Our top pick of the week: Starfield

What's this? Polygon's newsletter has arrived a full day early?

With the holiday weekend coming and the Starfield embargo lifted, we figured: Why not get some of our best stories into your inbox as soon as possible? So let's get right to the big question. Is Starfield good?

Well... it's complicated. Read our full Starfield review, in which our critic digs into what's special about the space adventure and what could have been trimmed during the game's eight-year development cycle.

Polygon's Patch Notes is a weekly newsletter that shares the best stuff to watch, play, and read. Let our band of editorial experts simplify your plans. Subscribe here.

This week on TikTok | The ultimate ranking of horribly sexually dimorphized animals in animation | "Daffy Duck is butt naked in the living room."

6 stories to read

Baldur's Gate 3 is changing the way people play D&D for the better | A crash course in dense mechanics paves the way for more possibilities around the table.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder brings awe back to 2D Mario | Our hands-on impressions: The new Wonder Flowers aren't quite power-ups — they're instruments for demonstrating Nintendo's creativity.

X-Men and Star Wars turned sci-fi into Simon Kinberg's career — and there's more to come | Polygon talks to the writer-director-producer about his world-building career as Invasion season 2 descends upon Apple TV Plus.

The Justified spinoff reminds us how great Justified really was | The new episodes of the FX series show how many jokes Raylan Givens' world was built on.

To Ms. Marvel actor Iman Vellani, joining the X-Men is a lot like joining the MCU | "Kamala is dealing with a very massive change in her life right now, and that kind of happened to me."

Dune's set photographer climbed desert cliffs to capture Denis Villeneuve's vision | Photographer Chiabella James has collected her incredible set images in the book Dune Part One: The Photography.

6 things to watch

One Piece on Netflix | The adaptation grinds down the greatest manga ever until it's just content.

The Nightmare Before Christmas on 4K Blu-ray and Disney Plus | Disney gave the holiday-season classic an incredible upgrade.

Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia in theaters | Polygon Recommends | The animated movie has a strong message about dealing with authoritarian overreach — like book bans.

Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake on Max | How did Adventure Time end, again?

6 mecha anime to watch if you love Armored Core 6 | Strap in for the very best in military sci-fi anime action.

Every movie and show coming to Netflix in September | It's time for a jazz flute revival.

3 games to play

Sea of Stars | It shines at times, but falls short of its inspirations. Available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

Starfield | Xbox's big exclusive takes on the vastness of space. Available on Windows PC and Xbox Series X.

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk | D&D's latest campaign book feels specially made for Baldur's Gate 3 fans. Available starting Sept. 19 as a physical product.

Free game of the week

Vulture Movies Fantasy League | The Vulture Movies Fantasy League is back for the 2023-2024 season! What is this fantasy league, you may ask? It's very easy, very fun, and very free: You use the MFL draft form to assemble a team of eight movies released in 2023, using a budget of $100 in fake bucks to spend on your picks. You have until noon EDT on September 28 to select your team.

After that, your movies will start earning you points based on their box office returns, critical reception, and awards and nominations. Each week starting Wednesday, October 4, we'll update the standings and you'll get a newsletter summary written by returning host and gamemaster, Joe Reid. Whichever team has the highest score following the Oscars wins. (Prizes will be awarded!)

The best of the rest

TKO: Street Fighter 2: The Animated Movie is getting the 4K Blu-ray treatment it deserves.
Game Girl: A live-action Pokémon show premieres this fall — but it won't look like the games at all.
Love connection: Our Flag Means Death's season 2 teaser will make the fandom lose its shit.
Core lore: Critical Role's next graphic novel explores Dr. Ripley's rise to power.
Glow up: The new Analogue Pocket is absolutely ectoplasmic.
War games: Armored Core 6 players are making amazing Gundam, Evangelion, and Kirby mechs.
FISHY: Stardew Valley's fishing minigame is now a Wordle-like.
When the pawn drops: Hans Niemann drops $100M lawsuit against Chess.com and Magnus Carlsen.
But why: Lara Croft has never looked better than she does in... Call of Duty?