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

Gaming

Thursday December 14, 2023

Meta/Sanzaru Games

Video Game Reviews

In 'Asgard's Wrath 2,' VR gaming reaches a new God mode

December 14, 2023 • Meta Quest fans have been asking for an exclusive longform, big-budget game for years. Asgard's Wrath 2 delivers with diverse gameplay and a divine cast.

Wednesday December 13, 2023

Parent and consumer groups warn against 'naughty tech toys'

An attendee tries the Meta Quest 3 in a demonstration room at a tech conference in September 2023. The headset is among the products listed on ParentsTogether's 2023 tech toys "Naughty List." Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP hide caption

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Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP

Culture

Parent and consumer groups warn against 'naughty tech toys'

December 13, 2023 • The smart toy sector is worth close to $17 billion. But some parent and consumer support groups say these tech-driven toys are not safe for play.

Parent and consumer groups warn against 'naughty tech toys'

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Friday December 8, 2023

The biggest takeaways and full winners from The Game Awards

The Game Awards founder and host Geoff Keighley alongside The Great Gonzo in an interstitial bit between rapid-fire awards. The Game Awards hide caption

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The Game Awards

The biggest takeaways and full winners from The Game Awards

December 8, 2023 • Baldur's Gate 3 and Alan Wake 2 swept the night, while celebrities like Matthew McConaughey, Jordan Peele, Timothée Chalamet and Simu Liu added star power to the frenetic Awards show.

Thursday December 7, 2023

2023's best games — picked by the NPR staff

December 7, 2023 • NPR polled staff and contributors for their favorite games of 2023. The year was marked by record-selling titles and industry shake-ups that included thousands of layoffs.

2023's best games — picked by the NPR staff

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Tuesday December 5, 2023

The first trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 is out. Here's why the hype is huge

The two protagonists from the much anticipated GTA VI. Rockstar Games hide caption

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Rockstar Games

Main Character of the Day

The first trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 is out. Here's why the hype is huge

December 5, 2023 • It's been a decade since the last Grand Theft Auto game, and fans have finally gotten what they've been asking for. No, not a new game — but a real trailer and a promised release year.

kajakiki/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Best Christmas gift I ever received

December 5, 2023 • What's the best Christmas gift you ever received? You probably didn't have to think about it; you knew it in your bones. Today, we're talking about the actual, tangible gift you found waiting for you under the tree and still think about it from time to time.

Best Christmas gift I ever received

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Monday December 4, 2023

The best games of 2023, picked by the NPR staff

NPR

Video Game Reviews

The best games of 2023, picked by the NPR staff

December 4, 2023 • 2023 broke video game industry records, both in the quantity and quality of acclaimed, financially successful games. NPR staff and contributors bring you their favorites.

Thursday November 30, 2023

Retro role-playing video games are all the rage — here's why

Chained Echoes, Sea of Stars, Cassette Beasts Matthias Linda, Sabotage Studio, Raw Fury hide caption

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Matthias Linda, Sabotage Studio, Raw Fury

Gaming Culture

Retro role-playing video games are all the rage — here's why

November 30, 2023 • Franchises like Final Fantasy are moving on from old-school mechanics and aesthetics, but indie developers are taking up the retro RPG mantle.

Wednesday November 29, 2023

A forgotten trove of rare video games could now be worth six figures

Among the trove of games was an original version of the cult hit Chrono Trigger. Screenshot from NPR hide caption

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Screenshot from NPR

Main Character of the Day

A forgotten trove of rare video games could now be worth six figures

November 29, 2023 • When a video game store closed in 1998, hundreds of sealed Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis cartridges were stored and forgotten. Now, a collection of the top-graded items has been appraised.

A forgotten trove of rare video games could now be worth six figures

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Wednesday November 22, 2023

We review 5 of the biggest pieces of gaming tech on sale this Black Friday

From left to right, top to bottom: the Steam Deck OLED, ASUS Rog Ally, Atari 2600+, PlayStation Portal, and DualSense Edge Controller. Keren Carrión/NPR hide caption

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Keren Carrión/NPR

We review 5 of the biggest pieces of gaming tech on sale this Black Friday

November 22, 2023 • From the Atari 2600+ to the Steam Deck OLED to the PlayStation Portal — NPR rounds up the latest and greatest gadgetry from a busy gaming year.

Wednesday November 15, 2023

'Super Mario RPG' updates a cult classic from the creators of 'Final Fantasy'

Team up with unlikely allies Mallow, Geno and even Bowser in Super Mario RPG. Nintendo hide caption

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Nintendo

Video Game Reviews

'Super Mario RPG' updates a cult classic from the creators of 'Final Fantasy'

November 15, 2023 • Nintendo puts a new coat of paint on an old classic, tweaking its Final Fantasy-style combat just enough to succeed for a modern audience.

Monday November 13, 2023

'Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn' and more new board games, reviewed

Descent: Legends of the Dark - The Betrayer's War, Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn, Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West Asmodee/Ravensburger hide caption

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Asmodee/Ravensburger

'Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn' and more new board games, reviewed

November 13, 2023 • Disney's trading card game expansion has keen art and underbaked mechanics, while Descent: The Betrayer's War and Ticket to Ride Legacy offer huge campaigns for invested gamers.

Wednesday November 1, 2023

'WarioWare: Move It!' transforms your family and friends into squirming chaos imps

Go the Distance, the best party mode in Move It!, still isn't quite as engaging as the game's co-op Story Mode. Nintendo hide caption

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Nintendo

Video Game Reviews

'WarioWare: Move It!' transforms your family and friends into squirming chaos imps

November 1, 2023 • WarioWare has always been ludicrous, but the new game's frantic motion controls make it more absurd than ever. Its co-op especially soars, unlike its party modes.

With 'Five Nights at Freddy's,' a hit horror franchise is born

Josh Hutcherson and Piper Rubio in Five Nights at Freddy's. Patti Perret/Universal Pictures hide caption

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Patti Perret/Universal Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

With 'Five Nights at Freddy's,' a hit horror franchise is born

November 1, 2023 • In the new movie Five Nights At Freddy's, Josh Hutcherson plays Mike, a down-on-his-luck security guard who winds up getting hired to keep an eye on a family-friendly theme restaurant that's gone out of business. It also happens to be haunted by murderous animatronic mascots. The film is based on the hugely successful video game series, and now it's a box-office sensation.

With 'Five Nights at Freddy's,' a hit horror franchise is born

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Tuesday October 31, 2023

'Alan Wake 2' and the year's best horror games, reviewed

Explore a twisted reflection of New York City in Alan Wake 2. Remedy Entertainment hide caption

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Remedy Entertainment

Video Game Reviews

'Alan Wake 2' and the year's best horror games, reviewed

October 31, 2023 • New horror game Alan Wake 2 is at once scary, cerebral and silly. But it's just the latest prestigious horror title to release in 2023. We round up our favorites.