Our Story

Built by Gamers,
for Gamers

Silent Arena was founded in 2019 in Melbourne by a group of passionate gamers who believed Australian players deserved a dedicated, honest voice in gaming media — one that understood local server conditions, regional tournament scenes, and the unique culture of gaming Down Under.

What started as a small blog has grown into one of Australia's most-read gaming publications, covering everything from indie gems to AAA blockbusters, and from local LAN events to international esports championships.

Work With Us
The Silent Arena team at work in their Melbourne office
What We Stand For

Our Values

The principles that guide every review, every article, and every tournament report we publish.

🎯
Honest Reviews

We never accept payment for positive coverage. Every score reflects our genuine assessment of a game's quality, regardless of publisher relationships.

🇦🇺
Australian Perspective

We test games on Australian hardware, evaluate server performance on local infrastructure, and cover the esports events that matter to our community.

🔬
In-Depth Analysis

We play games thoroughly before reviewing them — typically 20+ hours for RPGs and 10+ hours for competitive titles — so our analysis is grounded in real experience.

🤝
Community First

Our readers shape what we cover. We actively engage with the Australian gaming community through social media, events, and our open feedback channels.

📡
Timely Coverage

We publish reviews on launch day wherever possible, and our tournament coverage goes live within hours of events concluding.

🌱
Supporting Indies

We dedicate significant coverage to independent developers, particularly Australian studios, who often produce the most innovative games in the industry.

The People

Meet the Team

The writers, analysts, and editors who make Silent Arena the publication it is today.

👾
James Hartley
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
🎮
Priya Nair
Senior Games Reviewer
🏆
Liam O'Brien
Esports Correspondent
🖊️
Mei-Lin Chen
Features Writer
📊
Ethan Walsh
Data & Analytics Lead
🎨
Sophie Nguyen
Creative Director
Our Journey

Key Milestones

How Silent Arena grew from a passion project into Australia's premier gaming publication.

2019
Founded in Melbourne

James Hartley launches Silent Arena as a personal blog covering local LAN events and indie game reviews.

2020
First Team Expansion

Priya Nair and Liam O'Brien join the team, expanding coverage to esports tournaments and AAA titles.

2022
10,000 Monthly Readers

Silent Arena reaches its first major readership milestone and launches the weekly newsletter.

2024
IEM Sydney Press Accreditation

Silent Arena receives official press credentials for IEM Sydney, marking its recognition as a professional media outlet.

2026
50,000+ Monthly Readers

Silent Arena surpasses 50,000 monthly readers and expands its team to six full-time staff members.

Join Us

Want to Contribute?

We're always looking for passionate Australian gamers and writers to join the Silent Arena team. If you have a unique perspective and a love for games, we'd love to hear from you.

Get in Touch