Charting the dungeons of every galaxy.
Long-form RPG reviews, roguelike build maths and tabletop lore, written from a Fitzroy attic by players who log the hours before we log the score.
Coverage cut into clear constellations.
Every beat has a dedicated editor and a publishing rhythm you can set your watch to. Memberships from AUD $6/month keep the observatory ad-free.
01 Long-form RPG reviews
Minimum 25 hours before we score. Each review ships with a spoiler-gated deep dive, an accessibility rundown and a "worth the AUD $99 launch price?" verdict. New drops every Tuesday.
02 Roguelike build maths
Spreadsheet-backed breakdowns of scaling, seed RNG and meta-progression for the run-based games we can't put down. Includes downloadable damage calculators for Hades II, Balatro and more.
03 Tabletop & lore archives
Campaign diaries, homebrew one-shots and worldbuilding essays for D&D 5e and indie systems. We host a free monthly play-test night at our Gertrude Street studio, first Thursday, 6:30pm.
04 Indie spotlight interviews
We hunt down Australian and Aotearoa studios before their Steam pages blow up. Expect candid dev diaries, wishlisting guides and demo verdicts, published the fortnight ahead of every launch.
Remaster diaries: drag to compare.
We revisit the classics getting the deep-space treatment and put the original render beside the remaster. Slide the handle to judge for yourself.
The crew that reads before they raid.
"Their Baldur's Gate 3 companion guide saved my Honour Mode run. No other blog bothered to chart the reaction timings this carefully."
"I subscribed for the roguelike maths and stayed for the indie interviews. Found three of my favourite 2024 games here months before launch."
"The monthly play-test night on Gertrude Street is the friendliest tabletop room in Melbourne. My homebrew one-shot got real, kind feedback."
"Reviews that actually wait 25 hours before scoring. I trust their verdicts more than any launch-day site, and the accessibility notes are gold."
"AUD $6 a month for an ad-free feed and downloadable damage calculators is a steal. The Balatro spreadsheet alone was worth it."
"The remaster comparison sliders settle every 'was it really that ugly?' argument in our Discord. Beautifully done, genuinely useful."
Frequently asked, honestly answered.
How do you score your reviews?
We use a plain 0–10 scale with no half-point inflation, and we never score a game before logging at least 25 hours. Each verdict lists exactly what we tested, on what hardware, and whether we'd pay full launch price.
What does membership cost and include?
Membership is AUD $6 per month or AUD $60 per year and removes all ads from the site. Members also get our downloadable damage calculators, early access to reviews, and priority seats at the monthly play-test night.
Can I pitch my indie game for coverage?
Absolutely, and we especially welcome Australian and Aotearoa studios. Email us a build or demo key with a short pitch and we'll reply within five business days. We disclose review copies on every piece.
Where and when is the tabletop night?
We host it at our studio on 68 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, on the first Thursday of every month from 6:30pm. It's free, beginner-friendly, and we supply dice and pre-generated characters. Just RSVP through the contact form.
Do you take advertising or sponsorships?
We run a small amount of clearly-labelled display advertising for non-members, but editorial and advertising are kept strictly separate. No sponsor has ever influenced a score, and paid content is always marked as such.
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Pitch a game, RSVP, or say hello.
Drop us a line and we'll get back within five business days. For play-test night, just mention the date you'd like to attend.