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.

Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 24, 2025
Hurdle game on a smartphone
Hurdle hints and answers for April 24, 2025
Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 23, 2025

Gaming

Hurdle game on a smartphone
Hurdle hints and answers for April 23, 2025
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 20, 2025
From boomers to Gen Z — this one $90 gaming console can provide endless family game nights
Hurdle hints and answers for April 20, 2025
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 19, 2025
duolingo logo on a phone Duolingo will now teach you how to play chess
Close-up view of crossword puzzle. NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 22, 2025
Hurdle game on a smartphone Hurdle hints and answers for April 22, 2025
A SteelSeries headphone, mouse, and keyboard appear on an abstract purple background. SteelSeries is doing up to 40% off gaming gear right now as an Easter special
Hurdle game on a smartphone Hurdle hints and answers for April 21, 2025

Best Products

Razer Blade 14 sitting on a window sill The best gaming laptops of 2025 for PC gamers
Razer Blade 14 sitting on a window sill The best gaming laptops of 2025 no matter your budget
Acer Chromebook 516 GE gaming laptop on crowded desk next to indoor plant The best gaming laptops for 2025, no matter your budget
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro on a desk I tested the best gaming keyboards, and there was a clear winner
female college student rubbing her temples Starter Kit: How to manage stress and unwind in college
Meta Quest 2 The best VR headsets of 2024: Only four models made the cut
A playstation controller on a colorful pastel background Gaming starter kit: All the gear you need to play like a real gamer
HP Victus 16 laptop sitting on table The best cheap gaming laptops under $1,000 prove you can game on a budget
a close-up of a man's hands playing "stardew valley" on a gray nintendo switch lite The best handheld gaming consoles of 2023
Razer Raptor gaming monitor The best gaming monitors to push your PC setup to the next level

Reviews

Goro Majima with crewmates in pirate garb in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii 'Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii' review: A nautical delight
Sonic x Shadow Generations promo image ‘Sonic x Shadow Generations’ review: New content makes this remaster worth revisiting
Life is Strange: Double Exposure ‘Life is Strange: Double Exposure’ review: A worthy return for its original protagonist
Dragon Age: The Veilguard screenshot 'Dragon Age: The Veilguard' review: BioWare made a good game again
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro gaming headset hanging on wall Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review: The best gaming headset I've ever used
A person with short hair, wearing a dark coat, is standing on a foggy, deserted street. The atmosphere is eerie, with thick mist obscuring much of the surroundings, including power lines and dimly visible buildings in the background. The scene evokes a sense of isolation and tension 'Silent Hill 2' review: A surprisingly fantastic remake of the PS2 horror classic
Cursed prince in Metaphor: ReFantazio 'Metaphor: ReFantazio' review in progress: The 'Final Fantasy XV' I've always wanted
Princess Zelda in Echoes of Wisdom 'The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom' review: Princess Zelda shines in her protagonist debut
Artwork from 'The Plucky Squire' showing Jot and his friends leaping from their book. 'The Plucky Squire' review: A wholesome metatextual game for the young of heart
Astro Bot screenshot AstroBot review: The most 'Super Mario Galaxy' game that isn’t actually 'Super Mario Galaxy'

Deals

DOOM: The Dark Ages Xbox controller on a battlefield background This 'Doom: The Dark Ages' Xbox controller is under $80 at Amazon, and I’m pre-ordering it for the spikes alone
DOOM + DOOM II 'Will It Run?' box content image The 'Doom' $666 Will It Run? edition includes a Cacodemon that plays 'Doom', and I want it purely for the chaos
MAINGEAR RUSH Night Drive Artist Series PC on an RGB background I’ve owned MAINGEAR custom PCs — here’s why I’m happy to pay over $3,000 for this Night Drive Artist Series build
An Alienware laptop appears on a purple background with an alien skull on its screen. This Alienware gaming laptop mothership is $560 off
A Razer Basilisk mouse appears on an orange swirly background. This Razer Basilisk V3 deal is primed for devastating clicks
Person playing on Samsung gaming monitor. Get a $200 credit and a free headset when you preorder Samsung's latest 3D gaming monitor
An Asus ROG Zephyrus laptop appears on a purple background. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with RTX 4060 is $400 off — nab it before tariffs take hold
An Asus TUF laptop appears on a blue background. Game time — this Asus TUF Gaming Laptop is $400 off and it's got a Radeon RX7700S
'Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown' gameplay screenshot
Here are the best Nintendo Switch game deals after the Switch 2 Direct announcement
'Donkey Kong Bananza' gameplay screenshot Best Buy's offer on Nintendo Switch games is great, but here's why you should wait to shop

News

Hurdle game on a smartphone Hurdle hints and answers for April 19, 2025
Close-up view of crossword puzzle. NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 18, 2025
Hurdle game on a smartphone Hurdle hints and answers for April 18, 2025
Close-up view of crossword puzzle. NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 17, 2025
Hurdle game on a smartphone Hurdle hints and answers for April 17, 2025
Close-up view of crossword puzzle. NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 16, 2025
Hurdle game on a smartphone Hurdle hints and answers for April 16, 2025
a nvidia geforce rtx 5060 gpu Nvidia's RTX 5060 GPUs get release date, $299 starting price
Close-up view of crossword puzzle. NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 15, 2025
Hurdle game on a smartphone Hurdle hints and answers for April 15, 2025

More Gaming

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 14, 2025
By Mashable Team
Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
Hurdle hints and answers for April 14, 2025
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Jack Black, Jason Momoa and the 'Minecraft' cast on how they "win at life"
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Jack Black and Jason Momoa in 'A Minecraft Movie'
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 11, 2025
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Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
Hurdle hints and answers for April 11, 2025
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'The Last of Us Complete' lands on PlayStation 5, along with a Collector's Edition that's up for preorder
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'The Last of Us Complete' logo artwork
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for April 10, 2025
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Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
The Sabrina Carpenter 'Fortnite' skin is everywhere, and it's pretty funny
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sabrina carptener in front of a pink bakground
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Hurdle hints and answers for April 9, 2025
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Hurdle game on a smartphone
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Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
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Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
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Hurdle game on a smartphone
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Close-up view of crossword puzzle.
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How much will Nintendo Switch 2 games cost? Here's what we've learned so far.
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Gameplay screenshot from 'Mario Kart World'
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