Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

A cutscene showing a dragon armed with light magic from Final Fantasy 16.

Feature

Dear Square Enix: please bring back Final Fantasy's mini-games

Eikon only imagine.

Aug. 15, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

A screenshot from DOS-based space exploration game Noctis, showing the depolarised inside of the player's crystal spaceship.

Feature

After 23 years, Starfield's ancestor Noctis is still a vision of the future

Drift apart.

Aug. 6, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Artwork from the game Tails of Iron, in which an armoured mouse, with sword and shield, charges to meet giant froglike creature, wearing a headdress and holding a trident, in battle.

Feature

What we've been playing

A few of the games that have us hooked at the moment.

Aug. 4, 2023 Robert Purchese

Feature

Can you make an anti-imperial empire game?

The 4Xperts behind Civilization, Syphilisation and Victoria 3 discuss eXperimental 4X design.

July 29, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

A slim, young-looking, male-presenting character, close-up and with a large floppy hat obscuring a lot of their face.

Feature

What we've been playing

A few of the games that have us hooked at the moment.

July 28, 2023 Robert Purchese

Mickey and Minnie Mouse regard an upside-down Donald the Duck in platform game Disney Illusion Island.

Feature

Supporters | Game of the Week: the unsung heroism of Player 2

Tails of terror.

July 28, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Imagine being tiny in a back garden and looking up at the blades of grass and a huge baseball and the sun coming through. That's what you see here.

Feature

Supporters | Five of the Best: Gardens

Shovelware.

July 26, 2023 Robert Purchese

Three allied mechs raid a tall structure in Armored Core 6.

Preview

Armored Core 6 feels brilliant in the hands, but also strangely undecided

Mech do and mend.

July 25, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Two players enjoying a late night picnic in Animal Crossing

Feature

What we've been playing

A few of the games that have us hooked at the moment.

July 21, 2023 Robert Purchese

Key art for Capcom's mech and dino-fighting game Exoprimal.

Review

Exoprimal - a surprisingly rich blend of dino-killing and team vs team

Tyrannosaurus mechs.

July 18, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

A story scene from Geometric Interactive's Cocoon, showing the player encountering an insect boss who is about to warp inside another world.

Feature

The unexpected dread of Cocoon: how the bug became a feature

Scope creep.

July 15, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Review

Amarantus - a superb visual novel that gives you revolutions within revolutions

Revolt text.

July 10, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

The key art for Ghost Trick Phantom Detective, showing the main characters.

Feature

Supporters | Game of the Week: Ghost Trick and how we haunt our games

Getting into the right spirit.

July 7, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Feature

What we've been playing

A few of the games that have us hooked at the moment.

July 7, 2023 Marie Pritchard

A pixelated loading bar, surrounded by a very green and blocky background. It's a little Matrixy.

Feature

Supporters | Five of the Best: Loading bars

Wait for it.

July 5, 2023 Robert Purchese

An interior of an old, woodern tavern, all chunky tables, beams and bar. Candlelight lights the scene. It's heavenly.

Feature

Supporters | Five of the Best: Pubs, taverns or inns

Gulp.

June 28, 2023 Robert Purchese

A combat sequence in grim hack and slash action-RPG Death of a Wish.

Preview

Death of a Wish is a gloomy combat masterclass

Lash is more.

June 26, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Review

Final Fantasy 16 - easy to like, hard to adore

Ifrit bleeds...

June 21, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

A cute, plastic modelled replica of a yellow Mario question box with a red and white mushroom sat on top of it.

Feature

Supporters | Five of the Best: Sound effects

Ding dong.

June 21, 2023 Robert Purchese

Review

Aliens: Dark Descent - more stand-up fight than bug hunt

Hive got a feeling.

June 19, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Feature

Can a strategy game be horrifying?

Command and quiver.

June 18, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

A shot of the player character walking along a dusky skyline in Bethesda's open world RPG Starfield.

Feature

Starfield's biggest problem is that you can't play Skyrim for the first time again

Mountains of the mind.

June 13, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Some key art for long COVID mode, a series of mods for Elden Ring, The Witcher 3 and Minecraft which simulate long COVID symptoms to raise awareness.

Feature

Meet the long COVID activists modding Elden Ring and The Witcher to raise awareness

"We are failing to get the message across that this is really dangerous."

June 7, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Jala reconciling with her ex Sergio in Thirsty Suitors.

Feature

Thirsty Suitors is about grinding rails, home cooking and duelling your exes

Heart mode.

June 6, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Link using a hot air balloon to explore a canyon containing the Forgotten Temple in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Feature

My favourite Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom temple is a hole in the game

Backroom with a view.

June 3, 2023 Edwin Evans-Thirlwell