Katya Ryabova

Katya is a games journalist writing at the intersection of gaming, motherhood, and gender. She reports on all things Canadian video games and enjoys playing indies and cozy sims. She lives in Toronto with her husband and toddler.

3 articles

Shadowheart, a woman with long silver-white hair in a braid, is swimming naked in a lake. She faces the player character, who is also naked, facing away from the viewer and towards her.

Analysis

From "corny and hot" to "porn-y diversion": How gamers think about sexually explicit content in modern games

Sex scenes are still rare in games, and players' outlooks on them are notably nuanced

Katya Ryabova Aug 20, 2026

A close-up on Ciri's face from The Witcher 4 debut trailer. She has her long silver hair in a braid and has thick black eyeliner around her eyes.

Opinion

I loved Geralt, but Ciri actually makes a lot of sense for The Witcher 4

Ciri's status as a Witcher is not as lore-breaking or clear-cut as some people claim

Katya Ryabova Jun 10, 2026

A wedding shows the player-character marrying Elliot in the town square in Stardew Valley.

Analysis

10 years in, Stardew Valley's binary approach to gender still gets a failing grade

We can marry whoever we like in Pelican Town, so why no they/them pronouns?

Katya Ryabova Feb 23, 2026

Big Walk sound designer Em Halberstadt on capturing its wild Australian soundscape

Sitting the month: Playing Röki with my mother after giving birth

What games will help me heal from gamer burnout?

From "corny and hot" to "porn-y diversion": How gamers think about sexually explicit content in modern games

I loved Geralt, but Ciri actually makes a lot of sense for The Witcher 4

10 years in, Stardew Valley's binary approach to gender still gets a failing grade