Review
Emberhold — 87/100
A generous open world that trusts you to get lost.
Independent game criticism · Sydney
More than a score.
Long-form reviews, indie spotlights, and tactical breakdowns written by players who actually finish the campaign. Fresh from Woolloomooloo.
Who we are
A small desk with strong opinions.
Warrior Fire Frontier started in 2018 as a group chat arguing about a soulslike patch. Today we're four editors covering PC and console from a shared studio on Bourke Street — no publisher payroll, no review embargoes we can't honour, no clickbait scores.
How we work
We finish the game first.
Every review is based on a completed playthrough — minimum 20 hours, or a full ending for narrative titles. We buy most copies ourselves, disclose every code, and revisit scores after major updates. Slow, but honest.
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From the frontier
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What we do
Coverage, the way we'd want to read it.
Completed-playthrough reviews
No first-impressions dressed up as verdicts. Every review ships only after we've reached credits or a defensible stopping point, with time played stated up top.
Indie spotlights
A weekly feature on a small-team release worth your weekend.
Tactical guides
Spoiler-tagged, no filler, written after we've actually beaten the boss.
The Frontier Newsletter
One email each Friday: what we played, what we shelved, and a single deal worth grabbing. No spam, one-click unsubscribe.
Good to know
Frequently asked
Everything about scores, codes, and pitching to us.
How do you score games?+
We use a 100-point scale, but the number always sits under a written verdict. A score reflects the game against its own ambitions, not against a genre leader. We also re-score titles that change substantially after launch patches.
Do you take review codes?+
Yes, and we disclose every one at the top of the article. Accepting a code never guarantees coverage or a favourable score. When timelines are tight, we'll state clearly how far into the game the review reaches.
Can I pitch a freelance piece?+
Absolutely. We pay AUD $0.40 per word for features and commission a handful each month. Send a two-line pitch and a link to past work through the contact form. We reply to every pitch within a week, even if it's a no.
Which platforms do you cover?+
PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, with a soft spot for anything on Steam Deck. We don't cover mobile-only titles unless there's a story worth telling. Our studio is open for reader visits by appointment on weekdays.
Say hello
Pitch, tip, or just chat.
Story tips and freelance pitches welcome. We read everything from the Woolloomooloo desk.
- Phone
- +61 2 9319 8774
- Studio
- 63 Bourke Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Mon–Fri, 9:00–17:30 AEST