Game Review Writing

Explore & Discover

Start by reading game reviews the way a detective reads a crime scene — look for clues about what the writer actually liked or hated. Pull up IGN, Metacritic, or Common Sense Media and read three reviews of games you already know well. Notice how each reviewer describes the same game differently. Watch the YouTube channel "Writing on Games" to see what thoughtful criticism sounds like out loud. Pay attention to which reviews make you want to play a game (or avoid it) and ask yourself why. You're ready for the next step when you can point to one specific thing a reviewer said that either convinced you or felt totally off-base.

Learn the Basics

Game reviews have a structure, just like a book report — but way more interesting. Learn the five parts every solid review includes: a hook that grabs the reader, a gameplay summary, an analysis of what works, an honest look at what doesn't, and a clear recommendation. Watch "How to Write a Game Review" on YouTube by channels like Mark Brown's Game Maker's Toolkit to see how pros break games apart. Check out the website Waypoint (by Vice) for examples of reviews that go deeper than star ratings. Try outlining one of those reviews to see its skeleton. You're ready for the next step when you can name all five parts of a review and find each one in an example.

Build Your First Project

Pick a game you have played at least three times — familiarity matters more than novelty here. Write your first full review using the five-part structure you mapped out. Aim for 300–400 words. Don't just say "the graphics are good" — describe a specific moment where the visuals helped or hurt the experience. Mention the controls, the story, the difficulty, and who you think would enjoy it. Use Google Docs so you can share it easily later. If you want a local angle, think about whether you played this at a friend's house near Liberty Park or during a long Wasatch winter break. You're ready for the next step when you have a complete draft with all five sections filled in.

Experiment & Iterate

Now you are going to stress-test your review by writing a second one — this time for a game you actually dislike. Negative reviews are harder to write well because you have to be fair, not just mean. Watch "How Critics Think" on the YouTube channel Noclip to hear developers respond to criticism and see what lands versus what feels cheap. After finishing draft two, swap reviews with a friend or family member and ask them to find one thing that felt vague. Rewrite those vague parts with specific examples from actual gameplay moments. You're ready for the next step when you have two complete reviews and at least one round of revision on each.

Advanced Techniques

Professional critics develop a consistent voice — readers know what to expect before they even finish the first paragraph. Study how writers at outlets like Polygon or Kotaku keep their tone steady across very different games. Then experiment with your own voice: write a 100-word mini-review as if you are being funny, then rewrite it as if you are being scholarly, then find the middle ground that actually sounds like you. Learn to use a scoring rubric — categories like gameplay, story, audio, and replayability rated separately — and practice justifying each score with evidence from the game. You're ready for the next step when you can describe your reviewer voice in two sentences.

Final Project Showcase

Build a portfolio of three polished reviews — one for a game you love, one for a game you dislike, and one wildcard pick. Post them somewhere public: a free WordPress or Blogger site, a Reddit post in r/patientgamers, or a Google Doc you share with your school's writing teacher. Ask at least two people outside your immediate friend group to read one review and give you honest feedback. Record a short video of yourself reading your best review out loud — this is how many critics transition to YouTube. You're ready for the next step when your three reviews are published somewhere and you have received at least two pieces of written feedback from real readers.