Giovanni Colantonio-Editor-at-Large

Giovanni Colantonio

Contributor Since July, 2025
Qualifications New York Video Game Critics Circle Member
Expertise
Nintendo, Puzzle, Garfield Kart
  • 454
    articles
  • 97
    News
  • 254
    Features
  • 34
    Lists
  • 13
    Guides
  • 52
    Reviews
  • 4
    Other
Polygon.com logo Profile

About Giovanni Colantonio

Giovanni Colantonio is a video game journalist who has covered the industry for two decades. He was formerly a senior editor at Digital Trends and has contributed to publications like Inverse, Fanbyte, and Hard Drive. His specialty is criticism, as he’s focused on a modern approach to video game reviews that’s focused on the nuances of how interactivity communicates to players. He is currently a member of the New York Video Game Critics Circle.

What's your origin story?

Giovanni got his start by reviewing Super Smash Bros. Brawl website updates on IGN's forums. He went on to host and produce Game Over, a college TV game news show, before breaking into games criticism professionally.

What's a recent obsession?

Sol Cesto, PS2 game collecting, Jackass

Baby Steps’ main character struggling to put one foot in front of another in an outdoors scene.
Feature

The brain behind QWOP has spent 20 years perfecting the art of failure

Mina swings a weapon in Mina the Hollower.
Reviews

Mina the Hollower understands the art of a great video game secret

Obelisks float in the sky in Crimson Desert.
Feature

The RAM crisis could completely change the way your games are made

Latest

A Squirtle Lego sits in a Lego car.
Lego’s newest Pokémon sets are the toys you dreamed of as a '90s kid
Impressions

Pokémon meets Lego in the collab of the summer

Clair Obscur Eiffel tower
The Switch 2 is already starting to show its seams
Switchboard

Getting big games running on Nintendo's console is no easy task

27
A character wields a scythe in Mortal Shell 2.
5 most anticipated Xbox games to play this August
What to Play

The summer ends with Star Wars and Soulslikes

Pokemon TCG Pocket Ruler of the Skies Rayquaza
Pokémon TCG Pocket’s new set is a reminder that Gen 3 has the best legendaries
Opinion

Let's give it up for my pal Rayquaza

A puzzle screen appears in Lumines Remastered on mobile.
One of the best PSP games ever just got a killer surprise mobile port
Impressions

You can get one of the best puzzle games of all time on your phone

3
Deep Cut and The Mechanic pose in Splatoon Raiders.
A devilishly difficult Splatoon level is still being conquered by sickos in 9 seconds
Culture

It turns out that Splatoon Raiders is a great speedrunning game

Salmonids appear in Splatoon Raiders.
Nintendo just debuted maybe the hardest boss in its 136-year history
Opinion

Pudyin your place

6
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate character collage
The Switch 2 era could totally change the next Super Smash Bros. game
Opinion

Is it too early to start making predictions?

1
Deep Cut stand alongside one another in Splatoon Raiders.
Splatoon Raiders’ thrilling endgame nearly turns it into Nintendo’s Vampire Survivors
Analysis

Things get intense way down in the Bottomless Buffet

A chaotic Splatoon Raiders image with a giant shark head and loads of purple paint splashing everywhere
The Nintendo Switch 2 has finally justified its existence
Analysis

Splatoon Raiders is the latest exclusive to show off what Nintendo's handheld can do

27
Shiver laughs in Splatoon Raiders.
Splatoon Raiders fans have wasted no time shipping its characters
Feature

A 10-second scene has the Splatoon community riled up

Shiver and The Mechanic stand together in Splatoon Raiders.
After Splatoon Raiders, I need these 3 features in Splatoon 4
Opinion

Splatoon Raiders' best innovations are too good to ignore

2
A character jumps in the air in Poinpy key art.
Poinpy, the fantastic Netflix game that disappeared last year, is back and available for free
What to Play

2022's best mobile game is back and as charming as ever

2
Astronaut Hugh and android Diana in a screenshot from Pragmata
The best games of 2026 (so far)
Polygon Lists

Just past the halfway point, 2026 has been nonstop bangers

38
splatoon raiders artwork
All the Splatoon lore you need to know before Splatoon Raiders
Explainer

Splatoon's story is so much weirder than you think

The members of Deep Cut sit near a treasure chest in Splatoon Raiders.
Splatoon Raiders' all-ages RPG action stands up to Diablo and Borderlands
Reviews

The Switch 2 exclusive is a full-blown looter shooter that goes way deeper than you'd expect

A band appears on a stage in Rock Band 4.
2026's best boss fight is an unexpected ode to Guitar Hero
Opinion

Have you ever seen a train shred?

Detective Grimoire and Sally stand in front of a cauldron in The Mermaid Mask art.
The funniest game of the year is also one of the best reviewed
What to Play

The Mermaid Mask is a murder mystery full of lovable goofballs

5
A character looks at a broken window in Lorelei and the Laser Eyes.
5 puzzle games that are secretly the best co-op games
What to Play

Sometimes single-player games make for the best multiplayer games

2
A Steam Machine with a wooden faceplate sits on a table.
The one Steam Machine feature I didn't expect to change my gaming life
Opinion

One small Steam perk is starting to pay off big time

15
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