Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have plenty of board game and video game new releases, but before we get into those, let’s discuss this week’s headline. Despite Magic: The Gathering’s publisher Wizards of the Coasts’ parent company (Hasbro) becoming the primary toy licensee for the Harry Potter franchise, Wizards of the Coast (WotC) has no plans for a Harry Potter Magic: The Gathering crossover set. At least, not yet. Ah! We have potential Harry Potter drama.
Magic: The Gathering has no “current” plans for Harry Potter set
After parent company Hasbro announced it would be the primary toy licensee for the Harry Potter franchise, WotC confirmed on February 10, 2026 that they had no plans in place for a Harry Potter Magic: The Gathering set. During a Hasbro’s investor call, the company announced numerous licensing deals with different properties, including Voltron, Street Fighter, KPOP Demon Hunters, and Harry Potter. Magic: The Gathering produced (through their Universes Beyond series) a KPOP Demon Hunters card set. So, it would make sense that several, if not all, the properties Hasbro has rights to would receive the Universes Beyond treatment. They already spent the money on each of these licenses. But WotC made it a point to say they don’t have (current) plans for Harry Potter.
So, why the Harry Potter hate? Magic: The Gathering has a large transgender community, and many of the games WotC publishes attract traditionally left-wing nerds and geeks. Hello, Geekly Gang. While opinions and beliefs vary within gaming communities, most people who play, work on, and cover Magic are LGBT allies and members of the LGBT community. Last year, Magic’s head designer used his blog to advocate for trans representation and spoke out against transphobia. And last week, Magic YouTuber Tolarian Community College mobilized his fanbase to raise $600,000 for the Trans Lifeline. If you’re into Magic, you should check out Tolarian Community College. He’s fantastic. The Harry Potter backlash within Magic circles derives from J K Rowling’s transphobic views and actions.
Ugh! I don’t like including a Harry Potter picture. Sorry for that jump scare. Since she’s a billionaire, J K Rowling has announced that all her Harry Potter money will go to anti-trans causes. Lining Rowling’s pockets finances transphobia. So, Hasbro’s acquisition of Harry Potter’s toy license rights led numerous Magic fans to voice their lack of interest in a Harry Potter Magic set on social media. But one of the top comments voices most Magic: The Gathering fans’ concerns. “There have been a lot of ‘not currently planned’ things in the last few years where those plans changed very soon afterwards. I really hope this isn’t one of those situations.” I feel you. But take some solace in the fact that it takes two or three years to develop a Magic set. The soonest we’ll see a Harry Potter Magic set would be in 2028.
Still, I can’t imagine Hasbro not using each of its licenses on Magic: The Gathering, and that leads us to another angle of this story. Hasbro and WotC are embroiled in a nasty lawsuit.
The $1000 Magic 30th anniversary edition, swathes of licensed crossover sets (Universes Beyond), and the six discrete Dwight Schrute (from The Office) cards–yes, those exist–have watered down the Magic: The Gathering brand. Magic’s last few years have screamed naked greed, and Hasbro’s shareholders agree.
In a 76-page lawsuit filed in the US District Court of Rhode Island last month (via GoLocalProv), a group of investors allege that Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks, former Wizards of the Coast president Cynthia Williams, and company executives engaged in “breaches of their fiduciary duties as directors and/or officers of Hasbro” by devaluing the Magic brand, even as shareholders raised concerns about the ramifications of overprinting cards and sets. So, what does that mean?
In short, Hasbro’s CEO, WotC’s president, and other company executives stood to gain more money if Magic sold more cards. The solution was easy. Print more cards. And who cares if WotC fudged the numbers to make it look like the game moved more product? Are palettes of the $1000 Magic 30th anniversary edition in warehouses? Tell players and investors that supplies are limited. You need to drop four figures on Magic: The Gathering before the anniversary edition is gone forever. Turns out one can lie to customers about The Amazing Spider-Man set flying off shelves, but one can’t lie to one’s investors. Womp, womp.
Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks is a great advocate for Magic and Dungeons & Dragons. He plays these games. Unless the lawsuit goes Hasbro/WotC’s way, I can’t imagine Cocks retains his job. And that’d be a loss. How many corporate types are gamers? And who knows what a future CEO might do to these franchises? But Hasbro/WotC’s investors have a point. Magic’s brand has been diluted, and that brings us back to Harry Potter. If enough of Magic’s core audience wants nothing to do with a Harry Potter Magic set, there’s a chance Harry Potter won’t receive the Magic Universes Beyond treatment.
Risk the Abyss Launches on KickStarter
Risk the Abyss is another board game created by a Nebraska designer, and I know Marq Chontos, so I had to include it in this week’s board game new releases. Risk the Abyss is a 2-4 player dice game in which players compete to become the greatest Deep Sea Diver. Players take turns by rolling dice with a Yahtzee-style mechanism and then executing the actions from the resulting dice. Risk the Abyss is an easy-to-learn game that fits inside a tin (like an Altoids tin), so it doesn’t take up a lot of table space, and it costs $15 to support the project. The gameplay may include a push-your-luck mechanism, but the investment is risk-free.
Risk the Abyss was a 2025 Figgie Finalist. Yes. It has awards. The combination of card abilities and dice actions makes each play of Risk the Abyss unique. If you’re interested in a highly portable board game, check out Risk the Abyss’s KickStarter page.
Lion Dancers Launches on KickStarter
Lion Dancers blends the excitement of Lion Dancing with the festive traditions of Lunar New Year, uniting both in a joyful celebration. As the celebrations begin and the drums roar to life, it’s time to compete with your fellow Lion Dancers by showcasing your best routine and collecting festive items along the way. Be sure to secure the lucky lettuce to complete your performance, and be careful not to fall off the pillars or drop your precious items. The Lion Dancer who delivers the finest routine and collects the most valuable items wins the game and brings the greatest fortune to the celebration.
Lion Dancers features some gorgeous components. This is another game that doesn’t take up a lot of table space. The board is compact, which should lead to some tense gameplay. Simultaneous action selection will also make turns fly by. Players choose to stay, walk, or leap, attempting to make the strongest possible performance. Lion Dancers looks like a great puzzle, too. And I love the theme. The standard edition is around $50, while the deluxe version–that includes meeples for the lion dancers–is closer to $65. If you’re interested in Lion Dancers, check out its KickStarter page.
NPC Rivals Launches on KickStarter
I like a good deck-building game. I just played Marvel: Legendary, but I did notice the game dragged between turns. NPC Rivals attempts to speed up individual turns. You have my attention, NPC Rivals. Play Hero, Loot, Monster, and Action cards from your growing deck to complete quests that require specific combinations. Each quest is added to your quest log to score big XP, but you’ll need to outplay your rivals in a constantly shifting marketplace to stay ahead. Cycle through quests to find the ones that suit your build, grab powerful cards from the market, and complete your quests before everyone else, but only one NPC will be crowned the real “main character.”
Based on the description above (acquired by the publisher, Viva La Dirt League), NPC Rivals sounds like standard deck-building fare (shifting marketplace, growing one’s deck). But NPC Rivals‘ KickStarter page mentions that players must play their entire hand. This may be where the game attempts to speed up play. Marvel: Legendary has specific timing. That did the most to slow down each turn. If you’re playing your entire hand with no regard for timing triggers, NPC Rivals could ramp up the speed. This combined with another goofy theme–I love the idea of playing as NPCs–makes NPC Rivals one to watch. If you’re also interested in NPC Rivals, check out its KickStarter page.
Sugarworks Launches on KickStarter
The conveyors are out of control and there is candy all over the place. Sugarworks employees rush to adjust the conveyors to coax the unruly candy into the appropriate packages. Fulfilling orders will earn points. Unfortunately, the candy lines are all mixed up and the candy is colliding and moving all over the place. How will you fill your orders? Players are each given objectives in the form of Orders, which are worth points at the end of the game. Three conveyor lines are moving candy along them toward their destination packaging, and several candy outputs keep putting more candy onto the conveyors. As the candy collides, it will jump to different locations based on the candy involved in the collision.
I love it when publishers provide a great description. They’ll know their game far better than I. And I also love the idea of conveyor belts in a game. In Sugarworks, players will be able to manipulate the game’s conveyor belts. Yes! Throw in the bright colors of hard candy, and Sugarworks is another board game this week with an excellent theme. The base game begins at $35, or one could splurge with the All-In package at $109. If you’re interested in Sugarworks, check out its KickStarter page.
The Malice of Light Adventures Launches on KickStarter
The Malice of Light Adventures is a cooperative roguelike boss-battler based on Brady J. Sadler’s epic fantasy book series, The Malice of Light. Designed for 1–4 players, the game combines modular gameplay, quick character progression, and elegant combat in a fast-paced, replayable format inspired by the Sadlers’ previous titles like Heroes of Terrinoth and Street Masters. Players will battle dangerous foes in iconic locations from the books while contending with escalating villain schemes across multiple acts, culminating in a dramatic boss encounter. The game also serves as a great entry point for those new to The Malice of Light, offering a unique way to explore its vibrant world of classic high fantasy—separate from the story told in the novels.
We have another description by the publisher. Thank you, Twin Tale Studios. Yay! I like the idea of designing a board game based on one’s novel. I’m attempting the same thing, so I may be more than a little biased. The Malice of Light Adventures board game includes the first part (three books) of Brady J. Sadler’s high fantasy series. What? That’s coconuts. And I’m here for it. The Malice of Light Adventures features another compact board, which I like. Setup and tear down appear to be minimal and quick. And the Sadler Brothers have experience with other titles. That’s always a plus. As of writing this post, we don’t know what the pledge levels will be. I’m keeping an eye on The Malice of Light Adventures. If you’re interested in the game, check out its GameFound page.
Gateway Launches on GameFound
Step into the enchanting alleys of Gateway, a city where shadows whisper secrets and power is seized in the flicker of a gas lamp. In this thrilling deck builder for 2-4 players, you´ll recruit a motley crew of infamous characters and rely on the power of runestones to conquer the city´s guarded districts. Immerse yourself in a world where Victorian elegance meets fantastical whimsy, and every decision could tip the balance of power. Will you dominate the dark alleys and opulent parlors, weaving your influence through cunning schemes? Or will your rivals outwit you in this game of strategy and rising infamy? Dare to play in the city of Gateway.
Yes! Yet another great description by the game’s publisher. Thank you, Tentacula. Based on the description and the blurb in the picture above, Gateway sounds like a blast. Deck-building, worker placement, and resource management are three of my favorite game mechanisms. Throw in a modular board, and I’m hyped. Gateway is another game with great production value. One expects to see that in a GameFound campaign. And because Gateway launched on GameFound and we’re viewing its page before it officially releases, I don’t know the game’s pledge levels. But I am interested in this game. If Gateway piques your interest, too, check out its GameFound page.
Mewgenics Releases
Mewgenics has an interesting concept. Take a tactical role-playing game, add a cat breeding mechanism and a two-dimensional isometric world, shake and serve. Players begin with a team of four cats. They’ll notice classic role-playing game classes like hunter, mage, tank, and fighter. Over time, players will be able to cross-breed their cats to unlock multi-classes, hence the game’s name, Mewgenics. You know what? Mewgenics had me at cat RPG. And I love Mewgenics‘ art direction. Brought to you by the same designers as Super Meat Boy, Mewgenics looks to bring the sizzle and steak.
Yes! I love Mewgenics‘ aesthetics. The game has received stellar reviews, and that’s much appreciated after Mewgenics‘ protracted development. For a moment, it looked like we’d never get Super Meat Boy’s follow-up title. Mewgenics is available on PC.
Crisol: Theater of Idols Releases
Crisol: Theater of Idols is the second game published by Blumhouse Games. Blumhouse, the horror movie aficionados, makes games? Apparently, so. From what I’ve seen in reviews, Crisol: Theater of Idols is rough around the edges. One would expect that from a first-time developer and second-time publisher. But the premise sounds awesome. Steeped in Spanish lore, Crisol: Theater of Idols offers a singular experience.
As you can see, Crisol: Theater of Idols features amazing graphics and has a slick feel. Like most survival horror games, ammo conservation plays a massive role. Crisol: Theater of Idols is one of those games I’d be willing to give a try. I wonder if Skye, who’s been playing a lot of Resident Evil and Silent Hill titles, would like to load up a game. Crisol: Theater of Idols is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.
Paint the screen red and travel the cosmos in this bloodstained action-adventure game. Witness the latest from Grasshopper Manufacture: the advent of ultra-violent science fiction. Say hello to Romeo is a Dead Man. The title is chef’s kiss good. Gamers know exactly what they’re getting themselves into with Romeo is a Dead Man. And the visuals look insane.
Players certainly will paint the screen red as they travel the cosmos in this title. Yikes! Romeo is a Dead Man has received great reviews, and we could expect more from publisher, Grasshopper Manufacture. That’s right. The publisher isn’t content with one video game release in 2026. I can’t wait to see what this creative team has in store for us later this year. And Romeo is a Dead Man sounds like a fun romp. Romeo is a Dead Man is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.
BlazBlue Entropy Effect X Releases
This week is amazing for video games, especially if you love rogue-likes. First, Mewgenics, and then BlazBlue Entropy Effect X. I’ve heard nothing but great things from the latest title in the BlazBlue series. BlazBlue Entropy Effect X is one of those games that’s fun at the outset but grows on you once you learn more of the systems and customize your characters. I love character customization. Yes, please.
Honestly, rogue-likes are having a moment. Beginning with Hollow Knight: Silksong, we’ve seen plenty of amazing rogue-likes released in the last handful of months. BlazBlue Entropy Effect X continues this trend. And look at those graphics. BlazBlue Entropy Effect X features lightning-fast combat, and of course, a severe difficulty spike. BlazBlue Entropy Effect X is a PlayStation 5 exclusive.
High on Life 2 Releases
The game with the talking gun, High on Life, just got a sequel. The original High on Life was memetastic. It wasn’t the best game, but it had memorable moments and crass jokes. High on Life 2 offers more of the same. Well, the sequel does update the graphics of the original. If you’re a fan of the original High on Life, you might give High on Life 2 a try.
I may play High on Life 2 for the LOLs. I picked up the original as a PlayStation Plus Monthly Game. High on Life 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.
Reanimal Releases
Reanimal is another solid survival horror video game released this past week. Only, Reanimal comes from the same team that brought us the Little Nightmares series. One look at Reanimal’s graphics shows the game’s DNA. Reanimal strikes that perfect blend of creepy-cute.
Most critics mention not knowing what Reanimal is about. Some played the game for dozens of hours and still struggled to grasp what happened. Even though Reanimal can get confusing on a conceptual level, most of those same critics say the gameplay is excellent. Of course, Reanimal has amazing graphics. If you like the Little Nightmares series, you may like Reanimal. Reanimal is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Mario Tennis Fever Releases on Nintendo Switch 2
Mario Tennis Fever released for the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s a Mario sports game. It received good reviews. Mario Tennis Fever’s title derives from fever shots, which are super-powered shots that the various Mario characters can use. Mario Tennis Fever is in the vein of Mario Tennis Aces. If you liked the previous game, you’ll most likely enjoy Mario Tennis Fever.
Disciples: Domination Releases
Rule through the chaos! Fifteen years after Avyanna freed Nevendaar, Disciples: Domination returns you to a realm hanging in the balance. In this dark fantasy strategy RPG with turn-based combat, take your place on Queen Avyanna’s throne, holding together a crumbling kingdom. That’s a good description by the publisher. Disciples: Domination has an interesting premise, and I like classic turn-based RPGs, but Disciples: Domination has received mixed reviews.
But if you liked Disciples: Liberation, you’ll most likely enjoy Disciples: Domination. Domination does further the series. Personally, I may wait for a sale. Disciples: Domination is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.
That’s all the geek news we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
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