This weekend, we'll witness the evolution of Caesar, the ape revolutionary played by Andy Serkis in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. And next month, we meet Vin Diesel's Groot. But motion-capture has a proud history of innovation and great performances. Here are the 10 greatest mocap characters of all time. » 7/08/14 1:23pm Tuesday 1:23pm

Magic: the Gathering cards feature stunning fantasy art, but for some fans that's not enough. Card alterists modify and personalize cards by painting directly on them, creating unique works of art and a brilliant way for fans to interact with their favorite game. » 7/03/14 5:02pm 7/03/14 5:02pm

A good computer mouse doesn't have to cost a ton of money, especially if you need it to travel, or you're on a budget. This week we're looking at five of the best mice on the market for around $20, based on your nominations. » 6/29/14 11:15am 6/29/14 11:15am

Forget the Ouya, there's another Android game console in town, and it's coming from two of the biggest players in computing. » 6/25/14 1:44pm 6/25/14 1:44pm

Before we move on to our next Gaming-centric Kinja Co-Op, we're giving everyone an open forum to share their favorite gaming gear. Mice, keyboards, furniture, third-party controllers, gaming glasses, home theater, tell us what you've got, and what you love or hate about it. » 6/25/14 10:15am 6/25/14 10:15am

This Saturday is Free RPG Day, plus there's a a Paranoia bundle, charity auctions, and other gaming deals going on right now. Don't miss these great summer gaming deals. » 6/20/14 2:44pm 6/20/14 2:44pm

It's summer, and that means a Steam sale is just around the corner. But does Steam really deserve its reputation for amazing deals? Well, yes—but there are a lot of other stores that don't get credit for being just as good. Here's a look and see how often the competition matches up to Steam's prices. » 6/17/14 11:22am 6/17/14 11:22am

While it's a bit early to say that 4K has officially "landed," it's not far off. The benefits are tangible, especially if you have 4K-capable gear. That's right: There's more to a 4K PC than a display packed with pixels. Here's what you need—and need to know—to build a 4K desktop that handles anything you throw at it. » 6/04/14 6:26pm 6/04/14 6:26pm

This summer's Dungeons & Dragons relaunch includes a set of adventures focused on the rise of the dragon goddess Tiamat, designed by Wolfgang Baur and Steve Winter of Kobold Press. In this interview, they told us about adventure design and the joys of writing for a game system while it's still in development.
» 5/31/14 8:02pm 5/31/14 8:02pm

After a two-year development process, Wizards of the Coast has finally announced release dates for the new edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Don your scale mail +1 and memorize your Magic Missile spells — it's going to be a fun summer. Here's what you need to know to get ready. » 5/19/14 9:16pm 5/19/14 9:16pm

Dear Lifehacker,
My computer is getting a little old. I built it myself, but I'm not sure whether it's worthwhile to upgrade individual things like my processor or video card or whether I should just start from scratch and build a new rig. How can I tell when it's time to upgrade and when I should start over? » 5/05/14 2:36pm 5/05/14 2:36pm

There are plenty of places to pick up great PC games, whether you're looking for something just-released or a classic treasure. Still, some are better than others, either thanks to their deals, selection, approach to DRM, or support for indie games. Here are five of the best, based on your nominations. » 4/27/14 1:03pm 4/27/14 1:03pm

Thirty years ago, a war raged between the dorks who played Dungeons & Dragons, and the conservative parent groups who believed that gaming was debauched at best and Satanic at worst. Lives were ruined. People died. And now that war is over. I still can't believe we won. » 3/26/14 8:52pm 3/26/14 8:52pm

PC gaming is great, but it's a bit more complex than console gaming. You have a lot of different hardware to choose from, tweaks to increase performance, and other ways to improve the experience—as long as you're willing to put in the time and effort. Here are our top 10 PC mods and tricks for better gaming. » 3/15/14 1:00pm 3/15/14 1:00pm

The 2013 Razer Blade was fantastic. A finally great execution on a concept that's been appealing as hell from the very start, a Windows gaming laptop with the premium feel of a MacBook. Now it's back again, and yes, it is even better. » 3/12/14 12:09pm 3/12/14 12:09pm

Oregon Trail, the computer simulation that sends students on a sometimes perilous journey west in the 19th century and that made its way into classrooms across the country in the 1980s and 1990s (and beyond), was originally created by three student teachers — two who led math classrooms and one who led a history class. » 2/24/14 12:03pm 2/24/14 12:03pm

Our game release calendar is our attempt to make sure you never miss the latest releases, their limited collector's editions, or pre-orders deals on them. This is a big undertaking, so jump in the comments and help everyone out by telling us what our list is missing. Also check out our Movie and TV Release Calendar. » 2/15/14 1:18pm 2/15/14 1:18pm

Wouldn't it be great if you could start playing a game on one computer, save it, then pick up where you left off on another computer? Here's how to sync all your game saves with Dropbox. » 1/15/14 6:26pm 1/15/14 6:26pm