Inside an industrial Stoke Newington basement, independent artist L.V.K. turned the release of her new EP into something much bigger than a listening party.
The cosy game genre is more crowded than ever, making it increasingly difficult for new farming sims to stand out. While many lean heavily on familiar mechanics borrowed from classics like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, Everdream Village takes a few welcome risks of its own.
Takashi Murakami's vibrant worlds have captivated audiences for decades, but beneath the rainbow flowers lies a more complicated reality. Following a visit to Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow at the Cleveland Museum of Art, G.URL explores the tension between Murakami's hopeful artistic vision and his continued support of NFTs. Can one of contemporary art's most celebrated creators reconcile his legacy with the environmental cost of digital ambition?
Horror is having its biggest mainstream moment in decades, with independent filmmakers finally being given the recognition they deserve. But while films like Obsession and Backrooms prove the genre has never been more exciting, they also raise bigger questions about representation, perspective, and who still gets to tell horror's stories.
Ten years into her work in Black character design, Danielle ‘Ebonix’ Udogaranya reflects on influence, visibility, and the future of games.
Has the recipe detailing the makings of a true pop icon been set in stone once and for all? Watching Addison Rae’s meteoric rise — from TikTok fame to the release of her debut album and her first London show — it’s tempting to think it might have.
Step into a world where nostalgia, childhood wonder, and digital imagination collide. Come Into My World transforms art exhibitions into immersive journeys, letting you explore seven unique artist-created realms through VR, AR, or your laptop. It’s playful, uncanny, and deeply personal.
MARINA’s Princess of Pop sparkles with nostalgic synths and playful hyperfemininity. It’s a vibrant, sometimes cheesy, love letter to Tumblr-era melodrama, blending honeyed vocals with neon-bright metaphors. Not perfect, but utterly her — a bold, unapologetic celebration of pop’s glittery, chaotic heart.
PinkPantheress makes heartbreak sound effortless on a mixtape that barely lets you in, but still lingers like a message you were never meant to read.
In a gaming landscape overrun by pastel to-do lists, Mudborne croaks back with surreal swamp logic, frog genetics, and cosmic pond gods. It’s cosy with edge, structured without stress — a tender, muddy rebirth for players burnt out by the genre’s grind. Finally, a cosy that doesn’t condescend.
BLACKSTARKIDS’ “SOULMATEZ!”: A Sonic Rebellion Wrapped in Nostalgia
BLACKSTARKIDS’ “SOULMATEZ!” is a neon-hued love letter to a chaotic world where nostalgia and modern angst collide. In the ever-evolving tapestry of youth culture, BLACKSTARKIDS stand out as both provocateurs and curators. Their latest single, “SOULMATEZ!,” is more than just a catchy track; it’s a manifesto, a collision of sound and vision that captures the…
Style Savvy: The Nostalgic Dress-Up Game for the Nintendo DS
With the resurgence of digital dress-up games online, one game had surprisingly been ahead of its time… Written by Hafsa Ahmed Dress-up games became a hit in the online digital space during the 2000s. Many of these were the classic, click-and-select gameplays that provided clothes to dress up avatars. However, they didn’t just exist online.…
Dave The Diver: Plunging Headfirst into New Worlds
Too scared to play Subnautica, but want to traverse a deep sea environment? Meet Dave The Diver, developed by studio Mint Rocket, a cosy, yet challenging experience as the player inhabits Dave, a diver returning from his vacation, as he gathers different types of fish for the renowned Bancho Sushi. Pact full of incredible animations, dynamic boss battles and quests, Dave The Diver is easily one of the best games I’ve had the pleasure to play this year.
CupcakKe’s Dauntless Manifesto: More Than a Meme
G.URL takes a bite out of cupcakKe’s latest album; Dauntless Manifesto It is always difficult to pinpoint a tone that feels appropriate when conducting these musical deep dives, but cupcakKe makes that job even more challenging – in all the best ways. Known for her outlandishly vulgar and raunchy lyricism, CupcakKe and the internet tend…
Little Kitty Big City: The Warmth of Cosy Gaming
Proof That Sometimes the Purr-suit of Happiness Is as Simple as Being a Cat Written by Rose Renaud The mainstream popularity of the casual games genre has exploded in recent years. They have always been around and possess a sense of nostalgia with series like Animal Crossing and The Sims. They were worlds where we…
Strange Horticulture: Unraveling Mysteries One Leaf at a Time
In this botanical whodunit, the only thing sharper than your shears is your wit. Written by Janelle Hyde Strange Horticulture is an immersive game that excellently captures a somber tone. Set in the fictional town of Undermere, players inherit a plant store and navigate a world filled with botanical mysteries and magical properties. The game…
Codename: Ocean Keeper Makes a Splash
Dive into an all new underwater rogue-like title with G.URL! My quest towards genre expansion through review continues, and this time I was led straight into an up and coming game titled Codename: Ocean Keeper. Although the developers over at RetroStyle Games possess quite an extensive portfolio of projects, this new title seemingly marks a…
G.URL takes on Vampire Survivors’ latest DLC with guns blazing!
Operation Guns Combines Bullet Hell with Contra Nostalgia Admittedly, I was equally intimidated and delighted when G.URL approached me with such a beloved, and skill-based, title. The highly addictive and critically acclaimed Vampire Survivors has charmed players since its launch in late 2021, quickly becoming an indie darling. Developer Poncle caught the attention of countless…
Charli XCX’s “BRAT”: Hyperpop’s New Masterpiece
Happy Brat Day! Charli XCX has once again taken the pop music world by storm with the release of her latest album, “BRAT,” which dropped today, June 7, 2024. With this album, Charli firmly cements her status as a trailblazer in the hyperpop genre, delivering an electrifying collection that pushes the boundaries of contemporary music…
Laysara: Summit Kingdom Review
Over at G.URL, we were lucky enough to get early access to the upcoming titleLaysara: Summit Kingdom; here’s the scoop! I was honoured when G.URL approached me to review such a unique looking title; bothin style and – in comparison to the games I typically play – genre. Laysara breaks into the scene asthe debut…