Zara Chen
Critical Theorist & Features Writer
Zara Chen approaches games with the comparative rigour of a film critic: every mechanic has a lineage, every genre convention has a history worth interrogating. With a background in film criticism and a decade covering games for print and digital outlets, she specialises in metroidvanias, RPGs, and design-history deep-dives. Zara's writing is dense, argumentative, and structurally precise — she challenges obvious interpretations, argues both sides before picking one, and delivers single-sentence verdicts after paragraphs of careful setup.
- Background in film criticism
- 10 years games coverage
- Genre theory and design history specialist
95 articles by Zara Chen
DRG Rogue Core Slicer Build: 560-Damage Kill Chains
DRG Rogue Core Slicer build: how the Plasma Blade kill chain scales to 560 per swing, the enhancement priority, Boomstick synergy, and the Brawler artifact.
· 8 min read
Best Indie Co-op Games Steam Summer Sale 2026: 6 Picks
Best indie co-op games Steam Summer Sale 2026: 6 picks from $7.99 to $29.99 covering survival, roguelites, and van co-op. Tested across 40+ hours each.
· 9 min read
Subnautica 2 Lore: Ryley Robinson, Alien Ruins Explained
Subnautica 2 lore: new planet, no Ryley Robinson, story ends at the Observatory. What's confirmed in EA, Alien Ruins setup, and the open timeline.
· 9 min read
Romestead Research Papers: How to Get Them Fast 2026
Romestead research papers drop from volcano dungeon chests. Here is where to farm them, the University build cost, and the Mercury quest that needs one.
· 8 min read
Fatekeeper Review: 2 Hours Now, 15 Hours at Launch
Fatekeeper review: 2 hours now, 15 at 1.0. $9.99 first-person RPG. 5,770 English reviews Mostly Positive, 5 archetypes, 3-phase EA roadmap confirmed.
· 13 min read
Gambonanza Tier List: All 4 Gambit Types Ranked 2026
Gambonanza tier list for gambits: Economic S-tier every run, Clone needs Stage 3 board size, Reserve-Interaction fires once or wastes. Full breakdown.
· 10 min read
Shapez 2 Shape Stacking Guide: Layers & The Stacker
Shapez 2 shape stacking explained: how the Stacker layers shapes, why left input goes on top, and how to plan four-layer deliveries backward.
· 9 min read
Black Jacket Boss Guide: Morgan, Niv, Ivel Curse Counters
Black Jacket boss guide: how to beat Morgan, Niv, and Ivel, what each boss curse punishes, and the prep that clears Journey 8-12 boss walls.
· 9 min read
Sunderfolk Complete Guide: All 7 Classes, Co-op Tips 2026
Sunderfolk complete guide hub: all 7 classes ranked, best party compositions, co-op setup, Vanguard builds, and every guide on the site organized by topic.
· 10 min read
Subnautica 2 Beginner Guide: Systems, Survival, First Hours
Subnautica 2 beginner guide: oxygen, DNA modification, food, base timing, and the 5 mistakes new players make in the first session. Early Access 2026.
· 10 min read
Rune Dice Classic Mode: All 3 Locations in One Run
Rune Dice Classic Mode announced May 21 by developer Oleksii. Plays all three locations in one session. Playtest window is May 28 through June 4, 2026.
· 5 min read
Subnautica 2 Immortal Creatures: Why You Can't Kill Fauna
Subnautica 2 immortal creatures explained: why Unknown Worlds made fauna invulnerable, what developers said, and how to survive aggressive predators.
· 9 min read