Hundreds of video games are released every year, and there isn’t enough time to play them all. How can you tell which games are worth your time? Video game news and gaming reviews sites are a good way to stay current on what’s happening in the gaming world and see if the latest releases are worth purchasing.
To assist you with this, we’ve selected the best video game review and video game news sites on the internet.
One of these great game sites will serve you well, whether you want to check on a game’s quality before purchasing it or browse the latest gaming headlines.
A Word on Mainstream Gaming Sites
In the last decade, video game journalism has faced many challenges. We won’t go into specifics here, but suffice it to say that several well-known video game websites have committed major ethics violations, including collusion, undisclosed financial ties, and cronyism.
Furthermore, for many gaming sites, the emphasis has shifted away from reviewing games primarily on game play and quality. Some sites prioritize social and political issues above all else or even have authors who treat some articles like their personal blogs. Other gaming sites have expanded their coverage to include other forms of entertainment (such as movies, TV, and music) at the expense of their gaming coverage.
We encourage you to follow these issues and conclude whether you want to participate in such mainstream gaming sites. Whatever sites you choose to read, it’s important to pay attention to the writers, not just the site.
There isn’t a “best game review site” for everyone because authors’ quality varies across sites.
1. GamesRadar+
GamesRadar+, another gaming news site with a healthy balance of content, offers news, features, reviews, hands-on looks at new games, and more. Check out the most recent news and reviews, or view reviews and guides for games on your preferred platform.
GamesRadar+ does not review as many games as other sites. At the time of writing, the site’s most recent batch of reviews includes a few big-name games but is mostly hardware reviews. This demonstrates that the staff takes their time and does not rush through reviews.
Clear Pros/Cons lists and a verdict summary make the reviews easy to skim. Overall, GamesRadar+ has lots of content to check out and quick stories to keep up with gaming news.
2. Destructoid
Destructoid is a fantastic all-around gaming site with a little bit of everything. It regularly publishes articles, with many news articles, reviews, and features appearing weekly. This contains updates on certain games, previews of upcoming games, and opinion pieces.
But it’s not just a gaming news site. Destructoid reviews console and PC games, mobile titles, and DLC. Its reviews are simple, and you can read Destructoid’s scoring system to understand how it ranks games.
Add video content and community forums to this coverage; you’ve got a solid video game site that anyone can enjoy.
3. Game Informer
Game Informer is a long-running video game magazine that also has a website. Unlike other gaming websites that also feature content for movies and TV, this one is all about games (occasionally covering movies and TV based on games). You’ll find news, previews of upcoming games, reviews, and features.
It’s an old-school take on a game website in the over complicated modern age, which is welcome. Many of the staff are longtime game players, and the site has a professional feel to it. It summarizes its reviews with a number, which not all gaming sites do nowadays.
Overall, Game Informer is a website run by people who love video games, built for players. The site doesn’t review every little game, but what’s here is excellent and there’s no political nonsense to worry about.
4. Nintendo Life
One of the top gaming websites for Nintendo fans, as its name implies. Nintendo Life focuses on the Nintendo Switch, 3DS, eShop, and related topics. You’ll find video reviews, news, features, and even original videos.
The guides stand out here. They provide assistance for major games, such as Pokémon type weaknesses or how to spot fake paintings in Animal Crossing. The site has a lot of coverage, as it reviews downloadable eShop titles and mainstream releases.
This is a must-see for all Nintendo fans, with a friendly community in the forums and comment sections.
5. GameSpot
GameSpot is a well-known gaming site that is well worth a look. On its homepage, you’ll find popular and recent news, lists of upcoming games, and recent reviews.
The site reviews games on all platforms, both well-known and obscure. Check out its video shows and forums to connect with other gamers if you want something different.
Its reviews have some oddities, such as the writer mentioning that they did not play through the entire game.
As a result, it is helpful to see a summary of what the reviewer played at the bottom of the article. Overall, it’s a good resource.
6. Metacritic
If you don’t feel like wading through detailed reviews and just want a quick score to see if a game is worth playing, Metacritic is for you. It is not a review website but aggregates game review scores from various game review websites (like Rotten Tomatoes and similar websites do for movies).
When you search for a game, you’ll see a weighted score from 1 to 100. You can click through to read individual reviews or compare critics’ thoughts to user reviews.
A lot of the time, it’s difficult to sum up, a game’s quality in a single number. As a result, many people have issues with the weight placed on Metacritic, but it’s a good place to start your research on a game. Just keep in mind that a numbered score is not everything.
7. Christ Centered Gamer
With the preceding discussion of bias in games, you might think that including a site with an obvious bias is an odd choice. Christ-Centered Gamer has received praise for its clear reviews from people concerned about the ethics of mainstream game sites.
Unlike sites that allow author biases to influence their ranking of a game’s quality, this site separates its reviews into two scores. One scores the game technically based on its gameplay, controls, and other characteristics.
The other scores the game’s morality based on language, sexual content, etc.
If you are of faith or want more information about video games for your children than the basic game age rating, you can consider the morality score. If you don’t care about that, you can skip ahead and still enjoy a quality game review on its merits.
This page isn’t as well-known as some game review sites, but it’s honest about its biases and hasn’t had any serious ethics violations. You might find that refreshing.
Websites for User-Written Game Reviews
All sites listed above are professional publications for game news and reviews. However, don’t forget that there are numerous online resources where you can read user-created reviews. Because opinions on games are subjective, you may prefer to read several reviews from regular players in addition to, or instead of, professional articles.
YouTube
Anyone with an opinion and a YouTube channel can make a video game review. This is a great option if you prefer to watch gameplay rather than just read about it. You’ll probably find someone discussing the game you’re interested in. To start, look at the best YouTube game review channels.
GameFAQS
GameFAQs is a great resource for user reviews of games and one of the best places to find game walk throughs.
To see what others thought of a game, search for it and check its Reviews tab.
Because these reviews do not follow any particular pattern, it is up to each person to discuss what they feel is important and structure the review accordingly.
Steam
Steam’s review system makes it easy to see what many other players thought about the game. Simply scroll down the page of any game on Steam to take a look. You can filter by positive or negative reviews, how long the reviewer played the game, and other factors. A graph of reviews over time is also available.
Many games feature “funny” reviews, which aren’t very useful, but you can filter some out using Steam’s tools. Others can award reviews, and the most helpful ones rise to the top. Even if you don’t play on PC, checking out Steam reviews for any game you’re interested in is a valuable resource.
The Top Video Game Websites Worth Your Time
The top video game websites aren’t always those you hear about. Many game websites have significant flaws, such as a lack of ethics, poorly justified review scores, or radical bias. However, these sites are excellent sources of video game reviews and news.
In addition to these options, it’s a good idea to find some Twitch streamers that you enjoy. Hundreds of people work for game websites, making finding a consistent voice difficult. With a single streamer, you can understand their preferences and determine whether a game is right for you. Plus, seeing a game in real-time is always beneficial.