Fremantle · Since 2016 · Independent
The games worth your weekend, weighed on their merits.
Reviews, deep-dive guides, and the culture around them — written from a desk two streets back from the Fremantle harbour. No pre-order hype, no scores we can't explain.
Who we are
A small desk with long attention spans.
Emerald Game Chronicle started in 2016 as a Perth zine passed around at local meetups. Today three writers cover console, PC, and handheld from Fremantle — playing to credits, not to a marketing deadline.
We buy most of what we review, disclose the rest, and put the hours on the page. If a 60-hour RPG sags in the third act, we'll tell you exactly where and whether it recovers.
What we value
Context over noise, always.
A launch-week verdict is only half the story, so we revisit big releases after patches and DLC and update the review with a dated note. Our archive tells you how a game aged, not just how it landed.
We highlight accessibility options, performance modes, and value for money in plain terms — the practical detail that decides whether a game fits your setup and your time.
How we review
Four steps between a launch and a verdict.
Play to the credits
We finish the main story and sample the endgame — no verdict from a two-hour preview build.
Test the hardware
Frame rates, load times, and performance modes measured on console, PC, and handheld where they exist.
Weigh the value
Length, replay, accessibility, and price in AUD, so you know what your money and hours buy.
Revisit after patches
Major releases get a dated follow-up once the day-one patches and DLC land.
What we cover
Four beats, one editorial standard.
Reader wall
What subscribers tell us.
"Their patched-in follow-up saved me from refunding a broken port. That dated note is worth the subscription alone."
"Finally a site that lists Steam Deck battery life and accessibility toggles before the score. Exactly what I need."
"The Fremantle meetup writeups got me into local dev. No other AU outlet covers the scene this closely."
Questions
Straight answers before you subscribe.
Still curious about how the Chronicle works? Reach the desk directly through the contact form and we'll reply within two business days.
Is the Chronicle free to read? +
Every review and guide is free to read. A voluntary newsletter membership at A$6/month funds review copies we can't get for free and keeps the site ad-light. Members get early access to long features.
Do you take money from publishers? +
No paid reviews, ever. We accept review codes and hardware loans, and we disclose every one at the top of the relevant article. If a game is provided by a publisher, you'll see it stated plainly before the first paragraph.
What platforms do you cover? +
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, Nintendo Switch, PC, and handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. We note which platform each review was played on and flag notable differences between versions.
Can I pitch a guest article? +
Yes. We run one or two freelance features a month, with a focus on Australian developers and local scene reporting. Send a short pitch through the contact form; commissioned pieces are paid at standard AU freelance rates.
Get in touch
Join the newsletter or reach the desk.
One considered email a week — new reviews, updated verdicts, and what the Fremantle scene is playing. Or write to us directly with a tip or a pitch.
Phone+61 8 9319 8247
Email[email protected]
Studio17 Essex Street, Fremantle WA 6160
HoursMon–Fri, 9:00–17:00 AWST