Writers who are just getting started often ask us where they should go to pitch or publish their first piece. Below is a list of games-focused and games-inclusive publications which welcome unsolicited pitches.
Please note: some of these publications are paid; some are not. You should always check the original site and email its submission editor (or other relevant point of contact) regarding payment prior to submitting.
Play the Past: Blog focused on representations of history in games. Contact: Trevor Owens and Shawn Graham.
Thumbsticks: Mixes consumer-focused coverage with in-depth features and regular columns, and is always open for pitches. Contact: editors.
Uppercut: Game criticism site focused on unique takes not found elsewhere. Open to pitches the last week of every month. Contact: Ty Galiz-Rowe.
MAGfest Mages Library Blog: The MAGES Library blog is dedicated to an accessible, intellectually stimulating conversation about video games through nonfiction articles. Contact: Meg Eden.
No Escape: Periodical-style publication of game criticism on a wide variety of topics. Always open for pitches. Contact: Kaile Hultner.
Publications in and adjacent to academic writing on games are a good place to find a wider audience for research and essays.
First Person Scholar: Academically-focused games criticism site that welcomes features, book reviews, series pitches. Contact: Steve Wilcox.
Press Start: Peer-reviewed scholarly journal devoted to game studies. Research papers, book reviews, and other work from current/recent academics of all levels and multiple disciplines. Contact: Samuel Poirier-Poulin.
Memory Insufficient: Online publication on game design history and digital material culture, founded by Critical Distance’s Third Senior Curator. Contact: Zoyander Street.
These are some outlets that have done a good job of nurturing people new to games writing.
Haywire Magazine: Games criticism site intended to help new writers. Contact: Joshua Trevett.
Into the Spine: Indies-focused publication geared toward newer writers. Contact: Diego Arguello.
Kritiqal: Essays and podcasts with open submissions geared especially for new and marginalized writers. Contact: Nathalie.
If you want your writing to reach developers, or you are a developer yourself, these are good places to try.
Game Developer Member Blogs: Developer-focused site with free blog community. Well-written blogs are often promoted on Game Developer’s front page.
This is a small selection of the feminist or queer-oriented websites on gaming that accept pitches.
Videodame: Feature pitches up to 250 words. Contact: Sara Clemens.
Sidequest: Inclusive blog geared toward women and marginalized gender identities. Contact: editors.
Gayming Magazine: LGBTIQA-focused news, reviews, and features. Contact: Aimee Hart.
E-zines capture the design and sense of wholeness of a magazine, in digital form.
Unwinnable: General games culture and geekery site, welcomes pitches for its web component as well as its two monthly e-zines. Contact: editors.
Many general-interest outlets have thriving games subsections.
Vice Games: Gaming subsection of Vice magazine. Contact: Jason Koebler.
Paste: General interest pop culture site with a games subsection. Contact: Garrett Martin.
This is an open list sourced from the community. If you are an editor and would like to see your site added to this list, or would like to make corrections to an existing listing, please drop us a line!