Gaming NPR explores the latest in games and gaming culture — from the latest digital titles to what's on our tabletops.

Gaming

Saturday December 18, 2021

(Clockwise) Wildermyth, Forza Horizon 5, Metroid Dread, Deathloop, Psychonauts 2 NPR hide caption

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NPR

Culture

The best games of 2021 chosen by NPR

December 18, 2021 • Our poll of NPR staff and contributors produced dozens dozens of favorite games. We've tagged ones that are appropriate for kids, and for those who may be new to the hobby.

The top five video games of 2021 selected by the NPR staff

(Clockwise) It Takes Two, Resident Evil 8: Village, Life is Strange: True Colors, Valheim and Inscryption NPR hide caption

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NPR

Humor & Fun

The top five video games of 2021 selected by the NPR staff

December 18, 2021 • Our picks for best new games run from the humorous to the horrific (sometimes, both at once!), from tight single-player stories to sprawling online sandboxes.

The top five video games of 2021 selected by the NPR staff

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Tuesday December 14, 2021

'Halo Infinite' wows on both single and multiplayer — but needs more legacy features

Master Chief stands tall on the planet Zeta Halo. 343 Industries hide caption

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343 Industries

Humor & Fun

'Halo Infinite' wows on both single and multiplayer — but needs more legacy features

December 14, 2021 • It's the third shot at a mainline Halo game by video game developer 343 Industries, and it nailed both the single-player and multiplayer offerings that give the franchise its reverence.

Friday October 22, 2021

The creator of 'Stardew Valley' announces his spooky new game: 'Haunted Chocolatier'

Gamers can practice their chocolate-making arts in Haunted Chocolatier. ConcernedApe hide caption

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ConcernedApe

Games

The creator of 'Stardew Valley' announces his spooky new game: 'Haunted Chocolatier'

October 22, 2021 • The solo developer behind Stardew Valley says he's at work on a new game, all about "magical haunted ghost chocolate." Haunted Chocolatier is already getting fan excitement, but no release date yet.

Wednesday August 4, 2021

This Remake Of A Beloved Game Has The Style — But Lacks A Little Substance

Buddies Rindo and Fret fight for their lives on the streets of a strange alternate Tokyo in NEO: The World Ends With You Square Enix hide caption

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Square Enix

Games

This Remake Of A Beloved Game Has The Style — But Lacks A Little Substance

August 4, 2021 • Not a remaster or a reissue, NEO is a genuine sequel to the hit 2007 Japanese RPG that cast you and your friends as fashionable Tokyo kids battling for your lives in a strange alternate world.

Thursday July 22, 2021

Nintendo Makes Some Needed Improvements In 'Skyward Sword HD' (We See You, Fi)

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Nintendo

Games

Nintendo Makes Some Needed Improvements In 'Skyward Sword HD' (We See You, Fi)

July 22, 2021 • Nintendo has released a newly remastered version of the classic Zelda game Skyward Sword — and while it's still a beautiful game, not all of the original's flaws have been addressed.

Wednesday July 14, 2021

Mamma Mia! Super Mario 64 Is The First Video Game To Sell For More Than $1 Million

An anonymous bidder won a pristine copy of a 1996 Nintendo Mario 64 for $1.56 million, according to Heritage Auctions. Heritage Auctions hide caption

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Heritage Auctions

Games

Mamma Mia! Super Mario 64 Is The First Video Game To Sell For More Than $1 Million

July 14, 2021 • A copy of Nintendo's Super Mario 64 sold for $1.56 million at auction, breaking the record for most expensive video game. "I was ... a bit blindsided," says Valarie McLeckie of the auction house.

Mamma Mia! Super Mario 64 Is The First Video Game To Sell For More Than $1 Million

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Tuesday June 22, 2021

This Farming Video Game Is So Popular, People Pay To Watch Gamers Play It

Farming Simulator is a realistic farming experience — minus bugs, droughts and disasters. Giants Software hide caption

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Giants Software

Games

This Farming Video Game Is So Popular, People Pay To Watch Gamers Play It

St. Louis Public Radio

June 22, 2021 • The video game Farming Simulator has found a loyal and niche audience in the gaming world. This isn't the cheesy Farmville game from years ago, but one emulating the real challenges of running a farm.

This Farming Video Game Is So Popular, People Pay To Watch Gamers Play It

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Wednesday June 16, 2021

E3 Event Brought Gamers Some Big News — And A Glimpse Of That 'Zelda' Sequel

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands was one of the games players caught a first glimse of at this year's E3. 2K hide caption

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Games

E3 Event Brought Gamers Some Big News — And A Glimpse Of That 'Zelda' Sequel

June 16, 2021 • The Electronic Entertainment Expo isn't quite what it used to be, with several major game developers pulling out over the past few years — but this year's show still managed some pretty big news.

Thursday June 3, 2021

'Biomutant' Is A Beautiful Game, But It Might Be Best For Beginners

Biomutant gives players a beautiful open world to explore. Experiment 101 hide caption

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Experiment 101

Games

'Biomutant' Is A Beautiful Game, But It Might Be Best For Beginners

June 3, 2021 • In this post-apocalyptic vision, you play as a furry little mutant battling and questing through a gorgeous open world. But boring combat and too much hand-holding keep the game from greatness.

Friday May 21, 2021

New Game 'Never Yield' Is A Speedy, Stylish Side-Scroller With Tons Of Replay Value

In "Never Yield," you play as Wally, a mysterious kid who's stolen an important package Aerial_Knight hide caption

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Aerial_Knight

Games

New Game 'Never Yield' Is A Speedy, Stylish Side-Scroller With Tons Of Replay Value

May 21, 2021 • The new speedrunning game from Detroit developer Aerial_Knight combines a Black cyberpunk aesthetic with clear, compelling mechanics for a game you'll want to play over and over again.

Hear 'Land of the Rising Moon,' from 'Never Yield'

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Wednesday May 12, 2021

Today, we're talking about our three favorite video games, which are available to play on the Nintendo Switch and beyond. Angela Hsieh/NPR hide caption

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Three Of Our Favorite Video Games

May 12, 2021 • Sometimes, we dive deep into a new piece of pop culture to grapple with its themes, its relevance and its meaning. But sometimes, you just want us to recommend stuff to watch, read or play. Today, we're recommending three great video games you can pick up and play on the Nintendo Switch and other consoles.

Three Of Our Favorite Video Games

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Friday April 30, 2021

Channel Your Inner Wildlife Photographer And Chill Out With 'New Pokémon Snap'

In the Pokémon Snap games, you're not capturing mons and forcing them to fight — you're taking pictures of them in their natural habitats. Screenshot by Kaity Kline/Nintendo hide caption

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Screenshot by Kaity Kline/Nintendo

Games

Channel Your Inner Wildlife Photographer And Chill Out With 'New Pokémon Snap'

April 30, 2021 • After years of begging by fans online, Nintendo has released a sequel to the classic N64 game Pokémon Snap — it's a peaceful playthrough that has you taking pictures of monsters, not capturing them.

Wednesday April 7, 2021

'Disco Elysium: The Final Cut' Is A Grimly Gorgeous Genre-Bender

At the start of Disco Elysium, you wake up in a crummy hostel room, without your memories — and without your pants. ZA/UM hide caption

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ZA/UM

Games

'Disco Elysium: The Final Cut' Is A Grimly Gorgeous Genre-Bender

April 7, 2021 • In Disco Elysium, you play as an unnamed detective figuring out the story behind a dead body in a windswept, wintry city. The new Final Cut edition features extra quests and a fully-voiced script.

Saturday March 27, 2021

A Year Of Falling Stars, Evening Swims And Friendship: Animal Crossing Turns One

Wish on stars in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and the next morning, jewel-bright star fragments will wash up on your beaches. Screenshot by Amal El-Mohtar/Nintendo hide caption

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Screenshot by Amal El-Mohtar/Nintendo

Games

A Year Of Falling Stars, Evening Swims And Friendship: Animal Crossing Turns One

March 27, 2021 • Animal Crossing: New Horizons came out a year ago and quickly became the game of the pandemic era, offering a candy-colored fantasy world where the occasional bug bite is the worst that can happen.