
Every year a few small games slip past the headlines. This year's list includes a cosy puzzle adventure, a beautifully drawn platformer and a story you will think about for weeks.

Every year a few small games slip past the headlines. This year's list includes a cosy puzzle adventure, a beautifully drawn platformer and a story you will think about for weeks.

Records are more than nostalgia. The ritual of choosing an album, lowering the needle and sitting with the music slows everything down.

Nothing beats a sofa, a friend and a game that rewards teamwork. Our favourites range from frantic kitchen chaos to calm puzzle quests.

Pack light, bring a portable charger and arrange a meeting point in case you lose your friends.

A great soundtrack becomes part of memory. A few notes can bring back an entire world.

Small, colourful and loaded with classics, modern retro handhelds are tempting. We tested six of them for comfort, screen quality and battery life.

We spent a week with a young band recording their first album in a converted barn. Mornings were slow, evenings were loud.

Independent studios are redefining what a game can be, with short, personal experiences that respect your time.