Minecraft

Developer Mojang Publisher Mojang, Microsoft Studios Format Android, iOS, PC, PS4, Switch, Wii U, Xbox One Release 2009

Dandara

This is, conceptually at least, the modern indie game at its worst: Game X meets Game Y, with a twist.

The Inpatient

Wouldn’t you know it, we’ve only gone and got amnesia again.

Drinkbox Studios

Stickability, stress and creative courage: how a small studio finally established itself.

Monument Valley 2

Monument Valley 2

Micro Machines World Series

Micro Machines World Series

Sea Of Thieves

Sea Of Thieves

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Wolfenstein Ii: The New Colossus

Wolfenstein Ii: The New Colossus

FE

A pint-size polyglot is the star of Zoink Games’ magical new adventure

Post Script

Smoothing out the skill curve: in praise of simple combat systems

Ok Ko! Let's Play Heroes

Battles account for around half the game, and unless you’re a fan of the TV series it’s much the better one

Prepare To Live

Death is an opportunity in Hidetaka Miyazaki’s most punishing game to date.

Trigger Happy

Shoot first, ask questions later.

Big Picture Mode

Industry issues given the widescreen treatment.

Hold To Reset

Building a new game, a new studio and a new life from the ground up.

The Making Of . . .​ Little Nightmares

How Tarsier curbed its creative hunger by daring to step out alone.

Vampyr

What should be atmospheric becomes simply dreary as roleplaying turns into drudgery.

My Favourite Game Yuri Lowenthal

The actor and voice of Marvel’s Spider-Man on bringing theatre to games, and the magic of the text adventure.

Reality Bites

Sales are struggling, execs are jumping ship and investors aren’t convinced. Has the VR bubble burst already?

Recompile

This hack-happy Metroidvania’s raw energy powers our curiosity.

Left Alive

Rumours of Front Mission's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

An Audience With… Amy Hennig

The storied creative director and writer on starting a new studio and sticking to your guns

Small Wonder

Created with care, for people who love videogames, Panic’s dinky handheld is the console no-one saw coming

World War Z

Despite each location’s visual flourishes and incidental details, every mission involves the same prosaic treks from A to B

Islanders

Sometimes you find yourself having to curb your aesthetic instincts for the sake of your points tally

No Code

The embryonic stages of a family-run developer intent on upending expectations

My Favourite Game Sam Vogel

The future bass pacemaker known as Jauz on Halo montage music, Kingdom Hearts and Overwatch’s EDM potential

Those Who Show Up

Microsoft seizes the advantage as the industry gears up for a new generation

Super Mario Maker 2

A rare example of a Nintendo sequel that’s been brought to a console for which it’s not wholly suited