EST. 2019 · TORONTO
Push start on the games that actually matter.
Long-form RPG breakdowns, roguelike strategy, and the indie drops the algorithm buries — written by players who log the hours before they post.
No sponsored hype. No 10/10 filler. Just the games worth your weekend.
Cosmic Dungeon Vanguard started as a photocopied zine handed out at a Kensington Market card shop. We still write like that crew — opinionated, obsessive, and allergic to marketing copy. Every review is played to credits, every guide is tested on our own saves, and every recommendation comes with the caveats a trailer would never admit.
Bylines you can trust
Marcus V.
Editor-in-Chief · RPGs
Has a 300-hour save in every CRPG since Baldur's Gate. Writes the deep-dives nobody else has patience for.
Priya S.
Roguelike Columnist
Ascended in every run-based game you can name. Turns brutal difficulty into readable strategy.
Dev O.
Indie Scout
Combs itch.io and demo festivals so you don't have to. Champions the weird before it goes viral.
Lena K.
Tabletop-to-Screen
Bridges the D&D table and the digital dungeon. Runs our Kensington board-game nights.
Six beats, zero filler
RPG Deep-Dives
Full-length breakdowns of builds, lore, and endgame — the 4,000-word reads we publish every second Thursday.
Roguelike Strategy
Seed-by-seed guides, meta tier lists, and the run reports that actually change how you play.
Indie Drop Radar
Weekly shortlists of under-1,000-review gems, with honest playtime and price notes in CAD.
Retro & Preservation
Emulation guides and cartridge histories from the archive shelf.
Tabletop Crossovers
Where board games and video games collide — adaptations, dice math, and campaign write-ups.
Toronto Scene
Local tournaments, arcade nights, and Kensington meetups.
Straight from the comment section
"Their Elden Ring build guide got me through Malenia after a month of rage-quitting. No fluff, just the exact stat spread and why it works."
"I've found more good indies in three months of the Drop Radar newsletter than in two years of scrolling storefronts myself."
"Finally a site that lists real playtime and price in CAD. The honesty about a game's rough edges is why I actually trust the scores."
"Went to their Kensington board-game night on a whim and now it's my whole Tuesday. The tabletop coverage is unmatched."
"The Hades II roguelike column is required reading. Priya calls the meta shifts before the patch notes even drop."
"Their retro emulation guide walked me through preserving my old GBA library step by step. Clear, legal, and genuinely useful."
One email, every Friday, zero fluff
Our editors' shortlist of indie drops, RPG patches worth caring about, and one roguelike run report — landing in your inbox before the weekend.
You're on the list! Check your inbox this Friday.
Pitch us, correct us, or just say hi
Got a tip on an unreleased indie, a correction on a guide, or want to collaborate on coverage? The newsroom reads every message. Drop by the studio during open hours or reach us directly.
- Phone+1 (416) 874-2539
- Email[email protected]
- Studio57 Baldwin Street, Kensington Market, Toronto, ON M5T 1L3
- HoursTue–Sat, 11:00 – 19:00 EST