Blogs: from copywriting to gaming
Whether you’re here for video game features, board game reviews, practical writing advice, or a behind-the-scenes look at freelance life, I’ve got you covered!
EXIT: Advent Calendar - The Magic of Christmas review
I love getting an advent calendar (or two or three!) to get me into the Christmas spirit. It’s one of those holiday traditions that sparks pure joy: who doesn’t want little chocolates shaped like candy canes or snowmen as the days get darker and the weather gets chillier? Or Lego minifigs, or mini scented candles, or whisky tasters?
This year, how about getting a festive-themed escape game advent calendar to count down to Christmas?
Let’s take a look at EXIT’s brand new advent calendar for 2026 and see how effectively it will get you into the Yuletide mood – and give your brain a fun workout at the same time.
Scariest video game worlds for Halloween
I love exploring creepy-themed video games and board games, so I got a bunch of Zatu bloggers together to look at the scariest video game worlds for Halloween.
Whether they traumatised us with relentless jump scares or wormed their ways into our brains with psychological, insidious themes and atmospheres, there are plenty to explore.
Video game hub worlds I wouldn’t want to live in
Having a safe place to return to in a video game after a difficult quest or harrowing story beat is more than a welcome reprieve – it’s a necessity. But what if your hub world isn’t actually a needed respite, but a confusing mess? Or – worse – makes the whole experience even more stressful?
Here are the scariest, most dangerous, or unsettlingly insidious hub worlds that I’d not want to live in, from “best” to the absolute worst.
Pokémon Pokopia review
What if you didn’t have to battle with your Pokémon? What if you could just…vibe?
If you’ve ever wanted to create your own Pokémon region, now’s your chance. From finding new Pokémon and fulfilling their requests to restoring Pokémon Centres and forming new hot springs, it’s up to you to clean up your surroundings and creating a utopia for you and your buddies. It’s every cosy gamer’s fantasy – even if you have to hoover up more trash than a Trubbish with a Hasty nature and the Pickup ability.
So, what do we think? Is it as good as the critics suggest? Or does it ring as hollow as a Chimecho without a bell?
Bisexuality in video games
Think back to 2020. Many of us jumped into Stardew Valley or The Sims 4 in our quest to escape the gritty reality of life at the time. Slice-of-life games, where you can cosy up and fully control your character’s actions.
In these games, everyone is bisexual. In Stardew Valley, for example, you can romance Leah as a woman – sapphics rejoice! She has an ex-girlfriend, who interrupts you on your lovely picnic date. If I play as a man, then of course, as we’re all bi here, she still has an ex-girlfr-wait. An ex-boyfriend?!
What does this mean in the context of bisexuality in video games overall? Is including sexuality an attempt at genuine representation, with the aim of making everyone feel seen when they roleplay in their favourite games? Or is it tokenism, be that malicious or simply lacking in self-awareness, that encourages developers and writers to include bisexuals in their stories?
Let’s talk about it.