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The Full Playthrough Review
Scored only after we roll credits. 2,500-word deep dives covering pacing, systems, and value — from AAA epics to weekend indies. Published within 72 hours of release.
Free · Twice weekly
Melbourne Game Desk · Est. 2019
Games, folded open to every angle.
Long-form reviews, indie discoveries, and frame-perfect speedrun guides — written by players who finish the postgame. New drops every Tuesday and Friday.
Newsroom: +61 3 9650 2948
What we publish
Three columns, one obsession.
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Indie Spotlight Fridays
One hand-picked indie from the Melbourne scene and beyond, with a dev Q&A and a "why it matters" breakdown. We champion the games the algorithm buries.
Free · Every Friday
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Speedrun & Strategy Guides
Route maps, frame data, and boss patterns verified against our own splits. Includes the Empire Pass tier with video breakdowns from AUD $6/month.
Empire Pass · from AUD $6/mo
Why readers stay
No hype. No filler. Hover to unfold.
Finished-game scores
Every score comes after the credits — never off a preview build or a two-hour demo. If we didn't beat it, we don't rate it.
Zero paid placements
Reader-funded through the Empire Pass, so no publisher buys a headline. We disclose every review copy and every conflict, up front.
A real local scene
Monthly play-nights above our Lonsdale Street desk, dev meetups, and a Discord that actually answers your build questions.
From the desk
Screens, setups, and sessions.
Reader mail
What the subscribers say.
"Their review talked me out of a $100 pre-order and into a $20 indie I now can't stop playing. That's the whole reason I subscribe."
"The Hollow Knight route guide shaved eleven minutes off my personal best. Frame data was spot on — no other AU blog gets this granular."
"I pitched my tiny puzzle game on a whim and they actually played it, then ran a Spotlight. Wishlists tripled in a week. Genuine legends."
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Games reviewed in full
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Newsletter subscribers
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Indies spotlighted
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Years on the desk
Get in touch
Pitch a game. Fix a fact. Say hi.
Developers, readers, and tip-senders all welcome. We read everything and reply within two business days.
- Phone
- +61 3 9650 2948
- [email protected]
- Studio
- 57 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Hours
- Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm AEST