Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora launched at the end of 2023, after gracing the cover of Game Informer, but developer Massive Entertainment has been hard at work making the game even better. That includes a recent update that added New Game Plus and the long-requested third-person mode to the game, alongside a new expansion called From The Ashes, a story expansion that ties into the events of Avatar: Fire and Ash. 

Basically, it's never been a better time to play Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, as evidenced by the Avatar subreddit, myriad TikToks highlighting its fun, and general online chatter. Despite all the new and returning excitement around the game, I can't ignore one glaring omission, and it (or rather, she) is named Varang. 

Varang, the new antagonistic Na'Vi played by Oona Chaplin, is not only a fantastic addition to director James Cameron's unique sci-fi/fantasy world but also the most compelling character in Avatar: Fire and Ash. And she's completely absent from the From The Ashes expansion. I can guess as to why Varang isn't in the expansion – a lot of it likely tied up in financials and legalities and licenses and whatnot – and it's totally understandable; that doesn't mean I can't be upset that my favorite part of Avatar: Fire and Ashes isn't in the new expansion centered around the story of the movie. 

I could wax on about why I like Varang, but doing so would spoil major plot points of Avatar: Fire and Ashes. However, one thing I can say without spoiling various parts of the movie is that Varang is a very great character to watch on screen, literally. It's the one aspect of Stephen Lang's Colonel Quaritch character I can sympathize with – I'm doing anything and everything Varang asks of me, without questioning any of it. 

There is a drug-induced hallucination segment of Avatar: Fire and Ashes that feels ripped straight out of a Far Cry game from Ubisoft, and on that merit alone, I'm shocked Varang didn't make it into the From The Ashes expansion. Anyway, this is a meandering article for me to basically admit that my TikTok For You page has been nothing but Varang edits and I'm very happy about it. I want more Varang in my life, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora seems like an obvious answer, which is why I'm so shocked she isn't in the game's latest expansion. 

For a more coherent and critical analysis of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, read Game Informer's review here. After that, read about the how the game's score is nominated for a Grammy. 

Are you also in love with Varang? Let us know in the comments below!

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora launched at the end of 2023, after gracing the cover of Game Informer, but developer Massive Entertainment has been hard at work making the game even better. That includes a recent update that added New Game Plus and the long-requested third-person mode to the game, alongside a new expansion called From The Ashes, a story expansion that ties into the events of Avatar: Fire and Ash. 

Basically, it's never been a better time to play Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, as evidenced by the Avatar subreddit, myriad TikToks highlighting its fun, and general online chatter. Despite all the new and returning excitement around the game, I can't ignore one glaring omission, and it (or rather, she) is named Varang. 

Varang, the new antagonistic Na'Vi played by Oona Chaplin, is not only a fantastic addition to director James Cameron's unique sci-fi/fantasy world but also the most compelling character in Avatar: Fire and Ash. And she's completely absent from the From The Ashes expansion. I can guess as to why Varang isn't in the expansion – a lot of it likely tied up in financials and legalities and licenses and whatnot – and it's totally understandable; that doesn't mean I can't be upset that my favorite part of Avatar: Fire and Ashes isn't in the new expansion centered around the story of the movie. 

I could wax on about why I like Varang, but doing so would spoil major plot points of Avatar: Fire and Ashes. However, one thing I can say without spoiling various parts of the movie is that Varang is a very great character to watch on screen, literally. It's the one aspect of Stephen Lang's Colonel Quaritch character I can sympathize with – I'm doing anything and everything Varang asks of me, without questioning any of it. 

There is a drug-induced hallucination segment of Avatar: Fire and Ashes that feels ripped straight out of a Far Cry game from Ubisoft, and on that merit alone, I'm shocked Varang didn't make it into the From The Ashes expansion. Anyway, this is a meandering article for me to basically admit that my TikTok For You page has been nothing but Varang edits and I'm very happy about it. I want more Varang in my life, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora seems like an obvious answer, which is why I'm so shocked she isn't in the game's latest expansion. 

For a more coherent and critical analysis of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, read Game Informer's review here. After that, read about the how the game's score is nominated for a Grammy. 

Are you also in love with Varang? Let us know in the comments below!

In any other year, I'd have spent hours of our end-of-year debates singing the praises of Monster Train 2, but unfortunately, it's been an astounding year for roguelikes as a whole. Both my first and second favorite games of the year, Hades 2 and Blue Prince, respectively, are probably also my first and second favorite roguelikes of all time. When I have to whittle down a list of hills to die on during our discussions, Monster Train 2 is just barely below the threshold. That said, it's still a fantastic game, and I wish more people (especially game critics) had spent time with it this year.

As the year comes to a close, we're highlighting some personal favorite games from our team that we feel you shouldn't miss. If you're still looking for the right game to carry you into 2026, and you've already hit up our Top 10 Best, we're hoping one of these recommendations will hit the mark.

Like the first game, Monster Train 2 is a funky fusion of tower defense, deckbuilding, and turn-based combat. Your main cards are units, which are placed on one of three levels of the train car you're tasked with defending. Each round, allied and enemy units take turns attacking each other, and if the enemies survive the fight, they advance to the next level. The objective is to keep them from the top of the car, where they can damage your Pyre Heart and end your run. Decks also have spells, which can help, hinder, or harm units on the field, equipment, which alters units, and room cards, which modify levels of the train car in major ways.

The thing that still stands out to me about Monster Train 2 is the sheer volume of variables. On the smallest scale, decks are shuffled, so each hand is fresh. Routes are randomized, so each stop in a run is slightly different than the last. But most significantly, each run uses one of up to ten factions, each of which can be used as a primary or secondary faction. If you don't count the alternate champions for each faction (which alter the game significantly), there are 180 starting combinations alone. Once you unlock all the factions, you can play this game for a very long time without repeating any combos.

Of course, a game with options is not automatically good, but a good game with this many options, one I feel I could play for months and months, is something special. Not every roguelike feels that way, and plenty lose me after a successful run or two, but Monster Train 2 is so big that I've fallen in love, and there are still easily dozens of starting combos I haven't even attempted, much less mastered.

On top of that, the game features one of my favorite roguelike side modes I've ever seen: dimensional challenges. It's a selection of cleverly crafted scenarios to play through, where the developers have arranged fun combinations of factions and modifiers to make for unique runs you're unlikely (or unable) to encounter through standard play. "Weapons Make the Warrior" reduces all cards' upgrade slots to 1, but makes equipment cards twice as powerful and cost less to play. "Twofer" doubles all money earned, status effects inflicted, and makes it so each time you add a card to your deck, you get a copy of it. If you're overwhelmed or frustrated by the game's random nature, it's a wonderful palette cleanser I hope more games in the genre continue to use.

Is Monster Train 2 the best roguelike of the year? No, but that doesn't mean it should be excluded from the conversation, and it certainly doesn't mean it's a bad game. It's one of my highest reviews of 2025, and despite my love of Hades 2 and Blue Prince, I keep coming back to Monster Train 2 as well. If you're interested in picking it up, it's on sale for the Steam winter sale until January 5 (and it runs quite well on Steam Deck).

We learned during a Nintendo Direct back in September that developer ConcernedApe was working on a Nintendo Switch 2 update for Stardew Valley. Yesterday, on Christmas, ConcernedApe surprise-dropped the update, and it's free to anyone who already owns the game on Switch. 

If you don't own Stardew Valley on Switch, you can purchase the Switch 2 edition for $14.99; if you do own it already, all you have to do is upgrade to the Switch 2 edition via a free "Upgrade Pack" on the Nintendo eShop. As for what to expect in this edition of the game, it features mouse controls, local split-screen co-op for up to 4 players, and online multiplayer for up to 8 players. Plus, with the Switch 2 Game Share feature, you only need one copy to play four-player co-op with friends. 

You can read more about the Switch 2 edition of Stardew Valley on the Nintendo eShop here. 

For more, read Game Informer's Stardew Valley review, and then check out Game Informer's list of the top 10 cozy games to play right now. 

Are you going to pick up the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Stardew Valley? Let us know in the comments below!

Goooooooooood morning! It's the day after Christmas for those who celebrate, and you're probably either back to work or chilling at home, enjoying the gifts you received this year. Or maybe you're still in a food-induced coma. Regardless, the holiday season is coming to a close, and the big man dressed in red is back home at the North Pole. 

This year, Christmas (which is always my favorite holiday of the year) was extra special – it was the first one with my almost-9-months-old daughter, and though she basically had zero idea what was going on, it still made for some memories I'll forever cherish. I didn't buy her any video game gifts this year – that'll come in due time – but my wife and I did get her some climbing blocks and a large hexagonal activity cube, with which my daughter completely ignores the abundance of fun interactive activities on it to... also climb it. My daughter is at the age where she's pulling herself up to stand and so anything and everything she can climb on, she loves, which is to say my wife and I crushed it this year. 

But in lieu of my not purchasing any video game-related gifts this Christmas, I want to know: what video game gifts did you give or receive this Christmas? It can be games, consoles, merch, ornaments – anything! I wanna know!

Drop a line in the comments below and share the splendors of your Christmas!