Games

This article will have some SPOILERS for Stranger Things Seaosn 5 Episode 1

Many open-world games are so immersive that players often get lost in exploring and creating their own adventures, sometimes even putting the main story aside – and that’s often the best way to experience them. This doesn’t mean the stories are bad, just that the gameplay is so compelling and the worlds so rich that players prefer to forge their own paths, discover everything, and postpone the central narrative. Here are some examples of games that do this exceptionally well.

Reviews for Borderlands 4 have been generally positive, with critics enjoying how the game updates the series’ signature loot-and-shoot gameplay for modern consoles and introduces exciting new features, such as large open areas for both solo and cooperative play. While the game isn’t without its flaws – some reviewers found the endgame lacking – Borderlands 4 currently holds a critic score of 82. However, player reviews on Steam are currently mixed.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is the latest installment in the Zelda-themed Hyrule Warriors series. The game features the ancient Guardians who fought against Ganon, characters players may recognize from flashback scenes in Tears of the Kingdom. With its fast-paced, action-packed combat and bright, vibrant graphics – especially impressive on the Nintendo Switch 2 – the game is already enjoyable, and the recent Version 1.02 update adds even more to love.

If you haven’t played ARC Raiders yet, you might not know about Scrappy, a surprisingly helpful rooster! When you venture out to collect resources, fight other players, and battle the ARC, Scrappy automatically gathers materials for you. He collects things like metal, fabric, and chemicals that you can use to craft important gear. Even if a raid isn’t successful, Scrappy will still provide some materials, but you’ll get a bigger haul if you return to Speranza safely.

In The Sims 4, players need to find and plant a Cowplant Berry before they can grow a Cowplant. It takes a few days for the berry to mature, and once it does, the Cowplant needs regular care. There are five different ways to get Cowplant Berries, but some are simpler than others.

I can’t believe Valve is almost 30 years old – they started way back in 1996! I first really got into them with Half-Life when it came out in ’98, but they really changed the game with Steam in 2003. It started as a way for them to deliver Half-Life 2 and their other titles, but now it’s become the go-to place for pretty much every PC game out there.

Nintendo has many popular game series that would be great on the new Switch 2. We already know a new Fire Emblem game, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, is coming in 2026, but there are plenty of other Nintendo favorites we’re hoping to see on the system as well. Here are a few of the most anticipated.

Hinata Hyuga, Himawari’s mother, was a capable ninja, but she never became one of the most powerful. Remarkably, Himawari is already surpassing her mother’s peak strength.