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Witchfire получила новую порцию контента. Разработчики мрачного фэнтезийного шутера от первого лица выпустили крупное обновление под названием The Reckoning. Теперь игроки могут использовать оружие ближнего боя вместо базового удара кулаком. View the full article

Следующая номерная часть серии Call of Duty от студии Infinity Ward, проходящая под рабочим названием Modern Warfare IV, может оказаться практически полной копией Modern Warfare II (2022) в мультиплеерном плане. Информацией об этом поделился известный инсайдер TheGhostOfHope, ранее неоднократно публиковавший достоверные данные о франшизе. View the full article

Ролевая игра Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (наш обзор) получила рекордные девять статуэток на церемонии The Game Awards 2025 и была признана лучшей игрой уходящего года. Президент Франции Эммануэль Макрон официально поздравил студию Sandfall Interactive с этим достижением, прославляющим французский игропром на весь мир. View the full article

После премьеры третьего трейлера Resident Evil Requiem, где официально представили Леона С. Кеннеди в качестве играбельного персонажа, геймдиректор проекта Кодзи Наканиси поделился с журналистами новыми подробностями. View the full article

Roberto is the newest character to be added to Megabonk as part of the Spooky Update, and he can be an incredibly fun character to play. He is also one of the hardest characters to unlock. Once you add him to the roster, however, Roberto could easily be considered a top-tier character. This guide will provide you with all the information you need to get a meta build for our spooky ghost. Table of contentsBest Megabonk Roberto buildBest Megabonk Roberto build To build Roberto properly, you'll need to understand how his kit works. Roberto isn't blessed with a lot of health, and he doesn't need it either. He is a typical DPS character who excels when you boost his attacks. Before we dive deeper, let's look at how you can set up the character. TypeBest ChoicesGood ChoicesWeaponScythe (signature weapon) Aura BananarangLightning Staff ChunkersTomesLuck Size AgilityRegen Attack SpeedItemsClover Gym Sauce MedkitTurbo Socks Green Credit Card The Scythe is a fantastic weapon in my books, as its slashes are pretty powerful. It can hit multiple enemies with a single swing, and you don't even need to target in a specific direction. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite weapons. The range could be slightly better, but it's still a 9/10 weapon. Aura is a must-have with Roberto so that you can gain your levels as quickly as possible. This is to trigger its Hoarder passive more frequently. With Hoarder, you get free chests after a certain interval, and this improves as you level up. Moreover, Hoarder also allows you to float, which has several benefits. The Bananarang adds a bit of range to Roberto, but you can also go for Lightning Staff if you're focusing on AoE for easier wave clearances. Image via Vedinad With Tomes, you'll want to add Luck as quickly as possible. Since you'll be opening plenty of extra chests, having the additional luck will be immensely helpful. And, with the Scythe's limited range, adding the Size tome will remove that weakness (and also enhance the effects of Aura). That's also why I went for Clover in my list of items (enhanced luck is required to get better returns from your chest). Gym Sauce raises the damage from all your weapons, while Medkit helps Roberto to preserve his health in dire situations (since he doesn't have too much health to begin with). Of course, you'll also need to unlock Roberto in the first place. How to unlock Roberto in Megabonk Here's a quick guide on how to add the new character to your available roster. Unlock the Scythe by killing Big Bob, who is one of the bosses in the Graveyard. Once you do so, you'll be able to purchase a Scythe.Once you have the Scythe, defeat Spooky Steve, and you'll get the choice to unlock Roberto. The post Best Roberto build in Megabonk appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

"If you're watching the show and you think, 'I want to experience that', 76 right now is just awesome"View the full article

Although we could have gotten more info on Marathon during The Game Awards, it looks like one blog post is all she wrote. After numerous branding issues following its announcement, it seems we're finally getting an actual release window. View the full article

According to a new Genshin Impact 6.3 leak, the next update is going to disrupt a 5-year-long tradition, which is going to be a disappointment for players. HoYoverse’s action RPG is now in the middle of Version 6.2, but the ongoing beta tests for the upcoming patch are revealing details about its contents. For example, there will be a new elemental reaction variant in Genshin Impact 6.3 with the arrival of Zibai, a new Geo character. View the full article

It feels like The Elder Scrolls 6 will never get closer to releasing, but thankfully, mods for The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim can give you the experience of a new game. One project in particular greatly enhances everything about the iconic region of Skyrim, especially how it looks to travel through it. With visual improvements galore, you'll want to start yet another playthrough while the wait continues. View the full article

Издательство THQ Nordic и разработчики из барселонской студии Alkimia Interactive представили новый закулисный ролик о создании ремейка культовой фэнтезийной ролевой игры «Готика» (Gothic) от Piranha Bytes.View the full article

As covered by GamingOnLinux back in October, GOG have now actually properly announced the GOG Patrons subscription donation system. Read the full article here: [Hidden Content] View the full article

GSC Game World announced a brand-new story update coming to STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and players don't have to wait long to finally get their hands on the free content. After reaching its first anniversary on November 20, 2025, GSC Game World has managed to keep busy, not only celebrating the game's major milestone, but releasing new content for players to enjoy. Alongside a year's worth of updates, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl finally launched for PlayStation players, bringing a third ecosystem of players into the world. View the full article

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's new Verso's Draft area is packed with new content, and it's sure to keep players busy for a while. The new "Thank You" update DLC includes various new loot and challenges, from new weapons and Pictos to extremely tough new bosses and even to brand-new mechanics. View the full article

Ubisoft will launch its final Assassin's Creed Shadows update of the year this week, ahead of the game's arrival on Nintendo Switch 2. Included in Title Update 1.1.7 are a set of brutal-looking new finishers to spice up Naoe and Yasuke's combat (there's some brutal-looking new moves in there). For fans following Shadows' typically-bizarre Animus content, this week brings a new Rift to explore as the mysterious Guide seeks players' help once again. And there's another new battle pass-like Project to work through, unlocking a fresh bo staff, as well as an outfit for Naoe (sadly, no more cats or Ezio costumes this time). One useful tweak is the ability to access your Vault content — those text logs with modern day story — without fully quitting the game and heading to the Animus desktop, which was a faff. You'll also be able to exchange Animus keys for more Gold, Mastery and Knowledge Points, should be be needing any more of those. The above improvements come in addition to a long list of bug fixes and other changes, including some launch day updates for Assassin's Creed Shadows' Nintendo Switch 2 edition (that arrives this Wednesday, December 17). Here are the rest of those changes in full: Assassin's Creed Shadows Title Update 1.1.7 — Bug fixes & Improvements patch notes:Nintendo Switch 2 Improved various FPS issues. Fixed crashes for stability improvements Fixed various visual issues. Improved the touchscreen experience. Fixed an issue where players were asked to connect to a controller whenever the Switch 2 was docked or undocked, even if controllers were already connected. Resolved an issue where the players would remain in an infinite ****** screen after creating a Ubisoft Connect account or log in with an already existing account upon selecting an audio pack from the initial boot menu. Gameplay Removed an exploit that would permit double engravings on the Sword of Fathoms. Fixed an issue preventing Naginatas from being sold. Fine, I shall sell my best wares somewhere else!Resolved an issue where perks that checked Mastery points spent would not update if Mastery points changed after equipping the item. Fixed an issue where upgrading skills to Rank 3 would sometimes cause damage upgrades from Rank 2 to be missing. The Bo Staff will now increase its affliction buildup stat when upgrading it Mythic and Artifact quality. Perks with affliction effects now have dynamic wording that specify which affliction they apply, based on the item they are engraved on. Fixed an issue where Knowledge Scrolls were removed from the players inventory. Junjiro did you take my scrolls again??Shared skills between Naoe and Yasuke will now correctly be learned by both. Edited wording for the "Affliction After Deflect" perk to clarify it applies 35% buildup instead of a full Affliction. Ensured that "Restore 6% Health With Posture Attack" is present for all Critical Damage and Health Gain engravings for all weapons when equipped. Claws of Awaji Fixed an issue where players with two copies of the game, one with the Claws of Awaji Expansion and one without, would permanently lose the ability to fast travel to the island of Awaji when switching between the two editions of the game. World Players can now whistle while using the Follow Road mechanic. Enjoy the open road, whistle a tune and relax! Corrupted Castles will no longer reset when loading into a previous save after a season has already changed. Fixed an issue where enemies and loot would respawn upon loading a save before changing seasons. Visuals & Graphics Adjusted some facial animation for Naoe or Yasuke that looked unnatural during all cinematics when a hood was equipped. Psst! Naoe, stop making silly faces, please! UI Corrected inconsistencies between the smuggled rewards shown in the UI at the end of a season and what was truly received. All the goods are there, boss! Fixed inconsistencies with the smuggled rewards UI when the Stables are upgraded. Remember to give your trusty steed an apple as a treat. Corrected location name for "Kawarajiri Lumber Camp" in Japanese. Online Store Fixed an issue with receiving Store, Deluxe and Premium items into the player's inventory.PC SPECIFIC Fixed inputs issues when rebinding on Mouse and Keyboard. Improved FPS stability issues on PC. SPOILERS AHEAD! Quests "Swords And Sake": Fixed an issue where the mission couldn't be completed due to Gennojo dying. "Eliminate Outlaws": Corrected issues preventing the completion of the mission. "Temple Stories": Ensured that Joken Hokkyo will not disappear so that the quest objective can be completed. Wait! Don't go! I need to complete this mission! "Dismantling One by One": Wandering enemies will now be indicated with a marker. Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social View the full article

Year in Review 2025 | It's been a great year for RPGs, and these five are the absolute peak of the genre's last 12 monthsView the full article

The inescapable pull of the Zone is calling you back to STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl with some free DLC. On December 16, the Stories Untold content update will add a variety of new content to STALKER 2 on all platforms for free. Stories Untold comes less than a month after STALKER 2's PS5 release, which occurred following the end of a one-year Xbox console exclusivity *******. View the full article

You better watch out, you better not die (in Call of Duty), you better not pout, I'm telling you why: ****** Ops 7's Naughty and Nice event is here. The latest seasonal holiday event for BO7 is bringing the gifts, or maybe the lumps of coal, depending on how bad you've been in CoD this year. But the Naughty & Nice event in BO7 is mostly nice, as it brings along a new free weapon and animated camo for gamers to unlock along the way. Here's the full list of challenges and rewards you can get by playing Naughty & Nice. Table of contents****** Ops 7 Naughty & Nice eventNaughty challenges and rewardsNice challenges and rewards****** Ops 7 Naughty & Nice event Image via Activision There are 10 total challenges to complete in Naughty and Nice, and the two main rewards are the Sokol 545 LMG and Snowfall animated camo. Five challenges are Naughty (sacks of coal) while five are Nice (holiday gifts), and completing the associated challenge allows you to open up whatever is inside (a mystery, for now). All 10 challenges can be completed in either BO7 multiplayer, Zombies, Endgame, or Warzone. Just finishing one of the tasks listed below will unlock the reward for it. Naughty challenges and rewards Image via Activision Completing all five Naughty challenges unlocks the Sokol 545 LMG. Naughty Challenge 1Multiplayer: Get 200 eliminationsZombies: Eliminate 500 zombies in holiday modesEndgame: Get 500 eliminationsWarzone: Get 20 eliminations in Holiday RushNaughty Challenge 2Multiplayer: Get 10 snowball kills in SnowfightZombies: Eliminate 500 zombies in holiday modesEndgame: Use snowballs or Cryo-Freeze to freeze 25 zombies in holiday modesWarzone: Get 3 kills with lethals in Holiday RushNaughty Challenge 3Multiplayer: Get 10 kills with scorestreaks acquired from Care PackagesZombies: Get 50 zombie kills using scorestreaks from present boxes in holiday modesEndgame: Get 50 kills with scorestreaksWarzone: Get 10 kills with killstreaks in Holiday RushNaughty Challenge 4Multiplayer: Get 25 eliminations using weapons stolen from other playersZombies: Steal Loose Change Essence by going prone in front of a Perk machine 5 timesEndgame: Use vehicles to run over and kill 25 enemiesWarzone: Get 2 eliminations without dying 5 times in Holiday RushNaughty Challenge 5Multiplayer: Get 20 kills with fire damageZombies: Kill 50 zombies with fire damageEndgame: Perform 5 finishing movesWarzone: Get 5 eliminations in a single match 3 times in Holiday RushNice challenges and rewards Screenshot by Destructoid Completing all five Nice challenges unlocks the Snowfall animated weapon camo. Nice Challenge 1Multiplayer: Earn 40,000 score in SleighjackedZombies: Earn 100,000 Essence in holiday modesEndgame: Earn 25,000 PowerWarzone: Pick up 4 regular presents in Holiday RushNice Challenge 2Multiplayer: Earn 25,000 Holiday Cheer score in Holiday HavocZombies: Contribute to 25 Door Buys in holiday modesEndgame: Complete 7 assignmentsWarzone: Purchase a golden present in Holiday RushNice Challenge 3Multiplayer: Win a match in Sleighjacked and appear in the Winner's CircleZombies: Open 10 present boxes in Holiday ModesEndgame: Clear 5 Guild StrongholdsWarzone: Purchase 5 Advanced UAV killstreaks from buy stations in Holiday RushNice Challenge 4Multiplayer: Get 25 objective kills in objective modesZombies: Drop a Mystery Box item for a teammate by meleeing itEndgame: Use the Supply Link ability to resupply 15 armor plates for your squadWarzone: Deploy 10 utility boxes in holiday modesNice Challenge 5Multiplayer: Call in 10 UAV, Counter UAV, Care Package, or HARP scorestreaksZombies: Revive or heal yourself or a teammate 5 timesEndgame: Use the ****** Cart ability to revive yourself or a teammate 5 timesWarzone: Revive or buy back 5 squadmates The post All challenges and rewards in ****** Ops 7 Naughty and Nice event – New LMG and animated camo appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Russian gamers exercised a right to protest wartime censorship this weekend, and it was spurred on by a recent ban on the popular game Roblox. First reported by Reuters, "several dozen people" were found outside protesting the game's ban in Tomsk, a city 1,800 miles east of Moscow. The protest took place around 11 days after news first came out of the country that the kids' gaming platform was being banned for "LGBT propaganda." Screenshot by Destructoid via Reuters Several young people held up signs with words like "Hands off Roblox" and "Roblox is the victim of the digital Iron Curtain" in Vladimir Vysotsky Park, according to Reuters, in response to the game being taken down within the country a couple weeks ago. “Children in the game are subjected to ******* harassment, intimate photos are tricked out of them, and they are coerced into committing depraved acts and violence,” Russian media regulation outlet Roskomnadzor said in a statement earlier this month when the ban was put in place. Roblox has repeatedly come under fire in recent months, such as the Florida attorney general saying the game “has become a breeding ground for predators.” That came after the state of Louisiana also filed a lawsuit against the game, saying that it has allowed child predators to "thrive." “We respect the local laws and regulations in the countries where we operate and believe Roblox provides a positive space for learning, creation and meaningful connection for everyone," Roblox officials said in a statement to Destructoid on Dec. 3. "We have a deep commitment to safety and we have a robust set of proactive and preventative safety measures designed to catch and prevent harmful content on our platform.” Russia banning an app or game is nothing new, as it has already restricted several social media platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and others. But when it comes to Roblox, the protesters in question have apparently had enough. The post In a country chock full of censorship galore, Russians are drawing the line at Roblox appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter Marathon is finally ready for release, thanks in large part to a ton of feedback from the game's closed tests. Earlier this year, Marathon's closed alpha test was met with lukewarm responses, to say the least. Since then, the team has been hard at work iterating on feedback and preparing it for launch after it was delayed out of its initial drop date in September. [Hidden Content] Marathon is now confirmed to be coming in March 2026, so the wait is really not much longer at all. And in the ViDoc above, the team highlighted what's different and improved from previous tests, including proximity chat, a solo ******, improved visuals, and enhancements to the "survival experience, immersion, and danger of the world." Many of the alpha's main complaints have been addressed, specifically the lack of proximity chat (which has been a huge pull in fellow extraction shooter ARC Raiders), world-building and atmosphere in general, and the game's visual fidelity when it came to outdoors areas. The game is built to feel more dangerous now, too, upping the stakes that you would expect in the genre. Bungie is already teasing Cryo Archive as a new map placed on the Marathon ship itself. The devs say "if you're not ready to take your best stuff, well, you're not gonna survive." This is in addition to several other existing maps that have already been playable such as Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and Outpost. The studio confirmed that Marathon will launch at $39.99, which puts it at the same price at another extraction shooter like ARC Raiders. The studio says there are no pay-to-win mechanics, and gameplay outcomes are never determined by spending, plus cosmetic reward passes will not expire, and players will be able to buy past ones if they join late. Image via Bungie Marathon is now just a few months away from release. Judging by the ViDoc, it seems as though the game is in a way better place than it was a year ago. Are you interested in it now, judging by what's been shown? Let us know in the comments below. The post Marathon finally locks in its release date, and it’s very soon, as Bungie highlights big changes made from alpha feedback appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

The Fallout TV series returns this week, with season 2's episodes dropping weekly until February. This season of the show has opted for the setting of New Vegas, and PCG's Ted Litchfield recently had the opportunity to speak to the lead writer of Fallout: New Vegas, John Gonzalez... Read more.View the full article

Months after its last-minute delay, Bungie and PlayStation’s extraction shooter, Marathon, officially has a release date and release model. The pair announced on Monday that Marathon will release in March 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC at the target price of $39.99/€39.99/£34.99, with additional regional pricing to be announced. According to Bungie, Marathon will feature no pay-to-win mechanics, and players will have access to all gameplay updates (maps, Runner shells, events, etc.), with an additional reward pass that won’t expire. Read More... View the full article

2025 was a banner year for action games. From a surprise breakout Soulslike with one of the hardest-hitting and most brutal combat systems the genre has ever seen, to the hotly anticipated follow-up of one of the most influential roguelites of all time, to the latest in a certain legendary monster hunting series. And let us not forget that this was absolutely the year of the ninja as well, which brought us not one, but two brand new Ninja Gaiden games (plus a long-awaited remaster of Ninja Gaiden 2), letting action fans Izuna Drop foes in both two and three dimensions. But only one of these fierce games can claim the honor of being the strongest of the year. Here are our picks - and our chosen winner - for the Best Action Game of 2025. Runner-Up - The First Berserker: Khazan Fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping action is not generally what one would associate with the Soulslike genre, considering its typically methodical combat and eerie, isolating exploration. But The First Berserker: Khazan is not your ordinary soulslike. This revenge-fueled action RPG, set in the world of Dungeon Fighter Online, features one of the best combat systems the genre has ever seen, taking the core of Sekiro's parry-based sword fighting and adding several extra layers of depth. The result is one of the most exciting, action-packed, and certainly one of the most difficult soulslikes in recent memory. Runner-Up - Ninja Gaiden 4 Ninja Gaiden 4, like 2023’s Hi-Fi Rush before it, is a breath of fresh air in a genre that feels predominantly ruled by stamina-based combat systems with Soulslike elements. This is a pure action fan’s action game, featuring some of the best melee combat we've seen in years, bolstered by aggressive enemy AI, excellent weapon design, and the ability to let your creativity run wild by giving you the freedom to hotswap between all of your weapons on the fly. Predictably, it turns out that the dream collaboration of Platinum Games and Team Ninja leads to some damn good combat. Runner-Up - Monster Hunter Wilds No matter what side of the fence you sit on about the direction Capcom has been taking the Monster Hunter series in, or the general structure of its hunts, there’s little debate that it's still among the best action games of the year. Few games offer even close to the same level of depth that Monster Hunter Wilds does when it comes to its weapon and monster design, and most of the ones that do also have the words "Monster Hunter" in the title. Add to that depth the ability for up to four players to experience the thrill of its combat together, and you've got a excellent, flexible adventure that's good for either a team of hunting veterans, or those arriving in the wilds for the very first time. Runner-Up - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound 2D action games need some love as well, and our pick for the one most deserving of that love is Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. Developed by Blasphemous studio The Game Kitchen, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound reimagines and modernizes the classic stylings of old-school, 2D Ninja Gaiden with a unique hypercharge mechanic that encourages you to think not just about the order in which you dispatch your enemies, but the tool they use as well. Challenging boss battles, clever level design, and carefully considered enemy placement all prove that Ninja Gaiden’s exemplary action is just as potent in 2D as it is in 3D. Winner - Hades 2 It’s easy to look at Hades 2 on a surface level and think “Oh, this is just more Hades.” And while yes, this is still a roguelite about a child of Hades going through a gauntlet of combat rooms, beating up mythological creatures and beasts, all while gaining Boons and Blessings from the Pantheon of Greek Gods, developer Supergiant Games has done a stellar job of never making it feel like we’re just retreading old ground. The brand new protagonist, Melinoe, plays completely differently compared to Hades’s Zagreus, with less focus on dodging and invulnerability frames and more emphasis on charged magical attacks and resource management. The characters that you interact and build relationships back at your home base are all new; pretty much all of the enemies, boons, and bosses are brand new; progression is handled completely differently; the list of significant changes just goes on and on. And even if you were to look at it through the misguided perspective of it just being “more Hades,” it’s still a lot more Hades. The addition of the above-ground campaign through the City of Ephyra, all the way up to the peak of Mt. Olympus, essentially means this second adventure is double the size of the original, all while packing its own unique set of enemies, bosses, and boons to play around with. Hades 2 is quite simply one of the most well-rounded games we’ve played this year. From its combat, to its story, to its amazing soundtrack and its one-of-a-kind art style, it hits on every single front, which is why it’s our pick for the best action game of the year. But what is your pick for the best action game of 2025? Do you think it's Hades 2, one of our other shortlisted games, or something else entirely? Let us know in the poll above, or the comments below. View the full article

It's tough to really wrap your head around 2025 for Xbox. There were some real hits from Xbox Game Studios, fantastic day-one, third-party launches on Game Pass… and then a whole lot of baffling moves from Xbox as a platform, with multiple rounds of price increases, project cancellations, and layoffs. It was a year that constantly had our collective heads spinning. But hey, if you've been subscribed to Game Pass and playing on your Xbox Series X/S (or PC, or anything deemed an Xbox) this year, there was no shortage of great games to celebrate. Here at IGN, we’ve voted across several categories for our end of the year awards, including our shortlist of the five best games that landed on Xbox in 2025. Those votes have determined the one winner that represents our pick for the best Xbox game of the year. With exclusives largely a thing of the past now, especially for Xbox – which published some high-profile games on PS5 this year – our contenders are simply what's been available on Xbox consoles this year, regardless of exclusivity or publishing status. So, let's get to it by first recognizing the honorable mentions that made Xbox's year one banger after another, and then revealing the Best Xbox Game of 2025. Honorable Mentions Obsidian had an all-time year with three launches in 2025, all of which hit in different ways. It gave a jolt to start the year with a tightly packed fantasy RPG in Avowed to stave off the appetite for a new Elder Scrolls, then brought its co-op survival sequel into early access with Grounded 2, which got off to a great start. Compulsion Games weaved a unique artistic vision into a love letter to the American South with the action-adventure game South of Midnight, while id Software brought us back to Hell with a bit of a melee twist on its shooter roots in Doom: The Dark Ages. If Avowed wasn't enough, we kicked it like it was 2006 in Cyrodiil with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, which remindeding us that Bethesda’s long-running fantasy series had the sauce well before Skyrim. We busted out the notepads and corkboards for the roguelike puzzler Blue Prince that hit Game Pass on day one, but we also champed at the bit for more stylish action after Ninja Gaiden 2 ****** whet our appetite for Ninja Gaiden 4, which Xbox published for Team Ninja. Oh yeah, and there's an Xbox handheld now with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally – well, sort of; rather it's an Xbox-branded PC handheld, that is arguably one of the best ones yet. And since everything is an Xbox now, it doesn't really matter where you play these hits. The sheer variety of games that launched under the Xbox banner this year was indicative of how vast and great the medium can be – and none represent that quite as well as our five best Xbox games of 2025. Runner-Up - Hollow Knight: Silksong It seems that every year has an indie darling that folks rally around loudly, and Hollow Knight: Silksong was certainly that game in 2025. The jokes about Silksong never coming out have finally been laid to rest, and Team Cherry's long development journey resulted in a dense, daunting, and satisfying action-adventure – or "metroidvania", if you will. While it hit Game Pass on launch, its impressive sales figures and $20 price tag made it the talk of the town... aside from it being the wildly anticipated follow up to Hollow Knight, of course. On its own merits, Silksong's dark and foreboding atmosphere matches the gruesome platforming challenges that make its exploration more involved than many of its contemporaries. Hornet's traversal mechanics are smooth and will have you flowing through Silksong's sprawling, web-like map, leading you towards some of the hardest-fought battles we've experienced this year. Being smart, nimble, and aggressive against these tough and unpredictable bosses is the key to victory, but you must stay committed and locked in, try after try, even if the runback can be grueling. But for as punishing as Silksong may be, it's also frequently adorable, blessed with cute, memorable bug friends like Sherma, who sings his song and is generally a precious little guy! Runner-Up - Split Fiction Coming off of It Takes Two, which swooped in to secure Game of the Year back at The Game Awards 2021, Split Fiction continues developer Hazelight's catalogue of great split-screen co-op adventure games. Its premise – two novel writers trapped in their respective fictional worlds made manifest – paves the way for imaginative worlds and a mashup of gameplay mechanics and genres that are consistently exciting to play alongside a friend. Coordinating with your partner in puzzles, platforming, and high-speed action is a ton of fun as you phase in and out of fantasy and sci-fi worlds. Oftentimes it blends the two remarkably well, and packs in references that reflect where its two protagonists, Mio and Zoe, are as creatives (and, as any writer knows, that sometimes means they’re not very creative themselves.) But that's the thing about Split Fiction – art doesn't always have to be good, but it's the process through which art is created that should be respected, and that can't be treated as a commodity to be manufactured. And just when you think you had Split Fiction figured out, its finale delivers some of the most memorable sequences in recent memory, elevating the experience to one of the best games of this year. If you haven't played it yet, find a friend, give them the free co-op pass, and see what it's all about. Runner-Up - Keeper We hadn't heard from the team at Double Fine in quite some time after Psychonauts 2 headlined many best of lists back in 2021, but this year we got a pleasant surprise in Keeper. Playing as a walking lighthouse may not seem too appealing on paper, but the Double Fine charm and distinct art style brings to life a world that's about showing rather than telling. Its puzzles have you looking at the environments with intent, and the little interactions you have with characters living in a seemingly abandoned world create tiny stories without having to say a word. Our review described Keeper as "a psychedelic exploration of life packed into a brief runtime" and it's a prime example of what a studio can do when left to its own creative devices – it's easygoing and impactful, and one of the standouts for 2025. Runner-Up - The Outer Worlds 2 Back when we saw The Outer Worlds 2 in action for the first time earlier this year, we could tell it had the makings of a top-tier Obsidian RPG. We liked the original entry well enough, but it was just as much an attempt to create a foundation for a new universe as it was the team trying to separate itself from Fallout and build atop the reputation it earned from New Vegas years ago. With this year’s sequel, it seems as if Obsidian recognized the shortcomings of The Outer Worlds and has addressed almost all of them, creating a sequel that delivers what the studio is known for: dense, story-driven RPGs with a whole load of interconnected systems that let you play exactly how you want. There's a concerted effort to improving gunplay and melee combat, which goes a long way in making its violent encounters a lot more fun. But it’s the deeper progression systems, along with intricate level design reminiscent of immersive sims like Deus Ex, that makes the overall RPG experience feel so much more dynamic. The game itself observes how you play, and offers tangible perks at the expense of some unusually creative debuffs as part of its Flaws system, with each one offered based on your actions. Such as system demonstrates in microcosm how The Outer Worlds 2 better accounts for your playstyle and shows you the consequences of how you interact with its world. And with a universe still rooted in dystopian satire, but with a good crew of companions and a tighter story told across much ******* worlds, The Outer Worlds 2 is Obsidian firing on all cylinders. Winner - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Perhaps to the surprise of absolutely no one, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is IGN’s choice for the best game to hit Xbox this year. And if you're a Game Pass subscriber, you were treated to one of the best RPGs in recent memory on day one. In its debut as a development team, Sandfall Interactive has drawn inspiration from classic Japanese RPGs (looking at Final Fantasy 10 and Persona 5 directly) to tell its own harrowing story about grief and the sometimes ugly ways it changes us. But while JRPGs are a clear influence, the studio’s French roots are significantly responsible for making Clair Obscur what it is, from its artistic vision to its storytelling style, right down to the unqiue music that both captures the hype of big boss fights and the atmosphere of its magical, painterly world. Like any great RPG, Clair Obscur strives to give you an intimate understanding of its characters, drawing you in and making you feel for them in their moments of triumph and despair. It’s a credit to the studio's strong writing team, and performances from an incredible cast, that Expedition 33 is able to effortlessly pull you in through all the wild twists and turns of its story. There’s also a top-tier turn-based combat system, bolstered by timing-based inputs for attacking and defending. That active element keeps you locked in during each and every battle with an intensity you wouldn’t feel otherwise. The intricate progression and customization systems for each character make you feel like a genius tactician, creating the best builds for their unique moveset and mechanics. And damn does it look good when it all comes together. Clair Obscur is a wonderful example of executing on a clear creative vision while simultaneously recognizing what made its inspirations so great. And it very easily won the hearts and minds of us here at IGN. What was your favourite Xbox game of 2025? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to vote in the poll at the top of this page! For more IGN awards, you can check them all out in one place here, including our picks for the best PlayStation and Nintendo games of the year. Michael is the tech reviews editor at IGN, but regularly contributes to games coverage with reviews, features, and news. View the full article

Just weeks after making its PlayStation 5 debut, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is getting a big free content update adding new quests, characters and a fresh hub, as well as an additional weapon. In a post on the PlayStation blog, Stalker 2's Ukranian developer GSC Game World announced the new update and noted that it would be "completely free to all owners of the game" — so anyone who may have played previously on PC and Xbox Series X/S should expect to receive the additional content also. Xbox owners who played the shooter via Xbox Game Pass when it originally launched in November 2024 may need to check if they still have access, however, as Stalker 2 departed from the subscription's catalog last month, causing something of a stir. New content is on the way to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: [Hidden Content] ⚬ 8 robust quests ⚬ 7 locations to explore ⚬ 6 characters with their own stories ⚬ Unique weapon ⚬ Creation hub [Hidden Content] — PlayStation (@PlayStation) December 15, 2025 "Strange things start happening near the Malachite on the western part of the map," GSC says of its new questline. "The research groups sent by scientists were reporting a signal interfering with their usual PDA communications. After listening to it, stalkers were suffering from headaches, nose bleeds, and hallucinations." It all sounds like something interesting, if potentially deadly, that's well worth investigating. Eight missions are included, with seven locations to explore, six more characters to meet, plus a new rifle to master: the GP37V2. You'll also get the chance to establish a new hub in the Burnt Forest region. GSC had previously promised new quests were on the way as part of its 2025 development roadmap, which included fresh gameplay featurs and story missions, as well as continued technical upgrades — such as a move to the latest version of Unreal Engline. Memorably, Stalker 2 launched in a bit of a state, though GSC has pledged to continue working to turn things around. "Underneath the technical problems that plague Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a unique greatness," IGN wrote in our Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review, giving it 8/10. "It emerges as a refreshingly brutal shooter that strives to hook you with its incredible atmosphere and leave you invested by the end of this long, arduous journey." Read more on how Stalker 2 has changed everything for the studio amid the full-scale invasion of Ukraine here. Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social View the full article

Now you can get caught up for the new entry in the seriesView the full article