Giovanni Colantonio

Former Senior Gaming Editor

As a veteran of the industry who first began writing about games professionally as a teenager, Giovanni brings a wealth of knowledge and historical context gaming coverage. He brings that expertise to everything he writes, from interview features to reviews. His specialty is criticism and he's committed to raising the bar for video game reviews. Just read his ambitious UFO 50 review as proof! Giovanni majored in Film and Photography at Ithaca College, and that skill set had intersected with his games writing through his career. He previously worked as a Segment Producer on Polygon's daily gaming show, Speedrun, and has contributed video content for sites like Prima Games and Hard Drive. He's always willing to experiment with new media, whether that be via podcasts or creating videos for Digital Trends' YouTube channel. He has previously written for Inverse, Fanbyte, The Inventory, and more. He began working with Digital Trends in 2019 as a Destiny 2 guides contributor before moving into his current role as Senior Editor. His love of gaming dates back decades. Giovanni grew up in Massachusetts with his mother's hand-me-down Atari 2600. He was hooked from that point on, spending his childhood obsessively playing Sega Genesis or Super Smash Bros. Melee with his friends. He carried that passion into college, where he hosted and produced Ithaca College's own studio format video game news show. Since then, he has been committed to giving back to the video game industry that raised him by providing honest criticism, sharp analysis, and thorough coverage. Giovanni is currently based in Brooklyn, New York where he works alongside his cat, Mirah. On weekends, you can find him birdwatching in local parks or watching professional wrestling, his second love behind gaming.

What I learned about reviewing games between Death Stranding 1 and 2

In the six years between reviewing Death Stranding and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, my relationship with games has completely changed.

Features         July 3

Donkey Kong Bananza is the second coming of Super Mario Odyssey

Our final Donkey Kong Bananza demo gave us a two hour tour of a chaotic platformer clearly built from Super Mario Odyssey's DNA.

Features         July 1

Our favorite video games of 2025 so far: Clair Obscur, Blue Prince, and more

From Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to Despelote, these are our favorite games from the first half of 2025.

Features         June 30

Can we all just be normal about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for a second?

Over-the-top conversations around what Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 represents for the gaming landscape are becoming a tedious distraction.

Features         June 27

Get a close look at Death Stranding 2’s special edition DualSense

If you want to go all in on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, you can get a snazzy new DualSense controller themed around the sequel.

News         June 24

Xbox finally gets its own VR headset, sort of

Xbox and Meta have teamed up for a limited edition Meta Quest 3S that comes bundled with a lot of VR gaming essentials.

News         June 24

Shadow Labyrinth is more faithful to Pac-Man history than you think

We dove deeper into Shadow Labyrinth's odd world and found some deep ties to Pac-Man history under its darkness.

Features         June 23

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: gripping sequel weighs the cost of connection

Rather than reinventing its formula, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach iterates on its predecessor in a gripping sequel about the cost of mass connection.

Reviews         June 23

In a sea of giant games, Rematch’s simplicity is a gift

Rematch, the new multiplayer soccer game from the developers of Sifu, proves that elegant design can carry a simply game to victory.

Features         June 22

FBC: Firebreak review: co-op Control spinoff is a a lot of work for little payoff

FBC: Firebreak has potential, but it gates too much of it behind shallow missions and a repetitive grind.

Reviews         June 20

Marvel Cosmic Invasion has some surprising Marvel vs. Capcom DNA

We expected a reliable retro beat-em-up when we demoed Marvel Cosmic Invasion, but we were surprised to find some 2D fighting game DNA mixed in.

Features         June 18

Exclusive: Samsung TVs are getting a free new app today featuring original games

Samsung has a new free gaming app called GameBreaks, and it's rolling out on select Smart TVs and monitors starting today with an original puzzle game in tow.

News         June 18

If you need a new Nintendo Switch 2 game already, don’t miss Battle Train

If you're looking for a new Nintendo Switch 2 game with lots of replay potential, give Battle Train a try.

Features         June 17

MindsEye review: an unfinished review for an unfinished game

MindsEye wastes its potential as a throwback sci-fi shooter by launching in a sorry, unfinished state.

Reviews         June 16

Don’t sleep on the Nintendo Switch 2’s most underrated launch game

The Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been out in the world for a full week. In that time, I’ve completed Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, beaten every cup in Mario Kart World, and even dipped into some upgraded games like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. If you’re in the same boat, then the […]

Features         June 14

I played Lumines Arise and now it’s my most anticipated game of the year with a bullet

After playing Lumines Arise at Summer Game Fest, we're convinced that the puzzle game could end up being one of 2025's finest.

Features         June 13

I played 9 games at Tribeca Fest. They all need to be on your radar

This year's Tribeca Fest highlighted nine show stopping indie games. We tried all of them and walked away with a bigger Steam wish list.

Features         June 13

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is very much Bandai Namco’s Hades

Bandai Namco's Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree shakes up the Hades formula with its dual hero twist.

Features         June 12

Pragmata is a game from a bygone era, and that era rules

Our first hands on demo of Pragmata revealed a puzzle-shooter hybrid that's unlike any big budget game we've played.

Features         June 11

Mario Kart World review: Nintendo’s big Switch 2 debut delivers where it counts

Mario Kart World delivers where it counts, making up for its sparse open-world with airtight racing.

Reviews         June 11

Code Vein 2 features more weapons, a motorcycle, and even some time travel

We got new details on Code Vein 2, from its new emphasis on customization to its time travel twist.

Features         June 11

Nintendo Switch 2 review: exactly the upgrade we needed, with a few catches

The Nintendo Switch 2 is an impressive handheld that's a big upgrade for Nintendo, even if battery life is a step down.

Reviews         June 10

Invincible Vs is like Mortal Kombat mixed with Killer Instinct

We fought a few round sof Invincible Vs and learned much more about how the mix between Mortal Kombat and Killer Instinct works.

Features         June 10

Grounded 2 exists for one reason: fans wanted to ride the bugs

We got more details on just how big Grounded 2 is in a hands-on session, as well as the one fan requested feature that pushed the team to make a sequel.

Features         June 10

Ninja Gaiden 4 is PlatinumGames at its best (and bloodiest)

We played a bloody slice of Ninja Gaiden 4, which finds developer PlatinumGames at the absolute top of its game.

Features         June 10

The Outer Worlds 2 already feels lightyears ahead of its predecessor

We went hands-on with The Outer Worlds 2 and discovered a heavily reworked sequel that addresses all of its predecessor's weaknesses.

Features         June 10

The best games we played at Summer Game Fest 2025

We played tons of upcoming games at this year's Summer Game Fest, from Lumines Arise to Dying Light: The Beast. These were the best games we played.

Features         June 10

Directive 8020 is straight up a playable version of The Thing

We played Directive 8020 at Summer Game Fest and it's straight up a playable version of John Carpenter's The Thing.

Features         June 9

Ratatan successfully transforms an 18-year-old PSP classic into something new

Ratatan looks to revive the spirit of Patatapon, and it's already pulling that off based off our first demo with it.

Features         June 9

The ROG Xbox Ally fixes the worst problem with Windows handhelds

We took the ROG Xbox Ally for a short test drive and discovered how it's fixing the worst problem with Windows-based gaming handhelds.

Features         June 9

If you only play one Steam Next Fest Demo, make sure it’s Baby Steps

Baby Steps is the ultimate walking simulator and we're already in love with its slapstick charm.

Features         June 8

The Xbox Showcase’s most surprising reveal is a spooky British home renovation musical

There Are No Ghosts At the Grand is a new game revealed during Xbox's 2025 Games Showcase, which mixes home renovation and horror into a British musical.

News         June 8

Everything announced at Xbox Games Showcase 2025: Black Ops 7, Persona 4, and more

The Xbox Games Showcase returns today to show off what's coming to the console. Follow along with our live recap of the show.

News         June 8