Texts vs. Games – Fan Archives and the Elder Scrolls Narrative Universe
How do fan-made archives of a game series’ texts relate to the official titles? Dennis Jansen’s article explains that deciding …
Getting a Grip on Reality – Agency in Horror Games
Sometimes you are in control, sometimes not. Casper S. Boonen and Daniel Mieritz delve into horror games with their Agency …
A Change in the Conventions? Video Game Narratives and Non-Monogamy
Non-monogamy in various forms is becoming increasingly visible in the society and media of today, but what is non-monogamy representation …
Fresh Blood in Survival Horror – Darkwood
Darkwood blends survival horror and roguelike elements seamlessly and still somehow avoids the major pitfalls of either genre.
Breaking the Tropes – Masculinity in Firewatch
Melissa Kagen argues that Firewatch shines a light on the issues of toxic masculinity in gaming and lets the player …
Too Steep a Hill to Die on – Celeste, Assist Mode, and Accessibility
Does using accessibility features somehow taint the original intended game experience, or does it make more sense to ensure that …
Fighting the Unknowable – Arkham Horror 3rd Edition
Arkham Horror is a great experience when it strikes the elusive balance between punishing difficulty and successful, rewarding progression.
Nausea & Neurodiving – Artistic Statement vs. Player Enjoyment in ‘Observer’ and Beyond
Observer connects with the player on an uncomfortable meta-level. But does that really suit a video game?
Lightsaber Cardio – Beat Saber Review
Beat Saber came out of nowhere and rocked my world with its unrelenting audiovisual barrage of rhythm-game-meets-jedi-knight action.
The Ending of SOMA – And Why It’s Excellent
SOMA ends both predictably and unpredictably, underlining its theme of what it means to be human.
Unstable Unicorns review
A “stable” favorite among casual card games for me, Unstable Unicorns knows what it’s doing and does it well.
More Than Just a Game: Virtual Reality and Player Experience
What happens when virtual reality can trick you into believing that it is not just a simulation?
Remember Me review
The cyberpunk world of Remember Me has heaps of potential, but is hopelessly constrained by its linearity.
Pixels & Peculiarity – Yume Nikki Review
Surreal and unyieldingly cryptic even after 14 years, the dream world of Yume Nikki has not lost its touch.
‘I’ and the Game: The Forms of the Player’s Subjectivity in a Digital Game
Player identification in digital games can take many forms.
The Critical Dystopia of The Last of Us
The Last of Us offers a grim warning to the player as a critical dystopia.
Cards Against Humanity
Cards Against Humanity plays its cards right when you laugh at the things you should not.
Decibels & Destruction: The Soundtrack of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Its Role in the Game
The soundtrack of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is much more than just palatable background noise.
The Design of the Walker Game Experience
Alexander Muscat et al. explore the design themes that make up “walking simulators” or walker games.
Days Gone By: Nostalgia in Game Design
Nostalgia can rise from the most mundane things and drive players to explore.
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