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No. 6 Houston faces No. 9 Alabama in a men’s college basketball game on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, (11/26/24) at Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada. How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via DirecTV Stream or via a subscription to Sling TV , which is 50% off the first month. Here’s what you need to know: What: Men’s college basketball Who: Houston vs. Alabama When: Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024 (11/26/2024) Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena Time: 8 p.m. ET TV: TBS Live Stream: DirecTV Stream AP Story: Eight of the nation’s premier basketball programs are descending on Las Vegas during the traditional Thanksgiving tournament week for a unique event where real money for their school’s name, image and likeness collectives is riding on the outcome. Welcome to a brave new world for college hoops. The three-day Players Era Festival, tipping off Tuesday and organized by RedBird IMI-backed EverWonder Studios, is reimagining old-school holiday tournaments. Every school participating will receive at least $1 million for their NIL collective , with bonuses of $500,000 to the champion, $250,000 to the runner-up, $150,000 for third place and $100,000 for finishing in fourth. “When we launched Players Era, we knew that it had the ability to drive a positive shift in the college basketball landscape, and we’re seeing that vision come to life as we get ready to tip off next week,” the event’s CEO, Seth Berger, said in a statement. “Everything we do is about delivering value to the players,” Berger continued, ”and our guiding principles continue to be paying the players fair market value for their NIL and creating captivating content for fans.” Fair market value comes to a hefty tab of $9 million in payouts to the participating schools. The lucrative proposition has resulted in a stacked field for the round-robin format at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. San Diego State faces No. 21 Creighton , Oregon plays No. 20 Texas A&M, sixth-ranked Houston faces No. 9 Alabama and Rutgers plays Notre Dame on Tuesday. Each team plays another opponent Wednesday. Those results along with point differentials — capped at 20 points per game — are used to set Saturday’s championship and consolation games. The financials aside, the Players Era Festival features some heavyweight matchups of national title contenders. The Bluejays are led by All-American candidate Ryan Kalkbrenner, the Cougars and Crimson Tide — whose opening game is must-see TV — are March darlings, while Texas A&M is among nine SEC programs ranked in this week’s AP Top 25 . “There’s a lot of silliness out there asking if we can win a national championship. How would I know?” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “Do you understand what a bad call does to a team, or a missed free throw or a sprained ankle? That’s why you don’t ever focus on the destination. You take pride and joy in going through the journey. However it ends up, it ends up, but don’t ever judge your season on how you finish. Judge it on how hard you tried and did you do the best you could.” The Maui Invitational is celebrating its ruby jubilee back in Lahaina , after the wildfires last year forced its relocation, and began Monday with another loaded field. Fourth-ranked Auburn faced No. 5 Iowa State in an opening round that also featured second-ranked UConn against Memphis, Colorado against Michigan State and Dayton against No. 12 North Carolina. The tournament continues with semifinals Tuesday and the championship game Wednesday. Top-ranked Kansas, led by All-American center Hunter Dickinson, takes on Cooper Flagg and No. 11 Duke on Tuesday night in the Vegas Showdown. Kansas already has beaten the Tar Heels in a thriller at Allen Fieldhouse and Michigan State in the Champions Classic, while the Blue Devils have lost to No. 8 Kentucky but are coming off a win over then-No. 17 Arizona. The ballroom is staged once against at Atlantis Paradise Island for one of the most unique holiday tournaments of Thanksgiving week. Third-ranked Gonzaga, No. 14 Indiana and No. 21 Arizona are the headliners in the eight-team Battle 4 Atlantis, which tips off Wednesday and continues with semifinals Thursday and the championship game Friday. No. 18 Florida should have a de facto home-court advantage when it joins Minnesota, Wichita State and Wake Forest for the ESPN Events Invitational at Walt Disney World Resort. The Rady Children’s Invitational also tips off Thursday in San Diego with No. 13 Purdue playing NC State and No. 23 Ole Miss facing BYU, while No. 19 Arkansas plays Illinois in the Thanksgiving Hoops Showcase at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. MORE SPORTS COVERAGE One day after Hurley’s meltdown, No. 2 UConn loses again Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat FREE LIVE STREAM (11/26/24): Watch NBA regular season game | Time, TV, Channel Giants’ Malik Nabers walks back (and doubles down on) fiery postgame comments after Bucs loss What channel is the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns game tonight (11/26/24)? FREE LIVE STREAM, Time, TV, Channel for NBA regular season Western Kentucky vs. Kentucky FREE LIVE STREAM (11/26/24): Watch college basketball online: Time, TV, Channel
The 25-year-old Sweden international took his goal tally for the season to 12 in the 3-0 Boxing Day win over Aston Villa at St James’ Park, 10 of them in his last 10 Premier League games, after a challenging start to the new campaign. Isak managed 25 goals in a black and white shirt last season to further justify the club record £63million the club paid to bring him to Tyneside from Real Sociedad during the summer of 2022, but as delighted as he is with his big-money signing, head coach Howe is confident there is even more to come. Murph 🔗 Alex Isak Different game. Same link up. 💪 pic.twitter.com/OMhZf7dtKZ — Newcastle United (@NUFC) December 27, 2024 Asked where the former AIK Solna frontman currently ranks in world football, he said: “My biggest thing with Alex is I am evaluating his game on a daily and weekly basis and I just want to try to push him for more. “Everyone else can say where he is in the pecking order of world football. His game is in a good place at the moment. “My job is to not sit back and appreciate that, my job is to try and find areas he can improve, push him towards that and never stop pushing him. He has all the ingredients in there. Football never stops evolving and changing and he has to evolve with it. “There is a lot more to come from him. Our job is to help him deliver that. “Of course the main responsibility is for Alex to keep his focus, ignore the plaudits and keep helping the team, not be selfish. It is about Newcastle and he plays his part.” It is no coincidence that Newcastle have prospered as Isak has rediscovered his best form, and they will head for Manchester United – where they have won only once in the top flight since 1972 – on Monday evening looking for a fifth successive win in all competitions. He has scored in each of the last five league games having grown into the mantle of the Magpies’ main man, a role performed with such distinction in the past by the likes of Jackie Milburn, Malcolm Macdonald and Alan Shearer, and he has done so with the minimum of fuss. Asked about his character, Howe said: “He is calm, cool – he is what you see on the pitch. “He doesn’t get overly emotional, which for a striker is a great quality because that coolness you see and calmness in front of goal is part of his personality, part of what he is. He seems to have an extra half a second when other players don’t. “With Alex, the beauty of his attitude is that he wants to improve. We give him information and he is responsive. He is not a closed shop. “He is in no way thinking he has arrived at a certain place. He knows he has to keep adding to his game. The challenge is great for him to keep scoring freely as he is now.”Got a PlayStation 5 but not sure what to play next? With the massive library available, it’s easy to get a little lost scrolling through titles. From award-winning adventures to intense action RPG experiences, there’s a world of incredible games to explore. You’ve got options across every genre, whether you’re into fast-paced shooters, immersive stories that will suck you in for hours, like Elden Ring, or epic multiplayer challenges. And let’s not forget those exclusive gems that make the PS5 shine, like Demon’s Souls or the latest Final Fantasy installment. Even if you’re a seasoned gamer, sometimes you just need a little inspiration to dive back into the console and discover new worlds. Whether you’re after complex game modes that push your skills or just want a taste of that next-gen power, these PS5 games will give you plenty of reasons to keep your controller close. So, if you’re ready for the ultimate adventure (or maybe just an excuse to escape for a while), we’ve got some suggestions that will keep the boredom at bay. Read more: The best SSDs for PS5 Quick Overview Astro Bot More options $60 at Amazon $65 at Walmart $60 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Neva $20 at PlayStation Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition $60 at Amazon Control Ultimate Edition $35 at Amazon Horizon Zero Dawn / Horizon Forbidden West More options $50 at Amazon $50 at Walmart $50 at Target Stray More options $20 at Walmart $30 at GameFly $30 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Dead Space More options $30 at Amazon $38 at Walmart $50 at HSN Gran Turismo 7 More options $45 at Amazon $70 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Humanity $30 at PlayStation Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess $50 at PlayStation God of War Ragnarök $59 at Amazon The Last of Us Part I and II $49 at Amazon Rollerdrome $30 at PlayStation Ghost of Tsushima $60 at Amazon Deathloop More options $10 at Amazon $70 at HSN $40 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Marvel's Spider-Man series More options $20 at Amazon $50 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) $20 at antonline Neon White More options $22 at Amazon $39 at GameFly OlliOlli World $30 at PlayStation Persona 5 Royal More options $35 at Amazon $40 at Macy's Resident Evil Village More options $18 at Amazon $18 at Walmart $20 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Returnal More options $30 at Amazon $49 at StockX $70 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Tchia $30 at PlayStation Tunic $30 at PlayStation See 18 more Best PS5 games for 2025 PlayStation Astro Bot Read our full Astro Bot review Astro Bot is a gorgeous 3D platformer with an adorable protagonist, dozens of planets to explore and a wide range of ultra-satisfying mechanics to perfect. It requires patience, awareness and a high degree of platforming skill, though resets are generous and failure doesn't cost anything other than your time. The main character, Astro, is endlessly charming as he flies among galaxies on a mission to rescue 300 of his friends, many of whom embody characters from Sony’s library and the wider gaming world — bots from Capcom, Konami and Sega franchises abound. Many of the planets that Astro lands on introduce new mechanics, such as spring-loaded boxing gloves that look like frog faces, an octopus that blows Astro up like a balloon, a mouse backpack that shrinks him at will, a penguin-propelled swimming booster, and a stopwatch that temporarily freezes time. Stages are designed around these unique mechanics and the diversity on display is impressive. Beyond pure cuteness, Astro Bot is beautiful. Its landscapes are sharp and alive with interactive details, and it seems like every pixel has been polished to perfection. But it’s the game’s physics that energize everything — when Astro lands on top of a giant inflatable daisy, the material buckles under his little feet, indenting with each step and sway, and making the entire scene look utterly squeezable. When rain hits Astro’s umbrella hat, the sound is mirrored perfectly on the DualSense, along with the feeling of raindrops on the grips. Astro Bot ’s sound effects, haptics, graphics and physics harmonize flawlessly, transforming every surface into a playground. It’s magical. Astro Bot feels purpose-built for video game fans. It’s a skill-driven celebration of everything that makes the format so memorable and joyful, and at the same time, it’s an excellent introduction to the language of games. With precise and responsive controls, lovable characters, and an exciting variety of mechanics and environments, Astro Bot is easily one of the best games that Sony has ever produced. — Jessica Conditt, Senior Reporter $60 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $65 at Walmart $60 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Devolver Digital Neva Read our full Neva review Neva is a perfect platformer. It stars Alba, a seasoned warrior with a cloud of silver hair, and her wolf companion, Neva, who grows from a cub into a fierce fighter as the seasons progress. Alba and Neva are deeply connected — there’s a button that makes Alba call out, “Neva,” in varying degrees of distress — and together they're on a mission to rid the world of an evil black decay. On top of a powerful narrative arc, Neva is a light and responsive platformer, with twitchy dodging and slashing mechanics, and its puzzles are satisfying to solve. The game comes from Nomada Studio, the indie team behind Gris , and it’s a testament to their sense of artistry, mechanical fidelity and emotional storytelling. Neva is infused with magical realism, blending the familiar with the impossible in a format that looks like a living children’s book. Otherworldly terror creeps around the edges of each landscape and the game’s animations are anime-smooth. Neva looks incredible and it plays just as beautifully — a rare and powerful combination. Just like Alba and Neva. — J.C. $20 at PlayStation Epic Games Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition Alan Wake 2 is part gritty cop drama, part paranormal thriller and part Nordic rock opera — but mostly, it’s just a fantastic game . It’s a third-person survival horror experience starring two people whose worlds are colliding: FBI special agent Saga Anderson and the famous writer Alan Wake, who’s been lost in purgatory for 13 years. Players swap between Saga and Alan as they investigate a string of ritualistic murders tied to Alan’s past, fighting off dark specters and flitting among twisted realities. Saga’s Mind Place and Alan’s Writer’s Room provide space for players to put together clues and unlock new bits of the story, while a flashlight and a pistol round out the action sequences. Alan Wake 2 tells an introspective tale of murder, monsters and the Old Gods, and it contains all of the moody psychological flair that Remedy Entertainment is known for. The original Alan Wake is also worth booting up, but Alan Wake 2 is fully accessible to new players and it’s fine to dive straight in. — J.C $60 at Amazon 505 Games Control Ultimate Edition Developer Remedy Entertainment might be best-known for the Alan Wake series, but 2019’s Control exemplifies the company’s mysterious aesthetic and world-building that’ll turn your brain upside down. In it, you’ll explore the Federal Bureau of Control and its Manhattan headquarters, The Oldest House. The FBC is all about investigating paranormal activity, and The Oldest House is appropriately paranormal itself. Protagonist Jesse Faden starts off trying to find some information about her missing brother and is quickly swept up trying to keep all hell from breaking loose. The story is not easy to sum up, and even as you play it’ll get pretty baffling (but in a fun way). It’s augmented by some memorable gameplay mechanics, though, as Faden quickly gets her hands on a variety of telekinetic powers and a shape-shifting service weapon that make blasting through the various ghoulish creeps a delightful experience. Between her many powers and the different ways you can upgrade weapons and your powers throughout the game, everyone’s going to come across a different play style that works for them. And while the brutalist design of The Oldest House could get repetitive, Remedy throws enough variation in the different areas you explore to keep things fresh and interesting. While Control was originally released for prior-generation consoles, Remedy has since released an “Ultimate Edition” with all the game’s DLC and extras that runs specifically on the PS5. — Nathan Ingraham, Deputy Editor $35 at Amazon PlayStation Horizon Zero Dawn / Horizon Forbidden West I’m a sucker for Sony’s narrative-driven, single-player adventure games — and for my money, 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn and its apocalyptic sci-fi story might be my favorite in all of gaming. You play as Aloy, a hunter in a mysterious world that somehow feels both pre- and post-technology. Much of the world is inhabited by nomadic clans with little obvious technology to speak of, but the world is also populated by massive machines modeled after different birds and beasts. The story has two main narrative thrusts that intersect in fascinating ways — Aloy tries to battle a threat to the world as she knows it, but the only way to do so is to find out what happened to the world hundreds of years prior. A few reveals that happen throughout the adventure are some of the most chilling dystopian storytelling I can remember. But Horizon Zero Dawn, which was just remastered for the PS5, and its 2022 sequel Horizon Forbidden West aren’t just great stories. They are masterful adventure games that feature one of the most exquisitely-rendered open worlds I have ever played. Whether it be sun-baked deserts and mountains, snow-capped peaks or lush jungles, the world is gorgeous and incredibly detailed (I’d kill for a Zelda game that looks this good). As with most games like this, there’s a main quest and tons of activities you can do to find out more about the world and improve your skills. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, some of those side adventures get a little repetitive. But at their best, both games combine masterful storytelling alongside an extremely intricate combat system that you use against a host of mechanical enemies, each with their own weak points you’ll need to learn and exploit. A button-masher this is not — it’s a monster-hunter of the best kind, and you can spend hours tackling progressively more giant threats and figuring out strategies to take down massive mechanical beasts. While it’s hard to top the surprises and dramatic reveals found in Zero Dawn , Forbidden West is still a successful sequel , improving the first game’s already-stunning visuals, giving you an even larger world to explore and upping the stakes of the story throughout. The scope of the two games is mighty and massive, as are the enemies you encounter throughout — and with any luck, it’s all leading to some sort of epic finale in an as-yet-unannounced/ but highly likely third entry in the series. But, it’s not just about the epic — there are small touches throughout the games that manage to make the story more intimate. It’s not an easy needle to thread, but developer Guerilla Games skillfully pulls it off. Horizon Zero Dawn was just remastered , and it’s a $10 upgrade for anyone who owns the original PS4 version. If you plan on playing this game, either for the first time or if you’re jumping back in, get that remaster. The game’s world is even more beautiful than before, player animations have been greatly improved, and it runs smoothly at 60FPS. There’s detailed haptic feedback and adaptive trigger pressure on the Dualsense controller, and the PS5 Pro will unlock even more visual splendor. It’s the definitive way to play this classic, and it’s worth dropping $10 to upgrade your older copy. — N.I. $50 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $50 at Walmart $50 at Target iam8bit Stray Read our full Stray review If you love cats, you’ve got to play Stray . If you don’t, Stray might change your mind. It’s a short, fairly simple game that excels at atmospheric detail. You control a little stray cat who gets separated from his crew and tossed into a creepy, retro-future city. The environment is exquisitely rendered, the music sets the mood perfectly and, most importantly, your cat is adorable. They’re also perfectly animated, with spot-on classic cat behaviors like scratching rugs, flopping over to play, or... riding in a bucket through a dystopian underground wasteland. There’s even a dedicated “meow” button for when you just need to let it out, a tool you can use to occasionally hilarious effect once you start interacting with the robot citizens of the underworld you explore. In some ways, Stray is a classic third-person adventure game, though the focus is on puzzle and exploration far more than combat. But switching the protagonist from a person to a cat does wonders for the whole vibe of the game, as well as the ways you can explore — as a kitty, there’s very little in the way of vertical boundaries. But, you know, you can’t talk. That’s where your mysterious virtual companion B-12 comes in. B-12 is trying to recover its memories, and the bonding of a cat and a bodiless intelligence is one of the more unusual and unexpectedly moving pairings in recent game history. As well as puzzle-solving, ledge-leaping and blob-dodging, Stray introduces a world of lighthearted dystopia, where robots don’t hate the humans that came before them. Instead, they attempt to cultivate plants that can survive in the dark, just because people would have liked that. Compared with most dystopian cyberpunk games, Stray is downright joyful and one of the best PlayStation 5 games you can get. — N.I. $20 at Walmart Explore More Buying Options $30 at GameFly $30 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Electronic Arts Dead Space Read our full Dead Space review The Dead Space remake feels like a warm, juicy hug from a murderous necromorph, and we mean that in the best way possible. The latest version of Dead Space spit-shines the mechanics that made the original game so magically horrific back in 2008, and it doesn’t add any unnecessary, modern bloat. The remake features full voice acting, new puzzles and expanded storylines, and it introduces a zero-gravity ability that allows the protagonist, Isaac Clarke, to fly through sections of the game in an ultra-satisfying way. None of these additions outshine the game’s core loop: stasis, shoot, stomp . Isaac gains the ability to temporarily freeze enemies and he picks up a variety of weapons, but he never feels overpowered; he’s always in danger. Mutilated corpse monsters appear suddenly in the cramped corridors of the space station, charging at Isaac from the shadows, limbs akimbo and begging to be shot off. The first Dead Space popularized the idea that headshots don’t matter and the remake stays true to this ethos — yet its combat rhythm still feels fresh. $30 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $38 at Walmart $50 at HSN PlayStation Gran Turismo 7 If you enjoy sim-style racing games, Gran Turismo 7 is the PS5’s only real choice. The main tenets that’ve made Gran Turismo a gaming staple are still here: a handling and physics model that demands precision but isn’t so realistic that you need a wheel or intense skill to play; the intensity of learning how a specific car meshes with a specific track; truly stunning visuals; that odd mix of rock, jazz and orchestral music in the soundtrack. Most of all, there remains a deep love of the automobile, from sexy speed demons to unwieldy boxes from years ago. More than this, Gran Turismo 7 is romantic about cars, not just for how they look, but how they represent years of collective labor and passion. There’s a singular style and voice here that just doesn’t exist in most sports games. There was lots of anger around Gran Turismo 7’s microtransactions, amount of content and event payouts around launch — just look at that Metacritic user score — and the fact that it’s effectively always-online is still a major detraction. But if you’re starting today, you’ll have hundreds of hours of things to do, and you shouldn’t feel the need to grind for credits until far down the road. And that’s assuming you aren’t interested in racing against other players online, which is where the game should be most lively for years to come. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter $45 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $70 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Sony Humanity Fans of head-scratching logic puzzle games will be hard pressed to find many better than Humanity . This peculiar game sees you playing as an ethereal Shina Ibu. Your mission is to bark directional commands at waves of humans to direct them toward a goal. If you can get giant gold figures to accompany these gangs, so much the better. Developer tha LTD ramps up the difficulty at a fairly gradual clip, introducing new ideas, commands and obstacles slowly enough so as not to overwhelm you but fast enough so that nothing ever gets stale — just wait until you see the strange boss battles and the lightsaber wars. Humanity has more to offer than brain-bending puzzles though, as there's a surprisingly deep story that embraces optimism and the benefits of working as a collective. — Kris Holt, Contributing Reporter $30 at PlayStation Capcom Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of the most beautiful games of this generation, and we’re not just saying that because we have a thing for gross demons. Gameplay is a blend of tower defense and hack-and-slash action, and each stage features a variety of eerily captivating evil creatures to dispatch. In Kunitsu-Gami , a disgusting defilement has destroyed the lands of Mt. Kafuku and cocooned its villagers in black ooze. Players are Soh, the protector of the maiden Yoshiro, and together they’re on a mission to cleanse the mountain with Yoshiro’s dancing ritual. During the day, Soh clears a path for Yoshiro, and at night, players defend her from hordes of murderous monsters. Soh also rescues villagers and then deploys them for battle, assigning roles like healer, marksman, ninja and cannoneer, and strategically placing them around the map. Soh’s swordplay style is rhythmic and responsive, and each boss demon requires a unique tactic to cleanly take it down. Between fights, players mend the cleansed settlements and upgrade Soh’s abilities in tranquil scenes of post-defilement life. There’s a soothing cadence of tension and peace built into Kunitsu-Gami , and the game provides ample opportunity for players to sit back and admire the beauty before them — whether it’s a lovely piece of mochi or a giant sludge-filled beast. — J.C. $50 at PlayStation PlayStation God of War Ragnarök In the span of just about five years, the three original God of War games redefined the modern hack-and-slash by combining cutting-edge graphics (for the time, anyway), brutal violence, clever level design and a surprising amount of story. But the series stalled out after 2010’s God of War III , at least until Sony’s Santa Monica Studio reinvented Kratos in spectacular fashion in the 2018 God of War . Rather than a one-note rage machine, Kratos had mellowed after leaving ancient Greece in ruins. Now a father inhabiting the world of Norse mythology, he and his son Atreus are inevitably forced into an open-world quest, with the requisite story path and side adventures to take on. But this is a series where the story surprisingly takes center stage, with the cold but caring father and headstrong son dynamic giving the series more humanity than it ever had. Fortunately, Santa Monica Studio didn’t skimp on the combat either. Kratos mainly wields a new weapon, the Leviathan Axe, an incredibly devastating tool that you can use for ranged attacks and magically recall it to hack away at up-close enemies. Throwing and retrieving that axe is incredibly satisfying, and as Kratos’ abilities expand throughout the game you truly do feel like a god. As with many sequels, God of War Ragnarok was less of a reinvention and more of a good thing . There’s certainly enough new here to make it an easy recommendation — Kratos and Atreus remain the core of the game, but your son is a lot more capable this time, giving an even larger variety of ways to attack the hordes of enemies that come your way. There are more realms to visit, more side quests than ever and an endgame sequence that’s up there with the biggest battles any God of War game has ever put to screen. The backdrop for all this is some of the most beautifully detailed and varied environments you can find, from the swampy confines of Vanaheim and the fiery to the frozen tundra of Midgard. The God of War series is big-budget, big-studio gaming at its best. — N.I. $59 at Amazon Playstation The Last of Us Part I and II Read our full The Last of Us review The Last of Us and its sequel were originally made for the PS3 and PS4, respectively. But both games are now available natively for the PS5 and are the best way to experience the brutal and engrossing story and gameplay the series is known for. The Last of Us Part I is a complete visual remake for the PS5 of the 2013 original, with massively improved character models and environments, along with native 4K visuals or frame rates up to 120 fps. The Last of Us Part II originally launched for the PS4 in 2020, and developer Naughty Dog released a remastered version earlier this year to bring the game up to par with Part I . That means native 4K, high frame rates in Performance mode, improved use of the DualSense controller’s haptic features and adaptive triggers and a host of graphics improvements. There’s also a new roguelike mode called No Return that puts the focus on the game’s excellent combat system. Both games feature a sprawling post-pandemic adventure story, following survivors Joel and Ellie through a gorgeously rendered but terrifying world where zombie-like Infected and regular humans alike are out for your blood. You’ll never really feel like you have enough supplies to survive, so you need to make every shot count – or figure out how to sneak around enemies or craft tools that’ll get you out of tight spots. There’s an ever-present sense of danger in these games, while the stories focus on human connection in all its messy glory; the tone is often extremely grim, but there are moments of levity, humor and hope sprinkled throughout the ruined world. The Last of Us Part I and Part II both put you through an intense, violent and emotional experience, but they remain a journey worth taking. — N.I. $49 at Amazon Sony Rollerdrome Rollerdrome is lush. It’s incredibly stylish, taking cues from 1970s Hollywood sci-fi but with an attractive cel-shaded filter over every scene. Even better than its stunning visuals, Rollerdrome has smooth, precise mechanics that allow players to fall into a flow in every level. The game is all about gliding through the environments on rollerblades, picking up speed and doing tricks while dodging and shooting enemies, managing weapons and controlling time — and it all comes together in a thrilling dystopian bloodsport. It’s a joy to dodge, dodge, dodge and then leap into the air, slow down time and take out the people shooting at you, refilling ammo and collecting health in the process. Meanwhile, an unsettling story of corporate greed unfolds beneath the rollerblading bloodshed, keeping the stakes high. Rollerdrome was a sleeper hit of 2022, so if you’ve been napping on this one, now’s the time to wake up and play. — J.C. $30 at PlayStation Sony Ghost of Tsushima Ghost of Tsushima is a near-perfect distillation of what Sony's in-house game studios do better than just about anyone these days: blockbuster action aligned with an absorbing story. Here, you play as Jin Sakai, a samurai who helps lead an attempt to repel a Mongol fleet that infiltrates Tsushima. But the battle ends in favor of the invaders, who conquer the island. Jin realizes that he can't defeat the Mongols by sticking to traditional samurai methods, so he embraces stealthier, sneakier tactics and relies on allies for help. It's a compelling morality tale of honor and revenge that works in concert with terrific gameplay. You have a lot of flexibility over how to carry out attacks on enemy camps and how to complete missions. Sucker Punch's game is set in a beautiful open world that balances the brutality with moments of serenity, such as when you stop to compose a haiku or follow an adorable fox to a collectible item. Meanwhile, those who don't have a PS5 (or PS4) no longer have to miss out: Sony has released an excellent PC port of Ghost of Tsushima that runs pretty smoothly on the Steam Deck. — K.H. $60 at Amazon Bethesda Deathloop Deathloop , from the studio that brought you the Dishonored series, is easy enough to explain : You’re trapped in a day that repeats itself. If you die, you go back to the morning to repeat the day again. If you last until the end of the day, you still repeat it again. Colt must “break the loop” by efficiently murdering seven main characters, who inconveniently are never in the same place at the same time. It’s also stylish, accessible and fun. While you try to escape from this time anomaly, you’ll also be hunted down by Julianna, another island resident who, like you, is able to remember everything that happens in each loop. She’ll also lock you out of escaping an area, and generally interfere with your plans to ditch the time loop. As you play through the areas again (and again), you’ll equip yourself with slabs that add supernatural powers and pick up more potent weapons and trinkets. You’re able to customize your playstyle to survive Julianna and nail that assassination. Each time period and area rewards repeated exploration, with secret guns, hidden conversations with NPCs and lots of lore to discover for yourself. $10 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $70 at HSN $40 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Playstation Marvel's Spider-Man series Read our full Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales review Yes, Marvel’s Spider-Man (and the two games that follow it, Miles Morales and Spider-Man 2 ) are yet another variation on the open-world, story-driven adventure story. But if you like that sort of game, all three games are a must-play. Fitting with the Spider-Man ethos, they’re a lot more lighthearted than, say, God of War or The Last of Us. But Insomniac Games has put together an original series of Spider-Man stories that feel right at home in the classic superhero’s universe, and you’ll end up facing long odds against some terrifying and powerful foes to save NYC. For example, the first Spider-Man game from 2018 pits you against not one, not two, but six of Peter Parker’s most iconic enemies. Insomniac does a great job building the stakes, with the last third of the game really kicking things into desperate overdrive. 2023’s Spider-Man 2 doesn’t have the same massive cast, but it makes up with that by telling the story of Venom, perhaps one of the most famous bad guys around. And the game smartly gives equal time to the story of Miles Morales — a world in which NYC has two Spider-Men works on both narrative and gameplay levels. Parker and Morales are largely similar in their moves, but there’s enough difference in their special powers and the way you can customize their abilities to make switching between the two characters a lot of fun. Perhaps most importantly, though, web-swinging around NYC is one of the most delightful game mechanics I’ve ever come across. Right from the beginning, swinging through the intricately-rendered version of Manhattan, floating between buildings, running up walls and finding citizens in need of help is a pure delight. And naturally, the Spider-Men get faster, more agile and more adept as the games progress, making traversal a surprisingly fun part of the game — it’s the kind of game where I don’t really care to use the fast travel features very much. While you can jump into any game in this series without fully knowing what came before, we definitely recommend giving the whole series a shot. — N.I. $20 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $50 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) $20 at antonline Skybound Games Neon White Like all good games, Neon White is simple to learn and difficult to master. The basic ask is that you vanquish every demon from a level and head to a finish marker. It plays like a fast-paced first-person shooter, with the complexity coming from your weapons, which are cards that can either fire or be spent for a special movement or attack ability. The real challenge comes from the scoring system, which grades you based on the time you took to complete a level. There are just shy of 100 levels, all begging to be learned, repeated and perfected. Despite its first-person shooter visuals, it plays out more like a cross between Trackmania and a platformer. You'll quickly turn that bronze medal into a gold, and then an "ace" that is supposedly your ultimate target. Then you'll see the online leaderboards and realize you've left some seconds on the table. Then you'll randomly achieve the secret red medal on a level, say "oh no" and realize that there's a hidden tier of perfection for you to attain. — Aaron Souppouris, Executive Editor $22 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $39 at GameFly Private Division OlliOlli World Every so often, you come across a game where the core mechanic is just so satisfying it’s impossible to stop playing. OlliOlli World is one of those games . The goal is simple: become a skateboarding god. You do that by progressing through five worlds, each of which has a dozen or more individual stages, each with a wildly unique course to traverse. Unlike the earlier games in the OlliOlli series, World is a bit more forgiving at first. It’s much easier to pick up and pull off wild moves and combos than ever before. But it’s still fiendishly difficult – if you want to beat every challenge, you’ll need lightning-fast reflexes and the mental stamina to change up your tricks and moves constantly. But once you get fluent in the game’s mechanics, you can enter a flow state where you’re just making moves purely on instinct. The level and character design in OlliOlli World only enhances this effect. Like the earlier games, each of the five biomes has its own unique characteristics, but in all cases the levels are extremely colorful and interactive, with tons of eye candy and bizarre creatures hanging out in the background. And you can customize your character with clothing and items you pick up for completing challenges, letting you express your personal style in a variety of ways. There are also competitive aspects, like the daily challenge where you compete against nine other skaters to post the top score in your group. And every time you visit a level, you’ll see a “rival” score to try and beat. There’s always something pushing you to skate even better in OlliOlli World . — N.I. $30 at PlayStation SEGA Persona 5 Royal The Persona series can seem daunting to new players, but we’re here to tell you that Persona 5 Royal is the perfect place to start. Persona 5 is easily the most accessible series installment, and Persona 5 Royal is the definitive version of this game, adding a full school term, extra characters and improved combat mechanics to an already-stacked experience. There’s a lot to do in Persona 5 Royal . As a moody teen in Tokyo, players attend school, go to work, build friendships, make enemies and date everyone, but the bulk of the game’s combat plays out in the metaverse. Here, players and their friends battle distorted versions of people in their real world using powerful personas — warrior manifestations of personality traits — and a stylish turn-based system. Everything about the game is stylish, in fact. The Persona 5 Royal hole goes much deeper than just this description, of course. If you’re even a little bit curious about this lauded franchise, it’s absolutely worth your time to jump in, and Persona 5 Royal makes for a perfect diving board. — J.C. $35 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $40 at Macy's Capcom Resident Evil Village Resident Evil Village is delightful. It’s a gothic fairy tale masquerading as a survival-horror game, and while this represents a fresh vibe for the franchise, it’s not an unwelcome evolution. The characters and enemies in Village are full of life — even when they’re decidedly undead — and Capcom has put a delicious twist on the idea of vampires, werewolves, sea creatures, giants and creepy dolls. The game retains its horror, puzzle and action roots, and it has Umbrella Corporation’s fingerprints all over it. On PS5, the game is gorgeous and it plays nicely with the DualSense controller, adding haptic feedback to weapons and terrifying situations alike. It simply feels like developers had fun with this one, and so will you. And yep, this is the one with Lady Dimitrescu . It’s also the only Resident Evil game that’s available on PlayStation VR2, and it’s one of the best — and most horrific — experiences that system has to offer. Go on, strap in. — J.C. $18 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $18 at Walmart $20 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Playstation Returnal Read our full Returnal review Returnal is a third-person action game, a roguelike, a bullet-hell shooter and an extreme challenge, but perhaps not in that order. The setup is basically that you’re stuck in a death loop, but you’re aware of it and must learn the patterns and weaknesses of enemies — while mastering your own — in order to progress. As Devindra Hardwar explains , it leans heavily on the dark sci-fi of Alien, Edge of Tomorrow and Event Horizon, but makes something new and unique in the process. It’s made by Housemarque — the studio behind Resogun , Nex Machina and Super Stardust HD — and as you’d expect from a team that’s spent decades making arcade shooters, Returnal ’s movement, gunplay and enemy attack patterns are incredibly well tuned. $30 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $49 at StockX $70 at Books-A-Million (BAM!) Sony Tchia Tchia is an excellent introduction to the 3D open-world format for younger games. While there are a few fairly harrowing plot points, the game has limited combat and many secrets to discover across a stunning New Caledonia-inspired archipelago.You play as the titular character, a young girl who goes in search of her kidnapped father. Tchia has a powerful soul-jumping ability at her disposal. This lets her take control of various animals and inanimate objects. You can take to the skies as a bird or rampage through waters as a shark. This is a real charmer, and it's one that the whole family can enjoy together. — K.H. $30 at PlayStation Tunic Tunic You know how, at the beginning of most 2D platformers, the character can only walk to the right? There may be a little bit of the level to the character’s left, but it generally just ends after a few steps, forcing the player to turn around and travel on the correct path, to the right. I know this to be a truth about game design, but I still start every one of these titles by going left first, just in case. Tunic was created for players like me. It’s an isometric adventure built around the moves that players rarely make, and it rewards curiosity at every turn. You play as an anthropomorphic fox in a cartoonish 3D world, and you start with zero indication of what to do or how to progress. Just play , is the unspoken prompt. From there, you collect the pages of a game guide composed in an unknown language, and the experience unfurls beautifully and in truly surprising ways. Tunic ’s map is stacked with secrets and combat hits Soulsborne levels of difficulty, but mostly, it’s about the joy of discovery. This is a gaming experience unlike any other. Just play. — J.C. $30 at PlayStation Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games , the best PS5 games , the best Xbox games , the best PC games and the best free games you can play today.
Adobe Stock The start of 2025 is the perfect time to breathe life into your home gym. Whether you’re just beginning your fitness journey or are a seasoned pro, a refresh can bring a wave of motivation that keeps your goals exciting. A well-designed workout space can turn exercise from a chore into a rewarding daily ritual. With a few key upgrades, you can create a home gym that’s tailored to your style, needs and fitness ambitions. Here are 11 essentials to upgrade your setup and kick off some focused, fulfilling workouts. 1. Kizik Slip On Shoes: Step Into the Zone Photo provided by Kizik When you’re gearing up for exercise, the last thing you want to do is waste time fiddling with laces. Kizik’s slip on shoes are the ultimate convenience item, letting you go from lounging around the house to jumping into your routine with no fuss. Simply step in and go! People are also reading... Slip ons are perfect for a wide range of movements, from warm-ups to cool-down stretches, and they let you get in and out of the zone smoothly. With a pair of versatile slip-on shoes, you'll always be ready to jump into a quick workout whenever the motivation hits. Kiziks also add a stylish touch to your setup, giving your place a more laid-back, welcoming vibe. These simple but smart additions to your footwear collection can become a staple of longer sessions or when you just want to squeeze in a few extra minutes of movement. Grab a pair of slip-on shoes from Kizik, and you’ll be set for the new year. 2. O Positiv Women’s Vitamins: Support Your Goals Photo provided by O Positiv Womanhood is a beautiful journey, and discomfort shouldn't hold you back. That’s where O Positiv’s women’s vitamins come into play. These supplements are designed to address a range of women’s health concerns, helping you seek relief from your most persistent symptoms. It’s no secret that mainstream medicine doesn’t take women’s health concerns seriously. O Positiv is here to change that. Whatever your experience, you shouldn’t have to feel embarrassed in a doctor’s office or like you’re forced to minimize your symptoms because they’re something that “everyone goes through.” When you add these vitamins to your daily ritual, you can work toward achieving real results, whether you’re curbing your PMS or managing the symptoms of menopause. While you may build and tone your muscles in the gym, O Positiv understands that a commitment to well-being should touch every point of your life — and that overall wellness will help you reach new personal bests. 3. Mood Delta 9 Gummies: Relax and Recover After a good session, recovery is where the magic happens. Resting after exercise is essential to muscle growth, flexibility and preventing injury. Mood’s Delta 9 gummies can be a great addition to your post-workout routine, adding a touch of relaxation that helps you physically and mentally unwind. Taking a few minutes to cool down and recover — whether with meditation, stretching or simply enjoying a moment of calm — can make a big difference in how you feel the next day. For many people, the recovery process can be just as important as the workout itself. Consider setting up a small corner in your space where you enjoy a bit of downtime, maybe with a mat for stretching or a chair for chilling with a good book. Adopting Mood can help make your place a wellness zone where taking care of yourself extends beyond the last rep. 4. Tumble Washable Rugs: Freshen Things Up Photo provided by Tumble An intense session often means a lot of sweat, and washable rugs from Tumble are an ideal solution for keeping your space clean and comfortable. No matter if you’re jumping into cardio, yoga or a stretching routine, a washable rug can provide a cushioned surface while protecting your floors from moisture and wear. When you need to freshen up your home gym, just toss the rug in the wash, and it’s as good as new. This hassle-free cleaning routine is especially helpful if your gear is located in a high-traffic area or shared by family members. Having a washable rug means you can focus on your workout without worrying about the mess. Tumble offers a variety of colors and designs, so you can pick a pattern and shade that speaks to you and create a space that feels as stylish as it is functional. 5. Samara Backyard Homes: Expand Your Workout Space Photo provided by Samara If you dream of a little more room to spread out when focusing on your fitness, why not take it outside? Samara’s backyard homes can serve as personal gyms, opening up all kinds of possibilities. Samara allows you to customize your place and bring in equipment that might not fit indoors. Whether you’re adding a bench for strength training, an open area for yoga or a quiet nook for stretching, they give you the freedom to shape a space that’s as dynamic as your goals. A backyard home gym also creates a dedicated location for exercise, separate from the distractions of daily life. You can design it with your favorite movements in mind, tailoring everything from the layout to the decor to make it your personal wellness retreat. With Samara, you can build something that feels truly your own. 6. Snif Scented Candles: Set the Mood Creating the right atmosphere can greatly impact the success of your workouts, and scented candles from Snif are a great way to set the tone. From a calming vibe for yoga to an invigorating scent for your morning cardio, the right candle can make things feel inviting and focused. Lighting a candle can also help you mentally transition from everyday demands to fitness mode, allowing you to engage in each session to your fullest. Certain scents can even help you sustain your focus and manage your stress, setting the stage for workouts where you’re fully present and energized. Snif’s scented candles are more than just a way to make things smell good — they create an ambiance that can maintain your motivation, help you manage your stress or simply make your experience more enjoyable. When you need extra help getting into the right headspace, something from Snif can set the mood. 7. Fatty15 C15 Supplement: Maintain Your Cells Dedicating yourself to exercise means dedicating yourself to full-body well-being. To completely revamp your workouts, you have to start from the inside out. Fatty15’s C15 supplement can help keep you feeling your best while you’re throwing weights around — and in everyday life. When it comes to fatty acid supplements, you may be familiar with C15’s cousin, omega-3. But did you know omega-3 and C15 are essential for your health, and C15 plays a role in protecting your cells from the effects of aging? It can promote a healthy and energized feeling and help prevent some of the long-term deterioration that occurs to your cells as you get older. Working out is a process that can also lead to long-term well-being, and C15 can assist. As you look to create an environment that is safe, effective and pushes you forward, make Fatty15 another piece of your routine. With these steps in place, you’ll look fit and feel fit, too, capable of tackling anything life throws your way. 8. LUSA Lighting: Brighten The Vibes High-quality lighting is necessary in every part of your house, but especially for the ones where you work out. Premium designer-grade lighting from LUSA can make your home gym bright and dynamic, helping you stay focused on your form and keep your energy up. A well-lit space can transform a dark or cramped area into a vibrant zone that’s inspiring to step into every day. Lighting doesn’t just impact how you see — it can also impact how you feel. LUSA’s flicker-free, low-glare lights feature a warm-dimming feature that removes blue light as lights are dimmed, making it adjustable for cool-downs, warm-ups and intense HIIT sessions alike. With LUSA, you can customize the ambiance to suit any training style, ensuring your place is always fresh, inviting and inspiring. 9. Pepper Home Custom Curtains: Achieve Some Privacy If you could use extra privacy or just a little extra flair, custom curtains from Pepper Home might be the perfect addition. Curtains can help define any area and give it a cozy, welcoming feel. At the same time, they can create a more secluded environment where you can focus on exercise. If your area is shared or open, curtains can add a layer of separation that helps you tune out distractions and stay in the zone. Additionally, they can help control the amount of natural light, maintaining a balance between a bright place and a calming atmosphere. Custom curtains can bring a unique flair to your design, complementing the colors and style you’ve chosen for the room. You also have the freedom to choose fabrics, lengths and trims that match your aesthetic, giving everything a polished, customized look. It’s an easy method of making your revamp a true reflection of your personality. 10. REP Fitness Kettlebell Set: Upgrade Your Training A kettlebell set from REP Fitness can be a game-changer in the new year. These compact weights are perfect for various movements that work both strength and stability, allowing you to mix things up and target different muscle groups. From swinging and squatting to pressing, kettlebells can add a dynamic element to your rituals that keeps things challenging. Incorporating kettlebells into your home gym can help you sustain your strength training with options for various experience levels and goals. Plus, a REP Fitness set is compact and easy to store, making it ideal even for smaller spaces. With these handy weights at your disposal, you can try out new exercises, support your strength and add a functional edge to your setup. 11. Everlast Punching Bag: Channel Your Inner Boxer If you’re looking for a way to blow off steam, a punching bag from Everlast may be just what you’re looking for. Boxing is a powerful cardio workout that also builds strength, agility and coordination. Adding a punching bag to your setup is a fun and intense way to elevate your training, and it’s perfect for days when you need an extra push or want to release some stress. A punching bag can also be a motivator, encouraging high-energy movements that are exciting and different from your traditional routine. With Everlast, you can incorporate boxing into your day, working on your endurance and technique while enjoying a unique and empowering workout. Ready, Set, Revamp! Your home gym should inspire you, support your goals and make every session enjoyable. With a few carefully chosen upgrades, you can create an area that feels functional and personal in equal measure. These simple additions can change how you approach your fitness rituals. Remember, a setup tailored to you can help you stay consistent and genuinely enjoy yourself. Start the new year with fresh energy and a revamp that’s truly your own — you’re going to crush it! Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Mongolia’s Parliament Chair on 100 Years of Constitutional Democracy
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The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) — Devin Haid had 24 points in Cent. Conn. St.'s 84-80 win against Quinnipiac on Saturday. Haid added six rebounds and four steals for the Blue Devils (8-4). Max Frazier scored 17 points and added nine rebounds. Davonte Sweatman had 14 points and shot 5 for 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. The Bobcats (5-7) were led by Amarri Tice, who posted 21 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. Paul Otieno added 13 points and six rebounds for Quinnipiac. Ryan Mabrey also recorded 12 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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