Guillermo del Toro Reveals His Everyday Angry Birds Habit at SDCC 2026
Guillermo del Toro—who starred in Death Stranding and has long described himself as a devoted gamer—shared a set of standout favorites during a conversation at San Diego Comic Con 2026, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Pan’s Labyrinth.
Guillermo del Toro’s top game picks
Del Toro discussed several games that have stuck with him over the years, including Journey, Left 4 Dead, and Monument Valley. He also singled out specific moments and feelings tied to other titles.
- Death Stranding: del Toro said it “made me cry.”
- Shadow of the Colossus: he described it as something that made him “introspective about so many intangible things.”
- Bioshock: he called it “a world I could get lost in for ages.”
- Angry Birds: he called it his most surprising favorite and said he plays it “every day” and is “really good at it,” citing its iconic upbeat theme and bright, cheerful visuals.
- Dead Cells: he praised the game and joked that he asked the developers for a version without respawning, aimed at older players.
What del Toro said about “Dead Cells” and respawning
In his remarks about Dead Cells, del Toro said he dislikes respawning because it creates a loop where players get “about 35 levels and then you start again.” While he acknowledged that progress can feel quicker, he asked for an alternative mode designed for “the older” and “the elderly” players.
His request was delivered as a direct plea to the developers, asking for a no-respawn version and offering himself as a contact point.
When you can hear more
An extended interview with Guillermo del Toro will be published later this year as part of the IGN30 Icons series. In the meantime, the series includes past episodes, including a conversation with Ken Levine, creator of System Shock 2 and Bioshock.
