Top Gaming Journalists in the Industry [2024 Edition]

By Intelligent Relations Team

January 10, 2023

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As many in the gaming industry know, the success of a game can live or die by the amount of press coverage it receives from gaming journalists.

In a rapidly-evolving digital-first culture, video gaming companies looking to market a game successfully need to find journalists and writers. And these people need to specialize in the gaming industry to get the word out to create buzz about the new game.

The gaming journalists listed below are specialists who are always on the lookout for news surrounding big gaming releases, anticipated video game sequels, and any and all developments related to the industry. 

We’ve rounded up a list of the biggest gaming journalists active in the industry along with a brief bio and past gaming coverage!

Our Curated List of Top Gaming Journalists

Jason Schreier — (@jasonschreier) Jason Schreier is a gaming journalist known for his coverage of the video game industry, with a focus on the business and labor practices of major video game companies. He is a contributing editor at Kotaku and has written for a variety of other publications, including Wired and Polygon. He is known for his investigative reporting and his efforts to shed light on the often tumultuous inner workings of the video game industry.

Patrick Klepek — (@patrickklepek) Patrick Klepek is a video game journalist and podcaster known for his work on the Giant Bombcast and Waypoint Radio. He has also written for Vice, Kotaku, and Polygon, and has a particular interest in the intersection of video games and social issues. In addition to his journalism work, Klepek is also an avid streamer and can often be found playing games on his Twitch channel.

Keza MacDonald — (@kezamacdonald) Keza MacDonald is a video game journalist and critic based in London, England. She has written for a variety of publications, including The Guardian, IGN, and Kotaku, and is known for her in-depth analysis of the video game industry and its cultural impact. MacDonald is also a frequent speaker at industry events and has a strong social media presence, often sharing her thoughts on the latest news and trends in gaming.

Chris Kohler — (@kobunheat) Chris Kohler is a gaming journalist and author based in San Francisco, California. He has written for Wired, GameSpot, and Kotaku, and is the author of the book “Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life.” Kohler is known for his expertise on the history and culture of video games, and his work often explores the intersections between gaming and other areas of popular culture.

Austin Walker — (@austin_walker) Austin Walker is a video game journalist and critic based in New York City. He is the editor-in-chief of Waypoint, a website focused on video game culture and social issues, and Walker is a frequent contributor to Vice’s Motherboard and The Verge. Walker is known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on the social and cultural aspects of video games, and is an active presence on social media, regularly engaging with his followers on Twitter and elsewhere.

Leigh Alexander — (@leighalexander) Leigh Alexander is a video game journalist, critic, and author based in Los Angeles, California. She has written for a variety of publications, including Gamasutra, Kotaku, and Boing Boing, and is the author of the book “Breathless: Tales of Adventure, Love and Death from the Computer Underbelly. Alexander is known for her unique and provocative writing style, and her work often explores the intersections between gaming and other areas of popular culture. 

Daniel Ahmad — (@ZhugeEX) Daniel Ahmad is a well-known analyst in the gaming industry, with a focus on the Asian market. He writes about industry trends and news, as well as offering insight and analysis on specific games and companies. He is active on Twitter, where he shares his thoughts and updates on the latest developments in the gaming world.

Jeff Grubb — (@JeffGrubb) Jeff Grubb is a senior gaming editor at VentureBeat, where he covers game launches, industry trends, and the latest news. He is also a respected voice in the gaming community, with a strong following on social media.

Dave Thier — (@DaveThier) Dave Thier is a freelance writer and journalist who covers the gaming industry for a variety of outlets, including Forbes, Rolling Stone, and The Washington Post.

Tom Warren — (@tomwarren) Tom Warren is the senior editor at The Verge, where he covers a range of topics including gaming, technology, and more. He is known for his in-depth analysis and reporting on the gaming industry, and is a respected voice in the community.

Jason Wilson — (@jason_wilson) Jason Wilson is the editor-in-chief of GamesBeat, where he covers the gaming industry and writes about a variety of topics including game reviews, industry news, and more.

Matthew Handrahan — (@MatthewHandrahan) Matthew Handrahan is a senior editor at GamesIndustry.biz, where he covers various topics in the gaming industry. He is a trusted voice in the gaming community, with a robust following on social media.

Kris Graft — (@krisgraft) Kris Graft is the editor-in-chief of Gamasutra, where he writes about game design, development, and more. He is active on Twitter, where he shares he shares his thoughts on the gaming industry with his followers.

Emily Gera — (@twitgera) Emily Gera is a freelance writer and journalist who writes game reviews, covers industry news, and focuses on the business of gaming for publications including Polygon, Wired, and Vice. 

Luke Plunkett — (@LukePlunkett) Luke Plunkett is a senior editor at Kotaku and an active voice on Twitter. He covers game reviews, industry news, and stays on top of the latest gaming trends. 

Rock Paper Shotgun — (@Byrneinator) Rock Paper Shotgun (Katharine Castle) is a UK-based gaming website that covers the latest news and reviews in the gaming industry, with a focus on PC games. Known for its irreverent and humorous writing style, Rock Paper Shotgun is a must-read for fans of PC gaming.

Giant Bomb — (@giantbomb) Giant Bomb is a website that covers the latest news and reviews in the gaming industry, with a focus on console and PC games. Known for its extensive video coverage and in-depth interviews with industry insiders, Giant Bomb is a great resource for gamers looking for a more comprehensive view of the gaming world.

Trisha Hershberger — (@thatgrltrish) Trisha is a journalist and content creator who covers all things gaming and geek culture. She has a YouTube channel called “Geek & Sundry” where she shares her thoughts on the latest games.

Kelsey Lewin — (@kelslewin) Kelsey is a journalist and streamer who focuses on indie games and game development. She has a YouTube channel called “Kelsey and the Games” where she shares her thoughts on the latest indie games and interviews developers. Kelsey is known for her passion for indie games and her dedication to supporting and promoting indie developers.

Andrea Rene — (@andrearene) Andrea has a YouTube channel called “What’s Good Games” where she shares her thoughts on the latest games and movies. Andrea is known for her passion for gaming and her dedication to supporting and promoting diversity in the gaming industry.

Alanah Pearce — (@Charalanahzard) Alanah has a YouTube channel called “Alanah Pearce” where she shares her thoughts on the latest games and movies, as well as hosts a variety of shows and streams. 

Brianna Wu — (@BriannaWu) Brianna is a journalist, developer, and activist who covers gaming, technology, and social issues. She has a YouTube channel called “Brianna Wu” where she shares her thoughts on the latest games and tech. Brianna is known for her outspoken advocacy for women in gaming and technology, and has a significant following on social media.

Nika Harper — (@NikaHarper) Nika has a YouTube channel called “Nika Harper” where she shares her thoughts on the latest games and movies, and shares her dynamic personality with her many followers.

Liana Kerzner — (@redlianak) Liana has a YouTube channel called “Liana K” and is known for her passion for gaming and her dedication to supporting and promoting diversity in the gaming industry.

Sam Maggs —(@SamMaggs) Sam has a YouTube channel called “Sam Maggs” where she shares her thoughts on the latest games and supports and promotes diversity in gaming in her many hosting engagements.

Carli Velocci — (@velocciraptor) Carli is a journalist and content creator who covers gaming, technology, and entertainment.

Janet Garcia — (@Gameonysus) Janet Garcia is a writer and editor who specializes in gaming and entertainment. She is the former editor-in-chief of Twinfinite, a website that covers video game news and reviews.

Rachel Kaser — (@rachelkaser) Rachel Kaser is a journalist and blogger who writes about technology, gaming, and culture. She is the editor-in-chief of The Next Web, a website that covers the latest trends and innovations in the tech industry. Rachel is known for her in-depth analysis and commentary on the gaming industry, and has a particular interest in the intersection of gaming and social issues.

Emma Kent — (@GoneEFK) Emma Kent is a journalist who covers gaming and entertainment news. She is a reporter for Eurogamer, a website that provides in-depth coverage of the gaming industry.

Kyle Orland — (@KyleOrl) Kyle Orland is a journalist who covers the gaming industry for Ars Technica, a website that covers technology and science news.

Tom Phillips — (@tomphillipsEG) Tom Phillips is a journalist who covers the gaming industry for Eurogamer, a website that provides in-depth coverage of the gaming industry. Tom covers industry trends, game development, and pop culture topics.

Matt Kim — (@LawofTD) Matt Kim is a journalist who covers the gaming industry for IGN, a website that provides news and reviews of video games. Matt has a particular interest in the business and legal aspects of the industry.

Allegra Frank — (@LegsFrank) Allegra Frank is a journalist who covers the gaming industry for Polygon, a website that provides news and reviews of video games.

If you’re interested in a particular journalist, check out our public journalist database featuring over 20K journalist profiles. The profiles include coverage attributes, recent articles, and Twitter feeds.

Key Takeaways

Getting coverage for a new video game can be essential to the game’s success.

Whether it’s an influencer chatting about the game on Twitter or an industry thought leader giving it a shout-out in a monthly newsletter, almost all publicity can increase awareness and sales.

Don’t get frustrated if some don’t respond. Journalists are busy and usually have overflowing email inboxes. You might target some game journalists that have less on their plate…or a blogger with a few hundred followers. The important thing is to get folks talking about the video game.

Don’t give up if you don’t get a front-page feature story in a major magazine or digital publication after sending a few emails to video game journalists on this list. 

Persistence is key.

Take a page from the book of these influential gaming journalists and stay on top of new developments in the gaming industry. Happy gaming!

For access to more journalists covering your specific industry, book a free consultation with us. You’ll get access to our AI-powered media database featuring 200K+ journalists and relevant publications.