Alexander Vandewalle
@alexvandewalle.bsky.social
Postdoc at Ghent University // Video games and mythology // DiGRA Belgium Co-Chair
Pinned
May 2026 👀
My monograph "Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games" will be out next year in @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social's IMAGINES series!
Many thanks to @ubisoft.com for the #ImmortalsFenyxRising art ⚡
More information (soon!) on www.bloomsbury.com/uk/character...
My monograph "Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games" will be out next year in @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social's IMAGINES series!
Many thanks to @ubisoft.com for the #ImmortalsFenyxRising art ⚡
More information (soon!) on www.bloomsbury.com/uk/character...
It's amazing to see that "The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Marvel Cinematic Universe" (co-edited with real-life superhero @rowandaneels.bsky.social) is finally out - available in OPEN ACCESS thanks to Play Story Press and Psychgeist editor @drkowert.bsky.social! ⚡
Massive thanks to everyone involved!
Massive thanks to everyone involved!
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐠𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐨𝐩 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞, co-edited with the marvelous @alexvandewalle.bsky.social, is ALIVE!
This scholarly-based book addresses the underlying psychological themes of the MCU’s superhero storytelling.
Book is OPEN ACCESS: playstorypress.org/books/the-ps...
This scholarly-based book addresses the underlying psychological themes of the MCU’s superhero storytelling.
Book is OPEN ACCESS: playstorypress.org/books/the-ps...
November 13, 2025 at 10:42 AM
It's amazing to see that "The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Marvel Cinematic Universe" (co-edited with real-life superhero @rowandaneels.bsky.social) is finally out - available in OPEN ACCESS thanks to Play Story Press and Psychgeist editor @drkowert.bsky.social! ⚡
Massive thanks to everyone involved!
Massive thanks to everyone involved!
May can't come soon enough! Really grateful to the editors for including a chapter where I discuss inter-mythological games (eg Smite, Age of Mythology, GoW). I try to explain this relatively game-specific phenomenon, and how combinations of mythic traditions construct a Western-centric worldview.
A project that started with a DiGRA23 workshop is finally, nearly out in the world! Coming May 2026 from Bloomsbury’s Writing History series, Writing Games Histories is a collection of essays on historical game studies methods&approaches. Find the ToC here:
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/writing-g...
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/writing-g...
Writing Game Histories
This book offers an accessible introduction to the dynamic intersection between history and games, and the flourishing discipline of Historical Game Studies. Fr…
www.bloomsbury.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:59 AM
May can't come soon enough! Really grateful to the editors for including a chapter where I discuss inter-mythological games (eg Smite, Age of Mythology, GoW). I try to explain this relatively game-specific phenomenon, and how combinations of mythic traditions construct a Western-centric worldview.
Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle
hey y'all! my questionnaire on player experience in historical videogames is now LIVE! if you play videogames about the past, we want to hear from you! edu.nl/7w3yn
November 6, 2025 at 10:35 AM
hey y'all! my questionnaire on player experience in historical videogames is now LIVE! if you play videogames about the past, we want to hear from you! edu.nl/7w3yn
Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle
It's my birthday~ 🎂🥳 Two years ago, I was struggling with mental health but now I am the healthiest I have ever been, and a big part of that is because I got to work on Toward Dawn. 🐺✨️
For the weekend, my Welsh mythology jrpg will be on sale for 35% off! 🥰
store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/...
For the weekend, my Welsh mythology jrpg will be on sale for 35% off! 🥰
store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/...
Save 35% on Toward Dawn on Steam
Inspired by Welsh mythology, experience a classic fantasy RPG adventure exploring the cycles of abuse. Customise your abilities, craft new equipment and Break your enemies in strategic turn-based comb...
store.steampowered.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:09 PM
It's my birthday~ 🎂🥳 Two years ago, I was struggling with mental health but now I am the healthiest I have ever been, and a big part of that is because I got to work on Toward Dawn. 🐺✨️
For the weekend, my Welsh mythology jrpg will be on sale for 35% off! 🥰
store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/...
For the weekend, my Welsh mythology jrpg will be on sale for 35% off! 🥰
store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/...
Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle
October 23, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle
I'm a BIG fan of physical media, so it's safe to say I'm SUPER STOKED that our multi-awarding winning indie game Mythwrecked will be getting a physical release!!! 🎉🎉🎉
Snag your copy below & signal boosts are most welcome folks.
🏝️ bit.ly/mythwrecked
Snag your copy below & signal boosts are most welcome folks.
🏝️ bit.ly/mythwrecked
October 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I'm a BIG fan of physical media, so it's safe to say I'm SUPER STOKED that our multi-awarding winning indie game Mythwrecked will be getting a physical release!!! 🎉🎉🎉
Snag your copy below & signal boosts are most welcome folks.
🏝️ bit.ly/mythwrecked
Snag your copy below & signal boosts are most welcome folks.
🏝️ bit.ly/mythwrecked
Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle
Delighted to have a short piece in this week's TLS on Hades 2, gender, and modern myth making.
www.the-tls.com/arts/hades-i...
www.the-tls.com/arts/hades-i...
Hell with other people
Video games are often the first and most common way that many people now encounter the classical world. Hades, a critical hit following its release in
www.the-tls.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Delighted to have a short piece in this week's TLS on Hades 2, gender, and modern myth making.
www.the-tls.com/arts/hades-i...
www.the-tls.com/arts/hades-i...
Incredibly honored to have been selected and to be in such wonderful company - I'm very excited to travel to Durham in December. Huge thanks to everyone involved!
💥 Congrats to Dr Alexander Vanderwalle, whose thesis has been awarded the Durham Prize in Classical Reception for 2025!
👏 CongratulatCongratsions also to Aimee Hind Scott on second place, and to Jessica Glueck, whose thesis was highly commended.
📅 Prize lecture in Durham at 5pm on 10th Dec.
👏 CongratulatCongratsions also to Aimee Hind Scott on second place, and to Jessica Glueck, whose thesis was highly commended.
📅 Prize lecture in Durham at 5pm on 10th Dec.
October 15, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Incredibly honored to have been selected and to be in such wonderful company - I'm very excited to travel to Durham in December. Huge thanks to everyone involved!
Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle
In video games, you will often find a fully roasted chicken abandoned on the ground, and eating it extremely quickly makes you feel better. What's less known is that this is also true in real life
October 10, 2025 at 2:27 PM
In video games, you will often find a fully roasted chicken abandoned on the ground, and eating it extremely quickly makes you feel better. What's less known is that this is also true in real life
printing this out and hanging it near my desk to look at next time I need to follow word counts
October 2, 2025 at 9:03 AM
printing this out and hanging it near my desk to look at next time I need to follow word counts
May 2026 👀
My monograph "Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games" will be out next year in @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social's IMAGINES series!
Many thanks to @ubisoft.com for the #ImmortalsFenyxRising art ⚡
More information (soon!) on www.bloomsbury.com/uk/character...
My monograph "Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games" will be out next year in @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social's IMAGINES series!
Many thanks to @ubisoft.com for the #ImmortalsFenyxRising art ⚡
More information (soon!) on www.bloomsbury.com/uk/character...
October 1, 2025 at 2:46 PM
May 2026 👀
My monograph "Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games" will be out next year in @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social's IMAGINES series!
Many thanks to @ubisoft.com for the #ImmortalsFenyxRising art ⚡
More information (soon!) on www.bloomsbury.com/uk/character...
My monograph "Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games" will be out next year in @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social's IMAGINES series!
Many thanks to @ubisoft.com for the #ImmortalsFenyxRising art ⚡
More information (soon!) on www.bloomsbury.com/uk/character...
In the name of research (but also genuine enjoyment), I accept this message
🌒HADES II v1.0 is OUT NOW!! 🌘
Battle beyond the Underworld in our bewitching sequel to the godlike roguelike. Go Kill Time!
Nintendo Switch 2: supergiant.games/h2switch2
Nintendo Switch: supergiant.games/h2switch
Steam: supergiant.games/h2steam
Epic Games Store: supergiant.games/h2egs
Battle beyond the Underworld in our bewitching sequel to the godlike roguelike. Go Kill Time!
Nintendo Switch 2: supergiant.games/h2switch2
Nintendo Switch: supergiant.games/h2switch
Steam: supergiant.games/h2steam
Epic Games Store: supergiant.games/h2egs
Hades II – Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 - Nintendo Official Site
Buy Hades II – Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition and shop other great Nintendo products online at the official My Nintendo Store.
supergiant.games
September 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
In the name of research (but also genuine enjoyment), I accept this message
Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle
September 21, 2025 at 11:43 PM
(Co-)Taught my first class today! It's a game studies course, focusing on the interplay between video games, literary texts, and history. We had some introductions to video game narratives and game studies, and we finished by playing Return of the Obra Dinn!
September 23, 2025 at 10:43 AM
(Co-)Taught my first class today! It's a game studies course, focusing on the interplay between video games, literary texts, and history. We had some introductions to video game narratives and game studies, and we finished by playing Return of the Obra Dinn!
Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle
CRSN is looking for Early Career Researchers who are interested in convening or co-convening the Classical Reception seminar series at the Institute of Classical Studies this summer! For more information, see the link below:
classicalreception.org/call-for-ecr...
classicalreception.org/call-for-ecr...
Call for ECR convenors – CRSN Classical Reception Seminar Series at the ICS, Summer 2026 (online)
The Classical Reception Studies Network (CRSN) invites expressions of interest from Early Career Researchers (including postgraduates) who wish to convene or co-convene the Classical Reception semi…
classicalreception.org
September 23, 2025 at 9:09 AM
CRSN is looking for Early Career Researchers who are interested in convening or co-convening the Classical Reception seminar series at the Institute of Classical Studies this summer! For more information, see the link below:
classicalreception.org/call-for-ecr...
classicalreception.org/call-for-ecr...
The Mandalorian, Grogu, and a touch of Hannibal?
September 22, 2025 at 8:46 PM
The Mandalorian, Grogu, and a touch of Hannibal?
Becoming increasingly convinced that The Last of Us, Norse God of War, and A Plague Tale are all basically the same game
September 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Becoming increasingly convinced that The Last of Us, Norse God of War, and A Plague Tale are all basically the same game
One day I wish to be as persistent as the typos you apparently can't get rid of no matter how many times you and others read your manuscripts
September 19, 2025 at 1:41 PM
One day I wish to be as persistent as the typos you apparently can't get rid of no matter how many times you and others read your manuscripts
One side effect of sequel culture is that it suddenly feels strange to refer to what used to be individual games as part of a larger series. "The Titan Quest series", "the Hades franchise", "the Okami games"; it all feels very weird to say...
September 17, 2025 at 2:17 PM
One side effect of sequel culture is that it suddenly feels strange to refer to what used to be individual games as part of a larger series. "The Titan Quest series", "the Hades franchise", "the Okami games"; it all feels very weird to say...
This one is ranked high on the wishlist!
Play our demo today: store.steampowered.com/app/3972400/...
Relooted Demo on Steam
Reclaim real African artifacts from Western museums in this Africanfuturist heist game. Recruit crew members, plan escape routes, acquire the precious cargo, and bounce out of the joint as fast as you can.
store.steampowered.com
September 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM
This one is ranked high on the wishlist!
Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle
Historians (rightly) get annoyed when other academics weigh in on their subject & claim to have “solved” or “completed” history, ignoring existing research & nuance. Yet historians keep weighing in on games as if no one has ever paid attention to them before (& it’s not great)
Another 👀 passage in @enwright.bsky.social's review, pointing out how the book is at odds with... scholarship it doesn't cite... all the while praising RDR's treatment of the history of the US West.
![Existing academic work treats Red Dead as, to borrow Soraya Murray’s label, a “difficult object” (Red Dead Redemption: History, Myth, and Violence in the Video Game West [2023], 207). Red Dead’s History is largely positive about the way the games engage with and represent the diversity of Western history. The author praises the “pains that Rockstar [. . .] took to capture the world of the late 1800s,” and claims that “the video games frequently excel in showcasing the contours not only of outlaw life but also of American life” (2). This perspective is not without merit—the game is indeed impressive and richly detailed. Historians will naturally disagree when it comes to interpreting their sources, as the author notes. But claims that Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game that meaningfully engages with any other historical perspective than that of white men are at odds with existing critical writing on this game (popular and academic), particularly where the game deals with the presence and stories of women, Native Americans, and Black Americans. This is one area where, at the very least, acknowledging the existence of other work in this field was warranted.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7mpwyqkv2tdiho653oyczicd/bafkreickl2htheohnfajlomp4kpowipjc5apigmx6minm74rf7fy4ebxze@jpeg)
September 16, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Historians (rightly) get annoyed when other academics weigh in on their subject & claim to have “solved” or “completed” history, ignoring existing research & nuance. Yet historians keep weighing in on games as if no one has ever paid attention to them before (& it’s not great)
Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle
🚨 New publication alert (OA!) 🚨 I argue that unruly Apollo—far from ⚡ Zeus' ⚡ loyal son—was a potential challenger to his father’s throne. In Prometheus Bound (907–12), the curse of Kronos looms… and Apollo could've avenged Granddad and deposed Zeus! #Classics #GreekMyth
doi.org/10.14746/spp...
doi.org/10.14746/spp...
Apollo, Kronos’s Avenger? Divine Intergenerational Conflicts in Light of ‘The Curse of Kronos’ (Prometheus Bound 907‒12)
| Symbolae Philologorum Posnaniensium Graecae et Latinae
doi.org
September 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM
🚨 New publication alert (OA!) 🚨 I argue that unruly Apollo—far from ⚡ Zeus' ⚡ loyal son—was a potential challenger to his father’s throne. In Prometheus Bound (907–12), the curse of Kronos looms… and Apollo could've avenged Granddad and deposed Zeus! #Classics #GreekMyth
doi.org/10.14746/spp...
doi.org/10.14746/spp...
This is amazing - Hades II releases Sep 25! 🌙⚡
Really looking forward to starting from scratch again and experiencing the full story!
Really not looking forward to re-reading and updating every reference list of manuscripts under review from "Hades II (2024)" to "Hades II (2025)"
Really looking forward to starting from scratch again and experiencing the full story!
Really not looking forward to re-reading and updating every reference list of manuscripts under review from "Hades II (2024)" to "Hades II (2025)"
HADES II v1.0 is coming September 25!🌒
Battle beyond the Underworld in our launch trailer.🏔️
Play in blazing-fast 120fps in TV Mode on Nintendo Switch 2, or 60fps on Nintendo Switch (w/ free upgrade to Switch 2). Transfer PC progress from Steam/Epic w/ Cross Saves.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8lJ...
Battle beyond the Underworld in our launch trailer.🏔️
Play in blazing-fast 120fps in TV Mode on Nintendo Switch 2, or 60fps on Nintendo Switch (w/ free upgrade to Switch 2). Transfer PC progress from Steam/Epic w/ Cross Saves.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8lJ...
Hades II – v1.0 Launch Trailer (Coming Sep. 25!)
YouTube video by Supergiant Games
www.youtube.com
September 12, 2025 at 1:41 PM
This is amazing - Hades II releases Sep 25! 🌙⚡
Really looking forward to starting from scratch again and experiencing the full story!
Really not looking forward to re-reading and updating every reference list of manuscripts under review from "Hades II (2024)" to "Hades II (2025)"
Really looking forward to starting from scratch again and experiencing the full story!
Really not looking forward to re-reading and updating every reference list of manuscripts under review from "Hades II (2024)" to "Hades II (2025)"
Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT! @mahliann.bsky.social, @marcuscarter.com, and myself have combined our collective brains and written a wide-reaching introduction to the complex and interdisciplinary field of Game Studies in this forthcoming book for Polity. www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?b...
September 4, 2025 at 4:59 AM
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT! @mahliann.bsky.social, @marcuscarter.com, and myself have combined our collective brains and written a wide-reaching introduction to the complex and interdisciplinary field of Game Studies in this forthcoming book for Polity. www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?b...
The Discovery Tour is back, but as a free mobile app that is more text-based than the earlier ones:
Step into the heart of Medieval Baghdad—right from your phone.
📜 Uncover rich, immersive history
🦅 Explore 9th century Baghdad
📱 Experience it all for free, anytime, anywhere
Launching today for free: the Discovery Tour App – Medieval Baghdad
#AssassinsCreed
📜 Uncover rich, immersive history
🦅 Explore 9th century Baghdad
📱 Experience it all for free, anytime, anywhere
Launching today for free: the Discovery Tour App – Medieval Baghdad
#AssassinsCreed
September 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The Discovery Tour is back, but as a free mobile app that is more text-based than the earlier ones: