Why the Joker?
Joker's Ledger began in 2024 as a shared spreadsheet between friends who kept noticing the same thing: whenever a casual game gave the wild card real rules — a joker that moved, swapped, teleported or misbehaved — the game instantly became more interesting. Yet no outlet was covering that niche seriously.
So we became that outlet. We review card puzzles, tile matchers, runners, platformers and memory games where the jester is a mechanic, not a costume. We also cover the occasional non-joker casual title when it is too good to ignore, but the wild card always comes first.
Every review is based on a minimum of ten hours of play, and no game reaches the ledger without at least two editors finishing it. Coverage cannot be bought, and we never link to anything you cannot simply play.
The Editors
Callum Rhee
Cards & Runners — Sydney
Former tournament solitaire player. Judges every wild card by one question: would the game collapse without it? Reviews from a standing desk in Surry Hills.
Priya Anand
Puzzles & Matchers — Melbourne
Keeps a hand-written notebook of every board she fails. Believes a good puzzle should be solvable on a tram between Flinders Street and Brunswick.
Sofia Marchetti
Platformers & Family Games — Sydney
Tests every family game with her two nieces before scoring it. Responsible for the office rule that all verdicts must fit in two sentences.
Where You'll Find Us Playing
We host casual reader meet-ups every few months at arcade venues around Australia. Bring a phone, a favourite game, and an opinion.
1989 Arcade Bar
22 King Street, Newtown
Sydney NSW 2042
Astros Arcade Bar
24 King St, Newtown
NSW 2042
Arcade Bar & Club
16 O'Connell Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Archie Brothers
440 Docklands Drive, Docklands
Melbourne VIC 3008
Meet-up dates are announced in the Monthly Round-Up. Venues listed are independent businesses and are not affiliated with Joker's Ledger.
Have a Question for the Desk?
Whether it is feedback on a review, a correction, or a meet-up idea, we read every message.
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