Rugged ridgeline landscape at dusk

A Melbourne Game Blog

Mapping the Backcountry of Games

We chart reviews, guides, and long-form features the way a topo map charts a range — contour by contour, no shortcuts, from Fitzroy to your feed.

Where our writing has been cited

PressStart AU Vooks Player2 Checkpoint Byteside Score Space

Our Route

How every piece gets to the summit

No sponsored fluff, no rushed hot-takes. Each article follows the same four contours before it ships.

01

Play It Fully

We finish the campaign or log 40+ hours before a word is written. No review from a two-hour preview build.

02

Chart the Terrain

We map mechanics, pacing, and technical performance against comparable titles so context is clear.

03

Edit on the Ridge

Two editors line-check every draft for accuracy, spoilers, and accessibility notes before it goes live.

04

Publish & Patch

We revisit reviews after major patches and note the date, so a 1.0 verdict never masquerades as current.

Sections

What you can pitch a tent in

Five regular beats, updated weekly. Members get early access and the monthly print zine.

In-Depth Reviews

Scored 2,000-word verdicts published within 48 hours of embargo lift, with accessibility and performance notes.

Free to read

Trail Guides & Walkthroughs

Step-by-step maps, boss strategies, and collectible routes, all spoiler-tagged and updated after each patch.

Free to read

Long-Form Features

Monthly essays on design, preservation, and the local scene — reported interviews, not recycled press releases.

Members from A$7/mo

The Weekly Dispatch

A Friday email rounding up AU release dates, sales, and the three stories worth your weekend backlog.

Free newsletter

The Basecamp Podcast

A fortnightly 45-minute show recorded live in Fitzroy, mixing developer chats with backlog confessionals.

Free episodes

The Print Zine

A 32-page risograph zine posted to members every quarter, packed with art and long reads you won't find online.

Members from A$7/mo

Readers

What the trail crew says

"The Hollow Ascent review talked me out of a A$90 impulse buy and into something I loved instead. These are the only scores I actually trust anymore."

Marcus T. — Brunswick, VIC

Contact

Pitch us, or just say hi

Review codes, guest pitches, corrections, or coffee in Fitzroy — send it through and a real human replies.

Phone
+61 3 9419 5786
Studio
103 Smith Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Desk hours
Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm AEST