I’m Rowan Kaiser, a video game and pop culture critic and consultant with over a decade of experience.
I’m available for consulting on your game!
Endorsements
Art will go here!
Few people really know why they like what they like, and they certainly don't know why audiences like what they like. Rowan Kaiser's gift as an analyst is seeing beyond trends into the dynamics driving those trends. Lots of people can describe a successful or unsuccessful product, but few have Rowan's gift for articulating the needs and desires of an audience that a product needs to speak to.
-Rob Zacny, Remap
Rowan’s attention to detail, industry/gaming experience and are truly impressive. Along with her dedication, enthusiasm, and professionalism, Rowan’s insights brought great value to our project in a seamless and effective way. We will definitely use her services again in the near future.
-Erica Denning, Americas PR Manager, SEGA Europe
I’ve written video games reviews and criticism at Polygon, IGN, Ars Technica, Gamesbeat, Vice, and many more, while my cultural criticism has appeared at The A.V. Club, Vox, Inverse, and others — read more on my portfolio page. I’m also a regular panelist and organizer at the strategy games podcast Three Moves Ahead, and run my own science fiction/action movie podcast TOTAL MASSACRE.
My video game expertise has primarily focused been focused on role-playing games and strategy games — I like systems and narrative! — but my game interests and play habits are wide-ranging and include most major genres, from shooters to sports management to traditional adventure games and roguelikes. I am a video game historian, and follow that up by playing important and essential games both old and new.
Consulting experience includes mock review gigs with Sega, 2K, and Electronic Arts, as well as working on lore with Riot.
Services
Mock Reviews
I’ll play your soon-to-be released game and review it to give you an idea of what to expect in terms of Metascore, strengths, weaknesses, and overall reaction when the critics get their hands on it.
Sensitivity Reading
As a disabled trans woman and a person who’s been on the Internet for many years, I’ve seen and understood many controversies, moral panics, and discourse wars. I can check out your game and let you know if there are any potential warning signs.
Vertical Slice
Store Page Editing
Don’t Know?
Got a functioning part of your game that you need feedback on? I’ll play just that and give you my expert reactions based on years as a professional critic and communicator.
On Steam or the eShop or App Store and not sure if your game’s being accurately presented to your audience? I can help with that!
Not sure what you need, or what you do need doesn’t fit in a box? Just want to watch me play and learn your game? Interview me about how reviews work? We can work out what’s needed on an hourly rate.
Discounts for independent game developers!