Games, podcasts, streaming platforms, and more—these are resources every gamer should know
We’re living in a golden age of gaming. Immersive VR experiences, online multiplayer platforms, app-based games you can play just about anywhere—digital games offer more variety than ever before. And thanks to the rise of platforms like Twitch, gaming is connecting with broad new audiences and changing what it means to be a gamer as a result. Every year The Webby Awards sees these developments firsthand, and has honored all kinds of amazing games and game-related projects over the years. Want to get a taste of the latest and greatest in gaming? Look no further. These picks, including everything from an online citizen science project to a women-led gaming podcast and more, should be on every gamer’s radar.
EVE Online, a 2021 Webby People’s Voice Winner, is a massive multiplayer universe set in the far reaches of space, but that’s not all: It’s also a crowdsourced science project. Through EVE’s Project Discovery, players can opt into a mini game that involves analyzing real COVID-19 data to help scientists research the virus’s effect on the human immune system.
A 2021 Webby Winner, Deep Rock Galactic takes players on a deep-space saga filled with hostile alien life forms, dazzling riches, and yes, dwarves. The mission? Play as part of an intrepid four-dwarf team sent to the planet Hoxxes IV to collect highly valuable minerals. The challenge? You’ll have to grab your gems while fending off dangerous flora and fauna with a long roster of inventive weaponry.
SongPop Live, the daily app-based music trivia game, was a 2020 Webby People’s Voice Winner, and now it has evolved into SongPop 2, a play-anytime version that’s a must-try for music lovers (or anyone who wants to broaden their taste). Listen to song clips—drawn from a variety of genres and decades—and guess the track to test your knowledge. Then, compete with hundreds of other players in Party Mode to see how you stack up.
What’s Good Games, hosted by Andrea Rene, Brittney Brombacher, and Kristine Steimer, is a weekly podcast that gives you the scoop on the latest gaming news, firsthand impressions of new releases, and commentary on the wider gaming world. Whether you’re a superstar on Twitch or you’re a total novice, this show definitely deserves a spot in your podcast rotation.
Black Girl Gamers got its start in 2015 as a Facebook group, and since then it has grown into a thriving Twitch channel with over 7,000 members. This mission-focused platform showcases female Black gamers, serves as a community hub, and partners with outside organizations to drive greater representation and equity for Black women in the gaming world.
