The original Mass Effect trilogy has been out since the conclusion back in 2013 with the third game’s final DLC. With so many newcomers and returning fans having now had a chance to enjoy what the Mass Effect Legendary Edition has to offer, we figured now was the perfect time to drop some truth bombs regarding a galaxy that gifted us with purpose, family, and everybody’s favorite Turian. If you want even more about the universe BioWare created, you can also check out our expanded lore breakdown here. But first, let's get to some of those juicy facts. 

HBO is hard at work on its The Last of Us TV adaptation based on the first game by Naughty Dog. With more and more casting choices being revealed alongside Pedro Pascal (Joel) and Bella Ramsey (Ellie) for the upcoming series, one group of talented Hollywood VFX artists took to the world Naughty Dog gave us themselves to create their own The Last of Us fan film. And you know what? It's impressive! 

The film was created by Josh Toonen, a VFX artist who tells Game Informer that he's worked on experiences such as Star Wars IX: Rise of Skywalker and Godzilla vs. Kong and that said experiences heavily inspired his Last of Us take. Called Stay, this is an original story set within the Last of Us world, which you can see for yourself in the video below: 

The story of Stay is a new one but it does intertwine with that of Ellie in between the first game and the second title. Two survivors venture out towards the Santa Monica Pier lights in hope of salvation to be found. Duncan Jones, the director of the Warcraft movie called the fan take an "excellent use of the short format," with Gabriel Luna - the actor portraying Joel's brother Tommy in the upcoming show - calling it "beautiful."

If you’ve been indulging in our week-long celebration of all things Legend of Zelda, then there's a good chance that the series is a cherished part of your life as it has been with so many others. Some of those fans have gone on to become creators themselves, crafting their own worlds and stories that pay homage to Link’s adventures while adding unique twists. 

That’s why, to close out Zelda Week, we want to put a spotlight on upcoming games worth keeping an eye on that take a few pages out of the Zelda playbook.  Some of these games copy the series' formula to the letter. Others spin it out into wildly different directions. Need something to hold you over until the sequel to Breath of the Wild or the next 2D game? We think these titles will scratch that itch and then some.

Most of us have our favorite bars. The place that our mind travels to for a quick pit stop, a lengthy hangout with friends, or simply a good excuse to people watch. A good bar, a "feels like home" bar, is not about the drinks, ironically enough. Sure, a good cocktail lends itself into the equation of what makes a "good bar," but the real meat of the matter is the feeling a place evokes. The ambiance that can be witnessed, the familiarity that sinks into your skin, the energy of the passersby. That "go-to" bar is more about the experience than the drink in hand. With games becoming more and more immersive every year, it got me thinking: how do bars in video games compare? And the ones that I found myself drawn to, what made them so special? So memorable? 

The best bars in gaming are always going to be subjective, but diving more into the more emotional and humanistic complexities of some of our favorite places brings us to this moment in time. That's right, we're ranking some of our favorite bars in video games! 

When we speak of games, genres and playstyles become an easy shorthand to relay information; if you enjoy this game, you'll probably like this other game that is like it. That can be a powerful way to communicate recommendations, but it can also be a dangerous crutch when encountering something new. That's the case with Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile. As a board game that defies easy classification or comparison, it may be hard to decide if it's a good fit for your gaming group. But for those hungry for novelty, innovation, and strategic gameplay that reveals new layers after each playthrough, Oath is a standout success.

This happened to many of us growing up: a parental figure who knows nothing about video games saw us controlling that little, green elf-man on the television and asked us what we were playing. You probably tried to explain that this is not simply Mario or "Poké-man." This is an epic narrative with endearing personalities and spellbinding music; this is The Legend of Zelda. And, yes, they’re right to immediately assume that you were playing as the titular character because why wouldn’t you be? 

Since the first mainline chapter in Nintendo’s acclaimed series was released back in 1986, Link has consistently emerged as the playable protagonist of The Legend of Zelda series. But what about the heroine that the entire franchise is named after? Zelda’s time to shine is long overdue, and as the literal reincarnation of an omniscient goddess, gaming’s favorite princess has always been more than a damsel in distress. 

There is no shortage of games that will provide your Zelda fix, many of which take ideas from all over the series. Do you want something that plays more like the original The Legend of Zelda, or maybe a contemporary entry like Breath of the Wild? Some borrow ideas whole cloth, while others cherry-pick concepts and build around those. With Skyward Sword HD releasing on Switch this week, Game Informer is celebrating all things The Legend of Zelda, even those not bearing the name but are heavily inspired by it. We’ve put together a list of games you can play right now that, one way or another, give off a good Hyrule feel. Here are seven Zelda-likes of the past and present you might want to check out.

Lo-fi isn't really new, but it has seen a surge in popularity over the past year. This genre of music is one designed to make you relax and chill out, which is great because life is hard and things are chaotic. Like, all of the time. Certain Lo-fi tracks are even designed to help you focus. Whether during work or getting some studying time in, this particular musical style is a godsend. Since we're Game Informer and we like to inform you about games, we decided to inform you about some game Lo-fi tracks this time to offer up a little peace to share with our community. 

So, without further ado, here are the 5 best video game Lo-fi channels to listen to for ultimate relaxation that I use on the regular. 

Let’s face it, Kraft Mac and Cheese ice cream became available today, and the world is forever changed. This is the ice cream flavor that always needed to happen, but when you’re chomping down on those striking, ostentatious flavors, it can be tough to pick up a controller and take on the video game scene. That’s why I’ve painstakingly assembled a list of games you can play right now that let you take your time between actions; time spent dipping into that new king of all ice cream. 

Mint chocolate chip? A distant memory. Vanilla? Unbelievably pedestrian. No, as gamers, we eat like kings - and now our true liege has arrived. I can’t wait to festoon myself with all the trappings of this legendary confectionary concoction as I enjoy some games. Now, since I won’t be able to hold a controller or do anything that requires any sort of twitch reflexes because I’ll have a glistening spoon in my hand delivering a potent cheesy, creamy innovation into my face, I’ll have to pick turn-based titles or things that give me some time to think between moves. So what’s on the menu?

The Legend of Zelda week continues here at Game Informer! We've talked about some of our favorite memories, we streamed some Skyward Sword HD, and now we want to celebrate the community even more with a really darn impressive Link and Dark Link cosplay. Because why not? 

One cosplay that we found in our hunt for community goodness comes by way of the sisterly duo known as Guzzardi Art & Cosplay. The two sisters hail from Australia, and their cosplay talent is on a whole other level. Through the art of makeup and special effects with clothing alterations, this pair knows how to bring some of our favorite characters to life in the best way possible. Since it's Legend of Zelda week, however, let's dive into their Nintendo takes:

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