Our Story

Built by Gamers,
for Kiwi Gamers

VokeMail was founded in Wellington in 2019 by a group of passionate gamers who were tired of reading reviews that felt disconnected from their experience as New Zealand players.

Independent. Honest. Kiwi.

VokeMail exists to give New Zealand gamers a trusted voice in the global conversation about games. We believe reviews should be written by people who genuinely love games — not by corporate machines chasing ad revenue.

Every review on our platform is the result of at least ten hours of hands-on gameplay. We assess games across five criteria — Gameplay, Story, Visuals, Audio, and Replayability — and combine those scores into a single transparent rating.

We never accept payment from publishers or developers in exchange for coverage or favourable scores. Our editorial independence is non-negotiable.

🎮
10+ Hours
Minimum playtime per review
🏆
Zero Ads
From publishers or developers
📊
5 Criteria
Transparent scoring system
🇳🇿
Wellington, NZ
Founded & operated locally

Meet the Editorial Team

Six dedicated reviewers spread across Aotearoa, united by a love of great games.

JT
James Tūhoe
Editor-in-Chief

RPG specialist. Wellington-based. 15 years reviewing games professionally.

SR
Sophie Rāwiri
Senior Reviewer

Strategy & simulation expert. Based in Auckland. Former esports commentator.

MK
Marcus Kāhu
FPS Reviewer

Competitive FPS player from Christchurch. Covers shooters and action games.

AL
Aroha Lowe
Indie & Adventure

Indie game champion from Hamilton. Passionate about narrative-driven experiences.

BN
Ben Ngāti
Tech & PC Gaming

Hardware enthusiast and PC gaming expert based in Dunedin. Covers performance benchmarks.

CP
Claire Parata
Mobile & Casual

Mobile gaming specialist from Tauranga. Covers casual, puzzle, and mobile titles.

Our Review Methodology

Scoring Criteria

Every game reviewed on VokeMail is assessed across five equally weighted criteria, each scored out of 10. The final score is a weighted average rounded to one decimal place.

🎮 Gameplay
Core mechanics, controls, and overall feel of playing the game.
📖 Story
Narrative quality, character development, and world-building depth.
🎨 Visuals
Art direction, graphical fidelity, and overall aesthetic presentation.
🔊 Audio
Soundtrack, sound design, voice acting, and overall audio experience.
🔄 Replayability
Longevity, replay value, multiplayer, and post-launch content.

Score Scale

Scores of 9.0–10 represent exceptional games that define their genre. Scores of 7.0–8.9 indicate solid, recommendable titles. Scores below 6.0 suggest significant issues that may affect enjoyment.

Review Process

Reviewers play each game for a minimum of ten hours before writing. For shorter games, they complete the main campaign at least twice. For longer titles, they aim to reach the credits and sample post-game content. Reviews are edited by the Editor-in-Chief before publication.

Want to Write for VokeMail?

We're always looking for passionate Kiwi gamers to join our reviewer pool. If you have strong writing skills and a love of games, get in touch.

Get in Touch