How to Become a Video Game Reviewer

Do you have a passion for playing video games? Do you enjoy writing? Then building a career as a professional video game reviewer could be a great fit. Video game reviewers spend their time playing games, and then writing about them to help others decide whether to play — or to offer insights that could help players enjoy the games even more.

So what does it take to become a video game reviewer? And is it a good job that can pay the bills while offering the creative fulfillment you crave?

How to get started as a game reviewer

Like many career paths, there isn’t necessarily a “right way” to become a game reviewer. There are many ways to start developing the skills you’ll need to land your first reviewing job.

For example, high-profile game reviewer Chris Suellentrop got a degree in History. Jeff Gerstmann started as a part-time editorial assistant. Andrea Rene worked in television before moving into game reviewing and starting her own game review podcast. Alanah Pearce worked as a video journalist before moving to games, and Nicole Tanner started as a writer on non-game websites.

If there’s a pattern at all, it’s an interest in games and an interest in writing. So here are some activities you can get started on now, to begin building a foundation that you can turn into a career as a game reviewer.

1. Play a diversity of video games. Reviewers don’t just have opinions — they need to have informed opinions. To become a credible reviewer, you need a deep understanding of the different genres, styles, and game mechanics. This will help you critique games more effectively, and have informed opinions that make your reviews valuable for readers.

2. Build an online portfolio of writing samples. Game reviewing is a form of writing that is both creative and technical. To get hired, you’ll need to be able to showcase your writing skills to potential employers. So a great way to get started is to write your own game reviews and publish online. You could publish on your own blog, or even pitch to smaller blogs or review sites that are willing to take submissions from inexperienced reviewers.

3. Network with other game reviewers and industry professionals. As with any career, it’s incredibly helpful to start building relationships with like-minded people. That’s why it’s key to do some career networking with other game reviewers and game industry professionals. It will help you learn more about the industry, and make connections that can lead to part- or full-time jobs.

4. Get a degree in a related field. Getting a college or university degree in a related field isn’t necessarily required to be a game reviewer. But getting an education in technical or creative writing has big advantages for your skill set — and your online writing portfolio.

Also, getting some education in game design, programming, or other area of game development will be very helpful. You’ll understand more about the technical parts of video games, which will give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs.

5. Research job opportunities. There are a large number of video game publications, websites, and magazines that offer gaming-related content (start with the big names like Kotaku and IGN). Which ones are the best fit for your interests and writing style? Do your research. Learn what kinds of content they produce, and read up on their hiring process and requirements.

6. Be passionate! Game reviewing is a competitive job market. You’ll need to really care about the content you’re writing, the games, and the game industry as a whole. If you really love your job, it will help give you the grit and persistence you’ll need to hustle and always be looking for new opportunities.

Is video game reviewer a good job?

Getting a job as a video game reviewer can be fulfilling (and fun!) if you have a passion for video games and writing. But it has its own challenges — it’s not necessarily for everyone. So you’ll need to understand your personal skills and motivations, then weigh the pros and cons to see if it’s a good fit for you.

Some of the upsides of the job include:

• You get to play and review a huge variety of games. As a video game reviewer, you’ll be able to play and review the newest games — usually before they’re even released to the general public.
• You get to share your opinions and be an influencer. A big part of being a game reviewer is sharing your thoughts and opinions with a large audience. Your reviews can influence people’s decisions about what games they play, and what games they pass over.
• You get to be creative. Reviewing games requires you to be creative and use your critical thinking skills. You’ll be analyzing games, then coming up with interesting and compelling ways to write about them.
• You get to grow in your career. As you get more experience writing about games, you’ll establish a reputation as a credible reviewer. That’s likely to open up new opportunities to move into more senior-level jobs, or even expand into other areas of game journalism.

Clearly, reviewing video games for a living can be an interesting, creative job with career growth opportunities. But there are some downsides to be aware of as well:

• There’s a lot of competition. This is a highly competitive field. There are a lot of people who are aspiring to become game reviewers, and they’re also working hard to break into the industry. That can make it hard to get your foot in the door, especially if you don’t already have a strong portfolio of writing samples.
• Tight, stressful deadlines. As a game reviewer, you’ll rarely have the luxury of playing a game until you’re finished. You’ll often have to play and review games quickly, because they need to be reviewed by the time they’re released to the general public. That can be challenging — especially if the game is long or complex. And it can be hard to balance the need for thoroughness, with the need to meet deadlines.
• Constant learning. The game industry evolves quickly, and it’s important for reviewers to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments. That requires a lot of dedication, and a willingness (and ability) to learn new things.
• Danger of burnout. Playing and reviewing games can be fun, but it can also be tiring. Getting burned out is a real risk for reviewers. You need to be aware of it, and make sure to nurture a healthy lifestyle and a good work-life balance.
• Requires a thick skin. When you review a game, your analysis and your review scores might sometimes be controversial. Especially when your score ends up being different than other review sites, it can lead to criticism and negative feedback from developers and fans. Since gamers are, let’s just say, an “especially passionate” and vocal group, you’ll need to have a thick skin.

Resources for aspiring game reviewers

The best way to hone your skills as a game reviewer, is to just buckle down and start writing and publishing reviews! Your first few reviews probably won’t be great. But with practice, you’ll get better quickly over time.

Your reviews will also get better as you learn more about the craft of game design, and the history of video games. Here are some books to start out with. Pick one or two, read them over time, and think about how you can apply the insights to your own game reviews.

1. The Guide to Classic Graphic Adventures by Kurt Calatta: Provides an in-depth look at the history and design of classic graphic adventure games. It can help you develop a deeper understanding of the genre and the elements that make these games great.
2. The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses by Jesse Schell: Offers a comprehensive look at the design process for video games. It covers a wide range of topics, from game mechanics and player psychology, to game development and marketing.
3. The Game Writing Handbook by Rafael Chandler: A guide to the craft of writing for video games. Covers everything from story structure and character development, to dialogue and pacing.
4. Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World by Jane McGonigal: Explores the psychological and social benefits of playing video games. Provides insight into how games can be used to solve real-world problems.
5. A Theory of Fun for Game Design by Raph Koster: Explores the psychology of play and games. Offers a framework for understanding what makes games fun.

Those are just a few examples of books that can help you understand more about the game industry, which will in turn help you become a better game reviewer. You should also seek out and read online articles, blogs, and videos that were put out by established reviewers. It’s a great way to learn about the industry, and discover little tips and tricks that are used by professionals.

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