Simon Parkin
Simon is a freelance journalist and the Observer's games critic. He is the author of Death by Video Game: Tales of Obsession from the Virtual Frontline. Twitter: @SimonParkin
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Finally, a cure for insomnia?We are living through an epidemic of sleeplessness, but the medical establishment has largely ignored the problem. Can a radical new therapy help you get some sleep?
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The game changers: meet the creatives shaking up the gaming worldOn the eve of a new exhibition, we talk to six radical designers in an industry that’s evolving at exhilarating speed -
Octopath Traveller review – eight characters in search of nostalgiaSimon Parkin's Game of the Month Octopath Traveller review – eight characters in search of nostalgia
Complex adult themes and picture-book aesthetics battle it out in Nintendo’s latest role-playing game
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Jurassic World Evolution review – thrills at risk of extinctionDead dinosaurs are only half the problem in an exhausting Jurassic Park simulation that puts business first -
My Child Lebensborn review – could you raise a Nazi baby?The trials of caring for a child of the ‘master race’ are explored in a fearless game that brings the past to life
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How Fortnite conquered the worldMillions of teenagers have turned this unheralded video game into a cultural giant – and even parents are relaxed about it -
'I felt exposed online': how to disappear from the internetWorried about what’s out there about you? You’re not alone. But is it even possible to become a digital ghost? -
The rise of Russia’s neo-Nazi football hooligans – podcastFor the past two decades the Russian state has encouraged groups of violent far-right fans. As the World Cup approaches, it is struggling to tame themPodcast -
God of War review – muscleman on a missionThe latest in the God of War series, an affectionate father-son psychodrama, shows how video game bruisers are maturing alongside their creators
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The rise of Russia’s neo-Nazi football hooligansThe long read: For the past two decades the Russian state has encouraged groups of violent far-right fans. As the World Cup approaches, it is struggling to tame them. By Simon Parkin
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Has dopamine got us hooked on tech?Silicon Valley is keen to exploit the brain chemical credited with keeping us tapping on apps and social media
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'Fame proved toxic for the relationship': when comedy double acts splitDavid Baddiel, Andy Zaltzman, Richard Herring and other comics on fame, failure and friendship



Simon Parkin's Game of the Month Forza Horizon 4; Marvel’s Spider-Man – review