Video Game Journalism 101: Reviews (Patreon)

In this episode, we'll demystify the most feverishly debated corner of games media: reviews. People have been reviewing the stuff they love (and hate) for as long as they've had opposable thumbs. And yet, the review format has a peculiar reputation among modern audiences, being both adored and despised. Hell hath no fury like a fan's scorn for a 7/10.

What's the difference between reviews and criticism?

How does critical thinking apply to everyday life?

Are video games really as bad as popular YouTubers tell us?

We'll answer all of those questions and more in Video Games Journalism 101's fourth session: Reviews.

Readings for this video:

Jay, H. (2020, May 7). Games Criticism Is A Kindness. Kotaku. (https://kotaku.com/games-criticism-is-a-kindness-1843320046)

Jay, H. (2019, Nov. 1). Death Stranding: The Kotaku Review. Kotaku. (https://kotaku.com/death-stranding-the-kotaku-review-1839474313) 

Finch, C. (2025, April 8). The Critic Who Turned the Hate Read Into High Art. The New York Times. (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/books/review/authority-andrea-long-chu.html) 

Kochai, J. (2019, Dec. 30). Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The New Yorker. (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/01/06/playing-metal-gear-solid-v-the-phantom-pain)

Navarro, A. (2004, Jan. 14). Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing Review. Gamespot.com. (http://www.gamespot.com/big-rigs-over-the-road-racing/)

Schiesel, S. (2009, Sept. 1). All Together Now: Play the Game, Mom. NYTimes. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/arts/television/06schi.html) 

Bissell, T. (2012, July 12). Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Shooter. Grantland.com. (http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8157257/line-explores-reasons-why-play-shooter-games)

Suellentrop, C. (2013, June 14). In the Same Boat, but Not Equal. NYTimes. (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/14/arts/video-games/in-the-video-game-the-last-of-us-survival-favors-the-man.html?_r=0) 

Scheurle, J. (2020, Aug. 20). The silly, chaotic, random design behind Fall Guys’ success. Polygon.com. (https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/20/21375212/fall-guys-game-design-randomness-esports-success-sales)

Bonus materials:

Shin Godzilla Will Make You Nostalgic for Working Government (Prospect)

Wesley Morris: A Critic on Criticism (TVO Today)

Against Interpretation by Susan Sontag (PDF)

Know Your Critic: Angelica Jade Bastién (Rotten Tomatoes)

Better Living Through Criticism | A.O. Scott (Talks at Google)

The Critic as Artist by Oscar Wilde (celt.ucc.ie)

On the Decay of Lying by Mark Twain (gutenberg.org)

A.O. Scott on the Joy of Close Reading Poetry (New York Times Podcasts)

Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer (Bookshop.org)

As Not Seen on TV (NYTimes)

Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk ALBUM REVIEW (theneedledrop)

Empire of Desire (NYTimes)

Game Critics (videogamedunkey)