Critic

Columnist

Reporter

Consultant

Silent Hillian

Guardian

Little Sister

Spartan

High Chaos

Hello! I'm Vikki Blake

a.k.a. Vixx

I wasn't the kind of girl who grew up playing dollies and dress-up. While others were falling in love with boy bands, I was falling in love with gaming. I got lost in Hyrule.
I kicked ass in Street Fighter. I had inappropriate dreams about Solid Snake, became obsessed with the gorgeously grim environments of Silent Hill, and am still kind of addicted
to Guitar Hero.

Before I gave up the monotony of civil service life to write for a living, I worked for 10 years as an equality, inclusion, and wellbeing adviser, specialising in employment and HE. Today, I blend both of these passions as a games writer and an equality consultant, working with organisations like Ukie to improve equality policy and practice and make the games industry a kinder, more supportive place for all.

An independent reporter, critic, columnist, and commentator with almost 15 years of experience in the games industry, I've worked with some of the world's biggest brands and publications including the BBC, Eurogamer, IGN, the NME, and many, many more. I specialise in horror, shooters, puzzlers, and games with a strong story to tell, but I can turn my hand to pretty much anything.

I know. I can't believe it's a real job, either.

On Twitter @_vixx

Writing / Portfolio

I write crisp, accessible wordsfor specialist and mainstream publications like:

Featured Work

Silent Hill: Ascension Mid-Season Review

IGN

December 2023

Shallow, confusing, and nonsensical, Silent Hill: Ascension is not the triumphant return to Silent Hill we’ve been longing for.

Read on IGN

These fans think Resident Evil 4 ruined horror games for a decade

GQ

March 2023

Resident Evil 4 Remake might be one of 2023’s most critically-acclaimed games, but its legacy is surprisingly divisive…

Read on GQ

Why do we buy unfinished video games?

BBC News

April 2021

You wouldn’t watch a film without an ending – so why do people buy unfinished video games?

Read on BBC News

#RaisetheGame in the UK games industry – One Year On Report

Ukie

March 2021

In 2020, the UK games sector created #RaiseTheGame, a high-impact pledge to improve inclusion across the games industry. Find out how it’s progressing one year on.

Read on Ukie

Little Nightmares 2 – a brilliantly horrifying, often infuriating return

Eurogamer

February 2021

Tarsier returns with another slice of horror that’s just about glorious enough to make up for the frustrations.

Read on Eurogamer

Someday You’ll Return review – a fascinating but flawed brand of horror

Eurogamer

May 2020

There’s plenty to admire in this smart and adventurous horror, though you’ll have to endure some missteps to get there.

Read on Eurogamer

Battle royales are changing the way we play video games

NME

May 2020

Can’t commit hours and hours to a game? Maybe battle royales are the way to go…

Read on NME

Dishonored taught me there is no right way to play

Eurogamer

Nov 2019

Games often touch us not only because of what they are, but what they’re not and, for me, Dishonored was a game that relaxed traditional gameplay in a way I hadn’t quite anticipated.

Read on Eurogamer

Dead and live: Silent Hill’s strange musical afterlife

Eurogamer

Nov 2015

Yamaoka’s concerts showed that the fanbase is alive and kicking, even if the series isn’t.

Read on Eurogamer

Contact

If you'd like to add me to your press list, send me your cool new game or gadget, or have an exciting project you think may tickle my interest, this is the place to do it! Drop your details into this handy form and I'll come back to you just as soon as I can.

Please note that as a freelancer I can't ever guarantee coverage of your fab new project – although if I sincerely think it's cool, I always try! – and no, I cannot write for you for free or, ahem, "exposure".

Psst, want to work in games media, too? Looking for some tips? Come this way...