Welcome to Starving Writer Video Game Reviews!
Click here for a short explanation about what you can find here.
If you’re balancing a full-time job and family life, you already know that gaming time is a precious commodity. I review games to help you figure out if a title is actually worth your hard-earned money and limited free time and, importantly, whether the kids can hang out in the room while you play.
When I started in 2021, I decided to ditch traditional numbered scores. They just don’t capture the actual feel of adding a game to your collection. Instead, I rate games using the Shelf System.
Think of my game library like a well-stocked cabinet. Here is how to read the rankings before you take a pour:
Special Reserve: Grade A, top-tier gaming. This is the absolute best of the best—the kind of immersive, masterpiece experience you could drown yourself in for hundreds of hours and be perfectly happy. A definitive must-play.
Top Shelf: Now this is some good stuff. Smooth mechanics, engaging gameplay, and an experience that keeps you coming back for more and more. These titles are highly recommended and absolutely worth full price.
Mid Shelf: Not the greatest of all time, but far from the worst. A solid, middle-of-the-road experience. It’s good enough to keep installed for a while and definitely worth your time if you catch it on a sale or already love the genre.
Bottom Shelf: A bit of a cheap taste. It’s not the absolute worst, and it might be good enough to try if you can get it for free or dirt cheap, but it’s definitely not an experience you’ll keep coming back to.
Navigating the Site
To make finding your next game as easy as possible, I’ve organized the site so you can quickly find what you are looking for. Just use the drop-down menus at the top of the page:
Shelves: Want to skip straight to the top-tier recommendations or see what to avoid? Browse my entire backlog of reviews sorted directly by their Shelf System ratings.
Genres: Craving a specific type of game? Here you can filter reviews by category, whether you’re looking for a massive RPG, a fast-paced shooter, or something in between.
5/5: Sometimes a game might not hit “Special Reserve” overall, but it absolutely nails a specific element. This tab highlights games that scored a perfect 5/5 in an individual category, like phenomenal storytelling, breathtaking graphics, or incredibly tight gameplay mechanics.
Join & Support the Community
This Substack is just one part of the Starving Writer world. If you enjoy the written reviews, there are a few other ways to hang out and support the work:
Subscribe to the Newsletter: Hit that subscribe button to get my latest reviews and backlog deep-dives sent straight to your inbox, ad-free.
Watch on YouTube: Head over to YouTube for live streams, gameplay, and community hangouts.
Grab Some Merch: If you want to help keep the lights on, check out the Starving Writer Store to pick up some official gear. Any support goes directly back into improving the channel and the site!
Join the Discord: Want to talk games during the week? Jump into the community Discord to chat about the latest reviews, share your own recommendations, and hang out with fellow gamers.