Southern Gothic Mystery Norco Is a Masterful Meditation on Place
Inspired by the rich traditions of the lead developer’s Louisiana hometown, this indie adventure game is a soaring ride through the 21st century.
Japanese Breakfast Talks About Writing Sable’s Soundtrack
The musician discusses playing JRPGs as a kid, learning on the job, and how composing the game’s soundtrack gave her a newfound sense of freedom.
Jett: The Far Shore Imagines Conscientious Space Colonization
WIRED spoke with the game’s devs, plus a senior NASA astrobiologist, about the game and its vision of interstellar environmentalism.
Slow Down With These Serene City-Building Games
From Islanders to Townscaper, a handful of titles are designed to soothe your frazzled brain with minimalist, puzzle-like calm.
Last Stop Is a Playable Love Letter to London
The title’s three codirectors discuss bringing their TV-show-meets-adventure-game project to life.
Twelve Minutes Is a Diabolical Dive Into the Human Psyche
The game—starring Daisy Ridley, James McAvoy, and Willem Dafoe—uses its time-loop mechanic to explore extreme behavior.
The Wondrous, Tedious Ocean of Subnautica: Below Zero
The game is, for the most part, a sublime seafaring sequel. Too bad it often feels like a grind.
Let Lonely Mountains: Downhill Take Your Breath Away
Unspoiled wilderness meets high-speed thrills in a meditative mountain biking game that’s still picking up new fans.
Games Like Umurangi Generation Bring the Moment Into Focus
A crop of new, weird, and expressive photography games get players to look around, create digital mementos, and say “I was here.”