He-Man, The Grinch, and KPop Demon Hunters Lead This Week’s Gaming News

Mattel, Nintendo, Outright Games, and other publishers are rolling out new games and updates across consoles, PC, and mobile. Highlights include a new Masters of the Universe RPG on Roblox, a festive adventure starring the Grinch, classic arcade action with He-Man, and a KPop Demon Hunters collaboration with Toca Boca World.

Mattel Game Studios has partnered with Twin Atlas to launch Masters of the Universe: Battle for Grayskull, a new faction-based action RPG available worldwide on Roblox. Inspired by last summer’s film and decades of franchise lore, the game lets players join He-Man and the Heroic Warriors or Skeletor and the Evil Warriors in a battle for Castle Grayskull. Players can explore iconic Eternia locations, including Snake Mountain and Subternia, complete quests, defeat bosses, and collect gear while unlocking new abilities and customizing their playstyles. The experience features an evolving skill tree and player-driven choices that shape each adventure.

Skidos and SmileyWorld have partnered to launch Happier Minds, an interactive experience designed to help kids recognize, express, and navigate everyday emotions through play. The experience combines SmileyWorld characters with stories, mood check-ins, and calming activities to encourage emotional awareness, resilience, kindness, and meaningful conversations between kids and parents.

Activities include Mood Check-In, which helps kids identify how they feel, and Breathe Together, a guided exercise that encourages kids to practice breathing as they trace a loop. The experience also explores social awareness and responsible decision-making, giving kids playful ways to understand their own feelings and those of others.

Happier Minds builds on Skidos’ existing emotional well-being programming, which has been part of its learning portfolio since 2023, and SmileyWorld’s Happier Schools Project, which provides emotional learning resources for classrooms and families. Skidos offers more than 1,000 educational games and activities for kids, covering subjects and skills including math, reading, creativity, problem-solving, and motor development.

Ares Interactive is rolling out new content across three titles this October, including a limited-time Ghostbusters crossover in Heroes vs. Hordes running through Nov. 20. The event introduces Ray Stantz and Winston Zeddemore as playable heroes, Terror Dogs as pets, new gear, and returning franchise favorites. Meanwhile, The Walking Dead: Aftermath adds Carol, Glenn, and Judith to its survivor roster alongside Halloween-themed events featuring seasonal challenges and rewards. Baseball Hits 26 is celebrating the postseason with three playoff events, new players, and a Playoff Points currency, with an update introducing additional Club rewards and a refreshed Events menu.

Moose Toys and Gamefam are bringing MrBeast Lab to Roblox for the first time with a limited-time event inside Untitled Fling Game, running Oct. 17 through Nov. 14. The activation introduces the Mega-Tech Mutators Panthar, Silver-Byte, and NecroClaw, giving players a chance to explore a branded area, complete character-inspired quests, and unlock themed in-game rewards.

Players can fling mutation liquid at the Mutators to break them out of their containment pods, then take on challenges involving Panthar’s claws, Silver-Byte’s metal objects, and NecroClaw’s corrupted items. Players can also search for a Gold Variant hidden in the game. The event is free to play on Roblox across consoles, PCs, mobile devices, and tablets.

The launch marks the fourth consecutive holiday season that Moose Toys and Gamefam have partnered on Roblox activations. Their collaborations have brought five Moose franchises to the platform, generating more than 100 million gameplay sessions and 650 million brand engagements. According to the companies, more than 56% of players were more likely to purchase the featured product line after playing with the franchise on Roblox following Moose’s 2024 holiday campaign.

Nintendo is bringing players back to Wuhu Island with Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, launching exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 Oct. 22. The game features 12 sports, including Boxing, Archery, and Thumb Wrestling, alongside activities and minigames designed for players of all experience levels. Players can explore the island by skateboard, power cruiser, or prop plane, compete against top-ranked opponents in the new Island Crown Mode, and earn Spocco Points to unlock customization options. The game also supports personalized Sportsmate and Mii characters, with local and online play options. 

The Grinch is heading back to Who-ville in a festive adventure from Outright Games. In The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas, players take control of the Grinch as he explores snowy environments, collects ornaments, and tackles challenges to create the ultimate Christmas tree for the Whos. The game features familiar locations, including Mt. Crumpit, the Grinch’s Cave, and Who-ville, along with gadgets such as Rocket Skates, a Jetpack, and a Snowball Maker to help players navigate obstacles and defeat enemies. Players can embark on the adventure solo or team up with a friend in local co-op mode, with Max joining the fun.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction is a retro-inspired 2D brawler from Mattel, Bitmap Bureau, and Clear River Games that brings the world of Eternia to life with pixel-art visuals and classic arcade action. Players can fight as He-Man, Man-At-Arms, or Teela, with She-Ra available to unlock in future play-throughs, as they battle Skeletor, Evil-Lyn, Beast Man, Trap Jaw, and other villains across 13 stages. The adventure features iconic locations, Battle Cat combat, unique character styles, and two-player local co-op, blending 1980s-inspired aesthetics with fast-paced fantasy combat.

The game launches Feb. 4, 2027; preorders are open through Limited Run Games through Nov. 22.

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Nintendo is getting into the holiday spirit with new merchandise, seasonal events, and a chance for fans to win a trip to Nintendo New York.

Hundreds of merchandise items previously available exclusively at Nintendo’s New York and San Francisco retail stores are now available nationwide through nintendo.com and the Nintendo Store app. The expanded selection includes apparel, collectibles, and accessories inspired by franchises such as Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Pikmin, and Splatoon.

Nintendo Account members can also enter the My Nintendo Holiday Magic Sweepstakes through Nov. 2 for a chance to win a two-night trip to New York City for themselves and up to three guests. The prize includes travel accommodations, a personal tour of Nintendo New York, and access to the store’s holiday activities. Travel will take place between Dec. 3 and Dec. 7.

The celebrations extend beyond Nintendo’s stores, with the Mario balloon returning for the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday, Nov. 26. Fans can watch the parade on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo beginning at 8:30 a.m. across all time zones.

This week’s Nintendo eShop lineup features new adventures, returning franchises, and seasonal events across Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, with Bluey’s Happy Snaps, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, and several Resident Evil titles leading the week’s releases.

In Bluey’s Happy Snaps, players join Bluey and Bingo on a photo-powered adventure through their hometown, meeting familiar friends, playing games, and collecting snapshots for a scrapbook. Meanwhile, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse follows Trevor Belmont and his daughter Rose as they battle monsters in medieval Paris. Both games are available now, alongside It Takes Two, which brings its cooperative adventure to Nintendo Switch 2.

Horror fans can also explore Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 beginning Oct. 16. The three titles are available for preorder, with a limited-time discount running through Nov. 7. Looking ahead, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches Oct. 23 for Switch 2, with digital preorders offering early access to the Campaign and DMZ modes.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members can revisit three Game Boy Advance titles, including Monster Rancher Advance, Metal Slug Advance, and Kururin Paradise. The soundtrack for The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask has also joined Nintendo Music.

Elsewhere, Pokémon Pokopia is getting into the Halloween spirit with Pumpkaboo’s Sweet Surprises, an in-game event running Oct. 17 through Nov. 1. Players can befriend Pumpkaboo, collect pumpkin candy, and exchange it for themed furniture to create a habitat for Gourgeist. Additional eShop arrivals include Disney/Pixar Toy Story 3 Complete Edition, Disney/Pixar Toy Story: Retro Roundup!, LEGO Harry Potter Collection, and The Jackbox Party Pack 12.

Toca Boca and Netflix are bringing KPop Demon Hunters into Toca Boca World Oct. 27. The collaboration introduces new fashion, music, and character-inspired content based on HUNTR/X, the Saja Boys, and other characters from the film, giving players more ways to create their own stories.

Inspired by the film’s signature style and musical performances, the update lets players mix and match everyday outfits and stage-ready looks. A new in-game music player also features four songs from the soundtrack: “How It’s Done,” “Golden,” “Soda Pop,” and “Your Idol.” The songs will be available for a limited time, allowing players to incorporate them into their storytelling experiences.

The collaboration builds on Toca Boca World’s previous partnerships with Adidas, Conan Gray, Katseye, and Wicked: For Good, as well as its integration of music from artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Sienna Spiro, and Twice.

The partnership also extends to Netflix Playground, where Toca Boca Jr Kitchen has received a KPop Demon Hunters-inspired update. The new content transforms the cooking game into a colorful experience while retaining its core gameplay. The updated game is available on iOS and Android devices at no additional cost with a Netflix subscription.