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Games

An Unsung Hero of Gaming History Deserves a Higher Profile

Jerry Lawson, the inventor of the game cartridge, isn't quite a household name. A podcast aims to shed some light on his life and accomplishments.

What to Play When You’re Not Playing Wordle

Once a day may not be enough. Try these 14 alternatives.

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Reviews and Impressions 

Jackbox's 8th Party Pack Is Worth It For Drawful: Animate Alone

Which is good, because the rest of the pack is uneven and, at times, downright confusing.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy Is a Wasted Opportunity

This “definitive edition” is a buggy and broken trip down memory lane. You might want to stay at home.

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: How They Compare 1 Year Later

Sony and Microsoft have had a year to address supply shortages and improve game libraries for their new consoles. Here's how they stack up.

Culture and Criticism

This Fallout TV Show Is a Terrible Idea—Unless It's a Comedy

Game studio Bethesda’s successful franchise is full of surrealist comedy, and Amazon’s forthcoming adaptation should reflect this.

Are Rhythm Games Ready for a Comeback?

Big publishers stepped away from the genre that spawned Guitar Hero and Rock Band. But a few small studios—and hungry fans—are keeping the dream alive.

Tabletop RPG Rule Books Can Be Beautiful and Accessible

Role-playing rule books are being designed to be more experimental and unique. Here’s how they can be designed for accessibility, too.

Galloping Ghost Gives Arcade Gaming an Extra Life

One of the world's largest arcades is still making history, preserving video games for posterity and inviting anyone who wants to play to the table.

Gear & Tips

Mirrorscape Wants to Conjure Your Favorite Tabletop Game in AR

Meet one of the companies that's bridging pen-and-paper play with the connectedness of digital gaming.

The Best Starting Words to Win at Wordle

Want a leg up at the word game that everyone's talking about? These tips can help you dive in more easily.

19 Surprising Things Your Nintendo Switch Can Do

Did you just get one of Nintendo's three Switch consoles? Here are some of their best (and most secret) abilities!

The Exercise Games That Can Actually Get You Off the Couch

A new generation of “exergames” take adventure, community, and fitness to a new level. Here's how to use them to build a lasting exercise habit.

Guardians of the Galaxy Made Me Love Linear Games

Open worlds can be fantastic, but they can also be exhausting.

Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Deal and the Post-Console World

Microsoft is betting on a future more focused on games than hardware.

He Made a Covid-Zapping Video Game. Then He Fought Covid for Real

An indie developer made a shoot-em-up game where the player battles giant viruses. Shortly before the game's release, he wound up in the hospital.

Gaming Giant Unity Wants to Digitally Clone the World

The company is leveraging its technology to help clients make “digital twins”—virtual copies of real-life objects, environments, and even people.

The Gritty, Underground Network Bringing Japan’s Arcades to the US

After falling in love with an obscure anime rhythm game, I became obsessed with obtaining a machine of my own—or finding the people who could.

Game Studios Are Turning Play Into Work

Video games are being split into titles geared toward fun and those that beguile us into productivity with points, rewards, and even NFTs.

Cozy Grove Saved Me While Stuck on a Train for 35 Hours

Last week’s massive snowstorm in the northeast left me stranded with a toddler. A Nintendo Switch helped us keep our cool.

Riot Games Investigates Esports Team Founder Over Bullying Claims

Andy “Reginald” Dinh, the founder and CEO of TSM, has been accused of verbal abuse and bullying by employees and esports pros.

Skábma: Snowfall Is a Huge Win for Indigenous Game Makers

The game tells the story of a Sámi reindeer herder reconnecting with the ancient ways of his people.

Video Games Already Do What the Metaverse Just Promises

Virtual hang-outs, digital currency, weddings? Online games have been making space for these things for decades. 

'Gaymers' Are Taking Brazil by Storm

Dressed in drag, Brazilian streamers are breaking stereotypes with a lot of humor and a dash of glitter.

Indie City-Building Games Finally Reckon With Climate Change

City- and empire-builders like Cities: Skylines totally simplify the climate crisis, if they address it at all. A new wave of titles are far more complex.

The Pixel Art Revolution Will Be Televised

How pixel art rose through 3D gaming's dominance to win the hearts of modern players.

The 9 Games We Loved in 2021

In a year of continued stasis, these games brought us a lot of joy.

Why 2021 Was the Biggest Year for the Labor Movement in Games

Working conditions at top studios have been criticized before, but this year saw a significant increase in protests and organizing by employees.

In 2021, Gaming Was Crucial and Also a Privilege

With pressures bearing down and social gatherings still fraught, gaming has become important for many people's mental health, but it's also quite expensive.

The Metaverse Land Rush Is an Illusion

The “real estate of the future” is plagued by buggy software, empty servers, and huge opportunities for abuse.

The Best Indie Games You May Have Missed in 2021

It's been a great year for developers and gamers alike.

Snagged a PS5? Here Are Tips for Setting It Up

Here’s how to transfer your data from a PS4, log into a PSN account, set up multiple accounts, and make the most of your new console.