Jay Castello is a journalist, critic, storyteller, and editor specialising in games and online culture.
Also an author, podcast host, museum tour guide, game designer, video essayist, trained archaeologist, qualified ecologist…and constant seeker of novelty. If you’d like to collaborate on any of these things, or maybe something weirder, please get in touch! My email is jaymcastello at gmail dot com.
Writing
I started out as a media critic and journalist in 2016. Since then I’ve written for dozens of publications including The Verge, Polygon, and Slate.
I currently have a monthly column at Unwinnable exploring the use of space in games.
I had my first piece of short fiction published in 2024, with another slated for release in January 2025. My first authored book is also due 2025.
Editing
From 2022 to 2023, I was the publishing editor at Mojang studios, helping to make books and magazines about Minecraft.
I was the dialogue editor on award-nominated narrative game The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood and have forthcoming game editing TBA.
I’ve also done consulting and mock reviews for games; please reach out if your team is interested.
Audio-visual, et. al.
I currently host a podcast about Ace Attorney with several of my friends, and have guested on several other podcasts. I also make video essays.
In 2024 I took a class on TTRPG design and produced a game called Four Seasons. Later that year, digital art museum The Zium Exposition was released, featuring an audio tour written and recorded by me.
And yes, the archaeology and ecology things are true. I also have a postgraduate certificate in cosmology. If you have any work along those lines I will be extremely surprised but also delighted.