characters. I want to travel with Potboy, my charge, my companion, my friend who says so much without ever speaking a word. The Midnight Walk is not long — I would put my playthrough at around seven or eight hours, and I took my time — but it is gorgeous and touching, and it took hold of me early and never let me go until I took the last step on my journey. It isn’t mechanically ambitious other than to play with perception in unexpected ways, and it challenged me to go into the dark unafraid, and find truth, and companionship, and I did. Out of darkness, light. One cannot exist without the other, and neither offers every answer. I lit a match, and found my way, and I was not alone.– Will Borger From our review:MLB The Show remains one of the best sports series around. The new upgrade system and the amateur portion of your player’s journey have reinvigorated Road To The Show, while the

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shift away from Sets and Seasons has righted Diamond Dynasty’s biggest wrong. While it’s a bit of a bummer that the Storylines feature isn’t living up to its full potential, it remains a worthwhile and important inclusion that has reach beyond the game of baseball. All the small touches, such as updated infielder reactions and new quick time events like the swim move, have the on-field action in a great place, too. It’s not always easy for an annual franchise to justify the move to a new entry, but in the case ofMLB The Show 25, it does more than enough to make me glad it has arrived.– Justin Koreis From our review:Monster Train 2is a fantastic upgrade for what was already one of the best deckbuilding roguelites out there. Its new Equipment cards layer on even more ways to build a team of super-powerful monsters, and its five new clans of delightfully weird characters are every bit as

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ripe for experimentation and unexpected results as the original cast. You can play it dozens of times and not take the same approach twice – and even if you choose the same starting options you have to adapt and think on your feet to make the most of what fate decides to give you. I can easily say right now that its endless challenge and the pleasant surprises I’m still discovering within it will keep me coming back for hundreds of hours.– Dan Stapleton From our review:Ninja Gaiden: Rageboundis a game I’m going to be replaying for a long time. It looks and sounds incredible, and the fast but thoughtful combat is so damn satisfying that I had a hard time putting it down long enough to write this review. Juggling different types of attacks and powerful abilities as I break auras, time Hypercharges against intimidating foes, and bounce off of demons’ heads is a blast that is challenging and

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rewarding in equal measure. It just feels right. Ragebound may not star Ryu Hayabusa, but it’s definitely of the Dragon Lineage, and I know chasing level-specific challenges and high scores is going to be a part of my regular rotation. Ninja Gaiden fans, we were lost in the desert for a long time, but Ragebound is like running across an oasis; trust me when I tell you we’ve never been so back.– Will Borger From our review:In this long review process, I was afforded the space to really reflect on my time withOctopath Traveler 0, and perhaps cool down from the adrenaline rush of finishing a massive RPG with a super tough final boss and multifaceted conclusion. What I realized in that time is that despite the bumps and low points across its 100-plus hour runtime, all its moving parts really mattered in some way or another. The more I examine the final hours in particular, the more impressed

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I am by how daring and poetic this game is – it's an affecting journey that you won't really feel until you're at the end of the road. In many ways, it's a quintessential RPG with a dynamic turn-based combat system, slick HD-2D style, powerful messages tucked in battles against gods, and magnificent music to match each moment. I don't expect everyone to give it the time it needs to fully bloom, but I can almost guarantee you'll find that few games blossom quite like Octopath Traveler 0.– Michael Higham From our review:I couldn’t stop smiling as each melon, shoe, playing card, traffic cone, and house satisfyingly snapped into place on my whirling clump of stuff as I rolled across time and space. The only timeOnce Upon A Katamaribroke my delirious grin was when it tickled my ears with riffs so funky the bassist practically reached through my TV’s speakers and slapped a stank face out of me

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(and that’s meant as a compliment). This appropriately ostentatious, energetic return is the best the Katamari series has been since the PlayStation 2 era. With cleverly implemented tweaks to the ever-satisfying gauntlet of rolling delights, a stellar soundtrack, and offbeat charm in spades, there will always be room on my hard drive for Once Upon A Katamari.– Charlie Wacholz From our review:Rhythm Doctoris one of the hardest games I’ve played in a hot second, regardless of genre. But the music, the humor, and the characters are all so strong that it compelled me to stick with it. Most of all, I loved the way Rhythm Doctor embraces being a game and uses that to tell its story in a way no other medium could. These songs aren’t just something you play along with; you feel them. You experience them and the emotions they convey because of how they’re presented. It’s a remarkable achievement.

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And all it takes is one button. Moreover, it made me want to play music again. I’ve always wanted to learn to play piano. Maybe it’s time. I’ll probably fail, at first. I’ll probably fail a lot, actually. But if Rhythm Doctor believes anything, it’s that it’s the courage to keep going, even when all seems lost, that counts. That’s what makes you who you are.– Will Borger From our review:Sonic Racing: CrossWorldsfires on all cylinders with a fantastic roster of 24 of my favorite hedgehogs, foxes, echidnas, and more. The lineup of 24 main tracks and 15 Crossworld tracks is the best designed selection we've ever gotten in any Sonic racing game, and there is a generationally great soundtrack to accompany them. The racing itself feels fast, fantastic, and intuitive, with lots of options to tweak your stats to your preferred playstyle. There are plenty of modes that entertained my friends and

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me for hours, and CrossWorlds will probably be a regular staple of hangouts as more courses and characters are added over the coming months – though I do wish it had the option for splitscreen when playing online. The titular Crossworld mechanic is an awesome idea that keeps each race fresh, and a great way to potentially turn the tables on opponents thanks to a lengthy list of customization options. While I'm still speeding my way to complete all the challenges, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is one that I know I'll enjoy playing plenty more of in the months to come, crossing the finish line as my new favorite kart racing game of all time.– Jada Griffin From our review:An expertly crafted and absorbing co-op adventure that pinballs from one genre extreme to another,Split Fictionis a rollercoaster of gameplay ideas and styles that are usually discarded as quickly as they’re introduced. This

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keeps it fabulously fresh for its full, 14-hour duration. With no idea sticking around long enough to get stale before making way for the next, it’s a victory of imagination and restraint in equal measure. Hazelight may have been rewriting the co-op rule book for a decade now, but Split Fiction is a new chapter that you (and a partner) cannot miss.– Luke Reilly From our review:Two Point Museumis a rewarding, deep, challenging, and highly entertaining tycoon game that demonstrates Two Point Studios has really hit its groove with this third iteration of the idea. The variety of different exhibits to unlock and level up, the thrill of discovering new expedition maps, and the array of clever and easy-to-use management tools make designing and running a museum joyful and consistently rewarding. I've sunk more than 40 hours into it already and I could easily see doubling that without running

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out of stuff to do. Call the curator. They're really going to want to take a look at this.– Leana Hafer From our review:Every inch ofWanderstoppushes the conventions you’d expect of similarly wholesome games. Its vibrant colors, quirky characters, and enchanting music are used to tell a compelling story that forces you to grapple with both its lead character's insecurities as well as your own. It’s a powerful adventure not just about burn out, but about how deeply painful it is to free ourselves from coping mechanisms that may have previously kept us secure. At the same time, Wanderstop’s simple but satisfying tea brewing experimentation serves as a safe and entertaining space to do that deep digging. There aren’t many games like Wanderstop out there currently, but for all our sakes, I hope there will be soon.– Shailyn Cotten From our review:Xenoblade Chronicles X was already one of the

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Wii U’s best games, and this Definitive Edition has escaped the destruction of its old home like the White Whale and settled down nicely on Switch. The quality-of-life improvements here are enough to justify another trip to Mira alone for veteran players, and it’s the perfect opportunity for newcomers to explore its beautiful landscapes for themselves. Its combat systems are deep and engaging, and the massive open world never got old to run, jump, or fly across. Its main story may not quite live up to the standards of the series, but a likable cast of characters and plenty of compelling side missions meanXenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Editionis still an adventure worth writing back home about.– George Yang Simply put: this is our highest recommendation. There’s no such thing as a truly perfect game, but those that earn a Masterpiece label from video games come as close as we could

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reasonably hope for. These are classics in the making that we hope and expect will influence game design for years to come, as other developers learn from their shining examples. From our review:The leader of the bunch is finally back to kick some tail inDonkey Kong Bananza, a brilliant successor to Super Mario Odyssey and a smashing return for a classic Nintendo character. It was a bold choice to build the Switch 2’s first 3D platformer around Donkey Kong instead of Mario, but it’s proven to be the best decision Nintendo could’ve made. DK’s satisfying, expressive movement and powerful, dynamic abilities create a truly groundbreaking adventure. The ambitious, destructible layers of this underground world are densely packed with satisfying collectibles, abundant charm, and clever challenges that never seem to run out of smart ideas, even long after the credits have rolled. Bananza is a

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constant crescendo across its 20-hour campaign and beyond, with puzzle-platforming concepts that only grow richer as DK and Pauline dive deeper toward the Planet Core. Every element comes together in complete harmony to create Nintendo’s first Switch 2 masterpiece.– Logan Plant From our review:How do you even sum up something as beautiful, special, memorable, and admirable asHades 2? There is no one out there doing what Supergiant does as well as it does, and this exceptional action roguelite is some of this team’s best work on nearly every level (which is an astonishingly high bar to clear). It's the type of video game that reminds me why I love video games so damn much. The art is breathtaking, the characters are captivating, the combat is fast, fun, endlessly varied, and tactical, and the music is spectacular. May moonlight guide us. All of us.– Leana Hafer Jordan covers games, shows,

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and movies as a freelance writer for video games.

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📢 Get a Free iPhone 17 Pro From T-Mobile With Trade-in

_Or get a free iPhone 17, no trade-in required, with select plans._

The new Apple iPhone 17 is now available and as usual, the best way to score a deal on these new phones is through your preferred service provider. T-Mobile, now the best mobile network in the US (according to Ookla® Speedtest®), is advertising a couple of promotions, including excellent trade-in values on older iPhone models. If you're porting your number over from another service, then you may not even need to trade in your existing phone. See the Apple deals T-Mobile has to offer this holiday season. Right now you can order a new Apple iPhone 17 Pro through T-Mobile and score up to $1,100 off in trade-in credit when you sign up for a new line on the Experience Beyond plan with AutoPay. Depending on which phone you trade in, you may be able to fully pay off a new iPhone 17 Pro 256GB phone (MSRP $1,099.99). Here are the trade-in values T-Mobile has currently listed

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on its site. Note that other phones may also be eligible, but if that's the case, their values haven't been advertised yet: The discount is applied in the form of 24 monthly bill credits. That means you will need to maintain your service for at least 2 years to get the maximum discount. The credits end if you terminate your contract early or you pay off your phone early. Note that there is also a $35 device connection charge and your account must remain in good standing. The Experience Beyond plan costs $100 per month for a single line with AutoPay (plus taxes and fees). The plan gives you unlimited talk, text, and 5G premium data. Other perks include Netflix (Standard with ads), Apple TV+, and Hulu subscriptions, unlimited mobile hotspot, full-flight texting and Wi-Fi with streaming where available, phone upgrade eligibility every year, and a 5 year price guarantee. International

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travelers can also benefit from unlimited text and 30GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico and unlimited text and 15GB of high-speed data in over 215 other countries. For those of you who don't plan on trading in an existing phone, you can still get an Apple iPhone 17 (MSRP $799.99) simply by switching over to T-Mobile from a competing service (AT&T, Verizon, Claro, UScellular, Xfinity, Spectrum, and Liberty PR) and signing up for a new line on an $85+/mo service with AutoPay. Similar to the iPhone 17 Pro trade-in promotion, the discount is paid out across 24 monthly bill credits. That means you will need to maintain your service for at least 2 years to get the maximum discount. A $35 device connection charge also applies. The Experience More plan costs $85 per month for a single line with AutoPay (plus taxes and fees). Like the Experience Beyond plan, you get unlimited talk, text,

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and 5G premium data, but not as many extra perks. Benefits include Netflix (Standard with ads) and Apple TV+ subscriptions. 60GB of mobile hotspot, full-flight texting and Wi-Fi with streaming where available, phone upgrade eligibility every two years, and a 5 year price guarantee. You also get unlimited text and 15GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico and unlimited text and 5GB of high-speed data in other countries. For more info, check the math at T-Mobile.com/Switch. Apple recently released three iPhone models: the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max. The Apple iPhone 17 starts at $799.99 and is available in both 256GB and 512GB capacities. Major upgrades include a slightly larger 6.3" OLED display with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, a more powerful A19 processor, higher resolution ultra-wide and selfie cameras, and longer battery life with faster charging. TheApple

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iPhone 17 Proand Pro Max start at $1,099.99 ($1,199.99 for the Pro Max) and are available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities. They carry over the same 6.3" and 6.9" screens of their predecessors but the screens are 50% brighter with up to 3,000nit rating. Other upgrades include an A19 Pro processor with more RAM, higher resolution ultra-wide and selfie-cameras, and longer battery life and faster charging. The iPhone 16 Plus has been replaced by the new iPhone 17 Air. It starts at $999.99 and is available in 256GB, 512G, and 1TB capacities. The iPhone 17 Air measures only 0.22" thin and weighs less than 6 ounces. It features a 6.5" 120Hz ProMotion display with up to 2,000nits of brightness and the new A19 Pro processor (although with fewer GPU cores than the iPhone 17 Pro model). The thin form factor limits this phone to a single 48MP ultra-wide rear camera, although you do also get

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the new 18MP Center Stage selfie cam. The video games Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage: Eric Song is the video games commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

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