I have some strident political views; they’re always evolving, but they’re never muted. In Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds, I’ve been challenged to re-evaluate some of those views, and in interesting ways.

Blizzcon may be over, but the political protests rage on. On Blitzchung, Hearthstone, and the importance of hearing and supporting Hong Kong.

Welcome to the latest edition of Punished Notes! In this piece, I cover the intriguing universe of The Outer Worlds, the familiar but phenomenal Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Death Stranding, and more. Also, a few words on a recent Netflix film you ought to watch.

Last year, I decried the overuse of gaming terms like “metroidvania,” as often such words and phrases do little to actually describe the experience any game presents. While I understand why someone might lean on a certain vernacular when describing various works, the time has come for us to rethink how we talk about games in order to describe them in a more accurate manner. I’m not calling for the obliteration of such terms, either; I just believe we should know what we’re saying when utilizing these words.

Here are five particularly notable examples.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne will not only entertain its audience in the immediate aftermath of its launch, but promises to keep players coming back to team up and take on any challenges thrown at them. Read on for our extended impressions.

I’m sure we’ve all been “addicted” to a game before — playing the newest gaming release into the waking hours of the morning. Maybe you’ve even taken the day (or week) off work to grind out levels or get to the end of your playthrough. Yet, while depictions of gaming addiction may seem exaggerated, the disease is not a fantasy: It is a life-ruining curse, and can also be a sign of deteriorating mental health.