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Latest Reviews
The Long Dark Finally Brings Wintermute Story to a Close
After nearly a decade of delays, rewrites and long gaps between chapters, The Long Dark finally brings its Wintermute story to a close with an ambitious and satisfying finale that delivers danger, variety and long-awaited answers to its icy, apocalyptic survival tale.
Esoteric Ebb Leans Into Weirdness and Wins Big
With strong writing, colorful fantasy, internal stat debates and a refreshing willingness to let failures be fun, Esoteric Ebb stands out as one of the strangest and most charming RPGs in recent memory. Role-players looking for something genuinely different should take this adventure for a spin.
Guards II: Chaos in Hell Delivers Fast and Fiendish Strategy
With easy-to-learn mechanics and its smart mix of turn-based strategy and auto battler gameplay, Guards II: Chaos in Hell offers a fast and satisfying descent into tactical combat that is perfect for both veteran players and those new to the genre.
Circle Empires II Puts a Fresh Spin on RTS Combat
With randomly generated maps, quick-fire strategy battles and a simple but satisfying loop of expansion and conquest, Circle Empires II offers an accessible RTS that still leaves room for smart play, strategic planning and deep customization of a player's combat forces.
Railroad Corporation 2 Keeps the Series on Track
With deeper logistics, smart business management and plenty of room for players to build a railroad empire their own way, Railroad Corporation 2 delivers a strong and satisfying strategy title for fans of both train-based games and business sims.
After Inc: Revival Turns Zombie Survival Into Smart Strategy
From the creators of Plague Inc, After Inc: Revival is a surprisingly deep settlement builder that imagines what happens after the zombie apocalypse, challenging players to guide survivors out of hiding to rebuild civilization through planning, expansion and constant life-or-death decisions.
News & Industry Happenings
Player Perspectives
Fresh Look: When a Business Sim Becomes an Educational Tool
A graduate school capstone course led Fresh Look’s Neal Sayatovich to an unexpected discovery: a free-to-play business sim that not only teaches economic principles but also shows how some games can become useful tools in modern education.
Save State: Pokemon Champions Brings Competitive Pokemon Battling Online
Save State’s Vincent Mahoney writes this week about Pokemon Champions, a stripped-down but enjoyable online Pokemon battler that makes competitive play more accessible while still leaving room for serious team building.
Fresh Look’s Guide to More Affordable Gaming
With console prices rising and new releases regularly hitting around $70, Fresh Look columnist Neal Sayatovich this week looks at some practical ways to stretch your gaming budget.
Event Coverage
Ron Kipling Williams Brings BlerDCon 2026’s Cars and Bars Energy to Life
GiN’s own Ron Kipling Williams puts viewers right in the middle of BlerDCon 2026 with a fast-moving highlight reel packed with energy, music and familiar faces from across the convention floor.
AwesomeCon 2026 Finally Felt Awesome Again
After a few uneven rebuilding years, AwesomeCon 2026 returned with the kind of star power, packed programming and show-floor energy that made it feel like a must-attend convention again.
PAX Unplugged Day One: Dice, Storytelling and a City Built for Play
GiN hit the ground running at PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia, where the convention's crowds enjoyed tabletop gaming and standout panels. From Gloomhaven creator Isaac Childres’ inspiring keynote to packed exhibitor halls and welcoming community spaces, the show was already firing on all cylinders right from the start.
Event Coverage
Ron Kipling Williams Brings BlerDCon 2026’s Cars and Bars Energy to Life
GiN’s own Ron Kipling Williams puts viewers right in the middle of BlerDCon 2026 with a fast-moving highlight reel packed with energy, music and familiar faces from across the convention floor.
AwesomeCon 2026 Finally Felt Awesome Again
After a few uneven rebuilding years, AwesomeCon 2026 returned with the kind of star power, packed programming and show-floor energy that made it feel like a must-attend convention again.
PAX Unplugged Day One: Dice, Storytelling and a City Built for Play
GiN hit the ground running at PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia, where the convention's crowds enjoyed tabletop gaming and standout panels. From Gloomhaven creator Isaac Childres’ inspiring keynote to packed exhibitor halls and welcoming community spaces, the show was already firing on all cylinders right from the start.
TravellerCon Flies High as Traveller Approaches Its Fiftieth Anniversary
GiN reporter Colin Flanigan traveled to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to attend TravellerCon/USA, a boutique convention devoted to the classic sci-fi tabletop RPG Traveller. Fans gathered for a weekend of games, panels and good old fashioned spacefaring camaraderie.
Interviews & Editorials
The Moment Gaming Laptops Became a Real Alternative to Consoles
Gaming laptops have come a long way, to the point where they are a real alternative to consoles now. Special guest author Jenny Jones tells us why.
What Convention Accessibility Really Looks Like at AwesomeCon
AwesomeCon 2026 showed how far convention accessibility has come, while also revealing the small but important changes that could make future events even more inclusive and fun for everyone.
BlerDCon’s Tabletop Room Was a Critical Hit With Players
Bigger space, more gaming and a stronger sense of community helped make BlerDCon 2026’s tabletop gaming area one of the convention’s biggest success stories this year.
Zazie Beetz Brings They Will Kill You Buzz to BlerDCon
BlerDCon attendees got a sneak peek of They Will Kill You, the upcoming horror film starring Zazie Beetz, along with behind-the-scenes insight into its kung fu influences, practical effects and blood-soaked style.
