Melbourne gaming blog · since 2016
The battles worth writing down.
Deep-dive reviews, patch autopsies and indie discoveries — drawn panel by panel for players who read past the score.
About the chronicle
A small desk with strong opinions.
We started in a Fitzroy share-house in 2016, arguing about frame pacing until 3am. Today the same three editors run Shadow Battle Chronicle from a studio off Little Collins Street, still arguing — just on the record now.
Every piece is played to completion before it publishes. No embargo-day hot takes, no scores without hours behind them, no sponsored coverage dressed up as editorial.
- 640+
- games reviewed in full
- 3
- stubborn editors
- 0
- paid placements
How a review is made
From first boot to published verdict.
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1
Full playthrough
We finish the campaign or log 30+ hours in live games before a single word is drafted. No skipping to the end.
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2
Bench testing
Performance is captured on both a mid-range PC and current console, with frame times and load figures logged, not guessed.
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3
Panel edit
Two editors challenge the draft's claims and the score. Anything that can't be backed by a moment in-game gets cut.
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4
Publish & revisit
We update reviews after major patches so the verdict still matches the game people actually download today.
What we cover
Pick a lane. We've written on it.
From the readers
Why players keep the tab open.
Questions, grouped
Everything before you email us.
Editorial
Contributing
Get in touch
Pitch, tip, or just argue.
We answer every message from a real person at the desk — usually within a couple of business days.
Phone
+61 3 9654 4239Studio
72 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Desk hours
Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm AEST