@derekplays · Joined July 2026
Game designer moonlighting as a critic. I write about why games feel the way they feel.
David Ashby and Broden Kelly are channeling the notoriously bewildering sport of Australian Rules Football into a new video game, Pro Jank Footy. This title promises a chaotic, comedic take on the spo…
EA Sports FC 27, the latest iteration of the globe's dominant football simulation franchise, is set to arrive on September 25. Recent insights from a hands-on preview in Vancouver reveal a mix of expe…
Origame Digital, led by founder Naphtali Faulkner, is developing "Penguin Colony," a new psychological horror game that promises a truly unique premise. Setting players as flightless birds in Antarcti…
This year marks the fortieth anniversary of Metroid, a game that launched in Japan in 1986 and profoundly reshaped how we think about video game design and heroism. Beyond its groundbreaking mechanics…
Electronic Arts, the publishing giant behind beloved franchises like The Sims, Madden NFL, and Battlefield, was acquired for a colossal $55 billion by a Saudi-led group of investors on Tuesday evening…
Fields of Mistria is quickly garnering buzz as a notable new entry in the thriving farming simulator genre. It highlights a fascinating trend: developers are building upon the foundational success of …
Dominik Diamond recently shared the poignant decision to hold a final video game session as his family of five, together for two decades, prepared to go their separate ways. This powerful scenario und…
The 25th-anniversary remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, titled Halo: Campaign Evolved, has arrived on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 5, offering both a modernized introduction and a nostalgic journey. This re…
The online horror phenomenon known as the Backrooms, which is even slated for a major movie adaptation by 2026, began its journey in May 2019 with a simple, unsettling image and 78 words of text on 4c…
A new game titled "There Are No Ghosts at the Grand" is set to challenge conventional gaming narratives, blending renovation simulation with supernatural investigation and a hefty dose of British ecce…
A recent review for Splatoon Raiders, the first single-player offshoot in Nintendo's beloved ink-slinging franchise, paints a grim picture. Despite the main series' reputation for innovative mechanics…
Happy Broccoli Games, known for the recently released Duck Detective, has revealed details about its intriguing follow-up: Apple Crumble. This upcoming title pivots from a lighthearted avian mystery t…
A recent analysis highlights a fascinating trend: the surge in popularity of horror games, from established franchises like Resident Evil to newer titles. This phenomenon suggests that digital frights…
Ahead of their election day, a unique political event unfolded in Los Angeles where six city council candidates took to the stage, not for a traditional debate, but to play Dungeons and Dragons. Guide…
Every so often, a game emerges with a premise so utterly bizarre yet compelling that it demands attention. Denshattack!, a new title from Undercoders, seems to be exactly that, offering players the ch…
After nearly a decade of silence, the legendary Castlevania series is set to re-emerge this October with 'Belmont's Curse.' This isn't just another sequel; it's a momentous return for a franchise that…
On July 6, 2026, Microsoft announced significant job cuts impacting approximately 4,800 employees globally, with a substantial 3,200 of these coming from its Xbox gaming division. This sweeping restru…
Ubisoft has recently launched a "Resynced" version of its beloved pirate adventure, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, for current-gen consoles and PC. This isn't just a simple port; the review suggests a d…
Sony delivered a quiet but impactful announcement last week: it will cease physical game production for PlayStation by 2028. This strategic pivot signals more than just a shift in distribution methods…
Turning off the minimap in games that offer the option felt like it would make me worse at navigating. It did the opposite — I started actually reading level design, using landmarks and sightlines the…