Reports from users and comments from hardware manufacturers suggest that AMD may have discontinued support for the Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU.
This would mean that several high-end PC gaming handhelds running Windows 11, like the ASUS ROG Ally, will no longer receive new drivers.
As a result, these handhelds could miss out on day-one optimizations for major game releases, which could lead to performance issues.
The handheld PC gaming market is full of options to choose from, be it the Steam Deck, MSI Claw, Lenovo Legion Go, and so on. If you’re thinking about picking one up for yourself, you may want to avoid any handhelds with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU. Troubling reports cast serious doubt on the longevity of these devices.
Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority?
According to Tom’s Hardware, reports from handheld users and hardware manufacturers alike suggest that after two and a half years, AMD may have discontinued support for the Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU. This affects several high-end handheld gaming PCs that run Windows 11, including the ASUS ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion GO, and GO S. If this is true, then these devices may no longer receive driver updates going forward.
Reportedly, a Korean Lenovo community support representative told one user that there were “no more plans” to issue new drivers for the original Legion Go. Multiple users on Reddit also report that their devices have not received new drivers for several months.
So what does this mean for gamers who own affected handhelds? You’ll still be able to play games on your device, but the experience will suffer. Since you’re not receiving new drivers, you’ll miss out on day-one optimizations for major game releases. As a result, the likelihood of crashes and poor performance will be greater.
If you’re concerned about the longevity of your handheld gaming PC, you could try swapping out Windows for a Linux-based OS, like SteamOS or Bazzite. These operating systems use open-source drivers that don’t depend on AMD’s support.
Thank you for being part of our community. Read our Comment Policy before posting.
It is nearly impossible to discuss the ‘cosy’ or ‘wholesome’ genre without thinking of Stardew Valley. Released in February 2016, the game quickly became the gold standard for the genre. Its accessible, charming slice-of-life style created a blueprint that countless titles have since tried to follow. Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, this indie darling has effectively reinvigorated an entire genre and changed how we think about video games at large.
A Solo Labour of Love and Consumer Respect
I don’t know what Eric Barone (better known as ‘ConcernedApe’) has in his morning cereal, but I need some. Consider the staggering scale of Stardew Valley. Every element—from the code and pixel art to the music and dialogue—was created solely by Barone while he worked as a theatre usher just to keep the lights on.
This dedication translates into a level of consumer respect that many modern “AAA” publishers have forgotten. In an era of pointless battle passes and predatory microtransactions, Barone has delivered massive new content—including multiplayer and new regions—entirely for free. Ultimately, Stardew offers a world defined by the player’s choices rather than the size of their wallet, earning the developer tremendous goodwill.
The Addictive “One More Go” Rhythm
Each 24-hour day in Stardew Valley lasts about 14 minutes of real time. This finite window to finish activities before the next cycle begins naturally fuels a “one more go” loop. You keep playing to catch an elusive fish, finish a farmhouse upgrade, or plant one last vegetable patch. There is always something more to achieve, yet it never feels like a forced chore. It’s a masterful modernisation of the formula established by the Harvest Moon series on the Super NES, which Stardew Valley naturally inherited and updated for a new generation.
Deep Social Bonds and Seasonal Secrets
The beating heart of the game is its deep social dynamics. With over 30 unique NPCs, the game reveals a cast with distinct personalities and needs. This is best shown through ‘Heart Events’—special cutscenes that reveal emotional struggles like depression or family trouble. The game invites you to share in these virtual lives in ways that can be truly detrimental to your real-world free time.
Beyond the village bustle and seasonal festivals, Stardew Valley hides a massive cache of secrets. You might find forest spirits that help restore the town, strange capsules from rare events, or a sewer filled with mysterious shadow people. There is never a shortage of mystery outside the core farming routine.
Infinite Growth Through a Dedicated Community
A major reason for the game’s popularity is the passionate modding community. Because the game is so open-ended, players have created thousands of mods. These allow you to extend the game indefinitely by adding new crops, villagers, and even entire new towns to explore. This community-driven content ensures that even veteran players always have something fresh to discover.
A Decade of Support: The Road to Update 1.7
While many games from 2016 have long been forgotten, ConcernedApe is still releasing free updates. The most exciting is the forthcoming 1.7 update, timed to match the 10th anniversary. This substantial update brings expanded social content, new marriage candidates, and more reactive personalities for children. While the pace of these updates is steady rather than fast—expected for a solo creator—each one is crafted with the same care and attention that has defined the game since day one.
John-Paul Jones
Scribbling about videogames since 2005, John-Paul Jones first stoked his love for the industry with the Atari 65XE at the age of four before proceeding onto the ZX Spectrum, Amiga and beyond. These days, he finds himself unreasonably excited about Sega’s Yakuza franchise, foreign cinema and generally trying to keep his trio of sausage dogs from burning his house down. Clearly, he is living his best life right now.
Overwatch narrative lead Miranda Moyer tells us more about The Reign of Talon: the first complete, year-long story arc for Overwatch.
The new narrative launches with immediate global conflict as Talon challenges Overwatch, and will introduce 10 new heroes, each woven directly into the unfolding story.
Get ready for an Overwatch story that keeps you at the edge of your seat, with non-stop action, evolving characters, and plot twists.
Today, Blizzard’s Overwatch Spotlight announced the start of an exciting new story‑driven era for Overwatch, highlighted by a year-long narrative arc called The Reign of Talon, all‑new UI/UX design, and much more. Be sure to check out the full video for all of the details. As an extra treat, we’re joined by Lead Narrative Designer Miranda Moyer to dive deeper into what this new story‑driven chapter means for Overwatch.
For the first time in Overwatch’s history, we’re telling a complete story.
I don’t say that lightly. Over the past decade, Overwatch’s narrative has been about possibility – introductions, hints, and setups. We’ve met heroes, discovered conflicts, and learned just enough to know there was something bigger happening beyond the edges of the screen. But this year, we’re doing something we’ve never done before: telling a story with a clear beginning, middle… and yes, an end.
That means things move. When something happens in the world of Overwatch now, it doesn’t sit untouched. Objectives are set, and met. You’ll see outcomes unfold across seasons. We’re finally seeing payoff for parts of the Overwatch world that you’ve maybe wondered about for years. This evolving story will be brought to life through a variety of mediums – including Hero Trailers, motion comics, and more – so you can experience each chapter in unique ways. All these pieces will be available on our dedicated narrative viewer, organized in chapters that guide you through the year’s epic narrative.
At the center of this year’s Overwatch narrative is a global conflict that’s impossible to ignore. Vendetta has seized control of Talon, overthrowing Doomfist and rejecting the clandestine nature in which he operated. Where Talon once skulked in the shadows, Vendetta believes in acting loudly, decisively, and without restraint. Her goal is explicit: she wants the world, and she believes Overwatch is the only force standing in her way. Because of that, we’re not winding up to conflict: we’re starting with it. Talon strikes early, attempting to remove Overwatch from the equation.
What’s fresh about the way we’re telling this story is how deeply our heroes are embedded in it. Every new character plays a direct role in the narrative. Those new faces are also a great vehicle to continue the stories of established ones. We’re touching so many parts of the world of Overwatch, and the more stories we develop, the more opportunities we’ll have to progress the journeys of heroes both new and longstanding.
One of the biggest highlights for Overwatch this year is the introduction of 10 new heroes. In Season 1, which begins February 10, you’ll meet five of them at once: each with their own narrative thread which helps set the tone for what’s to come.
Domina operates on the edges of Talon’s chaos, not publicly aligned with Vendetta (for fear of unsavory headlines), but more than willing to profit from the destruction she causes.
Emre is caught in a far more dangerous position, coerced into cooperation under the threat of catastrophic loss.
Mizuki finds himself torn between old obligations and the people who have become his family.
Anran enters the fight on Overwatch’s side, driven and connected to the story in deeply personal ways.
And then there’s Jetpack Cat, a long-running meme turned mobile support. She’s worth keeping an eye on, both for the future of her curious tale (tail?), as well as to make sure she isn’t knocking anything off counters.
This year’s narrative is about convergence—threads coming together, tensions peaking, and long-running questions colliding in ways that matter. Both established and new heroes will see movement in their stories, evolving amid this conflict. For Overwatch, this is the most ambitious narrative we’ve taken on. Each piece builds on the last, pushing characters and conflicts forward.
Join us on this new journey, and jump into Season 1 on February 10 and see it unfold for yourself.
Overwatch® 2
Blizzard Entertainment
☆☆☆☆☆ 2000
★★★★★
Xbox One X Enhanced
Xbox Game Pass
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based hero shooter game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 or 6v6 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s 40+ distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.
Overwatch 2 – Season 20: Vendetta
Give the Gift of Vengeance
Embrace the season in a flurry of festivity with a new DPS Hero, Winter Wonderland modes, holiday event, merry Mythics, and more!
Season 20 carves a cold path with Vendetta, the ruthless new melee DPS villain fueled by ambition and revenge. But it’s not all frosty edges—celebrate the holidays in the return of Winter Wonderland! Make some merry Mischief & Magic on a whimsical new wintery map, with a midway mode twist where the props fight back in Mischief & Magic Wonderland. Earn Winter Tokens through the Winter Wonderland event to unlock festive holiday skins for Tracer, Junkrat, and Torbjörn, then step into Stadium for a fresh map with new Heroes, updates, and prizes. Top it all off with Mythic Divine Desperado Cassidy and Orisa’s Mythic Capsule Cannon packing a cascade of cheer, plus more frosty skins as you jingle all the way through Battle Pass tiers. ‘Tis the season to deck your enemies’ halls, claim your vengeance, and unwrap your rewards!
Welcome to the new year, friends! Happy to be back with more games and more fun. Let’s get to it!
Available Today
Brews & Bastards(Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
Brews & Bastards is an intoxicating, twin-stick shooter, overflowing with action-packed combat, potent brews and outlandish bosses. Select from a group of inebriated heroes and descend, drink, and destroy your way through hordes of drunken demons in search of the stolen Brew Stone.
Rediscover the dark whimsical tale of Little Nightmares, now enhanced in stunning 4K and 60 FPS. Play as Six, a lone child trapped in The Maw, a massive vessel inhabited by monstrous, distorted versions of adults. Sneak, hide, and survive in a world where your childhood fears come to life.
Coming Soon
Atomfall(Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – January 7 Now with Game Pass Premium
A survival-action game inspired by real-life events, Atomfall is set five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster in Northern England. Explore the fictional quarantine zone, scavenge, craft, barter, fight and talk your way through a British countryside setting filled with bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and rogue government agencies.
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die blends dynamic real-time action, tactical combat, and risk-reward dice mechanics for thrilling second-to-second battles. Unravel an original stand-alone story as Queen Aleksandra, the once great ruler of Random on a mission for vengeance and redemption.
Rematch(Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 7 Now with Game Pass Premium
Step onto the pitch in Rematch, a third-person, team-based football game where every pass, volley, and tackle matters. Designed for 5v5 online play, Rematch puts you in full control of one athlete, with no offsides, no fouls, and no downtime. Pass smart, play with purpose, and win together.
Step into the armor of a relentless Space Marine and use a combination of lethal weaponry to crush overwhelming Ork forces. Immerse yourself in an intense and brutally violent world based on the richest science fantasy ever created. Enhanced for a new generation, this edition brings quality of life and graphical improvements.
Final Fantasy– (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – January 8 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
“Earth, fire, water, wind… The light that once shone within the four Crystals was lost. Become the Warriors of Light, restore power to the Crystals and save the world.” A remodeled 2D take on the first game in the world-renowned Final Fantasy series! Enjoy the timeless story told through charming retro graphics. All the magic of the original, with improved ease of play.
Star Wars Outlaws(Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 13 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars game, set between the events of “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Explore distinct locations across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as scoundrel Kay Vess, seeking freedom and the means to start a new life, along with her companion Nix. Fight, steal, and outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted. If you’re willing to take the risk, the galaxy is full of opportunity.
Take the magic of friendship to new heights in a mystery adventure for one or two ponies. Playing as Sunny, Hitch, Izzy, Pipp, Zipp, or Misty, use your special abilities to stop the unstable magic that’s sending Zephyr Heights out of control! And have tons of fun with hilarious minigames and countless pony customizations.
Resident Evil Village(Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 20 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
Resident Evil Village is the eighth main entry in the Resident Evil series. Set years after Resident Evil 7 biohazard, players follow Ethan Winters into a haunting European village, fighting for survival against brutal enemies as danger and mystery lurk around every corner.
MIO: Memories in Orbit (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 20 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Available on day one with Game Pass! A hand-crafted metroidvania set within a vast, decaying world reclaimed by nature and robots. Play as Mio, a nimble android exploring labyrinthine environments, battling rogue machines, and uncovering lost memories in a richly atmospheric adventure filled with secrets and danger.
Leaving January 15
The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Jump back in to tie up any loose ends, or save up to 20% off your purchase to keep the fun going!
Flintlock The Siege of Dawn (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Neon White (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
Road 96 (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
The Ascent (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
The Grinch Christmas Adventures (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
I hope your last year treated you well with lots of high scores, achievements unlocked, and GGs. We’ll be back soon with even more games so keep it tuned here, or with us on social for Xbox and Xbox Game Pass. Talk soon!
Note: Games with a ‘Handheld’ designation represent those that are optimized for handheld play.
Looking for the best games like Crimson Desert to keep you busy until the highly anticipated action RPG launches? You’re not alone. With its stunning visuals, fast-paced combat, and expansive open world, Crimson Desert has quickly become one of the most anticipated fantasy games in development.
Although we haven’t played Crimson Desert yet, its flashy combat, cinematic presentation, and crafting-heavy gameplay strongly resemble several popular games already available. If you’re searching for open-world fantasy RPGs like Crimson Desert, the titles below are your best options right now.
Black Desert is the MMORPG that started it all for Pearl Abyss. Featuring fast, combo-driven combat, gorgeous visuals, and a massive open world, it’s the closest experience to Crimson Desert currently available. While Black Desert is multiplayer-focused, many of its mechanics—combat, world design, and visual flair—clearly inspired Crimson Desert’s direction.
If you’re looking for a dark fantasy world filled with danger, Elden Ring is one of the best games like Crimson Desert in terms of exploration and challenge. Its open world is packed with deadly enemies, hidden secrets, and breathtaking environments. The combat builds on the Dark Souls formula, offering more flexibility and playstyle variety than any previous FromSoftware game.
At first glance, Sonic Frontiers may seem like an odd comparison, but it shares several key similarities with Crimson Desert. It places high-speed combat and boss battles into a large open-world setting, encouraging exploration and skill chaining. Add in its memorable soundtrack and cinematic moments, and it offers a surprisingly fitting alternative.
Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand is an open-world action RPG centred around magical weapons, massive monsters, and fast-paced traversal. Sand surfing lets you move across the world at high speed, while combat emphasises flashy abilities and fluid movement. With optional co-op play, it’s a strong choice for fans of cinematic fantasy combat.
While Enshrouded leans into survival crafting, it offers deep fantasy RPG elements that fans of the genre will appreciate. Playing as a Flameborn, you’ll explore a dangerous world consumed by a mysterious fog, battling bosses and uncovering secrets. It supports solo and cooperative play, making it one of the best fantasy survival games available.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a high-fantasy open-world RPG filled with dynamic combat, memorable monsters, and meaningful player choice. The world reacts to your decisions, ensuring that each playthrough feels unique. Its flexible combat system and emergent gameplay make it an excellent alternative.
While the wait for Crimson Desert may feel long, there’s no shortage of incredible open-world and fantasy RPGs to keep you busy in the meantime. Whether you’re drawn to fast-paced combat, vast worlds to explore, or deep progression systems, the games above each capture a different aspect of what makes Crimson Desert so exciting. Until its release, these titles offer plenty of epic adventures to dive into – and may even become favourites in their own right.
Jason Coles
Jason likes to focus on roguelikes and co-op games; in a dream world he’d make a living writing about Dark Souls. As well as being a writer he also does personal training and accounting and can occasionally be seen on other people’s streams. Being a big fan of fluffy things means he has two cats, both of whom refuse to let him sleep, but at least they are cute.
Some roguelikes let you fight with preset weapons, but a small sub-genre lets you invent your own, turning every run into a playground of spells and chaos. Noita is a great example, letting you play with the world’s physics by freely mixing and matching effects. Magicraft does something similar, but with a more traditional roguelike viewpoint, and becomes pure chaos once a run really gets going. Both demand sharp reactions, but Arcane Trigger approaches things a little differently.
Arcane Trigger has you playing as an arcane gunslinger, combining different bullet types and spells to unleash massive chains of firepower against a strange realm encroaching on your own. It begins simply, as most roguelikes do, but escalates very quickly, eventually letting you fire dragon eggs and even meteors. The key difference is that everything here is turn-based.
In fact, all you really need to do is click the fire button. You don’t need to move at all, just pull the trigger. That doesn’t mean there’s no depth, though. The order of your bullets matters, as do your upgrade choices. You’ll be aiming to collect three of a kind to fuse bullets together, lean into specific elemental synergies, or ban certain bullets entirely so you can focus on a single strength. When it comes to combat execution, however, it’s still just one button.
As a result, this is a roguelike where your reactions don’t need to be constantly tested. Instead, you’re free to take your time crafting and refining your attacks. As you progress, you’ll develop a stronger understanding of how different builds work, and you’ll also unlock other gunslingers to experiment with. It’s an incredibly easy game to play, but a difficult one to master, and it’s refreshing to experience a roguelike that embraces a slower pace for once.
Jason Coles
Jason likes to focus on roguelikes and co-op games; in a dream world he’d make a living writing about Dark Souls. As well as being a writer he also does personal training and accounting and can occasionally be seen on other people’s streams. Being a big fan of fluffy things means he has two cats, both of whom refuse to let him sleep, but at least they are cute.
What would you like to say to your players after releasing Ninja Gaiden 4 this year?
Our deepest thanks to everyone who has played the game, from the Master Ninjas who have been supporting the series for a long time, to those who are playing the series for the first time! Our days were spent developing the game so that players can enjoy the series’ signature intensity and a variety of actions to overcome difficult situations, so I’m happy if you experienced even a bit of the game! I think the flavor of the action really comes through the more you play it, so please continue to enjoy the different characteristics of the two Master Ninjas, Yakumo and Ryu! – Hirayama
To everyone who has supported Ninja Gaiden over the years, and to those how have started playing the series from this entry, thank you for playing the game. I enjoy watching your gameplay videos and comments on social media every day. In this game, we aimed for the revival of pure action that transcends time, and the three companies put everything into developing it. The action is really exciting and it’s a stoically made game, so those of you who have played the game please continue to thoroughly study it… and those who haven’t played it yet, I’ll be thrilled if you give this feel good slash action a try! – Nakao
How does it feel to have the game out there after development?
First of all, to be able to deliver a new numbered title in the series after 13 years is something that our entire team is truly happy about. We continuously debated and adjusted the game towards its launch, and once it was released it felt like it passed in an instant so I didn’t feel anything immediately, but as I saw social posts and videos being posted every day, little by little I began to feel joy. – Hirayama
For our development team, there are many members who, during the golden age of slash action games, were players or were involved as developers. So, while we had confidence in the game itself, I felt more nervous and excited than I have ever been before. And my current feeling is of relief, since the action has been well received. – Nakao
Are there any stories about how players have engaged with your game that you’d like to reflect on?
For a long time, we were in the dark while developing this game but seeing everyone playing and reacting to it at gaming events was a big driving force in development, and we made use of it in the final adjustments towards launch. Thank you again for your support! Post-launch, we are checking every single piece of feedback, so please look forward to future in-game updates! – Hirayama
Although I’ve mentioned it several times, we’ve been receiving a lot of feedback that, “the action definitely feels good!”, and it’s the part we’ve put our most effort into, so I am extremely happy that everyone is pleased with it. In this game we’ve taken the big challenge of mixing the best parts of Ninja Gaiden with the best parts of PlatinumGames’ action, so nothing makes me happier than hearing everyone enjoying the action. – Nakao
What is your studio most looking forward to in 2026?
We are really looking forward to everyone playing “The Two Masters,” the additional content currently in development! In addition to new weapons for Yakumo and Ryu, we are planning on an additional story and other replayable content. We’re working hard to deliver it as soon as we can, so please wait a little bit longer! – Hirayama
There are many games coming out next year, and as always, several action games will be released, so as an action game maker we are looking forward to seeing these games. For us, in 2026 we are planning to release additional content for Ninja Gaiden 4, “The Two Masters,” which we are currently hard at work developing. Not only is there content such as a new story, but above all the new weapons for each character will provide a new play experience unlike any of the previous weapons, so we hope you look forward to it! – Nakao
The definitive ninja hack & slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.
Return of the Legend
Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.
Epic Hack and Slash Combat, Evolved
NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA’s tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy. Use Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies, alongside legacy techniques like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow. The legendary Ryu Hayabusa also returns with a revamped yet familiar set of tools to master. With a customizable player experience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 will push action game veterans to their limits while allowing newcomers to enjoy a heart-pounding adventure full of twists and turns.
An Ancient Enemy Returns
An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo. Fighting his way through cybernetic ninja soldiers and otherworldly creatures, Yakumo must reconcile a destiny he shares with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa himself and free Tokyo from the ancient curse that brought the city to its knees.
Get ready, players — one of the biggest charity game bundles of the year has arrived. The 2K Collection: Blockbusters & Beyond Bundle brings together genre-defining storytelling, cinematic thrills, competitive sports, and tactical masterworks in a premium multi-tier collection built for fans of unforgettable experiences.
This time, your next great adventures also serve a greater purpose – every purchase helps support Covenant House, the youth homelessness charity providing shelter, essential services, mental health support, education, and long-term opportunity for young people in crisis.
By picking up this bundle, you’re not just powering up your library; you’re helping empower real young lives around the world with safety, care, and hope.
Three Tiers. Endless Adventures. Real Impact.
Whether you crave cinematic horror, extreme-style action, or tactical mastery, each tier of this bundle expands into deeper worlds, bigger adventures, and greater impact.
Campfire Tier
Two unforgettable indie-spirited experiences. One perfect beginning.
The Quarry: A cinematic horror powerhouse from Supermassive Games—where every choice has weight, consequence, and potential catastrophe. Guide (or doom) a star-studded cast through one unpredictable, pulse-pounding summer night.
Rollerdrome: A high-speed, high-style action-shooter that blends roller-sport elegance with gravity-defying gunplay. Fluid, brutal, and endlessly cool—this is competitive chaos refined into art.
Rapture Tier
Everything from the Campfire Tier, plus four massive blockbuster experiences.
LEGO 2K Drive: A fully customizable open-world racer built from pure imagination. Discover sprawling brick-built biomes, race wild vehicles, and create your dreams (and drifts) from the ground up.
BioShock: The Collection: One of the greatest narrative trilogies in gaming history. Return to an enhanced Rapture, soar through Columbia, and unravel philosophical sci-fi that redefined storytelling forever.
TopSpin 2K25 Deluxe Edition: Take the court as tennis returns to its long-awaited form. Featuring premium content, expanded modes, and a true-to-sport competitive revival.
Risk of Rain Returns: The roguelike classic reborn. Featuring updated visuals, remixed gameplay, and expanded systems—survive the alien frontier all over again, now built for modern mastery.
Invasion Tier
The ultimate 2K collection – includes everything from previous tiers, plus two additional iconic games.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands: Chaotic Great Edition: A wildly imaginative spin on looter-shooter chaos, powered by tabletop fantasy and Tiny Tina’s unstoppable storytelling. This premium edition adds even more mayhem, magic, cosmetics, and pure spell-casting spectacle.
XCOM Ultimate Collection: Every strategy fan’s rite of passage. Take command in the definitive tactical anthology that spans years of turn-based mastery, desperate missions, and global defence.
A Real-World Impact Critical to the Community
Every purchase of The 2K Collection: Blockbusters & Beyond Bundle supports Covenant House, a charity offering young people facing homelessness not only a place to sleep, but long-term care including mental health support, job training, education services, crisis intervention, and unconditional community.
Your bundle keys unlock living universes of science-fiction, magic-fuelled weaponry, competitive sports, and tactical alien defence – but your purchase unlocks something far more important.
Safe shelter and nutritious meals for youth experiencing homelessness
Mental and physical health care, counselling, and emergency crisis support
Education programs and workforce job training
Future opportunities to break cycles of instability
When you play these stories of survival, identity, rebellion, and rebuilding, you’re also supporting real youth living through versions of their own hardest campaigns… the kind that need Champions in their corner.
Instant Access. Lasting Legacy. Limited Time.
All game keys are delivered instantly upon purchase, meaning you can dive straight into your next blockbuster moment without delay. But don’t linger too long, this collection is only available for a limited time, making now the best moment to secure an extraordinary mix of blockbuster games while making a real-world impact.
Green Man Gaming
The Green Man Gaming Staff account represents the voices of the team behind Green Man Gaming, bringing you the latest in store news, industry insights, and curated gaming recommendations.
Want to command vast armies, manage resources, and outthink your opponents in real time? Real-time strategy (RTS) games have been around for decades, yet they remain one of the most satisfying and tactical genres in gaming.
While action-heavy games dominate the spotlight today, RTS titles still deliver something uniquely powerful — the thrill of outmanoeuvring an entire army with pure strategy.
From genre-defining classics to innovative modern entries, these are some of the best RTS games you can dive into right now.
Set on the deadly desert planet of Arrakis, Dune: Spice Wars blends traditional RTS combat with 4X-style strategy. You’ll manage resources, expand your territory, and manipulate rival factions while surviving sandstorms and monstrous sandworms.
It’s not just about brute force, as diplomacy and intrigue are as deadly as any army here. A must-play for Dune fans and anyone craving deep, layered strategy.
Why play it: Political warfare, survival, and large-scale strategy in one package.
Cataclismo stands out for its blend of RTS and creative base-building. Think LEGO meets tower defence. Instead of placing prefab structures, you design your fortress piece by piece to defend against monstrous hordes.
It’s a clever twist on the genre that rewards creativity and long-term planning, making every base feel uniquely yours.
Why play it: Beautifully tactile construction system and tense, satisfying defence gameplay.
Door Kickers 2 takes the RTS formula and shrinks it down to squad-level tactics. You command a team of elite operatives through dangerous missions, planning every move in real time — or pausing to issue precise commands.
It’s fast, focused, and perfect for players who enjoy methodical, small-scale combat over managing massive armies.
Why play it: Smart, tactical gameplay that’s part RTS, part puzzle, and endlessly replayable.
If city-building and moral dilemmas are more your speed, Frostpunk is a masterpiece. Set in an apocalyptic ice age, you lead one of humanity’s last surviving settlements. You’ll need to make brutal decisions — sacrifice some to save many — while balancing warmth, resources, and hope.
Why play it: Beautiful storytelling, emotional weight, and strategic depth make this one unforgettable.
Age of Empires IV is the ultimate modern take on a classic. Build empires, wage massive historical battles, and watch as your civilisation grows from humble beginnings to global dominance.
With refined mechanics and stunning visuals, this is Age of Empires at its best — both nostalgic and fresh.
Why play it: Timeless gameplay, deep strategy, and a thriving multiplayer scene.
This legendary collection brings back Command & Conquer and Red Alert, fully remastered with modern visuals and quality-of-life updates. It’s campy, chaotic, and incredibly fun, which is exactly what you’d expect from RTS royalty.
You’ll also get every expansion and mission ever released, making it one of the most complete packages in RTS history.
Why play it: Pure nostalgic energy and classic strategy at its finest.
The Company of Heroes franchise has always been a benchmark for tactical RTS design, and Company of Heroes 3 pushes it even further. Blending intense real-time battles with a new dynamic campaign map, it lets you wage World War II your way — combining grand strategy with boots-on-the-ground combat.
Cover mechanics, flanking, and terrain play huge roles here, rewarding smart tactical thinking over raw numbers.
Why play it: Realistic warfare, cinematic combat, and deep tactical nuance.
If you’re after something a little calmer — and colder — Northgard is a fantastic choice. You control a Viking clan carving out a new life on a mysterious frozen continent. You’ll manage food, shelter, and happiness while battling rivals and mythical beasts.
It blends RTS structure with survival and exploration, offering a pace that’s challenging but never overwhelming.
Why play it: A beautifully atmospheric blend of strategy, mythology, and resource management.
Steampunk meets zombie apocalypse in They Are Billions. You’ll build, fortify, and defend human colonies against endless swarms of infected. Every wall, turret, and troop matters — because one breach can spell total destruction.
It’s pure tension from start to finish, rewarding careful expansion and flawless defensive planning.
Why play it: One of the most thrilling and punishing RTS survival experiences ever made.
Set in an alternate 1920s where diesel-powered mechs stomp across battlefields, Iron Harvest delivers classic base-building and tactical combat with a unique visual twist. It’s heavily inspired by games like Company of Heroes but stands apart thanks to its mecha aesthetic and slower, more deliberate pace.
Why play it: Combines gritty dieselpunk visuals with thoughtful, strategic gameplay.
RTS games continue to evolve, from pixelated classics to modern hybrids that merge genres and ideas. Whether you prefer massive historical empires, intense tactical skirmishes, or creative survival challenges, there’s an RTS out there that will test both your mind and your mettle.
So, gather your troops, plan your moves, and get ready to outthink the world — one battle at a time.
Jason Coles
Jason likes to focus on roguelikes and co-op games; in a dream world he’d make a living writing about Dark Souls. As well as being a writer he also does personal training and accounting and can occasionally be seen on other people’s streams. Being a big fan of fluffy things means he has two cats, both of whom refuse to let him sleep, but at least they are cute.
Hooded Horse, the publisher behind this game, is on an incredible streak. They’ve been consistently delivering hit after hit, with titles like Against the Storm, Cataclismo, and He Is Coming proving nearly impossible to put down. Now Super Fantasy Kingdom joins the line-up, and it’s another one of those “just one more run” experiences that’s hard to quit.
Super Fantasy Kingdom is a roguelike city builder where you play as either the human or undead kingdom, trying to improve with each attempt. Every run lasts up to 28 days, and the better you perform, the more glory you earn, unlocking new areas, roads, and permanent upgrades. As you progress, you’ll gain access to stronger starting resources, new heroes, units, and other meaningful rewards that make each run feel fresh.
Defeating bosses grants stars that open up new features for both kingdoms, encouraging you to switch between them to explore what’s new. Progress can occasionally feel slow, but one strong run can completely reshape your strategy or open up an entirely new landscape to experiment with.
It’s also an excellent fit for the Steam Deck, where it’s even more dangerously addictive. Super Fantasy Kingdom is a joyful city builder that lets you set your own pace, rewarding careful planning—or punishing rash decisions. Either way, you’ll constantly find yourself saying, “just one more run,” and more often than not, it’s worth it.
Jason Coles
Jason likes to focus on roguelikes and co-op games; in a dream world he’d make a living writing about Dark Souls. As well as being a writer he also does personal training and accounting and can occasionally be seen on other people’s streams. Being a big fan of fluffy things means he has two cats, both of whom refuse to let him sleep, but at least they are cute.
