PlayLab! Magazine

Fear and Loathing in Barovia

Post author:Jukka Särkijärvi
Post published:March 28, 2017
Post category:Game Research Highlights

Curse of Strahd as an exploration of trauma and abuse.

Crayon Physics Deluxe Review (PC)

Post author:Ville Susi
Post published:March 28, 2017
Post category:Game Reviews

Crayon Physics Deluxe (CPD) is a single player physics puzzle game with focus in drawing simple objects to solve challenges.

The perfect ethical competition

Post author:Matti Isotalo
Post published:February 22, 2017
Post category:Game Research Highlights

Transforming violence into meaningful struggle in multiplayer games #ethics #ganking #trash-talk #multiplayer

Teaching German Literature Through Larp

Post author:Jukka Särkijärvi
Post published:February 22, 2017
Post category:Game Research Highlights

Edu-larps may be just the thing for making German Studies more hands-on.

PlayLab! Best Games of 2016

Post author:Mikko Seppänen
Post published:February 21, 2017
Post category:Features

Best is of course, always a slightly subjective term as everyone has their own preferences. Therefore these are totally objectively the best games released in 2016. Or at least they…

Cute characters, cute enemies... yup, it sure is cute.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

Post author:Aleksi Vesanen
Post published:February 13, 2017
Post category:Game Reviews

Half-Genie Hero is a gorgeous throwback to the glory days of the Super Nintendo, but Super Metroid it ain't.

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ASTRONEER – Atmospheric space exploration sandbox

Post author:Siiri Paananen
Post published:February 13, 2017
Post category:Game Reviews

Explore vast space in the new indie title ASTRONEER.

Review: Marvel Avengers Academy

Post author:Jukka Särkijärvi
Post published:February 13, 2017
Post category:Game Reviews

Marvel Avengers Academy is a peculiarly addictive little mobile toy.

NeoNinja Review

Post author:Markku Vesa
Post published:February 13, 2017
Post category:Game Reviews

A fast-paced puzzle-action game for dexterous and persistent players.

The decline of video game cover artistry

Post author:Aleksi Kesseli
Post published:February 10, 2017
Post category:Features

The decline of video game cover art

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The Last Guardian

Post author:Juho Hartikainen
Post published:February 10, 2017
Post category:Game Reviews
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The Last Guardian is an emotional journey illustrating the potential of games as a mature art form.

ICO (PS2) Review

Post author:Aleksi Kesseli
Post published:February 10, 2017
Post category:Game Reviews

A look back at the game that made Fumito Ueda a household name amongst video game auteurs.

The townsfolk finally had enough of the local gravedigger’s constant Shakespeare quotes.

Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition) Review

Post author:Juho
Post published:February 10, 2017
Post category:Game Reviews

Experience horror and radness in the Mansions of Madness.

amiibo festival

Waluigi amiibo Review

Post author:Ed
Post published:February 8, 2017
Post category:Game Reviews

An amiibo for all seasons. Wah!

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Dying Light: The Following Review

Post author:Markku Vesa
Post published:February 8, 2017
Post category:Game Reviews

Embrace fun new ways to kill and die in the great outdoors of Dying Light: The Following.

Through a Shot Glass, Darkly: The Study of Games in the Light of Drinking Games

Post author:Jukka Särkijärvi
Post published:February 8, 2017
Post category:Game Research Highlights

Drinking games have been long overlooked in the field of game studies, despite what their study has to offer.

Tommy Refenes, independent developer, seen here working on Super Meat Boy. Screencap from Indie Game: The Movie (2012)

Is Every Indie Game Independent? Towards the Concept of Independent Game

Post author:Aleksi Vesanen
Post published:January 18, 2017
Post category:Game Research Highlights

Exploring the “indie” aesthetic, and what it means to be an independent developer.

Innsmouth no yakata (Virtual Boy) review

Post author:Aleksi Kesseli
Post published:January 18, 2017
Post category:Game Reviews

Lovecraft meets virtual reality in Innsmouth no yakata

Game developing through Artificial Intelligence

Post author:Christina Roumelioti
Post published:January 17, 2017
Post category:Game Research Highlights

Scheherazade-IF is becoming the ultimate Narrative Generating System that’s here to revolutionize story-based games

Self-Reflexivity and Humor in Adventure Games

Post author:Aleksi Kesseli
Post published:January 17, 2017
Post category:Game Research Highlights

The role of self- conscious humor in adventure game design