Crystal of Atlan is an action MMORPG from developer VI-Games that wants to put its own unique spin on the gameplay of the genre. It features a focus on class-based build diversity, fast-paced aerial combat, and chaining together abilities to build up your combo meter. It’s available to download for free right now, but if you’re looking for more info before you dive in, we’ve got you. Let’s start with the classes.
Diverse Class Paths for Personalized Builds
There are five base classes available at launch, all unlocked for free at the start of the game: the melee damage dealing Swordsman, ranged attacker Musketeer, magical Magister, martial artist Fighter, and summoner Puppeteer. Each class branches into specialized subclasses, with a total of 11 subclass options and more than 20 unique abilities to experiment with and tailor to your preferred style.
For example, the Swordsman branches into the Magiblade or Berserker. They’re both melee damage dealers, but the Magiblade adds magical abilities (which you could probably guess from the name), and the Berserker can sacrifice health to generate shields and increase power as you get closer to death. Regardless of the subclass you choose, each of the skills you unlock have individual cooldowns. You can mix and match those skills at any time, letting you come up with unique character builds and find skills that chain together well to build combos.
Seamless Ground-to-Air Combat Innovation
Traditional MMO combat focuses on ground-based attacks with a fairly simple stand-and-attack style. Crystal of Atlan differentiates itself by including a heavy focus on the Z-axis, introducing a system that encourages you to seamlessly transition between ground and aerial combat.
You can attack and dodge in mid-air, allowing you to pull off aerial combos and adding a new dimension to each battle and a level of responsiveness to moment-to-moment gameplay. You can jump to avoid attacks, then chain that into aerial combos to keep the pressure on enemies. So you’re rewarded for staying on your toes, reacting quickly, and using all your abilities to fluidly chain attacks together.
That focus on ground and air combos also informs the design of Crystal of Atlan’s varied environments. All of the game’s maps, from the fantastical Wonderland to the mechanical Chrome Military Factory, have an open 3D layout to allow freedom of movement. Couple that with smooth animations and you get a combat system that’s fluid and fast-paced.
Cooperative Challenges and Social Progression
As you might expect from an MMO, there are a variety of dungeons you can tackle with other players. You fight through packs of normal enemies before getting to the end and facing off against a boss with unique mechanics. That’s all pretty standard, but Crystal of Atlan mixes things up by requiring synchronized team coordination.
There are numerous dungeons with interaction-based mechanics that require teamwork to solve problems. Naturally, if your whole group is tackling such a dungeon for the first time, you’ll need to communicate and help each other figure out what to do. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you can take on a mentor role in future runs, but everyone will always need to work together.
There’s also a fleet system, which is basically like guilds you’ve probably experienced in other games. It’s a key part of Crystal of Atlan’s social ecosystem, allowing you to link up with friends to tackle co-op gameplay together or just hang out and chat.
Competitive PvP and Creative PvE Challenges
If you’re the competitive type, there are also options for PvP combat. There are 1v1 and 3v3 battles, with attributes, skill damage, and skill cooldowns balanced so there’s no competitive advantage. It’s all about skill.
While Crystal of Atlan is an MMO at heart, it has plenty of content for solo players too. In classic MMO style, there are hub areas where you can see lots of other players. These areas are where you’ll find quests to complete and new zones to explore.
Adventure Mode takes you through the game’s main story, which unlocks in stages. You can tackle these stages solo, and they have a variety of different goals. Some will be focused on combat, where you need to defeat groups of enemies or take on a boss. Others introduce new elements, like requiring you to use stealth to sneak past enemies or use platforming to progress through the area.
There are plenty of other modes you can tackle solo or co-op. The main one is the Arena, where you can fight alone or with a partner and gradually work your way up through tiers of opponents, earning escalating rewards as you do. If you manage to get through all the tiers, you can reach the Finals for the ultimate reward.
To sum it all up, Crystal of Atlan is an MMORPG that mixes together classic staples of the genre with evolved gameplay to keep things fun, fast, and fluid. It launches May 28 on PC, PS5, iOS, and Android, with crossplay across all platforms. The PS5 version has an optimized HUD layout to avoid clutter and utilizes the haptic feedback of the DualSense controller. It also has a remapped UI for controller input, using a function wheel you’re probably familiar with from other games. There’s HDR support for enhanced lighting, and PSSR is enabled on the PS5 Pro for sharper visuals and more stable frame rates.
For more info on the world, classes, and features of Crystal of Atlan, you can check out the official website. Or to join the community and get news updates, you can follow them on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Discord.
There’s a lot to get excited about in today’s deals, especially if you’re looking to upgrade your gaming setup or add some new collectibles to your stash. For starters, Amazon is running a killer sale on SteelSeries gear. It’s a perfect time to grab a new gaming headset like the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (23% off right now) or a sleek Apex 9 TKL keyboard for your battle station. There are also solid price drops on the Arctis Nova 5X and the Alias USB Mic, so it’s a great time to kit yourself out without breaking the bank.
Twilight Masquerade and Surging Sparks booster bundle restocks are live on Amazon this morning, although once again, they’re way above MSRP. A quick look at TCG Player sees Surging Sparks for $10 less and Twilight Masquerade at $15 below Amazon’s asking price. Yes, the market value on TCG Player is above MSRP, but this is the current market value for these products.
Slashing Legends Tin In Stock At Walmart
Featuring a new promo, Journey Together and Surging Sparks boosters alongside Obsidian Flames and Paradox Rift, this is arguably one of the best Pokémon TCG tins people can buy for retail value right now. Snap it up before the bots do!
Destined Rivals Single Cards Are Available Right Now
If you’d like to pay for sealed product in this climate to rip open boosters and find your chase card, go mad and have a blast. But if you’d like to save some money long term and guarantee that chase card, TCG Player has Destined Rivals single cards available in their presale before they set officially releases on Friday. Looking for the best market values on Destined Rivals sealed products? Here you go:
Pokémon TCG Stock Update
Long story short; things are looking bleak at retail for Pokémon TCG right now. Almost everything is way above MSRP and seems to becoming the new normal for big box retailers. I could write a whole article and why this is and what should be done to stop this practice, but here we are. If you have your heart set on opening booster packs, have at it, but you might want to check out the sections below to save money.
TCG Player Has The Same Products For Less
TCG Player and the Pokémon TCG secondary collectors market is significantly cheaper than big box retailers at the time of writing. This will likely be the case unless you can secure preorders on new sets such as Destined Rivals, Black Bolt and White Flare. Make no mistake products are still over MSRP, but If small businesses can undercut large retailers on TCG Player, there’s something fundamentally broken in the supplier-distributor-retail chain.
This Weeks Pokémon TCG Crashers and Climbers
The Single Pokémon TCG market on the other hand is going through a grand reset right now, which is down to a few factors. The crypto bro mentally to reselling products is dying down a little and more product is becoming available thanks to reprints. We’re not out of the woods yet by any means, but this weeks Crashers and Climbers show recent cards going down in price and cards from the X and Y era shooting up in value. We’re 100% moving in the right direction.
MTG Final Fantasy Bundle Walmart Preorder
This is the only preorder I can find from a big box retailer this morning, and it’s actually cheaper than the market value over on TCG Player right now. Imagine that? If you’re planning on picking up Final Fantasy at launch, this is a no-brainer.
MTG Final Fantasy TCG Player Preorders
MTG: Final Fantasy is set to be the biggest Magic: The Gathering set ever, which is a shock to absolutley no-one. Preorders are drying up at retail, but there’s plenty of choice available on TCG Player right now. I’ve found all the preorders listed so far (including prerelease boxes) alongside massive cases on booster displays. Don’t sleep on these preorders, MTG FF is going to fly off the shelves on release.
MTG Final Fantasy Single Cards
The single card market for MTG Final Fantasy is flying right now, so I’ve included over 40 of (in my opinion) the most popular Final Fantasy cards collectors and players will be chasing once packs start getting ripped. Don’t want to spend money on boosters and hope? Secure your chase cards for release day instead.
MTG Marvel’s Spider-Man Preorders
Whilst there’s only the Play Booster Box and Scene Bundle for MTG: Marvel’s Spider-Man live on Amazon right now, TCG Player has every sealed product that will hit the market on launch day. I’ve even found some pricing on cases of sealed product for those looking to rip open a tonne of boosters, so get on it before the market value on these products shoot up.
MTG Spider-Man Single Cards
Unfortunatley there’s no listings for Spider-Man single cards right now considering we’re a few months out from release, but I’ve managed to round up the listings for cards currently sitting on TCG Player waiting for presale allocations, so keep your eyes peeled.
DOOM The Dark Ages Limited Edition A3 Art Print
For fans of the DOOM franchise, the DOOM The Dark Ages – Limited Edition A3 Art Print from the IGN Store is an absolute must-have. This officially licensed piece features Slayer in the thick of the action and is limited to just 995 hand-numbered prints worldwide. Printed at one of the oldest commercial printers in the UK on high-quality art paper, this A3-sized print (11.69 x 16.53 inches) includes a certificate of authenticity to make it extra special.
SteelSeries Sale
Amazon has a solid sale going on right now for a bunch of SteelSeries gear, and if you’ve been waiting for a good excuse to upgrade your gaming setup, this is it. You can grab essentials like the SteelSeries New Apex 9 TKL, which is down to $109.99, or go all-in with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Multi-System Gaming Headset, which is $269.99 right now (23% off). For Xbox and PC gamers, the Arctis Nova 5X is also a solid pick at $122.99. And if you’re looking to upgrade your audio setup, the SteelSeries Alias USB Mic for PC is a steal at $107.27. Whether you’re after a sleek new keyboard, a high-end headset, or a pro-level mic, these deals are worth a look before they’re gone.
Team 17 Chains of Command Bundle
If you’re looking to dive into some fresh indie titles, the Humble Team 17 Game Bundle is a solid pickup. For $20 or more, you’ll unlock eight games, including the intense 50v50 FPS Hell Let Loose, the gritty WW2 tactics of Classified: France ’44, the brutal, plague-fueled combat of Thymesia, and the cult-building chaos of Honey, I Joined a Cult. Other highlights include the haunting CONSCRIPT, pixel-perfect Narita Boy, chaotic WARCANA, and the party-perfect King of the Castle. Best part? Your purchase supports indie developers and The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), so you’re gaming for a cause.
Lossless Scaling
Lossless Scaling is a game changer for PC players who want to upscale games or generate extra frames without sacrificing quality. Available via Humble for just $6.99, this tool lets you scale windowed games to full screen using a range of algorithms like AMD FSR, NVIDIA Image Scaling (NIS), and Anime4K. The latest update even adds frame generation support for games that don’t natively offer it, including emulators. Whether you’re running older pixel-art titles or modern games with GPU limitations, Lossless Scaling offers a smarter, sharper way to game at higher resolutions.
UGREEN USB C to USB Adapter 4 Pack
If you’re tired of juggling different cables for your devices, the UGREEN USB C to USB Adapter 4 Pack is an affordable and practical solution. This pack includes four sturdy USB-C male to USB 3.2 female adapters, each capable of 10Gbps data transfer speeds—perfect for moving files quickly between your USB-A devices like flash drives, keyboards, or mice and your latest USB-C devices, including the MacBook Pro, iPhone 16, and Samsung Galaxy S24. The ultra-compact, thumb-sized design makes them easy to stash in your laptop bag or pocket, and the aluminum housing is built to withstand over 10,000 plug/unplug cycles.
Fallout Pip-Boy
Fallout Pip-Boy Die-Cast Replica is a stunning, 1:1 recreation of the iconic Pip-Boy 3000 Mk V as seen in the Fallout TV series. Available exclusively from the IGN Store for $199.99, this collector’s item is crafted with a die-cast metal front, injection-molded ABS body, and a memory foam cuff for comfort. It features a functioning TFT LCD screen that displays over 45 in-universe animations, an alarm clock function, and an FM radio for tuning into your favorite stations or Wasteland broadcasts. Whether you’re wearing it as the ultimate cosplay accessory or displaying it on its elegant, laser-etched aluminum stand, the Pip-Boy Die-Cast Replica is an essential piece for any Fallout fan.
Cable Zip Ties 400 Pack
For an all-in-one cable management solution, the HAVE ME TD Cable Zip Ties, 400 Pack offers unbeatable value. This set includes 400 self-locking black nylon zip ties in a variety of sizes: 4, 6, 8, and 12 inches. With a strong tensile strength of up to 40 lbs, these versatile ties are perfect for organizing cords in the home, office, garden, workshop, or garage. Whether you’re bundling wires, securing plants, or tidying up tools, the HAVE ME TD Cable Zip Ties are built for durability, flexibility, and easy handling even in high temperatures. At just $3.99, this assortment is a no-brainer addition to any DIYer’s toolkit.
INIU 45W Power Bank
If you’re looking for a reliable, high-capacity charger that won’t weigh you down, the INIU 45W Power Bank is a stellar choice. This compact 10,000mAh portable charger is 25% smaller and 15% lighter than comparable models, yet it delivers a full 45W of charging power—perfect for topping up your iPhone 16, Samsung S24 Ultra, and more. The built-in USB-C cable doubles as a lanyard, eliminating the need for extra wires in your bag, while the charger’s trickle-charging mode ensures safe, optimized power for smaller devices like earbuds.
Javascript, Scripting And Web Development Book Bundle
Humble is serving up a piping hot bundle for web devs and JavaScript enthusiasts, offering 19 coding resources in the JavaScript Tech Book Bundle for as little as $1. For just $18, you can unlock the full collection, including highlights like Clojure Brain Teasers, Test-Driven React, Second Edition, and Serverless Apps on Cloudflare. Diving into Ruby, Rails, Tailwind, or WebAssembly? There’s something here to level up your skills across the board. Every purchase supports Save the Children, so you can sharpen your coding chops and make a difference at the same time.
Peacock TV
Peacock TV is running a stellar promotion for new and returning subscribers: grab a full year of Peacock Premium (Ad-Supported) for just $24.99 when you redeem code SPRINGSAVINGS at checkout. That’s a hefty discount from the usual $79.99/year. Peacock Premium offers a massive library of hit shows, movies, originals, live sports, and NBC/Bravo content, alongside 50+ always-on channels.
Expedition 33 Merch
If you’ve been captivated by the hauntingly beautiful world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the IGN Store has an exclusive collection of officially licensed merch. The lineup includes a range of clothing like the Expedition Hoodie and Petals T-Shirt ($64.99 and $27.50, respectively), plus art prints of characters like Gustave, Maelle, and Sciel, starting at $30. For everyday essentials, there are mugs, tote bags, tumblers, and mouse pads, all featuring designs straight from the game.. Whether you’re looking to wear your fandom or add some atmosphere to your space, the full Expedition 33 merch collection has you covered. Browse the entire lineup now at the IGN Store.
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.
Looks like Death Stranding isn’t only heading to live-action, but anime as well. In a new article ahead of June’s Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, director Hideo Kojima has seemingly confirmed an anime adaptation of Death Stranding is on the way.
Speaking to Vogue Japan (via VGC), Kojima mentioned his current collaboration with A24 on the live-action Death Stranding film adaptation, but closed off with a little extra note about an anime in the works. Here’s the quote, via machine translation:
“I am also currently working with A24 on a live-action film adaptation of ‘DEATH STRANDING”. When it comes to film adaptations of games, there have been recent films like ‘The Last of Us’ that keep the plot of the original intact, and films like ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ that are more like a service to game fans. Each of these works has its own merits, but as a film lover, I want to pursue expression as a film. I am aiming to make ‘DEATH STRANDING’ in a way that can only be done as a film, and that will win awards at the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival. In fact, we are also currently working on an anime adaptation.”
While no production studio was confirmed, it does certainly sound like Death Stranding has another adaptation on the way, in anime form.
In 2023, A24 officially confirmed it was collaborating with Kojima Productions and its director on a live-action Death Stranding movie. At the time, Kojima said the adaptation was not just a “direct translation” of the game. “The intention is that our audience will not only be fans of the games, but our film will be for anyone who loves cinema,” said Kojima. “We are creating a Death Stranding universe that has never been seen before, achievable only through the medium of film, it will be born.”
With another adaptation on the way, I’m admittedly curious to see what could be done with Death Stranding in the anime space. Depending on which studio picks it up, we could get some different and interesting versions of the Death Stranding universe. It’s pretty fun to imagine a Studio Trigger-made Death Stranding, for example.
Meanwhile, in the video game world, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is due out on June 26, 2025 for the PlayStation 5. If you’re curious about how the next entry in Death Stranding is coming together, check out our hands-on impressions of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach after a whopping 30 hours with the game.
Alternative history PS4 exclusive The Order: 1886 was originally meant to be the first game in a trilogy, one of its developers has revealed.
Two other games — The Order 1891 and The Order 1899 — were also planned (thanks, VGC). As Ru Weerasuriya, creative director of The Order: 1886, explained in an French-language interview with Julien Chieze, the sequel was in the early stages of development before it was cancelled.
In The Order: 1886, a game that re-writes history by introducing a unique vision of Victorian-Era London, you discover history’s darkest secret. From its 10-page pitch, Weerasuriya said the first sequel would have boasted bigger combat sequences, as well as an additional multiplayer mode. The third game didn’t even make it to early production, but Weerasuriya and the team at Ready at Dawn had planned where the story would’ve taken them, as well as other instalments which could’ve taken the franchise into the 20th century.
Ready at Dawn was a venerable, 20-year-old game studio that worked on God of War and Daxter among other projects. Following the mixed reception of The Order: 1886, Ready at Dawn began to move into VR, releasing Lone Echo for the Oculus Rift in 2017. It was acquired by Meta in 2020, but closed down entirely in August 2024.
Weerasuriya suggested that it was the mixed critical reception to the original game that saw the series cancelled. Like a lot of players at the time, here at IGN we thought the 2015 game was okay, awarding it a 6.5, writing: “Though a stylish adventure, The Order: 1886 emphasizes its cinematic polish at the crippling cost of gameplay freedom.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
It’s not a particularly exciting update — the patch notes only tell us that May 27’s update “improved the compatibility for multiplayer sessions between Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch” — but it marks the first time the relaxing sim game has had an any kind of backend refresh since November 2022.
What “improved compatibility” means, we’re not completely sure, but it’s likely a small tweak to make sure players jumping onto Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Switch 2 can still visit the islands of their friends without incident and vice-versa.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons lets you escape to a deserted island and create your own paradise as you explore, create, and customize your own private island and community. We loved our time with it, and it’s still listed on our Top 25 Best Nintendo Switch Games in 2025 list. In our review, we awarded it a 9, writing: “Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an expanded, polished, next-generation reboot of a classic Nintendo game that’s full of surprises.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
The night looms, as Bandai Namco and FromSoftware have confirmed the global release times for Elden Ring Nightreign.
The official release date for Elden Ring Nightreign is May 30 at midnight EDT, for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S. As per usual, though, some timezone differences mean that certain regions will be able to log on and play a bit earlier. West coast players in the Pacific time zone, for example, can boot up Elden Ring Nightreign at 9pm on May 29.
Platforms also differ, too. Per Bandai Namco’s post, PC players will be able to hop in slightly ahead of everyone else in most regions. For the U.S. East Coast, PC players can start at 6pm on May 29 while console owners are stuck waiting until midnight.
Bandai Namco said pre-load is available 48 hours prior to launch time on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam. In IGN’s interview with Elden Ring Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki, the Nightreign lead discussed the choice to lean on solos and trios as the core experience options. When asked why there’s no option for a pair of players to drop in together without a matchmade third player, Ishizaki said it was overlooked.
“The simple answer is that this is simply something that was overlooked during development as just a two-player option, so we’re very sorry about that,” said Ishizaki. “As we said before, we set out to make this a multiplayer co-op game for three players, balanced for three players, so that was the main focus and it’s at the core of Nightreign.
“Of course, I myself as a player understand that and often want times where I’m just playing myself, so this is something that we considered from the start,” Ishizaki continued. “And so we did put a lot of effort into creating this experience that was playable for solo players in as much as the rules and new systems allowed. So in putting all our efforts into that aspect, we kind of overlooked and neglected the duos aspect, but this is something that we are looking at and considering for post-launch support as well.”
Indie publisher tinyBuild had their second annual tinyBuild Connect showcase today. IGN streamed the Connect live, and the showcase was packed with reveals of new games and release date announcements. Best of all, you can try almost all of the new games shown today via a playtest or demo — either now, or very soon. If you weren’t able to watch it live or just want a rundown of everything that was shown, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything we saw during the show:
Ferocious Is a Survival FPS with Dinosaurs You Can Team Up With
The showcase opened with a brand-new look at Ferocious, where dinosaurs, mercs, and mechs clash in a lush but lethal survival FPS. The trailer teased the ability to tame apex predators and flip the food chain in your favor. The Steam playtest is live now, so it’s time to find out if you can survive the island’s deadly welcome.
New Sand Trailer Shows More Desert FPS Action
New footage rolled out featuring hulking, customizable “Trampler” walkers stomping across sun-scorched dunes, frantic PvP action, and a confirmation that the extraction shooter will be coming to consoles later this year. A fresh playtest is also on the horizon, so get your squad together and see if you’ve got what it takes to rule the sands.
Trainfort Is a Co-op Survival Game with Guns and Steam Engines
The world-premiere trailer introduced Trainfort, a co-op survival crafting game where roving dwarf nomads build and drive a steam-powered fortress across a procedurally generated wasteland. The developers are promising that a tactile first-person hand-control system will make every action from chopping trees to assembling your mobile base feel grounded and physical. The playtest for Trainfort also went live right after the show.
Hozy Is a Cozy Living Spaces Restoration Game
Hozy invites players to restore a forgotten neighborhood, one cozy room at a time. Revealed for the first time during the showcase, the debut trailer showed players scrubbing grime, slapping on fresh coats of pastel paint, and dialing in lighting to turn derelict rooms into homey sanctuaries. Hozy also dropped a public Steam playtest right after the show, so you can already get a taste for its fixer-upper gameplay.
All Will Fall Lets You Build a City That Can Collapse at Any Time
Physics-based construction meets post-apocalyptic survival in this vertical city builder where every ramshackle tower can topple like Jenga. The team confirmed an open beta for Steam Next Fest on June 9, giving players a chance to stack homes sky-high — or watch them spectacularly crumble. All Will Fall has a demo available on Steam right now.
Roguelite Kingdom Builder The King Is Watching Launches This July
CarbotAnimations’ tongue-in-cheek trailer revealed a July release window for this unique strategy title, where peasants only work under your royal gaze. Each run tasks you with juggling production, training armies, and adapting to unpredictable events. The playable demo is still available on Steam for those eager to test their royal authority.
Of Ash and Steel Shows Off Its Gothic-Coded Fantasy Open World
A sweeping world overview trailer showcased sun-bleached fortresses, misty marshlands, and brutal third-person combat that rewards stance-switching finesse. Playtest sign-ups went live alongside the trailer, inviting would-be island wanderers to chart their own, marker-free adventures.
Streets of Rogue 2 Gets a New Gameplay Trailer Where Everything Goes Wrong
A new trailer proved that everything can go wrong at any moment with this anything-goes sandbox, capping the segment with a confirmation that it hits Steam Early Access in 2025. From hijacking tractors to accident-prone heists, chaos is king in Streets of Rogue 2, and you can check out its demo on Steam right now.
Voin Unveils Its Next Major Update Called “Permafrost”
A new, action-packed devlog unveiled the upcoming “Permafrost” update, promising new frosted realms to carve through and fresh gear to master in this hack-and-slash created by a solo developer. Judging by the slicing, dashing footage, the chill won’t slow the carnage one bit. You can grab Voin with a limited-time discount during tinyBuild’s publisher sale on Steam.
SpeedRunners 2 Unveils a 64-Player Tournament Mode and Cutthroat Racing Gameplay
The cult-classic competitive platformer is turbo-charging into the new era. The latest trailer confirmed a massive 64-player tournament mode and showed more cutthroat racing gameplay across some new maps. A Steam playtest will launch this summer, and sign-ups are open now. SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed will launch on PC in 2025, with the console release to follow in 2026.
Duckside Brings Hat-Wearing, Gun-Wielding Duck Extravaganza to Consoles This August
The new trailer dove onto the screen, confirming that Duckside lands on consoles this August and showing off full-flight PvP mayhem, complete with crafting, base building, hat-wearing ducks, and of course, quack-tical base raids. The game is on sale with a limited-time discount on Steam.
Drill Core 1.0 Releases July 17, Nintendo Switch Version Coming Later This Year
Become a true Corporate Mining manager in this strategy roguelite builder game. Whether you prioritize profits or workers’ safety is up to you! The devs locked in a 1.0 launch for July 17 and surprised Switch owners with a port arriving later this year, but you can hop into the Early Access right now, as Drill Core is currently on sale on Steam.
Hello Neighbor 3 Drops a New Playable Prototype
Hello Neighbor franchise creator Nikita Kolesnikov popped up in a devlog to give a first look at the eerie living sandbox town of Raven Brooks, where every NPC has its own agenda. Prototype 2 shadow-dropped during the show, so the curious (or the brave) can sneak in and test the new systems right now.
Medieval Shooter/RTS Hybrid Kingmakers Sets Early Access Release Date for October 8
Medieval England never looked so doomed: a frenetic new trailer for the shooter/RTS hybrid finally showed off four-player co-op, with assault rifles mowing through armored knights before revealing an October 8 Early Access launch on Steam and Epic Games Store. Time-travel paradoxes be damned — Kingmakers is ready to bring an attack chopper to a sword fight.
Square Enix and Disney announced Kingdom Hearts 4 at the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event in 2022, giving us a fresh new look at Sora and what he’s been up to after he left his friends for a solo adventure at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3. To no one’s surprise, there haven’t been many updates for the sequel since it was announced, but a recent spread of screenshots affirmed the game’s continued development.
To further ease our impatience for Kingdom Hearts 4, Square Enix brought the entire Kingdom Hearts series to Steam on June 13, 2024. Well, almost the entire series, including Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC, and Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece — the latter of which is a bundle that released on the Nintendo Switch in cloud streaming form in 2021.
While we wait for more updates and a potential release date for Kingdom Hearts 4, we’re giving you a list of Kingdom Hearts games to play in chronological order. As convoluted as the series’ plot may be, this list should give you a clear perspective on the history of the Kingdom Hearts world, how Sora was set up to be the Keyblade’s chosen one, and how Master Xehanort keeps trying to plunge the world into darkness, hence the name of the series’ first arc: the Dark Seeker Saga.
The Kingdom Hearts series includes 13 games across multiple platforms, including the PSP and Game Boy Advance. There will also be a new game in the mainline series, which was officially announced in April 2022.
What Kingdom Hearts Game Should I Play First?
If you are new to the Kingdom Hearts series, we highly recommend starting off with Kingdom Hearts 2. When you play as Roxas in the beginning of the game, you get flashbacks of the most important scenes from Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories to get you up to speed on the story of the series thus far, and give insight on how Sora and Roxas are connected in the first place.
The gameplay in Kingdom Hearts 2 is also more straightforward than Kingdom Hearts, and you don’t have to play through every Gummi Ship mission more than once even when you revisit worlds. Thank us later.
How to Play Kingdom Hearts Games in Chronological Order
Kingdom Hearts χ / Unchained χ / Union χ
Apologies for grouping all the titles in one section, but Kingdom Hearts χ [chi], initially a Japan-exclusive title for PC, had been subsequently rebranded into Unchained χ and Union χ [Cross] for mobile users worldwide during the eight years it was running online. The χ refers to the χ-blade, a coveted weapon designed by two Keyblades in an “X” shape capable of unlocking Kingdom Hearts.
Kingdom Hearts Union χ is set hundreds of years before the series’ events, in an era leading up to the Keyblade War. You control a newly minted Keyblade wielder in the 2D world of Daybreak Town who joins one of five factions and works to ensure its supremacy over the other four as they fight over the finite light available to the world. Union χ occurs shortly after Unchained χ, but in an alternate data world where the player relives the past to forget the Keyblade War. The game shut down in May 2021, but you can still watch cutscenes of it online. If gacha games are not your style, you can watch HD cutscenes of the events in the cinematic Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover, which is included in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue.
Kingdom Hearts Dark Road
As the title suggests, Kingdom Hearts Dark Road is the origin story of villain Master Xehanort set 70 years before the events of Birth by Sleep. As a young man, Xehanort is taken from Destiny Islands to Scala ad Caelum to train alongside Master Eraqus to become a Keyblade wielder and is tasked by Master Odin to search for the Lost Masters, triggering a chain of events that leads him to become the Seeker of Darkness.
Dark Road employed the same 2D graphics present in Kingdom Hearts χ and its subsequent rebranded titles, which aren’t very impressive, but the game still contained details integral to the entire series. You may not be able to play the game, but you can still watch cutscenes on YouTube to get the full scope.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Set 10 years before the events of Kingdom Hearts, Birth by Sleep is told from the vantage points of Ventus, Terra, and Aqua — all Keyblade Apprentices of Master Eraqus living in the Land of Departure. Shortly after Aqua and Terra finish their Mark of Mastery exam, with the former passing and obtaining the title of Keyblade Master and the latter failing for not keeping his darkness in check, the trio go on separate journeys to find Master Xehanort, who disappeared without a trace, and defeat the Unversed, creatures created by Xehanort’s apprentice Vanitas to attack other worlds.
Birth by Sleep dives into the origin of Sora and Master Xehanort, as Ventus had part of his heart patched up by a piece of Sora’s heart. Xehanort, meanwhile, created Vanitas from the darkness he purged from Ventus’ heart, which Xehanort deemed too frail for him to use as a vessel to forge the χ-blade, forcing him to go after Terra instead. It also explores how Sora and Riku could wield the Keyblade in the first place, as Terra bestowed the power of the Keyblade to Riku, while Aqua sensed strong ties with Sora and Riku to Ventus and Terra, respectively.
Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep — A Fragmentary Passage
Although it’s safe to place A Fragmentary Passage (included in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue) before the first Kingdom Hearts game, it acts as an epilogue to Birth by Sleep and a prologue to Kingdom Hearts 3. However, the story for this game begins shortly after the events of Dream Drop Distance because King Mickey tells the story of how he came across Aqua in the Realm of Darkness to Riku, Kairi, and Master Yen Sid.
After sacrificing herself to save Terra from the Realm of Darkness at the end of Birth by Sleep, Aqua has been wandering in darkness for 10 years, trying to find a way back to the Realm of Light. She visits the dark versions of Castle of Dreams, Dwarf Woodlands, and Enchanted Dominion to battle hordes of Heartless that form into Demon Towers, fight apparitions of Ventus and Terra, and save Terra’s heart. Meanwhile, Mickey went to the Realm of Darkness to save Riku. When he meets Aqua after using her lost Wayfinder to find her, he tells her 10 years have passed since they last met and proceeds to Destiny Islands after fighting another Demon Tower. There, the door to Kingdom Hearts is spotted, and Mickey helps Sora and Riku seal it shut, leaving Aqua to dwell in the Realm of Darkness once more.
Kingdom Hearts
In the very first entry of the series, Sora sets out on a journey with Donald and Goofy to reunite with Riku and Kairi after the Heartless destroy Destiny Islands and plunge the world into darkness. Along the way, he travels to different worlds aboard the Gummi Ship, meets various Disney and Final Fantasy characters, and helps defend their world from the Heartless by sealing Keyholes. Meanwhile, Maleficent leads a group of her fellow Disney villains to seek out the seven Princesses of Heart to unlock the last keyhole leading to Kingdom Hearts, and she employs Riku.
By the time Sora reaches Hollow Bastion, Kairi’s body is found with her heart missing as it was transferred to Sora’s body during the apocalypse at Destiny Islands; Riku becomes possessed by Ansem, who was manipulating Maleficent to open Kingdom Hearts; and Kairi is revealed to be the Princess of Heart, hence the heart transfer from her to Sora, who then frees Kairi’s heart after impaling himself with Ansem’s Keyblade, turning into a Heartless in the process. Kairi manages to turn Sora back to human form by recognizing his Heartless and embracing him, and from there Sora defeats Ansem and seals the door to Kingdom Hearts with help from Riku and Mickey from the other side.
While searching for Riku and Mickey after sealing the door to Kingdom Hearts, Sora, Donald, and Goofy visit Castle Oblivion, causing them to lose their memories upon entry. They’re told by Marluxia, the lord of the castle who is revealed to be a member of Organization XIII, that the deeper they go into the castle, the more memories they’ll lose, but they’ll uncover new ones in the process. The group is given a deck of cards called “world cards” based on Sora’s memories, and they meet memory versions of the characters they met in the previous game and fight a few members of the Organization aside from Marluxia — Axel, Larxene, and Vexen — as they progress through each floor of the castle. Meanwhile, Riku is going through the basement levels of the castle, wrestling with the darkness inside him and Ansem’s attempts to control him while fighting two other members of Organization XIII: Lexaeus and Zexion.
Aside from the cards being decried as an ineffective battle system, Chain of Memories introduced new characters that became essential players in the Kingdom Hearts series, such as Naminé, whom Sora gradually remembered as being an old friend only to find out later she was manipulating Sora’s memories of Kairi by replacing them with fake ones of herself under Marluxia’s orders. After Sora fights Marluxia for his life and Naminé’s freedom, Naminé places him and his companions to sleep in pod-like machines to help them regain the memories they lost.
358/2 Days is set during the events of Chain of Memories. It explores the birth of Roxas as Sora’s Nobody when Sora turned into a Heartless during Kingdom Hearts, his daily life as the 13th member of Organization XIII, and his friendship with Axel and Xion, who mysteriously arrived as the 14th member.
As time progresses and their bond deepens, it is revealed that Xion is an artificial replica created after Sora’s memories of Kairi as a fail-safe if Sora and Roxas are proven to be useless for the Organization to achieve their goal of summoning Kingdom Hearts and becoming whole, all the while delaying Sora’s memory restoration process by absorbing them. This discovery causes Roxas to defect from Organization XIII to find himself, and later Xion, who fights to merge with him to become whole, stopping Sora from waking up. Ultimately, Roxas defeats Xion, who disintegrates into light with all the memories she absorbed returning to Sora.
Fun fact, but not precisely fun: 358/2 was dedicated to the memory of Wayne Allwine, the voice actor for Mickey Mouse, who died 12 days before the game’s release in Japan in May 2009.
The game begins in Twilight Town, where Roxas enjoys his summer vacation with Hayner, Pence, and Olette, having no memories of his time with Organization XIII nor Axel, who remembers him during their encounters while waking up with dreams of Sora, who had been asleep for a year at that point. Once Sora wakes up along with Donald and Goofy after Roxas merges with him, they set out to once again protect the worlds from the Heartless and visit new ones to stop Organization XIII from creating another Kingdom Hearts that would give the Nobodies their hearts back.
As Sora and the gang explore the concept of the heart even further, they learn that the Ansem they fought was Xehanort’s Heartless; Xemnas, the leader of Organization XIII, is Xehanort’s Nobody; and that Xehanort was an apprentice of the real Ansem, named Ansem the Wise, the sage-king of Radiant Garden (renamed Hollow Bastion and then Radiant Garden again) who studied the heart alongside Braig, Dilan, Even, Aeleus, Ienzo (human versions of Xigbar, Xaldin, Vexen, Lexaeus, and Zexion, respectively) to protect his people from darkness before he was exiled to the Realm of Darkness for corrupting them with the same darkness and taking on the new identity DiZ (Darkness in Zero). Even more shocking, they learn Roxas and Naminé are the Nobodies of Sora and Kairi, respectively.
Initially released as an episodic mobile game called “Coded” in Japan, Re:coded centers on King Mickey and a digital version of Sora as they work to repair Jiminy Cricket’s journal, which chronicles the real Sora’s adventures fighting the Heartless and Organization XIII, after it got corrupted. It was being digitized to analyze a secret message Jiminy did not write: “Their hurting will be mended when you return to end it” (originally written as “We must return to free them from their torment” in Coded). In the dataspace, Data-Sora and Mickey fight the bugs, who take the form of red-and-black blocks and Heartless, and work to decipher the message’s meaning.
Square Enix originally released eight parts of Coded and a preview to Japanese mobile users from June 2009 to January 2010, making it run almost like a full season of a television series. To make the game accessible to fans worldwide, the entire game was repackaged into Re:coded for the Nintendo DS.
To prepare for Master Xehanort’s return, Master Yen Sid proctors the Mark of Mastery exam to Sora and Riku in the most unconventional way possible: sending them back in time to unlock the keyholes of seven worlds that were left in a sleeping state after being destroyed by the Heartless, including the worlds of Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pinocchio, Tron: Legacy, and Fantasia. Though they go through a different chain of events in the same worlds, they work to defeat the “Nightmare” Dream Eaters with the help of their “Spirit” Dream Eaters and the power of Flowmotion.
Throughout the Mark of Mastery exam, they run into the younger version of Xehanort, who reveals that he, Ansem, and Xehanort, who were supposed to have been defeated, lured Sora into a trap at The World That Never Was and put him into a deep sleep (where he was protected by Ventus’ armor), and Riku has been running through Sora’s dreams as a Dream Eater the whole time. To save Sora from the darkness, Riku fights the young Xehanort, and the revived, older Master Xehanort arrives with intentions to turn Sora into his 13th vessel for the new Organization XIII, comprised of mostly his past selves from across time, and create the χ-blade by pitting the 13 seekers of darkness and the seven guardians of light against each other. Thankfully, Xehanort’s plans are foiled by King Mickey, Lea (the human version of Axel), and Riku, who ultimately passes the Mark of Mastery exam, with Sora failing for losing the power of waking, which is the ability to restore hearts.
In the final chapter of the Dark Seeker Saga, Sora sets out to reclaim the power of waking and gather the seven guardians of light to prepare for the final showdown with Organization XIII and Master Xehanort, who is hellbent on not only creating the χ-blade, but also keeping darkness and light in proper balance. Meanwhile, Kairi trains to become a Keyblade wielder with Lea, and Riku goes with King Mickey to search for the missing Keyblade wielders.
Kingdom Hearts 3 took 13 years to make, with a few trailers released between 2013 and 2018 before finally being released in 2019. To this day, it remains the best-selling Kingdom Hearts game.
Melody of Memory is a rhythm game where Sora and the other Keyblade wielders defeat the Heartless, Nobodies, Unversed, and Dream Eaters to the beat of every song in the series. It’s set against the backdrop of Kairi being in the lab at Radiant Garden, as she gives a summary of the series’ events as the narrator.
Kingdom Hearts Games in Release Order
Kingdom Hearts – September 17, 2002 (PS2)
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories – December 7, 2004 (Game Boy Advance)
Kingdom Hearts 2 – March 28, 2006 (PS2)
Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days – September 29, 2009 (Nintendo DS)
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep – September 7, 2010 (PSP)
Kingdom Hearts: Re:coded – January 11, 2011 (Nintendo DS)
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance – July 31, 2012 (Nintendo 3DS)
Kingdom Hearts Union χ [Cross] – April 7, 2016 (Android, iOS)
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMix – March 28, 2017 (PS4)
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue – January 24, 2017 (PS4)
Kingdom Hearts 3 – January 29, 2019 (PS4, XBO, PC)
Kingdom Hearts Dark Road – June 22, 2020 (Android, iOS)
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory – November 13, 2020 (PS4, XBO, Nintendo Switch, PC)
What’s Next for Kingdom Hearts?
Kingdom Hearts 4 was announced in 2022, though Square Enix has been quiet about KH4 since its announcement and has yet to reveal a release window. The most recent development, a series of screenshots, came out of almost nowhere, but hopefully indicates we’ll be getting our hands on Kingdom Hearts 4 sooner rather than later. I wouldn’t be surprised if the game ends up releasing on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
Cristina Alexander is a freelance writer for IGN. She has contributed her work to various publications, including Digital Trends, TheGamer, Twinfinite, Mega Visions, and The Escapist. To paraphrase Calvin Harris, she wears her love for Sonic the Hedgehog on her sleeve like a big deal. Follow her on Twitter @SonicPrincess15.
The Japanese government has released a Minecraft map of the world’s largest underground flood prevention facility. Not only is it free to download, but it lets you explore one of the Tokyo area’s lesser-known iconic locations from the comfort of your home.
The Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, known as G-Cans for short, is a real-life disaster prevention facility. It is best-known for its “pressure adjustment water tank” — a huge cavernous space with 59 massive pillars. A truly epic looking, boss battle-worthy location, it is G-Can’s most iconic sight, and even has the nickname “underground temple” (chika shinden) in Japan. With bags of atmosphere, it also gets used as a location for music videos, Japanese TV dramas (like Kamen Rider) and movies.
In dry seasons, it is possible to tour G-Cans in real life, but thanks to the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), you can now explore this atmospheric facility in Minecraft too. The ministry have released a video on their official YouTube which briefly summarizes the purpose of G-Cans and shows what it looks like in the blocky world of Minecraft.
Minecraft’s free G-Cans map doesn’t just include the facility though — there is also an overground area featuring rivers, homes, and neighborhoods, giving the player a sense of how G-Cans protects people and places in real life. You can also go into the control room and try draining flood water into the shafts to see how it works for yourself.
MLIT’s recreation of G-Cans in Minecraft is designed to educate people about the facility and how it prevents disasters. Exploring it, even in Minecraft, also gives the player a sense of how absolutely huge G-Cans is. In real life, G-Cans’ concrete tunnels run for over 6km under Saitama Prefecture, part of the Greater Tokyo Area. Its five shafts capture water from flood-prone rivers during Japan’s rainy season (June) and typhoon season (usually around September), before gradually releasing it into the much bigger Edogawa River and Tokyo Bay. Completed in 2006 after over a decade of construction, G-Cans has played a huge role in combating flooding in the area ever since.
MLIT’s G-Can’s Minecraft map can be downloaded for free from the official website of the Edogawa River Office, which manages the facility. At least Version 1.21.1 of Minecraft Bedrock Edition or Version 1.21.0 of Minecraft Education Edition are required.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
Beware: The Abyss has opened and the curse of death is spreading across a world that’s falling into despair. In the free-to-play Wizardry Variants Daphne, you do everything you can to brace yourself before diving into the pit that’s the source of the curse. Expect failure, expect death, but also expect an RPG journey built around Wizardry’s hardcore dungeon-crawling legacy.
Wizardry Variants Daphne takes place in a doomed world that’s being consumed by the forces of the dead. A generational seal holding back a twisted warlock has failed, and now the warlock’s curse emanates from the depths of the Abyss.
The decay needs to be stopped, but a job like stopping a death-obsessed warlock comes with a very high body count. Wizardry Variants Daphne lets you build up a party of up to six fellow adventurers from a wide variety of classes and races. As with previous Wizardry games, your party’s balance of skills and battle chemistry is vital to your long-term success. Wizardry Variants Daphne balances tough difficulty with compelling visual design, making it a great game for established fans and a good entry point for anyone curious about Wizardry.
Wizardry fans are already familiar with the brutal bite of the monsters and traps that live in its narrow dungeon corridors. Newcomers to the series who pick up Wizardry Variants Daphne should expect a challenge that’s tough, but not insurmountable if you’re the type of person who can make observations and learn from their mistakes.
Take heart: Your manpower isn’t as low as it seems. Your right hand is capable of reversing time, allowing you to revive the skeletons of dead adventurers and restore them to their previous selves. This is the unique gacha mechanic of Wizardry Variants Daphne that allows you to recruit new characters. You’ll gather items called Adventurer’s Remains, which you can take into the Ruins and use to restore and recruit new characters. Once you’ve revived a skeleton, you’ll get info like their name, class, alignment, and stats.
Both old and new fans can appreciate the names on Wizardry Variants Daphne’s creative team. The detailed characters are designed by veteran manga artist and character designer Yusuke Kozaki, whose work has appeared in Fire Emblem Awakening, No More Heroes, AI: The Somnium Files, and dozens of other games. The bosses are designed by Katsuya Terada, an illustrator whose work goes back to previous Wizardry adaptations and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Its eerie, moody music comes from celebrated game composer Hitoshi Sakimoto, whose credits include Final Fantasy Tactics, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Dragon’s Crown, and dozens more games.
Whether you’re ready to feel Wizardry’s burn again or you’re ready to travel down its grimy corridors for the first time, Wizardry Variants Daphne is waiting for you. It’s been downloaded more than 1 million times worldwide, so it’s clearly making its mark on fans. It’s available for free on the App Store, Google Play, and Steam.
