Step away from the mess of consoles in your bedroom and get immersed in the latest experimental games from across the world at Somerset House’s video-gaming extravaganza Now Play This. Into 8-bit 1-uping or cutting-edge new releases? The fest is all about interacting with thoughtful, inventive games that draw from the world we live in. It’s the 11th edition this year and, as ever, it will be showcasing games around a particular theme – this year: ‘Folk Games: the stories we play together’, which will be exploring community and identity through creativity and play.
In ARCADE, a set of dance games will task people with performing spontaneous choreography to a bouncy electronic soundtrack. The Strand Avian Society will lead players on an architectural mystery through the streets of London, or make your own game in one of the Game Design Workshops and listen to talks and roundtables. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or have never even held an Xbox, there’s loads of fun to be had here.