Robert Zacny
You Don’t a Need Branching Narrative to Give Players Choice
Not every dialogue or gameplay choice has to result in a different outcome, but allowing players to express their feelings about a narrative can go a long way.
Streamer Banned After “Joke” Hoping Coronavirus Kills Old and Poor People
Kaceytron has a history of edgelord humor, and based on Twitch’s history, the streamer will be back soon enough.
'Kentucky Route Zero' Pays Off on Nine Years of Hope and Doubt
A masterful exploration of shame, debt, magic, and capitalism comes to its surprising conclusion.
What Does It Really Mean to Be an Indie Game?
With 'Handmade Pixels' one of gaming's most popular academics tries to figure out the logic behind a messy, contested label.
The Netflix Witcher Series Thinks Way Too Big, Way Too Fast
A quintessential "low fantasy" series grounded in everyday realism gets reimagined as yet another story of court politics and important events.
Baby Sonic Must Be Devoured
Baby Sonic is too cute, and the only thing to do is turn him into a cake and eat up every last piece of him.
Episodic Games Were the Future, and the Future Was Dead on Arrival
Games like 'Hitman' and 'Life is Strange' showed the magic of a shared, episodic experience. They also showed its fragility.
'Wattam' Is a Children's Guide to Eco-Radicalism
'Katamari Damacy' designer Keita Takahashi thinks friendship is our best shot at saving the planet.
How the Photo Mode Became a Homogenized Feature of Commodified Games
Ghosts with weightless cameras, photographing lifeless worlds.
The Best Game of 2019 Won't Let You Be a Hero
The best video games of the year either made you powerless in the face of incomprehensible forces, or just let you get a mental break.
A Spoiler-Filled Discussion of the Gendered Baggage of 'Death Stranding'
The thin line between an emotional weight and an Acme anvil.