Daz Skubich

Freelance Journalist

United Kingdom

they/he

Experienced games journalist and former Staff Writer at Pocket Tactics (3 years). NCTJ-trained and willing to cover a range of topics. Based in Manchester.

Other bylines can be found on Wargamer, The Guardian, The Queerness, DIVA Magazine, Restless Magazine, PCGamesN, Anime Feminist, Mancunian Matters.

Passionate about mobile and Switch games, indies, LGBTQ+ topics, disability and accessibility, and community stories.

daz.skubich@gmail.com

Portfolio

Features and interviews

Pocket Tactics
06/25/2023
Games that give me gender euphoria

Our staff writer Daz shares some games that give them gender euphoria, the joyous experience of feeling comfortable and seen as your correct gender.

Pocket Tactics
03/09/2023
We need to force change with forced change in mobile games

Forced change is filling our pockets with just enough currency to do nothing with, and it’s nowhere more prevalent than mobile game microtransactions Collaborative article between Connor Christie and Daz Skubich

The Queerness
12/30/2019
The importance of queer Christmas solidarity

The holidays can be a difficult time for the queer community, especially when spent with family. Daz Skubich explores the joys of spending Christmas with friends, and making new traditions.

Reviews

Pocket Tactics
05/23/2024
Pine Hearts review - heartfelt and hopeful

In our Pine Hearts review, we follow Tyke on his journey to revisit his childhood and grieve his lost father, making new friends and memories along the way.

Pocket Tactics
05/13/2024
Biomutant Switch review - a mutated mess

In our Biomutant Switch review, we see how well Experiment 101's 2021 ARPG translates to the hybrid console. Spoiler alert: it's not pretty.

Pocket Tactics
11/13/2023
Fashion Dreamer review - everyone Lookit me!

In our Fashion Dreamer review, we take a look at how the Switch's entry into the Style Savvy series measures up to its predecessors, as well as what's changed.

Pocket Tactics
10/24/2023
GameSir T4 Cyclone Switch controller review

GameSir's newest Cyclone model, the T4, is a great addition to any Switch gamer's controller arsenal that also benefits from handy mobile device compatibility.

Pocket Tactics
09/27/2023
Silent Hope Switch review - I'm speechless

In our Silent Hope Switch review, we dive into the abyss of this action JRPG to find out what its mysterious story and seven unique protagonists have to offer.

Pocket Tactics
08/29/2023
Norn9 Last Era review - for the fans

In our Norn9: Last Era review, we dive into this expansive fandisc covering the lives and loves of the Norn9 boys both before and after their journey together.

Guides

Pocket Tactics
06/06/2026
Aerodactyl | Pokémon guide

Shake hands - or wings - with Aerodactyl, the speedy prehistoric Pokémon with a lot to offer in battle.

Pocket Tactics
03/10/2026
Pokopia legendary Pokémon guide

Find out which legendary Pokémon appear in Pokopia, and how to meet them and invite them to your towns.

Pocket Tactics
03/07/2026
Pokopia Dream Island guide

Learn everything you need to know about unlocking, visiting, and looting Pokopia's Dream Islands with our handy guide.

Pocket Tactics
11/25/2025
All Fisch rods and how to get them

Your choice of Fisch rod heavily impacts the kinds of fish you can catch, where you can cast your line, and even which mutations spawn.

Pocket Tactics
11/11/2025
All Pokémon games in order 2026

Playing all the Pokémon games in order is no easy feat, but we're here to help you with our handy guide to the release order and timeline.

Pocket Tactics
11/04/2025
Hollow Knight: Silksong Bell Beast guide

Finding and riding the Hollow Knight: Silksong Bell Beast isn't as simple as the trailer suggested, so here's everything you need to know.

Pocket Tactics
06/22/2024
Wuthering Waves Encore build

Meet Wuthering Waves' Encore and her two sheep buddies, Cloudy and Cosmos. Our build guide features her skills, stats, and her best echoes and weapons.

Pocket Tactics
06/19/2024
Honkai Star Rail's Firefly build

Honkai Star Rail's Firefly is poised and ready to light up our battlefields, so here's her best build, light cones, relics, and more.

Pocket Tactics
06/10/2024
Wuthering Waves Lingyang build and guide

Wuthering Waves' Lingyang is an adorable lion dancer and five-star glacio unit, and in this guide, we uncover his best weapons, echoes, and how to ascend him.

Pocket Tactics
03/02/2024
The best Hello Kitty games 2024

Our list of the best Hello Kitty games takes you on a whimsical journey through the various magical adventures of Sanrio's beloved mascot and her best friends.

Pocket Tactics
02/14/2024
Honkai Star Rail Ruan Mei build

Honkai Star Rail's Ruan Mei perfectly balances beauty, brains, and brawn - if you follow our best build including light cones, relics, and more.

Pocket Tactics
01/17/2024
Zenless Zone Zero Lycaon build

Meet Zenless Zone Zero's Lycaon, a smart and loyal wolf butler who's not afraid to get his paws dirty (literally), in our guide to who he is and his best build.

Pocket Tactics
01/25/2024
Genshin Impact Kirara build

Genshin Impact's Kirara is an adorable feline delivery girl with the power of dendro. Our guide shows you her best build, weapons, artifacts, and more.

Pocket Tactics
12/15/2022
Project Sekai events

Prepare your tapping fingers, we’re taking a look at the Project Sekai events schedule! Expect heartwarming stories, new cards, and free stuff

Pocket Tactics
12/12/2022
Project Sekai cards

Ever wondered just how many Project Sekai cards there are? Well, here’s your one stop shop for all the cards currently available on the EN server

Pocket Tactics
12/08/2022
Project Sekai characters

All the major Project Sekai characters listed for you in one convenient place. Hopefully we can help you decide who you want to come home

PCGamesN
10/06/2022
Overwatch 2 meta guide October 2022

The current Overwatch 2 meta is beholden to the 5v5 format, so here's our tips and tricks to succeed in the latest iteration of Blizzard's hero shooter

News

Video essays

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbEerWteN0k
Game Assist
09/27/2021
“Woman is at once serpent and apple”: InQueery into Transfemininity in Catherine: Full Body

With transmisogynistic violence on the rise around the globe, Daz decided to tackle two of gaming’s most famous trans girls. How does a game that is explicitly about horrible people tackle relationships between trans people and their surroundings? This video explores the representation of trans women and transfeminine people in Atlus’s 2019 game Catherine: Full Body, as well as the 2011 original version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-enOAzvpvCg&t=2s
Game Assist
03/29/2021
“The Oldest Game”: Gender-based violence, exploitation and sex workers’ rights in video games

Coming off the back of Cyberpunk 2077’s release, Daz explores the representation of sex worker characters in video games through the years, focusing on the last decade. From the mean streets of Los Santos, San Andreas, to the neon lights of Night City’s Japantown, join us on a journey to see how far sex worker representation has come, and how much further we still have to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y7mKw2cS_w&t=1s
Game Assist
09/29/2020
Inqueery | Bisexuality as a Game Mechanic

After a few edits, we're back to talk about how narrative structures often work to reinforce the structures of power and oppression which marginalise queer people. The trope of “player-sexual” NPCs, or characters that are bisexual due to a game mechanic, only serves to worsen these structures and limit the people we see in games. In this Inqueery, we’re going to cast a wide net and look at romance as a queer person in videogames.