EA have made a tweak to the Battlefield 6 open beta’s rush, and are keeping tabs on the situation in case it needs more balancing changes. This comes as some FPS folks and Battlefield vets have voiced their displeasure with the version of the mode that’s debuted in this second weekend of beta action.
The biggest moans are related to size. Namely the amount of players on each side in these revamped rush battles and the relatively small maps they’re being contested on. As you might imagine, those two elements being a bit titchier in scale than previous Battlefields has also had knock on effects for other aspects of the mode.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers got its 1.5 Patch this week, bringing multiple quality-of-life improvements to the Soulslike, but also story and boss adjustments which appear to have been made to appease Chinese netizens.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition is out now, and of course modders are already pushing it to its limits. But the way they’re doing it is a lot of fun — and is perhaps the closest we’ll get to seeing a Waaagh! visualized on-screen.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is Relic Entertainment’s much-loved real-time strategy game set in Games Workshop’s grim dark sci-fi universe. It launched in 2004 and proved to be an entry point into the Warhammer 40,000 universe for a generation of PC gamers, while also pleasing existing fans with its authentic representation of the setting.
Now, over 20 years later, Dawn of War returns in Definitive Edition form, and some of the modders who have spent years tinkering with the original are excitedly moving over to this new version to see what it’s capable of.
Much of this early testing is being done by people involved with Dawn of War’s wonderful Unification Mod, which lets users seamlessly combine almost all community-created races. Within hours of Definitive Edition’s release this week, modders started seeing how many Ork Boyz they could spawn in-game before it crashes, because, well… what else would Ork Boyz do?
One member of the Unification Discord, Gunnisson, led the charge by summoning Ork Boyz as soon as they got their hands on the Definitive Edition:
Then, a progress update at nearly 1,000 Boyz spawned:
Over 3,000, and according to Gunnisson: “They’re pathing through each other exceptionally well.”
The Ork count kept on increasing, to the point where, after more than 10,000 Orks, Dawn of War hit single-digit frames per second and became unplayable. But it still ran! “I mean, 10,000+ models on screen, I call that a win for performance and stability,” Gunnisson said.
Gunnisson was eventually able to make 47,504 Ork Boyz “before the game died.” It took over seven hours, they said, while publishing the screenshot below: “At the end it was still chugging along at 10 seconds-per-frame.”
“Performance is fantastic,” Gunnisson added. “It took a lot of corpses to start impacting.” Then: “I’m hyped to try some big matches.”
This is a herculean effort, and for Warhammer 40,000 fans is about as close as we’ll get to a good old Waaagh! For the uninitiated, this is the name given to the wonderful moment when enough Orks gain enough collective momentum to launch devastating system-wide invasions. The Orks don’t really understand what’s going on or why it’s going on — they’re just happy they’re in a massive scrap — but for anyone on the receiving end, it’s bad news indeed.
In a post on Steam to mark the release of the Definitive Edition, Relic thanked modders for helping to test the game ahead of launch.
“We want to say a huge thank you to our community modders who we have been working with for many months,” Relic said. “They’ve put in a lot of work both in helping us to support legacy mods, and in readying their own mods for the Definitive Edition.”
It’s exciting to imagine what modders will be able to do with the Definitive Edition in the coming years as they get to grips with the game. As Gunnisson suggested, massive battles involving tens of thousands of units may now be possible, if the game can stand up to it. Perhaps then we’ll get truly lore accurate body counts.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Cast your mind back to 2022 and you might remember Dark Deity, the fantasy turn-based RPG that took more than a little inspiration from Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Fast forward to the present day and we have Dark Deity 2, the second entry in the series which looks just as tied to the Nintendo touchstone.
This one launched on PC earlier this year, but developer Sword and Axe and publisher Indie.io have announced that it will also be making its way to Switch on 4th September, and we can’t help but feel that it’s a good fit.
Diablo 4 fans believe Blizzard has leaked the action RPG’s next class via an internal build name.
Wowhead reported that the Paladin class, perhaps the most-requested by fans since Diablo 4’s June 2023 release, is coming soon, potentially even as part of Season 11. That’s because the word Paladin was found in the name of a build uploaded to Blizzard’s servers (2.5.Xpaladin67961).
The Paladin is one of the most popular classes from Diablo 2, so its arrival in Diablo 4, should it happen, would be celebrated by the game’s community. Now, this may be nothing (and Diablo 4 fans are already joking that the Paladin will be added as a Mercenary rather than a new class), but a new class is expected from Diablo 4’s second expansion, and the Paladin would certainly be a crowd-pleaser.
Diablo 4 hit the headlines last week after development chief Rod Fergusson announced his exit from Blizzard. “After five years of driving the Diablo franchise forward with four big launches, it’s time for me to step away from Blizzard/Microsoft, sword in hand, and see what’s next,” Fergusson wrote. “The teams are set up for success, with an exciting slate of releases ahead. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together and looking forward to what comes next for Diablo, and for me.”
Then, this week, Blizzard’s Story and Franchise Development team (SFD) voted in favor of unionization with the Communications Workers of America. “After more than a decade working at Blizzard, I’ve seen all the highs and lows,” said organizing committee member and principal editor Bucky Fisk. “For years, Blizzard has been a place where people could build their careers and stay for decades, but that stability’s been fading. With a union, we’re able to preserve what makes this place special, secure real transparency in how decisions are made, and make sure policies are applied fairly to everyone.”
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Floating amid the scrap belts of space, some news. Hardspace: Shipbreaker is now owned by developers Blackbird Interactive, with the studio having bought control of the ship-stripping sim from publishers Saber Interactive. They’re not having a rest after cracking open that bubbly either, writing that “multiple Hardspace projects” are in development.
Blackbird revealed all of this via a Steam post, writing that they’ve “reached an agreement with Focus Entertainment, our publishing partner, to reacquire full ownership of the Hardspace: Shipbreaker intellectual property”. So, as you might expect, doing plenty of Hardspacey things is going to be a big part of the studio’s plans going forwards.
McDonald’s has announced fresh restrictions aimed at combating scalpers, as it launches the next wave of its enormously popular Pokémon promotion in Japan.
The incident meant McDonald’s ran out of its cards within hours of its three-day promotion going live, forcing the burger brand to apologise to Pokémon fans left empty-handed. And now, McDonald’s has gone further — with new rules regarding the availability of Pokémon merchandise in Happy Meals applied from today.
“We deeply apologize to our customers who regularly use McDonald’s restaurants, as well as to our store staff and many others for any inconvenience caused by the Happy Set Pokémon Card Campaign,” McDonald’s wrote in a new statement released this morning.
“We will continue to release the Pokémon Happy Meals, which include five different toys, as scheduled from Friday, August 15. However, in light of the current situation, we will be implementing the following purchase restrictions for three days until Sunday, August 17th.”
These restrictions include a maximum purchase of three Happy Meals per group (this was previously higher, and per person). “If you order four or more,” McDonald’s now says, “we will refuse your purchase and cancel the order.”
“Furthermore, during this period, there may be restrictions on use at some stores and during certain hours,” the chain continued. “We will not allow purchases from customers who do not follow the above rules and etiquette.”
The biggest difference with the coming weekend’s promotion, however, is that it no longer features Pokémon cards at all — just Pokémon toys.
On scalping specifically, McDonald’s said it “does not tolerate the purchase of Happy Meals for the purpose of resale, or the abandonment or disposal of food,” in a direct response to the activities of some customers last weekend. However, it’s unclear how the chain can and will be able to enforce this. Still, what’s obvious is the brand has taken note of the social media outrage — and the disappointment among young Pokémon fans and families at not being able to get cards.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to customers who look forward to dining with their children, grandchildren, or friends due to these purchase restrictions,” McDonald’s concluded. “We will continue to review and improve these sales methods and measures, listening to the opinions of our customers and store staff.”
Since the announcement of Borderlands 4 for the Switch 2, we’ve had a number of updates from Randy Pitchford and the team at Gearbox Software about what exactly fans can expect.
Following the news last month the game would run at “mostly” 30fps (instead of 60fps) on Nintendo’s new hybrid hardware, we’ve now got another Switch 2-related update. This was spotted in the game’s official FAQ, which was updated earlier this month.
The first striking thing about Aetheris is its strange and colourful look. The second thing that strikes about Aetheris is the gorgeous animations and storybook trappings of its presentation, even in its loading screen transitions. The third is the strange vulnerability radiating from the village of lizardy people you’re responsible for, and the parties you form with them. The fourth striking thing is that this a roguelike, it’s a bloody roguelike isn’t it, oh goddamn it.
It also binds the spacebar to “accept”, something I learned by accidentally starting a bossfight in a terrible position that threw a whole party away. Or would have, if not for the ol’ ctrleffor. I will never be stopped.
The fact that I kept playing instead of sulking and libelling a random CEO is a hint: I bloody love Aetheris.
When it comes to planning out a game night, you can never go wrong with a murder mystery game. Even in a world where virtual party games exist online, nothing quite beats having a physical board game for game night. Mystery board games are fun for everyone involved, giving guests a thrilling whodunit throughout the night to keep people engaged and on their toes. What’s more, there are numerous types of board games within this genre to choose from, whether you want a classic game of Clue to play with the whole family, or something more involved to play with friends like One Night Ultimate Werewolf.
TL;DR: These are the Best Murder Mystery Games
In this board game shopping guide, we’ve collected some of our favorite murder mystery games that are well worth picking up for your next game night. Although selected with adults in mind, each one offers a unique experience and can be played with a wide range of players so you can find one that best fits your crew and vibe! Which ones have you played?
One of the most well known board games in general, Clue is a classic murder mystery game that can be played with up to 6 players. Each player is a suspect as you gather information to try and unravel the mystery behind who killed Mr. Boddy of Tudor Mansion, along with pinpointing where he was killed and with what weapon. A classic detective game for the whole fam and one of the best family board games you can buy.
There are a lot of different versions of this game available in 2025, including an Advent calendar version you play all month long.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
Werewolf is a beloved game that’s great for big groups, but One Night Ultimate Werewolf takes it in a thrilling, fast-paced direction with no moderator, no elimination, and no downtime. Play a quick round with up to 10 people and solve the mystery of who’s the Werewolf over the course of one night.
This game takes solving a murder mystery to a new level, as one player takes on the role of a restless ghost who assists the rest of the players, who take on the role of psychics, to help figure out who their killer is. It can be played with up to 7 players and will take you just over 40 minutes to play through. It’s the perfect mix of mystery and horror board game.
Exit: The Game – Dead Man on The Orient Express
Exit: The Game brings the Escape Room setup into your own home. With this story, you’ll need to step into your Agatha Christie shoes to solve the case before the train reaches its destination. It can only be played once, though, as you’ll need to dig into the case materials in the box to write down notes, fold, and cut different materials.
If you’re interested in this type of game, we’ve researched a variety of other escape room board games you may also like.
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective – The Thames Murders & Other Cases
In a similar vein of classic detectives and stories, the Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective – The Thames Murders & Other Cases game is another way to step into those shoes to solve a case. This one in particular features 10 detailed mysteries in total to solve around Victorian London, so you can keep the murder mystery game nights going for a while or play completely solo. The Sherlock Holmes board game series are a bit more challenging than a classic whodunit – best for ages 12+ – but many adults find it hard too!
If you find yourself really enjoying the theme of this game, we recommend you also check out our guide to the Sherlock Holmes books in order. Arthur Conan Doyles original stories are what started it all.
Hunt a Killer – Death at The Dive Bar
For true crime fans, this game is one to add to your collection. Hunt a Killer – Death at the Dive Bar is an immersive puzzle game that can be played with 1 or more players and involves you solving the death of a local bar owner named Nick Webster. It’ll take you about 45-60 minutes to work through as well.
As a brand, Hunt a Killer has a ton of different options to choose from. So if you don’t like this particular mystery, you can check out the website for everything currently available.
University Games Murder Mystery Party Case Files: Underwood Cellars
For those who want an even more in-depth murder mystery to solve, the Underwood Cellars Murder Mystery Party Case Files will take you about 2 hours or longer to get through. While playing, you’ll need to figure out what happened to famed Napa winemaker Cary Underwood, whose body was recently found after disappearing 20 years ago.
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
Unlike a few of the games listed above, Deception: Murder in Hong Kong will only take you a quick 20 minutes. Similar to Werewolf, this is a game where you and a group of people try to narrow down who commited the murder. Players take on the role of Murderer, Accomplice, Forensic Scientist, Witness, and Investigators, with each having an interesting part to play in the mystery.
13 Dead End Drive
This game is another classic murder mystery board game for everyone to enjoy, especially since it’s a bit like a board game version of Knives Out. In this game, Aunt Agatha has passed away, and without any surviving relatives, she’s left her vast fortune up for grabs. Only one will inherit it… will it be you? Play with up to four players and set traps to get rid of the competition.
MicroMacro: Crime City
Not only is this game filled with 16 different cases to solve, but solving them has an interesting Where’s Waldo element as well. You’ll need a keen eye to track everything down, but a magnifying glass is included with the box so you can get in close to investigate every detail. You can play with up to four people and it’ll take you between 15-45 minutes to complete.
Rear Window
Based on Hitchcock’s famous thriller movie of the same name, this riffs on Mysterium’s structure. One player is the director, who draws a random selection of people to live in four apartments and some associated characteristics for them. They then have to use a limited selection of images to try and communicate to the other players, without words, who it is that lives in which apartment. Except this game has a colossal potential twist: sometimes, but not always, there’s also a murder to solve. In this instance the game is no longer a cosy cooperative affair as the director can win if the murder stays secret, while the other players gain a team victory if they can work it out. It’s an intriguing twist that makes every game a tightrope worthy of the master of suspense himself.
Cryptic Killers: Murder of a Millionaire
Cryptic Killers is an enormously popular series of murder mystery cases that you can either solve solo or cooperatively. Murder of a Millionaire was the first in the franchise, leveraging a cunning range of visual and text clues, alongside frustrating red herrings, to present you with the case of Chloe, a lottery winner found dead in the park. You’ll need to solve logic puzzles as well as interweave vital details from the reams of included props to work out which of the game’s suspects has an alibi, and which are guilty. As well as being a great mystery, the pack contents encourage you into the lives of its characters, creating a compelling narrative alongside a fun case to solve.
Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game
Detective sells itself on some bold claims. Firstly, that it’s a highly realistic simulacrum of real police work, casting you in the shoes of genuine modern-day detectives presented with reams of evidence from its online case files. Second, that it’s a long-term campaign in which information in early cases can often become relevant again in much later ones, creating an engrossing, branching narrative to enjoy. While only actual police detectives can comment on the first claim it certainly mixes murder mystery and board game mechanics to present you with complex cases to work through, and it delivers handsomely on its second claim, drawing you in to a story worthy of top drawer TV drama.
Matt Thrower is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in tabletop games. He’s also been published in The Guardian, Dicebreaker and Senet Magazine as well as being the author and co-author of several books on board games. You can reach him on BlueSky at@mattthr.bsky.social.
