United Kingdom
they/them
Staff Writer at Pocket Tactics and Co-founder of Game Assist
Bylines can be found in The Guardian, The Queerness, DIVA Magazine, Restless Magazine, PCGamesN, Anime Feminist, Mancunian Matters
LG(BT)Q+, diversity and accessibility in gaming, J-fashion culture
Op-eds, features, and interviews
We sat down with Hearthstone's lead designer Cora Georgiou and Executive Producer and VP Nathan Lyons-Smith to discuss ten years of Blizzard's mobile CCG.
We sat down with Rebecca Ford from the Warframe team at Digital Extremes and Jussi Elonen from mobile publisher Nitro Games to unpack Warframe Mobile's secrets.
Daz explores the rise of tarot in videogames, whether as motifs or as gameplay elements, and decides that The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood marries the two perfectly.
Still reeling from their disappointment over Peridot's launch back in May, Daz explores the shortcomings of AR mobile games and speculates on the future.
The holidays can be rough for young, queer people, so Daz explores how Animal Crossing helped them stay positive during the cold, winter months.
Girl Power TCG is a Pokémon TCG group for players of marginalized genders - we sat down with the founders to discuss its first year on the scene.
We sat down with Toikido's Darran Garnham, the CEO behind the newest Roblox collecting phenomenon, Piñata Smashlings to learn more about the massive project.
Our staff writer Daz shares some games that give them gender euphoria, the joyous experience of feeling comfortable and seen as your correct gender.
I wish the Pokémon TCG Live wasn't as broken as it currently is, but it's impossible to ignore the glaring issues with Pokémon's new mobile trading card game.
The Pocket Tactics team loves finding indie gems for Switch and mobile, and We. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe is our latest find from Digital Dragons 2023.
We sat down with Mighty Bear Games CEO Simon Davis to quiz him on his long history in the mobile gaming industry and what the future holds.
Forced change is filling our pockets with just enough currency to do nothing with, and it’s nowhere more prevalent than mobile game microtransactions Collaborative article between Connor Christie and Daz Skubich
In over 25 years of the franchise, Pokémon games have come a long way since the original Game Boy editions, but their growth has left some key players behind
The mini pill might have helped with dysphoria, but dealing with doctors was a very gendered experience, writes Daz Skubich
A Manchester transgender student has been forced to crowdfund thousands of pounds after waiting three years for a gender clinic appointment.
Daz Skubich explores why young trans folx are finding a sense of peace during lockdown BY DAZ SKUBICH
How can Western fans of Japanese alt-fashion help keep Harajuku brands alive?
The holidays can be a difficult time for the queer community, especially when spent with family. Daz Skubich explores the joys of spending Christmas with friends, and making new traditions.
Reviews
In Mediterranea Inferno, we tag along with the Sun Guys on their hedonistic summer vacation, uncovering the aftermath of shared trauma, grief, and resentment.
We got the chance to preview Princess Peach: Showtime! ahead of its upcoming March release and saw what the power of sparkle and self-belief can really do.
In our Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story review, we travel through the portal to Bandle City to take a shy knitter on the adventure of a lifetime.
Now that the final wave of DLC has landed, our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Booster Course review sees how well the kart racer has stood the test of time.
Read about our journey to save Vaugarde in our In Stars and Time Switch review and see how this game reinvents the time loop genre for all kinds of RPG fans.
In our Fashion Dreamer review, we take a look at how the Switch's entry into the Style Savvy series measures up to its predecessors, as well as what's changed.
GameSir's newest Cyclone model, the T4, is a great addition to any Switch gamer's controller arsenal that also benefits from handy mobile device compatibility.
In our Mail Time Switch review we shrink ourselves down to visit Grumblewood Grove, become a Mail Scout, and deliver our verdict on this game.
In our Paleo Pines Switch review we give you a glimpse at life as a dino-ranching homesteader in the Veridian Valley, surrounded by farming and friends.
In our Silent Hope Switch review, we dive into the abyss of this action JRPG to find out what its mysterious story and seven unique protagonists have to offer.
In our Tecno POVA 5 Pro 5G Free Fire Special Edition review we try out this upgraded version of the Pova 5 series and see how it fares against the competition.
In our Norn9: Last Era review, we dive into this expansive fandisc covering the lives and loves of the Norn9 boys both before and after their journey together.
In our Ayaneo Air 1S review, we take a look at how this revamped indie underdog stands up to its competitors in the handheld PC market.
In our LeadJoy M1 iPhone controller review we're here to give you the inside scoop on this combination gamepad and cooling device that fits any iPhone.
In our Hello Kitty Island Adventure review we take a balloon ride down to a mysterious island resort alongside our group of Sanrio character friends.
In our Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg review, we explore a beautifully remastered version of the game that kicked off the beloved franchise.
In our Pikmin 1+2 review we revisit the seeds that sprouted into one of Nintendo's most loved franchises as they make the move onto the Switch.
In our Tecno POVA 5 Free Fire Special Edition review we take a look at how this Garena Free Fire tie-in phone stands up against its competitors.
In our Soulvars Switch review, we let you know what it's like to take on the role of a Soulbearer, using your 'deck' of Soulbits to protect civilians.
In our We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie review we revisit this remastered classic to see if it's still able to keep the fun rolling like it's 2005.
It's time to squad up in Supercell's new mobile game, Squad Busters, which unites fan-favorite characters in multiplayer gem-collecting action.
In our Dokapon Kingdom: Connect review we introduce you to one of the wackiest games from the Wii generation as it's reborn on the Switch.
In our Afterimage Switch review, we take you on a journey to the ruins of Engardin to explore its beautiful landscapes and mind-boggling history.
In our Pupperazzi Switch review we'll show you the basics of dogtography and spend endless hours taking pics of puppers in their natural habitats.
In our PowerWash Simulator Switch review, we reveal the myriad of reasons to sink hours of your time into this game and convince your friends to join you
In our Life is Strange 2 Switch review we join the Diaz brothers on their journey and see if the portable version packs the same punch as the original
In our Melatonin Switch review, we get whisked away to the land of nod to explore this new pastel, dream-themed rhythm game for the Switch
If you're looking for the perfect Christmas novel to curl up with over the festive period, look no further than critically acclaimed author Juno Dawson's latest release - Stay Another Day.
What does it mean to feel 'Loveless'? Daz Skubich finds out in Alice Oseman's fourth novel.
You may think you know everything there is to know about gay slang, but there's a secret language from the past that's a mystery to many. Daz Skubich reads 'Fabulosa!' to learn more about Polari.
"After three years in the army and seven years in prison, the real Chelsea Manning finally emerges in XY Chelsea" BY DAZ SKUBICH
Guides
Our list of the best Hello Kitty games takes you on a whimsical journey through the various magical adventures of Sanrio's beloved mascot and her best friends.
Honkai Star Rail's Ruan Mei perfectly balances beauty, brains, and brawn - if you follow our best build including light cones, relics, and more.
Meet Zenless Zone Zero's Lycaon, a smart and loyal wolf butler who's not afraid to get his paws dirty (literally), in our guide to who he is and his best build.
Genshin Impact's Kirara is an adorable feline delivery girl with the power of dendro. Our guide shows you her best build, weapons, artifacts, and more.
With our Project Sekai download guide, you can find out how to get the game on your platform of choice, whether that’s iOS, Android, PC, or all of the above
Prepare your tapping fingers, we’re taking a look at the Project Sekai events schedule! Expect heartwarming stories, new cards, and free stuff
Ever wondered just how many Project Sekai cards there are? Well, here’s your one stop shop for all the cards currently available on the EN server
All the major Project Sekai characters listed for you in one convenient place. Hopefully we can help you decide who you want to come home
The current Overwatch 2 meta is beholden to the 5v5 format, so here's our tips and tricks to succeed in the latest iteration of Blizzard's hero shooter
If you're looking for a breakdown of the Overwatch 2 Junker Queen abilities then here's everything you need to know about the Australian tank hero
Our top two picks for the best Overwatch 2 hero for each role, including DPS, Tank, Support, and extra picks for Brawler and Aerial Ace
Misc. news
Kicking off MWC 2024, Honor's global launch event was a deep-dive into the brand's newest flagship model, foldable, and AI innovation.
We're revealing Hearthstone's Demon Hunter cards for the new rooting, tooting, sharp-shooting expansion, Showdown in the Badlands.
This Genshin Impact Kaveh hack has blown up online overnight, as unsuspecting players are losing critical items and characters from their game to co-op hackers.
Cyrus Davis won the Pokémon TCG North American International Championships Masters final using Inteleon VMAX, a deck nobody saw coming, including her.
The Pokémon TCG North American International Championships is set to be the biggest tournament of the 2023 season and fans are getting hyped.
Twenty games from around the world made the finals but only one can win the title of Best Indie Game at the Digital Dragons 2023 Indie Showcase gala.
Birdo’s gender has been in question for almost as long as she’s been a Mario character, so much that she’s become a transgender icon
Fans of lolita fashion in Manchester and around the world are celebrating International Lolita Day today - with many meeting up with their communities for the first time in person since before the pandemic began in 2020.
Ten years after it started in 2010, the UK's largest celebration of traditional and modern Japanese culture, is returning to London today for three days.
Video essays
With transmisogynistic violence on the rise around the globe, Daz decided to tackle two of gaming’s most famous trans girls. How does a game that is explicitly about horrible people tackle relationships between trans people and their surroundings? This video explores the representation of trans women and transfeminine people in Atlus’s 2019 game Catherine: Full Body, as well as the 2011 original version.
We return with a splash to the video essay scene with this absolute GOLIATH covering settler colonialism and Indigeneity in video games, using Tuck and Yang's 'Decolonization is not a metaphor' as a framework. Thank you for your patience while we took a break from video essays, and we hope you enjoy this one!
Coming off the back of Cyberpunk 2077’s release, Daz explores the representation of sex worker characters in video games through the years, focusing on the last decade. From the mean streets of Los Santos, San Andreas, to the neon lights of Night City’s Japantown, join us on a journey to see how far sex worker representation has come, and how much further we still have to go.
In this Inqueery, Daz dives into the world of Overwatch to see just how good the game’s representation of queerness is. They also take a look at the wider community’s response to the characters, and to queer players in the public eye.
After a few edits, we're back to talk about how narrative structures often work to reinforce the structures of power and oppression which marginalise queer people. The trope of “player-sexual” NPCs, or characters that are bisexual due to a game mechanic, only serves to worsen these structures and limit the people we see in games. In this Inqueery, we’re going to cast a wide net and look at romance as a queer person in videogames.
In this latest addition to the Game Assist Explores series, Daz takes us on a deep dive into one of the most well known NSFW dating sims on the market: HuniePop. Be prepared for a wild ride as they uncover the deep-rooted racism and misogyny hidden behind cheap jokes and colourful puzzles.
In their first video for Game Assist, Daz investigates Nintendo's rocky relationship with LGBTQ+ representation in its many games, from Animal Crossing to Tomodachi Life.