THE BEST Games

The latest Replicade mini arcade machines are based on Atari’s classic Asteroids. The 12″ tall game has an ultra-sharp display for the game’s B&W vector graphics and has every detail, including Atari’s “owl eyes” coin slots. Choose from a 3500-unit original version and a 500-unit Overhaul Edition with blue cabinet molding.

(Gore) Originally pitched on Kickstarter in 2017, this first-person horror adventure looks like someone splattered guts all over a spaceship designed by H.R. Giger. While this 13-minute gameplay trailer is short on story, it’s got creepy environments, squishy sounds, and tension for days. Coming to Xbox Series X/S and Windows PC in 2021.

Atari, working in collaboration with UNIS Technology, Ltd. is bringing back its 1970s arcade classic PONG. This tabletop gaming system has a 7.9″ LCD panel and offers both classic 2-player mode, and 1-player vs. AI mode. It runs on USB power or AAA batteries and is expected to be released in time for the 2020 holiday shopping season.

PC gamers have been able to build amazing and vomit-inducing thrill rides with Planet Coaster for a few years now. Soon, console gamers can join in the fun too, with a new version slated for release on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Drops 11.10.2020. Gameplay demo here.

The Nintendo 64 is known for games like Super Mario 64 and Star Fox 64. But there was another potentially big N64 title that never came out. In this short film from Adam Butcher, he takes a look back at Catastrophe Crow!, a highly-anticipated game that vanished along with its creator under strange circumstances. Or did it?

Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming service lets you play more than 100 Xbox games on Android devices. To get the most out of mobile gaming, you need a proper controller. Nacon will offer two designs – the tablet-style MG-X, and the MG-X Pro, which looks like a stretched-out Xbox controller. Both models drop in early 2021.

The guys behind BoardGameTables.com have created a fun, family-friendly game that anyone can play in about 15 minutes. In Kabuto Sumo, players take on the role of some badass beetles, and attempt to push their opponents out of the ring. Each wrestler disc has a unique shape and a special power that affects their moves.

Home arcade company Arcade1up has created a tabletop gaming system that lets you play digital versions of board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, and more. It will come in 24″ and 32″ versions, both with a touchscreen with tactile feedback, and Wi-Fi connectivity for downloading games and other content.

This DIY handheld gaming system offers gamers an opportunity to learn about electronics. The system features a 2.42″ monochrome widescreen and comes with 200 Arduboy games pre-loaded into its memory. Advanced users can even program their own games for it. Available with or without a tool kit.

LittleBigPlanet’s burlap protagonist is back, but this time, the game isn’t about custom level creation at all. The PS5 launch title is a 3D-platformer packed with vibrant and complex levels, while still retaining LBP’s co-op game dynamics, including both local and online multiplayer modes.

The opening theme music from Halo is best known for its epic, choral sound. But in the hands of the Mariachi Entertainment System, it’s a bit more festive – at least once the horn section kicks in.

As we move more and more towards digital downloads and streaming, there’s less need for packaging. Ahoy looks back at the days when computer games mostly came in oversize packages with bold box art, and started to standardize on a form factor back in the early 1990s. Despite the dry subject matter, Ahoy makes it interesting.

Ernest Cline presents the follow-up to his beloved bestseller. After the events of Ready Player One, Wade Watts makes a discovery in Halladay’s vaults – an advancement that could make OASIS even more wondrous – and addictive. Expect a heaping helping of pop culture references when the book hits on 11.24.2020.

We’re only a month from the release of Sony and Microsoft’s latest consoles, and both brands have been more liberal about showing the inner workings of their systems than before. Sony mechanical design VP Yasuhiro Ootori disassembles a brand new PS5, and explains each of its components. English subtitles available.

Back in the day, there was this great video game called Battle Chess, in which chess pieces fought to the death on the board. This clip from CGI animator lotsalote envisions what a next-gen version of that game might look like, as individual chess pieces explode violently on impact with their opponents.

Oculus goes all-in on wireless VR gaming with the latest version of its standalone Quest head-mounted display. It’s smaller and lighter, has upgraded hardware for smoother gameplay, 50% more pixels, and improved Oculus Touch controllers. It also works as a PC VR headset with an optional Oculus Link cable.

Musician Davidlap has become quite the expert at replicating various sounds on his electric guitar. In this video, he does a mighty fine job reproducing sound effects from the Mushroom Kindom, from the satisfying coin collection “ding” to the urgency-instilling “hurry up” music that kicks in when you get a star power-up.

Fans of 8-bit console gaming and adult beverages will love these wood coasters from Cutting Boredom. Each of the six available designs envisions a drunk version of a classic NES game, with titles like “Drunkey Kong” and “Mike Tyson’s Pass Out!!” Each one is printed in color then sealed with a two-coat polyurethane finish.

The music video for the Talking Heads track Once in a Lifetime is one of the most memorable clips of the 1980s. Using Valve’s Source 2 engine, Corey Laddo managed to perfectly replicate the clip, replacing the lanky and awkward David Byrne with the mysterious G-Man from the Half-Life series. Here’s the original for comparison.

Super Impulse makes teensy replicas of classic arcade games. New for Fall 2020 are versions of BurgerTime, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mappy, and a special Hello Kitty Pac-Man. They’ve also got a tiny Pop-A-Shot if you’re into boardwalk basketball. Keep an eye on Amazon, Wal-Mart, and Target for these latest releases.

Australian indie developer Samurai Punk created this relaxing game in which you assume the role of a bird, and fly around a vast island. As you explore and take in the colorful scenery, the weather and time of day gradually change, accompanied by a soothing ambient soundtrack. Available now on PS4, Switch, PC, and Xbox One.

Thanko Japan’s all-in-one plastic rack is perfect for gamers, providing storage for consoles, game boxes, and accessories. It comes with an HDMI switch and an outlet strip, though it’s designed for 2-prong AC plugs only. Stack two for even more space. You’ll need to use a service like White Rabbit Express to import one from Japan.

My Arcade makes pocket-sized gaming systems that each play three classic arcade games. They feature accurate 8-bit graphics, arcade-inspired case designs, and a crisp 2.75″ color display. Available games include Bubble Bobble, Rainbow Islands, Dig Dug, Galaga, Galaxian, Xevious, Ms. Pac-Man, Sky Kid, Mappy, and more.

Inspired by a lengthy livestream of Super Mario Odyssey, ThePandemicLight edited the brief but potent Blur track Song 2, and replaced all of Damon Albarn’s celebratory “Woo-Hoos” with the voice of Mario. It’s as brilliantly funny as it sounds.

The musicians of Pulse Percussion perform an energetic marimba cover version of the fast-paced techno track Megalovania from Undertale. We’re impressed that three musicians playing on the same instrument don’t bump into each other.

Show your love for classic Nintendo games with this set of eight chipboard drink coasters made to look like flattened cartridges from the 8-bit gaming system. Includes Zelda, Metroid, ExciteBike, Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, Duck Hunt, and Super Mario 2 and 3 designs.