7 Excellent Gaming Resources for New Zealand Players

The gaming industry is booming in New Zealand. In fact, it has one of the highest rates of video game play in the world, with around 67% of Kiwis regularly playing video games. Globally, the industry has matured, gaining respect from traditional media outlets as a pillar of the arts and being supported by specialist gaming media. 

There are, of course, plenty of resources for gamers to use to get information on their favourite pastime, but it’s not always clear where to get the best coverage, especially for local markets like New Zealand. From traditional media outlets with great gaming coverage to ‘how-to’ gaming YouTubers to casino resource platforms with an NZ focus, we highlight seven of your best bets below: 

1. IGN 

Type: Global site + YouTube channel

IGN is still one of the default stops for gaming news, reviews and everything else impacting the global gaming industry. The YouTube channel pushes out daily videos to its following of almost 20 million followers. It’s a behemoth, and while it does not deal with New Zealand specifically, it’s one of the best options for NZ gamers to keep their fingers on the pulse of the global games industry. 

2. GameSpot 

Type: Global site + YouTube channel

GameSpot offers long-form written reviews, big features and constant news updates, plus an active YouTube channel covering reviews, previews and best games lists. There are a lot of similarities to what is offered by IGN, but GameSpot has its own spin and style, and it is a preferred alternative for many.  

3. Metacritic & OpenCritic 

Type: Review aggregators

Metacritic and OpenCritic pull review scores from dozens of outlets and average them, so Kiwi players can see at a glance whether a new release is worth paying for. Metacritic is the older name that lists critic and user scores, while OpenCritic focuses purely on games and highlights top-critic averages. Not everyone loves user aggregate sites, but you can at least get an idea of why a game has been well-received at a glance. 

4. GamesNight.nz 

Type: New Zealand site + YouTube channel

GamesNight is a NZ-based outlet that does news, reviews and guides, with a special focus on the New Zealand games industry and global indies. They also track NZ sales charts and regularly spotlight local studios and projects like Doomsday Diner or Apothecurse. It’s arguably the best platform for finding out about the NZ gaming industry. 

5. Casino.com NZ 

Type: New Zealand site + global sister sites + YouTube 

The online casino gaming sector is undergoing a significant transformation, especially due to the Online Casino Gambling Bill, which is currently passing through Parliament. In a shifting landscape, Casino.com NZ is your best source for casino news, reviews and promotions. It will keep you abreast of the changes coming to the sector with remote and licenses, as well as the best platforms and games for Kiwi players. There’s a lot of information on the best casino bonus offers, too. The YouTube channel covers trends and news in the global online casino sector. 

6. NZ Herald & Otago Daily Times 

Type: New Zealand news sites with gaming sections

Switching it up here by looking at some legacy media. The NZ Herald has a dedicated video games topic page online that covers global releases and industry stories, often with an NZ angle. It’s not going to really dig deep into the underbelly of the gaming sector, but it’s useful all the same. Similarly, The Otago Daily Times runs a regular Gaming section with reviews and features. 

7. Viva La Dirt League 

Type: New Zealand YouTube channel

Viva La Dirt League is a New Zealand sketch-comedy group whose entire brand is gaming humour. So, what you are looking at is skits about RPG tropes, battle royale nonsense, ‘NPC logic’, and so on. They’re NZ-based, but their audience is global, with millions of subscribers and billions of views. It’s probably for committed gamers only, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you are a passionate gamer.