Metroidvania · 9/10 · 41 hrs played
Hollow Ascent — Review
A generous, hand-drawn world that respects your time.
Read more Independent games journalism · Melbourne
Games worth your time, covered without the noise.
PhoenixGame.blog is a small, fiercely independent editorial team in Collingwood writing the reviews, guides, and long reads we always wished existed — no review scores bought, no hype cycles chased.
- 11 yrs
- Publishing since 2015
- 2,400+
- Reviews & guides live
- 190k
- Monthly readers
Who we are
A newsroom that plays every game it writes about.
We started PhoenixGame.blog above a record store on Smith Street with one rule: never review a game we haven’t finished. A decade on, that rule still shapes everything. Our writers log hundreds of hours across every platform so a single 1,800-word review can actually tell you whether a game is worth $89.95 of your evenings.
Working from a light-filled studio in Collingwood, our five-person team splits its week between playtesting, interviewing developers, and untangling patch notes into guides people actually finish. We take no paid placements and mark every affiliate or sponsored piece in plain language.
- Every review is based on a completed playthrough — no exceptions
- Independent and reader-funded, with sponsorships clearly labelled
- Guides updated after major patches, not left to rot
- Australian pricing, local release dates, and PEGI/ACB ratings noted
How we work
From first launch to published verdict.
Our editorial process is slow on purpose. Here is how a piece makes it onto the site.
- Week 1–3
Play & log
A writer plays the game to completion, keeping timestamped notes on performance, difficulty spikes, story beats, and value for money — usually 30 to 120 hours of hands-on time.
- Week 3
Cross-check
A second editor replays key sections on a different platform to confirm bugs, frame-rate claims, and accessibility findings so nothing rests on a single machine or opinion.
- Week 4
Draft & fact-check
The review is written, priced in AUD, and every factual claim — studio, release date, DLC cost — is verified against primary sources before it reaches the copy desk.
- Ongoing
Publish & maintain
Once live, guides and reviews are revisited after major patches or expansions, with a visible "last updated" date so you always know how current the advice is.
What we cover
Reviews, guides, and the culture of play.
Filter by the kind of writing you are after.
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Read moreWhat readers say
Trusted by players who hate wasting a weekend.
A few notes from the inbox.
“The only site where I read the whole review before buying. Their Hollow Ascent verdict saved me from a purchase I’d have regretted — and later convinced me to grab it on sale. Genuinely useful.”
Good to know
Questions readers ask us most.
Everything about our reviews, funding, and how to get in touch.
Our reviews
We score out of 10 in whole and half points, and the number always reflects a finished playthrough. The written verdict matters more than the digit — we explain exactly who a game is for, so a 7 for one reader might be a must-play for another. Scores are never influenced by publishers.
Yes, we accept review codes and pre-release builds, and we always disclose when a piece is based on one. Receiving a code never guarantees coverage or a favourable score, and we will note if a game changed significantly after launch patches.
Funding & independence
We are primarily reader-funded through voluntary memberships, alongside clearly labelled affiliate links and the occasional sponsored feature. Sponsored posts are marked at the top and never affect our review verdicts. We accept no paid placements inside editorial reviews.
No. Affiliate links help cover hosting and writer fees, but they earn the same whether we praise or pan a game. Our recommendation is based only on the playthrough. If we link a store, it is because we genuinely think the game is worth considering at that price.
Working with us
Absolutely. We commission freelance features and guides from Australian and international writers. Send a short pitch and a writing sample to our contact address and our editor will reply within about a week. We pay per commissioned piece at award-comparable rates.
Our studio is at 19 Little Oxford Street, Collingwood VIC 3066, a short walk from Smith Street. We are a working newsroom rather than a shopfront, so drop-ins are by appointment — email us first and we are happy to arrange a time.
Get in touch
Pitch a story, flag a correction, or just say hello.
We read every message and reply to genuine enquiries within two business days.