United Kingdom
they/them
Staff Writer at Pocket Tactics
Bylines can be found in The Guardian, The Queerness, DIVA Magazine, Restless Magazine, PCGamesN, Anime Feminist, Mancunian Matters
LG(BT)Q+, diversity and accessibility in gaming, J-fashion culture
daz.skubich@pockettactics.com
Op-eds, features, and interviews
We got the chance to chat with Tara Sands, the legendary voice actor behind Pokémon's Bulbasaur, about all things Pokémon and fandom.
The Heroes of StarCraft mini-set is an epic labor of love from the Hearthstone team, according to two of the senior game designers.
The Nintendo Switch 2's extra USB-C port could suggest some fun peripherals, especially given the company's out-there accessory history.
In the wake of Pokémon TCG Pocket's whirlwind success, Staff Writer Daz explains how dedicated card game players feel left behind.
We chatted to AFK Journey's lead designer about the idle RPG's debut, development, and successes in its first year on the mobile market.
We sat down with Monster High: Skulltimate Secrets' narrative designer, Destinee Cleveland, to discuss reviving Boo Crew on Switch.
If you've got an old Tamagotchi gathering dust in a drawer somewhere, this is your sign to bring it back to life and experience the nostalgia.
In our Coach interview, we got the chance to chat to the fashion house's VP Marketing for North America about the recent Roblox collab.
At SkyFest 2024, we sat down with thatgamecompany CEO and Creative Director Jenova Chen to learn more about the past five years of Sky.
At SkyFest 2024, we got the chance to chat with thatgamecompany's Cecil Kim and Denise Schlickbernd about Sky: Children of the Light's incredible community.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic early 2000s virtual pet, we're chronicling the history of Tamagotchis outside of their egg-shaped homes.
In our While Waiting interview, we picked Optillusion founder Dong Zhou's brain about the studio's upcoming philosophical puzzle game.
Three Love Live mobile games have died in the past year despite the series' ever-growing popularity both in Japan and worldwide, but why?
We got the chance to sit down with the Honor of Kings development team ahead of the immensely popular mobile MOBA's launch for the global market.
We sat down with two members of the Sticky Brain Studios team to discuss Rooster, the studio's upcoming point-and-click puzzle game inspired by Chinese culture.
Supercell fast-tracked the Squad Busters release date following its "unanimously positive community reception," and we got a sneak preview.
We sat down with Hearthstone's lead designer Cora Georgiou and Executive Producer and VP Nathan Lyons-Smith to discuss ten years of Blizzard's mobile CCG.
We sat down with Rebecca Ford from the Warframe team at Digital Extremes and Jussi Elonen from mobile publisher Nitro Games to unpack Warframe Mobile's secrets.
Daz explores the rise of tarot in videogames, whether as motifs or as gameplay elements, and decides that The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood marries the two perfectly.
Still reeling from their disappointment over Peridot's launch back in May, Daz explores the shortcomings of AR mobile games and speculates on the future.
The holidays can be rough for young, queer people, so Daz explores how Animal Crossing helped them stay positive during the cold, winter months.
Girl Power TCG is a Pokémon TCG group for players of marginalized genders - we sat down with the founders to discuss its first year on the scene.
We sat down with Toikido's Darran Garnham, the CEO behind the newest Roblox collecting phenomenon, Piñata Smashlings to learn more about the massive project.
Our staff writer Daz shares some games that give them gender euphoria, the joyous experience of feeling comfortable and seen as your correct gender.
I wish the Pokémon TCG Live wasn't as broken as it currently is, but it's impossible to ignore the glaring issues with Pokémon's new mobile trading card game.
The Pocket Tactics team loves finding indie gems for Switch and mobile, and We. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe is our latest find from Digital Dragons 2023.
We sat down with Mighty Bear Games CEO Simon Davis to quiz him on his long history in the mobile gaming industry and what the future holds.
Forced change is filling our pockets with just enough currency to do nothing with, and it’s nowhere more prevalent than mobile game microtransactions Collaborative article between Connor Christie and Daz Skubich
In over 25 years of the franchise, Pokémon games have come a long way since the original Game Boy editions, but their growth has left some key players behind
The mini pill might have helped with dysphoria, but dealing with doctors was a very gendered experience, writes Daz Skubich
A Manchester transgender student has been forced to crowdfund thousands of pounds after waiting three years for a gender clinic appointment.
Daz Skubich explores why young trans folx are finding a sense of peace during lockdown BY DAZ SKUBICH
How can Western fans of Japanese alt-fashion help keep Harajuku brands alive?
The holidays can be a difficult time for the queer community, especially when spent with family. Daz Skubich explores the joys of spending Christmas with friends, and making new traditions.
Reviews
In our Life is Strange: Double Exposure Switch review, we join the familiar Max Caulfield and wonder, is this really the girl we once knew?
In our Doogee S200 review, we take a look at the newest handset from the world-renowned rugged phone brand and see how it holds up.
Our Super Mario Party Jamboree review takes you on a tour of the Party Plaza, showing just how good Mario Party on the Switch has become.
Sky: Children of the Light's Season of Moomin has filled our hearts with love, introducing us to Tove Jansson's iconic characters through a fresh lens.
In our Caravan SandWitch review, we join Sauge on her journey across Cigalo's desert to find her sister and experience true community again.
We gave Fabledom a go on the Nintendo Switch to see how Grenaa Games' city builder fares on the portable console, and the results are mixed.
In our Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku review, Miku megafan Daz takes this exercise rhythm game for a spin to see if the collab is worth it.
We got the chance to preview Once Upon A Galaxy, the new autochess-style fairytale CCG from ex-Hearthstone and Magic The Gathering devs.
In our Magical Delicacy review, we journey to Grat with Flora the witch to see how the new magical cooking game fares on the Switch.
In our Elrentaros Wanderings review, we take a look at this unique JRPG split between fantasy and reality, and see if it's worth the hype.
In our Honor of Kings review, we finally get to experience the good and the bad of one of the leading mobile MOBAs in the world for ourselves.
In our Pine Hearts review, we follow Tyke on his journey to revisit his childhood and grieve his lost father, making new friends and memories along the way.
In our Biomutant Switch review, we see how well Experiment 101's 2021 ARPG translates to the hybrid console. Spoiler alert: it's not pretty.
In our Solo Leveling: Arise review, we join Sung Jinwoo on his Hunter reawakening through Netmarble's latest dungeon-crawling live-service action game.
We revisited the Sparkle Theater in its entirety for our Princess Peach: Showtime! Review, seeing what the power of sparkle and self-belief can really do.
In Mediterranea Inferno, we tag along with the Sun Guys on their hedonistic summer vacation, uncovering the aftermath of shared trauma, grief, and resentment.
In our Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story review, we travel through the portal to Bandle City to take a shy knitter on the adventure of a lifetime.
Now that the final wave of DLC has landed, our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Booster Course review sees how well the kart racer has stood the test of time.
Read about our journey to save Vaugarde in our In Stars and Time Switch review and see how this game reinvents the time loop genre for all kinds of RPG fans.
In our Fashion Dreamer review, we take a look at how the Switch's entry into the Style Savvy series measures up to its predecessors, as well as what's changed.
GameSir's newest Cyclone model, the T4, is a great addition to any Switch gamer's controller arsenal that also benefits from handy mobile device compatibility.
In our Mail Time Switch review we shrink ourselves down to visit Grumblewood Grove, become a Mail Scout, and deliver our verdict on this game.
In our Paleo Pines Switch review we give you a glimpse at life as a dino-ranching homesteader in the Veridian Valley, surrounded by farming and friends.
In our Silent Hope Switch review, we dive into the abyss of this action JRPG to find out what its mysterious story and seven unique protagonists have to offer.
In our Tecno POVA 5 Pro 5G Free Fire Special Edition review we try out this upgraded version of the Pova 5 series and see how it fares against the competition.
In our Norn9: Last Era review, we dive into this expansive fandisc covering the lives and loves of the Norn9 boys both before and after their journey together.
In our Ayaneo Air 1S review, we take a look at how this revamped indie underdog stands up to its competitors in the handheld PC market.
In our LeadJoy M1 iPhone controller review we're here to give you the inside scoop on this combination gamepad and cooling device that fits any iPhone.
In our Hello Kitty Island Adventure review we take a balloon ride down to a mysterious island resort alongside our group of Sanrio character friends.
In our Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg review, we explore a beautifully remastered version of the game that kicked off the beloved franchise.
In our Pikmin 1+2 review we revisit the seeds that sprouted into one of Nintendo's most loved franchises as they make the move onto the Switch.
In our Tecno POVA 5 Free Fire Special Edition review we take a look at how this Garena Free Fire tie-in phone stands up against its competitors.
In our Soulvars Switch review, we let you know what it's like to take on the role of a Soulbearer, using your 'deck' of Soulbits to protect civilians.
In our We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie review we revisit this remastered classic to see if it's still able to keep the fun rolling like it's 2005.
It's time to squad up in Supercell's new mobile game, Squad Busters, which unites fan-favorite characters in multiplayer gem-collecting action.
In our Dokapon Kingdom: Connect review we introduce you to one of the wackiest games from the Wii generation as it's reborn on the Switch.
In our Afterimage Switch review, we take you on a journey to the ruins of Engardin to explore its beautiful landscapes and mind-boggling history.
In our Pupperazzi Switch review we'll show you the basics of dogtography and spend endless hours taking pics of puppers in their natural habitats.
In our PowerWash Simulator Switch review, we reveal the myriad of reasons to sink hours of your time into this game and convince your friends to join you
In our Life is Strange 2 Switch review we join the Diaz brothers on their journey and see if the portable version packs the same punch as the original
In our Melatonin Switch review, we get whisked away to the land of nod to explore this new pastel, dream-themed rhythm game for the Switch
If you're looking for the perfect Christmas novel to curl up with over the festive period, look no further than critically acclaimed author Juno Dawson's latest release - Stay Another Day.
What does it mean to feel 'Loveless'? Daz Skubich finds out in Alice Oseman's fourth novel.
You may think you know everything there is to know about gay slang, but there's a secret language from the past that's a mystery to many. Daz Skubich reads 'Fabulosa!' to learn more about Polari.
"After three years in the army and seven years in prison, the real Chelsea Manning finally emerges in XY Chelsea" BY DAZ SKUBICH
Guides
Meet Wuthering Waves' Encore and her two sheep buddies, Cloudy and Cosmos. Our build guide features her skills, stats, and her best echoes and weapons.
Honkai Star Rail's Firefly is poised and ready to light up our battlefields, so here's her best build, light cones, relics, and more.
Wuthering Waves' Lingyang is an adorable lion dancer and five-star glacio unit, and in this guide, we uncover his best weapons, echoes, and how to ascend him.
Our list of the best Hello Kitty games takes you on a whimsical journey through the various magical adventures of Sanrio's beloved mascot and her best friends.
Honkai Star Rail's Ruan Mei perfectly balances beauty, brains, and brawn - if you follow our best build including light cones, relics, and more.
Meet Zenless Zone Zero's Lycaon, a smart and loyal wolf butler who's not afraid to get his paws dirty (literally), in our guide to who he is and his best build.
Genshin Impact's Kirara is an adorable feline delivery girl with the power of dendro. Our guide shows you her best build, weapons, artifacts, and more.
With our Project Sekai download guide, you can find out how to get the game on your platform of choice, whether that’s iOS, Android, PC, or all of the above
Prepare your tapping fingers, we’re taking a look at the Project Sekai events schedule! Expect heartwarming stories, new cards, and free stuff
Ever wondered just how many Project Sekai cards there are? Well, here’s your one stop shop for all the cards currently available on the EN server
All the major Project Sekai characters listed for you in one convenient place. Hopefully we can help you decide who you want to come home
The current Overwatch 2 meta is beholden to the 5v5 format, so here's our tips and tricks to succeed in the latest iteration of Blizzard's hero shooter
If you're looking for a breakdown of the Overwatch 2 Junker Queen abilities then here's everything you need to know about the Australian tank hero
Our top two picks for the best Overwatch 2 hero for each role, including DPS, Tank, Support, and extra picks for Brawler and Aerial Ace
Misc. news
Sky's Moomin collaboration season is the big announcement from SkyFest 2024, the social MMO's first simultaneous in-person and online event.
The Day of the Devs 2024 Summer Game Fest showcase brings us the very best in indie gaming for the rest of the year and into 2025.
Nintendo's 2024 financial results were slightly overshadowed by the company's other massive announcement, but they're still worth sharing.
World of Tanks Blitz and TMNT may seem like an odd mix, but Operation Cowabunga combines the two franchises through wacky, colorful fun.
Even smoother gameplay is on the way as PUBG Mobile adds 120 FPS support in an upcoming patch, paving the way for more chicken dinners.
Kicking off MWC 2024, Honor's global launch event was a deep-dive into the brand's newest flagship model, foldable, and AI innovation.
We're revealing Hearthstone's Demon Hunter cards for the new rooting, tooting, sharp-shooting expansion, Showdown in the Badlands.
This Genshin Impact Kaveh hack has blown up online overnight, as unsuspecting players are losing critical items and characters from their game to co-op hackers.
Cyrus Davis won the Pokémon TCG North American International Championships Masters final using Inteleon VMAX, a deck nobody saw coming, including her.
The Pokémon TCG North American International Championships is set to be the biggest tournament of the 2023 season and fans are getting hyped.
Twenty games from around the world made the finals but only one can win the title of Best Indie Game at the Digital Dragons 2023 Indie Showcase gala.
Birdo’s gender has been in question for almost as long as she’s been a Mario character, so much that she’s become a transgender icon
Ten years after it started in 2010, the UK's largest celebration of traditional and modern Japanese culture, is returning to London today for three days.
Video essays
With transmisogynistic violence on the rise around the globe, Daz decided to tackle two of gaming’s most famous trans girls. How does a game that is explicitly about horrible people tackle relationships between trans people and their surroundings? This video explores the representation of trans women and transfeminine people in Atlus’s 2019 game Catherine: Full Body, as well as the 2011 original version.
We return with a splash to the video essay scene with this absolute GOLIATH covering settler colonialism and Indigeneity in video games, using Tuck and Yang's 'Decolonization is not a metaphor' as a framework. Thank you for your patience while we took a break from video essays, and we hope you enjoy this one!
Coming off the back of Cyberpunk 2077’s release, Daz explores the representation of sex worker characters in video games through the years, focusing on the last decade. From the mean streets of Los Santos, San Andreas, to the neon lights of Night City’s Japantown, join us on a journey to see how far sex worker representation has come, and how much further we still have to go.
In this Inqueery, Daz dives into the world of Overwatch to see just how good the game’s representation of queerness is. They also take a look at the wider community’s response to the characters, and to queer players in the public eye.
After a few edits, we're back to talk about how narrative structures often work to reinforce the structures of power and oppression which marginalise queer people. The trope of “player-sexual” NPCs, or characters that are bisexual due to a game mechanic, only serves to worsen these structures and limit the people we see in games. In this Inqueery, we’re going to cast a wide net and look at romance as a queer person in videogames.
In this latest addition to the Game Assist Explores series, Daz takes us on a deep dive into one of the most well known NSFW dating sims on the market: HuniePop. Be prepared for a wild ride as they uncover the deep-rooted racism and misogyny hidden behind cheap jokes and colourful puzzles.
In their first video for Game Assist, Daz investigates Nintendo's rocky relationship with LGBTQ+ representation in its many games, from Animal Crossing to Tomodachi Life.