If you knew me growing up, you'd probably say I was a huge wuss. And honestly, you'd be right. Scary movies, haunted houses, spooky games? No thanks. And don't get me started on bugs. If anything with too many legs got near me, let alone touched me, I'd completely flip out. Even in my early twenties, I remember calling my roommate to get a spider cricket out of the bathroom because I was way too scared to do it myself.

Originality is hard to come by these days, especially in video games. Trends dominate the landscape; just look at how many battle royales popped up after the monumental popularity of PUBG and Fortnite. Digital storefronts like Steam are flooded with lookalikes, and even the biggest studios often choose the safety net of remakes and remasters over the uncertainty of developing a brand-new franchise.

One of the best-selling and most well-received games of all time, Elden Ring, has hit another significant sales milestone. Developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, the fantasy action role-playing game—known for its challenging yet rewarding gameplay—now stands among the giants of the industry. And with more still in the pipeline, it may not be done climbing.

Forza Horizon 5 isn't exactly new, but it's been impressively well-supported by Xbox Game Studios and Playground Games, with consistent updates continuing to this day. This recent update may very well be the most significant yet—not only because of the sheer number of additions, but also because it marks the debut of the longtime Xbox exclusive on a new platform.

The first Might & Magic game debuted back in the 1980s, but the long-running science fantasy franchise has been under Ubisoft's ownership since 2003. Despite holding the rights for over two decades, Ubisoft hasn't made much headway with the property in recent years, but now, it's hoping to breathe new life into it with Might & Magic Fates.