In our final print edition, we dig into the making of puzzle-platformer American Arcadia, the most paranoid game of 2023. A gathering of high-profile indie designers tell us about the challenges of adapting their hit games for mobile devices, and we chat to the developers still making game cartridges for the Sega Mega Drive.

Elsewhere, we take an early look at the innovatively lethargic puzzler, Exhausted Man, celebrate WayForward’s long-running series, Shantae, and look ahead to the year’s most exciting games, large and small.

Over in our Toolbox section, there’s a guide to generating changing seasons in Unreal Engine 5, the code you’ll need to make your own tower defence game, and some careers tips from veteran audio director, Jon Newman.