Features – PlayLab! Magazine

Senet or How to Gamble with Gods – An Investigation About an Ancient Board Game

When ancient Egyptians played Senet, they weren’t just playing a board game, they were practicing for the afterlife. This 5,000-year-old game started as entertainment for pharaohs but turned into something way more serious: a way to test if the gods were on your side.

December 11, 2025

Risk of Rain 2 and games as a waste of time

Risk of Rain 2 is a waste of time, but how bad is that? I revisit this co-operative roguelike in the light of new DLC being announced.

December 4, 2025

Who will win? The curious case of TGA 2025

We don’t have much time until The Game Awards 2025. So, let’s sit back, relax and talk a bit about the games that have a high chance of winning this year. #TGA2025 #ClairObsecurExpedition33 #IndieGames

December 2, 2025

Game Awards – Celebration of talent or a Marketing Extravaganza?

The Game Awards 2024 is over and the winners are announced. However, are they still following the same pattern that they were in 2023? Is game marketing more important than celebrating talent in the industry? #GameAwards #Games #Marketing #Awardceremony

March 3, 2025

“What is this place?”: A dual view into narrative and player participation in Swords of the Serpentine

Put your thinking caps on, roll some dice and let us talk about playing TTRPGs!

February 8, 2025

Worlds in a Finnish Theater: League Finals, Community, and Döner Kebab

I travelled to Helsinki to watch League finals in a cinema, and it was worth it. #leagueoflegends #esports #community #worldfinals

February 6, 2025

Playing Under Pressure: The Struggle of Staying Current with New Game Releases

With the new year having just arrived there’s plenty of new games coming out soon to look forward to. But do all these new releases have you feeling more stressed than excited?

February 4, 2025

Menu Madness in God of War

A look into the bafflingly implemented equipment system of Sony’s 2018 flagship title. #GOW #PlayStation 4 #Action #Adventure

February 2, 2025

Across the Atlantic – game communication on NA vs EU servers

Communication can play a great role in winning, which is why online games have several options to accommodate all kinds of players. How do players on different servers use these options?

January 31, 2025

Creating Games as a Hobby – Lessons Learned from five years of Game Jamming

Game jams are a fun way to try making games as a hobby, but you can learn some serious skills from game jams as well.

January 29, 2025

PowerPoint Adventures: How I Turned Birthday Cards into Interactive Games

Discover how I utilised PowerPoint as a game-making tool. And it was rewarding.

January 27, 2025

The open world may have a design paradox

What is an open world? The discussion in this article may lead to a design dilemma: freedom and difficulty of design.

January 25, 2025

” All you need is some rules and dice, this sentence is a lie.” How to get into tabletop roleplaying in 2025?

Starting a new year as an experienced or new tabletop roleplaying game hobbyist can be a daunting task. With Dungeons and Dragons pushing strong and new systems coming out from doors and windows, what is really the best way to enjoy some dice and hallucinations with friends?

January 23, 2025

Games against loneliness?

A recent study shows people value social games as important to connecting with others more highly than ever. Even after the social distancing measures during COVID-19, people are still using games as a form to connect. #SocialGames #MentalHealth #Pandemic

January 8, 2025

Unpacking: the puzzle game that might break your heart

Hidden within a game about unpacking boxes comes some of the greatest craftsmanship in design and storytelling. Unpacking is one of the top feats of modern indie games. Let’s take a look at what makes this cozy game so special. #IndieGaming #CozyGames #Unpacking

November 24, 2024