Greg Costikyan
@costik.bsky.social
My daughter asked for this cake for her birthday. Lavender and vanilla bean paste? Took some effort to find that. I made it (wks after her actual birthday), just before she left on the train to Pittsburgh - taking some cake - to see her half-sibling.
inbloombakery.com/london-fog-c...
inbloombakery.com/london-fog-c...
London Fog Cake
This perfect London fog cake is an extra soft and moist cake flavored with Earl Grey tea and lavender, soaked with sweet Earl Grey lavender milk and frosted with silky lavender vanilla bean cream chee...
inbloombakery.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:50 AM
My daughter asked for this cake for her birthday. Lavender and vanilla bean paste? Took some effort to find that. I made it (wks after her actual birthday), just before she left on the train to Pittsburgh - taking some cake - to see her half-sibling.
inbloombakery.com/london-fog-c...
inbloombakery.com/london-fog-c...
Reposted by Greg Costikyan
It’s giving Hamilton vibes.
I knew it would take less than a day for a tiktok dj to make something.
November 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
It’s giving Hamilton vibes.
I reviewed VAL(IANT) OR VAL'S GUIDE TO HAVING A BROKEN VAG, for Indie Game Reviewer. It's free short, and one of the best student games I've ever played. It's a personal journey about a young woman who experiences vaginal pain.
indiegamereviewer.com/valiant-or-v...
indiegamereviewer.com/valiant-or-v...
(val)iant: or, val's guide to having a broken vag Review - Not a Sex Game
Read on to find out why (val)iant: or, val's guide to having a broken vag is perhaps the best student game Greg Costikyan has ever played.
indiegamereviewer.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:48 AM
I reviewed VAL(IANT) OR VAL'S GUIDE TO HAVING A BROKEN VAG, for Indie Game Reviewer. It's free short, and one of the best student games I've ever played. It's a personal journey about a young woman who experiences vaginal pain.
indiegamereviewer.com/valiant-or-v...
indiegamereviewer.com/valiant-or-v...
Reposted by Greg Costikyan
It's almost #Halloween, which means it's time for @indiegamereviewer.bsky.social's Top 13 Halloween Games for 2025!
This year's list features #indiegames from @moonhood.bsky.social, @jrhudepohl.bsky.social, @warkus.bsky.social, @katanalevy.bsky.social...
indiegamereviewer.com/top-13-hallo...
This year's list features #indiegames from @moonhood.bsky.social, @jrhudepohl.bsky.social, @warkus.bsky.social, @katanalevy.bsky.social...
indiegamereviewer.com/top-13-hallo...
Top 13 Halloween Games for 2025 - Indie Game Reviewer - The Best Indie Games
We have tricks and treats aplenty to help usher in the autumn with 13 indie games that are perfect for spooky season celebrations!
indiegamereviewer.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:07 AM
It's almost #Halloween, which means it's time for @indiegamereviewer.bsky.social's Top 13 Halloween Games for 2025!
This year's list features #indiegames from @moonhood.bsky.social, @jrhudepohl.bsky.social, @warkus.bsky.social, @katanalevy.bsky.social...
indiegamereviewer.com/top-13-hallo...
This year's list features #indiegames from @moonhood.bsky.social, @jrhudepohl.bsky.social, @warkus.bsky.social, @katanalevy.bsky.social...
indiegamereviewer.com/top-13-hallo...
I reviewed SNUFKIN: Melody of Moominvalley at Indie Game Reviewer. It's a gentle game consisting mostly of navigational and stealth challenges, set in the world of Tove Jansson's Moomin books for children.
indiegamereviewer.com/snufkin-melo...
indiegamereviewer.com/snufkin-melo...
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley Review - Music and Moomins
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley offers cozy charms even to those who aren't huge fans of the Tove Jansson books. Read our complete review.
indiegamereviewer.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:32 AM
I reviewed SNUFKIN: Melody of Moominvalley at Indie Game Reviewer. It's a gentle game consisting mostly of navigational and stealth challenges, set in the world of Tove Jansson's Moomin books for children.
indiegamereviewer.com/snufkin-melo...
indiegamereviewer.com/snufkin-melo...
I have a somewhat satirical post on Netflix's announcement that it has obtained film & TV rights to the boardgame Settlers of Catan on Tabletop Quester here:
tabletopquester.com/netflix-to-d...
tabletopquester.com/netflix-to-d...
Netflix to do.... Catan Stories? - Tabletop Quester
Netflix eyes a Catan series—live action or animated. Can a story-less strategy game translate to screen? Greg has thoughts.
tabletopquester.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:27 AM
I have a somewhat satirical post on Netflix's announcement that it has obtained film & TV rights to the boardgame Settlers of Catan on Tabletop Quester here:
tabletopquester.com/netflix-to-d...
tabletopquester.com/netflix-to-d...
I posted a profile of Digital Eel, a pioneering indie game developer, on Indie Game Reviewer:
indiegamereviewer.com/developer-pr...
They were "indie before there was indie," which is literally true; they released their first game before Steam existed, basically on faith and a prayer.
indiegamereviewer.com/developer-pr...
They were "indie before there was indie," which is literally true; they released their first game before Steam existed, basically on faith and a prayer.
Developer Profile: Digital Eel - Indie Game Reviewer - The Best Indie Games
Greg Costikyan reflects on the legacy of Digital Eel, one of the earliest studios in indie video game scene.
indiegamereviewer.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:39 AM
I posted a profile of Digital Eel, a pioneering indie game developer, on Indie Game Reviewer:
indiegamereviewer.com/developer-pr...
They were "indie before there was indie," which is literally true; they released their first game before Steam existed, basically on faith and a prayer.
indiegamereviewer.com/developer-pr...
They were "indie before there was indie," which is literally true; they released their first game before Steam existed, basically on faith and a prayer.
Also attended Game-A-Palooza, an indie game event with 50-ish developers attending, taking copious notes, and will write it up for Indie Game Reviewers.
gameapalooza.love
gameapalooza.love
Game-A-Palooza Fall 2025 | NYC’s Largest Celebration of Indie Game Developers
Join Game-A-Palooza Fall 2025 on October 18 at Hana House, Brooklyn — the biggest celebration of NYC-based indie game developers! Play 50+ new and unreleased games, meet local creators, and access exc...
gameapalooza.love
October 19, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Also attended Game-A-Palooza, an indie game event with 50-ish developers attending, taking copious notes, and will write it up for Indie Game Reviewers.
gameapalooza.love
gameapalooza.love
Busy day today: attended the No Kings protest in Park Slope, Brooklyn, reprising my sign based on this 19-century image:
live.staticflickr.com/189/51003032...
live.staticflickr.com/189/51003032...
October 19, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Busy day today: attended the No Kings protest in Park Slope, Brooklyn, reprising my sign based on this 19-century image:
live.staticflickr.com/189/51003032...
live.staticflickr.com/189/51003032...
Indiegamereviewers has a post about Halloween-relevant games. I mention PRIM, a graphic adventure in which you play Death's daughter; and GHOST TOWN PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, a sort-of MMO in which you carve pumpkins and leave them for other players to encounter.
indiegamereviewer.com/top-13-hallo...
indiegamereviewer.com/top-13-hallo...
Top 13 Halloween Games for 2025 - Indie Game Reviewer - The Best Indie Games
We have tricks and treats aplenty to help usher in the autumn with 13 indie games that are perfect for spooky season celebrations!
indiegamereviewer.com
October 10, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Indiegamereviewers has a post about Halloween-relevant games. I mention PRIM, a graphic adventure in which you play Death's daughter; and GHOST TOWN PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, a sort-of MMO in which you carve pumpkins and leave them for other players to encounter.
indiegamereviewer.com/top-13-hallo...
indiegamereviewer.com/top-13-hallo...
I reviewed Desert Angels for Indie Game Reviewer. Its a kind of narrative walking sim, but with FPS elements.
indiegamereviewer.com/desert-angel...
indiegamereviewer.com/desert-angel...
Desert Angels Review - Blowing Things Up in an Ancient Junkyard
Desert Angels combines a walking simulator with a first-person shooter...but with no enemies to shoot. Read more...
indiegamereviewer.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:55 AM
I reviewed Desert Angels for Indie Game Reviewer. Its a kind of narrative walking sim, but with FPS elements.
indiegamereviewer.com/desert-angel...
indiegamereviewer.com/desert-angel...
Well. I guess I'll never buy an EA game again.
October 3, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Well. I guess I'll never buy an EA game again.
Wow.... A YouTube review of a D&D fanzine I published 50 years ago was not what I expected to encounter today.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UmO...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UmO...
Fanzine Friday: Fire the Arquebusiers #1
YouTube video by Old School Rules
www.youtube.com
September 28, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Wow.... A YouTube review of a D&D fanzine I published 50 years ago was not what I expected to encounter today.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UmO...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UmO...
I reviewed Petit Island for Adventure Game Hotspot. I didn't hate it, but felt lots of other games do cozy narrative puzzle games with platforming elements better.
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4939/...
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4939/...
Petit Island review | Adventure Game Hotspot
While charming in delivering a somewhat heartwarming story, Petit Island is ultimately rather dull in its delivery, with boring implementations of activities like fishing and bug catching...
adventuregamehotspot.com
September 23, 2025 at 12:43 AM
I reviewed Petit Island for Adventure Game Hotspot. I didn't hate it, but felt lots of other games do cozy narrative puzzle games with platforming elements better.
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4939/...
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4939/...
Today, my wife ended her subscription to Disney+, and I ended mine to Hulu. When asked why, I said, "I don't give money to companies that kowtow to fascism, and as a former Disney employee, I am bitterly ashamed."
September 19, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Today, my wife ended her subscription to Disney+, and I ended mine to Hulu. When asked why, I said, "I don't give money to companies that kowtow to fascism, and as a former Disney employee, I am bitterly ashamed."
I reviewed EARTH, a fairly complex boardgame about planting plants for Tabletop Quester. It's a decidedly mixed review; well-designed system, but emotionally flat.
tabletopquester.com/earth-the-bo...
tabletopquester.com/earth-the-bo...
Earth the Board Game Review - Interesting Design, but... - Tabletop Quester
A seasoned game designer reviews EARTH, the board game.
tabletopquester.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I reviewed EARTH, a fairly complex boardgame about planting plants for Tabletop Quester. It's a decidedly mixed review; well-designed system, but emotionally flat.
tabletopquester.com/earth-the-bo...
tabletopquester.com/earth-the-bo...
Reposted by Greg Costikyan
Sam Amiotte-Beaulieu reviews Paco for AGH. A gorgeous free small-scale adventure about a tiny clown with a lot of heart
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4999/po…#indiegamem#adventuregameme
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4999/po…#indiegamem#adventuregameme
Poco review | Adventure Game Hotspot
One of the best free games you’re ever likely to play, Poco is a short but beautiful adventure that will pull you in with its undeniable charm while keeping you guessing with its surprisingly deep mys...
https://adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4999/po…
September 9, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Sam Amiotte-Beaulieu reviews Paco for AGH. A gorgeous free small-scale adventure about a tiny clown with a lot of heart
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4999/po…#indiegamem#adventuregameme
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4999/po…#indiegamem#adventuregameme
I am one of the designers of Paranoia, a TTRPG. We have Japanese and Italian licensees, with recent new additions. Our author copies of the Japanese edition have been returned to the publisher, for no good reason; and the Italian publisher cannot send because... Republicans.
September 7, 2025 at 1:40 AM
I am one of the designers of Paranoia, a TTRPG. We have Japanese and Italian licensees, with recent new additions. Our author copies of the Japanese edition have been returned to the publisher, for no good reason; and the Italian publisher cannot send because... Republicans.
I reviewed Ark Nova, a boardgame of competitive zoo building here:
tabletopquester.com/ark-nova-com...
tabletopquester.com/ark-nova-com...
Ark Nova Review- Competitive Zoo-Building and Wildlife Conservation - Tabletop Quester
I’ve visited a lot of zoos over the years, both because I love them, and because I have three kids (now all adults). Once, I was in Cleveland with my...
tabletopquester.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I reviewed Ark Nova, a boardgame of competitive zoo building here:
tabletopquester.com/ark-nova-com...
tabletopquester.com/ark-nova-com...
I used to write for a bunch of publications before the Internet came around. When it did, I was like, cool, now I can get paid the full value of the content I provide! Turns out, that's zero. I still wire, tho.
indiegamereviewer.com/tiny-booksho...
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4751/...
indiegamereviewer.com/tiny-booksho...
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4751/...
Tiny Bookshop - Cozy Narrative Business Sim
Tiny Bookshop is a cozy business sim with narrative aspects and an engaging book-selling system featuring real-world books.
indiegamereviewer.com
September 2, 2025 at 6:13 AM
I used to write for a bunch of publications before the Internet came around. When it did, I was like, cool, now I can get paid the full value of the content I provide! Turns out, that's zero. I still wire, tho.
indiegamereviewer.com/tiny-booksho...
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4751/...
indiegamereviewer.com/tiny-booksho...
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4751/...
I reviewed Tiny Bookshop for Indie Game Reviewer. It's a cozy business sim; your bookshop is in a trailer you haul around to different locations in a small seaside down, stocking books and making recommendations to customers.
indiegamereviewer.com/tiny-booksho...
indiegamereviewer.com/tiny-booksho...
Tiny Bookshop - Cozy Narrative Business Sim
Tiny Bookshop is a cozy business sim with narrative aspects and an engaging book-selling system featuring real-world books.
indiegamereviewer.com
August 31, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I reviewed Tiny Bookshop for Indie Game Reviewer. It's a cozy business sim; your bookshop is in a trailer you haul around to different locations in a small seaside down, stocking books and making recommendations to customers.
indiegamereviewer.com/tiny-booksho...
indiegamereviewer.com/tiny-booksho...
50 years ago, our food was safe. Nibble on ground beef? No problem, the FDA made sure it was safe. Today? Cook the hell out of that, not safe anymore! Why? Republicans.
August 31, 2025 at 2:49 AM
50 years ago, our food was safe. Nibble on ground beef? No problem, the FDA made sure it was safe. Today? Cook the hell out of that, not safe anymore! Why? Republicans.
I have an idea I think every Democrat wanting to recapture blue collar votes should consider. Bring back unions.
60 years ago, most Americans lived a decent life. 60 years ago, 35% percent of Americans belonged to unions. Today, 10% belong to unions. Coincidence? Nope.
Why? Because Republicans.
60 years ago, most Americans lived a decent life. 60 years ago, 35% percent of Americans belonged to unions. Today, 10% belong to unions. Coincidence? Nope.
Why? Because Republicans.
August 31, 2025 at 1:31 AM
I have an idea I think every Democrat wanting to recapture blue collar votes should consider. Bring back unions.
60 years ago, most Americans lived a decent life. 60 years ago, 35% percent of Americans belonged to unions. Today, 10% belong to unions. Coincidence? Nope.
Why? Because Republicans.
60 years ago, most Americans lived a decent life. 60 years ago, 35% percent of Americans belonged to unions. Today, 10% belong to unions. Coincidence? Nope.
Why? Because Republicans.
I reviewed Wanderstop. It's an attractive, cozy tea-making game with the humorous element that Alta, the protagonist, doesn't really want to be in this game. She'd much rather be in a rogue-like sword combat game, but she's stuck here making tea.
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4751/...
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4751/...
Wanderstop review | Adventure Game Hotspot
Wanderstop is a cozy game of tea-making, featuring quirky customers and a protagonist who, amusingly, would rather be sword fighting than stuck here, making tea...
adventuregamehotspot.com
August 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I reviewed Wanderstop. It's an attractive, cozy tea-making game with the humorous element that Alta, the protagonist, doesn't really want to be in this game. She'd much rather be in a rogue-like sword combat game, but she's stuck here making tea.
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4751/...
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4751/...
I have thousands of book, and my shelves are overflowing. Today, as I have done before, I took a backpack full of books to the Housing Works used book shop, to donate things I don't think I'm likely ever to reread. And, uh, obviously bought some books off their shelves too. Still, more out than in.
July 24, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I have thousands of book, and my shelves are overflowing. Today, as I have done before, I took a backpack full of books to the Housing Works used book shop, to donate things I don't think I'm likely ever to reread. And, uh, obviously bought some books off their shelves too. Still, more out than in.