An Old ‘Kingdom Hearts’ Save File Stirs More Than Nostalgia
Most games begin by teaching mechanics. Kingdom Hearts begins with an introspection that has followed me for decades.
Games
Video Game Storytelling Is a World-Colliding Reinvention
Whereas the novel specializes in psychological interiority, video game storytelling allows players to experiment outwardly in world-colliding fashion.
‘One Way Home’ and the Evolution of Childhood Horror
One Way Home doesn’t revolutionize childhood horror; it’s part of the evolution of a subgenre that continues to find new ways to explore familiar fears.
‘Promise Mascot Agency’ Shows the Power within the Pinky
Promise Mascot Agency‘s hilarious and grim open-world game shows we hold power for positive change within; even in our little pinky fingers.
‘MIO: Memories in Orbit’ Is a Metroidvania with Soul
MIO: Memories in Orbit isn’t just another entry in the Metroidvania catalog; it’s a meditation on consciousness and identity in a space where the line between organic and artificial life is blurred.
Will ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Be Worth the Wait?
The year-long delay of Grand Theft Auto VI‘s release is making gamers restless. Meanwhile, at least we can go “fishing”.
‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ Studies the Power of Legacy
In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the characters don’t cling to cosmic promises or ordained fates; they find meaning in deliberate choices made in the shadow of annihilation.
33 Immortals’ Brutal Roguelike Burns within Dante’s ‘Inferno’
33 Immortals‘ grotesque, hellish landscapes and haunting soundtrack immerse players in a nightmarish journey into Dante’s Inferno.
Playing ‘Monster Hunter Wilds’ Is Catharsis for Resisting Authoritarianism
In its cathartic gameplay, Monster Hunter Wilds shows that even the world’s grandest predators can fall when their weaknesses are understood and exploited.
‘Avowed’ Conveys the Weight of Words In Our Times
Avowed is a charming, old-fashioned fantasy RPG reminiscent of The Elder Scrolls series that teaches players to be mindful of their words.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II’s Success Lies in Its Meme-Worthiness
Arguably 2025’s best RPG video game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II‘s success stems largely from its humorous meme appeal.
Scarity Is Stressed in Video Game ‘Citizen Sleeper II: Starward Vector’
I’ve never played a video game so punishing as Citizen Sleeper II: Starward Vector, which stresses scarcity by playing for scraps.