Kevin Cortez - Mothership

Why do cozy games keep asking us to work, and why does it feel so good?

Developers of games like A Short Hike and Tiny Bookshop weigh in on why even labor feels nice in their games.

Kevin Cortez Feb 9, 2026

Advice

Dear Mother: It feels like everyone's played these video games. Should I?

How important is the video game canon, after all?

Zoë Hannah Feb 6, 2026

Feature

We spoke to queer Nigerian gamers about the identities they hide online

Voice chat can mean teamwork, coordination, and banter, but for many of the queer Nigerian gamers we spoke to, the mic is a risk assessment tool.

Beemia Ehitare Feb 5, 2026

Kevin Cortez is a DC-based culture and product journalist, and current Shopping reporter at HuffPost. Zoë used to be his boss. In his spare time, he reads graphic novels, plays pinball, drinks coffee, and listens to his therapist.

1 article

A screenshot from Kabuto Park shows a child in yellow rainboots holding a bug net and crouching to look at the grass with a magnifying glass. A big tree, a pond, and reeds are nearby.

Analysis

Why do cozy games keep asking us to work, and why does it feel so good?

Developers of games like A Short Hike and Tiny Bookshop weigh in on why even labor feels nice in their games.

Kevin Cortez Feb 9, 2026