Pushing Buttons: readers’ memories of the game-changing Game Boy at 35
The Game Boy at 35: a portal to other magical worlds
January 2024
Oklahoma 13-year-old believed to be first person ever to beat Tetris
Previously only bots and AI had got game to its ‘kill screen’ but Willis Gibson managed to get game to freeze with score 999999
November 2023
Tetris puts me in a state of zen. If only it did the same for my family
Dominik Diamond
I hoped the cat-herding for a family gaming night would be worth it to enjoy one of the most soothing games ever. But the bricks did not line up
August 2023
The Tetris Effect author says film-makers copied his story brick for brick
Dan Ackerman sues Apple and game company, saying they blocked his approaches to adapt book into movie, then did it anyway
March 2023
Deals, drama and danger: the incredible true story behind Tetris
Tetris review – rise of 80s game makes for mostly entertaining drama
February 2023
‘Get something that’s fun to play, then think about the story’: how Nintendo keeps levelling up
With 100m sales of its Switch console, a new Mario movie and even a California theme park, the Japanese tech giant is riding high again. What’s its secret?
February 2022
Beyond Wordle: the best word games to try next
Whether you are frustrated by the smash hit puzzle, or hungry for more, there are endless alternatives out there - but which are the best?
January 2022
Would you play a video game for 500 hours?
Modern video games boast longer and longer playtimes – but does the idea of spending hundreds of hours on a game make you feel excited, or exhausted?
November 2021
Experience
Experience: I’m the best Tetris player in the world
I’m only 13, but my brother and I both qualified for the World Championships. In the final it was just us, facing off for the title
May 2021
The 15 greatest video games of the 80s – ranked!
Button-bashing arcade sports vied with the thrill of urban planning, Pac-Man ate up everything, and Super Mario Bros smashed gaming into the mainstream
July 2019
Tetris Effect review – makes your skin tingle and your mind hum
This euphoric puzzle game pleasurably hijacks your neural pathways (and your emotions)
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
February 2019
Block party: Nintendo's 99-player Tetris is savaging my self-esteem
The new 99-player version of Tetris is absurdly compelling – but prepare to take a hit to your game-playing ego
December 2018
Observer critics' review of 2018
Simon Parkin’s best video games of 2018
The critical cachet of games continued to grow, Tetris got a Japanese makeover and Fortnite delighted everywhere
May 2017
Games reviews roundup: Sniper Ghost Warrior 3; Puyo Puyo Tetris; PaRappa the Rapper Remastered
The latest in the military shooter series misses the mark, while two retro puzzle games offer simple satisfaction
March 2017
The Audio Long Read
How technology gets us hooked – podcast
From a young age, humans love to press buttons that light up and make a noise. The thrill of positive feedback lies at the heart of addiction to gambling, games and social media
February 2017
The long read
How technology gets us hooked
The Long Read: From a young age, humans love to press buttons that light up and make a noise. The thrill of positive feedback lies at the heart of addiction to gambling, games, and social media
October 2016
Tetris: The Games People Play by Box Brown review – the history of a global phenomenon
This story of idealism, legal wrangling and vast profits reveals a fascinating moment in cultural history
