Crushing it: why millions of people still can’t stop playing Candy Crush
Launched in 2012, the tile-matching puzzler quickly became ubiquitous on phones. More than 10 years later, 200 million people are still playing. Why?
July 2024
Thank Goodness You’re Here! review – sheer vivacity and dark charm
Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure review – shifting expectations
June 2024
14 unusual video games to discover in 2024
We pick through the best of the summer showcases to find interesting games to look out for in the near future
April 2024
Brief letters
Feast app brings joy after my bike accident
Seriously, where are all the nine-letter words beginning with S?
High scores
‘I was trying to create the sound of a really warm hug’: the poignant story behind Monument Valley 2’s music
Swan greet (anag, 5,4) re the new Quick Cryptic
A skate through cyberspace: on the edge with the Now Play This festival of experimental video games
Square dancing: why do we still love the Rubik’s Cube?
March 2024
Pushing Buttons newsletter
The surreal, colourful Katamari Damacy is 20 – and still the weirdest game I have ever loved
This wacky Japanese game leaves a lifelong impression on everyone who plays it, if only because they can’t get its theme music out of their head
February 2024
Brief letters
A bit of a bashing for Swedish neutrality
Brief letters: Scary Swedes | Sunak the gambler | Swear words | Puzzle enigma
January 2024
Not black and white: are crossword puzzles really good for your brain?
A study indicated that crossword fans had better cognitive function in old age, but experts say it’s still a cryptic question
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
2023 Christmas puzzles special
Can you spot the 24 things that were a thing in 2023 in this Stephen Collins Christmas cartoon?
Ready, get set, start looking. Answers below (no cheating now!)
2023 in Culture
The 20 best video games of 2023
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
