Summer is a special time of year. School's out, the sun's out, and sometimes—but not always—things slow down just enough to let you breathe. Whether you're heading to the beach, lounging by the pool, or just soaking up the extra daylight, summer has a feeling all its own.
If you're a variety gamer like me, you're always on the lookout for new titles to try. But it's tough to get a true feel for a game without playing it first, and with video game prices climbing across the board, picking the wrong one can be a costly mistake.
I'm lucky enough to have a partner who might love video games even more than I do, so we're constantly on the hunt for games to play together. Every couple has their go-to activities, and for us, gaming tops the list.
Games are often dismissed as distractions or vehicles for procrastination, but a growing sub-genre is flipping the script by making productivity the goal.
Pokémon is one of the longest-running and most storied franchises in history. What started as a simple role-playing game for the Game Boy has evolved into a global multimedia empire spanning animated series, feature films, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and more than 100 video games. With such a massive catalog, it's no surprise that a few oddballs slipped through the cracks. And unless you're a diehard enthusiast, chances are there are some titles you've never heard of.
I knew my screen time was a problem, but I wasn't ready to deal with it. Then, by chance, Pokémon Sleep launched.
One of the coolest things about video games is the sheer variety out there. No matter what you're into, there's almost always something that fits your taste. That said, many of the biggest titles—the ones trending online or dominating the charts—come with a price tag. And when you're not sure if a particular genre or series is for you, dropping money on it can feel like a gamble.
RuneScape and Warcraft are two of the most recognizable names in gaming. But if you're not into massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), they haven't given you much to latch onto in recent years—even if you're a fan of the worlds they're built around.
Online competitive multiplayer games are wildly popular, with players around the world battling it out every day. But they've also earned a reputation for being unwelcoming, especially to new players or casuals who care more about fun than being the best of the best.
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.
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