Games

For weeks, there’s been increasing talk about a possible third game in the Half-Life series, and many expected a first glimpse at Half-Life 3 during The Game Awards 2025. Since The Game Awards is a major event for new game announcements – arguably the most important one – the lack of an appearance is disappointing for fans. Some fear this means the game may never come out. However, recent rumors suggest Half-Life 3 is still in development and will be a key game launching with Valve’s new Steam Machine.

Epic Games Store’s free mystery game promotion kicked off on December 11th with the popular game Hogwarts Legacy available to download for free. Hogwarts Legacy, a massive open-world Harry Potter RPG, was the best-selling game of 2023 and one of the most popular free games ever offered on the Epic Games Store. Players can claim their free copy until Thursday, December 18th at 10:00am CST, when it will be replaced with a new mystery game, likely starting a series of daily free games.

Fans were eager to see the remake of Knights of the Old Republic at The Game Awards, but the announcement of Fate of the Old Republic, a new game set in the same era, might be even more exciting. Adding to the hype, Casey Hudson, who previously led the original Knights of the Old Republic and the Mass Effect series, is heading the project. While this new game sounds fantastic, it’s probably wise for players to temper their expectations. The initial reveal of Fate of the Old Republic was impressive, but also showed that there’s still a lot to learn and potential challenges ahead.

Throughout the many Zelda games, Nintendo frequently redesigns the world of Hyrule. This iconic kingdom appears in almost every game, evolving over a vast timeline spanning thousands of years. While each version of Hyrule is unique, familiar places like Hyrule Castle, Death Mountain, and the Temple of Time often return. Now, a dedicated Zelda fan has lovingly rebuilt one of the most memorable Hyrule maps inside the game Rollercoaster Tycoon 2.

2026 is shaping up to be a great year for open-world role-playing games, with many exciting titles in development. However, game development takes a long time, so publishers are now careful about announcing release dates until they’re confident a game is truly finished. Because of this, many of the most hyped games planned for 2026 don’t have specific release dates yet. But don’t worry – even the beginning of 2026 will offer several open-world RPGs to play. Here’s a list of the biggest upcoming open-world RPGs launching before April 2026, ordered by their expected release date.

This guide explains how to finish the side quest to get the Crabominite, and how to catch and Mega Evolve a Crabominable. Here’s what you need to know.

You can play almost any classic Super Mario game on the Switch 2, from the very first Super Mario Bros. on the NES to the latest release, Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Because the Switch 2 works with existing Switch games, everything you could play on the original Switch is also playable on the new one. But there’s still potential to make the Switch 2 the perfect way to experience Super Mario games.

Jinwoo developed incredible powers, enabling him to battle dangerous monsters and protect his homeland. As he trained, he surpassed even the most powerful beings, becoming stronger than any Monarch or Ruler. While he mainly fights using his Shadows, he also possesses a wide range of other skills that make him a formidable opponent.

It’s a tough act to follow, considering Lara Croft has been voiced by many talented actresses over the years. Shelley Blond was the original, followed by Judith Gibbons in the first two sequels and Jonell Elliot for the next three games. Many fans consider Keeley Hawes the definitive Lara Croft, as she perfectly captured the character’s confident attitude in Legend, Anniversary, and Underworld. Camila Luddington most recently voiced a younger Lara in the Survivor trilogy, and she’s now officially handed the role to Alix Wilton Regan, as announced on Instagram.

As a longtime Pokémon player, I’ve definitely noticed how the art style has evolved over the years. So many different artists have contributed to the games, and it’s cool to see how they’ve each put their own spin on things. While I appreciate the newer designs, I gotta admit, I get a little nostalgic for the classic Pokémon artwork – it just hits different!