Games

In a bleakly comic reflection of the contemporary world, the game ctrl-alt-DEAL features an AI trying to flee a capitalist hellscape.

A masterpiece of interwoven designs, the game Dune: Awakening – which proposes an alternative timeline to the famous books – is hauntingly beautiful.

The climbing game Peak – built almost entirely in a month during a developers’ retreat – has become a viral sensation in the midst of industry gloom.

A masterpiece of strategy based on the Trans-Siberian Railway during the Russian Civil War, Last Train Home is let down by its shallow history.

The game Expelled! is a rich addition to the wayward schoolgirl genre of visual novel, despite the odd frustrating moment.

The seventh iteration of this beloved empire-building strategy game has removed the tedious jobs and dialled up the fun.

After a decade-long wait, the latest instalment of the Dragon Age franchise answers a lot of questions – maybe even too many – about this rich and complex world.

Tactical Breach Wizards is an instant classic – a thrilling, hilarious spec-ops game that refuses jingoism and glorification of violence.

The highlights of the major gaming expo PAX West are from indie developers, demonstrating the talent ignored by major studios – and offering some hope for the future.

Australian video games, especially those from local indie studios, are bigger than ever – but a tumultuous downturn over the past year now sees developers at odds with their peak industry bodies.