Contributor: Bob Hoose

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

they will kill you

They Will Kill You

The gore of ‘They Will Kill You’ is supposed to be so excessive that you’ll chuckle. But it’s a bloody, bad joke.

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mouse: p.i. for hire

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire

‘MOUSE: P.I. For Hire’ looks fantastic, but it’s got some mess in its black-and-white bits.

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Pokémon Champions

‘Pokémon Champions’ offers fun, colorful game battles. It’s free to play, but in-game transactions could add up.

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Family Bonds and the Loneliness Crisis

A new study suggests that teens who have good, loving family bonds will likewise have a better shot at a happy life.

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video games

Video Games: Boon or Bane?

How do video games influence those immersed in them? Or, to put it another way, are video games ultimately a boon for players? Or a bane?

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Darwin’s Paradox

‘Darwin’s Paradox’ is a puzzle-platformer with funny spy-guy and space-alien overtones, all wrapped in Pixar-like visuals.

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The Bride!

‘The Bride!’ is a malformed creation featuring an effervescent, chaotic lead and whole lot of foul, foul mess.

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Crimson Desert

This new adventure title feels familiar, strange, ambitious, grinding, beautiful, bloody and foul. All at the same time.

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avatar: fire and ash

Avatar: Fire and Ash

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ feels much like what we’ve seen before, only more. But that more will leave family viewers feeling burned.

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Esoteric Ebb

‘Esoteric Ebb’ is an interesting CRPG with some D&D leanings. But that doesn’t mean it’s a kid-friendly equivalent.

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stand by me

Stand by Me

‘Stand by Me’ is remembered as a classic coming-of-age pic. But it’s also a problematic trek down the tracks.

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GOAT

In ‘GOAT,’ a skinny goat gets a shot at the big leagues. He must build a winning team while trying to keep from being sat on—or eaten.

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Deepfakes and the Struggle to Take It Down

Laws might make it harder for AI deepfakes to harm innocents, but we should still talk to our kids about potential dangers.

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Resident Evil Requiem

‘Resident Evil Requiem’ offers a new, revealing chapter of the Umbrella Corporation’s bioterrorism story. But its mutated and gory gush is a familiar tune.

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Charlie the Wonderdog

Charlie the Wonderdog is a lovable mutt who gains alien superpowers. But his movie can’t quite lift off the ground.

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