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Giovanni Colantonio

Giovanni Colantonio

Senior Gaming Editor

As Digital Trends' Senior Gaming Editor, Giovanni Colantonio oversees all things video games at Digital Trends. As a veteran of the industry who first began writing about games professionally as a teenager, Giovanni brings a wealth of knowledge and historical context to Digital Trends' gaming coverage. He brings that expertise to everything he writes, from interview features to reviews. His specialty is criticism and he's committed to raising the bar for video game reviews. Just read his ambitious UFO 50 review as proof!

Giovanni majored in Film and Photography at Ithaca College, and that skill set had intersected with his games writing through his career. He previously worked as a Segment Producer on Polygon's daily gaming show, Speedrun, and has contributed video content for sites like Prima Games and Hard Drive. He's always willing to experiment with new media, whether that be via podcasts or creating videos for Digital Trends' YouTube channel. He has previously written for Inverse, Fanbyte, The Inventory, and more. He began working with Digital Trends in 2019 as a Destiny 2 guides contributor before moving into his current role as Senior Editor.

His love of gaming dates back decades. Giovanni grew up in Massachusetts with his mother's hand-me-down Atari 2600. He was hooked from that point on, spending his childhood obsessively playing Sega Genesis or Super Smash Bros. Melee with his friends. He carried that passion into college, where he hosted and produced Ithaca College's own studio format video game news show. Since then, he has been committed to giving back to the video game industry that raised him by providing honest criticism, sharp analysis, and thorough coverage.

Giovanni is currently based in Brooklyn, New York where he works alongside his cat, Mirah. On weekends, you can find him birdwatching in local parks or watching professional wrestling, his second love behind gaming.

A shattered screen shows an emergency warning in Mouthwashing.

Some of 2024’s best games were only as long as movies

2024 was filled with enormous video games, but more compact projects like Arctic Eggs and Mouthwashing proved the power of a short game.
A cat sits in a room full of corn in Catly.

New Catly trailer shows what the controversial game actually looks like

After stirring controversy with its confusing Game Awards reveal, Catly now has a gameplay trailer that shows what it actually looks like.
Two astronauts frolic as bugs fly overhead in Revenge of the Savage Planet.

Revenge of the Savage Planet spins Google Stadia trauma into comedy gold

The studio now known as Raccoon Logic was bought and then spit out by Google, but now it's getting the last laugh with Revenge of the Savage Planet.
A Meta render gives you an idea of what you'll experience in VR with a Quest 3S.

If you didn’t become a VR gamer in 2024, you probably never will

The last 12 months proved that cheaper headsets and better games still might not be enough to launch VR into the mainstream.
A cat sleeps in Catly.

Catly does not use generative AI or contain NFTs, devs say

After stirring up controversy at The Game Awards, Catly's devs now say that its teaser trailer does not use AI and that the project is not a blockchain game.
A disembodied hand walks through a street in Starstruck: Hands of Time.

You need to add these oddball 2024 hidden gems to your backlog

From Judero to Mouthwashing, these instant classics were some of 2024's best games.
A soldier shooting in Splitgate 2.

Splitgate 2 is going cross-gen, and that’s good news for PC players

Splitgate 2 won't be ditching PS4 and Xbox One players, and that decision was designed to optimize PC performance.
game awards 2024 wrap up the changers speech

The Game Awards finally figured out its formula

After a rough show in 2023 defined by double standards, The Game Awards finally has a grip on how to make its mishmash format work.
Two swordsmen clash blades in Crimson Desert.

Crimson Desert mixes fantasy action with pro wrestling, and it rules

We took down three of Crimson Desert’s bosses, giving us a look at the action game’s incredibly deep combat.
Aerith prays in FInal Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth creators love that you’re debating its ending

We caught up with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi and producer Yoshinori Kitase to reflect on the RPG's origins and polarizing ending.
Teens and a giraffe pose for a school photo in To a T.

Katamari Damacy’s creator just wanted to make a ‘normal game’ with To a T

Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi set out to make a "normal game." Instead, he created To a T.
Concept art for Den of Wolves

Den of Wolves is a game about assassinating corporate executives

Developer 10 Chambers just revealed more details on its shooter Den of Wolves, and its corporate assassination story is eerily relevant
A zombie leaps towards a player in Dying Light: The Beast.

Dying Light: The Beast is smaller, scarier, and more sustainable

Dying Light: The Beast just got a terrifying new trailer, and we have even more details on its compact horror design.
Zoe and Mio stand in front of a glowing object in Split Fiction.

I played It Takes Two’s follow-up, Split Fiction, with Josef Fares

The next co-op game from It Takes Two developer Hazelight is Split Fiction, and we played it with Josef Fares.
A cat stares ahead with galaxies reflecting in its eyes in Catly.

Catly promises a photorealistic cat game, but its tech is a mystery

Catly promises to deliver a photorealistic cat game, but its first trailer raises questions about the tech powering it.
Shadow Labyrinth.

Shadow Labyrinth is Pac-Man’s shocking take on Hollow Knight

A new Pac-Man game is coming, and it's unlike anything you're expecting. Say hello to Shadow Labyrinth.
Two players in a chase in Thick as Thieves.

Thick as Thieves reimagines Thief as a multiplayer immersive sim

We spoke with gaming legend Warren Spector and the team at Otherside about their surprising multiplayer Thief spiritual successor, Thick as Thieves.
Cloud and Aerith dancing in a play in Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth.

Game Awards 2024: the case for and against every Game of the Year nominee

What will win Game of the Year at this year's Game Awards? For the first time, every single nominee has a chance at gold.
Best Switch Games of 2024

The best Nintendo Switch games of 2024: Zelda, Mario Party, and more

If 2024 was the Nintendo Switch's last full year, it went out in a memorably eclectic fashion.
A creature swims down a river in Naiad.

Try this beautiful new game that just surprise-launched ahead of The Game Awards

The Game Awards season just kicked off with the surprise release of Naiad, a minimalist adventure game that's worth checking out.
A character poses in a town in Toem 2.

The Game Awards’ world premiere reveals just started two days early

In collaboration with The Game Awards, Wholesome Games just showcased over 20 upcoming titles, including a few surprise releases.
Game of the Year: Astro Bot

How Astro Bot charmed its way to becoming our Game of the Year

Astro Bot is Digital Trends' 2024 game of the year, but that decision came with a lot of soul searching.
Best Indie Games of 2024

Our favorite indies of 2024: 10 must-play games you shouldn’t miss

From Animal Well to Balatro, these indies made 2024 a fantastic year for original games.
Top 10 Games of 2024

The 10 best video games of 2024

It's been another year full of incredible video games, even if it didn't seem like it at a surface glance. These are our favorite games of 2024.
Indiana Jones standing in a forest with a whip.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: Nazi punching never felt so good

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle delivers plenty of Nazi-punching catharsis, but brainy exploration is its real superpower.
Nor stands on a statue in Monument Valley 3.

If Monument Valley 3 can’t get eyes on Netflix Games, what can?

Monument Valley 3 is another lovely entry in one of mobile's most defining series, and another game that highlights the struggle of Netflix's gaming ambitions.
A man wears a pair of Xreal One glasses.

I finally tried some XR glasses that made be a believer

The Xreal One is taking a big swing at the Apple Vision Pro with significantly improved latency thanks to a first-of-its-kind chip.
A trainer throws hooks in Fitness Boxing 3.

The Nintendo Switch’s new fitness game punched me into shape

Do not take Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer lightly unless you want to end up in a world of aches.
The PlayStation VR2 sits on a table next to Sense controllers.

Meta Quest 3S or PSVR2? Which headset to buy during Cyber Week

The PlayStation VR2 got a massive price cut for Cyber Week, but you might still want to spring for a Meta Quest 3S.
A furnace golem looms in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

This is the Game of the Year nominee you should buy during Cyber Week

Almost all of the Game Awards' Game of the Year nominees are on sale for Cyber Week, but one deal beats them all.
Anton holds his head and screams in AntonBlast.

AntonBlast is a Wario Land tribute cranked up to 11

AntonBlast pays tribute to Wario Land in the loudest and proudest way possible.
The heroes of Dragon Age: The Veilguard stand against a dreary landscape.

I thought I hated Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Now I love it

Dragon Age: The Veilguard may be remembered as a divisive RPG, but it told one of 2024's most vital and misunderstood stories.
A Virtuoso Max headset sits on a stand on a desk.

My go-to gaming headset is on sale for Cyber Monday, and it’s worth it now

Corsair's Virtuoso Max wireless headset launched with a few quirks, but this Cyber Monday discount makes them worth buying now.
Nikki looks out at an open world in Infinity Nikki.

Infinity Nikki review: stylish open-world adventure is a dream come true

Infinity Nikki combines Breath of the Wild, Mario Odyssey, and Genshin Impact into one incredibly delightful open-world adventure that's destined for success.