Game Informer (GI) is an American monthly video game magazine that includes articles, news, strategy guides, and reviews about video games and game consoles. It began in August 1991 as a newsletter created by the video game store FuncoLand. In 2000, the store GameStop bought FuncoLand, and this helped increase the magazine's popularity through in-store promotions. By June 2017, it was the fifth most popular magazine based on the number of copies distributed.

In August 2024, GameStop ended the publication of Game Informer after 33 years and 368 issues. The website was also closed, and its digital archive was removed. In March 2025, Gunzilla Games acquired Game Informer and started it as a separate business. The relaunch included reopening the website, restoring the digital archive, and rehiring all employees who had been let go. In June 2025, the print magazine was published again.

History

Game Informer began in August 1991. David R. Pomijie, owner of FuncoLand, created the magazine to use advertising money more effectively. Elizabeth Olson was the first editor-in-chief, with Andy McNamara as her assistant. In 1993, Olson and McNamara became coeditors-in-chief. After issue sixteen, McNamara became the sole editor-in-chief. The magazine was published every two months until November 1994, when it started being released monthly.

In 2000, Barnes & Noble bought several companies, leading to the creation of GameStop Corp. That year, FuncoLand and Game Informer were purchased by GameStop. In 2001, Cathy Preston became the magazine’s publisher. She had worked on the production team since 2000. Under her leadership, Game Informer became part of GameStop’s Power Up Rewards customer loyalty program. In 2019, McNamara was still the editor-in-chief. In 2020, Preston retired after 20 years. Mary Lugones took over as publisher.

In 2010, Game Informer became the fifth-largest magazine in the U.S., selling 5 million copies. It ranked above magazines like Time, Sports Illustrated, and Playboy. By 2011, it was the third-largest, with over 8 million copies sold. By 2014, it dropped to fourth place with 6.9 million copies sold. In 2017, it remained in fourth place with over 7 million copies sold. The magazine’s financial success came from its relationships with game publishers, its ties to GameStop, and limited competition from other gaming magazines.

In August 2019, GameStop cut about half of Game Informer’s staff as part of a larger job reduction to improve finances. Some employees had worked at the magazine for over 10 years, and some were on vacation during the layoffs. Other staff members left voluntarily, including video editor Ben Hanson. Hanson later started a podcast called MinnMax and recruited some laid-off Game Informer staff. In March 2020, another round of layoffs occurred, affecting non-editorial staff.

In late June 2020, Andy McNamara announced he was leaving Game Informer to join Electronic Arts. Former senior editor Andrew Reiner became the new editor-in-chief. McNamara later gave his final game review, The Last of Us Part II, before leaving. He stated that the layoffs influenced his decision to leave.

In November 2021, Game Informer introduced a special print version called Game Informer Gold. This version used high-quality paper, had an alternate cover, and was limited to 50 copies. The first copy was given away during a charity livestream.

In July 2022, three Game Informer staff members were laid off: John Carson, Wesley LeBlanc, and Creative Director Jeff Akervik. LeBlanc was later rehired after another staff member left. Andrew Reiner left in September 2022 to become a game developer, leaving Game Informer with no original staff. Matt Miller, who had worked at the magazine since 2004, became editor-in-chief. In Fall 2022, Kyle Hilliard, who had been laid off earlier, returned.

In March 2024, Game Informer launched a new print magazine subscription, separate from GameStop’s Power Up Rewards program. The subscription cost $19.91 annually, a price meant to honor the magazine’s founding year. It included 10 print issues and digital access.

On August 2, 2024, GameStop closed Game Informer and laid off all its staff. The magazine’s website was replaced with a "farewell" page, making old articles unreadable. The July 2024 issue was the 368th and final issue. Current and former staff expressed sadness over the sudden closure. GameStop announced the shutdown publicly on the Game Informer X account, but staff members said they were not involved in the announcement. A former staff member later posted a proper farewell on the X account, which was then deleted.

Game Informer Online started in August 1996, offering daily news and articles. Justin Leeper and Matthew Kato became full-time web editors in November 1999. The original GameInformer.com site was closed in January 2001 after GameStop purchased the magazine.

GI Online was relaunched in September 2003 with a redesigned website, new features, and a review database. It was managed by Billy Berghammer, who later became editor-in-chief at EGM Media Group. In 2009, the website was redesigned again, introducing user reviews and a podcast called The Game Informer Show.

When the magazine closed in 2024, the website’s content was deleted and replaced with a splash page announcing the closure. Independent archival projects are being developed to preserve the magazine’s history.

In November 2009, Game Informer was launched in Australia by Chris Stead and Citrus Media. By June 2010, it had 10,000 subscribers. By August 2010, it became Australia’s top-selling video game magazine.

Game Informer Australia closed in April 2019 due to cost-cutting measures by its publisher, EB Games Australia. Editor David Milner noted that despite increased readership, declining ad sales led to the closure.

On March 19, 2025, Game Informer shared a farewell video on social media. The video included an arcade-style code with the word "Continue" and ended with the date March 25, suggesting the magazine’s legacy would continue.

Features and reviews

Game Informer has reviewed video games since the early 16-bit era. The magazine reviews games on personal computers, consoles (such as PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch), and mobile devices that use Android and iOS operating systems. In the past, Game Informer provided separate reviews for the same game on each platform where it was released. Starting in the mid-2000s, the magazine began publishing a single combined review for each game, while noting the strengths and weaknesses of each version. Before 2009, the magazine briefly reviewed older games in its "Classic GI" section, comparing their original review scores if available. This practice ended in 2009, shortly before the magazine’s redesign. Game Informer’s staff rates games on a scale from 1 to 10, using increments of 0.25 points. A score of 1 to 5 is considered poor, with some issues jokingly noting that a score of 1 might be given for reasons like "Duplicates in lootboxes." A score of 6 to 7 is described as "average," meaning the game is playable and sometimes fun but has flaws. A score of 10 is reserved for rare, nearly perfect games.

Each year, Game Informer’s editors compile and evaluate a list called "Top 50 Games of [last year]." The games are listed in the order they were released, without rankings. Special awards, such as "Game of the Year," are given to notable titles. The magazine also includes top ten lists for different categories in both its print edition and website. Annually, the magazine features an "E3 Hot 50" section, which reviews games showcased at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) and temporarily replaces the "Previews" section in the print edition.

In its April issue, Game Informer includes a feature called "Game Infarcer," a joke article created for April Fools’ Day. The magazine’s cover displays "World’s #1 Pretend Magazine" instead of its usual title, with the word "Parody" printed at the bottom. Articles in this section are credited to a fictional editor-in-chief named Darth Clark. Each year, readers send angry letters to Game Informer in response to these jokes, and some of these letters are later published in the magazine.

Game Informer has published four special features called "Sacred Cow Barbecues." These events, similar to a celebrity roast, aim to humorously critique some of the most respected games in gaming history. The first Sacred Cow Barbecue appeared in issue 158 (June 2006), followed by issues 183 (July 2008), 211 (November 2010), and 261 (January 2015). These articles have sparked controversy among some gamers who are not amused by their favorite games being mocked.