Gaming

Everyone can be an elephant in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

Arts

'Super Mario Bros. Wonder' makers explain new gameplay — and the elephant in the room

2:53pm August 31, 2023

Nintendo's first new side-scrolling Mario game in a decade features Dark Souls-style phantoms, trippy flowers, and a pachyderm power-up that had the internet trumpeting.

Explore hundreds of planets, battle pirates, and make a galactic name for yourself in Starfield.

Arts

Bethesda's 'Starfield' is a fabulous playable space opera with a forgettable story

12:10pm August 31, 2023

by Swapna Krishna

In the massively-anticipated game Starfield, space exploration is its own reward. Good thing too, because the slow storyline isn't the star of the show.

Arts

New game by Elden Ring developer delivers ace apocalyptic mech combat

3:38pm August 23, 2023

by Justin Lucas

Elden Ring developer FromSoftware revived its long-dormant giant robot series and delivered stunning omnidirectional mech combat.

Immortals of Aveum, Baldur's Gate 3, My Friendly Neighborhood

Arts

The biggest and best video game releases of the summer

9:10pm August 22, 2023

by James Perkins Mastromarino

From long-awaited epics like Baldur's Gate 3 to indie darlings like Dave the Diver, NPR staff review this summer's surprise hits and more.

A person passes an ad featuring the Nintendo character Mario at Narita airport in Narita near Tokyo on June 10, 2022.

Arts

Charles Martinet, the voice of Nintendo's beloved Mario character, is stepping down

10:17am August 22, 2023

by The Associated Press

Nintendo of America confirmed that Charles Martinet will now serve in the role of "Mario Ambassador," traveling around the world to promote the beloved plumber and perform Nintendo character voices.

It's already been a huge year for video games. Here are some of the blockbusters

4:52am July 24, 2023

by Leila Fadel

This has been one of the biggest years for video games in recent memory. NPR's Leila Fadel talks to gaming editor James Mastromarino about some of the blockbuster releases.

SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 20: Cosplay characters dressed as Spiderman, pose for pictures along 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter during Comic Con International in San Diego, California.

U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia to launch a popular arts caucus at Comic-Con

1:06pm July 23, 2023

by A Martínez

"When nerds get together, we can do a lot of good things," says U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia who's assembling a Congressional caucus on popular arts like gaming, video and movies.

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Arts

Pikmin 4 review: tiny tactics, a rescue dog and a fresh face

9:01am July 19, 2023

by Tre Watson

Nintendo's Pikmin 4 streamlines a real-time strategy series that debuted over two decades ago. It also gives you a cute dog and a customizable avatar.

Grid of images from games featured in the summer 2023 edition of "Games We Love"

Arts

The best games of 2023 so far, picked by the NPR staff

5:00am July 18, 2023

by James Perkins Mastromarino

This year has been a blockbuster year for sequels and remakes, along with breakout smaller games. NPR staff and contributors bring you their favorites.

Macron is far from the first leader to blame violence on debunked video game theory

4:40pm July 07, 2023

by Vanessa Romo

Violence erupted in France following the fatal police shooting of a teen. President Macron has, in part, blamed video games for the clashes. Other world leaders have used this widely debunked theory.