All mainstream attempts are designed to fail.
The latest laser based fusion system did not generate energy at all. There just a bit more energy coming out than laser light came in. But to generate the laser light, 100x more energy was needed. For some reason this is not in the science news.

The solar physics one which they are based is also wrong. But I have seen some alternative versions that can create a full functional fusion reactor in your garage.
The most mainstream one is focus fusion, which uses a linear plasma stream and magnetic focus to create a concentration.

A more advanced one is Safire project, which just uses a strong electrical current in a plasma to generate fusion. Very similar to a solar flare. Their products are also the same as from the sun. And it looks like a small sun. Because of the similarities with solar physics and the experimental results, I find this approach very promising. The electrical forces appear to change the nuclear reactions in a way that is not well understood by mainstream, so there is a lot of resistance from the mainstream. But we also know that mainstream Quantum Electrodynamics was proven in mainstream to be based on a lie.

But is this on purpose, or because theoretical science is like a religion? I don't know exactly. But from the CIA and nuclear research insiders, there are rumors that important nuclear discoveries are being kept secret.