awesome-game-essays 🎮

Thoughtful and noteworthy links to awesome videogame "essay" kind of content. This repo is still WIP, feel free to submit an issue or submit a pull-request.

Index

• Rules for contributing
• Video channels
• Particular videos
• Written articles

Rules for contributing

TBD

Video channels

• gamedenker - explores how ideas and concepts in many other domains like philosophy and art that can be implemented in video games.

• Farlands - provides analysis of the inner workings of games and video game design.

• GameMakersToolkit - interesting videos on game design.

• 2kliksphilip - reviews and analysis videos related to videogames, gaming hardware and other. Also has a channel (3kliksphilip) dedicated to Counter Strike related analysis and a more personal channel (kliksphilip) where you can find analysis of his life producing content on the other two channels.

• UpIsNotJump - does analysis games videos with a comedic approach.

• Raycevick - does lengthy and deep games analysis videos.

• Super Bunnyhop - does "pseudo-journalistic" content about video games.

• BetterThanHunson - does reviews and critiques on games, with an entertaining approach.

• LGR - does weekly coverage of retro tech, retro and new PC games, and more (Classic computer gaming, Oddware, thrifting, Tech Tales, Sims, ...).

• LowSpecGamer - dedicates to budget gaming and low graphics analysis, from pushing entry-level and old hardware to its limits to forcing the lowest graphics on modern games by all means possible.

• Jim Sterling - a game critic and raconteur, he runs The Jimquisition as a crowdfunded video series, podcast, and game review site.

• YongYea - game news, but also some interesting games review and analysis videos.

• Brackeys - game development tutorials on everything from Unity and programming to game design.

• Ahoy - does lengthy and insightful gaming related analysis videos.

• Crowbcat - informative/experimental analysis or discussion videos about videogames.

• videogamedunkey - comedic (and insightful) essays about videogames.

• Design Doc - various topics on game design with illustrative motion graphics and visual aids.

• Extra Credits - games: how they are made, what they mean, and how we can make them better. Also topics about history and sci-fi.

• GDC - Game Developers Conference: Talks and lectures.

• no-clip - crowdfunded video game documentaries.

• Game Score Fanfare - soundtrack analysis for video games.

• MandaloreGaming - game reviews of both new and older games.

• Slim Tengi - video essays, covering interesting topics primarily in video games, movies and business.

• CryMor Gaming - creates visual thinkpieces, or "Video Essays," on a wide range of topics related to Video Games.

• Thomas Brush - indie game developer, with videos for learning more about game development and just the arts in general.

• NakeyJakey - entertaining and interesting review and discussion videos about games in general.

• AI and Games - show aimed at helping the world better understand how AI makes for better games.

• Jacob Geller - deep video essays on several topics, most of them related with games.

• Max Derrat - psychology, philosophy and their effect on the world and, in this case, specifically the area of entertainment (like video games).

• Steve of Warr - game reviews of both new and older games and a series of thoughtful retrospective videos on the tomb raider original series (CORE Design era).

Know some interesting channel to add here? Feel free to submit a Pull-request!

Noteworthy videos

• Thief vs. AAA Gaming
• The Early Days of Id Software - John Romero tells about how Id Software developed their games. The talk is more oriented towards game developers audience, but it's generally entertaining.
• "Games as a service" is fraud - an interesting case about GaaS.
• "Unionization, Steady Careers, and Generations of Games Culture" - interesting case about crunch and unionization in games industry.
• "The Most Profound Moment in Gaming History" and Part 2
• "The Secrets of GoldenEye's AI Revealed"
• Artificial Loneliness
• Caves of Qud Review

Know some interesting particular video to add here? Feel free to submit a Pull-request!

Interesting articles

• "What Metal Gear Solid 2 Teaches Us About The Information Age"

• "Death Stranding: The Kotaku Review"

Know some interesting particular written article to add here? Feel free to submit a Pull-request!