Disney and Marvel Studios’ latest superhero endeavor, Thor: Love and Thunder, is finally out in theaters amid a whirlwind of the companies’ releasing superhero projects. But for those still looking to chase that action-heavy rush coming out of Chris Hemsworth’s latest adventures as the God of Thunder, the video game medium should have a handful of titles to satisfy.
Games like Sony PlayStation’s God of War take things to a refreshingly grounded and cathartic level, while Square Enix’s Guardians of the Galaxy will offer a familiar campy romp. Regardless, these video games should cover all the bases for fans that enjoyed Love and Thunder‘s biggest appeals.
While it doesn’t star Thor himself, publisher Square Enix and developer Eidos-Montréal’s Guardians of the Galaxy will be a seamless fit for anyone looking to play a Marvel game with a similar Marvel Cinematic Universe tone. The game was something of a critically-acclaimed surprise last year, as the aforementioned publisher squandered a lot of goodwill with 2020’s half-baked Avengers game, which is still letting people down years after its release.
Guardians of the Galaxy‘s initial reveal didn’t spark much confidence, but it ended up being a refreshing linear action-adventure game. While it didn’t dazzle in any one area, it handled everything it set out to do admirably in combat and level design, with reception particularly strong for its charismatic cast of characters and emotionally investing story. It’s an impressive feat given the pressure of its live-action counterparts that have become so ingrained into the mainstream.
Guardians of the Galaxy is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
PlayStation’s God of War series was a staple during the PS2 era of gaming, and the acclaimed 2018 game on PS4 took the franchise to new and euphoric heights. God of War serves as a soft reboot for the series, as the game jumps forward into the future with Kratos living a quiet, melancholy life with his young son Atreus. The game turns into a quest to deliver the ashes of Kratos’ late wife and Atreus’ mother in a gripping cinematic fantasy tale packed to the brim with pulse-pounding action, set pieces, and resonating storytelling.
Kratos’ blood-soaked and vengeful past comes back to haunt him as the story delves into themes of redemption and healing, with several other revelations coming along the way. It’s a much more down-to-earth and intimate experience compared to something as colorfully bombastic as Thor: Love and Thunder, but the Norse mythology elements and cathartic combat won’t take players long to be immersed in.
God of War is available now on PS4 and PC with the sequel, God of War: Ragnarök, releasing for PS4 and PS5 on November 9th.
If prospective players are looking for something (partly) superhero-themed with a competitive edge, Capcom’s Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is one of the best games available. Fighting games can be understandably intimidating for the uninitiated to get into given the complex combos and reflexes they demand to be honed, but Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is arguably one of the best games in the genre.
As the name suggests, it features a sprawling character roster from both Marvel Comics (including Thor) and Capcom’s Street Fighter, and this version is the definitive one to play. It was well-received for its rewarding and exciting combat mechanics and features a vibrant art direction that complements its comic book heroes.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is available on modern consoles through PS4, XBO, and PC.
The Infamous series was beloved back in the PS3 console era, but unfortunately, it hasn’t received much attention since the early PS4 days. Nonetheless, Sucker Punch’s Infamous 2 remains a noteworthy game, especially for those wanting to play around with lightning-based powers similar to Thor.
The story centers around Cole MacGrath who’s on a mission to grow more powerful so that he can take on his arch-nemesis, known as the Beast. Infamous 2 received a strong critical reception thanks to its fun sandbox-style level design, combat, and traversal, and players even have the option to play Cole as a hero or villain.
Infamous 2 is on PS3, though, it’s been made available on modern consoles through the PlayStation Plus subscription service.
The Marvel Ultimate Alliance franchise is a cult-classic series of games from the 2000s. They’re action RPGs played from an isometric perspective akin to Diablo, with players picking from a deep roster of Marvel Comics characters in either single- or multi-player gameplay.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order follows an original story independent of both the comics and the first two games, with a story loosely inspired by the MCU’s Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. The Black Order received an admittedly lukewarm critical reception for sticking too close to the script and not innovating much from the first two games, but for new players, the fun gameplay loop makes this the ideal starting point given its modern availability.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is available now on Nintendo Switch.
Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder is now playing in theaters.
Some of the best shots in Grok Imagine’s AI-made Odyssey don’t contain actors. Ancient landscapes stretch into the distance. Close-ups of grimy hands suggest people who have touched something rougher than a keyboard. For a few seconds, the illusion holds.
https://twitter.com/imagine/status/2113712964419063911
YouTube videos could soon look better without eating quite so much data, right? Thankfully, the platform plans to introduce a new video format called AV2 on its web player in early 2027, promising more efficient streaming and potentially fewer playback hiccups on slower internet connections. The big headline is a roughly 30% improvement in compression efficiency over AV1, YouTube's existing video format. That doesn't guarantee every video will use 30% less data, but it could make streaming a little easier on both internet connections and data allowances.
What is AV2, and why should viewers care?
YouTube is changing how its Home page works, giving viewers more control over what shows up there and making some of the app’s most-used sections easier to reach. Custom Feeds are now replacing the existing topic chips for eligible users, while YouTube is also testing a redesigned top bar on mobile that moves Subscriptions closer to the Home feed.
YouTube first started experimenting with Custom Feeds earlier this year, letting you type out what you wanted to watch and turning that request into its own stream of recommendations. Now, the feature is starting to look less like a side experiment and more like something YouTube actually wants people to use as part of their everyday Home page.