Ryan Woodrow
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strongstylesmark.bsky.social
Ryan Woodrow
@strongstylesmark.bsky.social
Gaming & Pro-Wrestling fanatic. Guides Editor for @playGLHFgg on Newsweek, ESPN, and DBLTAP | He/Him, 25 | ryan.woodrow@glhf.gg
After finally beating Silksong's true final boss, I can declare that...yeah, it's pretty good.

My review:
www.dbltap.com/reviews/hollow-knight-silksong-review
Hollow Knight: Silksong review – Still a cut above
When you have a surprise hit as big as Hollow Knight ended up being, following that up is a task all too easy to screw up, especially when you decide to spend s
www.dbltap.com
September 16, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Is This Seat Taken? is exactly the series of satisfying logic puzzles I was hoping it would be.

My review:
www.dbltap.com/reviews/is-this-seat-taken-review
Is This Seat Taken? review: Are you sitting comfortably?
I am locked in an eternal struggle when it comes to puzzle games. I absolutely love puzzlers with unique mechanics that force you to think in a brand-new way, b
www.dbltap.com
August 8, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Reposted by Ryan Woodrow
Modern matchmaking systems aren't designed to give you an even, fair game. They're designed to manipulate you into stay like a slot machine, and even spend money on microtransactions. Streamers and journalists especially need to drop the PR-approved messaging. www.dbltap.com/features/ski...
Skill-based matchmaking isn’t based on skill, and Battlefield 6 needs to be different
Over the course of my gaming history I’ve put thousands of hours into Apex Legends, hundreds on Call of Duty and Halo, dozens into countless other online shoote
www.dbltap.com
August 5, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the greatest stories ever told in a video game, and the combat is second to none. Get your hands on it ASAP.

My review:
www.dbltap.com/reviews/clai...
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review – Revolutionary combat meets masterful storytelling
As I rolled credits on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I sat at my desk with my head in my hands, still processing the journey I’d just completed. This is everythi
www.dbltap.com
April 23, 2025 at 9:03 AM
I'm not quite as crazy about Blue Prince as a lot of people are, but I do think it's an excellent puzzle game that absorbed me for an entire weekend.

My review:
www.dbltap.com/reviews/blue...
Blue Prince review: A mysterious journey of discovery and puzzle solving
There’s something endlessly enticing about exploring a giant empty mansion that supposedly has secrets hidden within, and Blue Prince isn’t the first game to us
www.dbltap.com
April 14, 2025 at 11:17 AM
I had fun with Doctor Who's latest season opener, with a strong start for our new companion, but the story fell by the wayside as a result.

My review:
www.newsweek.com/entertainmen...
Review: Doctor Who The Robot Revolution is a fun but rushed start
Doctor Who: The Robot Revolution is a fun start to the series that does a great job of introducing our new companion, but the story feels rushed.
www.newsweek.com
April 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Wanderstop was exactly the experience I was hoping for. Beautiful, whimsical, and emotional in equal measure.

My review:
www.newsweek.com/entertainmen...
Review: Wanderstop is a beautiful break from life
Wanderstop is a peaceful game that tells a whimsical, yet emotional story about burnout.
www.newsweek.com
March 21, 2025 at 10:54 AM
I like AC Shadows, I really do, but I found a lot of things in it to complain about. Things that games from over a decade ago did much better.

My review:
www.newsweek.com/entertainmen...
Review: Assassin's Creed Shadows is two steps forward one step back
Assassin's Creed Shadows is the best of the modern games, but struggles with problems its predecessors already solved.
www.newsweek.com
March 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Imagine putting on a show this good and then ending it in the lamest way possible with a boring main event. Never change, AEW.
Christian Cage passes out.

Jon Moxley retains the AEW World Championship.

#AEWRevolution
March 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
I've been looking forward to this given the writing calibur behind it, glad to see it doesn't miss the mark.
March 10, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Two Point Museum is the studio's best game yet. There is no management game like it - truly the pinnacle of the genre.

My review:
www.espn.co.uk/gaming/story...
Two Point Museum displays the wonders of the world in fantastic fashion
Two Point Studios' museum simulator might be one of the best management simulations ever released.
www.espn.co.uk
February 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
There really is no experience like playing a Civ game with a group of friends, even if one of them is far too good at the game.

@baldbreens.bsky.social has done a great write-up of our game that will forever leave me with great memories and mental scars.

www.newsweek.com/entertainmen...
Opinion: Civilization VII multiplayer is like Mario Party with warmongers
The latest game in the Civilization series has some teething issues, but multiplayer is a blast.
www.newsweek.com
February 17, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Avowed's combat is the best of its kind and keeps me coming back for more, which is good because the world and its characters have nothing interesting going on.

My review:
www.espn.co.uk/gaming/story...
Avowed review: Obsidian nails the combat, but not the story
Combat is fun and interesting in Avowed -- but surprisingly for an Obsidian game, the story and characters are not.
www.espn.co.uk
February 13, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Reposted by Ryan Woodrow
Unfortunately I am now on the hunt for paid work.

I’m a writer, journalist, critic, and more, having worked on sites like Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, and ESPN, primarily on video game content.

If you have a position or need help with guides, reviews, news, etc, please get in touch 💜
February 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Ryan Woodrow
I'm the lookout for more freelance work starting soon, so please keep me in mind for anything! I do it all - and quite well, or so my clients say. (Reposts appreciated)

- Guides, reviews, news, features
- Press releases
- Consulting
- Mock reviews
- Basically anything you need that's not illegal
February 7, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Ryan Woodrow
Hey everyone!

I'm looking to pick up some freelance work. I do gaming news shifts, guides and reviews.

If you have anything you need doing let me know!

Portfolio here muckrack.com/georginayoung

RTs very appreciated
February 7, 2025 at 11:48 AM
While out in the US for the Royal Rumble, I got to play some WWE 2K25 and I've put some thoughts together.

Also, this officially marks my ESPN debut!
www.espn.com/gaming/story...
WWE 2K25 debuts more fun features, shores up the series' fundamentals
WWE 2K25 looks to embrace the silly side of wrestling while still remaining true to the series' core.
www.espn.com
February 5, 2025 at 5:48 PM
What an amazing weekend at the Royal Rumble! A fantastic show with a truly shocking (but brilliant) outcome!

While there I got to chat to some of the wrestlers and play WWE 2K25, which I'll have more on soon!
February 4, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the first time in a long time that I took my time with a massive RPG rather than speeding right through it. Spending a whole year dropping in and out of this world made it so much harder to say goodbye:

www.si.com/videogames/f...
Spending a year with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth showed me the pain and joy in the passage of time
One of the hardest yet most powerful things for a piece of media to do is make you feel the weight of time. No matter how grand the adventure, experiencing it a
www.si.com
December 31, 2024 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Ryan Woodrow
Truly the review period for DD2 was phenomenal and magical and you’ll never get to experience it like we did
December 23, 2024 at 9:28 PM
Dragon's Dogma 2 was one of my favourite gaming experiences of the year mostly thanks to how I played it, but because of me, none of you got to play it in the same way, which may have ruined it:

www.si.com/videogames/f...
Dragon's Dogma 2 is the best game of 2024, and it's my fault you don't agree
Whenever I tell someone I’m a games journalist, they’ll immediately ask one of a few questions I know well by now. Once I get past the obvious like, “When are y
www.si.com
December 23, 2024 at 10:48 AM
I love the original Moonlighter. Both the dungeon-crawling and shop gameplay are top-notch, and I still regularly listen to the soundtrack.

So this was great news to wake up to!
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault announced store.steampowered.com/app/2350790/...
December 6, 2024 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Ryan Woodrow
This one’s a great read too! www.si.com/videogames/f...

“…the team has put the game in the best position possible for success, and as long as they continue on this path, I’m optimistic about Vanguard’s future.”

Thanks for the write-up, @strongstylesmark.bsky.social - hope you got all you needed! 🙏
Eve Vanguard players are driving its development, when they're not worshipping eggs
To many, the universe of Eve Online has always seemed appealing, but impenetrable. Having taken a few cautious steps into the fringes of this world a few times
www.si.com
November 20, 2024 at 1:00 PM