About G.URL
G.URL Magazine is dedicated to reshaping perceptions of female gamers within the gaming community. We achieve this by exploring the intersection of gaming culture with fashion, music, and lifestyle, all of which contribute to the evolving concept of the 'gamer girl'.
What kind of content is featured in G.URL?
Gaming
Social Media
...and more!
We Got Feminism Before GTA VI
From its beginnings, Grand Theft Auto captivated players with the freedom to explore Rockstar’s gritty, satirical universe. The thrill of wreaking havoc in Vice City or untangling crime in San Andreas, paired with a mix of dark humour and pointed social commentary, has made GTA iconic. Yet, the series has often fallen short when it comes to representing women.
Rihanna’s Beauty Empire Enters Runeterra
And no, it’s not a skin you can buy.When League of Legends teamed up with Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty for the launch of Arcane, fans of both brands were treated to a collaboration that brought gaming and high-fashion beauty together in a way that had never been done before. In a series of dazzling events and…
Furbies: The Haunting Lore Behind the 90s’ Most Unsettling Toy
Unplugged but never silenced: Furby’s haunted legacy proves some toys never rest—even without batteries. Written by Lauren Lees If you were a little girl in the late 90s or early 2000s, there’s a good chance you once awoke with a start, cowering beneath your Groovy Chic or Bratz duvet. With your feet tucked firmly under…
Lyrical Loverg.urls: The Juxtaposing Heartbreak Ballads of Brat Summer
Summer 2024: When Lover G.URLs Danced in Neon Green and Sang the Blues As autumn settles in and we reflect on the summer just gone, for many of those who are constantly online, the imagery evoked is of a time tinted with a very particular hexadecimal shade of neon green. Known for its playful, carefree…
How Gaming is Reviving Classical Music
When you think of gaming soundtracks, you might recall nostalgic 8-bit melodies, thumping EDM, or symphonic scores backing epic fantasy scenes. But today, there’s a quieter, unexpected phenomenon happening in the gaming world—players are rediscovering classical music, and it’s not just in the background anymore. From rhythm games to grand story arcs, the symphonies of Beethoven, Mozart, and even Wagner are gaining new audiences, turning gaming into an unlikely conduit for introducing players to the world of classical music.
Chants of Sennaar Speaks in a Language of Its Own
There’s a certain magic in the moment when a foreign language starts to make sense—when random sounds and symbols begin to form meaning, creating connections where there was once confusion. This feeling is at the heart of Chants of Sennaar, a beautifully crafted puzzle game that uses language as its core mechanic. After spending time in Corsica with family who speak only French, I’ve been noticing how much of my own experience in trying to learn French reflects the journey players take in Chants of Sennaar. You struggle to decode unfamiliar symbols, but the payoff when you understand even just a piece of the puzzle is immense.
Uzumaki’s Spiral into Chaos
Uzumaki Fans Spiral into Disappointment as Animation Quality Takes a Nosedive Just when it seemed like Junji Ito’s nightmare-inducing world was ready to dominate anime, Uzumaki‘s second episode left fans with chills of a different kind: the crushing disappointment of a stunning quality drop. After a breathtaking first episode, the Uzumaki anime veered off-course with…
How Gaming is Rewriting the Rules of Makeup
The collision of gaming culture and beauty is redefining the makeup landscape, moving away from traditional glam into something far more digital, sleek, and surreal. As social media continues to serve as a breeding ground for trends, beauty influencers are transforming makeup into a futuristic art form that borrows heavily from gaming’s hyperreal worlds and aesthetics like Frutiger Aero. This resurgence, sparked by a fascination with the gloss and glow of early 2000s tech, speaks to a broader cultural desire for escapism, immersion, and self-expression.
“And the Universe Said I Love You”: The Unexpected Philosophy of Minecraft
Written by Elise Georgeson You might have skipped past it, read it and misunderstood or thought a little deeper, but here’s our take on the iconic End Poem. Released in 2009, Minecraft is a staple of childhood, whose popularity has ebbed and flowed since its release 15 years ago. With its most recent resurgence happening…
Exploring the Poetic Journey of Gris
A Palette of Emotions Painted in Silence. Written by Calypso Morgan Imagine a young girl perched on the hand of a statue, trying to sing but unable to. Suddenly, everything around her crumbles, and she plummets from the sky, landing in a barren white landscape. With nothing but the sound of wind on the horizon,…
Infinity Nikki is Inspiring Gamers to Bond Over High Heels and Earrings
Seeing a feminine dress-up game acknowledged as a “real” game is groundbreaking. Twelve years ago, Papergames was told that the Nikki franchise was too niche to succeed in the competitive gaming market. The monumental success of Infinity Nikki proves otherwise, showing there’s a community of gamers eager to save the world in an iridescent ballgown and heels.
Short Trip: The Hand-Drawn Cat Carrying Experience
As the chaos of finals, demanding work weeks, and holiday preparations looms, the need for a moment of respite becomes undeniable. Thankfully, we’ve found the perfect game to help you pause, breathe, and recharge amid the holiday frenzy.
How Arcane Subverts Stereotypes Around Black Women
After three long years, Arcane has come to an emotional and dramatic conclusion. The animated series has not only been celebrated as a masterclass in storytelling and artistry but has also made history as a cultural phenomenon. Garnering four Primetime Emmy Awards and earning universal acclaim, Arcane stands as the most successful silver screen adaptation of a video game to date. Its richly layered characters, subversion of tired tropes, and dedication to nuanced representation have solidified its place as a groundbreaking achievement in modern animation.
5 Hidden Gems for Cosy Winter Gaming
If you’re craving cosy winter vibes, this list of five lesser-known games is your perfect escape. From heartwarming puzzle adventures to whimsical snow-filled escapades, these titles embrace the season’s magic without leaning on tired survival tropes.
Beauty in Blocks: How Roblox’s Dress to Impress Inspires Real-Life Makeup Trends
From the virtual runways of Dress to Impress to the Instagram feeds of beauty influencers, Roblox-inspired makeup is rewriting the rules of beauty. Bold, playful, and unapologetically experimental, these trends are proof that digital creativity is shaping the face of fashion in more ways than one.
Our Forgotten Digital Dolls: A Note on Personalisation and Feminine Identity Crises
Once upon a time, the Internet was a playground for little girls. On BarbieGirls.com and Be-Bratz.com, we weren’t just dressing up avatars—we were learning how to present ourselves to the world. These virtual spaces taught us that to be seen was to be valued, planting seeds of self-scrutiny that bloomed into a full-blown obsession with image. Years later, the MP3 players and pink VIP badges are gone, but the mirror they handed us hasn’t cracked. We scroll, we compare, and we perform, still chasing that fleeting feeling of being enough in a world built to tell us otherwise.
Anora: Exoticism as Empty Currency
Sean Baker’s Anora drapes itself in the glittering veneer of social commentary, but at its core, it struggles to engage meaningfully with the very systems it critiques. Anora “Ani” Mikheeva, played with quiet resilience by Mikey Madison, navigates the hostile labyrinth of Brighton Beach’s underbelly, where survival is a dance of compromise. Brighton Beach itself hums with authenticity, a backdrop pulsating with the chaotic beauty of immigrant life. Yet, the film’s gaze—intent on humanising its protagonist—falls into familiar traps, reducing Ani to a cipher, a lens for exploitation rather than an agent in her own story.
Ones to Watch: Top Women-Led London Brands
London’s independent scene is buzzing with women-led brands that are setting the tone for a more ethical and stylish future. From sustainable craftsmanship to boundary-pushing design, these creators are reshaping what it means to shop consciously while keeping us effortlessly ‘G.URL’ this autumn.
Swallowscope: Defining the Gap Between Tradition and Modernism
Traditional Chinese handcrafts have been skillfully produced for thousands of years. Cherida Zhang, the creator of swallowscope, uses her platform to preserve and share the artistry of Chinese knotting. By combining freshwater pearls and crystals with Chinese imagery, she creates intricate pastel jewellery that is both elegant and evokes feelings of nostalgia…
Aika Village: The Haunting Legacy of Animal Crossing’s Darkest Creation
Animal Crossing fans have crafted a paradise of horrors in Aika Village, transforming a beloved game into an unforgettable experiment in eerie storytelling. The Animal Crossing series is known for its charming worlds and slice-of-life gameplay, where daily routines and cheerful villages offer an escape from reality. Yet amid this serene experience, an unexpected current…