5. The Escapist
URL:escapistmagazine.comPlatform: Multi
Focus: Regular segments that explore various aspects of gaming culture.
Best Feature: Ben Croshaws infamous Zero Punctuation video reviews. The Escapist online magazine is one of the top providers of well-written, stimulating editorials, and famous for its humorous outlook on video game culture. The site has also played host to some of the most well-known gaming personalities, including Tom Chick and Jim Sterling. By far the most infamous feature of The Escapist though, is Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw's Zero Punctuation video review series. Reportedly quadrupling the site's traffic upon its implementation, Zero Punctuation takes a droll look at a current game release, usually focusing heavily on its negative aspects. More like comedy pieces than serious reviews, Yahtzee's videos have nonetheless proven influential, and are frequently acknowledged by developers and publishers. More than just the "Zero Punctuation website", The Escapist is a brilliant source of excellent writing and hilarious videos.