Over the last several months, I’ve spent a lot of time bouncing between my favorite characters in Marvel Rivals. Doctor Strange pulls me in with his sorcerous ways, only for Invisible Woman to grab my attention. I’ll be blasting lightning bolts with Storm and then be drawn over to the fun of bashing baddies with Thor’s Mjolnir. It’s a vicious cycle, and I’m hooked. It’s also one of the big reasons Marvel Rivals consistently hits such substantial concurrent player numbers, keeping fans engaged for match after match. Rivals successfully unites a disparate cast of comic book heroes and villains in a way that parallels the early success of Marvel’s live-action film universe.

From the earliest incarnation of Marvel Comics #1 more than 80 years ago, the comics universe gradually grew and thrived around the genesis and endless reinterpretation of its many characters. Even that earliest issue (which pre-dated the actual company being called Marvel) featured character names, like Jim Hammond as the Human Torch, who would eventually pass the mantle to a completely different individual. By allowing creators to shape their own stories and directions within the editorial framework of a larger universe, the shared universe became rich, nuanced, and fun to follow.

In later years, it didn’t matter that you had gritty crime stories playing out in Daredevil, even while the X-Men jetted into space for adventures across the galaxy. Inherently goofy characters like Howard the Duck could co-exist with the existential angst and monster-within narrative of Bruce Banner and Hulk’s dual identities. Vampires? Talking raccoons? Norse gods? International spies? It was all fair game.

It worked because, whether they showed up in their solo books or as part of a team, these heroes and villains were allowed to be themselves in their own spaces and then cross over with the others without pause. The writers and artists of those decades of comic books let the characters interact, even when the meeting points felt awkward or unusual. New versions of characters could arrive from an entirely different universe, and it was fine.

When the Marvel Cinematic Universe got underway, there seemed to be an awareness that a similar approach was required. Captain America’s espionage thriller vibe could live right alongside Star-Lord’s shenanigans on the fringes of outer space. Then, the two could be smashed together for the kind of fun we see in the final hour of Avengers: Endgame. The movies got each character’s vibe, voice, and feel “right,” so it didn’t matter if there was an incongruity in the individual figures meeting up. That was part of the fun.

Marvel Rivals manages the same trick. As a longtime comics fan, I’m continually impressed with how NetEase has seamlessly captured the essence of so many Marvel characters, even while putting a new spin on each. The voice cast's performances are what I imagine in my head as I read the comics. The interstitial line reads from characters between match rounds feels like what we’d expect to hear if Punisher was talking to Rocket or Magneto was communicating with Scarlet Witch. Squirrel Girl and Jeff the Land Shark are silly, and that’s just fine to have them trading barbs with Loki; the weirdness is played for fun.

Once in battle, each character’s inherent nature comes out in their gameplay, just like the plots of each MCU film reinforce the personalities of individual heroes. When Venom drops into the midst of an enemy scrum, tentacles flailing, it feels like a natural counter as a tank to disrupt the enemy team, but it also just understands who and what Venom is. Hulk’s ultimate has an intuitive quality as he balloons to even greater size and strength. If a player knows the character from other mediums, they’re already partway there to understanding how that character will play in the game.

Likewise, much like the MCU’s willingness to embrace different timelines and convoluted ideas of a multiverse, Marvel Rivals dives headlong into a backdrop of colliding universes. In practice, even if narrative takes a backseat to gameplay in a competitive title like Marvel Rivals, there’s still an easy out for understanding all the myriad outfits and places a player might encounter. Why is Captain America in an AIM outfit? That was totally a thing in the comics! Why is Dracula in here alongside the mythical squirrel named Ratatoskr? Because the zany intersection of those ideas is supported by the narrative framework.

Marvel Rivals has me continually playing because the matches are intense, the art style is beautiful, and the fun of so many distinct playstyles keeps me coming back for more day after day. But as a longtime fan of this fictional universe, it’s also that the game captures my imagination and understanding of these characters in a way that few other Marvel video games have done so well. The game gets what is wild, bizarre, childlike, and exciting about this colorful setting, and like with both the comics and the movies, it has me eagerly anticipating what happens next. 

Marvel Rivals is heading into Season 2 on April 11, alongside a wealth of new balance changes, costumes, and the introduction of Emma Frost as a new playable character. 

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Visual Concepts
Release: March 14, 2025
Rating: Teen

Quality is subjective, but if you ask WWE fans about the state of the product in recent years, many will tell you it’s the best it’s been in ages. The company is enjoying a boom period in quality and mainstream popularity not seen since the Attitude Era, and it almost feels scripted that the WWE 2K video games have been on a similar upward trajectory during the same time frame. WWE 2K25 retains everything that has worked in the recent entries while opening up the roster in a welcomed way due to the long-overdue introduction of intergender matches. Although the game’s most prominent new mode, The Island, is a questionable addition, 2K25 puts on another strong performance.

For the first time in a long time, the 300-plus superstar roster can slam each other as equals now that male and female superstars can finally compete in any match type together. This is my favorite new addition; I only spent significant playtime with half the roster in previous games since the online community tends to favor playing the men. Now, I can finally use my neglected favorites like Asuka or Rhea Ripley without twisting a buddy’s arm to pick one of the ladies to play with me. Intergender matches also raise the possible combinations of match-ups exponentially since men's and women’s abilities are on a level playing field. Liv Morgan can take down Roman Reigns as effectively as the boys, giving 2K25 a fun, arcade-like vibe. 

The exceptional grappling includes the return of chain wrestling, a triggerable mini-game in which players execute a cinematic series of counters and tie-ups to gain the upper hand. I haven’t missed this feature since its last appearance in a 2K game, and 2K25 doesn’t make me feel wrong for that. The mechanic works fine, but it is sometimes a chore due to how long it can go on, so it’s not something I go out of my way to execute and falls squarely in the “neat” category. 

I enjoy the addition of the Underground Match, the MMA-style contest where you must win by knockout or submission inside a ropeless ring surrounded by bystanders. Bloodlines Rules is perhaps the most entertaining stipulation in some time. The match is essentially a street fight that lets you summon up to three superstars to perform run-ins on your behalf à la Cody vs Roman at Wrestlemania XL. This match is delightfully chaotic, and it’s even more amusing when using non-Bloodline-related superstars just to see who runs out. The allies either fit that wrestler's on-screen relationships or are hilariously random, like Stone Cold receiving help from Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat, and The Ultimate Warrior. Regardless of the match, WWE 2K25 remains an entertaining hold-for-hold experience. However, I’m beyond ready to move on from hearing the action called by the long-outdated commentary team of Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton. 

The Bloodline, WWE’s faction of wrestlers hailing from the legendary Anoaʻi/Maivia family dynasty, dominates 2K25, culminating in a brand new mode called The Island. This is WWE 2K’s spin on NBA 2K’s MyCareer, letting players create a custom superstar to explore a WWE theme park-like hub world. From cleverly designed destinations like the lucha libre-inspired Temple of the Ancients and a Japanese arcade themed after the members of Damage CTRL, The Island is fun to gawk at, especially since it's filled with inside nods and easter eggs for hardcore fans. Unfortunately, text-based conversations mean interactions with superstars feel flat, and the minimal ambient sound effects make the Island more lifeless than it looks. Exploring is a literal pain due to constantly holding the trigger button to execute a weirdly sluggish run to get around marginally faster. Additionally, the lack of a map means a lot of aimless searching for where to go, and the small in-game mission indicators don’t stand out enough from the crowd. 

The Island challenges players to complete matches and other tasks to earn a WWE contract (and the acknowledgment of Roman Reigns) while engaging in goofy sidequests like finding the haunted scattered pieces of an urn or obtaining mech suit parts from WWE’s gamer wrestlers. These missions are broadly fine, eliciting a chuckle in some cases. 

The main reward for doing them is earning VC, 2K’s premium currency, to pump up your character, but the Island would prefer that you spend real money to speed up the process. My earlier theme park analogy rings most true in how much the Island tries to tempt players to open their wallets via stores selling cosmetic pieces (some branded, e.g. Nike). While easy to ignore, it still feels a bit icky given that a single piece of attire, such as a pair of shoes or a shirt, costs $5 minimum, and it will take a lot of playtime to earn enough VC to unlock even a few complete outfits purely by playing. This is especially egregious since the same currency is used to improve your character’s attributes, and budgeting real money to balance attire and performance upgrades isn’t fun. 

As a fan of the yearly Showcase mode, centering it on The Bloodline’s long lineage is an appealing choice, and it covers a nice breadth of the family tree. From Peter Maivia to Yokozuna to the Usos to Nia Jax, Showcase is thematically interesting but disjointed in execution. Instead of only presenting a faithful documentary-style recreation of matches, several bouts offer fantasy match-ups, like The Wild Samoans vs The Dudley Boyz, which is a bit odd for the historian in me. 

Vintage matches are sometimes held in modern arenas instead of recreating era-appropriate venues, creating another thematic disconnect. Showcase’s match order also feels haphazard as the family history lesson (narrated by Paul Heyman, who does an unsurprisingly great job) jumps back and forth between the different family generations, making it trickier to grasp if you’re unaware of the Bloodline’s heritage. The 2024 Bloodline vs Bloodline WarGames match, for example, seems like an obvious and fitting final bout, but it’s strangely the penultimate contest to a random and far less significant tag match from yesteryear. Showcase is still an enjoyable summary of the Bloodline’s decades-long greatness, but it’s a weaker overall showing than previous iterations.

 

The story-driven MyRise pushes intergender gameplay further by featuring a single, branching storyline that stars a male and female superstar that players switch between. I appreciate the streamlined approach of doing away with social-media-based match-ups to bouts. With only Story quests and optional live events designed for grinding skill points, MyRise is less bloated and more manageable. This year’s storyline of an NXT invasion of the main roster, a la 2001’s WCW/ECW Alliance angle, is hilariously absurd when you factor in that at least 90 percent of the main roster consists of NXT alumni. Still, that silliness is what makes MyRise’s often ridiculous plots fun in a dumb way. Despite several flat performances from some voiced superstars (including what sounds like a tired CM Punk in a primary role), MyRise remains a fun little romp I still enjoy partaking in.  

MyGM, a favorite destination of mine, is essentially the same this year but makes up for the lack of innovation by finally introducing much-requested online play for up to four players. My long-time disinterest in the card-collecting MyFaction remains unchanged; it’s still okay for those who like it, but playing it does nothing to inspire more engagement beyond the obligatory check-in. The Creation Suite and, to a lesser extent, MyUniverse don’t feature any substantial changes, but they’re still entertaining time sinks for dedicated players. 

But what matters most is when the bell rings, and taking control of this massive roster and mixing it up – regardless of gender – across a now-impressive selection of stipulations is a blast. Although it’s the only real game in town, WWE 2K25 retains its title as the best and most substantial pro wrestling sim fans can buy. 

Score: 8.25

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After years of waiting, Wednesday's comprehensive Nintendo Direct finally revealed everything the Nintendo Switch 2 has to offer, including its new features, launch games, and release date. To top it all off, pre-orders were set to open next week on April 9 until Nintendo issued a new statement to news outlets this morning. Pre-orders are being temporarily postponed due to the United States' recently announced tariffs, which will likely impact the console's price.

Nintendo issued the following statement to Game Informer:

Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged.

On Wednesday evening, the White House announced its upcoming tariff plan, which would impose fees on goods imported from other countries. While the administration has been public about the incoming taxes, the exact rate has turned out to be much higher than anticipated, and in Nintendo's case, it will likely cost them a lot of money. Two common countries where products are manufactured, China and Vietnam, will have tariffs of 54% and 46%, respectively, placed on their exports to the US. 

After the Direct, we learned the base system would cost $449 while the Mario Kart World bundle would be $499, a pair of price tags that staggered many potential buyers. Despite that, Nintendo's delay implies it might raise the price even higher to offset the new tax. Regardless of whether the price will be adjusted, updates on the international trade situation are coming through every day, so Nintendo may also just be waiting for future developments.

The Nintendo Switch 2's launch date of June 5 remains unchanged. For more details on the upcoming console, check out our hands-on impressions, learn about its technical specs, and read a complete recap of the Direct.

Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, PC
Publisher: Fast Travel Games
Developer: MoonHood
Release: May 8, 2025

After watching about 45 minutes of gameplay of The Midnight Walk during a recent demo, I got the chance to inquire about the game's stop-motion art style. It's not true stop-motion – all the animation is done digitally – but the developers mentioned that they sculpted every figure in the game by hand. To explain, co-director Olov Redmalm switches his Discord camera to his phone and walks across the office, showing a workspace littered with handcrafted figures of characters and environments. He ends up at a small, well-lit white box, where he says they can scan sculpted pieces into a digital format. In fact, phone cameras have become so advanced in recent years that they just use their mobile devices as scanners. 

When I ask why they don't just use a 3D modelling program to generate the assets, they give two answers: First, you can't replicate the little details and imperfections that come from hand-sculpting. Second, it's apparently easier this way, a response I found equal parts simple and surprising..

The Midnight Walk is a first-person, narrative-driven puzzle game with a creepy aesthetic. As the Burnt One, you embark on the titular journey with caution, avoiding monsters and bringing light back to the world. The developers claim the game has themes of light vs. darkness in its visuals and mechanics, and this is immediately apparent; the first thing they do in their playthrough is receive a pair of eyes, transforming the blurry visuals to a clear view of the grim, clay environment. The Midnight Walk even has a dedicated button to close your eyes, either to blink and reveal secrets or to will away particularly dangerous creatures, as if the player was a child convincing themselves it was all a dream.

The theme of light is also represented by matches, a core mechanic used to light torches and solve puzzles. To achieve that stop-motion aesthetic, which is usually done by animating toy-sized figures, matches are large, two-handed tools. When you light them, they realistically burn down the matchstick, creating what the developers refer to as a built-in timer, a convenient restraint to make puzzles more challenging.

Of course, you can also light fires with Potboy, the cute, pot-headed companion who also acts as the game's mascot. In addition to shooting embers from his scalp to light distant lanterns, he also graciously volunteers to squeeze through small spaces and get fired out of cannon-like pipes. Potboy is, in many ways, the emotional and aesthetic core of The Midnight Walk. He's creepy and cute, smiling and waving on the streets of an otherwise twisted, disturbing landscape. 

The developers describe The Midnight Walk as a "cozy horror" game, a combination of descriptors that seems inherently contradictory. To me, however, it makes sense: Spooky stop-motion is most famously seen in movies for children, like Coraline or The Nightmare Before Christmas, so it's inherently a little nostalgic. Despite their gothic trappings, I can easily imagine many of these characters on a kid's t-shirt, with Potboy being the chief example.

Gameplay for the first half of the experience is relatively straightforward. Co-director Klaus Lyngeled (the one playing the demo) just proceeds along a linear path, avoiding monsters, lighting candles, and shutting his eyes to remove obstacles. Then, they skip further ahead in the build to a later point in the game. Klaus is now equipped with a matchstick gun, which gives him even more candle-lighting range than Potboy provides, but this time, he has to navigate a town crawling with enemies called Grinners. Klaus' purposeful death aside (he wanted to show us the Grinner's horrifying killing animation), the level clearly challenged him, making him retreat and be patient. I enjoy watching developers play their games, and they often play it up for an audience, but seeing Klaus genuinely tensing up at the risk of being caught was entertaining and exciting.

I'm looking forward to The Midnight Walk. Its aesthetics remind me of movies I watched as a kid, and I enjoyed seeing how Moonhood is committed to using that art style to tell a story. Luckily, I'll only have to wait a few weeks for its release on May 8.

A new batch of Xbox Game Pass titles begins hitting the library today. The coming week is headlined by South of Midnight and promising indie puzzle game Blue Prince. A few other noteworthy titles are also now available on the Standard subscription tier, such as Wargroove 2 and Still Wakes the Deep.

Check out what’s coming Xbox Game Pass (including the membership tiers each title will be available for) as well as the list of games leaving the service this month. We’ve also included links to our reviews for applicable titles if you’d like to know what to expect from a given game. 

What’s Coming to Xbox Game Pass

Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition (Console, PC, Cloud) - Today | Our Review
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

All You Need is Help (Console) - Today
Game Pass Standard

Still Wakes the Deep (Xbox Series X/S) - Today | Our Review 
Game Pass Standard

Wargroove 2 (Console) - Today
Game Pass Standard

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition (Console, PC) - April 8 | Our Review
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

South of Midnight (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) - April 8
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Commandos: Origins (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) - April 9
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Blue Prince (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) - April 10
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Hunt Showdown 1896 (PC) - April 15 
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

What’s Leaving Xbox Game Pass on April 15

• Botany Manor
• Coral Island
• Harold Halibut
• Homestead Arcana
• Kona
• Orcs Must Die! 3
• Turbo Golf Racing