6 game genre trends that we think are going to define 2024

If there’s one thing it’s nigh impossible to predict in gaming, it’s the trajectory of the major and minor genres. New genres emerge or assert themselves every year (Vampire Survivors-alike, co-op horror), and dormant ones stage dramatic comebacks. We’re lucky to belong to a hobby that’s this unpredictable, frankly. As we stare down the end…

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Steam keeps on winning

Epic Games remains steadfast in its quest to drive down game store fees and build its “metaverse” vision, but the might of its Fortnite, Unreal Engine, and Epic Games Store operation wavered this year. Epic laid off over 800 employees in September, and pawned off beloved music marketplace Bandcamp after acquiring it only a year…

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The biggest gaming controversies of 2023, part 1

I’ve been playing and writing about videogames for an awfully long time now, and I’ve seen my share of controversies come and go. Hot Coffee, anyone? At some point long ago, I may have thought that such things would become increasingly rare as our medium matures. But it seems that the opposite has happened. As…

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Best Setting 2023: Dredge

Black Salt’s fishing adventure gets our Best Setting award this year—a sign that there’s surprising depth to be found here. For more awards, head to our Game of the Year 2023 page. Mollie Taylor, Features Producer: Dredge has the most immaculate vibes of any game I’ve played this year. By day it’s a relaxing and…

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