The 12 finalists being considered for induction into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester, N.Y.: Asteroids, Elite, Guitar Hero, Metroid, Myst, Neopets, Resident Evil, SimCity, Tokimeki Memorial, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Ultima and You Don’t Know Jack. Three or four of the finalists will be inducted in May following voting by a panel of judges and the public.

World Video Game Hall of Fame finalists announced

From Asteroids to Guitar Hero, the 12 contenders vying to be inducted this year draw from four decades of gaming, various platforms and genres

Players have to know where their teammates are and make sure they’re not hitting each other in the crossfire because friendly fire is always a risk in Helldivers 2.

Helldivers 2 accomplishes what bigger-name games couldn’t

Arrowhead Games crafts a compelling 4-player co-op by reimagining the original as a squad-based 3rd-person shooter 

An inkling fights a horde of Jelletons in Side order, the new Wave 2 downloadable content for Splatoon 3.

Splatoon 3 dishes up generous Side Order

The latest wave of Splatoon 3 downloadable content introduces a new single-player mode.

In the 1997 original Final Fantasy VII game, players needed to use their imaginations with crude, faceless, blocky 3D models. The graphics of Rebirth, however, are so vastly improved that we can see, for example, the creases in its soulful characters’ faces and the shadows they cast against the wall.

Rebirth of a beloved Final Fantasy game

The second chapter in VII’s remake trilogy refreshes the original’s script, and offers improved graphics and an open world.

Voice actor Sarah Elmaleh poses for a photo in Los Angeles on Feb. 1, 2024. Recent years marked a golden age for making an acting career in video games, but now some studios are looking to use artificial intelligence to clone actors' voices. Voice actors like Elmaleh, who played the Cube Queen in Fortnite, are taking a cautious approach to making sure such arrangements can help actors rather than replace them.

Some video game actors are letting AI clone their voices. They just don't want it to replace them

As video game worlds get more expansive, some game studios are experimenting with AI tools to give voice to a potentially unlimited number of characters and conversations. It also saves time and money on the “vocal scratch” recordings game developers use as placeholders to test scenes and scripts. The response from professional actors has been mixed.

Jin Kazama, right, has to come to grips with his power as he battles his father Kazuya Mishima in Tekken 8.

Tekken 8 continues to play to its strengths

The latest entry in the campy fighting franchise is visually impressive and newcomer-friendly.

From left, Aerith, Cloud and Tifa continue on their world-saving battle against evil companies and power-hungry opponents in "inal Fantasy VII Rebirth,"out Feb. 29.

A strong start to 2024

Many of the most anticipated video games of the year are scheduled to arrive early.

Adventurers wade through flooded subterranean chambers as they battle undead enemies in a recent Lord of the Rings Roleplaying game in Washington, D.C.

Less magical, but still enchanting: Lord of the Rings Roleplaying bends Dungeons & Dragons rules to fit Tolkien’s world 

For those looking for a fantasy world a lot closer to author J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Free League Publishing has created The One Ring and The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying. The two games are basically the same, but LOTR Roleplaying relies on rules for D&D’s fifth edition – a format that’s popular for its accessibility and focus on fun.

Bricktales came out on consoles and iOS a few months ago, but on the Meta Quest 3, it’s a much more absorbing and natural experience. The game can be played in full virtual reality or mixed reality, though the formats doesn’t change the experience.

A classic toy enters a new frontier

Lego Bricktales builds on its legend with a foray into virtual reality

Players will uncover plenty of strange places surrounding Mount Qaf in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

Latest Prince of Persia title is an upgrade of the usual formula

The Lost Crown bridges the legacies of two previous and very different chapters.