Games

I’ve noticed that the games with the best conversations usually let you really define your character. They give you tons of choices – not just what you say, but how you say it, and even let you build a specific personality. It’s not a surprise that these games are often RPGs! You find all sorts of settings too – from dark, futuristic worlds to classic fantasy adventures where your character’s race, class, and moral choices really impact how the story unfolds through dialogue.

Here are some games I’d suggest checking out this winter. Many were discounted during the Steam winter sale, but watch for more deals after the holidays. These aren’t specifically winter-themed games, but ones that feel perfect for the season or are popular right now. With a mix of RPGs, survival games, and sandbox titles, there’s likely something here for everyone.

Right now, all Idle Defense codes are working. We’ll let you know if any codes expire in the future.

I’m so excited about LEGO Smart Play! It’s launching on March 1, 2026, and it’s starting with three awesome LEGO Star Wars sets. But what’s really cool is that LEGO plans to expand this system to lots of different themes beyond Star Wars – they’re thinking big! These first sets will showcase everything the Smart Play system is all about, including its three main parts.

Some games don’t make a strong impression when you’re young, but they can become surprisingly meaningful when you revisit them as an adult. Their stories, ideas, and how they’re played often feel more powerful with life experience.

Action games are popular because they offer a wide variety of experiences, appealing to all kinds of players. Plus, with longer games available now, it’s really rewarding to be able to finish one in a weekend.

Wattrel, also called the Storm Petrel Pokemon, was introduced in the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet games. Both Wattrel and its evolved form, Kilowattrel, are Electric/Flying types known for their powerful special attacks and speed. These Pokemon are commonly found near the coasts and sandy areas of the Paldea region. Although they can learn strong moves like Volt Switch, Hurricane, and Air Slash, Wattrel and Kilowattrel are considered to be offensively powerful but defensively weak – meaning they aren’t among the most durable Electric-type Pokemon. While many Pokemon from Paldea have already been added to Pokemon GO, Wattrel and Kilowattrel will make their first appearance in the mobile game with an upcoming event.

Even though it launched between the highly anticipated releases of Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, ARC Raiders has become surprisingly popular. Many predicted the game would be overlooked when it debuted on October 30th, sandwiched between two major first-person shooters. However, that prediction was quickly proven wrong, as ARC Raiders attracted over 481,000 players on Steam at the same time. According to recent data from Alinea Analytics, ARC Raiders has now sold over 12 million copies across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and had over 3.2 million daily players on January 4th. Interestingly, while Battlefield 6—EA’s best-selling shooter of 2025—lost 85% of its Steam players, ARC Raiders managed to retain 91%.

When I first played Task Force Admiral, I immediately felt it was going to be exceptional. I didn’t realize just how impressive it would be, though. Even from that early showcase, the quality of the gameplay, visuals, and realistic depiction of World War II naval battles convinced me it was a truly next-generation wargame.

The latest arc of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is packed with action and moving quickly, delivering exciting new battles with each chapter. Fans have been enjoying the combat sequences over the past two years, and the current storyline focusing on Boruto Uzumaki and the Shinju is particularly thrilling. As Mamushi’s attack on Konoha intensifies, the battles are living up to expectations, with the fight between Mamushi and Boruto already being a major highlight.