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
Paralives Early Access: Not Free at $39.99, Worth It?
Paralives Early Access: not free, costs $39.99 on Steam at launch. Whether it's worth buying now, who should wait, and what the buy-once model means.
· 7 min read
Sunderfolk Beginner Guide: Best Classes and Party Tips
Sunderfolk beginner guide covering all 7 classes including Vanguard, the best 2-4 player party compositions, and first-run tips for the co-op tactical RPG.
· 9 min read
Gambonanza Complete Guide: Chess Roguelike Tips 2026
Gambonanza complete guide: Crumble Mode, three winning build archetypes, Gambit tiers, Piece Wheels, and how it compares to Balatro. All in one place.
· 13 min read
DRG Rogue Core vs Deep Rock Galactic: What Actually Changed
DRG Rogue Core vs Deep Rock Galactic: extraction loop gone, 5 new classes, roguelite meta-progression. What carries over and what Ghost Ship rebuilt.
· 10 min read
Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core Beginner Guide: 2026
Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core beginner guide: which class to pick first, how Expenite upgrades work, and what to do in your first 5 runs. Updated May 2026.
· 8 min read
LegionBound Guide 2026: All Modes, Classes and Builds
LegionBound guide: 30 classes, 400+ Ascension builds, Battle and Adventure modes. 84% Very Positive, 570 reviews, $9.99. All synergies explained.
· 14 min read
All Hail the Orb Walkthrough: Every Guide by Stage
All Hail the Orb walkthrough organized by progression stage: from first cultist to Grand Opus, with links to every specialist guide on GameBrief.
· 11 min read
Best Indie Games Under $20 2026: 7 Top Budget Picks
Seven best indie games under $20 2026 reviewed: from $6.99 roguelites to $16.99 platformers. All launched in 2026, all tested before listing.
· 9 min read
Subnautica 2 Tips: First Steps, Base Building, and Co-op
Subnautica 2 tips for your first hours of Early Access: no-map navigation, when to build your base, co-op role splits, and reading Leviathan zone signals.
· 8 min read
ARIE Moonprayer Launch 2026: Guide Spirits to the Moon
Arie Moonprayer launches May 13 on Steam: anime post-apocalyptic adventure where Moonbard Diallo guides spirits to Luna using the Diqin instrument.
· 7 min read
The Last Winter Knight Review: A Gothic Ghost Story
The Last Winter Knight review: ENDYSIS's gothic visual novel where you play a ghost knight in an abandoned castle. Launches May 11. Melancholy done right.
· 8 min read
Gambonanza vs Balatro: Which Roguelike Is Worth It?
Gambonanza vs Balatro compared on mechanics, replayability, and price: chess spatial puzzles vs poker hand-building. Which wins for your playstyle in 2026.
· 10 min read