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Josh Broadwell-Contributor

Josh Broadwell

Contributor Since August, 2022
Qualifications MA in communications (journalism concentration)
Expertise
Subnautica 2, Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2), Pokemon Pokopia
  • 561
    articles
  • 70
    News
  • 183
    Features
  • 13
    Lists
  • 275
    Guides
  • 16
    Reviews
  • 3
    Deals
  • 1
    Other
Polygon.com logo Profile

About Josh Broadwell

Josh is a critic, reporter, and guide writer who covers a broad range of topics, though he specializes in narrative-driven games. He's written for some of the biggest brands in publishing, including Rolling Stone, RogerEbert.com, NPR, and Wired, and he also freelances as a video game consultant.

What's a recent obsession?

I've fallen very deep down the rabbit hole of city builders and strategy games recently, and after spending hundreds of hours in the likes of Cities: Skylines and Anno: 1800, there's no sign I'll hit the bottom anytime soon

What's your origin story?

I stumbled into games journalism almost by accident in 2017, looking for ways to break into non-academic writing at the end of a history graduate program. My main job was still in teaching, though, where I tutored social studies and writing. Four years later, I started freelancing full-time.

Two book covers created for TR-49 in the style of Penguin Classics
Feature

Fake news and podcast drama inspired one of 2026's first great games

Tabitha smiling her worst smile in Scarlet Hollow
Scarlet Hollow

The future of RPGs lies in an unlikely place

Kliff looking sinister in Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert

13 accidental atrocities Crimson Desert's controls made me commit

Latest

A sandcastle on rose-colored sand in Sandcastle
Steam's best new game demo is so good I spent 5 hours shoveling sand
Impressions

When life gets you down, dig a hole

Musashi in Onimusha Way of the Sword
Onimusha: Way of the Sword reviews say Capcom has a fourth hit on its hands this year
Analysis

20 years later, Onimusha's still (mostly) got it

1
A completed, decorated Hippodrome in Anno 117
Anno 117's Hippodrome DLC is more fun than it has any right to be

It's just one building, Praetor. How much could it add?

Polygon - Stock Art - GTA 6 - Jason and Lucia 3
Keen-eared viewers have already identified the GTA 6 trailer music
News

Phil Collins and Depeche Mode? It's more likely than you think

GTA 6's logo superimposed on an image of Vice CIty
Every big reveal from the GTA 6 Netflix trailer
Feature

Rockstar's big Grand Theft Auto 6 preview finally reveals (almost) all

3
Hawks looking at the holo table in Star Wars Zero Company
Best base upgrades to get first in Star Wars Zero Company
Star Wars Zero Company

Give your squad the best advantages with these base enhancements

Kabbie punching a foe off a wall in Star Wars Zero Company
Best early class for Hawks in Star Wars Zero Company
Star Wars Zero Company

The life of a scoundrel ain't all it's cracked up to be

A clone trooper using a rocket launcher in Star Wars Zero Company
10 Star Wars Zero Company beginner's tips to make you the best merc in the galaxy
Star Wars Zero Company

The real action happens outside of battle

A Lego home in Lego Skylines
Cities: Skylines new replacement gives the city builder the Lego treatment
News

From the new studio behind Cities: Skylines 2

3
A character in Nodus Fall
Nodus Fall looks like HoYoverse smashed Monster Hunter and Elden Ring together
News

Not that that's a bad thing... I think

The cover art for Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter
Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave is getting some serious competition next month
FYI

The remake of Nihon Falcom's all-time classic launches in a packed month, but it's worth keeping an eye on

Skia, Lacrimosa, and Fadia in Neverness to Everness
All active Neverness to Everness codes list
Neverness to Everness

Free Annulith, progression materials, and more

1
Raz in Psychonauts 2
5 years ago, Double Fine boldly tried to reimagine the AAA machine
Opinion

But Xbox had different plans

Two SNES controllers over the console logo and text that reads Nintendo Classics
Celebrate the SNES's 35th birthday with the 5 weirdest Switch Online games
Polygon Lists

And most of them were pretty cool

Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online art with two people holding blue and red Joy-Cons
The Nintendo games everyone should play before they die
Polygon Lists

Some of the most pivotal games in Nintendo's modern history

1
Yoshi looking confused as a bullet bill speed towards him in Yoshi's Safari
Nintendo, I'm begging you to rescue these classics from oblivion
Polygon Lists

If you can save Virtual Boy, you can save these too

1
The Scions of the Seventh Dawn in FFXIV
I’ve been playing FFXIV for 7 years. The new Switch 2 version is my favorite way to play
Impressions

For me. It's a different story for hardcore players

6
An image from Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave. It shows the Divine Sovereign in regalia and raising a hand.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave's Switch 2 exclusivity actually makes a lot of sense
Analysis

For Nintendo and for Fire Emblem

6
The Bergson family resting at home in Children of Morta
Don't sleep on one of the best roguelike multiplayer games around
FYI

Family drama and over-the-top action galore

An Alfa Romeo flying high into the air over a bridge in Forza Horizon 6
How to perform air skills in Forza Horizon 6
Forza Horizon 6

And the best places to get some air, too

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