Features and articles by game critic Erik Twice. Discover the secrets of games, the people who make them and the community around them.
“Games are for children”. No matter how wrong, or misguided we might find this claim, this single idea has shaped the past, present and future of games. In fact, I would argue it’s the most influential belief in their whole history. From the composition of the audience to the way violence is portrayed, it can all be drawn back to this bit of prejudice.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a builder. No matter the game, I’ve always preferred to focus on getting resources, expanding slowly and lashing out only as a last resort. But, as I’ve gotten older, my play has gotten more aggressive. I started defending my territory, often beforehand. I did little raids. Before I noticed it, I was attacking first. And I started having more fun than ever.
Last year was great for gaming. Despite not meeting as often as I used to, I may have actually played more titles than the year before. However, my plays in 2022 stood out, not just for their variety, but for their quality. Over the last twelve months, I’ve had some truly memorable experiences. From introducing video game fans to the world of tabletop gaming to the best of online play, these are my best game experiences of 2022.
For the last two years, I’ve written one article about games every week. While I haven’t always stuck to my schedule, the 132 reviews, analysis and strategy guides currently on my blog show that I haven’t been slacking off! But it has become harder for me to keep up that pace. As I juggle burn out and employment issues, I’ve decided to take a more relaxed approach from now on. I’ll still write, but not as often.
I hope you still have as much fun reading my articles as I do writing them. We’ll see each other! Just a little less frequently.
Last week, I gave a talk on the history of Eurogames at the Ludo Ergo Sum convention. In it, I explained how they came to be, their influences and even how German culture is baked into their design. While it’s not as polished as my articles and my pronunciation is shaky, I’ve recorded a version of it in English so you can also listen to it. You can’t miss it!
