video games

If you’re scared of the ocean, Subnautica and its sequel, Subnautica: Below Zero, almost certainly aren’t for you. In the original 2018 game, the player finds themselves stranded in the ocean of an unknown planet surrounded by nothing but the darkness of the water around them (and the alien creatures that live in it) as far as the eye can see. In Below Zero, that fight for survival expands to include some icy terrain, harsh snowstorms, and above-ground critters as well — all while providing the same level of wondrous exploration and thorough crafting that fans would expect. For composer Ben Prunty (FTL: Faster Than Light, Into the Breach), that meant putting a chilly new spin on the original’s sound — particularly since he was a new addition to the Unknown Worlds Entertainment team for Bel...

Historically speaking, there’s pretty much never been a shortage of video games about flying and/or aerial warfare. Ever since Ultimate Air Combat launched for the NES in 1992, flying a plane (or spaceship, or helicopter) and shooting down other pilots has been a staple in the gaming world, with a few titles even coming to arcades and other consoles before that. But Project Wingman is a bit different than the other dogfight simulators out there. For one thing, the game combines modern realistic visuals with a slightly more user-friendly “arcade” style of play — meaning that while it might not be easy for everyone, you won’t feel like you need an actual pilot’s license to clear the campaign. The game is built around smooth and enjoyable gameplay rather than going in-depth about every little...