5 YouTube Channels for Video Game Reviews You Can Trust

With the wealth of information available about video games today, there's no reason to ever get burned by a video game purchase again. One of the best ways to find out whether a game is worth buying is by devouring video game reviews from various sources.

YouTube is the perfect place for video game reviews. So why not skip the mainstream gaming sites, which tend to hand out high scores for fun. Instead, take a look at these excellent YouTube channels with honest video game reviews you can trust.

Jose "Angry Joe" Vargas has made a name for himself as one of YouTube's top game reviewers. With over three million subscribers, it's not hard to see why. Joe's signature "Angry Reviews" take a deep look at new releases and let you know if they're worth playing.

They're quite extensive; 30-45 minute videos are the norm. Joe also includes skits related to the game, which adds a unique spin. While Joe indeed gets upset when talking about disappointing games, these are more than just rants for the sake of ranting. Just be aware of the strong language.

Anthem is yet another big-budget game that promised the world yet released to mediocre reviews. Angry Joe breaks down why BioWare's latest take on the loot shooter is a failure.

And if you like Joe's format but are interested in something a little shorter, he also publishes "Rapid Fire Reviews," which are quick looks at slightly less notable new releases.

Do you find Angry Joe's longform format too much to digest? Gameranx' "before you buy" reviews are much shorter and to the point. Most are 5-10 minutes long and drill down to the essentials of what you need to know about the title. Of course, you'll also see plenty of footage from the games so you can decide if they're for you.

Reviews from Gameranx don't provide a set score or recommendation whether or not to buy. So you can take the pros and cons that the video brings up and choose for yourself.

Are you interested in the newest game in acclaimed fighting series Dead or Alive? This video shows what Gameranx thinks of Dead or Alive 6.

When you subscribe, you'll find more than just reviews here. Gameranx regularly publishes lists and videos on various gaming topics, like this one looking at traits they'd love to see in a sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn.

ACG, or Angry Centaur Gaming, is a review channel that's quite honorable. The channel owner dislikes the super-short reviews published by some mainstream gaming sites, so his usually clock in somewhere around 20 minutes. Also, even if he receives a review code from a developer, he always buys a copy and gives it away to a supporter on Patreon.

He uses a rating system of Buy, Wait for sale, Rent, or Never touch. The channel also makes it a point to cover the essential aspects of a game, like the graphics, music, gameplay, and overall fun factor. It's a solid setup from someone who like to play games just like real gamers.

Devil May Cry 5 is one of the major titles to release in March 2019. Is it worth buying? Find out with this review.

Interested in something a little different? Then check out this review of racing title, Dirt Rally 2.0.

Skill Up is another channel that focuses on in-depth coverage of new games. Instead of breaking everything down into categories, its videos discuss the ins and outs of a title. This gives you a great idea of whether you'll enjoy a game---it's almost like talking to a friend about it.

As we've seen, 2019 is filled with major releases. Metro Exodus is the latest title in the Metro series and features some open-ended world design for the first time in the series.

Apex Legends is the latest wildly popular battle royale game. Since it's free you don't need to consider whether it's worth the money, but it's still fun to hear someone else's thoughts on it. Be sure to check out our Apex Legends tips to help secure victory.

Worth A Buy doesn't do anything particularly wild to stand out, but it's still a solid review channel nonetheless. Each video is around 10-15 minutes and offers thoughts all about the game without any particular structure.

If you like specific points in a review, you'll like the endings here. Each one lists the highlights and biggest issues, along with a score for the sound, immersion, fun, and other aspects. You'll then get a final recommendation on whether the game is worth buying or not.

Resident Evil is a classic franchise that's gotten the remake treatment recently. This review looks at the remaster of Resident Evil 2.

The Division 2 is another major release for early 2019. As it's a constantly evolving game, this one is a review in progress, but still lets you see what the game is like at this moment.

Gamers Need YouTube!

The fact is you don't have to rely on magazines or established websites for video game reviews anymore. These YouTube channels provide enjoyable reviews in different formats, and go much more in-depth than reviews on the mainstream gaming sites.

YouTube is also home to tons of one-off reviews, so be sure to search for any game you're interested in before buying it. Let someone else save you from spending money on a stinker.

With reviews often available before a game releases, YouTube is another reason why you should stop pre-ordering video games.

Image Credit: AndreyPopov/Depositphotos

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Ben is a Deputy Editor and the Onboarding Manager at MakeUseOf. He left his IT job to write full-time in 2016 and has never looked back. He's been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more as a professional writer for over seven years.

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