Hayes Madsen

Freelance Journalist

United States

For over 15 years, I've covered video games and entertainment, with a particular emphasis on telling the stories of developers and demystifying development.

My work has appeared on Rolling Stone, Inverse, Kotaku, GamesRadar, Game Informer, IGN, and more.

A trained Journalist with a Bachelor of Arts from Metropolitan University of Denver, my work stresses the importance of original reporting and criticism around the video games industry.

In addition to writing and reporting, I've hosted multiple podcasts, hosted panels at events like PAX West, worked as a Section Editor, done mock reviews and consulting, and dabbled in photojournalism. On the hunt for work.

Send inquiries to madsenhayes@gmail.com

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Portfolio

Profiles

Inverse
08/29/2024
The Creator Of Final Fantasy Isn't Finished Yet

In an exclusive interview, Hironobu Sakaguchi reflects on four decades making iconic video games from 'Final Fantasy' to 'Fantasian' and predicts where the industry is headed next.

Interviews

Inverse
12/19/2025
Remade

From remakes of games like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, to remasters of Star Wars and System Shock, the gaming space is filled with old, forgotten titles that have been brought to life for new generations.

Fanbyte
10/06/2021
FFXIV Player Bands Are Bringing Concerts to Eorzea

Note: For privacy reasons, interviewees are referred to as either their FFXIV screen names or band names in this article. It's a perfectly normal day in Gridania as you stroll through the dappled trees and over to the Lancer's Guild, looking for the latest quest or just poking your head in.

PCGamesN
03/28/2021
Meet the fans localising lost Yakuza, Trails, and Final Fantasy games

Localising a game from Japanese to English isn't an easy job. It's even more difficult when you're trying to do it alongside a full-time job. Despite this, a multitude of fan groups have taken it upon themselves to do the work for fans in the West who have never had the chance to experience them.

Features

Retroware
03/12/2021
Class Warfare In Final Fantasy Tactics

Yasumi Matsuno is the definition of an auteur in gaming, a director with a unifying vision between all of his games. Starting out as the director of Ogre Battle, Matsuno joined Square in 1995 and was assigned as director on Final Fantasy Tactics.

Reviews

CGMagazine
01/23/2026
Wonder Man Series Review

Wonder Man is a low-stakes buddy comedy about trying to make it in Hollywood, in a world where superheroes exist. It's not totally without problems, but manages to feel like a genuine, much-needed breath of fresh air for Marvel.

Podcasts

Spotify
Resident Evil Requiem Review Discussion | Creature Cast

Listen to this episode from Creature Cast - The Official Console Creatures Podcast on Spotify. Steve and Bobby are joined by Hayes Madsen to sit down and talk about Resident Evil Requiem. We go over the game's story, including Grace's sections, Leon's gameplay, and whether Requiem is the best game in the series.

Spotify
Episode 48: "I Hope Nintendo Wins"

Podcast · burnout culture · Industry sucks. So do we. burnout culture is a media-focused podcast hosted by three friends with varying degrees of experience with the entertainment (and more specifically, video game) industry. Listen to Kazuma, Cullen, and GC as they share what they've been playing/reading/listening to/watching, talk about relevant news, and share their thoughts on what's been happening.

Spotify
Episode 46: Remakes Reimagined

Listen to this episode from burnout culture on Spotify. It's that time again! On this episode of Burnout Culture, the boys talk about Dragon Quest remakes, the dichotomy between Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined, and the Dragon Quest HD-2D Remakes, and the world in which these two approaches to remakes exists.

SoundCloud
09/07/2016
Season 5 Episode 20 - The Man Who Sold The World by Playing with Perspective

Sean, Hayes and Keenan do things a bit differently tonight, by taking a deep dive into one very specific game. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. It's a spoiler filled episode as the crew discusses the game's design in terms of story, structure, gameplay and everything else. Tune in!

SoundCloud
09/02/2016
Season 5 Episode 19 - It's a Golden Show by Playing with Perspective

Morality plays a funny role in video games a lot of the time. We always want more freedom and more choices in our games, but what does that really mean? Sean, Hayes and Keenan talk about morality in video games, and a 2011 classic that handled choice so well.

Newsletters

An Evening at the Inn
03/11/2026
An Evening At the Inn - Issue # 5 - The "Soul" of Soulslikes

A hearty welcome back to the inn, travelers. This week, I'll be diving into what really makes a Soulslike a Soulslike and why I think the vast majority of the genre has only been interested in imitating, rather than truly embracing that. Some very exciting news, if you haven't seen

An Evening at the Inn
01/22/2026
An Evening at the Inn - Issue #3

For the third issue of An Evening at the Inn, Hayes Madsen talks to Dr. T. Wade Langer, Jr. - a professor at University of Alabama who's integrated Final Fantasy games into coursework.

An Evening at the Inn
01/08/2026
An Evening at the Inn - Issue #2

Welcome back to the inn, travelers. After a busy, and not very restful holiday, I'm here with the first issue of 2026 - a bit late.

News

Guides

Gameskinny
09/23/2021
FFXIV Ocean Fishing Bait Guide

Fishing is one of the easier aspects of to completely overlook. Since there aren't all that many uses for fish, even omnicrafters and those with Botanist and Miner at max level tend to just sort of skirt around Fisher.

TechRaptor
Tales of Arise Lord Balseph Boss Fight Guide

Tales of Arise features a wildly different combat system from past entries, and boss fights are where the combat really starts to shine. The Tales of Arise Lord Balseph boss fight is the first major boss you'll take on. It's a surprising difficulty spike that requires you to start thinking more tactically than in regular battles.

Twinfinite
01/30/2019
Kingdom Hearts 3: All Lucky Emblems Locations in Every World (Mickey Symbols)

All Lucky Emblem Locations in Kingdom Hearts 3 Kingdom Hearts 3 is a game packed with things to do, even outside of its lengthy main story. As you explore various Disney worlds there's a few side quests and easter eggs to discover. Here's how to find all Lucky Emblem locations in Kingdom Hearts 3.