Emma Kidwell is an adaptable writer who worked on Civilization VII and Marvel’s Midnight Suns with her current team at Firaxis. Kidwell’s work earned an interview by the New York Times, a developer reel shown during The Game Awards, and a spot in Forbes 30 under 30 for Games. Kidwell’s strength lies in character writing and matching a project’s tone, able to go from writing crass jokes as Deadpool to evocative moments throughout human history in Civilization VII. Kidwell’s ability to write stories about the human condition is evident through Hindsight, which was nominated for several awards including Games for Impact and Social impact.
She hosted the IGF Awards in 2025, having written the script with feedback and encouragement from committee members who graciously offered their time and expertise. The talk she gave at GDC 2025, “My OC Writes IP: How Fan Fiction Primes Us For Established Franchises” earned her an interview with Wired where she discussed how fan fiction and forum roleplaying provided a framework for her as a triple-a writer.
Believing that game developers need to pay it forward and offer guidance for the next generation, Kidwell mentors for Cal Marginalized Genders in Gaming. In her pursuit to learn and grow as a mid-level developer, she participated in Amplifying New Voices, a program designed to provide hands-on training and coaching for applicants who demonstrate high-potential as new voices.