‘Ghostface Killah wanted to be a homicidal eagle!’ – Def Jam: Fight for NY at 20
Marking the anniversary, the creators of the rap beef beat-em-up sequel share memories of transforming Flavor Flav and Snoop Dogg into legendary video game characters
July 2024
Press x to skip: it’s time we retired the video game cutscene
Keith Stuart
Non-interactive cinematic sequences remove control from our hands at games’ most emotional moments. Can’t players be trusted to take part in stories?
June 2024
Best culture of 2024 so far
The best video games of 2024 so far
Survive a spooky theme park, embark on a punishing journey through ancient Iceland or try your hand at a magical card game – the year’s best games so far
February 2024
Street fighting years: when Tekken and its enemies ruled the world
The fighting game was once at the bleeding edge of what games could do – as well as being great fun to play with your mates after the pub
December 2023
2024 culture preview
The best games to look forward to in 2024
A first open-world Star Wars saga, something lurks beneath a North Sea oil rig and Tekken 8 continues to blend stylish and ridiculous – the hotly anticipated games of the year to come
Video games and musical theatre: 2023’s most unlikely crossover?
There has been a remarkable intersection between video games and musical performance this year, from villains lending vocals to their own theme tunes to interactive songs
Doorman’s holiday: a security guard’s take on stealth games
George Bass
As a bouncer, you might not think that trying to outwit guards would be relaxing for me – but stealth games do make me think about my job a little differently
November 2023
Thirsty Suitors review – emotional combat that’s equal parts funny, horny and heartfelt
Your bitter exes are the enemies in this turn-based adventure, which has you talk through your feelings even while delivering kick-ass martial arts moves
October 2023
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria review – mining a shallow vein
Picking up after the defeat of Sauron, in Tolkien-world terms, this survival game traps you in the dwarven mines, fighting green-skins and crafting weapons as you go – but it’s a bit one-dimensional
September 2023
Mortal Kombat 1 review – Johnny Cage and co return with the same old moves
How Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III was written: ‘you start with sticky notes’
August 2023
Summer games previews
Corgis and cats with crossbows: Party Animals wants to be your new Saturday night video game
‘They should be called Bruce-’em-ups’ – how Bruce Lee shaped fighting games
May 2023
Street Fighter 6 review – the new king of fighting games
With a flashy new array of combat moves and ‘modern’ controls that even beginners can use to create masterful moves, this is an addictive TKO
April 2023
Pushing Buttons newsletter
Pushing Buttons: Is the brutal new police ‘bodycam’ shoot ’em up game too indistinguishable from reality?
Dead Island 2 review – rollicking zombie hack-n-slasher has missed its moment
February 2023
Found in translation: how Like a Dragon brings Japan to the rest of the world
The game series formerly known as Yakuza has been an inroad to modern Japan for its legions of overseas fans. Now, it hopes to do the same for Japanese history
Wild Hearts review – fantastic beasts and where to fight them
This wonderfully weird creature-hunter has an unending supply of memorably unhinged, massive foes; it may not be an all-timer but it’s fun while you’re fighting
Simon Parkin on games
Hi-Fi Rush review – a brawler set to the beat of a drum
This music-centred adventure pits a teenage boy against robotic assassins in a colourful title for gamers of all talents
January 2023
Super Bomberman saved my Christmas – and my middle-aged gaming dad pride
Dominik Diamond
Dominik Diamond’s 18-year-old son was setting off for his first Christmas away from home. How could he send him off with memories to savour?
