Dailyposts

The “ statue sword ” in Dying Light: the Beast , also known as the Breslau Blade, is a one-handed legendary weapon. Not only is this machete the perfect tool to dispose of zombies, but it’s also available in early game — if you know where to look. source https://www.polygon.com/dying-light-the-beast-breslau-blade-statue-sword/

It’s been more than two years since Disney’s ambitious animated fantasy Owl House ended , and a little over a year since we last saw the Owl House characters turn up in the studio's comedic Chibi Tiny Tales shorts. That series puts cute, simplified versions of Disney characters through teeny adventures in a series of micro-shorts that sometimes cross over with other Disney content — previous Chibi Tiny Tales episodes have featured crossovers between Owl House and the animated series Amphibia and Kiff, along with stories featuring Rapunzel from Tangled and characters from DuckTales and Moana. source https://www.polygon.com/disney-2025-halloween-shorts-mickey-mouse-nightmare-before-christmas/

But what games! I reviewed both on release — Galaxy in Edge magazine, and Galaxy 2 at Eurogamer — and gave them both 10/10. I regret nothing. Taking Mario into space, they are perhaps the most inventive and spectacular platforming games ever made, bending, stretching, and twisting the genre into stunning new forms with almost every level. If nothing else, it’s important that these new editions keep them playable on modern hardware. Galaxy 2 hasn’t been made available since a no-frills Wii U download a decade ago; Galaxy was republished on Switch, but only in the limited-edition (artificially so, since it was available digitally) and the rather half-baked Super Mario 3D All-Stars compilation in 2020. source https://www.polygon.com/mario-galaxy-2-remasters-switch-review/

Ready for your first Minecraft jousting tournament? As revealed in the latest Minecraft Live presentation , the upcoming Mounts of Mayhem update will include the first new tiered weapon since the game’s inception: the spear. Having relied on axes and swords as the zombie-chopping weapons of choice for over 15 years, the spear is a surprising addition to Minecraft ’s tiered arsenal. source https://www.polygon.com/minecraft-spears-new-tiered-weapon-mounts-of-mayhem/

Cooking shows have been around as long as television itself, but the cooking competition subgenre — think Top Chef and Great British Bake-Off — is a relatively new phenomenon. Like so many things we love here at Polygon, it’s also a product of Japan in the 1990s. Iron Chef turns the typical cooking show into a head-to-head duel lasting just one hour, with a dramatic stadium setting, color commentary, and a rotating panel of judges. It first aired in Japan from 1993 to 1999, and gained a second life in the United States when dubbed episodes aired on the Food Network from 1999 to 2004. The dubbing blends corny camp with exhaustive attention to detail, and adds a lot to the overall charm of the experience. Seven seasons of that English dub are available to stream now on Peacock and Pluto TV . source https://www.polygon.com/iron-chef-japan-streaming-peacock-pluto/

Even though it was obviously a dude in a suit, the Xenomorph in the first Alien film is downright terrifying. Due in part to its limited screentime, creating an atmosphere full of tension, and its calculated violence, the titular alien made for a classic movie monster. It has retained its aura of fear across various appearances in the decades since Alien first debuted in theaters. Most recently, viewers saw a new interpretation of it tear unsuspecting soldiers to bits in FX’s Alien: Earth . source https://www.polygon.com/alien-rogue-incursion-evolved-edition-review/

James Gunn captivated audiences with the musical intro to Peacemaker , where the whole cast performs an absurd 1980s rock-inspired dance sequence with deadly serious faces. A video of the sequence set to Wig Wam’s “Do Ya Wanna Taste It” has accumulated more than 20 million views on YouTube . So Gunn sought to match that energy in Peacemaker season 2 with a new sequence set to Foxy Shazam’s “Oh Lord.” source https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-peacemaker-dance-emote-controversy-swastika/

This past week might go down in history as one of the best in video game history. We’ve gotten at least two game of the year contenders, an excellent Mario Kart rival , an award-winning indie, and at least one game that’s destined to become a cult hit. There’s no way you could possibly play them all this weekend, let alone in the next month. We’re eating too good right now. source https://www.polygon.com/silent-hill-f-consume-me-baby-steps-gender-roles/

As we’ve observed before , indie games, no matter how well reviewed they are, tend to get short shrift in the Game of the Year category at The Game Awards. An indie game has never won GOTY — unless you count Larian’s self-published, but lavishly made, Baldur’s Gate 3 (which the jury clearly didn’t, because it wasn’t nominated for the Best Independent Game award). In 2020, Hades was somewhat controversially beaten by The Last of Us Part 2 . source https://www.polygon.com/goty-the-game-awards-hades-2-silksong-indies/

We’ve already directed you to horror on streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video . Now for something different. Below you’ll find the 20 best horror movies currently available on HBO Max, from modern classics like the Conjuring movies and Sinners to cult favorites masters of the genre like David Cronenberg and Sam Raimi. If you want to catch up on some of 2025's biggest horrors, twin directors Danny and Michael Philippou's Bring Her Back is slated to hit the platform Oct. 3. Your choices range from mildly unsettling to truly terrifying. Horror truly does have something for everyone. source https://www.polygon.com/best-horror-movies-on-hbo-max-2025/

Shonen is the most popular genre in manga, with its target audience being mostly adolescent boys and young men. Over the decades, this genre has produced some of the most successful manga in history, including Dragon Ball , Bleach , Naruto , One Piece , and more recent hits like My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen . When the latter two both ended in 2024, there was much discussion around the fact that Weekly Shonen Jump , the flagship magazine of publisher Shueisha, would have a hard time finding worthy successors that could support the unshakable pillar that is One Piece . source https://www.polygon.com/ichi-the-witch-next-manga-award-winner-toriyama/

Grand Theft Auto 6 is still several months away from its May 2026 launch, but thanks to two trailers from developer Rockstar, we have some broad outlines for what to expect from the year’s most anticipated game. Even though we’ve only seen about three minutes of official footage of GTA 6 , we know the story centers around an adventurous couple, Jason and Lucia. source https://www.polygon.com/gta-6-red-dead-2-honor-mechanic/

Due to a love for runnin’ and gunnin’ clashing with a natural aversion to gory braineaters, I usually approach new zombie games with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. But not Dying Light: The Beast . This time, I just couldn’t wait to jump into the fray. And I’ve got Hollow Knight: Silksong to thank for that. source https://www.polygon.com/silksong-dying-light-the-beast-relaxing/

When it comes to today's give-me-something-to-watch-right-now streaming era, Netflix reigns supreme, as eponymous to random-night couch programming as Xerox was to the photocopier. Still, who among us hasn’t bounced off a Netflix show three or four episodes in? Hell, who among us actually finished one of the 10-episode gauntlets of the streamer’s early era? While Netflix is known for a deep well of movies and TV shows, it’s not as well known for hits that whisk you along to a finale and stick with you for years after the credits roll. source https://www.polygon.com/3-netflix-shows-watch-binge-to-end/

Disney and Lucasfilm have unveiled the new trailer for Star Wars: Visions volume 3 , set to release on Disney Plus this upcoming October. And as Visions does every season, it's bringing a score of amazing animation studios along for the ride. source https://www.polygon.com/star-wars-visions-trailer-anime-studios/

Episode 6 of DC Studio's Peacemaker season 2 features a key cameo that also acts as a bridge between James Gunn's 2025 movie Superman and the direct sequel, 2027's Man of Tomorrow . On episode 6 of Peacemaker: The Official Podcast , writer-director James Gunn confirmed it's meant as "a really important moment for not only Peacemaker , but the entire DCU." Shot while Gunn was still in production on Superman , the scene is the latest Peacemaker moment to touch on Superman 's aftermath. It also catches up with a key character and starts putting pieces in place for the next movie. source https://www.polygon.com/peacemaker-lex-luthor-cameo-nicholas-hoult-season-2-episode-6/

Microsoft and Asus have finally announced the pricing for their joint venture, the ROG Xbox Ally handheld consoles. The base ROG Xbox Ally will cost $599.99, while the premium Xbox Ally X is priced at a whopping $999.99. source https://www.polygon.com/rog-xbox-ally-x-price-announced/

Getting started in Silent Hill f might seem like a straightforward affair, especially if you've played other survival horror games. However, developer NeoBards Entertainment threw in some fresh twists that change how you approach things like combat and puzzle solving, including difficulty options that drastically change how the game unfolds. source https://www.polygon.com/silent-hill-f-beginners-tips-tricks-guide/

During Wednesday's State of Play , Sony Interactive Entertainment revealed October 2025's free Essential games for PlayStation Plus. Alan Wake 2 , Cocoon , and Goat Simulator 3 will arrive on the service on Oct. 7 for all subscribers. source https://www.polygon.com/playstation-plus-october-2025-free-games-ps5/

Most Alien movies end in explosions and bloodshed, but with FX’s Alien: Earth , creator Noah Hawley took a different approach. To unpack the show's season 1 finale, Polygon spoke to Hawley and star Sydney Chandler, who broke down the final moments and teased what could be coming next. source https://www.polygon.com/alien-earth-ending-explained-season-2/

At this point, I'm not afraid to admit that my favorite character in Noah Hawley's Alien: Earth is the little tentacled eyeball creature known as Species 64 or t. ocellus . It's intelligent, it's deadly, it's honestly kind of adorable , and like Prodigy CEO Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin), I am nothing short of obsessed with it. source https://www.polygon.com/alien-earth-finale-episode-8-eyeball/

Publisher Annapurna Interactive, known for bringing us games like Stray , Outer Wilds , and Kentucky Route Zero , held a new Annapurna Direct showcase on Tuesday ahead of this year's Tokyo Game Show, where it revealed three new games. source https://www.polygon.com/annapurna-interactive-direct-tgs-2025-showcase/

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is now posting Pokémon memes to propagandize its immigration crackdown and ICE raids, sparking backlash from fans of the game franchise, who are urging Nintendo and The Pokémon Company to take action. source https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-ice-dhs-nintendo/

Fans of Hideo Kojima must feel truly ecstatic after Kojima Productions' 10th anniversary event on Tuesday. Not only did they get the first full trailer for OD - Knock , the anticipated video game collaboration between Kojima and Jordan Peele , but they were also treated to the trailer for Death Stranding Mosquito (working title), an anime set in the universe of Kojima's Death Stranding games. source https://www.polygon.com/death-stranding-mosquito-anime-hideo-kojima/

Silent Hill f , the first mainline Silent Hill game since 2012's Silent Hill: Downpour , is almost here. The game's developers say they want players to " find the beauty in terror, " and you can start searching for that blood-soaked beauty yourself when the game launches in your time zone. source https://www.polygon.com/silent-hill-f-release-time-date-edt-pdt/

Julia Fox went onto the set of Him ready to have a full transformation. That isn't quite how it happened. source https://www.polygon.com/video/julia-fox-him-makeup-transformation/

Pokémon-with-guns game Palworld is getting its first spinoff, the farming and cozy lifestyle-themed Palworld: Palfarm , developer Pocketpair announced Monday. Pocketpair describes the new entry in the Palworld universe as a farming experience set on an island where Pals work, cook, and craft to build the farm of your dreams. source https://www.polygon.com/palworld-palfarm-farming-game-trailer-steam-pocketpair/

Horror was at a low ebb for the first half of the 1990s. The slasher boom of the ‘80s had waned, and each new year of the ‘90s held ominous signs. 1991 saw the release of last-gasp-for-now sequels for Freddy Krueger and Chucky the killer doll . In 1992, horror maestro John Carpenter released a movie about the invisible man — starring a decidedly non-monstrous Chevy Chase. Looking at the 1993 box office charts, the closest thing to horror in the top 25 is The Nightmare Before Christmas . And in 1994, Sony’s unofficial revival of Universal monsters in a series of big-budget, star-driven productions for adults screeched to a halt when Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein f lopped . The stage was set for Scream to revive slashers and horror in general in 1996. source https://www.polygon.com/seven-at-30-fincher-horror/

It’s understandable to feel anxiety about a new Silent Hill game. After a long list of duds (e.g. Silent Hill HD Collection , Downpour , Book of Memories ) and the heartbreaking cancellation of a bold take on the franchise ( Silent Hills ), Silent Hill seemed like a series without clear direction or voice. But after last year’s lovely Silent Hill 2 remake , there was a new spark of hope. source https://www.polygon.com/silent-hill-f-review-konami/

We asked Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson if the U.S. is ready for an infected outbreak like the one that has swept through Britain in 28 Days Later and 28 Years Later. source https://www.polygon.com/video/can-the-u-s-handle-a-28-years-later-style-outbreak/

In September 2010, Halo changed forever. Halo: Reach , a prequel to Bungie’s Halo trilogy and the last game developed by the studio while under Microsoft’s umbrella, messed with established canon and introduced controversial features that fundamentally altered the Halo gameplay loop. (I still love you, Armor Lock.) Then Bungie moved on. But Halo sure didn’t. source https://www.polygon.com/halo-reach-15-year-retrospective-canon/

Nintendo has a busy holiday season ahead of it, as it prepares to release Pokémon Legends: Z-A , Kirby Air Riders , and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond . But none of those games are what I’m looking forward to playing on my Switch 2 most this fall. Instead, that honor goes to Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment . I can’t wait to see what it does with the Zelda universe. source https://www.polygon.com/hyrule-warriors-age-of-calamity-story-lore-analysis/

In 2009, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it would expand the Oscar category for Best Picture from five to 10 nominees. Most observers interpreted the move as an attempt to broaden the types of films nominated, and thus the appeal of the Oscars themselves. There had been much discussion of the failure to nominate Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight from the previous year, and whether the Oscars was risking cultural irrelevance by appearing to favor arthouse fare over popular cinema. Expanding the field to 10 films might save some embarrassment without requiring the Academy’s voting body to change its taste wholesale. source https://www.polygon.com/game-awards-goty-10-nominees/

Spooky season is upon us, and if you’re a true horror fan, you’ve probably been in full scare mode since Sept 1. That means spending most nights on the couch enjoying scary movies — ideally with a big bowl of popcorn or candy — but with so many days to go before Halloween, you might need some help finding films to watch. source https://www.polygon.com/best-horror-movies-amazon-prime-video/

Look, I know that what I’m about to say is going to bring out the skeptics. It’s a claim that a certain subset of gamers have been repeating in some form for God knows how many years, trying to play PR for a shaky series in an unstable period. I reject this kind of fandom. I am only concerned with the game you put in front of me at any given moment. If you give me good food, I will feast upon it. So believe me when I say that I do not utter the following words carelessly. source https://www.polygon.com/sonic-the-hedgehog-is-so-back-sonic-racing-crossworlds-shadow-generations/

There are a lot of enigmas in Justin Tipping’s oddball football horror movie Him , but most of them seem a lot clearer by the end of the movie — particularly Julia Fox’s character Elsie White, the unpredictable wife of football superstar Isaiah White, played by Marlon Wayans . Elsie appears both friendly and menacing to beleaguered protagonist Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers), sometimes at the same time. She hovers around the edges of Cameron and Isaiah’s relationship, as Isaiah mentors Cameron and draws him into a surreal nightmare. Elsie is predatory and creepy, and while she doesn’t get much screen time, she makes an impression — especially in the final scene. source https://www.polygon.com/julia-fox-him-elsie-white-secret-backstory-real-housewives/

Diehard horror fans may prefer dedicated streaming services like Shudder, but as the biggest platform of its kind, Netflix still has plenty to offer, whether you’re a longtime scary movie fan or just getting into the genre. source https://www.polygon.com/best-horror-movies-on-netflix-2025/

Who do you think should play Ganondorf in the live-action Legend of Zelda movie? I've got a few options, let's see if it happens. source https://www.polygon.com/video/fan-casting-the-best-live-action-ganondorf/

I think we should! I can't be the only one who thinks so, right? source https://www.polygon.com/video/blackstar-cartoon-reboot/

In the second episode of Peacemaker season 2, an ARGUS squad goes to the home of Chris Smith (John Cena) to investigate signs of extradimensional activity. They find the mission is far more dangerous than they expected when Chris’ bald eagle sidekick Eagly absolutely dismantles the group , forcing Langston Fleury (Tim Meadows) and his agents to run for their lives. source https://www.polygon.com/peacemaker-season-2-eagly-theory/

From first-time director Chris Stuckmann (best known for his popular movie-review YouTube channel), Shelby Oaks centers on a simple mystery. The hosts of a fictional, early internet YouTube channel named Paranormal Paranoids head off to explore an abandoned amusement park and disappear. A decade later, the world has largely moved on, but Mia (Camille Sullivan), protective older sister of the group’s still-missing leader Riley (Sarah Durn), is determined to solve the mystery. source https://www.polygon.com/shelby-oaks-review-chris-stuckmann/

Early in Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 , it’s revealed that your character, the elder vampire Fyre, has killed the much younger Malkavian vampire Fabien. Fyre drank from him so deeply they drained his blood and devoured his soul, leaving part of his personality and memories rattling around their head. After playing through a closed-door, hands-on, hour-long demo at Gamescom, I discovered something similar happened during Bloodline 2 ’s troubled development process , and the resultfeels like two very different games stapled together. source https://www.polygon.com/vampire-the-masquerade-bloodlines-2-gamescom-preview/

Who hasn't played Bop It before? This childhood audio game toy took over most of my life when I was a small kid thanks to its loud, exciting music and the ability to play it competitively with friends. Now, thanks to Alliance Games, the toy is getting its very own video game release with Bop It: The Video Game . source https://www.polygon.com/bop-it-video-game-announcement/

Justin Tipping's football horror movie Him is built around a lot of unusual decisions, from the striking visual design (which Tipping tells Polygon was drawn from a famous 1990s ad campaign ) to a story that blends hallucinatory horror with anger at the treatment of sports stars as commodities. But the most surprising decision was in casting writer-producer-comedian Marlon Wayans as the football superstar both helping and tormenting the protagonist. source https://www.polygon.com/marlon-wayans-him-justin-tipping-interview/

Hazbin Hotel creator and Homestuck pilot producer Vivienne Medrano says the Homestuck animated pilot may cover the entire first chapter of the webcomic. Andrew Hussie is working on condensing the rest of the expansive comic alongside SpindleRoo, the animation studio that is working on the pilot. source https://www.polygon.com/video/how-long-is-the-homestuck-animated-pilot/

Magic: The Gathering just announced the start of its yearly collaboration with Extra Life, the fundraising program to help children's hospitals. This year's initiatives begin with a new Secret Lair drop, Secret Lair X Play-Doh: Squishful Thinking , which includes four cards that are staples of the Commander format, now available with exquisitely cute art inspired by the popular modeling compound. source https://www.polygon.com/mtg-secret-lair-extra-life-play-doh-cards-magic-the-gathering/

As teased in a new story trailer for the 2026 release, the science-fiction game casts you as Dalia Kova, a deep-space disaster specialist who returns to her home in Saturn’s rings to confront a spreading alien contamination. Your mission is not to fight but to clean up fungi and lay the dead to rest. As a “scarab” — a kind of cosmic coroner — her mission requires her to harvest DNA for the mysterious Ambrosia Project. In the same breath, Dalia performs rituals that allow her to hear the words of the dead. As she navigates a decimated station, grief permeates her own memories, and players will realize her return to Saturn is more than professional. source https://www.polygon.com/ambrosia-sky-sci-fi-fps-steam/

2025 is, without a doubt, the year of KPop Demon Hunters . The animated singing sensation has brought win after win for Netflix , and it doesn't look like Rumi, Zoey, and Mira's adventures as the KPop group HUNTR/X will be stopping anytime soon. A new short film has been rated and is, reportedly, ready for release. source https://www.polygon.com/kpop-demon-hunters-new-movie-debut-release/

Alien: Earth episode 7 ends with Wendy (Sydney Chandler) furiously chewing out her brother Joe (Alex Lawther) for reasons I can’t explain without spoiling the entire plot. Suffice to say, Wendy is mad, and rightfully so. "What did you do?!" Wendy screams at him twice, utterly incredulous at his actions. Ed. note: Spoilers ahead for Alien: Earth episode 7. Honestly, I have the same question, but it's not for Joe, it's for the ever-shoeless Prodigy CEO Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin). In his infinite wisdom — and hubris — Kavalier decides to move the " eyeball alien " (aka, t. ocellus or Species 64) after it orchestrated the death of the science-minded Hybrid Isaac in episode 6. Instead of a secure containment cell in Prodigy's lab, Alien: Earth' s most dangerous non-Xenomorph creature is now just chilling in a portable containment tube in the middle of Kavalier's office. What could possibly go wrong? source https://www.polygon.com/alien-ear...

Intelligent Systems and Nintendo made me very happy last week with the announcement of Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave . It only made me happier when I realized that the game would also be connected, in some way or other, to Fire Emblem: Three Houses . source https://www.polygon.com/fire-emblem-fortunes-weave-prequel-sequel-three-houses/

Darren Aronofsky’s 2025 movie Caught Stealing is a mixtape of sorts for the idiosyncratic filmmaker, a compilation of Aronofsky fixations doubling as a back-to-basics crime thriller. It feels like something he could have scraped together in the early days of his career — as plenty of reviews pointed out, the movie is actually set during those early days, unfolding in fall 1998, a few months after the release of Aronofsky’s feature debut Pi . Like Caught Stealing , Pi also features menacing Hasidic Jews and scenes near Manhattan’s Lower East Side. source https://www.polygon.com/the-fountain-darren-aronofsky-appreciation/

Hollow Knight: Silksong is an unreasonable game. Like a matador waving a muleta at an incensed bull, it is a game that evokes a sharp fury. It’s a dare that players answer through impressive leaps , spectacular confrontations , and peregrine ambition. But Silksong refuses to be conquered, and will only yield long enough to hold up a mirror to its beholder. source https://www.polygon.com/silksong-review-hollow-knight-polygon-score-metacritic/

If you've been scouring the deepest dungeons for more news about Critical Role's Campaign 4 , then look no further: The beloved tabletop adventuring group has fully revealed their Campaign 4 characters after some cryptic teases, and, as expected from a Dungeons & Dragons adventuring party, they look as unique and wacky as ever. source https://www.polygon.com/critical-role-campaign-4-characters-revealed-art-players/

Cristin Milioti won the Emmy for lead actress in a limited series on Sunday for her portrayal of the mafia scion Sofia Gigante in HBO’s The Batman spinoff The Penguin , yet that category might be deceiving. The Batman director Matt Reeves, who serves as an executive producer and writing supervisor on The Penguin , told Variety he is in discussions with showrunner Lauren Lefranc about a second season of the hit series. source https://www.polygon.com/the-penguin-season-2-emmys-matt-reeves-batman/

Anyone who knows me knows I take character creation in RPGs very, very seriously. I'm not talking about optimizing builds or picking the perfect perks, I'm talking about creating my player-character's physical appearance with obsessive precision. I'm a big fan of games that allow me to really bring my character to life via small details like eyeliner, tattoos, hair highlights, and even nail art. I'll often spend upwards of three or four hours in character creation, painstakingly crafting my ideal in-game avatar. There's only one problem: After I leave character creation, I usually can't get back in. source https://www.polygon.com/rpg-character-creator-avowed-baldurs-gate-3-dragon-age/

It looks like you may need to be more careful about how you get your anime and manga. If you've been sailing the high seas for this kind of content... beware... source https://www.polygon.com/video/japan-anime-piracy-crackdown/

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle opened in U.S. theaters over the past weekend with a record-breaking performance that somehow surpassed even the expectations of the franchise's most hardcore fans. With over $70 million , this is the best opening ever for an anime movie (breaking the record held by Pokémon: The First Movie ), the best for Crunchyroll, and even the best for Sony (which acquired the anime distribution and streaming platform in 2021) over the past two years. source https://www.polygon.com/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-box-office-us-record/

Weapons , the latest horror movie from Barbarian writer-director Zach Cregger , was a huge box office success as audiences flocked to theaters to share the gasps and laughs in the unsettling and surprisingly funny story of a community looking for answers after 17 children go missing. Now you can find the film on VOD for the first time. This week also offers plenty of smaller horror movies to rent, with the faux true crime documentary Strange Harvest and the nightmarish science fiction film Somnium . source https://www.polygon.com/new-movies-on-streaming-weapons-honey-dont-shadow-force/

After a nearly two-and-a-half-year hiatus, Netflix’s The Witcher season 4 is on the horizon. A trailer for the series premiered during a different type of action drama, the Canelo vs. Crawford boxing match, and it showcases the new Geralt: Liam Hemsworth , who took over after Henry Cavill departed the role after the season 3 finale. The season will premiere in October. source https://www.polygon.com/witcher-season-4-trailer-liam-hemsworth-geralt-cavill/

Pokémon Go is having a Flabébé Community Day event on Sunday, Sept. 14 from 2-5 p.m. in your local time. source https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-go-flabebe-community-day-shiny-florges-moveset/

Dungeon Clawler is a cute and decently complex roguelite deckbuilder, but you pull your items from a claw machine. source https://www.polygon.com/video/dungeon-clawler-game-recommendation/

[ Ed. note: This article contains major spoilers for Strange New Worlds season 3] source https://www.polygon.com/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-season-3-review/

This weekend is the 2025 Emmys ceremony, TV’s biggest night. Which means there is no hope for you catching up on all the new TV shows on your backlog in time to see what wins. Which REALLY means it’s a great time to blow off anything resembling homework and watch some great television instead. source https://www.polygon.com/best-shows-watch-free-binge-sept-13/

We need to set the record straight on this matter. source https://www.polygon.com/video/are-80-dollar-games-anti-consumer/

But he doesn’t change much else. Fans of the book will clearly recognize the characters they already know (by name, personality, narrative function, and the details of their deaths), the story’s specific rise and fall, the mournful short-term friendships these doomed boys form, and the grueling, horrific feeling of inevitability. At least up to a certain point. And at that point, it suddenly becomes important to ask: Which parts of the movie’s ending are real? source https://www.polygon.com/the-long-walk-ending-explained-breakdown-book-vs-film-comparison/

The Conjuring: Last Rites broke box office records when it hit theaters on Sept. 5 and had the biggest opening weekend in horror movie history . That means you should have plenty of time to enjoy the final chapter in the story of paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) on the big screen and share the scares. But if you’re the type of fan who has come to view the long-running series as a comfort watch , here’s our best estimate on when you’ll be able to chill out at home in your pajamas and watch the Warren family wrestle with demons on your VOD or streaming platform of choice. source https://www.polygon.com/the-conjuring-last-rites-streaming-release-date-hbo-max/

When working on the the portrayal of Justine Gandy in Weapons, Julia Garner reveals a funny tidbit of information on what influenced her wardrobe choices. source https://www.polygon.com/video/weapons-julia-garner-imitates-zach-cregger/

It's just under a month until Critical Role 's Campaign 4 kicks off, but the cast is already teasing their characters on social media. source https://www.polygon.com/critical-role-campaign-4-characters-puzzle/

While the American version of The Office took on new life in September with the Peacock debut of the spinoff The Paper , the creator of the original British mockumentary has moved onto a very different type of sitcom. Ricky Gervais will direct and star in Alley Cats , an adult animated series about a group of feral British cats launching on Netflix in 2026. source https://www.polygon.com/ricky-gervais-the-office-alley-cats-netflix/

Ten years ago, M. Night Shyamalan was coming off such an extraordinary cold streak that a small-scale, found-footage thriller seemed like a major retreat. Instead, it wound up jumpstarting an improbable comeback that’s still going today. source https://www.polygon.com/the-visit-m-night-shyamalan-tenth-anniversary/

That’s part of the gift and the curse of Gearbox’s extravagant new shooter. It amplifies the series’ love of excess in a full-on open-world game where every dial is cranked to the max. If you love the shooting, unique loot, or crisp sound design that have long defined Borderlands, you’ll get all of those qualities at their peak. But if there’s anything that’s ever bugged you about the series — like, say, bad one-liners served with the frequency of McDonald’s hamburgers at a drive-thru window — you’ll find that your pet peeves have become an invasive species. source https://www.polygon.com/borderlands-4-review/

The next Nintendo Direct is coming on Friday, Sept. 12, Nintendo announced via its Nintendo Today app. September's Nintendo Direct showcase is expected to focus on upcoming games for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 coming in 2025 and beyond. source https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-direct-news-september-2025-date-time/

Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto's anime anthology series, a collection of Fujimoto's earlier work from his student years, is set to release this November on Amazon Prime Video. According to Animate Times , the anthology will also get a limited theatrical run, beginning on Oct. 17. source https://www.polygon.com/chainsaw-man-tatsuki-fujimoto-17-26-anime-limited-theatrical-release/

I absolutely adore Xenomorphs in all their forms. I love facehuggers, chestbursters, not-yet-full-grown " teen-omorphs ," and of course, I love giant, double-mouthed, razor-tailed adult Xenomorphs in all their glory. But man, that weird little eyeball creature from Alien: Earth, is totally stealing the show. source https://www.polygon.com/alien-earths-eyeball-creature-stealing-the-show/

Netflix’s Wednesday follows the same basic formula as Harry Potter : The protagonist attends a boarding school for kids with supernatural powers and solves mysteries that revolve around figuring out which faculty members are secretly evil each year. But Wednesday ’s overstuffed second season entirely misses one of the key elements of the supernatural school genre — the actual schooling. source https://www.polygon.com/netflix-wednesday-nevermore-academy/

If you’re the kind of gamer who loves saying “They don’t make them like they used to,” 2025 has been your year. In between modern behemoths like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Monster Hunter Wilds , we’ve gotten a steady drip of retro-inspired games that call back to the good old days of 2D platformers. The floodgates have burst in the last few weeks especially though, as three high-profile games have stolen the thunder of much bigger releases. Even with a few months still to go in 2025, I’m confident in saying that we’re currently living through the best years for 2D platformers since the Super NES era gave way to the 3D age. source https://www.polygon.com/2025-best-year-2d-platformers-silksong-shinobi-ninja-gaiden/

I have to admit that I was on the fence about Magic: The Gathering 's latest set, Marvel's Spider-Man . As a big fan of the classic MTG lore, I'm not exactly in love with Universes Beyond , and while I understand that something like Lord of the Rings can fit the vibe of the game, Spider-Man (and Marvel Comics in general) seemed like a step too far. However, I put my reservations aside when I saw the cards in the Marvel's Universe bonus sheet, which will be included in both Play Boosters and Collector Boosters. source https://www.polygon.com/mtg-marvel-spider-man-bonus-sheet-cards-stories-comics/

Team Cherry will issue the first post-release patch for Hollow Knight: Silksong next week, and has detailed balance changes that will offer some small measure of relief to players who are struggling with the game's difficulty . source https://www.polygon.com/first-silksong-patch-will-make-early-bosses-easier-and-rosary-economy-less-stingy/

The key to completing the “ Flexile Spines ” quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong is figuring out what a Hoker is so you can collect their Spine Cores . Give 25 Spine Cores to the Seamstress in Far Fields, and you’ll receive a game-changing ability. source https://www.polygon.com/hollow-knight-silksong-flexile-spines-hokers-cores-quest-walkthrough/

Larian Studios’ smash hit CRPG Baldur’s Gate 3 uses the rules of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, allowing veteran TTRPG players to utilize their knowledge of the game’s mechanics to get creative while also providing an easy gateway for video gamers to get comfortable with different character classes before joining a D&D game. Paizo is hoping Epictellers Entertainment’s upcoming CRPG Starfinder: Afterlight will serve the same purpose for the new second edition of their science fantasy TTRPG Starfinder . source https://www.polygon.com/starfinder-afterlight-crpg-companions/

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is a direct continuation of season 4 of the anime, itself an adaptation of the manga created by Koyoharu Gotouge. While it’s only the second Demon Slayer film to hit theaters worldwide, there are also two compilation movies that recap the second part of season 2 and season 3. The first film, Mugen Train , adapted season 2’s storyline but was actually released before the season aired. If all that sounds confusing, you’re not wrong, which is why we’re here to break it all down, so you can head into Infinity Castle without second-guessing a thing. source https://www.polygon.com/demon-slayer-watch-order-infinity-castle/

Here’s a hot take: Padmé Amidala is the most important character in the entire Star Wars saga . She served as both Queen of Naboo and a senator on Coruscant, she was a major figure in the small beginnings of the Rebel Alliance with Mon Mothma and Bail Organa, she married Anakin Skywalker (and played an unfortunate role in his transformation into Darth Vader), and she gave birth to Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, who bring down the Galactic Empire. source https://www.polygon.com/natalie-portman-should-return-to-star-wars-but-not-as-padme/

On Sept. 4, EA Sports signalled it was backing out of the college basketball market before it even got its shot off. In a memo sent to schools it was trying to hash out licensing deals with, EA indicated many of those schools were already signing with its rival sports publisher, 2K. This was confirmed a day later as 2K stated, “Yes, it’s true” — 2K has a college basketball game in the works , potentially due to release in 2027. (2K’s wording is a little cagey: “We've got big plans for 2027 and beyond.”) source https://www.polygon.com/ea-sports-2k-college-basketball-competition/

Bennett Foddy has made a career of creating games that make you furious. From his early Flash games like QWOP and GIRP to more ambitious projects like Getting Over It , Foddy's work challenges players to face down failure even in the face of the most simple tasks — like taking a single step. source https://www.polygon.com/bennett-foddy-baby-steps-interview-video/

September is... not typically a great time for movies. (Unless you're really into whatever shenanigans Annabelle is cooking up in the Conjuringverse, in which case it's a great month for movies.) So why not catch up on a blindspot? These days, Netflix is brimming with more licensed films from across the studios, making it a hub of under-seen gems and blockbusters you easily missed in crowded summer seasons. source https://www.polygon.com/new-movies-on-netflix-september-2025/

No matter how old we get, the first week of September always feels like “back to school” — even if the homework is figuring out what new show to start watching. To that point: Sit up straight, grab a pencil, and jot these down notes because there’ll be a test at the end of your next binge session. source https://www.polygon.com/netflix-shows-weekend-binge-sept-6/

Upgrading your needle will improve your damage output in Hollow Knight: Silksong , but it might take a while for you to find the Pinmaster. source https://www.polygon.com/hollow-knight-silksong-needle-upgrade-how-to/

The Hollow Knight: Silksong map is a dense, sprawling maze full of things that want to kill you (bugs, bigger bugs, even bigger bugs) and things that don't want to kill you but end up doing so anyway (spikes, pits, that sort of thing). No doubt about it, Pharloom is a dangerous place. source https://www.polygon.com/hollow-knight-silksong-interactive-map-full-pharloom/

Before serving as the foundation for funny movies and great Batman games, Lego bricks have always been a powerful toy that allows us to come up with all kinds of adventures. Lego Voyagers , a puzzle game from Light Brick Studio out Sept. 15, offers an introspective co-op experience with no words, where players must connect and collaborate to solve puzzles. source https://www.polygon.com/lego-voyagers-karsten-lund-interview/

Nintendo’s Switch 2 is at the very start of its life — and, as with every young console, excitement for the new hardware is held in check by the quest for something to play on it. Nintendo debuted the system with one of the biggest guns in its arsenal: a new Mario Kart. Elsewhere, the launch line-up has been the usual grab-bag of ports from other consoles and upgrades of past hits, with the occasional third-party original sprinkled in. source https://www.polygon.com/what-to-play/611102/best-switch-2-games/

Marvel Comics is giving fans waiting for the Sept. 24 premiere of Disney Plus’ Marvel Zombies miniseries the chance to see some undead heroes a week early. A new gore-soaked Marvel Zombies limited series kicks off on Sept. 17 as part of the Red Band format for issues with graphic art Marvel introduced in 2024. source https://www.polygon.com/marvel-zombies-red-band-variant-covers/

In “Another Rick Up My Sleeve,” the third episode of James Gunn’s Peacemaker , season 2, anti-hero Chris Smith (John Cena) reaches his most heroic point so far — and by that, we mean “He brutally kills a lot of bad guys.” But unlike in previous cases, the public and his peers aren’t chiding him for it. Witnesses on the street cheer Peacemaker and praise him for cold-bloodedly killing a bunch of the Sons of Liberty, a terrorist group fighting what it identifies as government oppression by blowing up government offices. source https://www.polygon.com/peacemaker-season2-episode-3-analysis-recap/

"They didn't send the A-Team up there,” showrunner Noah Hawley tells Polygon. source https://www.polygon.com/alien-earth-episode-5-noah-hawley-interview/

Many things come to my mind when I think of Borderlands. The fascinating gun design. The weird yet charismatic NPCs. Claptrap. Some of these aspects have potential, while others have aged poorly — I'm talking about you, my loudmouthed, metal friend. Borderlands 4 is touted as the biggest deviation from the Borderlands template yet, positioned as a reimagination of sorts of a 15-year-old series. Is there still room for a new installment to put a new shine on a very established looter shooter formula? I got a glimpse of that answer when going hands-on with Borderlands 4 ahead of its launch. source https://www.polygon.com/borderlands-4-preview/

Fans of Jujutsu Kaisen had reason to rejoice on Sept. 1 when issue 40 of Weekly Shonen Jump announced a new serialization from JJK author Gege Akutami and Yuji Iwasaki ( Cypher Academy ). This will be a short-term manga titled Mojuro , debuting on Sept. 8 in the magazine's 41st issue, with Akutami writing the story and Iwasaki illustrating. Not many details about the new manga were known, but a few days later, leakers began sharing information that may make this even more surprising for Jujutsu Kaisen fans. source https://www.polygon.com/jujutsu-kaisen-jjk-new-manga-sequel-spinoff-akutami/

Maehiro worked as an event planner on Final Fantasy Tactics 28 years ago. Now he’s returning to this beloved game as the director of a top-down remake. Back then, he was ticking boxes. Now, the stakes are higher. source https://www.polygon.com/final-fantasy-tactics-remake-kazutoyo-maehiro/

Lego's hyped Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse mini-figures weren't supposed to be on sale until Sept. 1. However, fans have spent the last week hunting down the toys across major retailers, where they're selling out or leading to unfortunate displays of rudeness. source https://www.polygon.com/lego-spider-verse-spider-man-set-where-to-buy-find-sold-out/

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s phenomenal post-apocalyptic drama 28 Years Later was shot back to back with its sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple , meaning we won’t have to wait long to see more of how the U.K. has been transformed by the Rage Virus. The film written by Alex Garland and directed by Nia DaCosta ( Candyman , The Marvels ) will premiere on Jan. 16, and the first trailer offers a glimpse at the horrors to come. source https://www.polygon.com/28-years-later-the-bone-temple-trailer/

Alien: Earth just pulled off one of the best fakeouts in recent TV history. After kicking off the Alien prequel series by introducing an entire crew of Weyland-Yutani employees aboard a ship called the Maginot, showrunner Noah Hawley proceeded to brutally murder all of them in a matter of minutes, leaving only the steely cyborg Morrow (Babou Ceesay) alive. However, in episode 5 (title: “In Space, No One...") we finally get a closer look at the Maginot's crew — and what went wrong. source https://www.polygon.com/alien-earth-episode-5-is-the-best-alien-movie-in/

One of the early quests you'll need to complete in Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar involves finding escaped chickens around town for a merchant. As a new farmer who has just moved into Zephyr town, you’ll have plenty of things to do — like talking to your new friends around the town and growing crops to sell in the marketplace, but you will need to do quests, too. source https://www.polygon.com/story-of-seasons-grand-bazaar-escaped-chickens-location-sos-runaway-birds/

After a tense exchange at the end of the first season of The Sopranos , Uncle Junior tells Tony, “Next time you come in, you come in heavy or not at all.” These words echoed through my brain throughout my time with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles , a top-down remake of the 1997 PlayStation game set to be released Sept. 30. Even before you set foot on the battlefield, preparation is key, and every choice matters. Forget to bring a healer? Ignore the turn order? You will be punished and made to look like a fool. But soon it will be you doling out the punishments. source https://www.polygon.com/final-fantasy-tactics-ivalice-chronicles-ff-tactics-remake-preview/

Magic: The Gathering fans who try to stay updated about the game's upcoming sets (it's not been easy, recently!) know that Marvel's Spider-Man, the upcoming Universes Beyond set that will release on Sept. 26, will be smaller than regular sets , with a pool of 231 base cards, not including the special reprints and art styles, some of which you can see in our preview . (For comparison, the previous set, Edge of Eternities, included 276 base cards.) Some fans have complained that Marvel's Spider-Man will also have no dedicated Commander decks, and MTG head designer Mark Rosewater addressed that issue in the recent presentation event that took place at Wizards of the Coast's headquarters. source https://www.polygon.com/mtg-mark-rosewater-marvel-set-crossover-commander-avengers/

Team Cherry has announced that Hollow Knight: Silksong will cost $19.99. The price is $5 more than the original Hollow Knight cost back in 2017, an increase roughly in line with inflation. source https://www.polygon.com/hollow-knight-silksong-price-release-time/