No matter the medium, there is something inherently charming and fascinating about science fiction that makes it a highlight of just about every art form. While many people immediately think of great sci-fi blockbusters as some of the best that the genre has to offer, there are actually a wide array of masterful sci-fi video games that tell even greater stories with more vast, intricate worlds.

While it’s arguable whether these games are greater than the absolute best blockbusters, they overwhelmingly stand head and toes above the average movie that only grazes the potential of the genre. These games, however, bring sci-fi to its absolute limits in terms of compelling player experience, delving into intricate worlds with great characters and unmatched immersion. For many gamers, these titles are some of the absolute best sci-fi experiences across all forms of media.

‘Doom’ (2016)

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The Doom franchise has always had an impactful niche, being one of the first truly great first-person shooters and having an instantly compelling world to get the player invested. Simply playing as a ruthless space marine fighting off against legions of undead and demons is the type of concept that provides untold amounts of fun and high-energy glory for players. While many games in the Doom franchise revel in the glory of their gameplay, the initial reboot game from 2016 is arguably the best in this regard.

The major innovation that makes Doom so compelling and more high-energy is the “Glory Kill” mechanic, incentivizing players to be aggressive in their playstyle and chain kills, being rewarded for fast, frantic gameplay. It gives the game a distinct identity, revitalizing the franchise in its success and elevating the stature of Doom into the modern age.

‘Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic’ (2003)

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While Star Wars has stood for decades as the face of exceptional sci-fi blockbusters in film, it has also achieved great success in other mediums. In the world of Star Wars video games, however, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is the undeniable king, telling a vast sci-fi RPG experience with a story that even rivals the best that the films have to offer.

This prequel to the entire franchise sets itself apart from the actual films by delving more into the mythos and the continuous struggle between Jedi and Sith, with the player traveling across the galaxy, customizing their character, and choosing whether to journey down the path of the Light Side or the Dark Side. It features a lot of the classic strengths of Bioware RPGs, combining them with the glory and passion of Star Wars worldbuilding to create one of the best RPGs of the 2000s.

‘Titanfall 2’ (2016)

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While the original Titanfall was an effective concept with a well enough execution on the concept of a massive multiplayer shooter where players engage in futuristic mech combat, Titanfall 2 acts as the fully realized height of the concept. It builds upon the strengths of the first game to a point of near-perfection, adding a wildly entertaining single-player campaign while further delivering on the same competitive multiplayer greatness.

The game focused much more on heightened movement and a sprawling world that help it stand out among its sci-fi first-person shooter peers, leaving players deeply invested in its world as they pilot mechs into the height of combat. It also helps that its core PvP gameplay loop is some of the most satisfying and effective gameplay that first-person gaming has to offer, with layers of depth and exceptional passion oozing out of every aspect of the gameplay.

‘Outer Wilds’ (2019)

Image via Mobius Digital

While the sci-fi genre is often associated with massively sprawling budgets and AAA gaming, there are also many exceptional indie games that capture the vast scale and limitless possibilities of the genre; Outer Wilds is easily the best in this regard. This exceptional indie game sees the player exploring a planetary system that is stuck in a 22-minute time loop, resetting after the sun goes supernova and destroys the entire system. Through repeated attempts, it becomes up to the player to investigate the alien ruins to discover the cause of the time loop and how to stop the supernova.

Through its simple yet immediately engaging premise, Outer Wilds does an exceptional job of hooking the audience and keeping them captivated, with effective puzzles slowly revealing more truths as to the nature of this doom-fated solar system. It has had a lasting impact on those who experience it, utilizing the strengths of sci-fi and space exploration to create a true work of art only possible in the realm of video games.

‘Half-Life 2’ (2004)

Image via Valve

The original Half-Life was already a massively celebrated icon of first-person shooters and immersive sci-fi storytelling, but Half-Life 2 amplifies the strengths of the original to create what was a generational leap forward for the video game industry as a whole. With exceptional worldbuilding, control over the player at all times and even during cutscenes, and a physics engine that encourages interactions with the environment, first-person games were never the same after Half-Life 2.

This prominent Valve sequel has stood as one of the company’s greatest games ever since its release, with the dynamic combination of a ruthless dystopian world and high-tech sci-fi technology creating a timeless classic first-person experience. The game has a substantial legacy that has stood long after its release, often considered one of the most important technological advancements for the industry and one of the best games of the era.

‘Halo: Combat Evolved’ (2001)

Image via Microsoft

Xbox wouldn’t be nearly the titan that it is today without the success and impact of Halo, with Halo: Combat Evolved still holding a special place in the hearts of many gamers. Whether it’s the exceptional single-player campaign where Master Chief faces off against the Covenant in a fight for humanity, or the endlessly entertaining multiplayer modes, Halo: Combat Evolved has been one of the faces of sci-fi gaming ever since its release.

Even as the franchise has had a myriad of subsequent releases and growth over the years, there’s something special and full of charm about the original game that continues to make it such an icon of not just gaming, but the sci-fi genre as a whole. It features some of the most intricate and recognizable characters and locations in shooter game history, with its prominent world playing a major part in its continued legacy and recognition.

‘Metroid Prime’ (2002)

Image via Nintendo

The defining sci-fi franchise from Nintendo, Metroid Prime proved to be one of the all-time greatest jumps to 3D for a franchise, taking the vast exploration and alien threats of the Metroid franchise and giving them a new coat of paint in this first-person action-adventure masterpiece. This exceptional GameCube game was one of the greatest system sellers for the console, standing toe-to-toe with the other sci-fi masterpieces of the era with a perfect balance of action, puzzle solving, and an expansive world.

The game is much more action-packed and mature compared to the traditional Nintendo experience, yet it still has the same passion and labor of love that make so many Nintendo games genre-defining classics. Metroid Prime is the type of exceptional masterpiece that other adventure games find massive inspiration from, pushing the medium forward with pitch-perfect execution in every regard.

‘Mass Effect 2’ (2010)

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Mass Effect 2 arguably accomplishes one of the greatest feats in sci-fi video game storytelling, featuring one of the most impressive and vast branches of possible stories, with no two playthroughs ever feeling the same. With so many memorable characters to interact with, as well as building off of the growth and decision-making of the previous game, Mass Effect 2 is the definitive masterclass of character and passion within a video game story.

The game has stood as one of the quintessential sci-fi video game masterpieces ever since its release, creating a sprawling, highly engaging action RPG experience from beginning to end. It almost had an indirect adverse effect on the rest of the franchise, as no subsequent entry has even come close to the impact and exceptional feel that Mass Effect 2 has from beginning to end.

‘BioShock’ (2007)

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The perfect example of a vast, original dystopian world in video games, BioShock and its exceptional exploration of monolithic utopian thinkers in the city of Rapture make for one of the most artistically rich and powerful video game narratives, especially for the era in which it was released. BioShock features great variety in its gameplay, with high-octane action, terrifying tense-fueled moments, and intricate puzzles coming together to create one of the most original gaming experiences of the Xbox 360/PS3 era.

Even after a complete trilogy of BioShock games, the mixture of timely social messaging and intricate storytelling still makes the film a celebrated achievement for gaming culture. It’s the undeniable height of sci-fi dystopian storytelling, telling a story that rivals the very best sci-fi movies in its stature and has one of the most emotionally touching endings in video game history.

‘Portal 2’ (2011)

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It takes a lot to follow up a game that was already considered one of the best games of the generation, yet Portal 2 expands and improves upon the already perfect strengths of Portal to create the definitive puzzle game masterpiece. With new puzzle elements, overwhelming characters and charm at each moment, and a deeper examination into the world as a whole, Portal 2 is the perfect video game sequel from which all other sequels should find inspiration.

The game’s amazing writing isn’t just better than most other video games, but rivals the very best sci-fi movies with its masterful pacing and overwhelming passion. Characters like GLaDOS, Wheatley, and Cave Johnson are among the most memorable and charming in video game history, with their dialogue adding so much character to the masterfully concocted portal-based puzzles that fuel the game. Portal 2 is a perfect puzzle game that consistently delivers amazing sci-fi greatness.

Ruby Rose’s summer had a bumpy start.

The Orange Is the New Black actress, 40, revealed that she was hospitalized after falling into a pool in an Instagram Stories post on Tuesday, June 30. She shared footage of the moment, which showed her walking along a pool edge and slipping. She slammed her upper body into a wall and dropped into the pool before grabbing her ribcage. Rose then quickly swam to the other side of the pool to get out.

“That’s your girl!” she captioned the post, next to a sticker of a ribcage. “RIP to my ribs, and to the rest of my summer. They are broken, multiple 🤣.”

The actress continued, “Straight to the hospital, did not pass go or collect 200 dollars.”

Rose further opened up about her injury via Instagram Threads, writing, “One second I’m here talking to you. Next I’m in the hospital with two broken ribs. What a bloody Monday.”

Rose added that she “brought” the accident “upon” herself. “And now I have to breathe into a machine lol. Landed perfectly on the right side of my ribs. Breaking the bottom two.”

Her fans were quick to send her well wishes in the comments. “Oh Jesus I hope you’re okay. Broken ribs aren’t a joke,” one wrote. Another added, “Oh my gosh that looks so painful I’m so sorry!” A third follower added, “Oh, no! Oh, honey I am so sorry that happened to you!! Sending healing vibes.”

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Related: GMA’s Robin Roberts Returns With Fractured Wrist After Tennis ‘Tumble’

Robin Roberts returned to Good Morning America with a broken wrist after her one-day hiatus. Roberts, 63, appeared on the Tuesday, April 30, show wearing a bandage following her absence from the previous day’s episode. After completing a tennis segment on Tuesday, cohost George Stephanopoulos quipped to Roberts, “I hope seeing that tennis on the […]

This is not the first serious injury Rose has suffered either. While filming Batwoman in 2019, she herniated two discs in her spine while performing a stunt, putting her in risk of her spinal cord being severed. Rose ended up needing emergency neck surgery. Rose playfully reflected on the moment via Threads, writing, “I’m sorry, but what in the f***ing dissociation and self abandonment did I do, to return to work on batwoman, the day after breaking my rib and neck?”

She added, “My rib was killing me!! I couldn’t feel my legs or hands, I was in a batsuit!”

Now, Rose isn’t even considering getting suited up with her broken rib. “I’ve just broken two ribs, falling into my own pool backwards, 🤣 and you couldn’t pay me to put a bra on, let alone stand up.”
She added, “Send good book and show recommendations this is going to take many weeks 😭.”

LeBron James’ time with the Los Angeles Lakers has come to an end after eight seasons.

James, 41, and his agent, Rich Paul, have informed the franchise that they will be moving on, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Tuesday, June 30.

“Lakers president Rob Pelinka and Rich Paul spoke a short time ago about the four-time champion’s plans, sources said,” Charania, 32, wrote via X. “James chose to inform the Lakers well before [the] start of free agency tonight out of courtesy and appreciation for their run together, and to allow LA to conduct its offseason business.”

He continued, “The Lakers expressed to James that they wanted him back, but the NBA’s all-time leading scorer decides to move on elsewhere.”

James, who is on the shortlist of the greatest basketball players ever, is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a four-time champion and a three-time Olympic gold medalist. The four-time Most Valuable Player helped lead the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship, becoming the first player in NBA history to win Finals MVP for three different teams.

NBA free agency begins Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, meaning James and the Lakers can now move forward with their 2026-27 plans.

“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” the Lakers wrote in a statement shared via social media. “We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers — including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold. We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family.”

The Lakers went 53-29 last season, but were swept out of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semifinals. After their season ended, James reflected on the loss and his future in the league.

Related: LeBron James Reveals Son Bronny, 21, Moved Out: ‘We Don’t Talk as Much’

Even NBA legends sometimes struggle to deal with their children leaving the nest. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James joked about his son and teammate Bronny moving out after the Lakers’ 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, November 18. “I think he’s enjoying the process,” LeBron, 40, told the media when asked about […]

“I think you guys asked me about [retirement], and I’ve answered questions,” he told reporters. “I don’t think I’ve come out and been like, ‘Oh, retirement is coming.’ With my future, I don’t know, honestly. … Obviously it’s still fresh from, obviously, losing [the series]. And I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds for me.”

He added that he wanted to “recalibrate with my family and talk with them, and spend some time with them” before deciding whether to return for another season.

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“I think for me it’s about the process,” he explained. “If I can commit to still being in love with the process of showing up to the arena five-and-a-half hours before a game to start preparing for a game, giving everything I got, diving for loose balls and doing everything that you know that it takes to go out and play.”

While James’ destination for next season is still to be determined, the Golden State Warriors are expected to make a run for his services, Charania reported on Monday, June 29. Golden State may be hoping to make one last attempt at a deep playoff run with its aging core, which includes Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.

LeBron’s oldest son, Bronny, is expected to stay with the Lakers despite his father moving on. Bronny’s $2.3 million contract with Los Angeles became fully guaranteed on Monday, June 29, according to Spotrac’s Keith Smith.

Jennifer Lopez is opening up about breakups two years after her divorce from actor Ben Affleck. The A-lister’s relationship woes have made headlines over the last two decades, and now, she’s getting candid about them like never before. Speaking on the “Subway Takes” podcast, the New Yorker said she’s not dismayed by her breakups. Instead, she said they only fuel her and encourage her to be her best self.

On the June 30 episode of the “Subway Takes” show, Lopez said she doesn’t believe breakups mean “failure.” She said that she instead sees them as a “launchpad into your next best self.”

“We should have a party when we break up. People should say, ‘You broke up? Congratulations.’ Because one, you made a decision. Two, it was probably the best thing for everybody,” Lopez added.

According to the “Louboutins” singer, people who are being dumped are the real “winners,” while those going around “breaking hearts” are “losers.”

Jennifer Lopez Says There’s Too Much To Learn From Heartbreaks To Stay Sad

Lopez has had her fair share of public breakups; however, those have never kept the singer down. She said that heartbreak has only ever taught her new things about herself.

“I just feel like the biggest growth spurts I’ve had emotionally, mentally, psychologically have always come from a heartbreak. And that’s not just in romantic relationships, that’s in work heartbreaks, all of it,” she said. “It’s the only time you dig. You’re like, ‘What the f-ck happened? How do I do this? Why do I keep doing this? Or why didn’t that happen? What could I have done better?’ You change yourself.”

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Jennifer Lopez Doesn’t ‘Discriminate’ Against Men

Regarding who she could see herself with, Lopez said there isn’t a single archetype.

“I don’t discriminate. I like skinny guys. I like a little chunk around the middle. I like beards. I like clean-shaven. It doesn’t matter. I like the person inside,” she revealed.

Over the years, Lopez has been linked with Cris Judd, Marc Anthony, and most recently, Affleck, whom she officially divorced in January 2025.

According to a previous report from The Blast, Lopez’s split from Affleck was much needed, as a source close to the entertainer said that it allowed her to get back to a happy place.

“She’s much happier now. Everyone has noticed the change. There’s a new carefree energy about her,” they shared.

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Affleck Opened Up About His Split From Lopez In A New Interview

Affleck and Lopez’s split garnered significant attention, as the pair had also been engaged in the early 2000s before calling things off.

During a previous interview, Affleck got candid about his downfalls with the “Enough” actress, admitting that they are two very different people.

“My temperament is to be a little bit more reserved and private than hers,” he shared. “As happens in relationships, you don’t always have the same attitude towards these things.”

“You don’t marry a ship captain and then say, ‘Well, I don’t like going out in the water.’ You’ve got to own what you knew going into any relationship,” he continued.

Despite their split, Affleck denied rumors that their end was due to their reported disdain for one another.

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“There’s a tendency to look at breakups and want to identify root causes or something,” he said. “There’s no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue. The truth is, when you talk to somebody, ‘Hey, what happened?’ Well, there is no, ‘This is what happened.’ It’s just a story about people trying to figure out their lives and relationships in ways that we all sort of normally do.”

Was Lopez Looking For A Rebound?

Following their split, rumors began to swirl that Lopez could’ve been linked to her “Office Romance” co-star, Brett Goldstein. However, a source said that there was never anything serious between them, and that Lopez only saw the actor as a “rebound.”

“She had fun with him, there’s no denying that, and she still thinks he’s a genuinely lovely guy, but it was never going to turn into anything serious for her,” the insider claimed. “She is someone who has a very clear vision for her life, she knows what it takes for a man to hold her interest long term and she doesn’t want to set anyone up for failure.”

Season 2 of Dutton Ranch will look a little different after the initial showrunner exited the Yellowstone spinoff.

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed on Tuesday, June 30, that Benjamin Cavell would be taking over after working on shows such as Justified, SEAL Team and The Stand.

Cavell is joining the hit Paramount+ series after Chad Feehan stepped down in June. Us Weekly confirmed at the time that Feehan would not return as showrunner after completing work on season 1.

Puck News previously reported that Feehan, 47, stepped away from Dutton Ranch after alleged friction with series stars Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly, who play Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton, respectively, among others.

Related: Which ‘Dutton Ranch’ Stars Are, Aren’t Returning After Season 2 Changes?

Dutton Ranch is officially renewed — but not everyone is coming back in season 2. Paramount+’s hit franchise started with Yellowstone, which premiered in 2018 and introduced viewers to the fictional Dutton family. The show came to an end in 2024, expanding its universe with Luke Grimes‘ CBS show Marshals and Dutton Ranch. “As Beth […]

“Showrunners change all the time,” Hauser, 51, told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month. “This business is about adapting.”

He continued: “We’ve been doing this for a long time. Things change. People move on.”

Reilly, 48, had a similar outlook on the shakeup. “It was a really difficult but really satisfying show to make,” she said. “And so was Yellowstone.”

Looking ahead, the actress wanted to focus on the positive. “So is anything worth making,” she concluded. “We’re all creative minds and we all work together and I’m so proud of that.”

Executive producer Christina Voros, meanwhile, broke her silence about Feehan’s reported firing, telling ScreenRant in May that he did “an exceptional job building a world of adversaries for Rip and Beth” in the Yellowstone spinoff.

Voros noted that when it came to “dynamics behind his departure,” she didn’t have much to add. She went on to say that Dutton Ranch had at that point not “come out into the world yet” so a future without Feehan was “beyond” her knowledge on the subject.

The director expressed gratitude to Feehan and his team for “creating a world for these characters to move into.”

Dutton Ranch isn’t the only Taylor Sheridan show to go through showrunner changes. Lioness, Tulsa King and Frisco King have also experienced shifts — and not every show had a showrunner season to season.

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Over the years, Sheridan, 56, has acknowledged his preference for not using writers’ rooms, telling The Hollywood Reporter in 2023, “But when you hire a room that may not be motivated by those same qualities — and a writer always wants to take ownership of something they’re writing — and I give this directive and they’re not feeling it, then they’re going to come up with their own qualities. So for me, writers rooms, they haven’t worked.”

The outlet noted that Sheridan wrote in a one-room “cabinet” he built in Wyoming. “I’ve written many episodes in eight to 10 hours,” he claimed at the time.

Dutton Ranch airs on Paramount+ Fridays.

Ladies of London star Misse Beqiri will never forget the day she learned of ex Jake Hall’s death.

“I remember that I kept saying, ‘There’s no way,’ and then everything went black,” Beqiri, 39, told The Sun‘s Fabulous magazine in an interview published Saturday, June 27. “I can’t remember any of it. I didn’t believe it.”

One huge obstacle Beqiri quickly thought of was how she was going to tell her daughter the news that Hall died at the age of 35. (The exes shared 8-year-old daughter River.)

“The first person I thought about was River. How can I tell her that her dad is gone?” she recalled. “I kept thinking, ‘I don’t know if I am able to do this.’”

When she sat down with River, Beqiri called it the “worst thing I’ve ever had to do.”

“I keep thinking, ‘How is my daughter going to grow up without her dad?’” Beqiri wondered. “She won’t have him on her wedding day, or when she finishes school or does an exam. There are these big life moments where you need your dad and she won’t have that.”

River was eventually able to go back to school and remains in therapy to help process the loss. Still, her mom finds the whole situation “so much for her little brain to process.”

In early May, Hall was found dead in a villa following an accident at a house party in Majorca, Spain. An autopsy was conducted, but no cause of death was determined, per the BBC.

Days after Hall’s death made news, Beqiri broke her silence in an emotional statement.

“You will be missed. I promise to keep River safe, loved and wrapped in the kind of love you gave so effortlessly. You are at peace now,” she wrote via Instagram on May 9. “You left behind your mini version, our River, and for that we are forever grateful. You will always live on through her, and you will forever be with us.”

In her latest interview, Beqiri praised Hall’s role as a father and recalled the positive presence he had in his daughter’s life.

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“He had so much love for River,” she shared. “They had a beautiful relationship. That’s what breaks my heart — I know he would never want to leave her. And he will live on in her.”

As the grieving process continues, Beqiri — who shares another child with ex-husband Anders Lindegaard — knows she has to be “strong.”

“There’s been moments where I was like, ‘I mentally cannot take another thing,’” she admitted. “And then I look at my kids, and I think, ‘Yes, you can, because they need you.’”

Ariana Grande is facing criticism from some disappointed fans after announcing last-minute changes to her highly anticipated “Eternal Sunshine Tour.” The pop superstar revealed Monday that three upcoming performances would be rescheduled due to production-related issues, leaving some ticket holders scrambling to adjust travel plans and accommodations. The changes affect one New York show and two Boston dates on Ariana Grande’s sold-out 41-date tour, her first major concert trek in seven years.

Grande announced that her July 12 performance at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center would now take place on July 14. She also pushed back two shows at Boston’s TD Garden, moving the July 22 concert to July 23 and the July 24 performance to July 26.

According to the singer, the changes were made to ensure the elaborate production can be delivered as intended. “We are so sorry for these unfortunate scheduling changes,” Grande wrote on her Instagram Stories. “This was our best and safest option as these challenges with production have come to our attention.”

She continued, “The utmost important thing to us all is safety, first and foremost, and also making sure you all see the show how it is intended to run. Thank you so much for your understanding and I cannot wait to see you.”

The ‘Eternal Sunshine’ Tour Features An Ambitious Production

The postponements come as Grande’s team continues to roll out one of the most ambitious productions of her career. The two-hour show is divided into five acts and features a full-scale house set piece that becomes overtaken by flowers before appearing to burn down during the performance.

The production also includes a catwalk, suspension lift, and a massive cylinder screen, all helping bring the world of “Eternal Sunshine” to life onstage. Music video director Christian Breslauer, who collaborated extensively with Grande throughout the album era, is serving as creative director for the production.

The show also incorporates filmed segments featuring Grande’s character, Peaches, as she navigates themes of heartbreak and memory loss inspired by the album.

Fans React With Frustration Over Last-Minute Changes

While many fans expressed support for Grande’s decision, others voiced frustration over the timing of the announcement. Several concertgoers revealed they had already spent significant amounts of money on travel arrangements that could not easily be changed.

One fan said they had booked multiple flights from Shanghai to attend the New York concert. “What am I supposed to do?” the fan wrote.

Another disappointed concertgoer, @lusixlu, explained that international travel plans had already been finalized. “I’m traveling all the way from Argentina and my return flight is on Sunday I had tickets to the 24th show and now all the flights are super expensive.”

The comments quickly filled with similar stories from fans who said the rescheduled dates created logistical challenges and unexpected costs.

Online Speculation Quickly Followed The Announcement

As news of the postponements spread, social media users began offering their own theories about what may have prompted the changes. Some fans pointed to the scheduling at Barclays Center, noting that Benson Boone is scheduled to perform at the venue on July 10 and July 11.

Others speculated that health concerns could be a factor, despite no indication from Grande’s team that the singer is ill.

“She’s way too frail to be performing, are ya’ll blind?” one Instagram user commented. “I hope she takes some time off to rest and get better.” Another wrote, “She’s probably so weak and needs a break. She needs to eat.”

The comments reignited ongoing online conversations about Grande’s appearance and health, topics the singer has addressed publicly in the past.

Grande’s Team Shuts Down Health Rumors

Despite the speculation, Grande’s representatives insist the postponements have nothing to do with the singer’s health. According to the singer’s publicist, the changes stem entirely from production challenges affecting the tour. “This is solely due to a delay on the production side of things,” Grande’s publicist told the Daily Mail.

For now, Grande remains scheduled to continue the tour this week with three performances at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, before heading to the newly rescheduled Northeast dates later this month.

While some fans remain disappointed by the sudden changes, Grande’s team appears focused on ensuring the production meets expectations when the tour reaches New York and Boston.

Magic is a key part of any fantasy story, and a hallmark of the genre. Many fantasy stories, whether they be movies, video games, or books, feature magic, which is handled in a variety of different ways. In literature, these are divided into two categories: soft magic systems are systems that are looser, that have few rules, and that don’t have a clear explanation. On the other hand, hard magic systems have extensive rules and technicalities, as well as a serious cost for using them.

Both have their places in both high and low fantasy stories, and both can be equally enjoyable, with distinct pros and cons. In recent years, magic has been something that many fantasy authors have added to their work, not just to liven up the world, but also to give something complex to add to the lore. Whichever category they belong to, these are the best magic systems in fantasy novels.

‘The Broken Eye’ (2014)

Image via Orbit

The Broken Eye is the third book in the Lightbringer novels. Like many of the other books on this list, it may not be the first book in the series, but it is the one where the clearest explanation of the magic system can be found. In the world of Lightbringer, magic works with the use of light. It actually intersects with real-world physics a bit, too. To cast spells, mages known as drafters pull specific wavelengths of light from the air, shaping it into a physical substance called luxin.

However, the drafter must be able to see, or must be near the specific wavelength they want. For example, they’d need to be near blue wavelengths of light in order to make blue luxin. The colour of the luxin determines its specific effect: red is flammable, orange is corrosive, blue shatters like glass, and so on. For every spell cast, a physical substance begins to fill the eyes and mind of a drafter; once their eyes are full, they are blinded, losing their sanity and becoming a wight. This magic system is truly singular — there’s just nothing else like it out there in the world of fantasy. It’s also great because the cost of overuse is a fate worse than death, which makes the consequences have so much more weight.

‘Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell’ (2004)

Image via Bloomsbury

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is set in an alternate version of the Napoleonic Era. In this alternate world, magic is well-known to exist, but its use is heavily frowned upon, and the subject is taboo in most social circles. The few that do use it are seen as social pariahs, and are often shunned from most gatherings. Nonetheless, magic is a respectable practice. It acts as more of an extension of science and physics rather than a supernatural force, meaning there are set laws and dedicated scholars for it.

If one wants to be able to harness magical abilities, one must read about it in books penned by other magicians. Even then, they must be performed exactly as documented, or there is a serious risk of causing unintentional death or destruction. As a result, it is always being experimented on, in the same way that humans conduct tests when a new chemical compound is discovered. Much of the process is trial and error, and could possibly have explosive results if something goes wrong. The magical energy is tied directly to England itself, meaning casting spells requires rituals, solving complicated equations, and sometimes, manipulating or influencing the environment somehow. This magic system actually feels realistic, because if it were real, it would probably be this academic.

‘Shadow and Bone’ (2012)

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Shadow and Bone is the first book in the trilogy of the same name. The debut novel of Leigh Bardugo, this trilogy takes place in her shared universe known as the Grishaverse. Magic in this series isn’t actually referred to as such; instead, it’s called the Small Science, which is only accessible to a few gifted individuals. What’s important to note about the Small Science is that nothing can be conjured out of thin air; every spell must be cast by manipulating existing elements.

Gifted magic users are divided into three groups: Etherealki, Materialki, and Corporalki, which deal with the elements, inanimate objects, and living beings, respectively. Each of these groups is then divided into certain subgroups. For example, the Etherealki also include Squallers, who manipulate the air, and Summoners, who manipulate light and shadow. However, a magic user, known as a Grisha, must have a natural affinity towards whatever they can manipulate in order to use it. This magic system isn’t super unique, but it’s singular enough to warrant particular attention, especially with how it’s treated as a science rather than a supernatural ability.

‘Blood of Elves’ (1994)

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Blood of Elves is the first full-length novel in Andrzej Sapkowski‘s dark fantasy Witcher saga. Previously, the books consisted of short story collections all involving the same central character, Geralt of Rivia. While the magic system is briefly explained in these stories, this first novel does a better job of showing people the technical aspects of it. There are actually two systems of magic in this world, which are only accessible to specific people.

The first magic system is Witcher magic, which is something that Geralt of Rivia uses fairly often. Primarily, witchers use these spells, but they can technically be used by anyone, since they’re fairly simple. There are only a handful of them, but they are invoked by drawing a specific rune in the air. Usually, it causes some basic effect, like starting a fire. However, magic is also accessible to sorcerers and witches, who have an entirely different form of magic at their disposal. These people cannot generate magic internally; rather, they act as a conduit of the world’s primal elements: earth, fire, air, and water. However, magic is very difficult to control, so those who know it use it cautiously. While the magic systems in this series aren’t complex or even that original, they’re simple and easy to remember, and fit in with the world perfectly.

‘Forge of Darkness’ (2012)

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The Malazan series is constantly growing, currently consisting of well over 20 novels, each belonging to certain subseries. Magic is a prevalent aspect of all of them, but it’s in the prequel trilogy where Steven Erikson really delves into the meat and potatoes of it. In particular, Forge of Darkness does a good job of explaining how exactly it works. In order to cast a spell, a mage must first open a spiritual conduit to The Warrens, a group of alternate dimensions, and a reservoir of pure magical energy located at the edge of the universe.

Once this conduit is established, the mage can then pull through the raw energy and shape it to their will, turning it into fireballs, healing spells, lightning bolts, or pretty much anything they want. However, nothing is free, and magic takes an enormous toll on the user. It can short out one’s nervous system if used too frequently, cause long-lasting, permanent physical or psychological damage, and, in some extreme cases, can even cause mages to explode. As such, it is not used lightly. It’s such a great magic system because it has all the hallmarks of one. It has clear boundaries, rigid rules, and a cost to everything.

‘The Wise Man’s Fear’ (2011)

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The Wise Man’s Fear is the second full-length novel in Patrick Rothfuss‘ unfinished trilogy, The Kingkiller Chronicle. The story follows Kvothe, an exceptionally gifted individual, as he recounts his past to a Chronicler. Kvothe begins his studies at the university in the first book, where he learns to study magic. However, things get much more in-depth in this sequel. In this universe, magic is actually an exceptionally difficult thing to master.

The most common form of magic is sympathy. What this means is that the mage must establish a link between two different objects; the closer they are in material, size, or shape, the easier it is. Whatever one does to one object, the other will follow. Think of it like a voodoo doll, but for random objects. There’s also naming, which is an archaic and rare form of magic that involves invoking the unknown true name of things, such as the wind (hence why the first book is titled The Name of the Wind), which allows users to bend it to their will. What’s most interesting about this magic system is that it feels like readers are learning about it along with Kvothe, and it continues to fascinate.

‘The Colour of Magic’ (1983)

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The Colour of Magic is the first entry in the Discworld saga, and the first in the Wizards sub-series, meaning it takes an extensive look at how magic works in this weird and wonderful world. At heart, Discworld is a parody series, which satirizes classic fantasy tropes to an absurd degree, which is why it’s so funny and well-loved. Appropriately, the magic system is cumbersome and ridiculous. Although wizards exist in this world, most of them discourage the use of magic and rarely practice it because it’s highly volatile and unpredictable.

Magic is compared to loading a musket: it’s a long, arduous process to get everything ready, and when it is ready, the payoff is loud, messy, and highly inaccurate. Wizards prepare spells by either performing rituals or solving a complex series of mathematical and scientific equations in their head. Once that multi-step process is done, all they need to do is “pull the trigger,” but it’s a one-time use kind of thing. After the spell is cast, they have to begin the process all over again. It’s silly but entertaining and unique, which perfectly fits into its established universe.

‘Children of Blood and Bone’ (2018)

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Children of Blood and Bone is set in a world resembling pre-colonial West Africa, where magic has disappeared under an oppressive regime. The only people who can perform magic are the race known as divîners, who are recognizable due to their signature white hair. Upon reaching the age of 13, the divîners experience a magical awakening and discover which of the ten clans they belong to.

The ten clans deal in exclusive types of magic. For example, there are the Amukè (Valers), who tame and control the local wildlife. But there are also more elemental clans like the Omi (Tidecallers), who create and manipulate water. In order to actually cast a spell, the incantation must be spoken in the Yoruba language, which is based on the real-life language of the same name. While it’s not as complex as other magic systems, with it being a YA book and all, it’s still delightfully fun and interesting in its own regard. Not only are there basic elemental powers, but there are also things like healing, mind control, and necromancy based solely on one’s clan.

‘The Shadow Rising’ (1992)

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The Shadow Rising is the fourth book in The Wheel of Time saga by the late Robert Jordan. It’s one of the best books in the series, and a personal favourite for a lot of fans, but it also happens to be one where the technical aspects of the magic system are elaborated upon. In this series, magic is derived from something called the One Power, which has two halves: saidar, the female half, and saidin, the male half. Those who can access it are known as Channellers. While this ability is more common in women, men are capable of becoming more powerful. However, saidin has also been tainted by the Dark One, meaning any male Channeller is doomed to lose his mind before long.

Once a Channeller has accessed the One Power, they are able to weave threads of fire, air, earth, water, or spirit to cast spells. Combining the threads produces different effects like lightning bolts or healing. Magic isn’t free, though — it comes at a cost. It is directly tied to one’s energy level, meaning it isn’t unheard of for Channellers to die of exhaustion after using their magic for a prolonged period of time. As such, it must be used with caution, especially since it can be so destructive. While it isn’t the most original magical system, Jordan spent a lot of time working through the technical aspects of it. As a result, the rules of it are pretty rigid. However, new things are constantly being learned about it throughout the series, so the books manage to keep it interesting.

‘Rhythm of War’ (2020)

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Rhythm of War is the fourth installment of Brandon Sanderson‘s The Stormlight Archive series, which is, in itself, part of his shared literary universe known as the Cosmere. Each series or stand-alone in the Cosmere is set on its own planet with its own magic system. Rhythm of War is set on the world of Roshar, which is a barren planet plagued by storms of apocalyptic strength called highstorms. Other Stormlight books are better and do feature the same magic, but Rhythm of War is the one that dives deepest into it. There are actually a couple of different magic systems in this series, but the one that’s elaborated on the most is called Surgebinding.

Surgebinding starts with spiritual creatures called spren, who represent various aspects of nature and emotion, such as fear, flame, and anger. Certain types of spren, such as ashspren or mistspren, are attracted to individuals who carry a lot of trauma, eventually forming what’s called a Nahel bond with them. Once the bond is formed, the person gains access to two out of ten surges, with the two depending on what kind of spren bonded them. For example, if one bonds a liespren, they would be able to create illusions and transform inanimate objects into other objects. Whereas if one bonds an inkspren, they would also be able to transform objects, but instead of creating illusions, they’re able to teleport between dimensions. There are ten possible types of Nahel bonds, meaning there are ten orders of Surgebinders, who become known as the Knights Radiant. Magic itself is fuelled by Stormlight, an ethereal essence which is pulled into gemstones in highstorms and stored for later use. It’s a really elaborate magic system with a lot of moving parts to it, but it’s so infinitely interesting.