In the world of Stephen King adaptations, there is one name that has become a fan-favorite creator and director. This person has captured the vision of the author’s book wholeheartedly, and that is Mike Flanagan. The director, known for projects likeThe Haunting of Hill HouseandMidnight Mass,has an impressive history with Stephen King projects already, with hits likeDoctor Sleep,Gerald’s Game, and the more recentLife of Chuckfilm. It’s no wonder he isspearheading the adaptations of projects like Carrieor even the ambitiousDark Towerseries....

In a lot of ways,The Altersis a natural progression from 11 Bit Studios' previous works. It’s a high-stakes survival game, much likeThis War of MineandFrostpunk, but it’s also got a little extra seasoning to it:The Altersis far more narratively driven than its predecessors, with a structured plot, cinematic delivery, and stronger central concept, being far more than just another post-apocalypse nightmare. Yes,The Altersis a unique release from the consistently unique 11 Bit Studios, proving that the Polish company has more than a few tricks up its sleeve....

Summary TheNintendo Switchwasn’t just a make-good on the Wii U; it was a celebration of other consoles that came before it, like the Famicom, the Japanese version of the NES. That system had two controllers organically attached to it, building multiplayer right into the system. With two Joy-Cons coming on every Switch, it’s easy to get a local co-op or versus game going on the go or at home. Of course, the Switch also has online functionality for broader multiplayer sessions....

Summary There areopen-world gameswhere combat is slick, cinematic, and satisfying. Then there are games where combat feels like a means to an end—a necessary chore that takes place between long drives, wild detours, and physics-defying stunts, and those are the kind of games this list is interested in. These are the open-world titles where players aren’t dreaming of the next firefight, but of the next curve in the road, the next jump, or the next excuse to hop back in the driver’s seat and stay there....

Summary For every heroic faction, an equally villainous or nefarious faction must also rise. Whether it is through the Rebel Alliance fighting theGalactic Empire inStar Wars, or the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. facing off against HYDRA in Marvel Comics, there must always be a true balance of power at work within any epic story. For Stephen King’sThe Dark Towerseries, Roland and his allies fight for the White, while the Crimson King’s forces all work under the banner “Agents of Red....

Summary ShowrunnerAlexi Hawley shared his hopes for a new spinoffof his hit ABC dramaThe Rookiea while ago, and now thatThe Rookie Northis in the works, it needs to stand out from the crowd. The original ABC procedural premiered in 2018 withNathan Fillion in the title role of John Nolan, the “rookie” cop who switches up his life and joins the LAPD.The Rookiehas one spinoff,The Rookie: Feds, which starred Niecy Nash-Betts in the main role of Simone Clark, who, like Fillion’s John Nolan, changes careers in middle age....

The release ofThe Sims 4’s next expansion pack, Enchanted by Nature, is just around the corner. This will beThe Sims 4’s 19th expansion pack, and Enchanted by Nature promises to bring a whimsical charm by adding new plants, fairies, an apothecary skill, and the ability to grow plants indoors. While the addition of fairies has been long-requested, the expansion of gardening is likely to be more controversial, despite the popularity of that activity in other video games....

The best-selling video game on Amazon right now is Nintendo Switch 2 exclusiveDonkey Kong Bananza.Donkey Kong Bananzawas one of the first Switch 2 exclusives revealed to the public, not long afterMario Kart Worldwas officially announced. The firstDonkey Kong3D platformer since the days of the Nintendo 64,Donkey Kong Bananzahas looked incredibly impressive and is easily one of the most-hyped Switch 2 games to date. Recently, Nintendo hosted a specialDonkey Kong Bananza-themed Nintendo Direct event that showcased various features that will be included in the upcoming game....

Digital Extremes is enjoying its 10th TennoCon, a celebration of all thingsWarframe— and nowSoulframe, as well. Naturally, this milestone year was packed with major announcements for both titles. Soulframe reported significant progress in the last year and opened its doors to the public for the weekend of TennoCon. Meanwhile, Digital Extremes has plenty of announcements on theWarframefront. Alongside generalWarframenews, Digital Extremes has also announced a generous donation of $100,000 to the Make-A-Wish foundation and the construction of two homes for families in need in the studio’s native country, Canada....

It’s been over five years sinceAnimal Crossing: New Horizonswas released for the Nintendo Switch. Release dates betweenmainlineAnimal Crossinggames range from two to seven years. Although these life simulation games don’t always debut as launch titles on new Nintendo consoles, they tend to be released early on in the console’s lifecycle. However, while the gap between console releases and newAnimal Crossinggames is typically one to two years,Animal Crossing: New Horizonsbroke this pattern by releasing three years after the Nintendo Switch....

Quick Links Every main region inWuchang: Fallen Feathershas a lot of optional areas to explore that offer additional chances to level up or gear to try out in your build. In some cases,these optional areasoffer entire boss fights that can be easily missed if you don’t know where to look for them. Even if you’re at a high level, optional bosses can drop NPC quest items, spells, or gear. The first optional boss players can find and fight is right around Shu Sanctum, though the path to the boss can be long if you don’t know exactly where to go....

Quick Links With the release ofWorld of Warcraft: Mists of Pandariafrom the looming ocean fog,World of Warcraft: Cataclysmis beginning to roll out the changes to prepare the denizens of Azeroth for the next big expansion. The introduction of pet battles added a whole new dimension to the game, with animal companions and small furry critters that were formerly for cosmetic value only now graduated to a new status as fighting pets....

Quick Links Similar to other Soulslike games,Wuchang: Fallen Feathersintroduces challenging boss fights that players will struggle with, especially when they’re still learning the combat and mechanics.The game offers a wide variety of weapon choices, allowing players to experiment with different styles and stick with the one that suits them best. Choosing a weapon and mastering it will make the game’s challenges much easier. One of the first major challenges is thetutorial boss, Bai Kru, and this guide explains what happens if you manage to beat it inWuchang: Fallen Feathers....