I love talking about video games, but I never really considered putting my thoughts out there for the world to see until I started watching reviews on YouTube. Once I settled on a select few gaming content creators that really clicked with me, I began to ask the question, "can I do this to"? I started off by writing long-form reviews, which I still do of course. Then, inspired by my favorite video reviewers, I decided to try my hand at YouTube reviewing. I did it for a little while, but because running M.O.B.G. is not my main day job, I wasn't able to keep pace with it. I still write though, thanks to the constant inspiration I get by watching a small handful of reviewers. Here are my favorites!

NOTE: I am not affiliated with any of these creators. The following opinions are my own. Thanks for reading!

Kinda Funny Games

I started watching Kinda Funny around October of 2023 after catching their interview with Xbox boss Phil Spencer. That insightful interview served as my gateway into their larger breadth content, and pretty soon after, I was watching them everyday. So, what or who is Kinda Funny? They're an independent content creation company focused on live talk shows surrounding gaming -- hosting wide variety of shows that cover a broad stretch of topics. Their group of talented show hosts, most of whom are former IGN staff members, cover industry news, hot gaming topics, and even host a daily gaming live stream on Twitch and YouTube. What I enjoy most about this crew is the way they strike a balance between professionalism and fun in the way they discuss any given topic — an approach that I work to inject into my own reviews. So, if you're looking for a one stop shop for all of the gaming content you could ever want, crafted by an exceptionally talented an awesome group of creators, check out Kinda Funny Games!

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KindaFunnyGames

Support them through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kindafunny

Gameranx

If you've ever searched for a game review on YouTube, then chances are you've seen Gameranx's famous thumbnail featuring a guy striking a frantic pose with the photoshopped head of various video game characters on top of him. In addition to publishing their famous "Before You Buy" game reviews, they also create really interesting top-10 style content, ranking all sorts of things from all kinds of games. It's honestly impressive hw many different top-10 topics they've covered over the years, especially considering they release this content 7 days a week. What really resonates with me about the Gameranx content, whether it be their top-10 lists or their reviews, is their casual, no-nonsense, and friendly approach. Listening to Jake Baldino or Falcon discuss a game feels like have a casual conversation with your buddies about your favorite games. They boast a level of approachability that I aim to make part of my reviews, and they were actually one of the original group of creators that inspired me to start writing about games!

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@gameranxTV

Skill Up

Skill Up is widely known for his deep, sophisticated, and informative insights into gaming, consisting of long form reviews and discussions that dissect an experience on a granular level. His YouTube reviews typically range from around 30 minutes to just over an hour, but is worth every second of your time if you're looking for informative insights into a game you may be interested in. In addition to this, Skill Up also publishes a weekly gaming news show called "This Week In Gaming", where he takes a deep dive into the latest industry happenings of that given week. Last, but certainly not least, he co-hosts a bi-weekly show called the "Friends Per Second Podcast" alongside Gameranx's Jake Baldino and Gamespot's Lucy James. Together, they host interviews and discuss industry topics, typically for around 2 hours per episode.

Skill Up was my main inspiration for deciding to create long form, in depth gaming reviews. When I first started writing, and even still to this day actually, I leaned on his in eloquent but straightforward style of portraying his viewpoints. With my reviews, I aim to create discussions that paint a picture of my particular experience, much in the same way Skill Up does. So, if you're looking for gaming discussions that are as sophisticated and in depth as they are entertaining, check out Skill Up!

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SkillUp

Support Skill Up through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skillupyt

Do you read or watch game review content and discussions? Drop your favorites below!