Inside
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After two weeks with Steam Frame, Valve's latest is now my go-to VR headset, but my recommendation comes with some important caveats
Valve's Steam Frame VR headset offers a comfortable and lightweight design with impressive PC-to-headset streaming capabilities, making it a compelling option for PC VR enthusiasts. However, its standalone performance is inconsistent and less polished than competitors like the Meta Quest 3, and its high price point may be a barrier for many.
Inside the Rise of Cozy Horror Games
Cozy horror games blend atmospheric suspense and manageable dread with accessible gameplay and artistic presentation, creating a unique and inviting experience. Titles like Oxenfree, Little Nightmares, and Cult of the Lamb exemplify this trend, prioritizing mood and storytelling over constant threats. This subgenre's growing popularity, particularly among indie developers, suggests a broader player desire for horror that emphasizes ambience and narrative depth.
Inside Is the Closest Thing to a ‘Perfect’ Game I’ve Ever Played
The game Inside is described as the closest thing to a perfect video game the author has ever played. This opinion piece highlights the game's exceptional quality.
How Planet of Lana became a hit through dogged determination after being rejected "hundreds" of times
Wishfully Studios' debut platformer, Planet of Lana, achieved success after hundreds of rejections by persevering through a naive development process. The team, with backgrounds in film, faced initial publisher skepticism due to an inadequate demo and unrealistic plans, but secured a deal with Xbox after a year of developing a vertical slice. This led to a partnership with Thunderful and a successful 2023 launch, with plans for a sequel and a Hollywood movie adaptation.
How I smashed my target to complete one video game every month - Reader’s Feature
A reader details their goal of completing one video game per month in 2026, successfully finishing 11 games in the first half of the year. The feature highlights various titles across different genres and platforms, including "Dispatch," "Ghost of Tsushima," "Resident Evil Requiem," and "007 First Light," offering brief impressions of each.
Summer Vacation Handheld Loadout 2026 | TAG
This guide provides recommendations for pre-installing 4-6 games on handheld devices for vacation gaming, emphasizing variety and offline playability. It covers device-specific considerations for Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, and iPad, along with strategies for battery management, cloud saves, and storage. The article also suggests backup activities and packing checklists for a seamless gaming experience during travel.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?
Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
6 Vacation Week Games to Finish Before Flying Home | TAG
This guide recommends six games that can be completed within a 5-10 hour playtime, ideal for finishing during a week-long vacation. It emphasizes narrative-driven and handheld-compatible titles like Inside, Stray, A Short Hike, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Firewatch, with Outer Wilds suggested for longer vacations. The article also provides advice on session structure, device choice, and avoiding common vacation gaming pitfalls.
Gaming Seasonal Calendar 2026 | TAG
This guide outlines a seasonal gaming calendar for adults in 2026, emphasizing how life events, work cycles, and weather impact gaming habits. It suggests matching game choices to available time and mood, recommending specific games for different periods like winter backlog season, summer vacation handheld play, and fall routine resets.
Podd-dags - Kontrollrummet intervjuar PaperKlay-pappan
Kevin Andersson, the developer behind the indie game PaperKlay, discusses his creative process and inspirations in an interview with the Kontrollrummet podcast. He shares how he overcame development challenges independently and his approach to making the game more than just a nostalgic experience. The interview also features hosts Viktor and Björn from Kontrollrummet, who share their favorite indie titles and their passion for games as a cultural medium.
Unhappening – Beta Sign Up | Alpha Beta Gamer
Unhappening is a physics-based puzzle platformer where players control Anethus, a manifestation of a dying man's consciousness, navigating surreal landscapes. Players solve environmental challenges using mechanical companions while avoiding encroaching darkness. The game explores themes of extinction, guilt, and false messiahs, with beta sign-ups now available.
Way to the Woods: Going Horns-on With This Indie Gem Ahead of Summer Game Fest Play Days
Way to the Woods is a 3D narrative indie game where players control a deer guiding a faun through abandoned urban environments. Creator ant tan, also known as OnePixel.Dog, aims to evoke a unique emotional tone by focusing on an animal's perspective and sensory experience, inspired by games like The Last of Us and INSIDE. The game features minimalist cel-shaded graphics, expressive animations, and an enchanting soundtrack by aivi and surasshu, and is set to appear at Summer Game Fest Play Days for Xbox Series X|S.
6 Story Games for Players Who Don't Want to Talk | TAG
This article highlights six story-driven games that do not require dialogue choices or role-playing, catering to players seeking a narrative experience without conversational effort. Titles like Journey, Cocoon, Inside, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Return of the Obra Dinn, and Outer Wilds are discussed for their unique methods of storytelling through environment, music, and observation, with many also being compatible with handheld devices like the Steam Deck.
This Fun New Puzzle-Platformer Is Limbo, But Not Creepy | Darwin's Paradox Review
Darwin's Paradox is a short, cartoonish puzzle-platformer that offers a less creepy alternative to games like Limbo. Players control Darwin, an octopus who navigates an alien invasion while trying to get home, utilizing unique octopus-inspired abilities. The game features vibrant visuals, a comedic premise, and varied gameplay challenges, making for a memorable six-hour experience.
Replaced Interview – Inspirations for Art Style, Ranged and Melee Combat, Exploration, and More
Sad Cat Studios' Yura Zhdanovich and Igor Gritsay discuss the inspirations behind the art style for their upcoming game, Replaced, citing titles like Octopath Traveler and Limbo. They also delve into the game's core themes of humanity and AI, the balance between combat and exploration, and the cinematic approach to its action platformer gameplay. The game is targeting Xbox Series X/S and PC, with an average playtime of around 8 hours.
Slay the Spire 2, Scott Pilgrim EX and other new indie games worth checking out
This roundup highlights several new and upcoming indie games, including Slay the Spire 2, Scott Pilgrim EX, and Planet of Lana II. It also covers releases like The Legend of Khiimori and Lost and Found Co., alongside updates for Ratcheteer DX and Birds Watching. Upcoming titles like My Little Puppy and The House of Hikmah are also featured, along with Ballgame and Echobreaker.
New Video Game Releases in Week 49 of December 8, 2025
This article lists new video game releases for the week of December 8, 2025, across various platforms including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. It also details free game offerings for December 2025 on PC, mobile, Xbox Game Pass, and PlayStation Plus. Notable releases include Skate Story, Pokemon Legends: Z-A: Mega Dimension, and Terminator 2D: No Fate.
The 16 Best Horror Games On Xbox Game Pass In 2026
This guide highlights the 16 best horror games available on Xbox Game Pass, catering to various tastes within the genre, from multiplayer zombie survival to single-player space horror. It includes titles like DayZ, Dead by Daylight, The Evil Within 2, and the Dead Space remake, offering a comprehensive look at the scariest experiences on the service.
The Best Nintendo Switch Platformers
This guide rounds up the best platforming games available on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It includes a variety of titles, from classic 2D side-scrollers to modern 3D adventures, featuring both first-party Nintendo franchises and popular third-party releases.