Inside the Jury Room: Emily Black on the Elements of Award Winning Games

I've dedicated much of my professional career, as well as my time outside of work, to reviewing and covering games. Throughout that journey, I've remained committed to helping make the gaming industry a better place.

I've had the opportunity to discover and experience many outstanding titles, ranging from AAA releases to independent games.

I evaluate games from a broad perspective, focusing on storytelling, character design and development, and the gameplay loop. Strong games excel in two of these areas, while truly outstanding titles succeed in all three.

To me, video games are modern storytelling, making the narrative the foundation of every great experience. I look for stories that are cohesive, engaging, and immersive, providing players with a clear sense of purpose and connection. Once that foundation is established, I turn my attention to the gameplay loop, evaluating how effectively it reinforces and brings the story to life.

Many games are shaped by emerging trends. When a genre such as horror gains popularity, it often inspires a wave of new releases, creating opportunities for innovation as developers build on and refine the genre's evolving ideas.

Mainly through news and web articles.

This is the hardest part of reviewing games, and it's something no one really tells you until you become a reviewer or judge. Unfortunately, there's no single right way to approach it. More often than not, I look at player sentiment after playing a game to determine whether my personal preferences have influenced my final judgment.

Honestly, it's been such a blast! I enjoyed every moment of judging that there were no challenges I experienced!

It certainly can be challenging as I take the time to understand the game, consider player sentiment, and evaluate each title with an open mind. Every game deserves an honest, fair, and thoughtful assessment.

I think many games today are released before they're truly ready, often due to accelerated development timelines. As a result, it's not uncommon to see titles launched before they've been fully refined or thoroughly tested.

I bring a unique perspective through both my work in the game industry and my experience reviewing and covering new and upcoming games in my own time. Together, they allow me to evaluate entries from both an industry and player perspective.