ETHERJOURNAL
Retro console and controllers on CRT setup
Auckland • Wellington • Est. 2016

Where Every Boss Fight Becomes a Story.

EtherJournal is an independent, sponsor-free gaming review desk and hardware culture hub. Deep-dive reviews, no-fluff guides, hardware tear-downs, and honest perspectives on the titles actually worth your weekend.

Read the Latest Drop →Get the Newsletter
640+Reviews Published
ZeroSponsor Ads
Tue & FriNew Drops
HOT FEATURE

Retro Emulators & CRT Dreams: Why physical hardware holds the crown in 2026

We analyze modern emulators against pristine Sony Trinitron scanlines to prove why analogue output remains the standard for true retro enthusiasts.

Dive Into Retro Analogue →
A Note from the Editor

“Started on a hand-me-down CRT. Still chasing the perfect frame-pacing.”

I am Marcus, and EtherJournal started as a late-night blog in a humble Mt Albert bedroom, surrounded by a heavy Sony Trinitron and shoe-boxes of retro game disks. It was simple: finish the game before you dare write about it. No pre-written copy, no corporate lunches, no fluff.

Today, we remain an independent review desk. We still take zero sponsor dollars from publishers, and we still review every single system ourselves. It's built for those who understand the true magic of game mechanics. If you expect honest journalism, you're exactly where you belong.

— Marcus Tran, Founder & Lead Writer

What We Obsess Over

01

Unfiltered Reviews

Day-one reviews without publisher-approved bullet points. If a game is broken, we say it.

02

Retro CRT Culturing

Revisiting the classics with 2026 eyes. Scalers, analogue audio, and physical copies matter.

03

Indie Spotlight

Highlighting the local NZ, Aussie, and global creators who innovate behind closed doors.

WHY WE ARE DIFFERENT

What sets our gaming desk apart

A transparent comparison between our independent team and standard ad-reliant publication models.

Features We Stand ForETHERJOURNALStandard Ad Blogs
100% Sponsor-Free TestingYes (Never Sponsored)Rarely (Ad Driven)
Full Game Completion Before ReviewYes (Always Finished)Usually Not (Timed)
Analogue & Retro FocusYes (CRT/Emulators)No (New Hype Only)
Ad-Free Clean Reading ExperienceYes (Subscriber Supported)No (Banners Everywhere)
Direct Q&A to WritersYes (In Comments)Never
FROM THE DESK

Recent work, sorted by aisle

View Full Journal Index →
Retro spacecraft interface mockup on old screenREVIEW
12 min read • Dec 12, 2025

Aurora Drift — 47 hours of unforgiving space exploration, no regrets

Our thorough breakdown of the brutal orbital combat, realistic fuel mechanics, and why standard ratings completely missed its ultimate charm.

Read Review →
Microchips and circuit components closeupHARDWARE
18 min read • Nov 28, 2025

The complete Sunset Foundry build order: Optimising modern emulation

How we sourced classic components, calibrated latency converters, and constructed the premier multi-system cabinet for vintage titles.

Read Guide →
Red joystick on arcade panel cabinetRETRO ANALYSIS
9 min read • Nov 10, 2025

Revisiting Neon Alley on a real CRT: Analogue vs Emulated scanlines

Comparing real phosphor glow to digital filter presets. Discover why original hardware changes the way pixel art feels.

Read Deep Dive →
READER MAIL

What the crew's been saying

Real, unedited notes from our dedicated subscribers who trust our honest testing.

“I bought a $110 game on EtherJournal's word instead of checking aggregated reviews. The best call I made all year. The review flagged exactly where the pacing slows and why the game works anyway. Absolute journalism gold.”

Priya S.

Priya S.

Wellington, NZ

“The emulated CRT guides are outstanding. I sent a highly technical query about setup calibrations and got a thorough reply directly from Marcus within a day. No corporate outlet does that!”

Dylan M.

Dylan M.

Auckland, NZ

“The membership plan easily pays for itself. Access to raw hardware logs and voting rights on next retro reviews is exactly the community platform modern gamers need.”

Hannah W.

Hannah W.

Christchurch, NZ
SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MEDIA

Support the desk, skip the ads

Join our direct-support model to unlock raw hardware files, deep dive guides, and community comment boards.

Free Reader

Ideal for casual gaming news and weekly reviews.

$0/ month
  • • Access to core reviews
  • • Weekly newsletter
  • • Standard reader polls
STAY FREE
MOST POPULAR

Arcade Pass

Perfect for active players wanting deeper emulators data.

$7/ month
  • • Everything in Free Pass
  • • Ad-free web reading
  • • Early access to emulator logs
  • • Discord community role
JOIN THE ARCADE

Legend Pass

For hardcore hardware builders and collectors.

$15/ month
  • • Everything in Arcade Pass
  • • Access to raw hardware logs
  • • Vote on review roadmaps
  • • Physical stickers mailed yearly
GO LEGEND
FAQ DESK

Frequently Answered Queries

Got questions about how our independent model works? Here are the facts.

REACH OUT

Send the desk a message

Story tip, emulation question, or just want to discuss frame pacing? Fill out the details here. We check mail twice daily, morning and evening.

[email protected]