Introducing Nintenkats!

Welcome to my newsletter dedicated to thoughtful, in-depth coverage of Nintendo — its games, its history, and its place in the broader industry.

I’m Kat Bailey, veteran games journalist and the co-host of Axe of the Blood God. Most people know me for my work at IGN and my RPG coverage, but Nintendo has been a constant through my career — both professionally and personally.

I started with Super Mario Bros. 3, memorizing its secrets and marveling at its expansive design (it’s better than Mario World — sorry, Jada). From there, I got lost in The Legend of Zelda, chased high scores in Star Fox 64, and eventually fell in love with Fire Emblem’s storytelling and strategic depth. These games didn’t just entertain me — they shaped how I think about game design, narrative, and the medium as a whole, both as a critic and as a fan.

Nintenkats is an extension of that passion: a space to explore what makes Nintendo tick, and why it continues to matter in an ever-changing industry. In my first newsletter, which releases tomorrow, analysts ranging from Chris Dring to Serkan Toto will weigh in on the Switch 2’s prospects in an uncertain gaming landscape (spoiler: they’re more optimistic than you might think), and I’ll be sharing my own experience of attending a midnight launch. In a later edition, I’ll be speaking with Digital Foundry’s John Linneman about NSO’s emulation capabilities amid the arrive of the GameCube of the service (this one will be for premium subscribers).

Beyond that you can expect:

• Reporting and analysis on Nintendo’s strategy, business moves, and major announcements — from hardware news to release slates and directs

• Developer interviews and profiles that shine a light on the people behind the games

• Informed commentary and retrospectives on Nintendo’s history, design philosophy, and evolving identity

• Deep dives and essays on individual games and consoles — whether it’s unpacking the legacy of the GameCube or reporting on the latest releases.

• Occasional reviews, with the same thoughtful approach I’ve brought to my work for years.

I’ll be running a newsletter featuring my reporting, commentary, news roundups, and reviews every week, with premium interviews and other content as I’m able to produce it. Speaking of which, here’s how you can support Nintenkats.

How to support Nintenkats

If you’d like to support my work directly, please consider subscribing to the premium tier for $5 per month (or $50 per year). Paid subscribers get:

• Bonus post featuring exclusive interviews and extended analysis

• Community perks, including the ability to suggest topics and ask questions

• And most importantly, the chance to support independent games journalism

• If I’m able to reach $3000 per month in revenue, I’ll hire a producer and start a Nintenkats podcast!

• Did I mention I have a store with merch some of that incredible art by Daeyumi?

If you've followed my work over the years and want to see more of it, I hope you’ll consider upgrading. Thanks for subscribing. I can’t wait to get started.

– Kat