Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
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Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
@mikemurf2.bsky.social
Freelance gaming journalist/critic and self-proclaimed gaming extraordinaire. Bylines at Game Informer, TechRadar, ComicBook, Hardcore Gamer, and Destructoid. Nice to meet you!
Please DM or email @ [email protected] to reach out!
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Hello everybody! With the new year approaching, I am looking for new opportunities in the video game journalism space! If you have any full-time, part-time, contract, or freelance positions, please reach out via DMs or email listed in my bio. I am available for reviews, previews, guides, and news.
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
My latest 007 First Light feature is live!
How 007 First Light learns from and moves beyond Hitman gameinformer.com/2026/01/29/h...
January 29, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
To Kratos: "My name is Odin the All-Father. You killed my grandsons. Prepare to die."
January 29, 2026 at 8:22 PM
As a fan of Broadway (and The Princess Bride), this is literal god-tier casting. Hype just shot up for the God of War series. Hope they keep up the good castings.

deadline.com/2026/01/mand...
Mandy Patinkin Cast As Odin In Prime Video’s ‘God Of War’
Mandy Patinkin has been cast as Odin in Prime Video's 'God of War,' the TV adaptation of the popular Playstation video game.
deadline.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
I can finally share that I wrote a retrospective on the Tales of series for Game Informer! I chatted with some of the leads of the series at Bandai Namco about the many games, like Symphonia and Arise. I’ve been working on this piece for a few months and it’s one I’m so proud of finally sharing.
30 Years Of Tales
Bandai Namco’s anthology RPG has been growing in quality and popularity for the last three decades.
gameinformer.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
there should be some kind of freelancer slack where people just spitball forever and editors can just drop in and be like “yes, good idea, commissioned”
January 29, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
While I'm looking for work if you want to support me, the best ways currently are to sign up for my RPG newsletter, An Evening at the Inn. I'm spinning up coverage and want to keep growing it. Or you can follow @burnoutculture.bsky.social the official yapper podcast an-evening-at-the-inn.ghost.io
An Evening at the Inn
A bi-weekly newsletter, all about role-playing games.
an-evening-at-the-inn.ghost.io
January 29, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
This might be the best written video game review I've ever read: www.gamespot.com/reviews/cair...
Cairn Review - An Uphill Battle Worth Taking On
Cairn's perilous climb makes for a gorgeous and grueling drama.
www.gamespot.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
new byline 😭 so excited to be in this issue of game informer with a story on love and deepspace!!!

gameinformer.com/feature/2026...
80 Million Players, Five Boyfriends
Love and Deepspace’s cast of perfect romantic partners is seeking new love across the world.
gameinformer.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
FIRST GAMEPLAY FOOTAGE OF DYNASTY WARRIORS 3 REMASTERED AT TAIPEI GAME SHOW LOGINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh1Q...
『真・三國無双2 with 猛将伝 Remastered』趙雲、孫尚香、夏侯惇プレイ動画【台北ゲームショウ試遊版より】
YouTube video by 電撃オンライン
www.youtube.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Thank you all for the support on this piece! Biggest engagement I’ve seen on anything I’ve written. It’ll be available to read in the Game Informer magazine next month and on store shelves (or directly to your mailbox if you’re a subscriber, which you should be!) Again, thank you all🙏
I can finally share that I wrote a retrospective on the Tales of series for Game Informer! I chatted with some of the leads of the series at Bandai Namco about the many games, like Symphonia and Arise. I’ve been working on this piece for a few months and it’s one I’m so proud of finally sharing.
30 Years Of Tales
Bandai Namco’s anthology RPG has been growing in quality and popularity for the last three decades.
gameinformer.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
Begging Capcom to give us Cool Aunt Jill Valentine next. We need Wine Mom Claire Redfield.
"A design that would make anyone's heart throb" How Capcom turned Resident Evil Requiem's Leon S. Kennedy into a "hot uncle"

www.eurogamer.net/resident-evi...
January 28, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
OH SO WHEN *SOMEONE ELSE* DOES IT
i also think game critics should score
January 28, 2026 at 4:44 AM
I can finally share that I wrote a retrospective on the Tales of series for Game Informer! I chatted with some of the leads of the series at Bandai Namco about the many games, like Symphonia and Arise. I’ve been working on this piece for a few months and it’s one I’m so proud of finally sharing.
30 Years Of Tales
Bandai Namco’s anthology RPG has been growing in quality and popularity for the last three decades.
gameinformer.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Actual game journalism jobs??? Hiring??? KOTAKU??? Know what I’ll be doing this afternoon haha.
January 27, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
hell yeah Kotaku, good folks doing good work over there. those jobs look like great opportunities for any freelancers seeking a full-time gig.

and damn, it's nice to see an outlet hiring.
January 27, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
big info dump here
SCOOP: As confirmed in our Game Informer video preview, the zombies in Resident Evil Requiem do, in fact, shit themselves.
January 26, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
I got to play Highguard before it dropped earlier today! I honestly think this game has the sauce and could be something special if people give it a shot. Be sure to read my full preview of it over at @restart.run!
Yes, we played Highguard and you can read about all of it here.
www.restart.run/articles/hig...
January 26, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
Did I forget this was embargoed for today and not tomorrow? Yes.

But aye, it’s out now! I played Resident Evil Requiem and talk about how Grace differs from Leon.
January 26, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
Resident Evil has always had a special place in my heart. I still can't believe I was invited to go hands on with RE Requiem too!
January 26, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
January 25, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
Holding your daughter for the first time hits different. #LinkinParkAMV
January 26, 2026 at 4:45 PM
These Resident Evil Requiem previews look great! Cannot wait to play it.
January 26, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
Played a bunch of Resident Evil Requiem and I'm happy to report that the grunting sounds Leon makes when he's on low health are sublime.
Resident Evil Requiem Preview: Two Styles Of Horror In One
As it swaps between two heroes, the ninth Resident Evil feels like two different games
kotaku.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
I played about three hours of Resident Evil Requiem and came away thoroughly impressed blah blah blah

I tried to take a more introspective look at WHY this game is emulating the greatest hits of RE (so far) and what that could mean for its later hours. More in my preview below:
Resident Evil Requiem Hands-On Preview – Exciting Emulation

If what we played as Leon is meant to emulate Resident Evil 4's final hours, then it's fitting that Grace's section in this preview feels like a nostalgic reminder of Resident Evil 2's opening hours: gameinformer.com/preview/2026...
January 26, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Michael Murphy | Freelance Video Game Critic and Journalist
I got to play about 3 hours of Resident Evil Requiem. It treads a lot familiar territory (complimentary) while doing enough new stuff to make it feel fresh. Really excited to play the final game.

templeofgeek.com/resident-evi...
Resident Evil Requiem: The Final Preview
We got an early 3 hour hands-on preview of Resident Evil Requiem, the latest entry in Capcom's iconic survival horror series.
templeofgeek.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:39 PM