You found a novelty. This is a video game website that actually writes about the games themselves. I know, right?

The Pixels is named after those beloved pinpoints of light that represent the smallest, rawest elements that video games can be reduced to, visually speaking. As such, on this site, you can expect critiques using a deconstructive approach to video games. The goal is to examine a game’s many moving parts to find if they serve the greater experience or not. This is all summarized in a Review Card. Besides longer critiques, we also feature shorter reviews, the odd editorials and opinion pieces, and a collab now and then.

Here are our promises to you.

-No limits.

We will cover any game, from any era, on any system, no matter how big or how small, modern or retro, AAA, AA, or just one A plus indies. Games are judged within their historical context: it makes no sense to hold a game from 1985 to the standards set by technological capabilities in 2025. Our promise holds for every game and any game. The mighty pixel is ubiquitous. If you’re a developer or publisher looking for coverage, reach out to us at thewellredmage@the-pixels.com.

-No clickbait.

We want you to click on a post because you’re interested in its content, not because the title tricked you. We aren’t going to lead you to expect something that isn’t there. Further, we don’t drive outrage or hate to increase our traffic. You will find no incendiary headlines here.

-No propaganda.

When you read a post about a video game, you can expect to read about that video game, not a tirade or soapbox about the author’s random political views. “No politicization” doesn’t mean we’re treating everything as apolitical or that politics has no place in games or even that politics are unimportant. It means we won’t make something more political than it already is or needs to be. It especially means we won’t turn a review into a sermon. Save preaching for editorials.

-No demonization. 

It’s easy to dismiss opposing opinions by associating them with despicable groups that themselves are easily dismissed, but an argument should be weighed and evaluated on its own basis. Anyone could be a stan or hater, but the soundness of a line of reasoning is chief among critics. Therefore, our writing focuses less on lumping groups and opinions together and more on the qualities and traits of the games themselves. Social media wars are fought online over video games every single day. We review games here, not subculture squabbles.

-No nontroversy. 

While we can’t refuse to comment on a controversy or scandal, we won’t let our feed become dominated by chasing the latest gossip or taking sides in the latest nontroversy. Today, video game conversations are overwhelmed with sectarian battles, fandom fights, ad hominem, hyperbole, witch hunts, and death threats, but we cover the games themselves. We’re not a news website. You’ll have to visit a different rag for that.

-No tyrannical subjectivity.

“All art is subjective”… how many times have you heard that? As critics, we have to acknowledge that there is a balance of subjectivity and objectivity in art and in video games as works of human creativity. Yes, a player’s experience with a game’s beauty or difficulty may vary, but a day-one patch rolling out to fix an issue like the game crashing at the title screen is absolutely an objective issue. While we don’t do news here, critics are also reporters and if we do not report to you the objective issues in a game’s systems, architecture, or code, we’re withholding crucial information.

-No worship. 

While we at The Pixels love games very much, we’re not in love with them. In other words, “they’re just games”, not creeds, nations, ethnicities, etc. Video games are not a religion. No game is above the critical eye. Games are our subject and nothing can escape our critical sight. No game is safe. But you are.

-No identity crisis.

Criticizing a game does not equal criticizing a person or persons who enjoy that game, and we reserve the right to be critical without being personally offensive. Yes, games have helped people through difficult times. So has a little bit of humor. Anyone who has so aligned their personality with a commercial product or brand cannot take part in video game criticism. Our goal isn’t to attack anyone when providing a critique.

-No gatekeeping. 

Games are for everyone. So is The Pixels. There’s no ideological quiz required to write for us and neither do you have to share every view with a writer in order to enjoy their reviews and critiques. This website isn’t for real gamers (there’s no such thing) or for any particular fandom. It’s for anyone interested in developing the craft of video game criticism, seeing the future of gaming discussion flourish, and celebrating the artistry of this interactive form of entertainment.

The Pixels is the future. But it’s also the past. None of these ideas are new, so why have I been told so frequently just how refreshing it is to see a game review website reviewing games?

We hope you enjoy our elemental video game critiques, reviews, and articles.

Thank you for reading.

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Red formerly ran thewellredmage.com and now serves The Pixels as founder, writer, editor, streamer, and brain lord. He has undertaken a seemingly endless crusade to talk about the games themselves amid a gaming culture that’d rather talk about anything but. Pick out his feathered cap on X @thewellredmage or Bsky @thewellredmage.bsky.social. For business inquiries, contact thewellredmage@the-pixels.com