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The Best Board Games for Teens (2024)

While it can occasionally be difficult to get teenagers engaged or even torn away from their screens, board games often offer opportunities to connect or, at the very least, serve as a break from all the devices and social media apps. Whether its family game night or simply an evening in with friends, it’s important to have games that teens actually want to play.

The best board games don’t just pass the time, they transport players with fantastic themes and engaging mechanics. Teens who are into Marvel, Star Wars, zombies, or dragons can find something in the space to try out. Not to mention, various addictive party games also offer an alternative to simply watching a movie.

TL;DR The Best Board Games For Teens

Marvel Dice Throne

For the superhero-obsessed teen, there are plenty of great tabletop options out there, but the good folks behind Dice Throne have created one of the best Marvel board games with this accessible but addictive title. With currently eight different comic book heroes to choose from (and far more characters in the non-Marvel iterations), Marvel Dice Throne pits players against each other in competitive battles. Players start by picking their hero from either Black Panther, Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, Loki, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man, or Thor. Each character comes with their own set of abilities, card decks, and themed dice.

Marvel Dice Throne is a simple enough dice chucker but with enough twists and turns contained in the cards to keep gameplay unpredictable. As each character handles quite differently, there is ample opportunity for replayability as well. For those who find the Battle Chest complete with all eight heroes to be a bit pricey, there are also separate packs with just two or four characters included that can be built upon over time.

Disney Villainous: The Worst Takes It All

Disney holds a special place in countless childhood memories and continues to offer content many enjoy into their teenage years. While we all know the princesses and beloved sidekicks, Disney Villainous: The Worst Takes It All asks players to control one of six iconic villains such as Ursula, Jafar, the Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook, Maleficent, and Prince John from the animated Robin Hood feature film. Disney Villainous plays out asymmetrically as each villain is accompanied by their own card deck, player board, and 3D character piece. Of course, it wouldn’t be quite as much fun to only worry about completing your own objectives; it’s also about tripping up your opponents before they realize their villainous goals using heroes from their universe via Fate Deck cards. This is a double-edged sword, however, as your opponents can employ the same tactics against you.

Disney Villainous: The Worst Takes It All is a great place to start, but various expansions have introduced even more fan-favorite Disney baddies to the game. Not to mention, villains like Darth Vader, Thanos, and plenty more have also joined in the fun through Star Wars and Marvel iterations of the series.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

For teens who prefer their board games from a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a clever take on the popular Pandemic board game series. Rather than taking control of scientists, doctors, and medics to fight deadly diseases from spreading, Star Wars: The Clone Wars has players taking control of fan-favorite Jedi to ensure the reach of Count Dooku’s Separatist droid army doesn’t overtake the galaxy. For fans of Pandemic, The Clone Wars should be a breeze to pick up, but it’s a fairly intuitive cooperative title even for those with no familiarity with the original board game.

While The Clone Wars’ unique spin on a popular series makes it one of the best Star Wars board games, there are plenty of other great and unique titles to check out for fans of the space opera.

One Night Ultimate Werewolf

One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a bluffing game in which players try to identify the werewolf hiding in their village. Each player receives a secret role card at the beginning of the game, many of which coincide with a special ability that plays out in the nighttime phase when players put their heads down. In the morning, players try to deduce which one among them is the werewolf. If they can guess correctly and sentence the werewolf to death, they win the game, but if not, the monster gets to run amok for another night.

In many ways, One Night Ultimate Werewolf is the perfect party game for teens with friends who aren’t normally into board games: it’s easy to pick up thanks to the audio app that guides players through each phase, it plays incredibly quickly, and it works well for up to ten people. When groups start to pile up past four people, it’s not always easy to find a game that everyone can learn, play, and have a great time with, but One Night Ultimate Werewolf addresses every one of those issues, excelling with larger groups.

Decrypto

Like One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Decrypto is another one of the best party games. Decrpyto plays somewhat similarly to the incredibly popular Codenames, but the former differentiates itself by keeping players engaged even when it’s not their turn. Decrypto splits players into two teams. In front of each team is a series of numbers with words written just below. One player on each team is tasked with providing clues in an effort to get their team to guess the right sequence. While each team can see only their own board, opposing players can attempt to intercept using the codewords which are read aloud. The trick here is that encrypters need to try and give clues that only their team can guess. Of course, this is much easier said than done.

Sushi Go Party

Sushi Go Party builds upon the success of Sushi Go, a drafting game in which players pick a card to keep and pass the rest of the deck to the next player. Each card contains an adorable illustration of sushi as well as a point value. However, various cards can combine to multiply scores. Crafting the right sushi platter gets tricky as other players also look to grab valuable pieces or even block you from completing a set that might just secure your victory.

Sushi Go Party adds several cards to its predecessor but like Sushi Go, it manages to remain easy to play. At around 20 minutes a game, it’s perfect for teens who would rather jump in and learn a game rather than spend ages reading through a rule book.

King of Tokyo

Ask a handful of tabletop enthusiasts for a list of the best family board games and King of Tokyo is bound to come up, and likely more than once. It’s colorful and easy enough for kids to pick up, but it’s fun enough to keep teens coming back. Players pick from one of six pop culture-inspired mutant monsters with the goal of occupying Tokyo. Through dice-rolling and various special cards, players attempt to earn victory points and take down the other monsters. The winner is either the player who collected 20 victory points or the last surviving monster – whichever comes first.

Splendor: Marvel

Splendor is a favorite among the tabletop gaming community as it is a great entry point for teens who are new to the hobby thanks to its easy-to-grasp ruleset. That said, Splendor contains some strategy that may take a while to master, making it great for experienced gamers too. It’s easily one of the most popular games out there, but for teens with little interest in the Renaissance period, however, publisher Space Cowboys offers a Marvel variant.

Rather than collecting rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, to purchase cards, Splendor: Marvel tasks players with gathering the powerful Infinity Stones. Still, the rules largely remain the same, so those familiar with Splendor will be able to hop right into the Marvel iteration. As in the Marvel universe, collecting the stones ends the game, but individual turns consist of using stones to purchase cards with iconic comic book heroes and villains on them. Each hero contains a point value, and the player with the highest score at the end of the game wins. It’s not quite as thematic as something like Marvel Dice Throne, but the comic book artwork makes this a fun entry point for superhero fanatics.

Zombicide: Black Plague

Between its sizable board, various miniatures, lengthier playtime, and slightly more in-depth ruleset, Zombicide: Black Plague isn’t the most accessible game on this list. It’s still relatively easy to pick up when compared to other dungeon crawler board games, but it will require a teen who wants to dive a little deeper into a tabletop adventure. That shouldn’t be too difficult a sell as the gripping survival horror theme makes it easy to get fully immersed in the experience.

There are several entries in the Zombicide franchise, but Black Plague takes the combat to the Middle Ages with fantasy elements. Players can choose from dwarves, knights, magicians, and paladins to take the fight to the hordes of zombies. As with other iterations of the game, Black Plague has received several expansions, so fans of this title can keep the fun going for quite a while.

Flamecraft

The medium can so often be filled with gargantuan monsters and darker settings that the colorful, storybook artwork of Flamecraft feels like a breath of fresh air – as does its lower learning curve. Despite its aesthetic, Flamecraft is still a little difficult for younger children, but it’s perfectly suited for anyone in their teens.

Flamecraft is sort of an entry-level worker placement game, not quite as difficult as titles like Dune: Imperium or A Feast for Odin. In Flamecraft, players take on the role of Flamekeepers, those skilled at communicating with dragons. As a Flamekeeper, players visit the various shops, playing specialized dragon cards, enchanting the establishments, and gaining a reputation to attract even fancier dragons. The player with the most reputation at the end of the game wins and gains the esteemed title, the Master of Flamecraft.

If you’re still looking for more quality board game recommendations, make sure to check out our list of the best board games for four players. Also, take a look at our collection of the best board game deals to save some money on your next tabletop purchase.

Bobby Anhalt is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering board games and LEGO. He has more than 8 years of experience writing about the gaming industry with bylines at Game Rant, Screen Rant, TheXboxHub, and Ranker. You can follow him on Twitter @BobbyAnhalt.

Star Wars Outlaws’ ESRB Description Reveals That Sabacc Will Appear for the Very First Time in a Game

Star Wars Outlaws is not out for a few more months, but as the release date slowly approaches, the game’s ESRB rating summary revealed that a popular and nearly-forgotten card game is set to return as a playable mini-game.

Spotted by GamesRadar, the ESRB summary description for Star Wars Outlaws reveals that “players can wager in-game currency on Sabacc, a blackjack-like card game with detailed rules.” The card game, which first debuted in the L. Neil Smith novel Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu, has rules and concepts similar to those of blackjack and poker.

The rules of Sabacc were first published in 1989 with the release of the Crisis on Cloud City supplement for the Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, which Games International described in an issue published in 1990 as “a sort of Blackjack variant.”

Despite its known existence over the last several decades, its appearance in Star Wars media has been slim. Sabacc is never directly shown but rather mentioned in Star Wars media, such as in the Star Wars: Squadrons short story, The Light You Bring, or when it appeared in a scene in Solo: A Star Wars Story. And Disney began selling an official Sabacc deck at its Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction in 2019. Yet, no Star Wars game has ever made Sabacc playable in any capacity, thus making its inclusion in Star Wars Outlaws all the more noteworthy.

This news is positive for Ubisoft’s upcoming open-world game, as the publisher is under scrutiny for locking a mission behind the Star Wars Outlaws season pass. While Ubisoft clarified that the mission is “optional,” the publisher has yet to elaborate on its scope, leaving players confused about whether or not purchasing the season pass to access it is worth it.

Star Wars Outlaws is out on August 27 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Pre-orders are now available at the starting price of $69.99 for the Standard Edition, while the Gold and Ultimate Edition costs $109.99 and $129.99, respectively. The latter two not only include the controversial season pass, but players will also get access to the base game three days early.

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Eternal Strands’ Magic and Physics Offer a Zelda-Like Level of Combat Freedom – IGN First

While you’re exploring the land of the Enclave and taking on gargantuan bosses in Eternal Strands, you’ll unlock more and more magical abilities to help you on your journey. But unlike many games where magic might let you toss a fireball or Force push an enemy off a cliff, Eternal Strands has a unique approach to the nine physics-altering abilities it puts in your toolbelt, all of which allow for an impressive level of freedom. Continuing our month-long exclusive coverage of the upcoming action-adventure game from a new team comprised of ex-BioWare and Ubisoft developers, today we’ll be taking a look at a few abilities at the heart of this battle-heavy odyssey and how they can be combined in surprising and creative ways.

In the same way that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gives you a set of powers that allows you to manipulate the physics of its world in order to solve puzzles and get across the map, Eternal Strands gives you a similarly playful toolset and asks you to bring them to bear in battle – including against the massive bosses that roam land of the Enclave. Instead of creating a makeshift boat with magnets and fans to sail across a river, you’re using telekinetic wormholes to launch yourself onto the back of a flying dragon or generating a block of ice to seal a giant’s leg in place before climbing up it to deal damage with your sword.

That alone can be a lot of fun, especially once you discover the interesting ways those powers have an impact on enemies and the surrounding environment. For example, when fighting a heavily armored boss who uses fire-based attacks, you might discover that prolonged exposure to ice attacks begins to make his armor brittle, which can then be cleaved off, exposing a new weak spot to lay into. Or maybe you’ll be hounded by a giant dragon who breathes fire down on you, and discover that with the right telekinetic ability, you can redirect those flames right back at him. It’s especially cool how the enemies themselves interact with you and the environment, doing things like picking up trees to lob at you or smashing through a structure that you’re in the middle of climbing.

But later on in the adventure, once you’ve slain a few bosses and have claimed a larger repertoire of powers from their corpses, you can start to combine these abilities in some surprising (and often hilarious) ways. In one instance, I used the Kinetic Stream ability, which allows you to create a tunnel of kinetic energy that throws anything that passes through it at high speeds, to create a makeshift cannon aimed at a flying boss. I then used another telekinetic ability called Launching Grasp, which lets you pick up and toss things, to snatch up every fiery minion enemy in the area and throw them into the Kinetic Stream, pelting the boss with his own deadly allies. In another encounter, while being overwhelmed by a bunch of heavily armored goons wielding swords, I used the Percussive Blast ability to create an orb of violent energy, then switched to a fire-based power to fill that orb with flames – when the hordes of enemies drew near, I detonated my orb like a mine, covering the battlefield with flames that broiled them alive in their fancy armor.

Being able to mix and match your powers to confound and destroy your enemies is one of Eternal Strands’ defining mechanics. But it’s not only useful for practical tasks: it’s also perfect for completely impractical things, whether you’re just trying to show off with a flashy move or see if some crazy new tactic might work. I spent about thirty minutes experimenting with a bow that created kinetic explosions to see if I could bounce myself into the air, then switch to a heavy melee weapon to do a downward strike on an enemy below. As it turns out, with enough practice, it’s not only possible, but quite effective – even if not particularly feasible in most cases.

Eternal Strands is all about being creative and doing unexpected or downright silly things as you fight and explore, and that absurdity and experimentation makes this action-adventure feel like a whole lot more than just another third-person hack-and-slash. After two days of hanging at developer Yellow Brick Games’ offices and goofing around with Eternal Strands’ magical repertoire, I feel as though I’ve only scratched the surface. I’m genuinely excited to see what streamers and show-offs alike are able to pull off when they get their hands on it next year.

For more, check out our impressions of the epic blacksmith boss fight from Eternal Strands, or hear from the developer about how it’s taking advantage of Unreal Engine 5’s new physics tech, and for everything else stick with IGN.

Even Fallout Shelter Is Getting a Boost From the Fallout TV Show

We’ve already reported on how the PC and console Fallout games have received a shot in the arm following the success of the Fallout TV show. Now it’s the turn of mobile game Fallout Shelter.

Fallout Shelter, a free-to-play base-building and people management sim set within the post-apocalyptic Fallout world, has seen its daily revenue skyrocket from an average of $20,000 to $80,000, mobile analysis firm Sensor Tower said, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz. Downloads of the game have more than doubled around the launch of the Prime Video show, the data also revealed, from around 20,000 to over 60,000 within three days.

Sensor Tower’s data governs the mobile version of Fallout Shelter, but other versions of the game have seen an increase in players, too. SteamDB reveals a 24-hour concurrents peak of 5,713, when pre-TV show Fallout Shelter would average a figure in the mid 1,000s.

Perhaps Fallout TV show fans have flocked to Fallout Shelter because it contains official S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats for the main characters, including Lucy (Fallout fans are trying to work out what XP level Lucy ends Season 1 with, given the events of the show.) Based on Fallout Shelter, we know Lucy’s character sheet:

  • Strength 4
  • Perception 7
  • Endurance 6
  • Charisma 5
  • Intelligence 6
  • Agility 5
  • Luck 7

If you’re wondering, here are how other characters look, courtesy of Fallout Shelter:

SteamDB reported that Bethesda’s Fallout games had more than doubled their concurrent players on Steam with the release of the Fallout TV series. That’s for Fallout 4, released in November 2015, Fallout New Vegas, released in October 2010, and Fallout 76, released in April 2020. The boost was significant enough to propel Fallout 76 to a new peak concurrent players Steam record of 39,455 — four years after it came out. Even the older, non-Bethesda developed Fallout games are enjoying a resurgence.

If you’re looking for more on the Fallout TV show, IGN has rounded up 111 details in the Fallout show that have been pulled straight from the games, leading to a season finale that sets up a new adventure in a beloved setting. And since we’re talking about Lucy here, be sure to check out How Lucy MacLean and Her “Okey Dokeys” Became Fallout’s Secret Weapon.

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.

After Palworld Was Accused of Ripping Off Pokémon, Its CEO Has Accused Other Companies of Making Palworld Clones

The boss of Pocketpair has accused Chinese game companies of making Palworld clones, saying: “These are incredible times.”

In a tweet translated by Automaton, Takuro Mizobe, CEO of PocketPair, published a screenshot of a mobile and PC game called Auroria, alongside the following statement:

“Tencent is already making a Palworld clone game! In China, many companies are simultaneously developing mobile clones of Palworld, and the budgets are in the 10 billion yen-range, 10 times larger than Palworld’s… Next year, we might see many Genshin Impact-level creature (or bishojo) raising games… These are incredible times.”

Auroria, which has a Steam page as well as mobile store pages, is developed by Chinese studio Tianjin Wumai Technology Co., Ltd. According to its description, Auroria is an open-world, multiplayer, and cooperative sandbox game in which you design a base, “survive with your pals,” and start your own interstellar travel “in a relaxed and fun way.”

Auroria sounds and, based on screenshots and trailers, looks a lot like Palworld but in a space setting. It’s set for release at some point during the second quarter of 2024, so by the end of June.

According to Automaton, Auroria is published by HK Hero Entertainment Co., Limited, and Tencent. Tencent, namechecked by Mizobe in his statement, is reportedly working on a Palword-style mobile game, but it’s not the only one. NetEase Games’ Once Human has also been compared to Palworld. This is all part of a reported drive for fresh hits as existing cash cows lose their luster.

As for Pocketpair, it was of course accused of “ripping off” Pokémon with Palworld, which is often described as “Pokémon with guns.” Palworld launched in January and overnight became one of the biggest games in the world, setting records not only on Steam but on Xbox Game Pass, where it is the biggest third-party game launch ever. So far, the $30 ‘Pokémon with guns’ game has seen an incredible 25 million players, with 15 million copies sold on Steam and 10 million players on Xbox. Mizobe has said the company couldn’t handle the massive profits Palworld has generated.

While Palworld is one of the biggest game launches ever, it’s also one of the most controversial. Pocketpair has said its staff has received death threats amid the Pokémon “rip-off” claims, which it has denied. Soon after launch, Nintendo moved quickly to remove an eye-catching Pokémon mod, then The Pokemon Company issued a statement, saying: “We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to Pokémon.” IGN asked lawyers whether Nintendo could successfully sue.

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.

Mortal Kombat 1 DLC Character Ermac Has a New Brutality Ripped Straight From Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3

Mortal Kombat 1’s upcoming DLC character Ermac has a brand new Brutality that veteran Mortal Kombat fans have recognised as being inspired by a nearly 30-year-old Fatality.

During a livestream held to show off the soul-obsessed ninja’s new telekinetic moves for Mortal Kombat 1, developer NetherRealm revealed Ermac’s new Brutality, a Telekinetic Slam that sees his hapless opponent (Reptile, in this case) repeatedly slammed into the ground until the only thing left to do is explode in a shower of gore. Check it out in the tweet video below:

In Mortal Kombat, Brutalities are special match enders that are performed with special input commands. They’re not as flashy as Mortal Kombat’s iconic Fatalities, but some players prefer them.

Veteran Mortal Kombat players instantly recognised Ermac’s new Brutality as being ripped straight from 1995’s Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, in which Ermac made his debut alongside his Telekinetic Slam Fatality. So, with Ermac’s entry into Mortal Kombat 1, NetherRealm is recreating a near 30-year-old Fatality in Brutality form. Check out a comparison clip from X/Twitter user TQT below:

The livestream also gave fans a closer look at Ermac’s redesign. When Mortal Kombat 1 developer NetherRealm revealed DLC character Ermac in the summer of 2023, it suffered a backlash from the community for what many considered to be a downgrade compared to the Mortal Kombat 11 version of the red-clad ninja.

The version of Ermac seen in the Kombat Pack reveal last year showed the character without a mask, which meant fans got a view of Ermac’s new dehydrated mummy face. But that wasn’t the only issue. Ermac’s design was seen as simplistic without much of the detail that fans love from previous versions.

Now NetherRealm has finally unveiled Ermac gameplay, it has shown the character’s improvement in design. For a start, the character now wears a mask, and appears to have a more detailed outfit. Elsewhere, Ermac’s powers now glow in teal.

Here’s the official blurb on Ermac:

Ermac is a collection of souls bound together by Quan Chi’s dark magic that are intended to function as a group mind. But that spell is temporarily undone when Ermac is defeated by Mileena and the mind of King Jerrod, deceased ruler of Outworld and one of the souls in Ermac’s collection, takes control and rejoins the royal family, aiding Empress Mileena’s reign. Eventually, the amalgam of souls reestablishes control, and Ermac retreats to Outworld’s shadows. No longer Quan Chi’s slave, nor bound to the royal family, he must find a future worth fighting for. In the new video, Ermac’s devastating moveset is on full display, including his ability to teleport, levitate, and utilize a legion of souls to grab, lift, and slam opponents to the ground.

Ermac joins Mortal Kombat 1 in Early Access form today, April 16, with a full release set for April 23. Kameo character Mavado joins the Kameo roster later in May. You need the Premium Edition or the Kombat Pack to play early. The Mortal Kombat 1 Kombat Pack includes the Jean-Claude Van Damme character skin for Johnny Cage (available now); one-week early access to six playable DLC characters – Omni-Man (available now), Quan Chi (available now), Peacemaker (available now), Ermac (coming April 16), Homelander, and Takeda Takahashi; and five DLC Kameo Fighters.

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.

Dragon Age TV Show Would Be a ‘Terrible Idea’, Says Co-Creator

Hot on the heels of the breakout success of The Last of Us and Fallout TV shows, many are wondering which video games would make a great pick for the next great series. Dragon Age is often suggested as a good candidate for the TV show treatment, but according to its co-creator, that would be a “terrible idea.”

In a series of tweets, David Gaider, who created the setting for fantasy role-playing series Dragon Age and was its lead writer while at developer BioWare, said any Dragon Age TV show would have to be “more than a rote adaptation” in order to surface what makes the game’s story unique and interesting, which, he suggested, would be unlikely.

Gaider agreed with a user who said the problem with adapting fantasy IPs like Dragon Age, Elder Scrolls, or Baldur’s Gate, “is that outside of gaming, they’re just generic fantasy from a visual style standpoint. And their hours of stories are probably better in a game then in a show.”

“Yeah, you take away the interactive element and you’re left with a pretty stock standard fantasy story,” he replied. “It would take a pretty deep dive to distill the elements of each that make them unique and interesting. Not impossible, but it would take more than a rote adaptation.”

Gaider sounded unimpressed with Dragon Age’s existing animated spin-offs, Dawn of the Seeker and Absolution, saying: “I’ve never seen them, nor am I interested to.”

He added: “As I recall, none of the folks who did the animated shows (while I worked at Bio, at any rate) were particularly interested in authenticity. My (baseless) assumption was always that the IP had been foisted on the animation team out of necessity.”

Gaider’s thoughts on Dragon Age are clear, so which video game does he think would make a good TV show? He suggested Disco Elysium, but only if it’s along the lines of the role-playing masterpiece: “I want to see a David Lynch-style (on acid) Disco Elysium,” Gaider said. “Or maybe Banishers.”

“It would need to be as weird and experimental as the game or there’d really be no point,” he added. “Which, of course, means it’d never happen, but it’s interesting to contemplate just HOW weird it could be.”

In 2020, a Disco Elysium TV show adaptation was announced as coming from the producer of the Sonic the Hedgehog movie. Developer ZA/UM reportedly partnered with dj2 Entertainment to develop the TV series, although work was described as in the early stages. Little has been said since.

As well as Dragon Age, BioWare is known for its science fiction series, Mass Effect. Over the years reports have suggested a Mass Effect adaptation was under consideration, with The Witcher star Henry Cavill even teasing his involvement. So far, nothing has come of it.

Gaider’s views on a potential Mass Effect TV show reflect his views on a potential Dragon Age TV show. Responding to tweets, he said: “Is there any way for it NOT to be just a painted over Star Trek, though? Because we’ve got plenty of Star Trek at home, kids.”

And, on a potential Mass Effect movie: “In what way would it be amazing and not something we’ve seen a dozen times, though? Do you mean ‘amazing to me, a fan already familiar with the story and universe’?”

As for Dragon Age, the next game in the series, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, is set for a reveal this summer.

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.

Helldivers 2 Patch 01.000.203 Fixes Ground Breaker Armor, Sorts Out Crashes, and More

Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has released yet another update for the PlayStation 5 and PC third-person co-op shooter, this time patch 01.000.203.

This update includes fixes to armor passives as well as various improvements to stability, Arrowhead said in the patch notes, below.

Of most interest is a fix for the CE-27 Ground Breaker medium armor, which now has the Engineer Kit passive as previously advertised. Ground Breaker was added to Helldivers 2 as part of the recently released Premium Warbond, Democratic Detonation, and players soon discovered it had the wrong passive attached.

Elsewhere, the update fixes a number of crashes and a troubling issue that caused different damage to be dealt to enemies between PC and console players. And Arrowhead has updated its helpful ‘known issues’ list to include a fix for the Superior Packing Methodology ship module, also added last week. This useful new ship upgrade makes resupply boxes refill support weapons with the maximum number of carriable magazines, so hopefully a fix is due soon.

If you’re looking for more on Helldivers 2, check out IGN’s feature on the Let Me Solo Her of Helldivers 2, a player who has answered over 100 SOS Beacons as part of a mission to help others.

Helldivers 2 has become one of the surprise hits of 2024 since launching in February, topping the charts on Steam and reportedly selling around three million copies. According to at least one analyst, it’s still growing. Check out IGN’s Helldivers 2 review to find out why it’s going down so well.

Helldivers 2 update 01.000.203 patch notes:
Overview

This update includes

  • Fixes to armor passives.
  • Various improvements to stability.

Gameplay

  • CE-27 Ground Breaker armor now has the Engineer Kit passive as previously advertised.

Fixes

  • Fixed an issue that resulted in different damage being dealt enemies between PC and console players.
  • Red boxes in defense missions are no longer visible.
  • Major orders should now properly display text.
  • Fixed multiple crashes that could occur in the loadout screen when other players left or joined the game.
  • Fixed multiple crashes that could occur after extraction when the mission results and rewards were shown.
  • Fixed crash which could occur when throwing back a grenade while wielding a heat-based weapon.
  • Fixed crash that could occur when hosting a play session migrates to another player.
  • Fixed crash that could occur if too many civilians spawn.
  • Fixed various other crashes that could occur when deploying to mission.
  • Fixed various other crashes that could occur during gameplay.

Known Issues
These are issues that were either introduced by this patch and are being worked on, or are from a previous version and have not yet been fixed. This list is not exhaustive, and we are continuing to identify issues and create fixes. These are organized by feedback, reports, severity, etc.

  • Superior Packing Methodology ship module does not work properly.
  • Players may be unable to navigate to the search results in the Social Menu.
  • Various issues involving friend invites and cross-play:
    • Player name may show up blank on the other player’s friend list.
    • Friend Request cannot be accepted when the requesting player changed their username before the request was accepted.
    • Cross-platform friend invites might not show up in the Friend Requests tab.
    • Players cannot unfriend players befriended via friend code.
    • Players cannot unblock players that were not in their Friends list beforehand.
  • Damage-over-time effects may only apply when dealt by the host.
  • Players may experience delays in Medals and Super Credits payouts.
  • Enemies that bleed out do not progress Personal Orders and Eradicate missions.
  • Certain weapons like Sickle cannot shoot through foliage.
  • Scopes on some weapons such as the Anti-Materiel Rifle are slightly misaligned.
  • Arc weapons sometimes behave inconsistently and sometimes misfire.
  • Spear’s targeting is inconsistent, making it hard to lock-on to larger enemies.
  • Stratagem beam might attach itself to an enemy but it will deploy to its original location.
  • Explosions do not break your limbs (except for when you fly into a rock).
  • Area around Automaton Detector Tower makes blue stratagems such as the Hellbomb bounce and be repelled when trying to call them down close to the tower.
  • Planet liberation reaches 100% at the end of every Defend mission.

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.

Stellar Blade X NieR: Automata: Yoko Taro and Hyung-Tae Kim on How Their Blockbusters Inspire One Another

Stellar Blade creative director Hyung-Tae Kim has previously stated that Square Enix’s NieR: Automata helped him rediscover the kind of game he wants to make.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world with an anime-esque sword-wielding female protagonist, Stellar Blade’s inspiration sources didn’t go unnoticed when its first trailer was released as Project Eve back in 2021. Now, almost two years later, the PlayStation 5 exclusive is almost ready for release on April 26.

As stated in our preview, while its setting and aesthetics indeed show similarities with NieR: Automata, we thought that Stellar Blade’s challenging combat also draws from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Stellar Blade feels like a high-quality product that acquired uniqueness through its many inspirations.

IGN Japan sat down at Stellar Blade’s development studio Shift Up in Seoul, South Korea, with Kim and NieR: Automata director Yoko Taro, who flew over from Japan to discuss the game. Kim and Yoko talked about their similarities as developers, and mutual respect could be felt throughout the conversation. They discussed a wide array of matters ranging from the current state of Asian video games to why they wanted to make video games in the first place. While their comments were often frank, they spoke with an easy jocularity and self-deprecating humor that belied a deep mutual respect.

Mr. Kim, in a previous interview you told us that NieR:Automata helped you rediscover the kind of game that you want to create. This became the trigger for today’s discussion with Mr. Yoko. First of all, what elements of NieR:Automata inspired you the most?

Hyung-Tae Kim, Director, Stellar Blade: I have been inspired by NieR: Automata in so many ways that it’s hard to point out one specific thing. The game has so many fascinating elements. The image of a strong female warrior in a devastated world left by its inhabitants struck me. I was also impressed by the quality of the story. I enjoyed playing the game so much and of course I saw all the endings. However, since Mr. Yoko’s talent as a storyteller is exceptional I can’t do anything similar. Besides the bigger plot and structure, Stellar Blade’s story is different from NieR: Automata. When I first saw NieR: Automata, it really inspired me in many ways including the gameplay. Mr. Yoko, since you were kind enough to come over today, do I understand correctly that you approve of a game that is so highly inspired by your work?

I have been inspired by NieR:Automata in so many ways that it’s hard to point out one specific thing

Yoko Taro, Director, Nier: Automata: Stellar Blade is a really amazing game. I’d say that it’s much better than NieR:Automata. I have been acquainted with Mr. Kim’s works since Magna Carta: Tears of Blood. Your illustrations are of a very high quality. Magna Carta: Tears of Blood came out before Drakengard, the first game I directed. So while I’m the older one, to me, in this industry you’re my senior.

Kim: Really? Should I behave a bit more superior then?

Yoko: In Japan, you’re well known by gamers as a legendary developer! When Blade & Soul came out, I remember being amazed by its 3D graphics. I think you directed the game’s art. Not just the illustrations, but also the 3D models were very well done. I was surprised by the quality of Korean games when I saw it.

Kim: I always simply create what I want to create. But without talented staff, I wouldn’t have been able to make games like that. Do I sound modest enough?

Mr. Yoko, it has to be said that you are also well known for your unique vision as a developer. This was already apparent in Drakengard, your first project as director. Was it a long road to become a director?

Yoko: Actually, the person that was directing it at the time became busy with another project. I was asked to take over, so reaching the position of director happened quite naturally. At the time, Square Enix asked me to make a game like Dynasty Warriors, but set in a fantasy world. I thought that would be challenging to pull off, but since I was getting paid I said, “I’ll do it.” There weren’t any instructions for the world setting and scenario, so I simply did what I wanted in those areas. I think this resulted in a quite unique product. It was a very dark scenario, and I remember being asked why that was necessary. It ended in a fight (between Yoko and Square Enix). Speaking of which, Mr. Kim, I wanted to ask you if there were any fights with Sony Interactive Enteratainment (SIE), since they are publishing Stellar Blade.

Kim: (Glances at SIE staff members in the room and laughs.) The people at SIE are… very, very nice!

Yoko: SIE’s staff members are pulling faces I’ve never seen before. I wish the readers of this article could see it!

Let’s not go too far in this direction, shall we? Mr. Yoko, you said that you think Stellar Blade is much better than NieR:Automata. What makes you think so?

Yoko: The graphics are completely next-gen quality and the character design’s direction is amazing. The cool male characters and cute female characters unique to Mr. Kim’s style are really appealing. Shops in RPGs often have a close-up shot of the shopkeeper, which I don’t like because I think it feels unnatural. Stellar Blade has a shot like that too, but the shopkeeper was so cute that I didn’t mind! Her cuteness felt more important than any design choices.

Kim: Actually, this has been a problem for us. Many users say that the girl at that shop is cuter than the main character… I guess we need to make her the main character in our next game.

Yoko: It’s just a matter of taste. Stellar Blade’s protagonist EVE is really appealing too. Your art style really appeals to a Japanese audience. Stellar Blade’s graphics, setting and characters are really a style I think Japanese gamers love. If you were to show someone that has no prior knowledge NieR: Automata and Stellar Blade, I think almost all of them would pick Stellar Blade. A white-haired character like 2B is not as conventional.

Kim: I guess I would get in trouble if I agreed with that statement. Seriously though, for me, NieR: Automata is like an inviolable holy grace. The visuals and story are so special that it is simply not possible to imitate. Stellar Blade is Shift Up’s first console title. Please see us as a cute new kid on the block.

Mr. Kim, what do you think it is that makes 2B such a special character?

Kim: From her white hair to her eye patch and her black clothes with white stitches, everything about her is appealing to me. At the time, her character design was quite different from what was trending, but she still became beloved by many players. Now, both her looks and personally have created a new stream. She has become a brand of her own, which is a real achievement.

Mr. Yoko, how did you come up with such an unconventional character as 2B?

Yoko: In a battle action game with a sci-fi setting, a conventional character would be a male character that shoots a gun, wearing clothes reminiscent of the United States Marine Corps. But there’s already Halo and other games like that. It didn’t make sense for me to make something like that. I wouldn’t be able to do that better than Western developers anyway, since we’re further away from that culturally. I wanted to make a different style of game that has less competition. That’s why we went for a sci-fi battle action game with a female protagonist clad in black and blindfolded. At the time there wasn’t anything like it, but now that Stellar Blade is about to enter the room I feel it will soon become a crowded market!

Kim: Your games are way too unique to be imitated. I wouldn’t worry.

I wanted to make a different style of game that has less competition. That’s why we went for a sci-fi battle action game with a female protagonist clad in black and blindfolded.

Yoko: People never praise me like that in Japan. South Korea is such a nice country! Actually, I kind of knew that Stellar Blade was going to be compared with NieR: Automata, and I told Mr. Kim when we first met. If you actually play it, you’ll instantly realize that it’s a very different game, but a delicate female character doing cool action is bound to draw comparisons. If Stellar Blade would have been the same game with a macho male character, I think people wouldn’t have pointed out the similarities. It just happens to be that there are not many games with a similar style.

Kim: I agree. There simply aren’t many games with a female warrior fighting in a post-apocalyptic setting. NieR:Automata had a very big influence on me, so I can understand that people get NieR: Automata vibes. But actually I was inspired by many other things as well, mainly manga, anime and games from the 1980s and ’90s. I think that the people that enjoyed culture from that era will feel nostalgic when playing Stellar Blade. I’m not the kind of developer who is skilled at implementing the newest trends. Stellar Blade is simply a culmination of inspirations from my favorite culture and reinterpreting that for modern times.

Mr. Kim has mentioned Battle Angel Alita and Blade Runner as works he was inspired by. How about you, Mr. Yoko?

Yoko: The work I was most inspired by is Neon Genesis Evangelion. I thank you for praising NieR: Automata’s story, but actually it’s pretty much just a retelling of Evangelion, so there’s not much originality to it. I don’t really watch recent movies, so I’m mostly inspired by memories of works I saw in the past.

Kim: I was inspired by Evangelion as well. It’s not easy to create something that surpasses your inspiration source. In that regard, NieR:Automata has a unique taste that only you could make. I really envy that. I’m a visualist and not a storyteller. I have always focused on how something looks, so I can’t compare to Mr. Yoko when it comes to the story department, but I believe that Stellar Blade’s gameplay makes up for that shortcoming.

Mr. Yoko mentioned that he went for a less conventional character as a business decision, which I find interesting as he is widely seen as an auteur. How about you, Mr. Kim? Can you be business-minded when working on your games?

Kim: I try to find the right balance between business and development. For some games I take a business approach, for others I don’t. Stellar Blade is one of the latter. This time I made something I genuinely like. I’m not particularly gifted as a businessman, so rather than analyzing the market and monitoring the numbers, I tend to just make what I like and what I believe gamers will enjoy.

Yoko: So you make games as an artist without thinking about business too much and still have your own company with 300 employees, while I think about business all the time and don’t even have my own company yet? That’s strange… I guess it’s because I’ve been a slave to Square Enix for so many years. Or I guess I should say I was enslaved by Yosuke Saito, NieR’s producer. It’s all his fault! Haha.

This time I made something I genuinely like

Kim: Isn’t that a little dangerous to say!? There are many people that help me out with business decisions. The team does all the hard work while I walk around greeting people and pretending to be a professional. The business side is in safe hands this way, haha.

Yoko: I don’t have any friends that would do that for me. I guess my human qualities can’t compare with yours either.

Mr. Yoko, how do you find the right balance between business and creativity?

Yoko: For me, it depends on the phase of development. I start with thinking about the business side, but by the end not much anymore. So at first I listen to what the publisher wants from me, but later I don’t.

Kim: That sounds like a great strategy!.

Let’s switch topics again. Mr. Kim mentioned that he believes Stellar Blade’s gameplay makes up for his shortcomings as a storyteller. Mr. Yoko, what did you think of Stellar Blade’s action?

Yoko: It’s a lot of fun. At first, I couldn’t beat the first stage’s boss. The action is very deep. Overcoming challenges by mastering the action felt great. In NieR:Automata, the action is much simpler, but there’s a reason for that. Since many of Square Enix’s audience are RPG players, many of them aren’t that familiar with action games and they prefer to focus on the story. This is why we went for simple gameplay that can easily make the player feel good. Stellar Blade is a much more challenging game, which I thought was interesting.

Kim: We do have a Story Mode for players less used to action games, and there are quite a few support features to help such players. I don’t think we made it too difficult. Actually, I’m not very good at action games either, so I didn’t want to make a game that I can’t beat myself. I encourage players to not be intimidated and just give it a try. During development, I complained about the difficulty if I couldn’t advance to the next segment, but one of the planners showed me how easy it was for them. They said, “Look, it’s already this easy – making it even easier wouldn’t feel right.” But I wanted to be sure that the game wasn’t too difficult in my own eyes. I want every type of player to be able to enjoy the game and see it through to the end. Stellar Blade is a game that has a lot more to offer than just combat, so I hope RPG players will give it a try too.

Yoko: I’ll play Stellar Blade on Story Mode and use all the support features when it releases.

So you both want players to be able to casually enjoy your games. At the same time, due to the rise of the Soulsborne genre, we are living in a period in which it’s OK for games to be difficult. With Final Fantasy XVI being developed as a pure action game, Square Enix’s games are leaning more and more toward the action genre as well. How do you approach game design and difficulty balance in such a climate?

Kim: When it comes to how difficult a game should be, I think that there is no correct answer. It’s true that there are more and more difficult games due to the popularity of Soulsborne games, and I have been inspired by the genre myself. That being said, since games like that usually have no difficulty settings, it is extremely hard to get the perfect difficulty balance. For Stellar Blade, we wanted a game that can satisfy players who want a challenge as well as players who want to focus on the story, and we did our best to get the balance right for that.

Yoko: When looking at Soulsborne games from a business perspective, you can see that FromSoftware invented the idea of selling difficulty as a product. Until then, it was the trend to make things more casual and stress-free, but they made stress in itself a product. However, since this is Hidetaka Miyazaki’s invention, I don’t see any reason to try to copy that. I would rather invent something different instead.

While NieR:Automata might have been made intentionally simple, it does have that quality of smooth-feeling control you would expect from a game codeveloped by PlatinumGames. I would like to know what Mr. Kim thought about NieR:Automata’s action.

Kim: I think that NieR:Automata’s action is a simplified version of PlatinumGames’ combat logic. I see it as the ideal entry point for PlatinumGames newcomers and anyone can pick up and play. I think that after playing NieR:Automata, many gamers got hooked to their stylish action… Oh sorry, am I sounding like a commercial for PlatinumGames right now? Bayonetta 2 is one of my favorite games of all time, so I really want players to discover their games.

Speaking of Bayonetta, while a bit different as a character, she is yet another female protagonist known for her stylish action. Was that part of the reason that Mr. Yoko wanted to work together with PlatinumGames for NieR: Automata?

Yoko: No, that wasn’t part of the reason. Even though Bayonetta is an action game that features a female protagonist, I think it’s quite different. To me, the fact that she never takes off her glasses is what makes her unique as a character. Her style is quite different from 2B.

Kim: With Mr. Yoko’s vision and Akihiko Yoshida’s design, NieR:Automata has such a strong and unique flavor to it. The more we talk about it, I keep feeling that Stellar Blade cannot compete.

Yoko: I wouldn’t say that. Stellar Blade actually makes me quite jealous. It’s a game with a great concept and amazing graphics. The product shows how you and your studio’s staff were working on it very hard together. As someone who works together with development studios as an outsider, it’s not possible to share my vision and ideas for details at the same level as you can. I really envy that.

Stellar Blade actually makes me quite jealous. It’s a game with a great concept and amazing graphics

Kim: I think it’s very important to be in the same room when developing games. I believe that you worked on NieR:Automata at PlatinumGames’ office to directly collaborate with their team. Sitting next to each other, discussing things, sharing opinions and solving problems together is crucial if you want to actually finish your game. For players, it might look like a lot of consumer games are released every year, but even more games end up stranded no matter how hard you worked on it. Being able to finish making a game at all feels like a miracle.

Yoko: It’s definitely true that releasing a game is a lot more difficult than most consumers think. Being able to make it to the store shelves alone is something I have respect for. By the way, I just remembered another element of Stellar Blade that impressed me. There’s a strange old man who appears at some point. His character model is extremely well done. It’s the same with illustrations, but while 3D models for attractive young characters is something any game has, doing the same for older characters demands a lot more skill. A game that can depict a convincing old man just has to be good.

Kim: Games developed in Asia often use cel-shaded graphics and other forms of stylized art, rather than focusing on realism. The same can be said for Stellar Blade, but at the same time we did put an emphasis on getting the most out of next-gen engines to aim for high-quality visuals. We developed the game while improving our technology, and I think it is fair to say that we can confidently release Stellar Blade standing side by side with other high-profile games. However, development of technology and using more realistic assets is very expensive. You have to use a tremendous amount of money if you want the graphics to look just a little bit above a certain level. This is a difficult issue our industry is facing right now.

Although the end was already in sight, when both of you directed your first game in the early 2000s, Japan was still seen as the big leader of the video game industry. Now, 20 years later, while Japanese games have seen a big revival, there are still some elements where Japan is falling behind. Especially when it comes to graphics, very few Japanese studios deliver games that look as polished as Stellar Blade. How do you see the power balance between Japanese games and South Korean games today?

Yoko: Japan found success with not just games, but also anime and manga early on. After being exported to the West and other Asian countries, games, manga and anime have evolved in their own ways in each region respectively. As for games, it has proven difficult for Japanese companies to implement Western systems. Japan has a long history with companies developing their own engines, and it was hard to move away from that. We were very late with incorporating rendering tools and middleware from the West. Even to this day, many schools don’t teach this to new developers. I think that Japanese people are not good at adapting technology from overseas. Chinese and South Korean games were much faster to use engines like Unreal for games with a Japanese aesthetic.”

Kim: What you say may be true, but it has to be said that Japanese games have a huge presence in 2024. It is no understatement to say that Japanese content is completely back on top. Big anticipated titles that will be released later in the year, I think things look very positive. China has great momentum as well. They have a lot of hits, especially when it comes to mobile games. I think their momentum is so great that they might have more hits on their hands then anywhere else right now for mobile games. South Korean developers have a tendency to follow trends. If there’s some new popular thing, everyone tends to go in that direction. I have the impression that most developers here have tended to lean on mobile MMO games even more recently, but I think it’s important to release games for other platforms too. We have been making mobile games here at Shift Up too, but I’m happy that we can release Stellar Blade as a PS5 exclusive. I hope it can trigger more South Korean studios to develop for other platforms.

Until about 10 years ago, console games were mostly either from the West or from Japan. Today, other Asian countries such as China, South Korea and Taiwan have become strong competitors. What kind of differences do you think can be seen in the aesthetics, fashion and so on between games from different Asian countries?

Kim: I don’t think I can completely grasp the difference per country, but I think that today Chinese games actually understand best what otaku gamers want. There are Chinese games that seem to incorporate these elements even better than Japanese games, which I find fascinating. I myself am not talented enough to follow the same direction, so I hope that by adding my own distinct taste, our games can be enjoyed by a wide audience.

Yoko: I didn’t try to make NieR: Automata a game for the otaku audience either. The project started with the decision of moving away from Western macho games. This resulted in a game about an attractive female character wielding a sword, which might look like something for otaku, but I think NieR: Automata’s world building isn’t leaning in that direction. You might remember that there are abandoned futuristic buildings in the game. We gave them a futuristic look rather than something contemporary because it is easier to fake it that way. People know what contemporary architecture looks like, so it is easy to notice if something looks off. You don’t have the same problem with futuristic architecture. I think the two main reasons behind NieR:Automata looking like something with otaku appeal came from the limited budget and the fact that we wanted to move away from Western conventions.

Are there any parts in Stellar Blade that you think Japanese developers wouldn’t have been able to come up with?

Yoko: I wouldn’t say that we’re not able to come up with it, but we can’t keep up with the level of technology anymore. Stellar Blade is of a really high technological level, to the extent that I’m looking forward to seeing how Western gamers will react to it. NieR: Automata’s camera was from a pretty far-off angle and it wasn’t of the same standard as high-profile Western games. In that regard, I think that Stellar Blade has crossed a big barrier. The quality of not just the characters but also the environments is also on par with Western games. I’m honored to hear that you were inspired by NieR: Automata when creating Stellar Blade, but I hope that in the future we can see Western games inspired by Stellar Blade.

Kim: I’m very flattered to hear that, but I believe that the quality of Japanese games is still top class. Japanese developers know how to differentiate themselves from their Western counterparts. I think that NieR: Automata is so beloved throughout the world for the very reason of it being different from Western games.

Both of you are developers with fans throughout the world. I would like to end this interview by going back to the roots. What originally inspired you to make games?

Yoko: The first time I knew I wanted to make games was when I played Gradius. The games I had played until then all just had one background screen. When you beat a stage in games like Space Invaders, Xevious and Dig Dug, you just got a new challenge on the same screen. But in Gradius, the scenery changed as I progressed through different stages, and it even had an ending. It made me realize that games could tell stories. I knew that computers were going to become more powerful over the years, which led me to thinking that movies and television were eventually going to be completely replaced by interactive media. I thought that video games were the future and that movies and television were going to die out.

The latter didn’t happen. My prediction was wrong, but it did function as the first reason for me to want to make games. That’s why whenever I make a game, I hope to be able to do something new that people haven’t seen before, just like how Gradius did the same for me.

Kim: Many of you have probably never heard of it, but Psychic World and Valis: The Fantasm Soldier [A3] are some of the first games that impressed me. Both games were created in the MSX era and feature female protagonists. It was a new discovery for me that you could fight as attractive females in a game, and I wanted to make something similar myself. NieR: Automata was an important inspiration for Stellar Blade, but a game by Capcom called P.N.03 played a big role as well. The female protagonist in that game inspired EVE’s action style. I have been inspired by so many different works of art. I hope that Stellar Blade can inspire someone one day as well.

Stellar Blade is set to release for PlayStation 5 on April 26.

Esra Krabbe is an editor at IGN Japan

Keanu Reeves Will Voice Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

We finally know who will be voicing Shadow in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and it’s reportedly a big name: Keanu Reeves.

The news comes from a THR report today, which says multiple sources have confirmed the casting to the outlet. IGN has reached out to Paramount Pictures and Reeves’ reps for comment.

As news has slowly trickled out about the upcoming sequel, the question of who would be playing Shadow the Hedgehog has easily been one of the biggest ones. And fittingly, the reveal comes just a few days after Sega dubbed 2024 “Fearless: Year of Shadow” in anticipation of Sonic x Shadow Generations, in addition to Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Reeves joins returning cast members James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Lee Majdoub, Idris Elba, and Jim Carrey (something of a surprise, as Carrey previously said he was seriously considering retiring from acting after Sonic the Hedgehog 2). Krysten Ritter, Alyla Browne, James Wolk, Sofia Pernas, Cristo Fernández, and Jorma Taccone will also be joining the cast.

It’s another big franchise for John Wick’s Reeves, as well as yet another video game connection for the actor who played Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077. Reeves has been dabbling more in voice work in recent years too, having voiced Batman in 2022’s DC League of Super-Pets and Duke Caboom in Toy Story 4.

The Sonic the Hedgehog movies have been gradually introducing the most beloved characters of the franchise to Paramount’s film series, with Tails and Knuckles joining the fray in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Idris Elba’s portrayal of the latter was such a hit that the echidna is getting his own series on Paramount+ later this month.

Warning: Spoiler for the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 below.

The highly anticipated addition of Shadow was teased in the post-credits scene of Sonic 2, and there’s little doubt that he’ll have a big role in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Browne recently confirmed that she’ll be playing Maria Robotnik, a key character in Shadow’s backstory, in Sonic 3.

We’ll learn a whole lot more when Sonic the Hedgehog 3 debuts in theaters on December 20, 2024.

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.