Gaming news and reviews, honest and independent.
PlayInsider is a gaming site for news, reviews and indie tips, originally from Germany. We tell you what a game does well, what it doesn’t and who it is worth it for – no clickbait, no marketing promises.
A small team that simply loves to play.
PlayInsider is made by a small team of gamers – as volunteers and out of passion. We write about what interests us: big releases as well as indie gems that would otherwise get lost between the blockbusters.
On the site you will find the latest news, in-depth reviews, our Indie Radar and a release calendar so you never miss a date. On YouTube, Instagram and TikTok our content is also available as video and short-form.
PlayInsider is run by Luca Dreyer. All legal information can be found in the Legal notice.
What you’ll find here
Four sections, one goal: after reading, you should know where you stand.
News with context
Releases, updates and industry topics. We explain what a story means for players.
Reviews with a clear verdict
Score, pros and cons, system requirements and an honest answer to the question: who is the game worth it for – and who not?
Small studios, big ideas
We showcase indie games that deserve more attention than their marketing budget allows.
Dates at a glance
The most important release dates at a glance, from Windows and Switch to PlayStation and Xbox.
The people behind the articles
This is who writes and reviews here. Every article carries the name of its author.
Luca Dreyer
Founded PlayInsider and is responsible for its content. Writes reviews and oversees the whole editorial team.
Favorite games: Software Inc., Far Cry 4, Planet Zoo 2
Jan Richter
I keep an eye on current games, assign topics and read every article before it goes live.
Favorite games: The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, Disco Elysium
Felix Wagner
I take care of the tech behind PlayInsider and write reviews of current games.
Favorite games: Factorio, Portal 2, Half-Life 2
Lena Vogt
Cozy games, Life is Strange and The Sims are my world. I write news and reviews and handle press requests and keys.
Favorite games: Life is Strange, Stardew Valley, The Sims 4
Mila Becker
I run our Instagram and write about indies, survival games and whatever is going viral.
Favorite games: Hollow Knight, Valheim, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Jonas Keller
I design our featured images, headers, logos and Instagram graphics.
Favorite games: Hollow Knight, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Journey
Robin Hartmann
I create games, developers and news entries and make sure they can be found on Google.
Favorite games: The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, Hades
How we review
So you can understand how a score comes about, we have summed up our approach in four points.
Play it ourselves, don’t copy
A review is based on our own playtime. Press releases and trailers are no substitute. We describe concrete moments from the game instead of marketing phrases. Unreleased games get no score, only an “expected rating”.
Score in percent, with reasons
The overall score is made up of categories: graphics, gameplay, story, depth, technology and sound. Each sub-score has its own explanation, so you can see where a game shines and where it struggles. The “Steam users” circle additionally shows Steam reviews and does not count toward our score.
Pros, cons and the audience
Every review ends with a list of pros and cons and a verdict that clearly says who the game is for. We are open about limitations too.
Fix mistakes, show changes
If we get something wrong or something changes, for example through a patch, we correct the article and make the update visible.
Independent – and transparent about ads.
A site like ours costs time and money. We fund it through unobtrusive ads and affiliate links. To make sure this never costs your trust, we follow strict rules.
Ads are clearly marked
Ads, including Google AdSense, are clearly labeled “Advertisement” and are never mixed with editorial content.
Affiliate links
Einige Links, zum Beispiel zu Instant Gaming, sind Affiliate links. Wenn du darüber kaufst, erhalten wir eine kleine Provision. Für dich bleibt der Preis gleich, und unsere Wertungen und Meinungen bleiben unsere.
Review copies and keys
If we receive a game free from the publisher, the review says so. Bought or gifted: it doesn’t change the score.