How to play Magic: The Gathering

Tabletop GamingMagic: The GatheringHow to play Magic: The GatheringWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. Tabletop GamingMagic: The GatheringHow to play Magic: The GatheringWhen 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: Wizards of the Coast / Ilse Gort) Jump to:How to startWhat to do on your turnCombat explainedBattlefield explainedCard types explainedHow to read a cardFormats explainedBeginner glossaryFAQs Jump to:How to startWhat to do on your turnCombat explainedBattlefield explainedCard types explainedHow to read a cardFormats explainedBeginner glossaryFAQs So, you’ve finally decided to learn how to play Magic: The Gathering. What a great choice! It’s been widely considered one of thebest card gamessince its 1993 launch and there’s a thriving casual and competitive scene.It’s always nice to pop into your local game store for a more hands-on way to learn how to play Magic, but not everyone has that opportunity. So, I’m here to take you through everything you need to know to get started playing MTG.First thing’s first, once you pick up your first deck of Magic: The Gathering cards, you’re now officially a plane-hopping battlemage known as a Planeswalker. Congratulations! I’m sure your parents are exceptionally proud.Each game of Magic: The Gathering represents an epic battle to the death between you and your fellow Planeswalker — who knew cardboard could be so hardcore? How to start playing Magic: The Gathering Player numbers and formats vary, but for the sake of this example, we’ll imagine you’re playing 60-Card Casual against one other opponent. The surface between you and your opponent is now your Battlefield and this is where all the magic (!) will happen. Tap that!(Image credit: Future)Anytime you want draw Mana, attack with a Creature, or activate an ability with a↷tap symbol, you’ll need turn the card on its side to represent it being tapped. A tapped card can’t be used again until it is untapped. Tap that! (Image credit: Future)Anytime you want draw Mana, attack with a Creature, or activate an ability with a↷tap symbol, you’ll need turn the card on its side to represent it being tapped. A tapped card can’t be used again until it is untapped. (Image credit: Future) Anytime you want draw Mana, attack with a Creature, or activate an ability with a↷tap symbol, you’ll need turn the card on its side to represent it being tapped. A tapped card can’t be used again until it is untapped. You start with a Life total of 20. You can track that with a D20, a Life counter, or just write it on your Notes app. Either way, the aim of the game is to bring your opponent’s life down to 0. Creature cards make up around a third of your 60-card MTG deck, while another third are other spells that’ll help you best your opponent. The final third are Land cards, which provide the source of all your magical power. You won’t be able to cast spells of any kind until you play some Land cards and Tap them for their mana. What to do on your turn in Magic: The Gathering (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Cristi Balanescu) Decide the turn order. The player that goes first doesn’t draw during their first turn but otherwise turns function the same for every player.Here are the 5 phases make up a turn in Magic: The Gathering:Beginning phase:As you begin your turn, untap any cards that have been tapped, and then draw a card from your deck.Pre-combat main phase:This is your opportunity to play a Land card, and use your Mana to summon Creatures or cast other spells,Combat phase:It’s time for combat! Declare your attackers and see how your opponent responds. Your attackers will have to be Creatures that you’ve cast previously, as a condition called summoning sickness prevents creatures from being tapped for one turn.Post-combat main phase:If there are any cards that you’d like to play but you haven’t played already, now’s the time to do it.End phase:Prepare for your opponent’s turn to begin! Magic: The Gathering combat phase explained (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Wayne Reynolds) Your combat phase starts with you declaring which Creatures, if any, will attack your opponent. Your opponent can then decide which Creatures they would like to block the attack(s) with. Once attackers and blockers are decided, you can assess how the combat resolves.In order to figure out the result of a combat phase, you need to measure your Creatures' Power against your opponent’s Creatures' Toughness (and vice versa). In any case where the Power of one Creature exceeds the Toughness of the other, the Creature is destroyed.Defending isn’t the only way to respond to an opponent’s attacks. Sometimes the most strategic decision is to avoid blocking so as not to sacrifice your Creatures. In this case, you directly take the damage their Creature’s attack deals you. This will be equal to the Creature’s Power. Magic: The Gathering Battlefield layout explained (Image credit: Future) With so many card types to keep track of, it’s important to set up your play space in a way that is most legible for you and your opponent. Set up your Lands in a horizontal line closest to you, and play any Creatures or other Permanents further out into the Battlefield itself.Any of your Permanents that are destroyed will get sent to the graveyard. Occasionally you’ll have exiled Permanents too, so be sure to designate sections of your play area for both your graveyard and your exile. These are best placed to the side of your Battlefield. Magic: The Gathering card types explained (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Adam Paquette) There are over eight different types of card you’ll come across while playing Magic: The Gathering. As a beginner, it’s especially essential to get familiar with these four card types:Land:Every time it’s your turn, you can take one Land card in your hand and place it on the Battlefield. These Land cards, when tapped, produce a resource called Mana which is essential for casting creatures and other spells. The color of your Land and Mana will correspond to the color of your deck.Creature: During either of your main phases, you can cast as many creatures as you would like, provided you have access to sufficient Mana of the correct color.Sorcery:These are spells that can be cast during the main phase of your turn. They can have effects on your opponent, your Permanents, your opponent’s Permanents, or the battlefield as a whole.Instant:Instants serve a similar purpose to Sorceries, except they can be cast at anytime during your turn or your opponents turn. As a result, Instants can prove useful for countering opponent actions or give your creatures a last-minute buff in combat.Other common card types include Artifacts, Enchantments, and Planeswalkers. However, you’ll also come across plenty of others in your journey playing Magic. How to read a Magic: The Gathering card (Image credit: Future) All of the text and imagery on a Magic: The Gathering card can be a tad overwhelming to a new player, Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to get to grips with once it’s broken down.The example in the image above is a Creature card, but the majority of cards will be formatted in this way.Mana cost:The symbols in the top right corner of the card show its mana cost. In the example shown, the card requires one green mana and one white mana. Sometimes, in addition to the color pie symbols, you’ll see a grey circle with a number inside. This dictates that the spell needs that number of any color mana to cast it.Card type:This section of the card shows what function it has in the game (creature, sorcery, etc.) as well as any relevant subtypes.Abilities:A card’s abilities can be spilt into both static, activated, and triggered. Vigliance is a static ability seen on the example card pictured. This is in effect at all times the creature is on the battlefield. Meanwhile the two abilities below that, which require the card to be tapped, are considered activated abilities.Flavor text:Below a card’s abilities, you’ll often get a chunk of italicised text which links to Magic: The Gathering lore and the story of the card itself. This doesn’t have any mechanical purpose, it’s just a fun bit of storytelling.Power/toughness:Power is a creature’s offensive stat, while toughness is its defensive stat. The creature in the example could deal 3 damage to a player or creature. However, given their toughness is also 3, they couldn’t withstand any more than 2 damage a turn without being destroyed. Magic: The Gathering formats explained Magic: The Gathering beginner glossary (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Daniel Ljunggren) How to play Magic: The Gathering FAQs Is Magic: The Gathering expensive? It doesn’t have to be. You and a pal can get playing MTG with a$20 Starter Kitor you can bite your entire friend group with the Magic bug with a$50 Game Night set.Beyond that, the Pauper format specifically limits players to Common rarity cards, so it’s the most budget-friendly way to explore with competitive play. Is Magic: The Gathering hard to learn? Can I play Magic: The Gathering online? Yes, you can. One option for online play is the game’s digital version,Magic: The Gathering Arena. If you prefer playing with physical decks, you can play via video chat.Spelltableis a free website that is specifically optimised for remotely playing paper magic, so it’s certainly worth checking out. Looking for more tabletop fun? Give some of thebest board gamesa try. Today’s best board game dealsAsmodee Jaipur Card Game$23.93View DealSee all pricesThe Lord of the Rings: Tales of$35.99$21.49View DealSee all pricesPokemon Trading Card Game Battle Academy$19.84View DealSee all pricesAsmodee Skull$17.99View DealSee all pricesFantasy Flight Games Arkham Horror$22.95View DealSee all pricesJoking Hazard - Face Pattern$25$22.15View DealSee all pricesSushi Go!$11.99View DealSee all pricesExploding Kittens Original Game$19.99View DealSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best board game dealsAsmodee Jaipur Card Game$23.93View DealSee all pricesThe Lord of the Rings: Tales of$35.99$21.49View DealSee all pricesPokemon Trading Card Game Battle Academy$19.84View DealSee all pricesAsmodee Skull$17.99View DealSee all pricesFantasy Flight Games Arkham Horror$22.95View DealSee all pricesJoking Hazard - Face Pattern$25$22.15View DealSee all pricesSushi Go!$11.99View DealSee all pricesExploding Kittens Original Game$19.99View DealSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best board game dealsAsmodee Jaipur Card Game$23.93View DealSee all pricesThe Lord of the Rings: Tales of$35.99$21.49View DealSee all pricesPokemon Trading Card Game Battle Academy$19.84View DealSee all pricesAsmodee Skull$17.99View DealSee all pricesFantasy Flight Games Arkham Horror$22.95View DealSee all pricesJoking Hazard - Face Pattern$25$22.15View DealSee all pricesSushi Go!$11.99View DealSee all pricesExploding Kittens Original Game$19.99View DealSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best board game deals Asmodee Jaipur Card Game$23.93View DealSee all pricesThe Lord of the Rings: Tales of$35.99$21.49View DealSee all pricesPokemon Trading Card Game Battle Academy$19.84View DealSee all pricesAsmodee Skull$17.99View DealSee all pricesFantasy Flight Games Arkham Horror$22.95View DealSee all pricesJoking Hazard - Face Pattern$25$22.15View DealSee all pricesSushi Go!$11.99View DealSee all pricesExploding Kittens Original Game$19.99View DealSee all prices Asmodee Jaipur Card Game$23.93View DealSee all prices Asmodee Jaipur Card Game$23.93View DealSee all prices Asmodee Jaipur Card Game Asmodee Jaipur Card Game $23.93View Deal $23.93 $23.93 See all prices The Lord of the Rings: Tales of$35.99$21.49View DealSee all prices The Lord of the Rings: Tales of$35.99$21.49View DealSee all prices The Lord of the Rings: Tales of The Lord of the Rings: Tales of $35.99$21.49View Deal $35.99$21.49 $21.49 See all prices Pokemon Trading Card Game Battle Academy$19.84View DealSee all prices Pokemon Trading Card Game Battle Academy$19.84View DealSee all prices Pokemon Trading Card Game Battle Academy Pokemon Trading Card Game Battle Academy $19.84View Deal $19.84 $19.84 See all prices Asmodee Skull$17.99View DealSee all prices Asmodee Skull$17.99View DealSee all prices Asmodee Skull Asmodee Skull $17.99View Deal $17.99 $17.99 See all prices Fantasy Flight Games Arkham Horror$22.95View DealSee all prices Fantasy Flight Games Arkham Horror$22.95View DealSee all prices Fantasy Flight Games Arkham Horror Fantasy Flight Games Arkham Horror $22.95View Deal $22.95 $22.95 See all prices Joking Hazard - Face Pattern$25$22.15View DealSee all prices Joking Hazard - Face Pattern$25$22.15View DealSee all prices Joking Hazard - Face Pattern Joking Hazard - Face Pattern $25$22.15View Deal $25$22.15 $22.15 See all prices Sushi Go!$11.99View DealSee all prices Sushi Go!$11.99View DealSee all prices Sushi Go! Sushi Go! $11.99View Deal $11.99 $11.99 See all prices Exploding Kittens Original Game$19.99View DealSee all prices Exploding Kittens Original Game$19.99View DealSee all prices Exploding Kittens Original Game Exploding Kittens Original Game $19.99View Deal $19.99 $19.99 See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more More about tabletop gamingThis new indie D&D campaign setting brings Studio Ghibli and Zelda: Breath of the Wild aesthetics and worldbuilding to the tabletop RPG, and I’m already scheming hard as a DMD&D Monster Manual 2025 is going to pack a serious punch thanks to a family of monsters descended from gods, and frankly I’m terrifiedLatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► More about tabletop gamingThis new indie D&D campaign setting brings Studio Ghibli and Zelda: Breath of the Wild aesthetics and worldbuilding to the tabletop RPG, and I’m already scheming hard as a DMD&D Monster Manual 2025 is going to pack a serious punch thanks to a family of monsters descended from gods, and frankly I’m terrifiedLatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► More about tabletop gamingThis new indie D&D campaign setting brings Studio Ghibli and Zelda: Breath of the Wild aesthetics and worldbuilding to the tabletop RPG, and I’m already scheming hard as a DMD&D Monster Manual 2025 is going to pack a serious punch thanks to a family of monsters descended from gods, and frankly I’m terrified More about tabletop gaming This new indie D&D campaign setting brings Studio Ghibli and Zelda: Breath of the Wild aesthetics and worldbuilding to the tabletop RPG, and I’m already scheming hard as a DMD&D Monster Manual 2025 is going to pack a serious punch thanks to a family of monsters descended from gods, and frankly I’m terrified This new indie D&D campaign setting brings Studio Ghibli and Zelda: Breath of the Wild aesthetics and worldbuilding to the tabletop RPG, and I’m already scheming hard as a DM This new indie D&D campaign setting brings Studio Ghibli and Zelda: Breath of the Wild aesthetics and worldbuilding to the tabletop RPG, and I’m already scheming hard as a DM D&D Monster Manual 2025 is going to pack a serious punch thanks to a family of monsters descended from gods, and frankly I’m terrified D&D Monster Manual 2025 is going to pack a serious punch thanks to a family of monsters descended from gods, and frankly I’m terrified LatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► Latest 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 I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty See more latest► Most PopularHow to fix gear trains for the Indiana Jones Khmer cogwheel puzzleHow to get the Indiana Jones A Game of Wits Mak-Yek board game safe codeWhere to find the Fast Recon Vehicle in Helldivers 2FC 25 Globetrotters guide brings boosted cards for Ronaldo and SalahWhat is Infinity Nikki Vital Energy and how to get itEverything revealed about the Pokemon TCG Pocket Mythical Island expansionBest Path of Exile 2 Ranger BuildWhere to find the Indiana Jones Royal Army uniform and keyEverything in the Helldivers 2 Urban Legends WarbondWhere to find all Serpent’s Chest keys in Indiana JonesHow to complete the Sanctuary of the Guardians in Indiana Jones Most PopularHow to fix gear trains for the Indiana Jones Khmer cogwheel puzzleHow to get the Indiana Jones A Game of Wits Mak-Yek board game safe codeWhere to find the Fast Recon Vehicle in Helldivers 2FC 25 Globetrotters guide brings boosted cards for Ronaldo and SalahWhat is Infinity Nikki Vital Energy and how to get itEverything revealed about the Pokemon TCG Pocket Mythical Island expansionBest Path of Exile 2 Ranger BuildWhere to find the Indiana Jones Royal Army uniform and keyEverything in the Helldivers 2 Urban Legends WarbondWhere to find all Serpent’s Chest keys in Indiana JonesHow to complete the Sanctuary of the Guardians in Indiana Jones Most PopularHow to fix gear trains for the Indiana Jones Khmer cogwheel puzzleHow to get the Indiana Jones A Game of Wits Mak-Yek board game safe codeWhere to find the Fast Recon Vehicle in Helldivers 2FC 25 Globetrotters guide brings boosted cards for Ronaldo and SalahWhat is Infinity Nikki Vital Energy and how to get itEverything revealed about the Pokemon TCG Pocket Mythical Island expansionBest Path of Exile 2 Ranger BuildWhere to find the Indiana Jones Royal Army uniform and keyEverything in the Helldivers 2 Urban Legends WarbondWhere to find all Serpent’s Chest keys in Indiana JonesHow to complete the Sanctuary of the Guardians in Indiana Jones Most Popular How to fix gear trains for the Indiana Jones Khmer cogwheel puzzle How to get the Indiana Jones A Game of Wits Mak-Yek board game safe code Where to find the Fast Recon Vehicle in Helldivers 2 FC 25 Globetrotters guide brings boosted cards for Ronaldo and Salah What is Infinity Nikki Vital Energy and how to get it Everything revealed about the Pokemon TCG Pocket Mythical Island expansion Best Path of Exile 2 Ranger Build Where to find the Indiana Jones Royal Army uniform and key Everything in the Helldivers 2 Urban Legends Warbond Where to find all Serpent’s Chest keys in Indiana Jones How to complete the Sanctuary of the Guardians in Indiana Jones 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” 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” 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” 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”