As PlayStation turns 30, 2024 has seen some of the brand's highest highs and lowest lows

PlatformsAs PlayStation turns 30, 2024 has seen some of the brand’s highest highs and lowest lowsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

PlatformsAs PlayStation turns 30, 2024 has seen some of the brand’s highest highs and lowest lowsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Sony)

Year in review: Astro flies towards the Astro Bot Winter Wonderland level

For starters, with some truly excellent games. There’s no denying that. From first-party big wins to canny third-party partnerships, ourbest games of 2024list is stacked with console exclusives. At the same time, it’s been a year absent of PlayStation’s most bankable franchises. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It means we feel poised on the edge of huge new updates, all while PlayStation has proved it can still make an impact without trotting out fast releases of purely the first-party big names.

A massive, surprise live service success

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

Helldivers 2 Chemical Agents warbond screenshot, showing two Helldivers running away from a green fog.

I was always rooting forHelldivers 2as someone who had some absolutely fantastic co-op sessions in the Arrowhead Game Studios' original top-down shooter. And boy doesn’t it look shiny? Nice to see Sony putting some money behind this little indie studio, but it’ll likely go a little under the radar once aga– oh goodlordHelldivers 2 is massive.

With a budget price tag, the barrier to entry was low, and the more people joining in meant even more players, even more matches, and even more fantastic moments for everyone involved. Armed with a canny and flexible update structure and an aversion to placing players on the traditional style of live service treadmill, Helldivers 2 was andisan exciting breathe of fresh air in a truly packed space

In fact, it was enough to give pause to those cynical about Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan’s dedication to having PlayStation develop and launch several live service games into the packed space. Having announced his resignation back in September 2023, could Helldivers 2’s winning launch be a final success, a milestone trajectory to show he’d left the company on the right track?

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A massive, surprise live service failure

(Image credit: PlayStation Studios)

Starchild takes aim in Concord

Two more announced, in-house live service games that PlayStation had gotten behind to push in a big way continued to tick along:Fairgame$ from Haven Studios, a sort of rival gangs heister we’ve still not seen much on yet; and Concord from Firewalk Studios, a spacey hero shooter with a retro-futurist aesthetic.

As Concord began to ramp up for an August 23 release, cracks started to show. CG-heavy trailers weren’t clicking, with the Guardians of the Galaxy-style tone and designs feeling like, well, just a Guardians of the Galaxy knock-off. Despite a decent 16-character roster, few really stood out – a far cry from obvious competitor Overwatch’s initial release which was all about centering simple-yet-memorable heroes and silhouettes. Things got worse when it was announced there’d be an early access beta a month before launch for those who pre-ordered the game (it was $40)… only to then have the conditions revoked last minute to be for anyone with PlayStation Plus, giving the impression there simply weren’t going to be enough players to make the beta work.

(Image credit: Firewalk Studios)

A map in Concord with a glowing green background

Then Concord released. And it… was actually quite good! In ourConcord review, we gave it 3 stars (contrary to what some might say, that’s asolidscore) and found its twists on standard hero shooter mechanics to be more than enough to justify its place among the competition, even while finding it had “little personality” to hook us into its world. Still, a fine foundation to build on – if not the instant phenomenons that Helldivers 2 orOverwatchwere.

But what’s this? Two weeks after launchConcord was shut down, and players refunded. Then, just under two months later,Firewalk Studios was closed. This, despite an eight-year development cycle, and amassive budget. No attempt to save it, to try a new angle, to even go free-to-play. Just – poof – vanished. It’s not the only high profile live service failure. Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice league was not well received at all, and is soon to cease updates, but lasted longer than Concord. Likewise,Ubisoft’s free-to-playXDefiant will also be shutting down, but, again, Ubisoft gave it more of a go. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture for PlayStation’s live service hopes.

Hardware holdout?

(Image credit: Sony)

PS5 Pro reveal from trailer

It’s not so much that PlayStation’s problems in 2024 have been due to massive disasters. Instead, it’s a case of frustratingly near-misses. After all, I’d love to be able to jump back into Concord, I just can’t. And it’s been the same for hardware. With plenty of support for last-gen platforms, both Xbox and PlayStation have struggled to make current-gen feel like a must-buy for their base consoles overall. True current-gen exclusives have been few and far between. The biggest benefit is just offering the superior experience compared to last-gen for similar titles – which for many in a bad economy isn’t the best pitch.

For the players

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Cloud strikes at a White Mousse in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

But, hey, you have to take the bad with the good. All the above things are really weird and often not great at all. But, ultimately, I’m someone who spent over 1,200 hours gaming on my PS5 alone this year, and most of that was fantastic. While I do think the platform could use more genuine exclusives, as someone who has tested a lot of cross-gen modern games on PS4 as well, I think the benefit of current-gen is huge simply in how much better they run. You truly couldn’t make me go back. It’s a simple fact that can often be overlooked.

The aforementioned Helldivers 2 was the GamesRadar+ game of the year this year.Astro Bot, a true PS5 exclusive, followed close behind.Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthcracked the top ten as well, another actual PS5 exclusive (though it feels like it’ll surely be ported eventually), and a series that’s long held strong brand association with PlayStation. The same goes for theSilent Hill 2 remake, a stunning horror endeavour that’s also a PS5 console exclusive (alongside PC). On top of that, PS5 has been a great place to play third-party releases from big blockbusters to creative indies. I’ve even been really enjoying the steadily-growing Classics Catalog of PS1 and PS2 games too. Even if the emulation work could use some improvement, it’s great to see the likes of Dino Crisis, TimeSplitters, and Sly Raccoon playable natively on PS5.

(Image credit: Sony)

Astro Bot ice skates along a path in one of the recent speedrun levels added to the game, a suction elephant on his back ready to create more frozen pathways

It all came together for Astro Bot in particular. What may be my personal highlight of the year is one that feels perfectly suited to PlayStation’s 30th anniversary. Team Asobi already captured my heart with its short-but-sweet Astro’s Playroom for the PS5 launch, and this full-length release recaptured that magic, refining and distilling it into pure platformer bliss. As little Astro hops between worlds, new gadgets constantly play with the DualSense’s haptic capabilities in interesting ways, and it just looks gorgeous.

Astro’s mission has him rescuing bot versions of hundreds of PlayStation icons from across the decades, with some levels even playing out as direct homages to the likes of Horizon or Uncharted. With that said, while it’s great to see so many games represented, it does serve to highlight how many beloved franchises have been left dead in the water across the PS4 and PS5 generations. Excitement at seeing the likes of Ape Escape or Sly Raccoon are tempered somewhat when they’ve had no games for years; as is seeing a nod toConcrete Genie only to remember developer PixelOpus was shuttered last year. But still, the game is fantastic, and one I’ve kept returning to (if only to smash my friends list’s speedrun times).

Gaming in the future

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Chai parries a robot attack in Hi-Fi Rush

But, it also turns out,in the parlance of Xbox’s recent marketing campaign, that sometimes even a PlayStation is an Xbox. The console wars are a silly concept, especially in the modern era of gaming – and take that from someone who would have laid down their life for theSegaMega Drive (but not the Sega Genesis, sorry US chums) back in the ’90s. So many games are multi-platform now that it feels pointless and exhausting to get too twisted up in it.

Still, it was a genuine surprise to see Xbox shift to bringing some of its first-party games to PlayStation, including some genuine system-sellers. WithXbox’s buyout of Call of Duty publisher Activision, it felt expected – promises to governing bodies aside – that to keep up sheer player numbers it’d remain multi-platform. Less so the likes of Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded,Sea of Thieves, and more that landed earlier in the year.

EvenIndiana Jones and the Great Circleis set to land on PlayStation after a short window of Xbox and PC exclusivity (it comes in Spring). It’s truly a great time to game on PlayStation indeed when you have to worry even less about which platform to buy for exclusives if Xbox continues to expand their games onto what’s historically been a rival platform.

(Image credit: PlayStation Studios)

On Sempiria in an Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet PS5 screenshot, Jodran leaps towards a robot with her glowing red sword

So what’s next? There’s plenty to look forward to, withDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachfrom Kojima Productions andGhost of Yoteifrom Sucker Punch Productions set to be the biggest PlayStation exclusives for next year. We also eagerly await more from Insomniac’sWolverine, which if it’s anything like the quality of the Spider-Man series, should be a spectacular success.

Meanwhile, after thecancellation of The Last Of Us multiplayer game,Naughty Doghas been entirely absent for the PS5 generation besides remakes and remasters, meaning their new sci-fi adventureIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophethas some heavy lifting to do. All this whileSony investigates a buyout of Kadokawa, a huge Japanese multimedia company that, of most interest to gamers, owns Dark Souls andElden Ringdeveloper FromSoftware. 2025 will be pivotal, then. But in what direction?

Curious about the other end of the spectrum? We’ve alsodived deep into what 2024 has looked like for Xbox. What to add to your gaming watchlist? We’ve got theupcoming PS5 gamesfor you to look through too!

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CATEGORIESPS5PlayStation

CATEGORIES

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More about platformsI’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at thatI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastyLatest"We were honouring Sonic’s holistic history which includes both designs": 13 years on, Takashi Iizuka reveals why Sonic Generations need twice the ‘hogsSee more latest►

More about platformsI’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at thatI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty

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I’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at thatI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty

I’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at that

I’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at that

I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty

I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty

Latest"We were honouring Sonic’s holistic history which includes both designs": 13 years on, Takashi Iizuka reveals why Sonic Generations need twice the ‘hogsSee more latest►

Latest

“We were honouring Sonic’s holistic history which includes both designs”: 13 years on, Takashi Iizuka reveals why Sonic Generations need twice the ‘hogs

Modern Sonic jumps away from a giant chopper badnik in the Green Hill Zone in Sonic Generations

“We were honouring Sonic’s holistic history which includes both designs”: 13 years on, Takashi Iizuka reveals why Sonic Generations need twice the ‘hogs

“We were honouring Sonic’s holistic history which includes both designs”: 13 years on, Takashi Iizuka reveals why Sonic Generations need twice the ‘hogs

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Most Popular17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so farOne of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strengthHow Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the futureI’m proclaiming 2024 to be the year of outstanding indie puzzle gamesThe Inside Out 2 panic attack scene is one of the best depictions of anxiety ever – and something Pixar director Kelsey Mann is incredibly proud of: “I couldn’t be happier"Marvel Rivals has what it takes to shake up the PvP shooter genre if it can maintain its hero fantasy while also making balance changesForget AAA: this year, all I wanted to do was optimize my conveyor belts in Satisfactory2024 was the year The Legend of Zelda lived up to its name, and the result was a bit like mixing rock salt and floral nectarAmid Oscar buzz, Zoe Saldana opens up on her new perspective on Hollywood and why she’s only really proud of Avatar and Emilia Pérez: “I think I just have to accept who I am as a creative person”

Most Popular

17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding”

Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over Christmas

Spy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far

One of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strength

How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future

I’m proclaiming 2024 to be the year of outstanding indie puzzle games

The Inside Out 2 panic attack scene is one of the best depictions of anxiety ever – and something Pixar director Kelsey Mann is incredibly proud of: “I couldn’t be happier”

Marvel Rivals has what it takes to shake up the PvP shooter genre if it can maintain its hero fantasy while also making balance changes

Forget AAA: this year, all I wanted to do was optimize my conveyor belts in Satisfactory

2024 was the year The Legend of Zelda lived up to its name, and the result was a bit like mixing rock salt and floral nectar

Amid Oscar buzz, Zoe Saldana opens up on her new perspective on Hollywood and why she’s only really proud of Avatar and Emilia Pérez: “I think I just have to accept who I am as a creative person”

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

1

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

5

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

1

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

2

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan as Joy in Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World

1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

1

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

3

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5

Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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