Fil Zahnko

Lifelong gamer and U.S. Navy veteran, Fil brings passion and perspective to PlayRatedGames. With a love for everything from platformers to survival-horror, he blends thoughtful critique with heart and humor, drawing inspiration from gaming’s golden eras and the legends who shaped its media.

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Once Fil picked up a controller, the rest was history. A lifelong gamer and proud New Jersey native, his journey began at his cousin’s house, where he was handed a PlayStation controller and introduced to Crash Bandicoot. The vibrant colors, kooky characters, and catchy music hit instantly — and it was love at first sight.
From there, gaming wasn’t just a hobby. It was a passion.

Fil’s tastes span a wide range: platformers, survival-horror, side-scrollers, FPS titles, and classic fighting games. He's drawn to the entire spectrum — from the nostalgic pixel days to modern cinematic masterpieces. What truly fascinates him is how games have evolved from humble cartridges to billion-dollar blockbusters rivaling Hollywood.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Fil spent a full year at sea with no liberty ports — just him and his Nintendo Switch. In a time of isolation, gaming remained his anchor. That kind of dedication shows in his writing.

Inspired by early video game media like G4, and internet legends like the Angry Video Game Nerd and Nostalgia Critic, Fil fell in love with critical analysis blended with humor and heart. Now, as a contributor to PlayRatedGames, he's bringing that same energy to the community.

Whether it’s highlighting hidden gems or diving deep into the classics, Fil aims to spark meaningful conversations. With a thoughtful, forward approach and a deep respect for the medium, he’s here to recommend, review, and celebrate all things gaming — while keeping the conversation smart, passionate, and always open.

Articles By Author

Medal of Honor (2010) – Retrospective

2010's Medal of Honor Retrospective

Does Nostalgia Help or Hinder?

Does Nostalgia Help or Hinder?

If Game Characters Had Day Jobs 🎮 – Episode #5 | PlayRatedGames (Podcast)

If Game Characters Had Day Jobs 🎮 – Episode #5 | PlayRatedGames (Podcast)

The Room: The Game

Oh hai Mark Dive into The Room: The Game, a fan‑made point‑and‑click adventure based on the cult film. Play as Johnny in a retro‑styled San Francisco, tackling everything from shopping to boss fights in this unexpectedly polished 8‑bit RPG adaptation. Johnny the lovable banker has everything a man could ever want. A great career, a beautiful future wife, a handsome best friend named Mark, and a lo...[Read More]

5 Must-Play Licensed Video Games

5 Must Play Licensed Video Games

Spiderman

Swinging into action The superhero genre is one of the most popular in all of entertainment, like Spiderman. There has been a pletera of adaptations through various media outlets. All the way back in the 40s we had movie serials of Batman and Superman, in the 70s and 80s we had feature adaptations of live action tv shows such as Hulk and Spider-Man. When videogames found its way to the mainstream,...[Read More]

Silent Hill: Downpour

I’ve seen rain puddles with more depth Silent Hill has made a huge comeback recently. The masterful Silent Hill 2 remake and a slew of future titles being announced have things looking very bright and hopeful. That being said, we can appreciate what has brought the series back from the dead, let’s look at what killed it in the first place. Origins was decent enough, Homecoming-was a ve...[Read More]

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

One of the worst games in the whole franchise!

Our Podcast Has Gone Visual!

Podcast Episode #4 Now Live!

E.T. (Atari)

A Cautionary Tale What is there really to be said? This so-called “game” was nearly the downfall of the entire industry. What can we take away from this? I dare say it’s the ultimate cautionary tale of studio crunch and commercialism. To make a long story short: E.T. (the film) was considered a cultural landmark upon its release, and the studio wanted all the merchandise possible to cash in ...[Read More]

Podcast Episode #2 Now Live!

Game Series That Have Fluctuated in Quality 🎮 – Episode #2 | PlayRatedGames (Podcast)

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