Gaming

Gaming is a colloquial term that generally refers to the act of playing video games, or sometimes tabletop games. Those who enjoy gaming are often referred to as “gamers,” though many people who enjoy video games actively choose not to identify as such. Surveys indicate that around 65 percent of adults in the U.S. play video games in some form, which can mean on a dedicated console, on a personal computer, or on a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. Gaming as we know it today has evolved greatly over time. Going back to the 1970s, it was largely done in arcades, but consoles like the Atari 2600 and Nintendo Entertainment System popularized home gaming throughout the 1980s, and it has remained popular to this day. PC gaming goes back to home computers in the 1980s such as the Commodore 64, but the advent of Windows in the 1990s and digital marketplaces like Steam in the early 2000s brought PC gaming to where it is now. Handheld gaming devices like the Game Boy made gaming portable in the early 1990s, but those have given way to smartphones, with the iOS and Android app stores full of incredibly popular and lucrative games. Some of the biggest companies in the gaming industry today include Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Valve, Activision, and many more.

More Gaming - Page 94

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 16

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

12/16/2023

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

The best cheap gaming laptops under $1,000 prove you can game on a budget

PC gaming with a 3-digit price tag? It’s entirely possible with these fun and functional gaming laptops from top brands like MSI and Lenovo.

12/16/2023

By Dylan Haas and Ashley Keegan

HP Victus 16 laptop sitting on table

HP Victus 16 laptop sitting on table

Snag 'Alan Wake II' for under $30, plus get a free copy of 'Alan Wake Remastered' during the Epic Games Store Holiday Sale

It's our 2023 game of the year.

12/15/2023

By Dylan Haas

'Alan Wake II' gameplay screenshot

'Alan Wake II' gameplay screenshot

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 15

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

12/15/2023

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 14

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

12/14/2023

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

The best video game remakes of 2023

A lot of games came back in 2023. Here were the best ones.

12/13/2023

By Alex Perry

Samus in Metroid Prime Remastered

Samus in Metroid Prime Remastered

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 13

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

12/13/2023

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

'The Day Before' devs say refunds are coming after disastrous launch

No money is to be made from the game, according to developer Fntastic.

12/12/2023

By Chance Townsend

two men point rifles at an oncoming horde of zombies

two men point rifles at an oncoming horde of zombies

E3, the video game expo, officially shuts down forever

The Electronic Entertainment Expo was once the biggest event of its kind. Now, it's done.

12/12/2023

By Matt Binder

E3 event

E3 event

PlayStation Wrap-Up is here to tell you how many hours you spent gaming in 2023

Don't be embarrassed.

12/12/2023

By Alex Perry

Google loses lawsuit to ‘Fortnite’ developer Epic Games

Epic might have lost to Apple, but not this time.

12/12/2023

By Shannon Connellan

Best handheld game consoles 2023, ranked

Nintendo finally has some competition.

12/12/2023

By Alex Perry

Lenovo Legion Go, Steam Deck, and Nintendo Switch with hands around them

Lenovo Legion Go, Steam Deck, and Nintendo Switch with hands around them

Mashable's best games 2023: No, 'Baldur's Gate 3' isn't No. 1

But it's definitely on our list.

12/12/2023

By Alex Perry , Chance Townsend , and Kimberly Gedeon

Game of the Year 2023

Game of the Year 2023

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 12

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

12/12/2023

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Heads up Amazon Prime members: the PC version of 'Deathloop' is yours for free.

One of Mashable's top 10 games of 2021.

12/11/2023

By Lauren Allain

a scene from the game Deathloop

a scene from the game Deathloop

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 11

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

12/11/2023

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 10

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

12/10/2023

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 9

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

12/09/2023

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Nintendo Switch OLED vs. Steam Deck OLED: Which handheld is better?

How does Nintendo's long-in-the-tooth handheld stack up to Valve's PC powerhouse?

12/08/2023

By Alex Perry

Steam Deck in person's hands

Steam Deck in person's hands

Best Buy's 12 Days of Gaming event is here: Save $40 on 'EA Sports FC 24' on Day 11

Build your dream soccer career in this discounted hit.

12/08/2023

By Dylan Haas and Brittany Vincent

EA Sports FC 24 on colorful abstract background

EA Sports FC 24 on colorful abstract background

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 8

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

12/08/2023

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Jordan Peele and Hideo Kojima are collaborating on a horror game

One of the biggest names in film meets one of the biggest names in games.

12/08/2023

By Amanda Yeo

A screenshot from The Game Awards 2023, showing Hideo Kojima smilking as he stands next to Jordan Peele. Peele is mid-sentence, speaking into a microphone.

A screenshot from The Game Awards 2023, showing Hideo Kojima smilking as he stands next to Jordan Peele. Peele is mid-sentence, speaking into a microphone.

Xbox drops free game demos: 33 titles you can play right now

Free games! Well, sort of.

12/07/2023

By Alex Perry

I tested Steam Deck OLED for 3 weeks — it's more than just a display upgrade

Valve went and made the Steam Deck even better.

12/07/2023

By Alex Perry

Steam Deck OLED on desk

Steam Deck OLED on desk

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 7

Stuck on any of the clues? We have the answers you need.

12/07/2023

By Mashable Team

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues