“Jump Up, Super Star!,” the main theme song of “Super Mario Odyssey,” promises the player “freedom like you never knew.” Indeed, freedom is the foundation “Odyssey” is built upon. Its controls, its ...

Chris is a writer with an academic background in Creative Technology and Games Design. This experience has allowed him to look at games through a critical lens, analyzing what makes for good design.

For decades, Nintendo's biggest driving philosophy has revolved around one key word – fun. The company has long been influenced by the design sensibilities of Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, who once ...