Video Game of the Year

Video Game of the Year, my debut book, was released in 2023 by Abrams Image. Through a series of entertaining, informative, and opinionated critical essays, I investigate, in chronological order, the most innovative, genre-bending, and earth-shattering games from 1977 through 2022.

Illustrated throughout with retro-inspired imagery from artist Wren McDonald and featuring contributions from dozens of leading industry voices, including New York Times bestselling author Jason Schreier, Max Scoville, Rebekah Valentine, Blessing Adeoye Jr., and Devindra Hardawar, this year-by-year anthology is a loving reflection on the world’s most popular art form.

Read VGOTY excerpts on PCMag and Vulture

"The author's passion and strong grasp of video game history make this an excellent ode to the medium." ―Publisher's Weekly

"Minor's writing has a consistently engaging, insider quality... it should garner interest from both gamers and popular-culture followers." ―Booklist

"With an abundance of charming art, Video Game of the Year stands somewhere between history and coffee table book, making it an easy option this holiday for anybody in your life who loves games." -Polygon's Best Video Game Books of 2023

"A fun read down memory lane that isn't just a trite play for nostalgia...a great present to any video game obsessives in your life." -The Verge's Favorite Books From 2023

"Whether you haven't picked up a joystick in decades or you just put one down for the first time in ten hours, Video Game of the Year will make you want to pick it up again and dive back into one of the classics." -Unwinnable.

"Video Game of the Year is a gorgeous, endlessly entertaining love letter to gaming's past."- Aidan Moher, author of Fight, Magic, Items

"Expertly uses individual games to show off gaming’s greatest successes and its potential to reach audiences beyond surface-level interactions and into the collective consciousness of pop culture.”- North by Northwestern

Praise for Video Game of the Year

Super Mario Galaxy

for Boss Fight Books

I am currently working on a book about the video game Super Mario Galaxy for Boss Fight Books, a publisher that releases entire books dedicated to individual classic games. Stay tuned for more news in 2025!

Media Appearances

While promoting Video Game of the Year, I made numerous appearances on major gaming and entertainment outlets including IGN, Giant Bomb, Nextlander, Remap, Engadget, The Filmcast, Spawn on Me, and Gamertag Radio.

I did several live readings and appeared on a panel at the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo alongside Tim Rogers and Luis Aguasvivas.

As a technology expert, I have also offered insight on mainstream platforms such as Cheddar, local ABC and FOX channels, and NBC’s Today Show. I hosted a panel at the Game Devs of Color Expo.

My Work on PCMag

For more than a decade, I have worked as a staff writer and editor for Ziff Davis. Currently I am a Senior Analyst on the Apps and Gaming Team at PCMag. I cover and critique everything from video games and streaming video services, to dating apps and meal kits, to coding software and website builders.

I am the primary on-camera host for The Pop-Off, PCMag’s video game show. We discuss everything from breaking news to deep dives into ongoing trends. As host, I guide conversations with PCMag’s knowledgeable, opinionated staff writers as well as industry guests.

The Pop-Off

In 2016, I wrote a story revealing How I Used Lies About A Cartoon to Prove History Is Meaningless on the Internet. The story went viral, appearing on sites such as Vox and Complex. Learning about my fabricated, alternate Street Sharks universe continues to blow readers’ minds and make them question their sense of reality.

The Great Street Sharks Hoax

Freelance Writing

I have written freelance articles for multiple prominent gaming and tech outlets, including Kotaku, The A.V. Club, Paste magazine, 148Apps, and The Escapist.

As for creative writing, I wrote the character Franklin, the Pullman Porter, for the 2018 adventure game Where the Water Tastes Like Wine. I also wrote the script for the student film Followers.

Honors and Awards

Game Awards Future Class Member

Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence Award Finalist

Member of the New York NewsGuild Union

Member of the New York Video Game Critics Circle

Video Game of the Year was selected as a required text for Quinnipiac University’s gaming history course.