A newly leaked toy description for Spider-Man: Brand New Day may have revealed one of the film’s biggest story details, and it could spell trouble for both Peter Parker and Bruce Banner.

While Marvel and Sony have already confirmed that Mark Ruffalo will return as Bruce Banner in the upcoming Spider-Man sequel, new merchandise details suggest Hulk’s role may be far more significant than fans originally expected.

According to information tied to a leaked toy line, Banner is reportedly using a device designed to suppress his Hulk transformations. However, when the technology fails, the Savage Hulk emerges, forcing Spider-Man into a dangerous situation that could become one of the movie’s central conflicts.

Spoiler Warning:

The following details are based on leaked merchandise information and have not been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios.

According to the toy description, Bruce Banner’s attempt to control the Hulk goes horribly wrong when the device preventing his transformation fails. The leak suggests that Peter Parker finds himself dealing with the aftermath as the Savage Hulk returns.

If accurate, the storyline would mark the first major appearance of the classic Savage Hulk persona in years. Since Avengers: Endgame, audiences have primarily seen Smart Hulk, the version of Banner who successfully merged his intelligence with Hulk’s immense strength.

*Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s Hulk figurine. Image credit: Bandai/Marvel.*

The leak could also explain why Hulk appears to have such a prominent presence in early marketing and reports surrounding the film despite Brand New Day being described as a more grounded Spider-Man story.

For Marvel fans, the possibility of Spider-Man facing Savage Hulk is an exciting prospect. While the two heroes have crossed paths in comics, the MCU has never fully explored a conflict between Peter Parker and an uncontrolled Hulk. Such a matchup would instantly become one of the biggest action sequences in any Spider-Man film.

Of course, fans should take the leak with a grain of salt. Toy descriptions are often based on early story drafts, simplified plot summaries, or marketing material that doesn’t always reflect the final movie.

Still, merchandise leaks have a long history of revealing legitimate details about major superhero films, making this one difficult to ignore.

Whether the leak proves entirely accurate or not, one thing appears certain: Hulk’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Daymay be much larger than anyone expected.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to swing into theaters on July 31, 2026.

Genre:
Science Fiction, Thriller, Adventure, Mystery

Release Date:
August 14, 2026

Director:
David Robert Mitchell

Cast:
Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, Christian Convery

Plot Summary:
After a mysterious cosmic event transports an entire suburban neighborhood to an unknown world, a family must survive against strange dangers while searching for a way home.

Euphoria creator Sam Levinson issued a message to those upset by the series finale by defending that heartbreaking death.

In a segment after the Sunday, May 31, episode of the hit HBO series, Levinson explained why Rue (Zendaya) died from an overdose, saying, “The honest ending is that people like Rue don’t make it.”

Levinson reflected on his own history with addiction — before mentioning Angus Cloud‘s death in July 2025 following an accidental overdose.

“People relapse and they f*** up. They’re not ready to get clean. And they weren’t dying like they are now with the influx of fentanyl into this country,” he explained. “I could say with absolute certainty that if I was going through what I went through when I was younger now then I wouldn’t be here either.”

Related: ‘Euphoria’ Tragedies: Most Shocking Deaths Through the Years

The Euphoria cast and crew have mourned the deaths of some of their colleagues over the years. Euphoria, which premiered in 2019, originally followed troubled high school student Rue (Zendaya) as she struggled to remain sober after rehab. The hit HBO series was quickly renewed for a second season after its premiere, but it took […]

He continued: “There’s no reason to sugarcoat it. I wanted to tell the story for Angus and for people who weren’t granted a second chance.”

Levinson called the finale “an honest ending.”

“Zendaya’s performance has been so wonderful and layered over the course of these seasons. We fell in love with this character — this girl who was flawed and f**ked up but has a good heart,” he said. “It’s a blessing to work with talented people and people that you love.”

Levinson noted that the show was always building to Rue’s death, adding, “In the end, I wanted to tell an honest story about addiction. I also wanted to tell a story about grief and the emotional turmoil that it can create.”

During Sunday’s episode, Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) killed Rue by spiking the drugs he gave her with fentanyl. The moment happened halfway through the finale, which pushed Ali’s (Colman Domingo) story along as he got revenge on Alamo.

Euphoria premiered in 2019 and originally followed troubled high school student Rue as she struggled to remain sober after rehab. The hit HBO series was quickly renewed for a second season after its premiere, but it took nearly three years for the episodes to air.

In between seasons, the cast suffered several losses after Eric Dane, who played Cal, died in February at age 53 after a battle with ALS. Cloud, meanwhile, died at age 25 and Levinson dedicated the season to the actor and his character, Fez.

“Some people ask why it took so long between seasons 2 and 3. There were obvious factors — the strikes, trying to make a schedule work with our very in-demand cast, but the real time was in trying to figure out how to find a way to pay respect to those who we lost,” Levinson said in at the April premiere event for season 3.

He added: “When Angus died, it was tough. I loved him deeply, and I fought hard to keep him clean. The year he died, in 2023, he was one of 73,000 people in America who died of a fentanyl overdose. I learned a whole lot that year, but what I realized more than anything is that death is what gives life meaning. You can’t be arrogant about existence. You’re forced to reckon with the fact that life itself is a wonder, a gift, a profound blessing.”

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Levinson said he wanted to honor Cloud, concluding, “I thought that if I couldn’t keep him alive in life then maybe within this show that I can control and keep him alive there. I think the whole thing was to honor him and also I can’t wait for you to see the last few episodes. I think he would be cracking up at his story line. I think he would love it.”

Euphoria is currently streaming on HBO Max.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

HBO has finally revealed whether Euphoria will be coming back for more seasons after that shocking death in the season 3 finale.

The network confirmed on Monday, June 1 that the third season was the show’s last. Creator Sam Levinson made the announcement on the “Popcast” before HBO also confirmed the news to Variety.

The news comes after an explosive season 3 finale that permanently wrapped up certain characters’ story lines — including Zendaya‘s Rue and Jacob Elordi’s Nate, who were killed off on screen.

Euphoria’s series finale also aired after a tumultuous return. Creator Sam Levinson specifically received backlash for how he portrayed Cassie’s (Sydney Sweeney) OnlyFans arc after some creators weren’t thrilled with how their line of work was portrayed on screen.

Levinson, however, defended the decision to push boundaries.

“[Cassie] has got her dog house and her little dog ears and the nose, and that has its own humor,” Levinson explained to The Hollywood Reporter in April. “But what makes the scene is the fact that her housekeeper is the one filming it.”

He continued: “What we wanted to always find is the other layer of absurdity that we’re able to tie into it so that we’re not too inside of her fantasy or illusion,” the 41-year-old added. “The gag is to jump out, to break the wall.”

Levinson broke down how he and director of photography Marcell Rév brought the scenes to life.

“An obvious choice would’ve been something modern and very plain and fancy, but we ended up choosing this mid-century home, which is a little tacky, but also stuck in the ‘70s,” Rév explained. “It’s probably a strange choice, but also it gives us possibilities. OnlyFans has its own aesthetic and how you elevate that aesthetic to the show’s aesthetic is a challenge. I’m not going to lie.”

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Despite the backlash, Levinson stood by his vision.

“Some of these scenes we only lit with these ring lights that she would use. When you’re inside, it’s a beautiful, glowing front light, but then you jump out of it and it’s just a pool of light and everything surrounding it is dark. It’s just gnarly and jarring,” he added. “We wanted to capture what she’s trying to show the audience and be inside of it. But then also pull back wider and see how depressing it is.”

Euphoria is currently streaming on HBO.

Kristy Sarah Scott is finally giving her supporters the luxury details behind her dream home! Last August, after years of building the house from the ground up, she, Desmond Scott and their two kids moved in. Less than a year later, a cheating scandal and subsequent divorce, Kristy Sarah is still doing backflips in the lavish mansion while Desmond is whipping up compound butters in an apartment. Fast-forward to Friday (May 29). Architectural Digest gave Scott fans the inside scoop on the mega-home, from who built it to some of the pricey decorative elements in the space!

RELATED: Pop It Then! Kristy Scott Seemingly Teases Who Will Keep Her & Desmond Scott’s New Home Amid Divorce (PHOTOS)

Kristy Sarah Didn’t Mention Desmond Scott In Home Feature 

Kristy’s interview with Arch Digest started with her admitting that she never manifested building a home from scratch. Instead, she got the idea after touring multiple homes and falling in love with one, only for the offer to fall through later. She tapped Novi Home Builders for the construction and Nina Magon to help execute her “modern, soft and very calm” design of the inside. Years later, she’s surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows in a 7,000-square-foot home. Lots of windows were “a necessity,” she told AD.

On Instagram, Kristy Sarah shared photos AD published and captioned her post, “Years of ideating, creating, investing, taking risks, believing in myself, and building a business beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Today, AD featured a small piece of what this journey has made possible for my family, and I’m incredibly grateful. @archdigest.”

The former Mrs. Scott did not touch on how involved her ex-husband, Desmond Scott, was in bringing the three-year vision to life. However, previous social media content, has shown them walking through the home in its building process. As mentioned, he also appeared to have briefly lived in the home before their divorce earlier this year as he appeared in “move in day” content.

A Big Bag Was Spent On Decor

Kristy Sarah’s interior design includes uniform colors and tones throughout the open spaces. The living room, for example, features colors like off-white, beige, dark grey and pops of rust. But the decorative elements aren’t your budget-friendly IKEA and Wayfair finds! One of the couches pictured in her living room, an off-white bouclé, is valued at $14,760, per AD. A smaller sofa in the same space reportedly goes for $3,390. Her dining table? $1,299 at Crate & Barrel. Even her cocktail glasses are pricey. The home photoshoot by AD featured a set of four cocktail glasses valued at $135 and a teapot going for $109. Inside the home’s second office, there’s a $2,995 desk lamp.

For her sons Vance and Westin’s rooms, Kristy Sarah also ran her tab up! One of the rooms pictured in the article features a $440 throw pillow on the bed and a $699 West Elm floor rug. Vance and Westin were heavily involved in the final outcome of the rooms, Kristy said. 

“When it came to their rooms, the boys had input on everything,” Kristy said. “I want them to feel free here.”

What Else Have Kristy & Desmond Been Up To?

The Houston mansion is far from Kristy’s only lavish living space! Last week, she also shared that she purchased an apartment in Miami, a goal “cross off of [her] bucket list.” Amid her divorce, the influencer has kept up with some of her chaotic trends while leaning into high-end collabs, and even poppin’ out for pleasure, like her recent yacht day with friends. In early May, she revealed that she’s been in therapy for a few weeks and that her therapist recommended a year of no dating. However, she joked about negotiating that down to 36.5 days.

“I’ve been really learning to get my butt out the house and do stuff. It’s like I went from 0 to 100. Cause I’m not even going out in Houston mostly. I am packing my bag and going across the country and hanging out,” Kristy said.

As said, Kristy kept her ex-husband out of her special feature. Still, in recent months, he’s done everything but back out of the spotlight! Amid the divorce, he’s been linked to at least two women publicly, Marissa Springer — his bar kissing buddy — and Dana Tran, the mother of Diddy’s youngest child. A few hours after Kristy posted about the Arch Digest feature, he teased a behind-the-scenes video of his recipe-filming day. 

RELATED: The Tea Is Hot! Marissa Springer Claims Desmond Scott Was In Contact With Dana Tran During Their Time Together (VIDEO)

Right now, Alien icon Sigourney Weaver is back in theaters as part of an eye-catching ensemble in another beloved sci-fi franchise. Last weekend, Pedro Pascal‘s titular bounty hunter and ever-hungry companion made the move from the small to the big screen in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Alas, its opening weekend proved somewhat disappointing, only earning $167 million and even scoring a lower per-theater domestic average than the opening weekend of Ryan Gosling‘s sci-fi masterpiece Project Hail Mary.

Although critics provided a lukewarm reaction, fans seem to be loving The Mandalorian and Grogu, awarding the film a near-perfect 88% rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Many have linked their love for the film to its star-studded cast, and, with that in mind, they’ll be happy to learn that another of Weaver’s movies, and one of her most underrated, will soon be available to stream for free. The film in question is 1995’s Copycat, a pulse-racing serial killer thriller produced in the hope of replicating the global success of The Silence of the Lambs.

The film proved to be a breath of fresh air in the psychological thriller genre by featuring two women in lead roles that so often fell to men. Perhaps thanks to this, the film found enough of an audience to prove financially successful, earning a $79 million global haul against a reported budget of $27 million. Copycat starred the likes of Holly Hunter, Harry Connick Jr., Dermot Mulroney, and more alongside Weaver, and was directed by Jon Amiel in only his fourth feature film, following 1989’s Queen of Hearts, 1990’s Tune in Tomorrow, and 1993’s Sommersby. To check out this thrilling Weaver movie for yourself, you’ll be able to watch Copycat for free on Plex, starting June 1, 2026.

Where Can You Stream ‘Alien’?

For Weaver’s most iconic role, and the gold standard of sci-fi horror, you’ll be heading to Hulu. The streamer currently holds all the films in the Alien franchise, including the Predator crossovers. One of cinema’s greatest IPs began back in 1979, with screenwriters Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett teaming up with director Ridley Scott to pioneer the sci-fi horror subgenre. Endless praise and nearly $200 million at the box office later, and an iconic franchise was born.

Copycat will be available to stream for free on Plex next month. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

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Release Date

October 27, 1995

Runtime

123 Minutes

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Director

Jon Amiel

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Euphoria took a huge risk killing off a main character in the season 3 finale — and now Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is speaking out about possible backlash.

Akinnuoye-Agbaje, 58, addressed his character Alamo being involved in Rue’s (Zendaya) death, exclusively telling Us Weekly at the MPTF NextGen Summer Party, which was presented by Delta Air Lines and Waymo, “Look, it’s a voracious fan base. It’s really their show. It preceded me. I’ve done my part. Whatever they say and do is their part so that’s where I leave it.”

On the Sunday, May 31, episode of the show, Alamo offered Rue some pain pills that turned out to be laced with fentanyl. This confirmed that Alamo intentionally gave Rue drugs that he knew she would relapse on — and that he planned to kill her after he previously discovered she was working with the DEA to bring him down.

“The beautiful thing about Euphoria is — first of all — this incredible performance that Zendaya has done. She narrates the show and we’ve seen it largely through her perspective,” the actor told Us at the annual fundraiser, which toasts Hollywood while rallying money for the Motion Picture & Television Fund in support of working and retired entertainment professionals.

Akinnuoye-Agbaje noted that Euphoria has a strong ensemble cast, adding, “One of the beautiful things is that it opens it up to the perspective of so many of the other characters. Whether they’re within Rue’s group and vicinity, you have Laurie’s gang and you have Alamo’s gang and you have Rue’s friends. There’s room to explore those backstories, those relationships and those adventures that they would have.”

He continued: “This is TV. There’s always a world in which it could — if they wanted to — [they could explore the world more.] Whether they want to or not … I don’t know.”

Despite the devastating ending for Rue, Akinnuoye-Agbaje praised creator Sam Levinson on his vision.

“This season has been heavily influenced with religious themes about God and belief,” he noted. “All of that came to bear in the final episode. It sums up the consequences of everyone’s choices so you will see a reckoning. It’s poetic and it’s poignant. It’s responsible as well in his artistry in the message that it’s sending out.”

Akinnuoye-Agbaje went on to address how Rue’s death set up Ali’s (Colman Domingo) story of seeking revenge in her honor. This allowed for a Western-inspired sequence that left Alamo dead — but not before an epic standoff.

“Sam’s vision for this was heavily influenced by Western iconography. He was going to make this a Western style but with a modern take,” he noted to Us. “It was incredible how he interwove that with the narrative of the show and those characters that grew up building that narrative.”

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Looking ahead, Akinnuoye-Agbaje showed support for more Alamo — perhaps in spinoff form.

“I would be up for it. It’s such a rich character and we saw such a beautiful back story,” he shared. “It would be great to see how he got to that house on the hill. We are going to put it out in the ethos.”

Euphoria is currently streaming on HBO Max.

Having now earned five acting Oscar nominations without winning, Ethan Hawke is overdue his Academy flowers. His latest nomination was a Best Actor nod earlier this year for portraying real-life American lyricist Lorenz Hart in Richard Linklater‘s Blue Moon. Hawke immerses himself into the character, being almost unrecognizable both in voice and certainly by hairstyle. Hawke’s nomination was one of two for Blue Moon, with Robert Kaplow also recognized in the Best Original Screenplay category.

Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be for Blue Moon on the night of the 98th Academy Awards, with Hawke walking away empty-handed. This wasn’t a surprise, with his nomination considered the least likely to win against the likes of Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent. It might not have won, but Blue Moon is the latest reminder that Hawke is one of the finest actors of his generation, and a performance many consider to be his best is about to stream for free.

Directed by Paul Schrader, the psychological thriller First Reformed features a stunning central turn from Hawke as Reverend Ernst Toller of First Reformed. The film was hailed by critics as a modern masterpiece, although it sadly failed to find its theatrical audiences and left theaters having only earned $3.9 million against a reported budget of $3.5 million. Although the movie holds a near-perfect reputation with fans, it still deserves much more attention. With that in mind, you’ll be able to watch First Reformed for free, starting this June 1, 2026, on Plex.

What Is Ethan Hawke Doing Next?

Off the back of his latest Academy Award nomination, Hawke’s next project has already impressed critics. After its premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, The Weight, a historical drama directed by Padraic McKinley, now boasts a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 94%, with one critic calling it “Mr. Hawke’s show the whole way through.” However, Hawke isn’t the only talented star cast in the film, with the likes of Russell Crowe, Julia Jones, Austin Amelio, and more also featuring. The Weight is scheduled for theatrical release on September 18, 2026.

Ethan Hawke’s First Reformed is streaming for free on Plex, starting June 1, 2026. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for all the latest stories.

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Release Date

May 18, 2018

Runtime

113 Minutes

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Director

Paul Schrader

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Whatever fans have felt about the past five years, the one thing they can admit is that it has been home to some of the greatest video games of all time, even rivaling masterful classics such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and modern sensations, including Red Dead Redemption 2. As the medium continues to grow and improve, gamers can see a clear difference in the shift from before and after five years.

That is why this list will be ranking the ten greatest video game masterpieces of the past five years, specifically 2022 to 2026. Based on elements such as gameplay, narrative, art, originality, influence, innovation, design, fan opinion, popularity, critical acclaim, and overall quality, these ten titles are must-play modern masterpieces that define the past five years of gaming.

10

‘Donkey Kong Bananza’ (2025)

Image via Nintendo

Nintendo is going strong with the Nintendo Switch 2, already boasting impressive sales. While it wasn’t the system’s selling flagship title, Donkey Kong Bananza is the best game on the console. After the Void Company and its boss drill into the world in search of bananas, DK and Pauline are the only two who can stop this dastardly villain and his heinous plan.

Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t a typical 3D platformer; in fact, it is barely a platformer at all, instead focusing on a powerful punching mechanic, where every bit of land is destructible. This cathartic, engaging, and satisfying gameplay makes players feel stronger than ever, and the game has plenty of unique levels, gimmicks, bosses, and collectibles to keep them entertained and smashing from start to finish.

9

‘Pragmata’ (2026)

Image via Capcom

Maybe this is just recency bias, but Pragmata has already become a fantastic game of the 2020s that can compete with some of the best. Abandoned in a rundown facility on the moon, the protagonist and a little android girl must trek across the base and search for a way to escape back to Earth while making sure not to be shot down by the hostile AI running it.

As the newest game, Pragmata had a harder time establishing itself on this list, but it is already a sensation because of its unique gameplay that blends hacking and puzzles into the shooting. As one of the best sci-fi video games of all time, it features an imaginative system that is fun to play. The gameplay loop never gets tiring, and Pragmata’s tight pacing and linear exploration keep the game from being bloated.

8

‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ (2025)

Image via Sandfall Entertainment

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2025 was a versatile year of gaming, and the one that walked away with the title of Game of the Year was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In a fading world exists the paintress, an entity able to erase an age from the planet every year. Now, a brave group of adventurers set out on the 33rd expedition to defeat her and save the planet from becoming ageless.

Using the innovative blend of turn-based combat and real-time events, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a compelling masterpiece from a gameplay perspective that delivers immersive and tense combat. However, this award-winning title is also renowned for its incredible narrative and painterly world, which sets up some of the most unique worldbuilding. Not to mention its voice acting is spectacular, making this big-budget indie a game to remember.

7

‘Kingdom Come: Deliverance II’ (2025)

Image via Warhorse Studios

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As mentioned, 2025 was a magnificent year for gaming, and one specific title was the must-play hidden gem: Kingdom Come Deliverance II. Players are a soldier traveling to a king to make sure their loyalty is still intact, but when they lose their identity, players have no way to prove who they are, all amidst a brewing war between nations.

This sequel improved on pretty much everything, expanding the world with more things to do in new avenues, gameplay opportunities, and different roles to play. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is one of the greatest RPG titles ever made, using its vast possibilities to create an immersive and authentic medieval title. Since 2025 was such a great year, this game went under the radar, yet it remains a definitive title from the past five years.

6

‘God of War: Ragnarök’ (2022)

Image via Sony Interactive Entertainment

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2022 was a two-horse race for the honor of Game of the Year, and while God of War: Ragnarök didn’t come out victorious, it is still a worthy sequel. As Midgard freezes, the prophesied end of the world is nigh, leaving Kratos and his son, Atreus, to journey around the realm in search of allies to help in the fight against the Gods, hoping to save the world.

The 2018 reboot was a massive rebranding that improved the franchise in a big way, and while God of War: Ragnarök isn’t better, it is still a remarkable game. Its single-take camera style created a cinematic masterpiece among the best that video games have to offer. However, God of War: Ragnarök‘s true strength is its mechanical depth with systemic combat and variety to deliver an action masterclass.

5

‘Astro Bot’ (2024)

Image via Team ASOBI

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The 3D platformer genre has been dominated by Nintendo forever, but 2024 saw a change, with Sony delivering Astro Bot, an unexpected delight. Playing as the titular character, players must travel around a plethora of levels to try to rescue their crew, repair the PS5 mothership, and escape this planet.

Games are all about having fun, and unfortunately, some fans have forgotten that. However, Astro Bot will revive that passion for entertainment through its incredible level design and platforming gimmicks. This modern platforming gaming experience is at the peak of its genre, using haptic feedback to create an immersive feel, while its fluid character and movement make jumping satisfying.

4

‘Hades 2’ (2025)

Image via Supergiant Games

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is technically an indie game, but one that has that distinct feel and style is Hades 2, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2020 original. With Chronos newly resurrected, he immediately takes over the underworld and imprisons his family. However, Melinoe escaped, and now she must travel through Tartarus and Olympus to kill Chronos and free her family.

Indie games have been getting better and better over the years, with the genre reaching its peak with Hades 2. This game keeps the hook from the first game, but reinvents the combat and adds more weapons to make it even better. The refined roguelike gameplay loop has a grander scale that weaves the narrative into the repetitiveness, making Hades 2 one of the more creative games of the past five years.

3

‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’ (2023)

Image via Nintendo of America

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With Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, God of War: Ragnarök, and Hades 2, this list features many sequels, highlighting the anticipation felt in the past five years. But the greatest sequel comes from The Legend of Zelda franchise, specifically its newest 3D entry, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. When Zelda and Link discover Ganondorf beneath the palace, he is resurrected again, sending Zelda to the past and Link without his Master Sword.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is still the better and more influential game, but Tears of the Kingdom improved on virtually everything. From the narrative to bosses to dungeons to exploration to side quests and overall content, this expansive open-world masterpiece isn’t lacking in things to do. Tears of the Kingdom‘s revolutionary traversal rewards exploration by encouraging curiosity in the most marvelous and whimsical of ways, proving it is one of the best video games on the Nintendo Switch.

2

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

FromSoftware is a prolific game studio, and the past five years saw them release their magnum opus, Elden Ring. After the titular object shatters, the pieces are collected by the demigod children of Queen Marika. However, the players control the Tarnished on a journey through the Lands Between to defeat the children, collect the shards, restore the ring, and become the Elden Lord.

With George R.R. Martin‘s worldbuilding and FromSoftware’s soulslike gameplay, this game-changing RPG is the ultimate fantasy experience that bridges prestigious lore and storytelling with challenging combat. Elden Ring may be known for its relentless challenge and difficulty, but that is what makes the combat so rewarding. Plus, this title features amazing exploration in what is regarded as one of the best open-world video games of all time.

1

‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ (2023)

Image via Larian Studios

The past five years have been home to some of the greatest video games of all time, but Baldur’s Gate 3 is the best and most innovative. Set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, players are infected by a mind-flayer tadpole and must adventure across the world to find a cure. However, amidst the ticking clock is a brewing war between mortals and gods.

The best fans can hope for is companies to actually care about their games, because when they do, games such as Baldur’s Gate 3 are made. This passion-fueled masterpiece is the product of hard work and love of the IP, creating a game full of agency and player choice. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a detailed video game where players can do whatever they think of, perfectly translating the D&D experience to the interactive realm.

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Baldur’s Gate 3

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Released

August 3, 2023

ESRB

M

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Developer(s)

Larian Studios

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