Dailyposts

In Diablo 4 , the vast map of Sanctuary is the stage where humans try to survive the whims of demons and angels. The land created by Lilith and Inarius features unique locations, from the rainy Tirmair in Scosglen to the arid battlefield of Alzuuda in the Dry Steppes — and each area is marked by the people who live there and their culture. source https://www.polygon.com/c/diablo-4-guides/23778174/diablo-iv-map-altars-of-lilith-dungeons-waypoints/

Yellow barriers in Saros will have you stumped right from the very start of the game because, even though you can find them while exploring the first biomes, there's no obvious way to break them. Red barriers, on the other hand, just require a melee attack to take down, and you can destroy them from the get-go. source https://www.polygon.com/saros-yellow-barriers-how-to-break/

Including the Hobbs & Shaw spinoff movie, there have been 11 Fast & Furious films to date, and a 12th and final one is on the way. While all of them have their moments, the one that came out 15 years ago, on April 29, 2011, still remains the best for the way it repositioned the franchise, the way it used all the best characters (including Paul Walker), and the way its largely practical effects really take you along for the ride. source https://www.polygon.com/15-years-later-fast-five/

In Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred , the Warlock and Paladin are the newest classes you can play with and face the dangers in Sanctuary. These are completely different classes, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The release of the new DLC is the perfect opportunity to try them while completing the campaign. However, in order to have a good experience, you should be mindful of what you want from the class you're playing and your goals in the game. source https://www.polygon.com/diablo-4-d4-warlock-paladin-should-you-play/

Pokémon Pokopia has limited-time events that occur for a few days before disappearing, though you can time travel back to them, if you miss out on any. Some events feature Pokémon and habitats you can only unlock via the event, so you'll want to make sure you're paying attention to any guests who are the "talk of the town." source https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-pokopia-event-habitat-dex-pokedex-list-requirements-unlock/

With some exceptions , the modern vampire film has become less of an exploration of what makes these bloodsuckers remotely interesting from a modern-day perspective and more of a chance to highlight how many hot, recognizable people you can include in the cast. Night Teeth , a 2021 Netflix original from director Adam Randall ( I See You and iBoy ), isn’t a huge exception to the trend, but what it lacks in originality, it makes up for with enough flair and style to drag you along for a ride that’s far more enjoyable than it has any right to be. I mean, how else can you bring Sydney Sweeney ( Euphoria ) and Megan Fox ( Jennifer’s Body ) into a film for five minutes and get away with it? source https://www.polygon.com/sydney-sweeney-night-teeth-netflix/

Aphelion , a new sci-fi game, does something similar: it deftly balances a grand story about trying to find a new hope for humanity with a much more personal story about two astronauts (and former lovers) grappling with where they stand with each other. The storytelling is as top-notch as you’d expect from a Don’t Nod game, even though the moment-to-moment gameplay doesn’t land as well. source https://www.polygon.com/aphelion-review/

Starting April 28, a free demo for Square Enix's Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be available for Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X. The demo contains the first two of the game's 14 chapters. Chapter 1 centers on Cloud's flashback to the infamous Nibelheim incident, while Chapter 2 depicts the party's present-day exploits in the town of Kalm, where they rest and regroup after their climactic escape from Midgar at the end of Final Fantasy 7 Remake . Any progress made during the demo will carry over when the full game launches for Switch 2 and Xbox on June 3. source https://www.polygon.com/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-switch-2-xbox-demo/

After a few months of uncertainty, you’ll finally be able to order your Steam Controller beginning on May 4. It’s a great option for PC players looking for a reliable gamepad , but it’ll cost you — $99 to be exact. It’s an eyebrow-raising number if you’re used to buying replacement Xbox Wireless Controllers, but just how pricey is it compared to other gamepads on the market? It’s more down to Earth than it might seem, but your view of it will vary depending on what you expect from a premium price point. source https://www.polygon.com/steam-controller-price-comparison/

Director Justin Tipping's Him brought a new meaning to "bloody fun" when it was released in theaters on Sept. 19 last year. Now, a little under a year later, the supernatural horror film is rising through the ranks of Netflix's Top 10. source https://www.polygon.com/him-jordan-peele-netflix-justin-tipping/

People encountering the anime series My Dress-Up Darling entirely through online excerpts, as a series of screenshots and out-of-context video clips, may assume it’s an overly horny cosplay show full of suggestive poses and enough fan service to classify it as full-on “ecchi.” That impression isn’t wrong, exactly. But it’s incomplete. Seeing those elements divorced from the broader context, you’re missing out on the show’s real magic. My Dress-Up Darling shines in the quiet moments between the fan service, where it becomes a touching story about making art, taking risks, and learning how to be seen. source https://www.polygon.com/my-dress-up-darling-netflix-anime-recommendation/

It's been a little under a month since The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opened in theaters across the globe on April 1. However, if you're waiting for the Nintendo adaptation to make its way onto a streaming service before watching, don't worry: you won't have to wait long. source https://www.polygon.com/the-super-mario-galaxy-movie-streaming-release-date/

Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord has delivered an enthralling, pulpy Star Wars crime thriller that’s kept me on my toes with every episode. However, Maul’s goal of rebuilding his criminal empire has hit a snag. With the Empire’s grip closing around the seedy planet of Janix and the threat of the Inquisitors bearing down on him, the ex-Sith Lord is stuck between a kyber crystal and a hard place. In episode 8, “The Creeping Fear,” one name was dropped that may just prove to be Maul’s salvation: Dryden Vos. source https://www.polygon.com/star-wars-maul-shadow-lord-dryden-vos/

Two versions of a new Spider-Noir trailer were revealed at CCXPMX26. They offer a look at the more comic book-like side of the upcoming superhero drama starring Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly (aka The Spider), including its interpretation of some iconic Spider-Man villains. source https://www.polygon.com/spider-noir-second-trailer/

The age-old science vs. faith debate is often the focal point of classic genre films. In Robert Zemeckis ’ Contact (1997), Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) embarks on a one-woman mission after scientists receive conclusive proof of extraterrestrial life. But once first contact is established, Arroway experiences something so unbelievable it cannot be proven in front of a scientific council. Religious fanatics interpret her encounter as proof of divine existence, while the scientific community views it with harsh skepticism. While Arroway isn’t able to resolve this ideological conflict, she puts her faith in this unscientific encounter after it fundamentally alters her perspective on life. source https://www.polygon.com/sydney-sweeney-immaculate-religious-horror-science-faith/

Once Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred releases , you will have the chance to put a stop to Mephisto's plans while exploring the legendary region of Skovos. Hellish enemies and old secrets await you in this new chapter of Sanctuary's story, which you can experience with one of the two new classes — or any of the classic ones. Along with the expansion, a new season will also start in Diablo 4 . source https://www.polygon.com/diablo-4-d4-lord-of-hatred-loh-dlc-release-time-edt-pdt/

Nobody before or since has made consoles like Sega did in the 1990s. The company was constantly trying new things, many of which involved attaching clunky accessories like the Sega CD or 32X onto a Genesis console. Between 1983 and 2001, it released a whopping 15 different pieces of hardware . source https://www.polygon.com/sega-game-gear-35th-anniversary/

You’d expect a media-trained K-pop star to be impossible to surprise, but when Matthew Kim , aka Big Matthew, aka BM from KARD, walks into a retro game store in New York City, he’s suddenly six years old again. Such is the power of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. source https://www.polygon.com/new-article-1776989565/

AI uprisings. The desolation of space. Echoes of Lone Wolf and Cub . Lunar exploration. Kid robot adventures. You name it and Pragmata , Capcom’s upcoming sci-fi action adventure game, seems to have something for everyone. source https://www.polygon.com/sci-fi-books-like-pragmata/

Anime is home to a wide swath of legendary weapons, many of them now immortalized as iconic elements of some of the best stories told in animation. From the razor-sharp Nichirin swords of Demon Slayer to the body-exploding Dominator laser pistols of Psycho-Pass , we’ve seen tradition and horror blended into some of the most unforgettable designs in the medium. source https://www.polygon.com/best-weapons-in-anime/

Reviews are in for Saros , Housemarque's follow-up to its fearsome PlayStation 5 roguelite shooter Returnal . The consensus is that Saros is considerably more welcoming than its infamously difficult predecessor, without necessarily being an easy game. But critics are somewhat split on whether that works in its favor, or whether Housemarque has succeeded in preserving what made Returnal special. source https://www.polygon.com/saros-review-roundup/

The cycle of failure and redemption is part of the undeniable allure of the roguelike, something Saros struggles to pin down in its visually dazzling iteration of the format. A great roguelike creates empowerment through perseverance and iteration; it’s the very human experience of screwing up and trying to do a little better the next day. That’s a feeling Devraj knows all too well, which should make the format a harmonious fit for the brooding story beneath Saros’ hard sci-fi exterior. But with an overtuned emphasis on progression over skill or experimentation, Saros gives players too many opportunities to reduce Devraj’s personal journey to a numbers game. source https://www.polygon.com/saros-review/

The next chapter of the Event Horizon saga is officially unfolding in the comics. After the massive success of the prequel miniseries Event Horizon: Dark Descent , IDW has dropped a sequel set 200 years in the future titled Inferno . In its first issue, the series introduces a new super-villain in devil-worshiping billionaire Daniel Durante, along with his crew of impoverished or otherwise desperate hired hands. source https://www.polygon.com/event-horizon-sequel-comic-inferno-lieutenant-starck/

Steam's 2026 Golden Week sale might look a bit bare compared to previous years, with major publishers like Square Enix discounting a grand total of nothing. But there's still a wide selection of excellent recent games up for grabs at nice discounts. The sale is live now through May 4, though a few publishers have set their discounts to run until May 5 or May 6, depending on the game. source https://www.polygon.com/steam-golden-week-sales-2026/

I thought I was done with Stranger Things . source https://www.polygon.com/stranger-things-tales-from-85-review/

On April 16, Dungeons & Dragons announced the debut of a new, official actual play show called Dungeon Masters . Featuring celebrities Neil Newbon, Devora Wilde, Christian Navarro, and Mayanna Berrin, and led by Dungeon Master Jasmine Bhullar, the show premiered its first two episodes on April 22, dropping the cast into the perilous mists of a Domain of Dread called Sithicus to showcase the contents of the upcoming Ravenloft: The Horrors Within book. source https://www.polygon.com/dnd-dungeon-masters-actual-play-ravenloft-rest-rules-dark-dice/

Invincible season 4 wrapped on April 22, and the finale left plenty of big questions for season 5 to answer. If you’re looking forward to continuing to watch Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) pushed to his mental and physical limits , you won’t have to wait long. Season 5 of the Prime Video show is already in the works, and you can expect more gory action, high-stakes battles, and moral dilemmas when it returns. Given the show has been a faithful adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s Image Comics series, we can also make some smart guesses about where the story is headed next. source https://www.polygon.com/invincible-season-5-release-date-year-plot/

Let’s take a step back: Video games are fucking complicated. Those of us who have been playing them for decades often take for granted how even the medium’s most basic concepts can sound like gibberish to the average person. I’m not even talking about the real goofy jargon like Metroidvania or Soulslike ; stop someone on the street and ask them what a strategy game is. Challenge your Candy Crush -obsessed mom to define the word platformer. Make your grandfather figure out what RPG stands for and watch him vaporize instantly. The impenetrable gibberish extends beyond the words we use to classify games; the design language of any given game, born from decades of iteration that goes countless layers deep, can be just as difficult to parse for newcomers. Hell, I have been writing about video games for two decades, and I would piss my pants if you asked me to hold my own in a MOBA. source https://www.polygon.com/titanium-court-review/

[ Ed. note: Full spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again season 2 episode 6 below.] source https://www.polygon.com/jessica-jones-daredevil-born-again-recap/

[ Ed. note: This article contains spoilers for Invincible season 4 episodes 7 and 8] source https://www.polygon.com/lee-pace-interview-thragg-invincible-season-4-finale/

Originally released in August 1997, the beloved cult horror flick Event Horizon has infiltrated the wild world of licensed comics. Starting with 2025’s prequel, Event Horizon: Dark Descent , writer Christian Ward has been establishing new canon for the long-neglected fan favorite. After the success of that venture, Ward is now teaming with artist Rob Carey to rocket us 200 years into the future with Inferno . source https://www.polygon.com/the-new-event-horizon-continuation-has-the-perfect-writer/

Dragon Ball fans were treated to plenty of exciting announcements at Games Battle Hour over the weekend, like more DLC coming for Dragon Ball Sparking Zero . Fans also got an extended glimpse at Dragon Ball Super: Beerus , which also teased another possible adaptation of the Resurrection ‘F’ film. The biggest announcement was the reveal that Dragon Ball Project Age 1000 was in fact Xenoverse 3 , which was leaked back in February. source https://www.polygon.com/dragon-ball-xenoverse-2-leaving-xbox-game-pass-recommendation/

It’s only natural for such a successful premiere to be followed up by a weekly release schedule; instead, fans were left utterly dejected once a new episode of Steel Ball Run didn’t drop the following week. It soon became clear that, despite the success of the premiere, there were no new episodes of the show ready to air. source https://www.polygon.com/jojo-steel-ball-run-netflix-release-schedule-controversy-explained/

Over six years after the release of its first season, Dorohedoro is back with its incessant violence, gory hijinks, and absurd characters. Season 2, streaming now on Netflix, drops you back into its dark and chaotic world, but this time the attention shifts away from its alligator-faced protagonist, Kaiman, to focus on the varied cast that populates the anime by Mappa Studio, based on the manga by Q Hayashida. source https://www.polygon.com/dorohedoro-season-2-netflix-impressions-characters/

Elden Ring , the 2028 IMAX-sized movie version of Hidetaka Miyazaki's action RPG, may complete an unlikely trilogy for writer-director Alex Garland. Garland is no stranger to genre fiction — he’s written 28 Days Later , its two recent sequels , Sunshine , and directed Ex Machina and Annihilation — but zooming out, the movie looks less like a heady storyteller (and avid gamer ) getting his crack at a Lord of the Rings-flavored epic than a logical conclusion to an exploration of memory and combat. source https://www.polygon.com/kit-connors-elden-ring-casting-makes-perfect-sense-if-youve-seen-his-underrated-war-movie/

Alex Garland's Elden Ring movie will be released on March 3, 2028, and will star Heartstopper breakout Kit Connor as well as Ben Whishaw, Cailee Spaeny, and Tom Burke, A24 announced Monday. source https://www.polygon.com/elden-ring-movie-release-date-cast-announced/

In the past few years, Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima has gained renown beyond his “video game auteur” status for his frequent recommendations of movies and TV shows , shared on his social media channels. I have become a bit skeptical of Kojima’s cultural guru status, especially after his recent controversial non-stance over the Kurdish issue (you can read more about it here ). Still, it’s hard to disagree with his latest glowing anime review: Nippon Sengoku: The Three Nations of the Crimson Sun is truly an amazing show. source https://www.polygon.com/nippon-sangoku-prime-video-anime-kojima-recommends/

Italian writer Italo Calvino once said, "The translator is my most important ally," referring to the power of translation to make literary works transcend their culture of origin. However, translation is rarely about simply turning a word into its closest equivalent in another language — sorry, AI tools developers. The subtleties of language are often lost in the process, and this is especially true when wordplay is involved. Hardcore fans of One Piece know this well, as author Eiichiro Oda loves to play with the complexities of the Japanese language, but not everything can be carried over smoothly during the translation process. source https://www.polygon.com/one-piece-1180-imu-omen-powers-zoro-sanji/

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 is happening, and it's coming out next year. Dimps and Bandai Namco Entertainment confirmed this at Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2026 , which took place in Los Angeles this weekend. This sequel ends a gap of more than a decade between new Xenoverse games. source https://www.polygon.com/dragon-ball-xenoverse-3-announced/

If you spend any time online, you might've witnessed a bit of a kerfuffle over the Super Mario Galaxy Movie . One side said kids deserve only high-quality media; the other said kids need crap TV and movies so they experience a wide range of things and can develop taste. (And if you didn't witness this, I'm happy you were left to enjoy or hate the movie in peace). Anyway, it got me thinking about a terrible piece of media from my childhood that, despite its flaws, still sticks with me 30 years later: Indiana Jones and His Desktop Adventures . source https://www.polygon.com/indiana-jones-desktop-adventures-adventure-game/

With that in mind, Polygon is rounding up 10 sci-fi movies that we consider to be perfect (or as close to perfect as any movie can be). These films all come at the genre in different ways, finding unique and innovative ways to elevate science fiction and tell an unforgettable story in the process. Check out the full list below, presented in no particular order. source https://www.polygon.com/the-most-perfect-sci-fi-films-of-the-last-5-years/

Bulbasaur's jump rope contest takes Pokémon Pokopia 's casual minigame to new heights. This time, Bulbasaur challenges you to push further and master your rope-jumping skills. Take part in the contest and entertain the other Pokémon in your village who will gladly stop to watch your performance. source https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-pokopia-jump-rope-contest-event-bulbasaur/

The Lunum Mines in Pragmata is a complex sector with multiple blocks — and several upgrade components to collect. Guarded by a giant robot that makes exploration more challenging, the mines are where many of the secrets behind what happened in the station are revealed. To face all the dangers to come, Hugh and Diana will need all the power they can muster, which means upgrading their skills. source https://www.polygon.com/pragmata-all-lunum-mines-upgrade-component-locations/

Crimson Desert 's continent of Pywel is a big ol' place, and it's easy to miss a lot of the best things the game has to offer if you don't know where to look. One of Crimson Desert 's favorite things is to not tell you anything about how the game works, like how to find fast travel points and where to look for special abyss artifacts. Some of it is fine to find out on your own, but if you start lagging behind on abyss artifacts and weapon upgrades , you'll feel the effects sooner rather than later. source https://www.polygon.com/map/crimson-desert-interactive-pywel-hernand-demeniss-pailune-delesyia/

In Pragmata , the Solar Power Plant has the first batch of upgrade components you can find in the game. These collectibles are crucial since you must spend them to upgrade your weapon, hacking ability, and armor. As the first region in the Cradle you can actively explore, there aren't many secrets to uncover or hidden passages to find — but that doesn't mean every component is easy to find. source https://www.polygon.com/pragmata-solar-power-plant-upgrade-components-locations/

Ahead of the film's premiere on May 22, Disney invited a handful of journalists to watch the first 15 minutes of The Mandalorian and Grogu at IMAX headquarters in Los Angeles. Polygon was part of that group, making me one of the first people not employed by Lucasfilm to see anything beyond the trailers. While it was exciting to see Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, on the big screen, my first impression of the film is that it feels more like a Star Wars video game or a Netflix show than the blockbuster movie that's going to return Star Wars to its former glory. source https://www.polygon.com/the-mandalorian-and-grogu-opening-scene-description/

Double features are a thing of beauty. There’s more to it than watching two movies back to back. Some are unified by theme — try pairing Midsommar (2019) and The Wicker Man (1973), which tackle cult-focused folk horror. Others might have a prolific actor as the connecting link — combine Heat and Casino for a double dose of Robert De Niro in his prime. Perhaps the most commercially lucrative use of the double feature in recent history was Barbie and Oppenheimer , which complement each other by evoking contrasts. source https://www.polygon.com/my-neighbor-totoro-grave-of-the-fireflies-double-feature-studio-ghibli/

If you're playing Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream , consider yourself blessed to be playing one of the most delightful games on the planet. While you are acting as a god for your Miis and the chaos they unleash upon your island isn't 100% in your control, there are a few things you can do to make sure your ruling is efficient and fun. source https://www.polygon.com/tomodachi-life-living-the-dream-beginners-tips-tricks/

Zach Cregger, the red-hot horror director behind Weapons , Barbarian , and this year's Resident Evil reboot , is switching genres to science fiction for his next project. source https://www.polygon.com/zach-cregger-weapons-the-flood-sci-fi/

Games Workshop and SNEG, a boutique publisher dedicated to bringing classic games into the modern gaming sphere, have teamed up to unveil a new label: Warhammer Classics . source https://www.polygon.com/warhammer-classics-collection-pc-steam/

“Why’s everyone so nervous about fighting this Thragg guy?” the young superhero Oliver Grayson (Christian Convery) asks in episode 7 of Invincible season 4 . “No way he lives up to the hype.” source https://www.polygon.com/lee-pace-invincible-thragg-interview/

Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood will reprise their roles as the wizard Gandalf and Hobbit Frodo Baggins, respectively, in Andy Serkis’ The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum . Warner Bros. confirmed the cast of the new Lord of the Rings movie at CinemaCon 2026 on Tuesday and revealed a poster, with Gollum prominently featured. source https://www.polygon.com/lord-of-the-rings-lotr-hunt-for-gollum-cast/

Sony Pictures announced during CinemaCon 2026 an animated feature based on FromSoftware's critically acclaimed Bloodborne game . The movie will also be produced by popular YouTuber Seán William McLoughlin, better known as Jacksepticeye. source https://www.polygon.com/bloodborne-movie-jacksepticeye-animated-r-rated/

Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl , which opened in only a handful of U.S. theaters in 2025, is the epitome of art as animation. The anime film has a runtime of no more than 35 minutes, which doesn’t sound like much. However, when freelance animators like Daniela Padilla claim “a month of work for one second of animation,” you realize Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl might not be your typical anime . source https://www.polygon.com/virgin-punk-clockwork-girl-anime-detail/

When it comes to writing about the horrors of war, the dangers of media propaganda, and the power of resistance, Hunger Games series author Suzanne Collins has proven to her readers time and time again that she is not one to be trifled with. Like the books that came before it, Sunrise on the Reaping does not hold back. source https://www.polygon.com/return-to-panem-in-the-trailer-for-sunrise-on-the-reaping/

The final episode of Stranger Things aired on Dec. 31, 2025, but series creators Ross and Matt Duffer have been dreaming up ways to continue the show’s legacy with spinoffs since the end of season 2. Well good news to anyone looking to return to Hawkins ASAP: You should mark your calendars for April 23, when the animated midquel Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 drops on Netflix. source https://www.polygon.com/stranger-things-tales-from-85-showrunner-interview/

Despite being a fan-favorite, Dragon Ball’s Piccolo has always taken a backseat to the franchise’s Saiyan characters. Though instrumental in Dragon Ball Z bouts versus invading Saiyans and against Frieza on Namek, he didn’t get a 1v1 fight after the Cell Saga, taking on more of a mentor role in the next arc. He ends up dying and going to Hell in Dragon Ball GT (which isn’t surprising — there’s a reason fans deride GT as standing for “Goku Time.”) And he goes out like a chump in Dragon Ball Super ’s Tournament of Power. source https://www.polygon.com/dragon-ball-super-super-hero-piccolo-streaming-hulu/

Over the past few months, the Polygon team has spent a lot of time considering the best video game quotes from the past 50 years. What makes a good video game quote? Why do certain lines enter the cultural lexicon? Is it meme status? Is it poignancy? Prescience? Humor? A recognition, implicit or not, that we're all here to have fun? source https://www.polygon.com/best-video-game-quotes/

Genre labels like shonen use a manga or anime’s target demographic to pin down and describe works in that vast field. However, such labels are often ineffective. A lack of clearly defined boundaries is, in fact, one of the main creative impulses that led to the medium’s steady expansion over the past decades. One Piece and Haikyu!! , for example, were serialized in the same magazine and are both described as shonen, but they look as different as night and day. Even within the same subgenres, such as sports or battle manga, you'll find wildly different spins on common tropes. source https://www.polygon.com/fire-force-anime-review-ending-surrealist-masterpiece/

Still, there have been a few new racers worth paying attention to in the first quarter of 2026 (and a couple to avoid). Here, I've highlighted three that might fill the next six weeks nicely. source https://www.polygon.com/racing-game-roundup-2026-forza-horizon-6/

Pokémon Go is having a Tinkatink Community Day event on Saturday, April 11 from 2-5 p.m. in your local time. source https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-go-tinkatink-community-day-shiny-tinkaton-moveset/

Few games manage to be as charming and life-consuming as Stardew Valley , the open-ended farming sim where you grow seasonal crops, raise animals, and woo the townsfolk by repeatedly offering them gold bars and beer. Whether you're shopping for a gift for a Stardew -loving friend or family member or simply looking to treat yourself, there are plenty of cute and thoughtful options out there. These are a few of our favorites. source https://www.polygon.com/stardew-valley-gift-ideas-merch-books-plush/

In Faces of Death , filmmakers Daniel Goldhaber and Isa Mazzei ( Cam , How to Blow Up a Pipeline ), update the original cult classic " shockumentary " for the Instagram Reels era. John Alan Schwartz’s 1978 Faces of Death presents (mostly) fake footage of death and violence as the real thing, while in the 2026 film, a social-media-platform content moderator named Margot (Barbie Ferreira) becomes obsessed with an anonymous user who's posting violent clips inspired by that infamous '70s VHS tape. Convinced these viral videos are real snuff films, she tracks down the killer, Arthur ( Dacre Montgomery ), leading to a violent confrontation, as the movie pivots from internet-noir thriller into traditional slasher territory for a bloodsoaked finale. source https://www.polygon.com/faces-of-death-ending-explained-behind-the-scenes/

The anime adaptation of Kamome Shirahama’s Witch Hat Atelier had an impressive two-part premiere on April 6. Brought to life by Bug Films (the studio behind Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead ), this new animefollows Coco, a child fascinated with magic despite lacking the innate ability to wield it. The first two episodes make a strong impression with a fantastical world where nothing is what it seems. A veteran witch named Qifrey inadvertently sets Coco on a journey to become a witch, but her path is laden with dangerous obstacles. Episode 2 ends on a curious cliffhanger when one of Qifrey’s apprentices, Agott, demands that Coco pass a test that every witch must take. The next episode, which will adapt chapters 3 and 4 of Shirahama’s seinen manga, has a crucial life lesson in store for Coco. source https://www.polygon.com/witch-hat-atelier-premiere-coco-trial-dadah-range-explained/

The ARG event, called “Breach Protocol,” was so complex that players compiled a 73-page document to track its many steps. Most of that work was coordinated within the game’s official Discord server. But “Breach Protocol” wasn’t the beginning. source https://www.polygon.com/marathon-args-bungie-interview/

Exciting news for people who love to buy things twice: Amazon recently announced via email that, as of May 20, it is ending support for any Kindle that was released in 2012 or earlier. As of the cutoff date, these devices will no longer connect to Amazon , meaning you won't be purchasing, borrowing, or downloading any new books with them. Your Kindle will still be able to access the books you already have stored, but you won't be able to browse the store or access third-party platforms, including library apps like Libby and OverDrive. Added bonus, if you do a factory reset, the device will become unusable. source https://www.polygon.com/amazon-old-kindle-obsolescence-may/

Typically, it takes years of neglect for a house to really look haunted, whether or not it actually has ghosts lurking around every corner. Nature, however, can get that job done with greater, terrifying efficiency. In Tommy Wirkola’s Netflix horror-thriller Thrash , a hurricane and its attendant flooding descends on a small town in South Carolina, and once-livable homes are quickly rendered waterlogged and creaky. Beds float (just like in a demonic possession!) and flooded basements become eerie danger zones. There’s also an element of urban-legend surrealism when a school of sharks swims in with the ocean waters, stalking the flooded streets and houses, menacing a series of trapped residents. source https://www.polygon.com/thrash-review-netflix-shark-thriller/

On the heels of yet another standout season, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End keeps its endearing fantasy going strong with the announcement of a third season slated for debut in October 2027 . However, things won’t be so laid-back as fans have come to expect in Frieren’s next outing, as the elven mage and her party are set to come face-to-face with the series’ most menacing foe: Macht of the Golden Land. source https://www.polygon.com/frieren-season-3-macht-golden-land-strongest-villain/

This record features performances by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Poppy and iconic voice actor Shoko Nakagawa. The Kickstarter campaign for In Old Records is about to wrap up, having achieved way beyond its goal of raising $20,000. Limited editions of the vinyl also feature Ito’s bloody handprint and signature. source https://www.polygon.com/junji-in-old-records-cosmic-horror-lovecraft-interview/

But, while overpowered, was Vivi truly “broken” as many suggested in the lead up to its banning? source https://www.polygon.com/mtg-magic-the-gathering-most-broken-cards/

All the President’s Men is one of the best political thrillers ever made, but as the movie turns 50, it's become completely irrelevant. source https://www.polygon.com/50-years-later-all-the-presidents-men/

Every Star Wars fan has their favorite live-action character they would love to see make the jump to animation. For me, its characters from Andor like Dedra or Luthen. For Athena Yvette Portillo, Lucasfilm Animation vice president and executive producer of Star Wars - Maul: Shadow Lord , it’s a Star Wars prequel character you would never in a million years expect. source https://www.polygon.com/lucasfilm-animation-zam-wesell-spin-off/

Crimson Desert 's continent of Pywel is a big ol' place, and it's easy to miss a lot of the best things the game has to offer if you don't know where to look. One of Crimson Desert 's favorite things is to not tell you anything about how the game works, like how to find fast travel points and where to look for special abyss artifacts. Some of it is fine to find out on your own, but if you start lagging behind on abyss artifacts and weapon upgrades , you'll feel the effects sooner rather than later. source https://www.polygon.com/map/crimson-desert-interactive-pywel-hernand-demeniss-pailune-delesyia/

Grand Theft Auto 5 did not become one of the most popular games of all time by accident. Rockstar Games currently has approximately 6,000 employees , with almost all of them working on the sequel. It will likely be one of the most ambitious and undoubtedly best-selling games of all time. source https://www.polygon.com/samson-first-impressions-gta-clone/

For those who have been playing Nintendo games for decades, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a who’s who of cameos. Wart , Birdo, R.O.B., the literal T-Rex from Super Mario Odyssey , and even Fox McCloud pop up in a movie custom-made for Easter-egg hunters. It makes for a fun guessing game — a “Can you name these video game characters?” TikTok reel stretched to 98 minutes. But all that fun comes at the expense of coherent storytelling. While The Super Mario Galaxy Movie sure has a long list of characters, most of them are NPCs. source https://www.polygon.com/super-mario-galaxy-movie-npc-character-analysis/

In the premiere of the fifth and final season of The Boys , Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) recruits the Worm (Ely Henry), a supe with earthworm-like tunneling powers, to help orchestrate a prison break. But beyond eating dirt and then explosively shooting it out of his butt, the Worm is also a former Vought Studios TV writer (he was replaced with AI) who opines about the challenge of writing a series finale that will make everyone happy. source https://www.polygon.com/eric-kripke-the-boys-final-season-interview/

For several years, the backrooms existed as a mere 4chan post . Now, following a wealth of creepypastas, copycats, and a series of short films posted on YouTube , the psychological horror story is headed to the silver screen. The first trailer for A24’s Backrooms gives us a terrifying sneak peek into the maze-like, yellow-wallpaper-laden labyrinth of its namesake, evoking the spirit of the original with eerie precision. source https://www.polygon.com/tk-movies-to-watch-while-you-wait-for-the-backrooms/

Before isekai made the fantasy subgenre popular in manga and anime, Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail smashed records and became one of the best-selling manga of all time. The popular series will return to Weekly Shonen Magazine, Kodansha's flagship manga magazine, for a new short serialization commemorating its 20th anniversary. source https://www.polygon.com/fairy-tail-returns-shonen-jump-20th-anniversary-serialization/

Blizzard showed off a quick look at Anran's redesign in Overwatch , following up on a promise made to do the character justice after her initial in-game reveal prompted widespread backlash. source https://www.polygon.com/overwatchs-anran-redesign-blizzard-better/

I was wrong. Not only is Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord a stunning and compelling homage to the pulpy neo-noir genre set in a galaxy far, far away, but it also reaffirms what attracted fans to Darth Maul years ago: his relentless refusal to surrender in a galaxy where he’s destined to fail again and again. source https://www.polygon.com/star-wars-maul-shadow-lord-review/

The new horror movie Faces of Death starts from a challenge so irresistible that it threatens to overshadow the results: How do you reboot a horror franchise that’s part cult curiosity, part mockumentary, and part disturbingly convincing gore-effects demo reel? The 1978 Faces of Death gained VHS notoriety as a horror tape beyond the pale, a compilation of “real” people meeting various ghastly ends captured by the camera. You could likely find it at whatever local video store had the most robust pornography section. source https://www.polygon.com/faces-of-death-2026-remake-review/

Home renovation game House Flipper for free on Steam right now. You should take advantage of this deal because House Flipper is a great game, and it will net you a discount if you decide to pick up its upcoming remaster. source https://www.polygon.com/house-flipper-free-on-steam/

Every so often, an anime comes around that hits you where you hurt most, but few match the absurdity and emotional weight of Takopi’s Original Sin . It’s one of the saddest anime I’ve ever seen, and it just got nominated in Crunchyroll’s 2026 Anime Awards . source https://www.polygon.com/takopis-original-sin-just-got-nominated-in-the-2026-crunchyroll-anime-awards-heres-why-it-should-win/

Since 1975, video games have been trying to replicate the experience of playing the world’s most famous tabletop role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons . The actual pen-and-paper game hadn’t been out for more than one year when a student at the University of Illinois created The Dungeon on the PLATO IV system . Fifty years later, D&D-inspired games are winning awards and shaping the industry. Not all of them, however, can capture the experience of a tabletop D&D campaign. Or at least, no one did it as well as Esoteric Ebb has. This game is a homage to the history of CRPGs that is not saddled by nostalgia but looks boldly at the future of the genre. source https://www.polygon.com/esoteric-ebb-review-dnd-game-campaign-recommend/

The Boys regularly mocks the bloated superhero franchises DC and Marvel have created with references to the Vought Cinematic Universe and its many in-universe movies and streaming shows. But now that The Boys has two spinoffs and another on the way , showrunner Eric Kripke is making sure to avoid creating the kind of homework that has made keeping up with Marvel such a chore. That means there's no need to watch the spinoff series Gen V ahead of The Boys season 5 , even if the series does sneak in a reward for hardcore fans. source https://www.polygon.com/the-boys-gen-v-connection-interview/

This month marks 20 years since the launch of Mother 3 for the Game Boy Advance, the RPG sequel to the cult classic Earthbound (known as Mother 2 in Japan). It’s still never seen an official release outside Japan, but Mother 3 ’s unflinching critique of capitalism feels more relevant than ever today. source https://www.polygon.com/mother-3-20th-anniversary/

After HBO dumped Sesame Street at the end of 2024, the educational series has been collecting so many new homes that even The Count can barely keep track. In addition to new episodes airing on Netflix and PBS, YouTube signed a deal with Sesame Workshop to air classic episodes. And now, Tubi is also getting in on the action with a deal that includes 250 classic episodes from seasons 1 through 38 (or 1969 through 2007). source https://www.polygon.com/sesame-street-coming-to-tubi-25-classic-clips/

At the beginning of The Super Mario Bros. Movie , Mario arrives in the Mushroom Kingdom and meets the citizenry known as the “Toads.” Each Toad is short, adorable and has a mushroom cap at the top of their head. They also all have similar, sweet voices. Of the hundreds of citizens, they all pretty much look and sound the same, but one Toad is unmistakably different. While his low-set reading glasses only slightly set him apart visually, his low, booming voice and commanding presence make him unmistakable. He is the Toad General and he is not to be taken lightly. source https://www.polygon.com/toad-general-eric-bauza-interview-super-mario-galaxy/

As part of Fantagraphics’ ongoing 50th-anniversary celebration , the comics publisher is teaming up with Humble Bundle to provide Charlie Brown fans with access to every Peanuts comic book and strip published between 1953 and 2000. Given that there are 43 books in this bundle (though eight-book and four-book bundles are also available), that’s an astonishingly extensive catalog. source https://www.polygon.com/peanuts-charles-schulz-humble-bundle-collection/

Marvel and DC recently teamed up for Superman/Spider-Man #1, a crossover bringing together the worlds and supporting casts of the two heroes. The crossover train isn't stopping there, however. Later this month, a second book with more team-up adventures will be released, and Polygon can exclusively share a page from a backup story starring Ghost-Spider (aka Gwen Stacy) and Supergirl . source https://www.polygon.com/spider-man-superman-ghost-spider-supergirl-marvel-dc-comics-exclusive-page/

That’s certainly held true so far in 2026. Three months in and we’ve already had so many gems, big and small, that we could put together a pretty killer year-end list today and be happy with it. Don’t worry, we’ll save that task for December. In the meantime, here are the best games of 2026 (so far), organized in reverse-chronological order. source https://www.polygon.com/best-2026-games-xbox-ps5-switch-pc/

Whether you're looking for locked rooms, exfil locations, or priority targets, our Marathon interactive maps are what you need. There are two zones in Marathon at launch — Perimeter and Dire Marsh — and each of them offers a different environment to hunt down other runners and UESC enemies alike, before getting the heck outta there with your hard-earned loot. source https://www.polygon.com/map/marathon-interactive-maps-exfil-locations/

There are a lot of things to like about the Nintendo Switch 2 , and its excellent Pro Controller is one of them. Nintendo's own pad is of course top-tier, but that's not to say there isn't something out there that better suits your wants, your needs, or your budget. source https://www.polygon.com/best-third-party-switch-2-pro-controllers/

The videos have a glitchy, underground quality to them, with flashing lights and jittery images. For those who weren’t watching TV in the late 1980s, the closest points of reference are likely the Cafe ‘80s scene in Back to the Future Part II or Eminem’s 2013 music video for “ Rap God .” But Back to the Future and Eminem were both paying homage to the same bit of obscure 1980s pop culture that Daredevil now is: Max Headroom and the somewhat unrelated “ Max Headroom Incident ” of 1987. source https://www.polygon.com/daredevil-born-again-season-2-max-headroom/

As a child of the 90s, it’s probably no surprise to hear that I have a fondness for a specific era of 2D platformers. Even today, I love opening up Nintendo Switch Online ’s Super NES catalogue and jumping into a game I missed as a kid to experience the sights, sounds, and overall vibe of a game shaped by the ‘90s. That fondness seems to be shared by a lot of today’s game developers, considering that retro is all the rage right now. You don’t have to look far to find new games that pay homage to the golden age of the sidescroller, with even some of today’s biggest blockbuster game franchises looking back to the past for reinvention. source https://www.polygon.com/retro-games-legacy-of-kain-ascendance/

Though we’re already three months into the year, the Xbox Series X has yet to have a moment in the spotlight when it comes to new game releases. That will change in May with Forza Horizon 6 , but things are kicking into first gear this month thanks to some strong third-party support and Game Pass additions. source https://www.polygon.com/best-new-xbox-games-april-2026/

Last week, Variety reported that Amazon MGM Studios is developing an animated show based on Monstress , the Eisner Award-winning Image Comics series from writer Marjorie Liu and artist Sana Takeda. Steven Maeda is taking the reins as a writer and executive producer, roles he also assumed for Netflix’s One Piece live-action adaptation. source https://www.polygon.com/monstress-animated-series-amazon-prime/

Why feel guilty about owning dozens of games you never play when you could spend time organizing them instead? I jest, but Boxroom is indeed a real game that gives you a virtual bedroom you can decorate however you see fit. Each game in your library gets its own box and packaging, and you get to decide where and how those boxes are displayed. source https://www.polygon.com/steam-boxroom-gaming-collection-organize-chill-house-home-sale/