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Giovanni Colantonio

Giovanni Colantonio

Senior Gaming Editor
Author/Co-Author of 1848 articles

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.

Storm, Venom, and Nova fight enemies in Marvel Cosmic Invasion.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion has some surprising Marvel vs. Capcom DNA

We expected a reliable retro beat-em-up when we demoed Marvel Cosmic Invasion, but we were surprised to find some 2D fighting game DNA mixed in.
A Samsung executive stands in front of a GameBreaks app screen.

Exclusive: Samsung TVs are getting a free new app today featuring original games

Samsung has a new free gaming app called GameBreaks, and it's rolling out on select Smart TVs and monitors starting today with an original puzzle game in tow.
A conductor sends a train car forward in Battle Train.

If you need a new Nintendo Switch 2 game already, don’t miss Battle Train

If you're looking for a new Nintendo Switch 2 game with lots of replay potential, give Battle Train a try.
Jacob stands in front of a city in MindsEye.

MindsEye review: an unfinished review for an unfinished game

MindsEye wastes its potential as a throwback sci-fi shooter by launching in a sorry, unfinished state.
A car drives down a track in Fast Fusion.

Don’t sleep on the Nintendo Switch 2’s most underrated launch game

The Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been out in the world for a full week. In that time, I’ve completed Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, beaten every cup in Mario Kart World, and even dipped into some upgraded games like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. If you’re in the same boat, then the […]
Psycadelic iguanas surround a puzzle well in Lumines Arise.

I played Lumines Arise and now it’s my most anticipated game of the year with a bullet

After playing Lumines Arise at Summer Game Fest, we're convinced that the puzzle game could end up being one of 2025's finest.
A character stands in a church in Mio: Memories of Orbit.

I played 9 games at Tribeca Fest. They all need to be on your radar

This year's Tribeca Fest highlighted nine show stopping indie games. We tried all of them and walked away with a bigger Steam wish list.
Heroes fight a fire-breathing boss in Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is very much Bandai Namco’s Hades

Bandai Namco's Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree shakes up the Hades formula with its dual hero twist.
A man in a spacesuit holds a gun in Pragmata.

Pragmata is a game from a bygone era, and that era rules

Our first hands on demo of Pragmata revealed a puzzle-shooter hybrid that's unlike any big budget game we've played.
Mario and Peach racing in the foreground of a screenshot of Mario Kart World.

Mario Kart World review: Nintendo’s big Switch 2 debut delivers where it counts

Mario Kart World delivers where it counts, making up for its sparse open-world with airtight racing.
Heroes face down a boss with a bell in Code Vein 2.

Code Vein 2 features more weapons, a motorcycle, and even some time travel

We got new details on Code Vein 2, from its new emphasis on customization to its time travel twist.
Mario Kart World plays on a Nintendo Switch 2 screen.

Nintendo Switch 2 review: exactly the upgrade we needed, with a few catches

The Nintendo Switch 2 is an impressive handheld that's a big upgrade for Nintendo, even if battery life is a step down.
Kids stare down a giant bug in Grounded 2.

Grounded 2 exists for one reason: fans wanted to ride the bugs

We got more details on just how big Grounded 2 is in a hands-on session, as well as the one fan requested feature that pushed the team to make a sequel.
A person on an alien world in The Outer Worlds 2.

The Outer Worlds 2 already feels lightyears ahead of its predecessor

We went hands-on with The Outer Worlds 2 and discovered a heavily reworked sequel that addresses all of its predecessor's weaknesses.
A ninja faces off against an enemy in Ninja Gaiden 4.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is PlatinumGames at its best (and bloodiest)

We played a bloody slice of Ninja Gaiden 4, which finds developer PlatinumGames at the absolute top of its game.
Atom Eve and Invincible fight an opponent on the moon in Invincible Vs.

Invincible Vs is like Mortal Kombat mixed with Killer Instinct

We fought a few round sof Invincible Vs and learned much more about how the mix between Mortal Kombat and Killer Instinct works.
Two sisters stand on a mech in front of food in Dosa Divas.

The best games we played at Summer Game Fest 2025

We played tons of upcoming games at this year's Summer Game Fest, from Lumines Arise to Dying Light: The Beast. These were the best games we played.
A man aims a gun at his doppelganger in Directive 8020.

Directive 8020 is straight up a playable version of The Thing

We played Directive 8020 at Summer Game Fest and it's straight up a playable version of John Carpenter's The Thing.
Little critters fight a crab boss in Ratatan.

Ratatan successfully transforms an 18-year-old PSP classic into something new

Ratatan looks to revive the spirit of Patatapon, and it's already pulling that off based off our first demo with it.
Xbox Ally

The ROG Xbox Ally fixes the worst problem with Windows handhelds

We took the ROG Xbox Ally for a short test drive and discovered how it's fixing the worst problem with Windows-based gaming handhelds.
A man walks over a railway in Baby Steps.

If you only play one Steam Next Fest Demo, make sure it’s Baby Steps

Baby Steps is the ultimate walking simulator and we're already in love with its slapstick charm.
A character points a gun at a glowing door in There Are No Ghosts at the Grand.

The Xbox Showcase’s most surprising reveal is a spooky British home renovation musical

There Are No Ghosts At the Grand is a new game revealed during Xbox's 2025 Games Showcase, which mixes home renovation and horror into a British musical.
A ninja stands in front of a lightning strike in Ninja Gaiden 4.

Everything announced at Xbox Games Showcase 2025: Black Ops 7, Persona 4, and more

The Xbox Games Showcase returns today to show off what's coming to the console. Follow along with our live recap of the show.
A rat sits in a living room in Squeakross: Home Squeak Home.

I have finally found the perfect game, and it is Animal Crossing meets picross

For over a decade, I have been on a quest: to find the perfect picross game. “How hard can that be?” you may ask. After all, picross is a fairly straightforward puzzle format. You fill in squares on a grid using clues in each column and grid and wind up creating a sort of paint […]
Lego characters race on unicycles in Lego Party.

Lego Party’s demo was so nice, I played it twice

We played a round of Lego Party at Summer Game Fest and had enough fun that we went in for seconds.
Sonic flies through the air in Sonic Racing: Crossworlds.

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds has one big advantage over Mario Kart World

We played more Sonic Racing: Crossworlds at Summer Game Fest and walked away wishing Mario Kart World had some of its best features.
A ninja jumps over enemies in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance.

I’m loving how fast and furious Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance may sound like a lot of other retro revivals on paper, but it stands out thanks to its incredible sense of speed.
A giant zombie getting shot with a grenade in Dying Light: The Beast.

Dying Light: The Beast turned me into a bloodthirsty animal

We played Dying Light: The Beast at Summer Game Fest and walked away hungry for more of its brutal action.
James Bond smirks in 007: First Light.

To make 007: First Light, Hitman’s creators had to get uncomfortable

Io Interactive's Christian Elverdam told us more about 007: First Light and where it connects and diverts from Hitman.
Luca slashes upwards in Possesor(s).

Possessor(s) has all the makings of a strong Metroidvania already

We went inside Possessor(s), a stylish new Metroidvania from the studio behind Hyper Light Drifter.
Deadpool appears against a yellow background in art for Deadpool VR.

Marvel’s Deadpool VR is just as bloody as you’d expect

Marvel's Deadpool VR was just revealed at Summer Game Fest and we've already given the bloody action game a try.
Enzo aiming a rifle in Mafia: The Old Country.

Everything announced at Summer Game Fest 2025: Resident Evil Requiem, Code Vein 2, and more

Summer is starting right with a two-hour long edition of Summer Game Fest. Follow along with us live as we chronicle every announcement.
Characters walk on a Joy-con in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour review: the perfect pack-in that could have been

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is both a surprisingly fun piece of edutainment and an egregious advertisement for console add-ons.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom runs on a Switch 2 screen.

PSA: Don’t fall for Nintendo Switch 2 horror story hoaxes this weekend

The Nintendo Switch 2 is out so be wary: You're bound to see a lot of hoax videos of the console for the next few days.