Gaming

Australia’s Gaming Boom Has a Secret Weapon

February 5, 2025
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Australia’s gaming industry isn’t just growing - it’s thriving. With revenue doubling in the past five years and homegrown studios making waves globally, there’s never been a better time to be a game developer Down Under. But who’s making sure this momentum keeps going?

Sim-fully Overlooked: The Chaotic Brilliance of The Sims Bustin’ Out and The Urbz on GBA

January 13, 2025
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The Sims on Game Boy Advance wasn’t about designing the perfect home or finding true love—it was about surviving in weird, chaotic cities with nothing but odd jobs and big dreams. Bustin' Out and The Urbz ditched the cosy life sim formula and gave us something messier, funnier, and way more relatable. It's about time we gave these underrated handheld gems the love they deserve.

Dogz: A GBA Cult Classic

December 28, 2024
Dogz for the Game Boy Advance wasn’t just a game; it was a lesson in care, empathy, and chaos disguised as pixelated cuteness. While your siblings were conquering Mushroom Kingdoms or wielding Master Swords, you were busy teaching a jerky little sprite to sit, stay, and love. In all its tinny, glitchy glory, Dogz remains a small but mighty cornerstone of handheld gaming nostalgia.

Infinity Nikki is Inspiring Gamers to Bond Over High Heels and Earrings 

December 16, 2024
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Seeing a feminine dress-up game acknowledged as a “real” game is groundbreaking. Twelve years ago, Papergames was told that the Nikki franchise was too niche to succeed in the competitive gaming market. The monumental success of Infinity Nikki proves otherwise, showing there’s a community of gamers eager to save the world in an iridescent ballgown and heels.

Short Trip: The Hand-Drawn Cat Carrying Experience

December 15, 2024
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As the chaos of finals, demanding work weeks, and holiday preparations looms, the need for a moment of respite becomes undeniable. Thankfully, we’ve found the perfect game to help you pause, breathe, and recharge amid the holiday frenzy.

5 Hidden Gems for Cosy Winter Gaming

December 3, 2024
If you're craving cosy winter vibes, this list of five lesser-known games is your perfect escape. From heartwarming puzzle adventures to whimsical snow-filled escapades, these titles embrace the season’s magic without leaning on tired survival tropes.

Beauty in Blocks: How Roblox’s Dress to Impress Inspires Real-Life Makeup Trends

November 30, 2024
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From the virtual runways of Dress to Impress to the Instagram feeds of beauty influencers, Roblox-inspired makeup is rewriting the rules of beauty. Bold, playful, and unapologetically experimental, these trends are proof that digital creativity is shaping the face of fashion in more ways than one.

Our Forgotten Digital Dolls: A Note on Personalisation and Feminine Identity Crises

November 29, 2024
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Once upon a time, the Internet was a playground for little girls. On BarbieGirls.com and Be-Bratz.com, we weren’t just dressing up avatars—we were learning how to present ourselves to the world. These virtual spaces taught us that to be seen was to be valued, planting seeds of self-scrutiny that bloomed into a full-blown obsession with image. Years later, the MP3 players and pink VIP badges are gone, but the mirror they handed us hasn’t cracked. We scroll, we compare, and we perform, still chasing that fleeting feeling of being enough in a world built to tell us otherwise.

Aika Village: The Haunting Legacy of Animal Crossing’s Darkest Creation

November 15, 2024
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Animal Crossing fans have crafted a paradise of horrors in Aika Village, transforming a beloved game into an unforgettable experiment…

We Got Feminism Before GTA VI

November 12, 2024
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From its beginnings, Grand Theft Auto captivated players with the freedom to explore Rockstar’s gritty, satirical universe. The thrill of wreaking havoc in Vice City or untangling crime in San Andreas, paired with a mix of dark humour and pointed social commentary, has made GTA iconic. Yet, the series has often fallen short when it comes to representing women.