‘I can’t kill a wolf but will happily watch a Sim drown’: murder and morality in video games
From being unable to harvest ‘little sister’ characters but happy to kill others freely, to playing the Legend of Zelda as a vegan – gaming ethics are complex and highly personal
August 2023
Pushing Buttons newsletter
Why Red Dead Redemption’s return could be another rerelease gone wrong
I’ve been waiting to replay this taut, sometimes beautiful western since I binged it years ago. But fans are right to fear that a new port may not live up to its potential
March 2022
Pushing Buttons newsletter
From Zelda to Elden Ring – how to make time for gaming when you have a busy life
‘A giant grey cube floating above the landscape’: exploring the forbidden reaches of Red Dead Redemption 2
September 2021
The 15 greatest games of the 2010s – ranked!
The 2010s birthed games that changed the world, from Grand Theft Auto V to Pokémon Go. In a decade with so many exceptional games to pick from, which will win out?
February 2021
On my radar
On my radar: Matt Haig's cultural highlights
The author reveals a secret weapon in mastering the piano, a favourite philosophical podcast, and a book on our animal nature
August 2020
Since travel is off the cards (for now) I'm exploring the vast terrain of video game worlds
Andy Hazel
The open-ended worlds of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim or Red Dead Redemption 2 can arouse the housebound traveller’s sense of adventure
July 2020
Ready viewer one: from God of War to Red Dead, the games that deserve a TV show
HBO is developing a series of The Last of Us, EA has a Sims reality show, but which other video games could work on the small screen
May 2020
Escaping lockdown into a world of video games is nothing to feel guilty about
Francisco Garcia
Right now, we all need to take refuge somewhere, and there are worse things than a few snatched hours on Animal Crossing or Red Dead Redemption, says journalist Francisco Garcia
March 2020
Now's the time – 15 epic video games for the socially isolated
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
February 2020
Grand Theft Auto mastermind Dan Houser leaves Rockstar Games
Co-writer of the multimillion-selling series to step down in March, leaving question marks over long-awaited sixth instalment
September 2019
Best culture of the 21st century
The 50 best video games of the 21st century
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
April 2019
Why I love notebooks in video games
Paul Walker-Emig
Bafta games awards: God of War wins best game of the year
March 2019
Bafta games awards 2019: God of War leads nominations
Epic mythological fighting game picks up 10 nominations, chased by Red Dead Redemption 2, Return of the Obra Dinn and Florence with six nominations each. See the full list here
January 2019
Birdwatching like it's 1889: my bird odyssey in Red Dead Redemption 2
In the hit video game, a birder finds joy and despair in a realistic portrayal of wildlife in the pre-conservation era
December 2018
Observer critics' review of 2018
Simon Parkin’s best video games of 2018
Best culture 2018
'A hidden gem!': Readers on their top video games of 2018
November 2018
Red Dead Online: Red Dead Redemption 2 multiplayer to launch this week
All the pretty horses: how Red Dead Redemption 2’s majestic steeds were made
