Space Harrier at 40: how Sega’s surreal classic brought total immersion to arcades in the 80s
As they flew above Yu Suzuki’s innovative, psychedelic 3D landscapes combating space dragons and alien rock monsters, the moving arcade cabinet would physically involve players in the action
December 2024
Forget charades, I have found the worst Christmas game of all time – and I love it
Ellie Gibson
While ostensibly terrible, Santa’s Speedy Quest is also addictive, hilarious, only 79p – and in its own fiendish way, exactly what we need at this time of year
October 2024
Simon Parkin on games
UFO 50 review – a galaxy of 80s games brought brilliantly back to the future
This bundle of 50 new games from the creator of Spelunky offers an electrifying range of retro genres rebooted, from point-and-click horror to Pong
March 2024
Atari 400 Mini review – a fascinating adventure in the land of 8-bit
‘A portal to a new world’: when the Trocadero was the centre of the video game universe
January 2024
Chomp chomp: the curious history of Pac-Man snacks
The 15 greatest Sega arcade games – ranked
September 2023
The quest for Sky Skipper, the rarest Nintendo arcade machine in the world
How a dedicated collector rallied an international team to track down the long-forgotten 1981 title and painstakingly recreate the original cabinet
July 2023
Best culture of 2023 so far
‘You can play it for five minutes or play it for five hours’: Guardian readers’ best games of 2023 so far
From new iterations of Street Fighter, Diablo and Zelda to modern takes on 80s arcades and an evil pizza atop a pizza tower, readers share their picks
June 2023
Remember the Quickshot? Why it’s worth rediscovering the joy of joysticks
The suction-padded joystick was once the games controller sans pareil until it was usurped by the multi-button joypad – but with the return of retro gaming, it’s making a comeback
February 2023
A beautifully preserved slice of video game history – Toaplan Arcade Shoot ‘Em Up Collection Vol 1 review
Four games from a cult 1980s shoot-em-up developer – from Zero Wing to Truxton – show the value of game preservation
January 2023
Game over: UK arcades face closure threat as energy bills soar by 1,000%
Some operators weigh up weekend-only opening as soaring energy prices remain stubbornly high
December 2022
Infinite lives: the company saving old arcade machines
For a generation of players, these colourful cabinets house not just ailing electronics, but formative memories. Meet the people who save them from landfill
September 2022
Pushing Buttons newsletter
Pushing Buttons: the viral music game that revived my teenage obsession
This ridiculous Trombone Champ is an encore to all of the wild rhythm games I grew up on – and a fitting return for a forgotten genre
July 2022
When life gives you lemons, video games can be the escape we need
Dominik Diamond
Dominik Diamond hasn’t had the best month – but scampering around in a virtual world full of robot dinosaurs has at least given him a break
February 2022
Windjammers 2 review – resuscitated sports game brings back joy of the arcade
With its special combos and metres, this frenetic and summery Air Hockey-style game has more in common with Street Fighter than with other sports games
November 2021
Experience
Experience: I’m the best Tetris player in the world
I’m only 13, but my brother and I both qualified for the World Championships. In the final it was just us, facing off for the title
October 2021
‘My housemates and I are addicted’: 15 video games perfect for lockdown brain
Guardian Australia staff – and their children! – recommend games they’ve turned to for joy, diversion and much-needed escapism
May 2021
The 15 greatest video games of the 80s – ranked!
Capcom Arcade Stadium review – recapture the magic
