Game journalism matters. I know that's a controversial statement in 2026, when the field has been decimated by layoffs, when trust in media is at historic lows, when anyone with a Twitter account can claim expertise. But I've spent years studying this craft, working toward becoming a professional in this space, and I still believe in what we're trying to do—even when we fail, especially when we fail.
The criticism of game journalism is often deserved. We've published puff pieces that read like marketing copy. We've failed to cover labor abuses in the industry we claim to scrutinize. We've prioritized access over accountability, clicks over quality, speed over accuracy. Every critique lands somewhere true.
But the existence of failure isn't evidence that the endeavor itself is worthless. Medicine has malpractice. Law has corruption. Every field contains its disappointments. What matters is whether the institutional commitment to the craft persists, whether there are still people trying to do the work well despite the obstacles.
Why Games Deserve Serious Coverage
Games are a multi-billion dollar industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people and consumes the attention of billions more. They shape culture, influence behavior, create communities, destroy communities. They deserve the same journalistic scrutiny as any other field of similar scope and impact.
Beyond the economic argument, games matter as art. They create experiences that people remember for decades, that shape identities, that provide meaning and connection. Art deserves serious critical engagement—not just consumer advice about whether something is "worth your money," but genuine analysis of what works, what fails, and why.
The dismissive attitude toward games—that they're "just entertainment," that serious coverage is somehow embarrassing—reflects outdated prejudice. We don't apply this standard to film, to literature, to music. Games have earned their place in the cultural conversation, and journalism should reflect that.
The Craft of Criticism
Good game criticism requires skills: understanding of design principles, historical context, cultural awareness, clear writing. It's not just "I liked this" or "this was boring"—it's building an argument supported by evidence from the game itself, accessible to readers who may disagree with your conclusions.
This craft is worth defending. When I read thoughtful criticism that makes me see a game differently, that connects it to larger cultural currents, that helps me understand my own reactions better—that's valuable. That's why I want to do this work.
The current media environment makes this difficult. The economic model that supported long-form criticism is collapsing. The attention economy rewards hot takes over nuance. But these are obstacles to navigate, not reasons to abandon the project.
Accountability and Access
One of the legitimate criticisms of game journalism is the coziness between press and industry. Preview events, review codes, exclusive interviews—these create structural incentives for favorable coverage. I've seen it happen. I've felt the pressure myself.
The answer isn't to abandon access but to be transparent about it. Disclose relationships. Acknowledge when coverage is shaped by access considerations. Build firewalls between editorial and advertising. These are journalistic basics that the game press sometimes neglects.
More importantly, we need to cover the industry itself with the same scrutiny we apply to games. Labor practices, business decisions, corporate culture—these affect the games that get made and the people who make them. Ignoring them is a failure of journalistic duty.
The Future
I'm optimistic despite everything. New models are emerging—subscriber-funded outlets, cooperative structures, independent creators building sustainable practices. The field is evolving, not dying, and some of the evolution is positive.
What I want is a game journalism that takes itself seriously without taking itself too seriously. That covers games with rigor and passion. That holds the industry accountable while celebrating what it does well. That serves readers who care about this medium and want thoughtful engagement with it.
That journalism exists now, in pockets, practiced by people who haven't given up. I want to join them. I want to contribute to making it better, more sustainable, more respected. The work matters. The games matter. The readers matter.
That's why I still believe.