Tom Marks
@tomrmarks.bsky.social
Executive Reviews Editor at IGN by day, pie maker and card slinger by night. Formerly at PC Gamer. He/Him (tmarks@IGN.com)
Pinned
Tom Marks
@tomrmarks.bsky.social
· Mar 1
I deleted a post because it broke my first rule of social media, which is "never post."
We push back on embargoes we find unreasonable a lot more often than y'all ever hear about.
Sometimes that results in changes, sometimes it doesn't – but I'd always rather be late with a review I am proud of than early with one that's PR approved.
Sometimes that results in changes, sometimes it doesn't – but I'd always rather be late with a review I am proud of than early with one that's PR approved.
Nintendo’s embargo for Age of Imprisonment stipulated that reviews could not cover ANY non-public story details. None.
Avoiding spoilers or surprises is one thing, but we simply could not agree to such a broad restriction, so we decided to hold our review until launch.
ign.com/articles/hyr...
Avoiding spoilers or surprises is one thing, but we simply could not agree to such a broad restriction, so we decided to hold our review until launch.
ign.com/articles/hyr...
Where Is Our Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review? - IGN
ign.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:45 PM
We push back on embargoes we find unreasonable a lot more often than y'all ever hear about.
Sometimes that results in changes, sometimes it doesn't – but I'd always rather be late with a review I am proud of than early with one that's PR approved.
Sometimes that results in changes, sometimes it doesn't – but I'd always rather be late with a review I am proud of than early with one that's PR approved.
Nintendo’s embargo for Age of Imprisonment stipulated that reviews could not cover ANY non-public story details. None.
Avoiding spoilers or surprises is one thing, but we simply could not agree to such a broad restriction, so we decided to hold our review until launch.
ign.com/articles/hyr...
Avoiding spoilers or surprises is one thing, but we simply could not agree to such a broad restriction, so we decided to hold our review until launch.
ign.com/articles/hyr...
Where Is Our Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Review? - IGN
ign.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Nintendo’s embargo for Age of Imprisonment stipulated that reviews could not cover ANY non-public story details. None.
Avoiding spoilers or surprises is one thing, but we simply could not agree to such a broad restriction, so we decided to hold our review until launch.
ign.com/articles/hyr...
Avoiding spoilers or surprises is one thing, but we simply could not agree to such a broad restriction, so we decided to hold our review until launch.
ign.com/articles/hyr...
Truly frustrating that bad faith chuds are immediately going to take a victory lap claiming that we "swapped reviewers" because of all of the vitriol they threw our way, when in reality they were getting mad over a PREVIEW and Travis has been assigned to do the actual review for a month.
I’m reviewing ARC Raiders (@arcraiders.bsky.social), and am loving it so far! Still a ton to play before I can slap a score on it, but it makes a great first impression.
www.ign.com/articles/arc...
www.ign.com/articles/arc...
ARC Raiders Review in Progress - IGN
10 hours in, this finely-tuned extraction shooter is hard to put down.
www.ign.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Truly frustrating that bad faith chuds are immediately going to take a victory lap claiming that we "swapped reviewers" because of all of the vitriol they threw our way, when in reality they were getting mad over a PREVIEW and Travis has been assigned to do the actual review for a month.
Reposted by Tom Marks
I’m reviewing ARC Raiders (@arcraiders.bsky.social), and am loving it so far! Still a ton to play before I can slap a score on it, but it makes a great first impression.
www.ign.com/articles/arc...
www.ign.com/articles/arc...
ARC Raiders Review in Progress - IGN
10 hours in, this finely-tuned extraction shooter is hard to put down.
www.ign.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:50 PM
I’m reviewing ARC Raiders (@arcraiders.bsky.social), and am loving it so far! Still a ton to play before I can slap a score on it, but it makes a great first impression.
www.ign.com/articles/arc...
www.ign.com/articles/arc...
Reposted by Tom Marks
My review of Europa Universalis V is up! This is a game that knows its for sickos and caters to sickos (and aspiring sickos) almost exclusively, but if you're the kind of person who thinks they would enjoy it, I think you'll be pleased. It is a bit underbaked though.
www.ign.com/articles/eur...
www.ign.com/articles/eur...
Europa Universalis 5 Review - IGN
Tuning issues aside, this might be the most on-paper impressive historical strategy game of all time.
www.ign.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:01 PM
My review of Europa Universalis V is up! This is a game that knows its for sickos and caters to sickos (and aspiring sickos) almost exclusively, but if you're the kind of person who thinks they would enjoy it, I think you'll be pleased. It is a bit underbaked though.
www.ign.com/articles/eur...
www.ign.com/articles/eur...
Y’all ever Channel to pay 20 mana for Securitron Squadron and then swing with Jacked Rabbit? (With a cameo from The Initiative.)
October 30, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Y’all ever Channel to pay 20 mana for Securitron Squadron and then swing with Jacked Rabbit? (With a cameo from The Initiative.)
My #MTGxATLA spoilers are now live, with a first look at all 6 cards from the "Tea Time at the Jasmine Dragon" Scene Box (plus 2 more from the bonus sheet)!
www.ign.com/articles/ava...
www.ign.com/articles/ava...
Exclusive: Avatar: The Last Airbender Gets Epilogue Scene Box For Magic: The Gathering Crossover - IGN
Take a look at all 6 cards from the Tea Time at the Jasmine Dragon Scene Box (plus 2 more).
www.ign.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM
My #MTGxATLA spoilers are now live, with a first look at all 6 cards from the "Tea Time at the Jasmine Dragon" Scene Box (plus 2 more from the bonus sheet)!
www.ign.com/articles/ava...
www.ign.com/articles/ava...
I don't think this is what folk typically expect from an IGN review, but Will is great at what he does!
I appreciate that he can artfully tell you how he personally connected with a game while still communicating what it's like to actually play and why that all matters.
www.ign.com/articles/bou...
I appreciate that he can artfully tell you how he personally connected with a game while still communicating what it's like to actually play and why that all matters.
www.ign.com/articles/bou...
Most places would not have published this. The original draft was very raw and much more graphic. Super grateful to @tomrmarks.bsky.social for working with me on this one.
October 23, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I don't think this is what folk typically expect from an IGN review, but Will is great at what he does!
I appreciate that he can artfully tell you how he personally connected with a game while still communicating what it's like to actually play and why that all matters.
www.ign.com/articles/bou...
I appreciate that he can artfully tell you how he personally connected with a game while still communicating what it's like to actually play and why that all matters.
www.ign.com/articles/bou...
Reposted by Tom Marks
I reviewed Bounty Star for @ign.com. It is the most personal review I've written in a long time (maybe ever) and I'm very proud of it. It would mean a lot to me if you read it.
Full disclosure: I talk about being suicidal for two years in the opening because I had to. This one hit me pretty hard.
Full disclosure: I talk about being suicidal for two years in the opening because I had to. This one hit me pretty hard.
Bounty Star Review - IGN
This combination of mech combat and farming is equal parts compelling and tranquil.
www.ign.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I reviewed Bounty Star for @ign.com. It is the most personal review I've written in a long time (maybe ever) and I'm very proud of it. It would mean a lot to me if you read it.
Full disclosure: I talk about being suicidal for two years in the opening because I had to. This one hit me pretty hard.
Full disclosure: I talk about being suicidal for two years in the opening because I had to. This one hit me pretty hard.
Reposted by Tom Marks
@tomrmarks.bsky.social hoping I wasn't the only one who thought of this with the bowtie.
(I may be able to decently match a font, but I can't doodle a beard to save my life)
(I may be able to decently match a font, but I can't doodle a beard to save my life)
October 23, 2025 at 6:39 PM
@tomrmarks.bsky.social hoping I wasn't the only one who thought of this with the bowtie.
(I may be able to decently match a font, but I can't doodle a beard to save my life)
(I may be able to decently match a font, but I can't doodle a beard to save my life)
Deleted the original post because it's not worth dogpiling on a thing that's being resolved, but it sounds like this was just a bad decision someone made that they have now acknowledged and addressed - so kudos to that!
Ya, that's weird. We don't do that internally, but some community members have access to make edits. I'll send everyone a note in our public Discord. Thanks for pointing it out either way!
October 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Deleted the original post because it's not worth dogpiling on a thing that's being resolved, but it sounds like this was just a bad decision someone made that they have now acknowledged and addressed - so kudos to that!
Credit where it's due, I truly appreciate the quick action here, but given there is literally a custom note in the review summary explaining what was done, it does not seem possible that this was simply a scraper error with no human edits.
Hey Tom, so I'm not sure exactly what happened, sorry about that. We went ahead and removed the review. We don't typically post reviews that only review part of a game and I don't see any human edits so I'm not sure if our scraper got confused. I sent to our dev team but for now the review is down.
October 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Credit where it's due, I truly appreciate the quick action here, but given there is literally a custom note in the review summary explaining what was done, it does not seem possible that this was simply a scraper error with no human edits.
Reposted by Tom Marks
🌈✨🌹🦅NEW REVIEW🌊🚧🗻🪑
I reviewed Once Upon A Katamari for @ign.com
Watch here: youtu.be/taKegEXd9OU?...
Or read here: Once Upon A Katamari Review - IGN share.google/Q8HNuiMhyqDT...
Thanks @tomrmarks.bsky.social for the edits and @chrisdelpadre.bsky.social for cutting the video so well!
I reviewed Once Upon A Katamari for @ign.com
Watch here: youtu.be/taKegEXd9OU?...
Or read here: Once Upon A Katamari Review - IGN share.google/Q8HNuiMhyqDT...
Thanks @tomrmarks.bsky.social for the edits and @chrisdelpadre.bsky.social for cutting the video so well!
Once Upon A Katamari Review
YouTube video by IGN
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 3:36 AM
🌈✨🌹🦅NEW REVIEW🌊🚧🗻🪑
I reviewed Once Upon A Katamari for @ign.com
Watch here: youtu.be/taKegEXd9OU?...
Or read here: Once Upon A Katamari Review - IGN share.google/Q8HNuiMhyqDT...
Thanks @tomrmarks.bsky.social for the edits and @chrisdelpadre.bsky.social for cutting the video so well!
I reviewed Once Upon A Katamari for @ign.com
Watch here: youtu.be/taKegEXd9OU?...
Or read here: Once Upon A Katamari Review - IGN share.google/Q8HNuiMhyqDT...
Thanks @tomrmarks.bsky.social for the edits and @chrisdelpadre.bsky.social for cutting the video so well!
Reposted by Tom Marks
My review in progress for Dispatch is live on @ign.com! My full review will arrive once the series is out in a little bit, but so far I’m having a great time!
Cc @adhocstudio.com
www.ign.com/articles/dis...
Cc @adhocstudio.com
www.ign.com/articles/dis...
Dispatch Review in Progress - IGN
This superhero successor to Telltale's legacy is off to a great start.
www.ign.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM
My review in progress for Dispatch is live on @ign.com! My full review will arrive once the series is out in a little bit, but so far I’m having a great time!
Cc @adhocstudio.com
www.ign.com/articles/dis...
Cc @adhocstudio.com
www.ign.com/articles/dis...
Some people are claiming this is AI generated, so I just want to confirm that this is indeed a real and legitimate IGN review.
October 22, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Some people are claiming this is AI generated, so I just want to confirm that this is indeed a real and legitimate IGN review.
Reposted by Tom Marks
have a scored review, as a treat: www.ign.com/articles/pok...
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Review - IGN
Z-A finally feels like Game Freak hitting its stride in Pokemon’s 3D era.
www.ign.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:32 PM
have a scored review, as a treat: www.ign.com/articles/pok...
Reposted by Tom Marks
I reviewed Jurassic World Evolution 3 for IGN! I'm a big fan of the series and this one really scratches that management sim itch. But with dinosaurs. www.ign.com/articles/jur...
Jurassic World Evolution 3 Review - IGN
A dinosaur sequel that builds on an already satisfying management formula.
www.ign.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
I reviewed Jurassic World Evolution 3 for IGN! I'm a big fan of the series and this one really scratches that management sim itch. But with dinosaurs. www.ign.com/articles/jur...
Reposted by Tom Marks
For IGN: I checked out the new Double Dragon and... maybe you can skip it
www.ign.com/articles/dou...
www.ign.com/articles/dou...
Double Dragon Revive Review - IGN
Less a miraculous resurrection and more like exhuming a shambling corpse.
www.ign.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:16 PM
For IGN: I checked out the new Double Dragon and... maybe you can skip it
www.ign.com/articles/dou...
www.ign.com/articles/dou...
One of them busy weeks.
October 21, 2025 at 6:39 PM
One of them busy weeks.
My policy has always been that I would rather take the time to make a better review that doesn't burn out my writers than rush to hit an arbitrary marketing beat a publisher didn't actually give us enough time to meet.
In that context, it's not a hard decision.
In that context, it's not a hard decision.
i remember crunching to review BotW and the Switch 1 in a week and a half and I was so miserable coming out of that period. Never again. Grateful to @tomrmarks.bsky.social and IGN for being supportive of this, and to @ignunion.bsky.social for the backup in taking back the overtime I did work.
October 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
My policy has always been that I would rather take the time to make a better review that doesn't burn out my writers than rush to hit an arbitrary marketing beat a publisher didn't actually give us enough time to meet.
In that context, it's not a hard decision.
In that context, it's not a hard decision.
Reposted by Tom Marks
guys i have amazing news about the new pokemon game: i think it's pretty good
www.ign.com/articles/pok...
www.ign.com/articles/pok...
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Review in Progress - IGN
Is Pokémon back, flabay-bee?
www.ign.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:08 PM
guys i have amazing news about the new pokemon game: i think it's pretty good
www.ign.com/articles/pok...
www.ign.com/articles/pok...
Can someone please explain to me why literally every video game in existence is launching on October 23rd
October 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Can someone please explain to me why literally every video game in existence is launching on October 23rd
Reposted by Tom Marks
I revisited Yooka and friends with Yooka-Replaylee, and it's definitely an improvement, but also still quite an antiquated, flawed game. For context, I would have scored the original a 4/10.
Check out my full review, via @ign.com:
www.ign.com/articles/yoo...
Check out my full review, via @ign.com:
www.ign.com/articles/yoo...
Yooka-Replaylee Review - IGN
This remixed platformer works better now, but also introduces new wonkiness.
www.ign.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I revisited Yooka and friends with Yooka-Replaylee, and it's definitely an improvement, but also still quite an antiquated, flawed game. For context, I would have scored the original a 4/10.
Check out my full review, via @ign.com:
www.ign.com/articles/yoo...
Check out my full review, via @ign.com:
www.ign.com/articles/yoo...
Reposted by Tom Marks
New Review! 2XKO has sunk its hooks into me. Super fun characters, excellently designed mechanics, and welcoming to newcomers while still being fiercely technical at higher levels. www.ign.com/articles/2xk...
2XKO Early Access Review - IGN
Simple inputs lower the skill floor while deep mechanics push the ceiling above the clouds.
www.ign.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:38 PM
New Review! 2XKO has sunk its hooks into me. Super fun characters, excellently designed mechanics, and welcoming to newcomers while still being fiercely technical at higher levels. www.ign.com/articles/2xk...
Reposted by Tom Marks
Hiii, going to be a bit annoying about this. 👋
Recommend sharing, posting, and donating if you can today. Incredible cause and is needed more than ever.
Donation Link: donate.tiltify.com/8aa9783d-46e...
Recommend sharing, posting, and donating if you can today. Incredible cause and is needed more than ever.
Donation Link: donate.tiltify.com/8aa9783d-46e...
Wizards of the Coast is hosting a Twitch stream to support Trans Lifeline, a hotline and non-profit organization offering direct support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community.
Tune in to twitch.tv/magic on Oct 4th at 10am PT to play games with us and support!
Tune in to twitch.tv/magic on Oct 4th at 10am PT to play games with us and support!
October 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Hiii, going to be a bit annoying about this. 👋
Recommend sharing, posting, and donating if you can today. Incredible cause and is needed more than ever.
Donation Link: donate.tiltify.com/8aa9783d-46e...
Recommend sharing, posting, and donating if you can today. Incredible cause and is needed more than ever.
Donation Link: donate.tiltify.com/8aa9783d-46e...