Alan Wake 2 review: Remedy’s endlessly creative sequel embraces its dark side
Alan Wake 2 is a crowning achievement for developer Remedy, even if its held back by some frustrating gameplay quirks.
Ghostrunner 2 review: ultra-stylish sequel sometimes overstays its welcome
Ghostrunner 2 refines what made the first game great, but its new ideas kill the sequel's momentum.
The 7th Guest VR review: a spooky ’90s remake just in time for Halloween
The 7th Guest VR totally reimagines a 90s PC classic, though you'll have to wrestle with some clumsy VR controls to appreciate it.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder review: the series’ best 2D adventure since Super Mario World
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is packed with delightful surprises that make for one of the best 2D Mario games in decades.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 review: amazing becomes ultimate in standout superhero sequel
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 enhances everything that made its predecessors great in a more nuanced superhero sequel.
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged review: a die-cast delight
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is an approachable and nostalgic racer that enhances its predecessor's formula.
Sonic Superstars review: nostalgic pit stop struggles to tune up the 2D greats
Sonic Superstars struggles as a multiplayer experience, but there's nostalgic fun to be had in this 2.5D throwback.
Saltsea Chronicles review: poignant nautical adventure explores the distances between us
Die Gute Fabrik's Mutazione follow-up, Saltsea Chronicles, is a poignant nautical adventure filled with endearing sailors.
Detective Pikachu Returns review: childproofed mystery offers elementary fun
Detective Pikachu Returns is a cute mystery that loses some of its predecessor's tactile, puzzling charm.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage review: stealth throwback feels behind the times
Assassin's Creed Mirage channels the spirit of older Assassin's Creed games, but that comes with some dated ideas.
Forza Motorsport review: the long-awaited racing tune-up delivers
The long wait for Forza Motorsport was worth it as this is one of the best-looking and smoothest-playing games on Xbox Series X.
Cocoon review: mesmerizing indie will put you inside of a bug’s brain
Cocoon is unlike anything you've played before, turning the insect world into a mesmerizing puzzle adventure.
El Paso, Elsewhere review: you won’t want to put down this Max Payne-inspired indie
El Paso, Elsewhere is designed like third-person shooters from the early 2000s, and it uses that aesthetic to tell a captivating story.
Mortal Kombat 1 review: a morbidly fun fighter with one fatal flaw
Mortal Kombat 1 is NetherRealm's most refined fighting game yet, though its story and Invasions mode are a let down.
Payday 3 review: co-op heist sequel plays it safe, but needs to be more daring long-term
Payday 3 sets a safe, but strong foundation for the co-op heist game with faster gunplay and varied missions at launch.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review: CD Projekt Red pulls off a perfect illusion
With the strong Phantom Liberty, Cyberpunk 2077 finally feels like the game it should have been at launch.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask review: back to square zero
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's first DLC, The Teal Mask, doesn't do much to fix the base games' most pressing issues.
Lies of P review: a solid Pinocchio Soulslike with some strings attached
Lies of P has a solid foundation with an incredibly moody atmosphere and a variety of different customizable options, but it falters in its combat.
Chants of Sennaar review: puzzles and linguistics collide in can’t miss indie
Chants of Sennaar is an ingenious puzzle adventure about language and the multitude of ways it can be used.
Starfield review: Xbox’s ambitious outer space RPG is big, beautiful, and empty
Starfield is a strong RPG full of impactful choices, but its underexplored outer space gameplay leaves its massive universe feeling empty.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon review: FromSoftware’s latest could use a tune-up
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon delivers when it comes to fast-paced mecha action, but FromSoftware's series could still use a tune-up.
Baldur’s Gate 3 review: staggering RPG opens up a world of possibilities
Baldur's Gate 3 is a staggering CRPG that feels like it's on its way to becoming a foundational video game.
Sea of Stars review: a retro-inspired RPG that lives up to classics
Sea of Stars draws inspiration from classic RPGs, but it's much more than a nostalgic homage.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central review: motion-controlled nostalgia, with a catch
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is dragged down by unreliable motion controls, but that doesn't shut down a fun rhythm party full of eclectic tunes.
Immortals of Aveum review: magic meets Call of Duty in inventive shooter
When Immortals of Aveum cuts the snark, it's an enjoyable magic shooter that takes smart cues from Call of Duty without copying it.
Blasphemous 2 review: this challenging Metroidvania will test your faith
So long as you can keep your faith during its most frustrating moments, Blasphemous 2 is a Metroidvania worthy of devotion.
Atlas Fallen review: sand-surfing action game can’t reach its high ambitions
Atlas Fallen sports an innovative combat system and fun sand-surfing, but poor presentation bring the ambitious adventure down.
Venba review: powerful Tamil cooking game is one of 2023’s best
Venba explores Tamil culture through an elegantly written story and mouth-watering cooking interludes.
Disney Illusion Island review: charming Disney platformer is perfect for kids
Disney Illusion Island features several design choices that make it a great introduction to the Metroidvania genre, although it lacks depth.
Exoprimal review: Capcom’s dinosaur shooter is ridiculous in all the right ways
Exoprimal is a gleefully fun dinosaur shooter that gets more innovative the more rounds you play.
Pikmin 4 review: standout Switch exclusive is a master of multitasking
Pikmin 4 trades in stress and chaos for a rewarding strategy-puzzle hybrid that puts players' multitasking skills to the test.
Viewfinder review: mind-bending PS5 puzzler is a celebration of human ingenuity
Viewfinder is one of gaming's great magic tricks thanks to a mind-bending puzzle hook that wows from start to finish.
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals review: eerie sequel is a must-play for Netflix subscribers
Netflix's gaming efforts pay off with Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, an eerie, introspective sequel that's a must-play for subscribers.
Everybody 1-2-Switch! review: Nintendo’s party game is only as fun as your friends
Everybody 1-2-Switch! can be a lot of fun with the right friends, but the uneven minigame collection gets old fast.
Synapse review: mind-bending roguelite’s mental blocks prevent greatness
If you're looking for a good reason to boot up your PlayStation VR2, Synapse offers some fun action despite a lacking roguelite setup.
AEW: Fight Forever review: WWE rival needed more time in development
AEW: Fight Forever will please any fans just looking for a throwback wrestling game, but a lack of content leaves it feeling less complete than an N64 game.
Final Fantasy XVI review: spectacular highs and lows in an uneven epic
Final Fantasy XVI impresses with awe-inspiring action, but shallow RPG systems turn the time between big battles into an unrewarding chore.
Pixel Ripped 1978 review: VR charmer offers a nostalgic, sanitized version of Atari history
Pixel Ripped 1978 offers a loving ode to Atari history in VR, though one that's perhaps a little too reverential for its own good.
Senior Gaming Editor
As a veteran of the industry who first began writing about games professionally as a teenager, Giovanni brings a wealth of knowledge and historical context gaming coverage. He brings that expertise to everything he writes, from interview features to reviews. His specialty is criticism and he’s committed to raising the bar for video game reviews. Just read his ambitious UFO 50 review as proof!
Giovanni majored in Film and Photography at Ithaca College, and that skill set had intersected with his games writing through his career. He previously worked as a Segment Producer on Polygon’s daily gaming show, Speedrun, and has contributed video content for sites like Prima Games and Hard Drive. He’s always willing to experiment with new media, whether that be via podcasts or creating videos for Digital Trends’ YouTube channel. He has previously written for Inverse, Fanbyte, The Inventory, and more. He began working with Digital Trends in 2019 as a Destiny 2 guides contributor before moving into his current role as Senior Editor.
His love of gaming dates back decades. Giovanni grew up in Massachusetts with his mother’s hand-me-down Atari 2600. He was hooked from that point on, spending his childhood obsessively playing Sega Genesis or Super Smash Bros. Melee with his friends. He carried that passion into college, where he hosted and produced Ithaca College’s own studio format video game news show. Since then, he has been committed to giving back to the video game industry that raised him by providing honest criticism, sharp analysis, and thorough coverage.
Giovanni is currently based in Brooklyn, New York where he works alongside his cat, Mirah. On weekends, you can find him birdwatching in local parks or watching professional wrestling, his second love behind gaming.