odyssey G7 for around $700 from Amazon or Walmart.

How to Pick the Best Monitor for Xbox Series X/S

When choosing a monitor it’s best to know the limitations of your system and your game library. While the Xbox Series X’s big selling point is that it supports 4K and is capable of 120 frames per second, not every game natively supports these benchmarks.

Make sure that your monitor supports HDMI 2.1 and that you’re using the correct cable, as this is the only way to achieve 4k at 120fps with the Series X. It’s very important for Series S users to note that the S only supports a native resolution up to 1440p, so it makes little sense to shell out for a more expensive 4K monitor.

Do you prefer competitive online games like racing simulators and first person shooters? If that’s the case, a monitor with a high refresh rate and low ghosting is a must-have to give you an edge over the competition. Some hardcore esports fans prefer 1080p monitors for this reason, as they’re capable of higher frame rates and low input lag at a lower price.

Or are you a story driven gamer that wants to get lost in another world and be absorbed by gorgeous next-gen graphics? This is where finding the balance between screen resolution and refresh rate comes into play. While a 4K monitor would be the clear winner when it comes to delivering the best graphics for next gen games, it often comes at the cost of smoothness in gameplay. Keep in mind that when you enable ‘performance mode’ in your games, you’re usually lowering the resolution to 1440p or 1080p anyways.

Monitors for Xbox Series X/S FAQ

Is it better to play Xbox Series X/S on a TV or a monitor?

If going purely spec-by-spec, you could argue monitors are technically better for gaming, period. But this doesn’t account for personal preference or use of space. Using a gaming monitor is attractive but requires a bit of dedication to make it worth getting into – after all, without a proper desk setup where would you put your new monitor? Gaming monitors are great, but that isn’t to say you won’t still get a good gaming experience with a TV. Gaming monitors simply provide an edge that leaves it up to the player to decide whether to take advantage of them or not.

Can I use multiple or ultrawide monitors with Xbox Series X/S?

Unfortunately, ultrawide monitors like the Odyssey G9 are not compatible with the Xbox Series X, or any of the other consoles for that matter. We will have to simply wait and see if ultrawide monitors become more widely adopted in the future, hopefully leading to less compatibility issues. Ultrawide displays are solely the territory of PC gaming – at least for now.

Which screen resolution is the best?

The best resolution isn’t always simply the newest or the most pixels. 4K is creeping its way into being more affordable, while 1440p seems more poised to become the “standard” screen definition many gamers are clamoring for now. Don’t count 1080p out though, good old ‘High Definition’ still comes with its perks that has helped it maintain a firm place in the hearts of competitive gamers going for pure frame rates.

Plus, many 4K games are locked at 60 fps for Series X and require downscaling to 1440p in order to hit those top frame rates. You may have to double check your Xbox display settings sometimes when using 4K monitors, especially if you play older backwards compatible titles, so you’re always getting the best picture possible.

Elayna Willoughby is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering tech and gadgets. She has a lifelong love of gear from gaming consoles to smart phones and keyboards. She has a background writing poetry, fiction and non-fiction. When they aren’t writing, you can find them playing Cyberpunk 2077 or catching up on Star Trek in their free time. “Elle” also likes making music on her keyboard, and relaxing with her dog, Pippy. You can follow her on Instagram @starofthefire!

Being a traditionally parkour-heavy series with a main character who often has a complicated relationship with death, a roguelike Prince of Persia game feels like a concept that was simply waiting for an execution. The Rogue Prince of Persia makes heavy use of the Prince’s favorite modern tool, walls, and designs an entire 2D sidescroller around it by allowing him to run and jump off of most surfaces in the plane behind him. This allows a lot of creative freedom with switching between vertical paths in the level design with skilled platforming, but also forces the Prince to adapt when those walls suddenly become windows. Of course, it’s currently in Early Access, so there’s a strong argument that it is still worth waiting for the developers at Evil Empire to build more content atop this strong but barebones foundation before wall-jumping in.

As a series, The Prince of Persia has ridden the winds of popular sentiment in recent months with not one, but two 2D side-scrolling revivals. The first, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, was roundly praised for its inventive platforming this past January, which leaves The Rogue Prince of Persia to justify its bonafides through its developer (known for bringing renowned roguelite platformer Dead Cells to life) and how it lives up to the Prince of Persia name that’s been hung around its neck. The initial and easiest comparisons would be to assume it is either The Lost Crown with roguelite elements or Dead Cells with an emphasis on parkour movement, and yet neither of those descriptions wholly encompasses how it actually plays.

Without losing its roguelite concept, this new go-round for the Prince puts more of an emphasis on his fighting capabilities across myriad weapons. Enemies come in many shapes and forms, with both shielded and unshielded varieties, and require every technique at your disposal to get through each fight unscathed. Every charge attack, drop attack, or vault over an enemy helps keep your health bar pristine until an inevitable boss fight.

One of the most important lessons I learned is that discretion is the better part of valor. While it is tempting – and often rewarding – to fight every enemy in the way, preserving your health matters far more than anything else. You cannot skip every enemy, but it defeats the purpose to engage every large warrior who swings a spear in omnidirectional strike zones unless you are entirely sure you can emerge unscathed. Combat is so involved that it can end up feeling overwhelming at times, so it is simply not worth it to take down a group of five enemies if it means dying to a saw blade in the wall a few steps farther into the level.

This being a roguelite with randomly arranged levels, though, avoiding danger is the greatest – and sometimes the most frustrating – challenge. An unlucky fall into a group of enemies can be devastating to your life total, and even a good plan to destroy enemy shields can fall apart when there are too many grouped up to discern which one an attack will hit. It can be a bit of a bummer when taking two or three hits could completely decimate a run, as it occasionally makes me too wary of danger to really engage with the combat.

That’s a shame, because The Prince has various weapons available to unlock and wield, each using a different fighting style. The Royal Sword ended up being my favorite due to its good balance of speed and reach, while the Whirling Spear’s long wind-up times frustrated my hit-and-run style of play. With nine currently available, there is definitely enough weapon variety to make runs feel different, but not enough that I was routinely feeling over the moon at having found another one I clicked with.

Those weapons are crafted and upgraded using the not-particularly-expansive system of bringing the single resource you gather on runs to an iron forge back at your base. That can get expensive when you’re handing it over in often double-digit numbers and an average run only nets you around 30, though those new weapons and improvements are then permanently unlocked for future runs. And this, right here, is the source of one of my largest annoyances with The Rogue Prince of Persia in its current incarnation: I would sometimes forge items from the list, but they would not be marked off as unlocked in my collection despite disappearing from the forge. This can only be a glitch, but it is an annoying one, because I do not know if something has been forged and I have not organically found it again or if it just never got unlocked and is lost to the sands of time.

Another wrinkle is the charm system – essentially buffs and modifiers added to your combat skills that commingle to effectively level you up between runs. A fully-kitted out character with accordant powers like oil slicks and fire will be taking enemies out before they know what hit them, but relying on a few level-ones without a proper build will barely improve your capabilities. The handful of charms available now largely do not seem to make a huge difference to your runs on their own, but a Prince with leveled-up charms will certainly have an easier time dealing with the unexpected than one barely scraping by on an early run. The process of unlocking them always left me fearing that a similar glitch to what I experienced at the forge would present itself, leaving me with fewer glimmers and no charms to show for it, but so far that’s worked as expected.

And when The Rogue Prince of Persia flows, it flows extremely well. 2D action game aficionados and sickos alike will enjoy bouncing along walls and bopping enemies with different weapons as an act of fun in and of itself. After the latest patch, the battle system really does stand up on its own as both smoother than Dead Cells and far beyond the fighting in Prince of Persia games before it. At some point, you will be startled by how much you are improving at fighting enemies and how kinetic it can be to dispose of them quickly while moving.

The story, as of its Early Access launch, is an intriguing setup that has the Prince rushing out to save his kingdom from supernatural invaders, only to be continually yanked back in time by a magic bola, but beyond that initial concept it’s edging on non-existent. He is forever stuck in a loop where he may never truly have enough time to make it to his destination, which could be a great launching pad for more characters to be introduced and steal the show, but there’s too little to grab onto currently.

It is especially lacking during boss fights when compared to, say, Supergiant’s Hades series. Exchanging the same two or so lines with the boss gets old long before the Prince breaks the cycle and remarks he already knows what a boss is going to say, and even then they both keep repeating that same line forever. That makes the dialogue that’s supposed to poke fun at the repetition repetitive in and of itself. I have to imagine more lines will be added later, but later is not now.

A cast of characters supports the Prince along the way, but at this point, they have no variety and no depth. Azadeh, the leader of the village you set out from, feels vaguely nonsensical at the moment; she’s clearly waiting until she can either be reworked or given more lines to make what she currently has to say make sense in context. Other characters move to the Prince’s camp, which protects those individuals from losing their memory while rewinding time, but very little is made of or by this convenient contrivance. There is plenty of time and opportunity to expand all of this in future updates, but it is a bit of a bummer to start the adventure and feel very little motivation to do right by this merry troupe of one-dimensional misfits.

At this juncture, there is no voice acting to speak of for any of The Rogue Prince of Persia’s characters, including the Prince himself. This does not feel like a huge loss right now given how little there would be to say, but it doesn’t help the already flat characters feel any less paper-thin, and makes it that much easier to run past them without caring what they have to say.

At least The Rogue Prince of Persia is lovely to look at, styled like a Sasanian-era painting come to life. Smooth animations and bright colors meld into a satisfying aesthetic, even if things look best while in motion and a little awkward when standing still. The environments not only look pleasant, but read well with necessary immediacy as you sprint and fight, which is important considering not every background surface lets you run on it to your heart’s content. I am somewhat puzzled as to why every character has purple skin, but I assume that is more of a stylistic choice rather than a malicious one, given the historical weight that depiction can sometimes carry.

Level variety is on point, with each new area looking substantially different in color scheme and tone from the previous one. If only the enemy visual design was as bold as the environmental art, then areas would feel a lot more fresh. Instead, the theming grates a little when seeing an enemy from a previous area in a new one along with several similar-looking, mask-wearing mooks.

The music is often somewhat relaxed and in the background, never really taking focus away from the action. At other times, there is some dynamism in the soundtrack that had me tapping my toes along with the beat, but something about it feels ill-fitting with the action on the screen. The music seems tuned for someone who wants to run forward without stopping, which is not going to fit every playstyle an action roguelite can support. The opening theme is also incredible, but does evoke a similar alien feeling when considered as part of the whole.

However, all of the good and bad of specifics like that are largely a wash under the criticism that there is simply not enough at The Rogue Prince of Persia’s Early Access version to hold my attention very long. It does not take more than about five hours of crafting and leveling up gear to get strong enough to surmount the first major boss, and the encounters after that follow suit. There’s a little bit more to see, such as how the Prince can discover new information that can lead to unseen levels, though I’d have thought the story connection between what is discovered and what is unlocked would be a lot stronger. I genuinely had a fun time getting through the areas and fights that are currently available, but right now it’s hard to recommend for anyone who does not care about watching it take shape in real time. An update that came out during this review period did add a new level already, which is encouraging, but there’s a long road ahead.

Today, Amazon is offering the powerful and high capacity Anker Prime 27,650mAh USB Power Bank for only $124.99, a hefty 31% price drop from its original $180 MSRP. This is the successor to the Anker 737 that we deemed the best Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally charger. Note only does it carry a significant battery capacity, it also boasts an absolutely massive 250W of USB power delivery to charge even the most power hungry MacBooks, iPhones, and handheld gaming consoles (simultaneously, in most cases).

Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank for $124.99

with 250W of USB Type-C Power Delivery

The Anker Prime is a hefy power bank, measuring 6.4″x2″x2.2″ and weighing in at 1.5 pounds. This is a heavier duty power bank designed to charge more power hungry devices like laptops, (multiple) portable gaming systems, and (multiple) phones. It has two USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A port. Each USB Type C port supports up to 140W of Power Delivery, which is the max charging rate of a new 2024 MacBook Pro 16″ laptop. If you want to use both USB Type-C ports simultaneously, one will charge at 140W and the other at 100W. The USB Type-A port also boasts up to 65W of charging, although that drops to 18W if you’re using both USB Type-C ports at the same time.

The 27,650mAh battery capacity is more than you’ll ever need on your itinerary. It can charge a Nintendo Switch OLED about 6 times, iPhone 15 Pro Max about 6 times, Steam Deck about 5 times, and an ASUS ROG Ally about 10 times. What also makes the Anker Prime unique compared to most other power banks is the LCD digital readout. It displays a lot of useful real-time information like remaining battery capacity, power input, and power output from each port.

Regarding bringing the Anker Prime on airplanes, this power bank outputs 99.54Wh, which meets the TSA requirements for carry-on baggage. Power banks need to be under 100Wh, which means this is the absolutely highest capacity you can bring on board without needing special clearance.

The Anker Prime is an excellent Steam Deck / ASUS ROG Ally charger

Both the ROG Ally and Steam Deck suffer from a short battery life when gaming on the go. For instance, when playing most games at 60 FPS, you’re likely looking at four hours of battery life for the Steam Deck and maybe half that on the ASUS ROG Ally, which is equipped with a measly 2600mAh battery. During our Steam Deck review, we even found games like God of War or Spider-Man could potentially tap out in under 2 hours. At the end of the day, you’ll never get the full potential out of your Steam Deck or ROG Ally if you’re not equipped with a decent portable charger.

The Anker Prime is an outstanding charger for the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally portable gaming handhelds. The Steam Deck supports up to 38W, the ASUS ROG Ally up to 65W, and the Nintendo Switch up to 18W of power delivery, That means technically you could charge all three gaming consoles at the same time across all three ports. If you’re traveling with a family with multiple Nintendo Switches or Steam Decks, this option will be a lot more convenient than bringing multiple power banks.

As part of the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, Capcom revealed Ace Attorney Investigations Collection which contains remasters of two spin-offs from the series. This includes both Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and Ace Attorney Investigations 2, the latter of which never released outside of Japan. Both games have you controlling Miles Edgeworth and feature characters from throughout the mainline series.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection will feature updated artwork for a more modern look, but you’ll be able to swap to the original pixel art at anytime. It’s set to release on Nintendo Switch on September 6 of this year.

For everything shown during the stream, be sure to check out our roundup of all the announcements from the June 2024 Nintendo Direct.

This story is developing.

As part of the June 2024 Nintendo Direct announcements, the previously Apple Arcade exclusive RPG Fantasian is coming to Nintendo Switch this holiday season. It is the latest game from developer Mistwalker, which is led by Final Fantasy series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. Fantasian is a full-fledged story-driven RPG with turn-based combat and features music from longtime Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu.

For all the details, check out our roundup of everything announced during the Nintendo Direct.

This story is developing.

Following the cancellation of The Sims-style life sim Life by You, Paradox has now shut down its developer.

Swedish games company Paradox, best known for Crusader Kings, Cities Skylines, and Stellaris, said it had “decided to cease further operations” in Berkeley, California-based Tectonic in a move that affects the studio’s 24 staff.

“This is difficult and drastic news for our colleagues at Tectonic, who’ve worked hard on Life by You’s Early Access release,” Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive, said.

“Sadly, with cancellation of their sole project we have to take the tough decision to close down the studio. We are deeply grateful for their hard work in trying to take Paradox into a new genre.”

Tectonic had worked on Life by You since 2019. It’s the latest in a string of recent failures from Paradox, which Wester has said will spark an evaluation of how the company manages its projects. “We have a very solid financial position and a strong core game portfolio, which keeps us confident about our future,” Wester insisted.

Last year’s disastrous release of Cities Skylines 2, which developer Colossal Order is still working to address, was just one title that hit Paradox’s bottom line as well as its reputation. In October 2023, Paradox called The Lamplighters League a “big disappointment” as it was forced to record a $22 million write-down. Paradox has also delayed jail sim Prison Architect 2 a number of times, the latest to this September after the discovery of “unexpected issues occurring too often.” The Paradox-published Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has endured a troubled development too, although a release date now looks in sight.

The closure of Tectonic is the latest in a string of studio closures and layoffs that have hit the video game industry hard in recent years. Thousands of staff have been impacted by cuts right across the industry, with layoffs at the likes of Microsoft, Sony, and Embracer, to name a few. Just this week Embracer shut down Pieces Interactive after Alone in the Dark failed to meet sales expectations.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.