Contributor: Bob Hoose

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

Astroneer game

Astroneer

Astroneer offers a well-crafted explore-and-build adventure that’s very easy to, uh, launch into.

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blog top 01-14

Plugged In Picks, Books: We Dream of Space

We Dream of Space is the kind of story that makes for a sure-fire Plugged In Pick for 8-to-12-year-old readers who want something serious to take flight with.

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Timelie

Timelie

This puzzle game throws in just enough danger, creativity and a desperate need for stealth to give it a singular and appealing flavor.

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The Gunk video game

The Gunk

The game is based on cleaning up a planet, and that’s surprisingly satisfying. Too bad the game didn’t clean up the language.

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blog top 01-05 Lego Batman movie

Best Movies Streaming for Families in January 2022

Top films available for families to stream in January 2022.

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Ecto 1 driving through field in Ghostbusters Afterlife movie

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

This sequel to the classic ’80s comedy actioner is exactly what you’d expect—in both good ways and bad.

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A well-dressed woman and man dance on a sidewalk.

Last Night in Soho

Style, nostalgia, and cinematic panache can’t hide this pic’s cringe-worthy levels of content.

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a coach talking to a lawyer in National Champions movie

National Champions

National Champions has passion to spare, but it’s more diatribe than compelling story.

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A New Year and the Ghost of COVID Past

This is probably as good a time as any to look back over this last year and see what impact COVID has had on our kids (and their screens).

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chorus game trailer

Chorus

This T-rated space combat game is a bit different. But it might offer a cockpit worth exploring.

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blog top 12-17 - 2021 Year-End Picks: Books

Brilliant Books 2021: Bob Hoose’s Year-End Picks

So, we figured it’s time to grab several books worth highlighting from the last year and give your young readers some good suggestions.

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Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite

Master Chief and Halo are back. Does their T-rating make them more family-room friendly?

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blog top 12-14

Kids in a Book Drought? How About a New Reading Rainbow?

Reading Rainbow is returning as a live show in 2022.

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halloween kills movie

Halloween Kills

Halloween Kills’ screeching, impaling and exuberant hemorrhaging is exactly what you’d expect it to be.

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ron's gone wrong movie

Ron’s Gone Wrong

Ron’s Gone Wrong doesn’t quite know how to follow through on the wrongs it gets right.

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