POKÉMON GO

Pokémon GO remains the most successful “please go outside” scam ever invented. The joy of spotting a rare spawn in the wild is still real, and the game makes walks feel like a mini-adventure. Raids and events can be a blast with friends, and collecting is satisfying in that compulsive “just one more” way. Graphics are fine, sound is nostalgic enough, and gameplay is fun—but it’s also a bit dependent on where you live and what’s happening in the event calendar. Some days it’s magical.

Some days it’s just you staring at your phone like a raccoon looking for snacks. Still: when it hits, it hits.