Sam Machkovech

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Sam Machkovech is a freelance writer, editor, and consultant based in Seattle, WA. He has been writing about the intersection of art and technology since 1996, and he became a nationally syndicated video game critic before graduating high school. He has since written for American Airlines, Ars Technica, The Atlantic, Billboard, Edge UK, Game Developer, Polygon, The Stranger, and more, and he has appeared on programs including BBC World Service, Digital Foundry, Marketplace, and This Week in Tech. His favorite video game, by a longshot, is Picross 3D Round 2.

Latest articles by Sam Machkovech

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom screenshot showing princess Zelda, a blonde woman with elf-like ears, trapped in a sheer magenta crystal

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review – "A refreshing, magic-filled retool of the Link's Awakening engine"

By Sam Machkovech published 25 September 24

Review

Exploring Balatro's hype, its ingenious twists on poker, and its mysterious creator

By Sam Machkovech published 22 February 24

Opinion Interview | "I'm sure I'm not done with this game," says Balatro's anonymous, humble designer

Opinion

How Arzette turned Zelda's biggest joke into something to laugh with, not at

By Sam Machkovech published 14 February 24

Interview Interview: In conversation with the creator of a one-time joke that transformed into a four-year project

Interview

Analogue Duo review: "This modernized TurboGrafx-16 needs a bit more gas"

By Sam Machkovech published 11 December 23

Review The Analogue Duo might be one of the best way to play Turbografx-16 and PC Engine games today, but a few compatibility quirks keep it from greatness.

Review

Deluxe's destination: What the end of Mario Kart 8 means for the series

By Sam Machkovech published 7 December 23

Opinion Opinion | The chequered flag is out for now, but what's next in line for the longstanding kart racer series?

Opinion

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1
Arcs review: "A whole lot of game in a small package"
2
Path of Exile 2 review: "A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"
3
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: "The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"
4
Marvel Rivals review: "So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"
5
Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition review - "Boils the game down to its purest essentials"

1
Mufasa: The Lion King review – "It's no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"
2
Kraven the Hunter review: "The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"
3
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – "An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"
4
Nightbitch review: "Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"
5
Nosferatu review: "Bill Skarsgård is unrecognizable in this gothic horror with bite"

1
Secret Level review: "An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"
2
Skeleton Crew review: "Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"
3
Creature Commandos review: "James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"
4
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: "Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place"
5
Dune: Prophecy review: "HBO's prequel occasionally stands up to Denis Villeneuve's movies – but largely falls short"