Scott the Woz

Scott the Woz is a video game review web series, with a focus on discussion and retrospective of video games topics such as consoles, accessories, merchandise, history and subculture.^[1][2] Most episodes adhere to a structure where Scott explains or analyzes a video-game related topic, interspersed with cutaway skits and some recurring jokes. Some episodes deviate from this structure, and feature the video-game topic as interludes between scenes, or are simply just an extended skit with video-game references and themes.^[3]

These reviews show his opinion for entertainment, but are often researched to present information about these products and companies, while giving critique of faulty or misleading products. He draws from a large collection of game merchandise. Some videos focus on franchises like Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. Others compare games that fall within specific genres and categories, like “3D Gaming” and “Console Pack-In Games.”^[4]

Contents below are adapted from TV Guide.^[8]

Limited-edition merchandise themed around the show is offered once a year during the Merchandise for Charity Bonanza events held in collaboration with Pixel Empire (a gaming focused print on demand company), with all proceeds donated to Critical Care Comics and the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.^[10][11] As of 2023, the fundraisers have collectively raised over $1,000,000. The events feature common items like T-shirts, posters, and more unique products, such as VHS releases of The Internet and You and a behind-the-scenes art book.^[12]

In 2020, Wozniak began to offer the Mysterious Game of Crypticism, a randomly chosen Nintendo Entertainment System (and later Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis^{[‡ 5]}) cartridge with a custom label to hide what game it was.^[13]

On November 26, 2021, Wozniak announced Monopoly: Scott The Woz Edition, an officially licensed version of the Monopoly board game based on Scott the Woz. The game, produced in limited quantities, was sold via the Pixel Empire website as part of a charity fundraiser.^[1][12] In December 2022, he announced Clue: Scott The Woz Edition, a version of Clue based on the show.^{[‡ 6]}

Scott the Woz has received a generally positive reception from critics and writers. A 2020 listicle from Innovation & Tech Today's Anthony Elio named Scott the Woz as one of the five best YouTube channels for gamers, and Florian Thibodeau of Jeux.ca called Wozniak his favorite YouTuber.^[14][15]

The series has been praised for its humor and writing,^[15] described by Screen Rant's Pio Nepomuceno as "zany, off-kilter, and outlandish" in a ranking of the series' best episodes.^[3] Reviewing Scott the Woz for PC Games, Lukas Schmid hailed the series' comedic script as "perfect", writing that no cuts feel pointless and that running gags are established without overuse. Schmid, however, noted repetitive lines – commenting that statements are sometimes repeated word for word only three sentences later – but admitted that this might make the videos easier to follow.^[6] Kennedy Unthank from Plugged In called it a "fun" and "entertaining" show, but voiced a disliking towards the script's unsuitability for children. He criticized crude jokes, such as the referral of condoms as "a college essential", and disapproved of the use of swearing; whilst words such as fuck and shit are censored, he noticed that others (such as dick and bitch) are not.^[4]

The series' characters and universe have also received positive reception, having been called absurd or surreal.^[3] Schmid called the cast of Wozniak and his friends fast-paced and funny, and particularly praised Wozniak's fictional portrayal of himself as an exaggerated character that still remains authentic.^[6]

Unthank positively noted Wozniak's research and detail on covered topics, opining that even episodes surpassing an hour in length still maintain a genuine and fair review.^[4] Nepomuceno wrote that the best episodes of Scott the Woz are those that combine his reviews, retrospectives, and skits. Comparing the series' 2017 review of Super Mario 3D World to its 2021 re-review, Nepomuceno said that the 2021 review does well in incorporating jokes to the more "serious" 2017 analysis – which was similar to a "formal game review."^[3]

Wozniak received criticism for a segment in the episode "Nintendo Switch: Five Years In", in which he criticized Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania's use of the Unity game engine. He had repeated a common prejudice that the Unity Engine, due to its cheaper features and engine limitations, had caused worse gameplay. However, game developers expressed frustration from this, saying the negative impression is detrimental to indie Unity developers. Scott apologized and said that this was a "dumb line" as an excuse for his discomfort with the game, and that he would do more research in the future.^{[16][‡ 7]}

His YouTube channel Scott The Woz has amassed over 1.96 million subscribers as of March 2025,^[2] and its popularity has been noted by writers.^[3][6][16] John Connor Coulston, writing for PopCulture.com, described the fanbase as a "huge online following," and attributed the series' popularity to its "comedic-yet-earnest" style produced in a unique homemade manner.^[2] Schmid described the show's style as "simple", though with much effort put into "tiny side gags," and praised the series' lack of sponsorships.^[6]

• List of YouTubers
• List of programs broadcast by G4