Rig Bench Lab
Real hardware, real numbers.
Every card and handheld runs our 12-title gauntlet at native resolution. Full FPS logs, thermals, and 1% lows published — sponsored benchmarks are labelled and never scored.
1,248
Games Reviewed
Surry Hills · Sydney gaming desk
No hype. No fluff. Just the raw scoreboard.
ObsidianGameChampions.ink is the independent gaming blog run out of a Surry Hills loft — deep reviews, tested build guides, and esports breakdowns written by players who actually finish the campaign.
Coverage trusted across the desk
PATCH NOTES WEEKLY
RIG BENCH LAB
ESPORTS DESK
INDIE SPOTLIGHT
SPEEDRUN ARCHIVE
Founder's note
Written from a concrete floor, not a press junket.
I started ObsidianGameChampions.ink in 2016 after eight years of writing reviews I didn't believe in. The rule here is simple: we buy or borrow every game, we finish it, and we say what actually happened. No embargoed scores, no scores traded for early access.
The desk lives above a mechanic's workshop on Albion Street. Exposed pipes, a bench full of test rigs, and three editors who between them have logged more than 40,000 hours. If a frame rate stutters or a boss fight is padding, you'll read it here first.
— Marcus D., Founder & Editor-in-Chief
What we cover
Four desks. Hover to see how each one works.
Esports Desk
Tactics, not just scores.
Post-match tactical breakdowns for the OCE and APAC circuits within 24 hours. Draft analysis, economy charts, and player interviews — free to read, updated through every major split.
Indie Spotlight
The small games that hit hard.
A fortnightly deep-dive into one Australian or Pacific indie release, with a developer Q&A and a full playthrough. Submissions from unsigned studios are always read and never charged for.
Membership · Obsidian Pass
AU$9/month or AU$90/year.
Ad-free reading, the Monday patch-notes digest, early access to review verdicts, and a monthly members-only livestream from the desk. Cancel any time — the review scores stay free for everyone, forever.
From the floor
Inside the loft. Scroll sideways.
Questions
Straight answers, searchable.
How do you score reviews?+
We use a plain 0–10 scale with a written verdict, and every score comes with the total hours played before publishing. We don't average sub-scores or weight graphics over feel. If our opinion changes after a major patch, we re-score openly and note the date.
Do you take money from publishers?+
Never for scores. We accept clearly-labelled sponsored benchmark tests and display ads, but those pieces are never scored and never influence a review verdict. Review copies are disclosed at the top of each article, and we buy the game ourselves whenever a copy isn't provided.
Can I pitch a review or guide?+
Yes — use the contact form below or email the desk directly. We pay freelance contributors a flat AU$250 per accepted feature and reply to every pitch within five business days. Australian and Pacific indie developers can request coverage at no cost.
What does the Obsidian Pass include?+
The Pass is AU$9/month or AU$90/year and removes all ads, unlocks the Monday patch-notes digest, and gives early access to verdicts plus a monthly members livestream. You can cancel any time from your account. All review scores stay free to read for everyone, whether you subscribe or not.
Can I visit the Surry Hills desk?+
The desk on Albion Street is a working office, not a public venue, but we host an open members meetup on the last Thursday of each month from 6pm. Email us first so we can add you to the door list. Editorial hours are Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm AEST.
No questions match your search.
Get in touch
Pitch a story or drop us a line.
Reviews, corrections, freelance pitches, or Obsidian Pass questions — the whole desk reads this inbox.
- Phone
- +61 2 9571 8264
- [email protected]
- Desk
- 52 Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
- Editorial hours
- Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm AEST
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