From skateboard romances and a horror fishing simulator to the return of beloved classics and the ever-enduring appeal of Zelda, 2023 was a bumper year for gaming. Our critics pick their favourites

Set in ninth-century Baghdad, this latest iteration of the murderous mega-series has cleared out recent bloated extras, leaving you with just a sword and dagger

Composer Brendan Angelides was cautious about agreeing to write the soundtrack for the latest edition of Ubisoft’s blockbuster. But working Palestinian composer and orchestrator Akram Haddad helped

How do you create the audio DNA of a new game series? How do you make time travel sound like time travel? And how does electronic music match with a medieval adventure? Composer Jesper Kyd reveals all

Modern video games boast longer and longer playtimes – but does the idea of spending hundreds of hours on a game make you feel excited, or exhausted?

Over lockdown, comedian, mother of two and former games journalist Ellie Gibson took up livestreaming, loved the community – and learned to love playing again

I can see how a live-action TV series based on the hit video game series might just work. Forget the tortured mythology – just stick to running around and fighting

From dark dungeons and the streets of Tokyo to enchanted forests and distant planets, here are the 100-hour games that you may finally have time to master

Want to build worlds, become a crime kingpin, get lost in space, or enter the afterlife? Then our countdown of the 50 best games of the era has something for you

Once regarded as inferior to film and TV soundtracks, games scores are gaining recognition and awards as a valid form of contemporary classical music