Amabel Holland
@amabel.bsky.social
She/her. "Widely considered one of today’s most innovative game designers." - The New Yorker
Board games: https://hollandspiele.com
video essays: youtube.com/@hollandspiele
Patreon: patreon.com/amabelholland
sidekicking: youtube.com/@SBPlaysGames
Board games: https://hollandspiele.com
video essays: youtube.com/@hollandspiele
Patreon: patreon.com/amabelholland
sidekicking: youtube.com/@SBPlaysGames
Pinned
📌 I'm Amabel!
- I design & publish weird board games via Hollandspiele
- I research the uncredited game designers of the twentieth century
- I make video essays about board games
- I talk about transition, politics, trauma, and my hypersexuality
- I design & publish weird board games via Hollandspiele
- I research the uncredited game designers of the twentieth century
- I make video essays about board games
- I talk about transition, politics, trauma, and my hypersexuality
Reposted by Amabel Holland
Samhain: You're so wonderful. You're so sweet to me.
me: J'ACCUSE!
Samhain: What.
me: J'ACCUSE!
Samhain: I don't understand what I am being accused of.
me: you're saying nice things about me
Samhain: Yes...?
me (narrows eyes): you're in the pocket of big amabel
me: J'ACCUSE!
Samhain: What.
me: J'ACCUSE!
Samhain: I don't understand what I am being accused of.
me: you're saying nice things about me
Samhain: Yes...?
me (narrows eyes): you're in the pocket of big amabel
December 12, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Samhain: You're so wonderful. You're so sweet to me.
me: J'ACCUSE!
Samhain: What.
me: J'ACCUSE!
Samhain: I don't understand what I am being accused of.
me: you're saying nice things about me
Samhain: Yes...?
me (narrows eyes): you're in the pocket of big amabel
me: J'ACCUSE!
Samhain: What.
me: J'ACCUSE!
Samhain: I don't understand what I am being accused of.
me: you're saying nice things about me
Samhain: Yes...?
me (narrows eyes): you're in the pocket of big amabel
Reposted by Amabel Holland
der amerikanische freund is a movie where wenders' kind of natural lugubriousness really works in its favor
January 1, 2026 at 5:01 PM
der amerikanische freund is a movie where wenders' kind of natural lugubriousness really works in its favor
Reposted by Amabel Holland
according to wenders he went and studied / worked with picture framers for awhile to prepare for his part, and you can tell
January 1, 2026 at 4:57 PM
according to wenders he went and studied / worked with picture framers for awhile to prepare for his part, and you can tell
Reposted by Amabel Holland
watching the american friend with commentary and apparently bruno ganz just improvised that whole scene with the gold leaf. pretty amazing
January 1, 2026 at 4:56 PM
watching the american friend with commentary and apparently bruno ganz just improvised that whole scene with the gold leaf. pretty amazing
Reposted by Amabel Holland
Plumber’s Passion Slurpee (1993-1993): A "wild cherry"-flavored slush drink made with Fanta soda and sold at 7-Eleven stores, released to promote the live-action Super Mario Bros. movie
December 31, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Plumber’s Passion Slurpee (1993-1993): A "wild cherry"-flavored slush drink made with Fanta soda and sold at 7-Eleven stores, released to promote the live-action Super Mario Bros. movie
Reposted by Amabel Holland
plot twist at the end of season 2025, @sbmakesstuff.bsky.social is in the pocket of big @amabel.bsky.social
December 31, 2025 at 11:10 PM
plot twist at the end of season 2025, @sbmakesstuff.bsky.social is in the pocket of big @amabel.bsky.social
Reposted by Amabel Holland
WENDYBUXXX is a straight-to-VHS card game with a 10-track companion album by none other than Wendy Miasma herself. It'll be self-published under Miasma Corp Games. The design and art are complete, and I'm working out the logistics of getting it manufactured.
More details soon!
More details soon!
December 31, 2025 at 4:29 PM
WENDYBUXXX is a straight-to-VHS card game with a 10-track companion album by none other than Wendy Miasma herself. It'll be self-published under Miasma Corp Games. The design and art are complete, and I'm working out the logistics of getting it manufactured.
More details soon!
More details soon!
Reposted by Amabel Holland
In 2026, I'm releasing my next game: WENDYBUXXX.
Play as song characters brought to life by singer Wendy Miasma and forced to compete as lifestyle influencers to promote her new necrocurrency*, WENDYBUXXX. Gain the most followers by setting and following trends, while balancing controversy.
Play as song characters brought to life by singer Wendy Miasma and forced to compete as lifestyle influencers to promote her new necrocurrency*, WENDYBUXXX. Gain the most followers by setting and following trends, while balancing controversy.
December 31, 2025 at 4:29 PM
In 2026, I'm releasing my next game: WENDYBUXXX.
Play as song characters brought to life by singer Wendy Miasma and forced to compete as lifestyle influencers to promote her new necrocurrency*, WENDYBUXXX. Gain the most followers by setting and following trends, while balancing controversy.
Play as song characters brought to life by singer Wendy Miasma and forced to compete as lifestyle influencers to promote her new necrocurrency*, WENDYBUXXX. Gain the most followers by setting and following trends, while balancing controversy.
Samhain has been showing me "30 Rock", and explaining the various contemporary pop culture references I don't understand
but last night this punchline absolutely took me the fuck out, and she looked over at me, utterly bewildered, and I got to explain the career of a mid-century TV ventriloquist
but last night this punchline absolutely took me the fuck out, and she looked over at me, utterly bewildered, and I got to explain the career of a mid-century TV ventriloquist
December 31, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Samhain has been showing me "30 Rock", and explaining the various contemporary pop culture references I don't understand
but last night this punchline absolutely took me the fuck out, and she looked over at me, utterly bewildered, and I got to explain the career of a mid-century TV ventriloquist
but last night this punchline absolutely took me the fuck out, and she looked over at me, utterly bewildered, and I got to explain the career of a mid-century TV ventriloquist
Reposted by Amabel Holland
Draw Me A Horse (2+ players)
Round 1
Draw a horse. Best horse worth 1 point.
Round 2 onward:
Look up a random noun in a dictionary or a random Wikipedia article. Add that thing to the drawing, riding the thing drawn in the previous round. Best drawing scores pts equal to round number.
21 pts+ wins.
Round 1
Draw a horse. Best horse worth 1 point.
Round 2 onward:
Look up a random noun in a dictionary or a random Wikipedia article. Add that thing to the drawing, riding the thing drawn in the previous round. Best drawing scores pts equal to round number.
21 pts+ wins.
I need everyone to make a shitpost game that fits into at most 3 posts on here before the end of the year otherwise thr sun will not rise again
Not enough shitpost games though
December 31, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Draw Me A Horse (2+ players)
Round 1
Draw a horse. Best horse worth 1 point.
Round 2 onward:
Look up a random noun in a dictionary or a random Wikipedia article. Add that thing to the drawing, riding the thing drawn in the previous round. Best drawing scores pts equal to round number.
21 pts+ wins.
Round 1
Draw a horse. Best horse worth 1 point.
Round 2 onward:
Look up a random noun in a dictionary or a random Wikipedia article. Add that thing to the drawing, riding the thing drawn in the previous round. Best drawing scores pts equal to round number.
21 pts+ wins.
Reposted by Amabel Holland
I can be expected to say this, I know, but this really is entirely conservatives fault
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
Majority of Gen Z swipe left on dating people with opposite political views
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
n.pr
December 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I can be expected to say this, I know, but this really is entirely conservatives fault
Reposted by Amabel Holland
Social media has allowed me to keep in touch with friends, make lots of new ones, and form meaningful, lasting relationships. On the other hand, it means that every day I have to see privately-educated English people tell each other how insightful and fascinating they are in spite of all evidence
December 31, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Social media has allowed me to keep in touch with friends, make lots of new ones, and form meaningful, lasting relationships. On the other hand, it means that every day I have to see privately-educated English people tell each other how insightful and fascinating they are in spite of all evidence
Reposted by Amabel Holland
▶️YouTube part III:
@amabel.bsky.social of Hollandspiele made some wonderful essays on board game design, but in particular the place board games have in our culture. Her search to find an uncredited board game designer is fantastic.
youtu.be/MWteJW-wYas
@amabel.bsky.social of Hollandspiele made some wonderful essays on board game design, but in particular the place board games have in our culture. Her search to find an uncredited board game designer is fantastic.
youtu.be/MWteJW-wYas
Uncredited: Searching for Lost Board Game Designers
YouTube video by Hollandspiele
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 10:17 AM
▶️YouTube part III:
@amabel.bsky.social of Hollandspiele made some wonderful essays on board game design, but in particular the place board games have in our culture. Her search to find an uncredited board game designer is fantastic.
youtu.be/MWteJW-wYas
@amabel.bsky.social of Hollandspiele made some wonderful essays on board game design, but in particular the place board games have in our culture. Her search to find an uncredited board game designer is fantastic.
youtu.be/MWteJW-wYas
Draw Me A Horse (2+ players)
Round 1
Draw a horse. Best horse worth 1 point.
Round 2 onward:
Look up a random noun in a dictionary or a random Wikipedia article. Add that thing to the drawing, riding the thing drawn in the previous round. Best drawing scores pts equal to round number.
21 pts+ wins.
Round 1
Draw a horse. Best horse worth 1 point.
Round 2 onward:
Look up a random noun in a dictionary or a random Wikipedia article. Add that thing to the drawing, riding the thing drawn in the previous round. Best drawing scores pts equal to round number.
21 pts+ wins.
I need everyone to make a shitpost game that fits into at most 3 posts on here before the end of the year otherwise thr sun will not rise again
Not enough shitpost games though
December 31, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Draw Me A Horse (2+ players)
Round 1
Draw a horse. Best horse worth 1 point.
Round 2 onward:
Look up a random noun in a dictionary or a random Wikipedia article. Add that thing to the drawing, riding the thing drawn in the previous round. Best drawing scores pts equal to round number.
21 pts+ wins.
Round 1
Draw a horse. Best horse worth 1 point.
Round 2 onward:
Look up a random noun in a dictionary or a random Wikipedia article. Add that thing to the drawing, riding the thing drawn in the previous round. Best drawing scores pts equal to round number.
21 pts+ wins.
Reposted by Amabel Holland
"People didn't put politics in their gaming in the old days".
The year is 1969, a 25 year old Jim Dunnigan designs the wargame "Up Against the Wall, Motherf*****", a game about the student demonstrations at Columbia. One player plays the Administration and the other the Radicals.
The year is 1969, a 25 year old Jim Dunnigan designs the wargame "Up Against the Wall, Motherf*****", a game about the student demonstrations at Columbia. One player plays the Administration and the other the Radicals.
December 30, 2025 at 11:43 PM
"People didn't put politics in their gaming in the old days".
The year is 1969, a 25 year old Jim Dunnigan designs the wargame "Up Against the Wall, Motherf*****", a game about the student demonstrations at Columbia. One player plays the Administration and the other the Radicals.
The year is 1969, a 25 year old Jim Dunnigan designs the wargame "Up Against the Wall, Motherf*****", a game about the student demonstrations at Columbia. One player plays the Administration and the other the Radicals.
Reposted by Amabel Holland
I’ve complained about it before but /r/BoxOffice users continuously ignoring the contextual realities of box office for indie and award contender movies in favour of acting like every film ever needs to perform like an Avengers movie otherwise it’s a flop is consistently so so so funny
December 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I’ve complained about it before but /r/BoxOffice users continuously ignoring the contextual realities of box office for indie and award contender movies in favour of acting like every film ever needs to perform like an Avengers movie otherwise it’s a flop is consistently so so so funny
Every time someone tells me the way I make games made them want to make games, or changed how they made them, it means so very much to me. It's kinda up there with "you cracked my egg" as one of the most beautiful, gratifying things friends and strangers can say to me.
It makes all of it worth it.
It makes all of it worth it.
December 30, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Every time someone tells me the way I make games made them want to make games, or changed how they made them, it means so very much to me. It's kinda up there with "you cracked my egg" as one of the most beautiful, gratifying things friends and strangers can say to me.
It makes all of it worth it.
It makes all of it worth it.
That's incredibly kind and gratifying to hear. Thank you so much. ♥️
I've only ever designed board games for a college class over a decade ago, but nothing makes me want to get back into it more than your thoughts on design -- most especially this thread. One day that's gonna tip over from thoughts into action.
Thank you for being a regular inspiration!
Thank you for being a regular inspiration!
December 30, 2025 at 5:14 PM
That's incredibly kind and gratifying to hear. Thank you so much. ♥️
Reposted by Amabel Holland
Back on the other site I had a long thread of contrarian (but sincerely-held) board game design hot takes. Here's a shorter thread with the best of them. 🧵
November 25, 2024 at 11:42 PM
Back on the other site I had a long thread of contrarian (but sincerely-held) board game design hot takes. Here's a shorter thread with the best of them. 🧵
Reposted by Amabel Holland
And finally --
29. There are no rules for designing games. A lot of what is considered "good" design is taste & conditioning; making "bad" design decisions on purpose irritates that, but is often more interesting, more personal, more memorable, more likely to push the form forward.
29. There are no rules for designing games. A lot of what is considered "good" design is taste & conditioning; making "bad" design decisions on purpose irritates that, but is often more interesting, more personal, more memorable, more likely to push the form forward.
November 26, 2024 at 12:03 AM
And finally --
29. There are no rules for designing games. A lot of what is considered "good" design is taste & conditioning; making "bad" design decisions on purpose irritates that, but is often more interesting, more personal, more memorable, more likely to push the form forward.
29. There are no rules for designing games. A lot of what is considered "good" design is taste & conditioning; making "bad" design decisions on purpose irritates that, but is often more interesting, more personal, more memorable, more likely to push the form forward.
Reposted by Amabel Holland
corollary: the normal number of times per month to get into a screaming match with a partner is zero
doesn't necessarily mean it's abusive or that you're bad people, just means there's something wrong, and if it's happening over and over again, you should think about why
doesn't necessarily mean it's abusive or that you're bad people, just means there's something wrong, and if it's happening over and over again, you should think about why
was talking with a friend who is stuck in a bad relationship and when I suggested she leave she said "but we love each other" and I cannot communicate the degree to which that's never a reason to stay in a relationship that isn't working or is hurting you
love is bare minimum, the low bar
love is bare minimum, the low bar
June 20, 2025 at 10:43 AM
corollary: the normal number of times per month to get into a screaming match with a partner is zero
doesn't necessarily mean it's abusive or that you're bad people, just means there's something wrong, and if it's happening over and over again, you should think about why
doesn't necessarily mean it's abusive or that you're bad people, just means there's something wrong, and if it's happening over and over again, you should think about why
Reposted by Amabel Holland
watching a movie where a virgin incel writes a seduction manual but then he meets a girl on a train who makes him eat dog biscuits and bark for her so he realizes misogyny is bad
August 11, 2025 at 5:29 PM
watching a movie where a virgin incel writes a seduction manual but then he meets a girl on a train who makes him eat dog biscuits and bark for her so he realizes misogyny is bad
Reposted by Amabel Holland
yesterday Samhain showed me this image and I had no context so now she has spent the last few hours reading me a story
September 30, 2025 at 2:46 AM
yesterday Samhain showed me this image and I had no context so now she has spent the last few hours reading me a story
Reposted by Amabel Holland
"this artist scammed me! they sold me a object that they told me contained truth and/or beauty, but when i looked inside it only contained an arrangement of objects and symbols, and i had to bring my own flawed interpretations in order to derive meaning!"
yeah dipshit, that's all of them
yeah dipshit, that's all of them
December 29, 2025 at 11:03 PM
"this artist scammed me! they sold me a object that they told me contained truth and/or beauty, but when i looked inside it only contained an arrangement of objects and symbols, and i had to bring my own flawed interpretations in order to derive meaning!"
yeah dipshit, that's all of them
yeah dipshit, that's all of them