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8 articles
The industry-wide shift toward removing friction between death and retry has made games more accessible than ever. But has the instant rematch button killed the stakes that made defeating a hard boss feel genuinely meaningful?
With hundreds of games available at the click of a button, American gamers are starting more titles than ever—but finishing fewer. Industry data reveals a troubling trend that might be changing how we value our gaming time.
Modern games increasingly ship incomplete and rely on day-one patches to reach their intended state. We examine how these updates have become a de facto second launch — and what that means for players.
Co-op boss fights represent some of gaming's greatest triumphs — when you have a partner. But what happens when these perfectly balanced encounters meet the harsh reality of solo play?
From roguelikes to AAA releases, game developers are rediscovering the brutal beauty of arcade design. But why are players who never pumped quarters into a cabinet suddenly craving that old-school challenge?
Science has finally figured out why American gamers voluntarily torture themselves with Dark Souls and Cuphead. The answer involves dopamine, social identity, and our weird relationship with digital pain.
Boss rush modes are making a major comeback in live-service games, and it's not just nostalgia driving the trend. From Destiny 2's dungeon rotations to Fortnite's limited-time raid events, developers are discovering that concentrated challenge content is exactly what keeps their most dedicated players coming back for more.
From long-awaited sequels to surprise announcements, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for gaming. We break down which titles deserve your pre-order money and which ones might be worth the wait for a sale.