LIFEBAR MAGAZINE
@lifebarmag.com
Independently-owned and operated digital video game magazine with contributions from the internets finest video game over-thinkers.
Interviews, Reviews, Op-eds, and more! Edited by @jarrettjawn.bsky.social
Interviews, Reviews, Op-eds, and more! Edited by @jarrettjawn.bsky.social
Pinned
LIFEBAR MAGAZINE
@lifebarmag.com
· Sep 29
🚨 LIFEBAR ISSUE 005: FALL 2025 IMMINENT🚨
With contributions from:
@jamwa.bsky.social
@easbygames.bsky.social
@broganchattin.bsky.social
@imluisgutierrez.bsky.social
+ MORE
STARTING OCTOBER 6th!
ko-fi.com/lifebar
With contributions from:
@jamwa.bsky.social
@easbygames.bsky.social
@broganchattin.bsky.social
@imluisgutierrez.bsky.social
+ MORE
STARTING OCTOBER 6th!
ko-fi.com/lifebar
THE FINAL POST OF THIS ISSUE IS LIVE
@jarrettjawn.bsky.social got a quick Q&A with Creative Director of @yasukethegame.bsky.social Will Gwasera to chat about afrobeats and anime inspos for their upcoming action game
@jarrettjawn.bsky.social got a quick Q&A with Creative Director of @yasukethegame.bsky.social Will Gwasera to chat about afrobeats and anime inspos for their upcoming action game
INTERVIEW: WILL GWASERA OF DALLIENCE GAMES
INTERVIEW: WILL GWASERA OF DALLIENCE GAMES BY JARRETT GREEN As we rapidly approach The Game Awards season, conversations about the best game released this year are starting to ramp up, but I can’t …
lifebarmag.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
THE FINAL POST OF THIS ISSUE IS LIVE
@jarrettjawn.bsky.social got a quick Q&A with Creative Director of @yasukethegame.bsky.social Will Gwasera to chat about afrobeats and anime inspos for their upcoming action game
@jarrettjawn.bsky.social got a quick Q&A with Creative Director of @yasukethegame.bsky.social Will Gwasera to chat about afrobeats and anime inspos for their upcoming action game
🚨 NEW POST🚨
HI NEW READERS! Welcome to the Bar Review series, where my media friends consider the best part of press events and appointments: the food.
@imluisgutierrez.bsky.social reflects on his very busy July that had him in in front of many delicious catering spreads.
HI NEW READERS! Welcome to the Bar Review series, where my media friends consider the best part of press events and appointments: the food.
@imluisgutierrez.bsky.social reflects on his very busy July that had him in in front of many delicious catering spreads.
BAR REVIEW: JULY 2025
BAR REVIEW: JULY 2025 BY LUIS GUTIERREZ Attending preview events for upcoming video games is always fun. Most of the time, studios rent out a private area and allow you to play said game for a hand…
lifebarmag.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
🚨 NEW POST🚨
HI NEW READERS! Welcome to the Bar Review series, where my media friends consider the best part of press events and appointments: the food.
@imluisgutierrez.bsky.social reflects on his very busy July that had him in in front of many delicious catering spreads.
HI NEW READERS! Welcome to the Bar Review series, where my media friends consider the best part of press events and appointments: the food.
@imluisgutierrez.bsky.social reflects on his very busy July that had him in in front of many delicious catering spreads.
"A friend of mine once told me that when a game isn’t clicking for him, he says “I am going to die one day” out loud, and lets his instincts guide whether he turns the game off and moves on. " - @edgarallanbro.bsky.social
buff.ly/AROmTbv
buff.ly/AROmTbv
October 31, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"A friend of mine once told me that when a game isn’t clicking for him, he says “I am going to die one day” out loud, and lets his instincts guide whether he turns the game off and moves on. " - @edgarallanbro.bsky.social
buff.ly/AROmTbv
buff.ly/AROmTbv
NEW POST
As he watches time tick in the fabled multi-season industry Madden League, @edgarallanbro.bsky.social reflects on the role-playing game-ness of it all, and how he gained the agency to spend his time as he see fits.
As he watches time tick in the fabled multi-season industry Madden League, @edgarallanbro.bsky.social reflects on the role-playing game-ness of it all, and how he gained the agency to spend his time as he see fits.
THE GREAT ONES NEVER LOSE. THEY JUST RUN OUT OF TIME.
THE GREAT ONES NEVER LOSE. THEY JUST RUN OUT OF TIME. BY WILL BORGER The Rams don’t have any decent corners, so my first and fifth round picks in my Madden league’s Madden 26 draft are corners. Wha…
lifebarmag.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW POST
As he watches time tick in the fabled multi-season industry Madden League, @edgarallanbro.bsky.social reflects on the role-playing game-ness of it all, and how he gained the agency to spend his time as he see fits.
As he watches time tick in the fabled multi-season industry Madden League, @edgarallanbro.bsky.social reflects on the role-playing game-ness of it all, and how he gained the agency to spend his time as he see fits.
"Sometimes the world is decaying around them already, haunted by the ghosts of the past, and the authority remains in denial until there’s a bat in the face." - @broganchattin.bsky.social
READ MORE HERE:
READ MORE HERE:
HOW TO MAKE ART WITH CRAYONS
HOW TO MAKE ART WITH CRAYONS by BROGAN CHATTIN Video game history is tough. There’s really no true canon, no essential tome or library kept up by esteemed academics. The legacy of a game is found w…
lifebarmag.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"Sometimes the world is decaying around them already, haunted by the ghosts of the past, and the authority remains in denial until there’s a bat in the face." - @broganchattin.bsky.social
READ MORE HERE:
READ MORE HERE:
Freaky ahhh ghost party?? OFF's got that.
Existential dread? OFF's got that.
RPG Maker-core? Yep, thats OFF, too.
Read @broganchattin.bsky.social's case for it's timeless necessity!
lifebarmag.com/how-to-make-...
Existential dread? OFF's got that.
RPG Maker-core? Yep, thats OFF, too.
Read @broganchattin.bsky.social's case for it's timeless necessity!
lifebarmag.com/how-to-make-...
October 21, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Freaky ahhh ghost party?? OFF's got that.
Existential dread? OFF's got that.
RPG Maker-core? Yep, thats OFF, too.
Read @broganchattin.bsky.social's case for it's timeless necessity!
lifebarmag.com/how-to-make-...
Existential dread? OFF's got that.
RPG Maker-core? Yep, thats OFF, too.
Read @broganchattin.bsky.social's case for it's timeless necessity!
lifebarmag.com/how-to-make-...
🚨 NEW POST🚨
Consider: All of your favorite weird ass RPGs? They're all OFF's sons, says @broganchattin.bsky.social
🔗
Consider: All of your favorite weird ass RPGs? They're all OFF's sons, says @broganchattin.bsky.social
🔗
HOW TO MAKE ART WITH CRAYONS
HOW TO MAKE ART WITH CRAYONS by BROGAN CHATTIN Video game history is tough. There’s really no true canon, no essential tome or library kept up by esteemed academics. The legacy of a game is found w…
lifebarmag.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:13 PM
🚨 NEW POST🚨
Consider: All of your favorite weird ass RPGs? They're all OFF's sons, says @broganchattin.bsky.social
🔗
Consider: All of your favorite weird ass RPGs? They're all OFF's sons, says @broganchattin.bsky.social
🔗
"The problem isn’t The Island itself per-se, as virulently feculent as it is, it’s in the demonstrable inability 2K Games has shown over the last six months to meaningfully support it..." - @jamwa.bsky.social
🔗 buff.ly/ZgaidOa
🔗 buff.ly/ZgaidOa
October 17, 2025 at 6:03 PM
"The problem isn’t The Island itself per-se, as virulently feculent as it is, it’s in the demonstrable inability 2K Games has shown over the last six months to meaningfully support it..." - @jamwa.bsky.social
🔗 buff.ly/ZgaidOa
🔗 buff.ly/ZgaidOa
Reposted by LIFEBAR MAGAZINE
TFW you hated 2K's The City and they make a somehow worse version for WWE 2K25
🔗 buff.ly/ZgaidOa
✍️ @jamwa.bsky.social
🔗 buff.ly/ZgaidOa
✍️ @jamwa.bsky.social
October 14, 2025 at 9:55 PM
TFW you hated 2K's The City and they make a somehow worse version for WWE 2K25
🔗 buff.ly/ZgaidOa
✍️ @jamwa.bsky.social
🔗 buff.ly/ZgaidOa
✍️ @jamwa.bsky.social
The enshittification of WWE TV shows might finally have seeped its way into the the 2K series, which was just enjoying a renaissance of sorts.
@jamwa.bsky.social warns the end is nigh for the series' bounce back if it continues to body slam all of its goodwill
🔗
@jamwa.bsky.social warns the end is nigh for the series' bounce back if it continues to body slam all of its goodwill
🔗
WWE 2K25 IS A WONDERFUL MESS, PERFECTLY REPRESENTING ITS SOURCE
WWE 2K25 IS A WONDERFUL MESS, PERFECTLY REPRESENTING ITS SOURCE by JAM WALKER II play the WWE 2K games annually. Typically only for the few months following their release, but every year regardless…
lifebarmag.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The enshittification of WWE TV shows might finally have seeped its way into the the 2K series, which was just enjoying a renaissance of sorts.
@jamwa.bsky.social warns the end is nigh for the series' bounce back if it continues to body slam all of its goodwill
🔗
@jamwa.bsky.social warns the end is nigh for the series' bounce back if it continues to body slam all of its goodwill
🔗
"Just like trying to make sure that my best soldiers stay alive and kicking in XCOM, I have to make sure my best wrestlers stay around on my show."
As @easbygames.bsky.social points out, WWE 2k25's MyGM is a hidden gem of tactical strategy game.
🔗 buff.ly/Lr7PGj4
As @easbygames.bsky.social points out, WWE 2k25's MyGM is a hidden gem of tactical strategy game.
🔗 buff.ly/Lr7PGj4
October 10, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"Just like trying to make sure that my best soldiers stay alive and kicking in XCOM, I have to make sure my best wrestlers stay around on my show."
As @easbygames.bsky.social points out, WWE 2k25's MyGM is a hidden gem of tactical strategy game.
🔗 buff.ly/Lr7PGj4
As @easbygames.bsky.social points out, WWE 2k25's MyGM is a hidden gem of tactical strategy game.
🔗 buff.ly/Lr7PGj4
Reposted by LIFEBAR MAGAZINE
If you like the work LIFEBAR is doing, please consider supporting with a donation the Ko-Fi!
This situationship I have with publishing good writing from talented friends and colleagues is fun, and also expensive! Any little bit will help secure the future of the operation!
🔗
This situationship I have with publishing good writing from talented friends and colleagues is fun, and also expensive! Any little bit will help secure the future of the operation!
🔗
Support LIFEBAR
Support LIFEBAR
ko-fi.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:06 PM
If you like the work LIFEBAR is doing, please consider supporting with a donation the Ko-Fi!
This situationship I have with publishing good writing from talented friends and colleagues is fun, and also expensive! Any little bit will help secure the future of the operation!
🔗
This situationship I have with publishing good writing from talented friends and colleagues is fun, and also expensive! Any little bit will help secure the future of the operation!
🔗
Easby, Rhi. "The Assassination of Baron Corbin by the Coward The Undertaker." 2025
(also read @easbygames.bsky.social 's piece on how MyGM rules, actually: buff.ly/Lr7PGj4)
(also read @easbygames.bsky.social 's piece on how MyGM rules, actually: buff.ly/Lr7PGj4)
October 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Easby, Rhi. "The Assassination of Baron Corbin by the Coward The Undertaker." 2025
(also read @easbygames.bsky.social 's piece on how MyGM rules, actually: buff.ly/Lr7PGj4)
(also read @easbygames.bsky.social 's piece on how MyGM rules, actually: buff.ly/Lr7PGj4)
LIFEBAR 005 begins now!!!
Starting with a hot take: What if @easbygames.bsky.social told you that MyGM Mode in WWE 2K25 was one of the best post COVID-era strategy games available???
Starting with a hot take: What if @easbygames.bsky.social told you that MyGM Mode in WWE 2K25 was one of the best post COVID-era strategy games available???
WWE 2K25’s MyGM MODE IS ONE OF THE MOST TENSE STRATEGY GAMES OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS
MyGM is a tactical gift that keeps on giving
lifebarmag.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
LIFEBAR 005 begins now!!!
Starting with a hot take: What if @easbygames.bsky.social told you that MyGM Mode in WWE 2K25 was one of the best post COVID-era strategy games available???
Starting with a hot take: What if @easbygames.bsky.social told you that MyGM Mode in WWE 2K25 was one of the best post COVID-era strategy games available???
🚨 LIFEBAR ISSUE 005: FALL 2025 IMMINENT🚨
With contributions from:
@jamwa.bsky.social
@easbygames.bsky.social
@broganchattin.bsky.social
@imluisgutierrez.bsky.social
+ MORE
STARTING OCTOBER 6th!
ko-fi.com/lifebar
With contributions from:
@jamwa.bsky.social
@easbygames.bsky.social
@broganchattin.bsky.social
@imluisgutierrez.bsky.social
+ MORE
STARTING OCTOBER 6th!
ko-fi.com/lifebar
September 29, 2025 at 8:25 PM
🚨 LIFEBAR ISSUE 005: FALL 2025 IMMINENT🚨
With contributions from:
@jamwa.bsky.social
@easbygames.bsky.social
@broganchattin.bsky.social
@imluisgutierrez.bsky.social
+ MORE
STARTING OCTOBER 6th!
ko-fi.com/lifebar
With contributions from:
@jamwa.bsky.social
@easbygames.bsky.social
@broganchattin.bsky.social
@imluisgutierrez.bsky.social
+ MORE
STARTING OCTOBER 6th!
ko-fi.com/lifebar
“The [narrative] is about telling your own story, in your own voice, and learning that sometimes you need to relive something 1,000 times until you can make the truth shine.”
lifebarmag.com/hell-clock-g...
lifebarmag.com/hell-clock-g...
HELL CLOCK GIVES CANUDENSES A FIGHTING CHANCE
HELL CLOCK GIVES CANUDENSES A FIGHTING CHANCE by Dan Lipscombe Rogue Snail has been making games for around 18 years.Take a look at their portfolio and you’ll see colourful, almost saccharine games…
lifebarmag.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:45 PM
“The [narrative] is about telling your own story, in your own voice, and learning that sometimes you need to relive something 1,000 times until you can make the truth shine.”
lifebarmag.com/hell-clock-g...
lifebarmag.com/hell-clock-g...
"Just because a bunch of assholes make a lot of money parading their defiled shell around doesn’t mean we can’t reclaim it for ourselves. "
Timo's right! Read more about how they were emboldened to not let the shit birds scare them away from the REMATCH pitch
Timo's right! Read more about how they were emboldened to not let the shit birds scare them away from the REMATCH pitch
REMATCH: RECLAIMING SPACES
REMATCH: RECLAIMING SPACES by Timo Reinecke I’ve been playing and enjoying REMATCH lately. You’ve probably already read all about its neat approach that turns football (I’m not calling it soccer, s…
lifebarmag.com
August 19, 2025 at 3:03 PM
"Just because a bunch of assholes make a lot of money parading their defiled shell around doesn’t mean we can’t reclaim it for ourselves. "
Timo's right! Read more about how they were emboldened to not let the shit birds scare them away from the REMATCH pitch
Timo's right! Read more about how they were emboldened to not let the shit birds scare them away from the REMATCH pitch
“Of all the ways AI has killed us in fiction, the reality is the meanest and stupidest.“
@letominor.bsky.social reminds us that, if current events are to be considered, Grok will be a greater threat to civilization than any SHODAN apocalypse fantasy.
lifebarmag.com/praise-the-m...
@letominor.bsky.social reminds us that, if current events are to be considered, Grok will be a greater threat to civilization than any SHODAN apocalypse fantasy.
lifebarmag.com/praise-the-m...
PRAISE THE MEAT
PRAISE THE MEAT by Andrei Filote A worm crawled up my arm and rested on my neck. It whispered: For better or worse, meat is what we are. We flap our meat at each other to speak, meat pumps blood th…
lifebarmag.com
August 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
“Of all the ways AI has killed us in fiction, the reality is the meanest and stupidest.“
@letominor.bsky.social reminds us that, if current events are to be considered, Grok will be a greater threat to civilization than any SHODAN apocalypse fantasy.
lifebarmag.com/praise-the-m...
@letominor.bsky.social reminds us that, if current events are to be considered, Grok will be a greater threat to civilization than any SHODAN apocalypse fantasy.
lifebarmag.com/praise-the-m...
LINKS TO PREVIOUS ISSUES ARE ON THE WAY!
This will include last issue's web debut, as well as the first two's pieces reformatted for the new situation we have going on here. More details to come!
This will include last issue's web debut, as well as the first two's pieces reformatted for the new situation we have going on here. More details to come!
August 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
LINKS TO PREVIOUS ISSUES ARE ON THE WAY!
This will include last issue's web debut, as well as the first two's pieces reformatted for the new situation we have going on here. More details to come!
This will include last issue's web debut, as well as the first two's pieces reformatted for the new situation we have going on here. More details to come!
If you enjoy LIFEBAR, or just want to support independently run games media, please consider donating! All proceeds go towards paying for the work of LB's fabulous contributors.
ko-fi.com/lifebar
ko-fi.com/lifebar
August 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
If you enjoy LIFEBAR, or just want to support independently run games media, please consider donating! All proceeds go towards paying for the work of LB's fabulous contributors.
ko-fi.com/lifebar
ko-fi.com/lifebar
Hot off the heels of EVO 2025, @tierknee.com reminisced about the winding path of online netcode and in-person weeklies that brought him to his love for fighting games. (ft. @edgarallanbro.bsky.social and @sharpiepls.com)
#EVO #FGC
🔗
#EVO #FGC
🔗
MY TIME WITH THE FGC ONLINE AND OFFLINE
MY TIME WITH THE FGC ONLINE AND OFFLINE by Dylan Tierny I’ve been playing fighting games for over 20 years. Every time I think I’m checked out of the genre, there’s something abou…
lifebarmag.com
August 5, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Hot off the heels of EVO 2025, @tierknee.com reminisced about the winding path of online netcode and in-person weeklies that brought him to his love for fighting games. (ft. @edgarallanbro.bsky.social and @sharpiepls.com)
#EVO #FGC
🔗
#EVO #FGC
🔗
Reposted by LIFEBAR MAGAZINE
I'm in here with this piece on System Shock 2, in which I state that "image trained replication may only come across as the surface imitation of a pathetically limited toy managed by minds too small to understand the smallness of the machine that they built."
lifebarmag.com/praise-the-m...
lifebarmag.com/praise-the-m...
⏰ LIFEBAR ISSUE 004 IS LIVE⏰
IN THIS ISSUE:
🤖 TWO (2!) great thought pieces about System Shock 2's relevant and divisive legacy
⚽ Reclaiming online gaming, one Rematch game at a time
🐴 Does "everything is wrestling" apply to anime horsegirls?
+ MORE
lifebarmag.com
IN THIS ISSUE:
🤖 TWO (2!) great thought pieces about System Shock 2's relevant and divisive legacy
⚽ Reclaiming online gaming, one Rematch game at a time
🐴 Does "everything is wrestling" apply to anime horsegirls?
+ MORE
lifebarmag.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I'm in here with this piece on System Shock 2, in which I state that "image trained replication may only come across as the surface imitation of a pathetically limited toy managed by minds too small to understand the smallness of the machine that they built."
lifebarmag.com/praise-the-m...
lifebarmag.com/praise-the-m...
Reposted by LIFEBAR MAGAZINE
ITS TIME!!!!!
Come see what we cooked up for Issue 004!
Come see what we cooked up for Issue 004!
⏰ LIFEBAR ISSUE 004 IS LIVE⏰
IN THIS ISSUE:
🤖 TWO (2!) great thought pieces about System Shock 2's relevant and divisive legacy
⚽ Reclaiming online gaming, one Rematch game at a time
🐴 Does "everything is wrestling" apply to anime horsegirls?
+ MORE
lifebarmag.com
IN THIS ISSUE:
🤖 TWO (2!) great thought pieces about System Shock 2's relevant and divisive legacy
⚽ Reclaiming online gaming, one Rematch game at a time
🐴 Does "everything is wrestling" apply to anime horsegirls?
+ MORE
lifebarmag.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
ITS TIME!!!!!
Come see what we cooked up for Issue 004!
Come see what we cooked up for Issue 004!
Reposted by LIFEBAR MAGAZINE
For @lifebarmag.com, I spoke on my time in fighting games, college, competition, COVID, and more! lifebarmag.com/my-time-with...
MY TIME WITH THE FGC ONLINE AND OFFLINE
MY TIME WITH THE FGC ONLINE AND OFFLINE by Dylan Tierny I’ve been playing fighting games for over 20 years. Every time I think I’m checked out of the genre, there’s something abou…
lifebarmag.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:22 PM
For @lifebarmag.com, I spoke on my time in fighting games, college, competition, COVID, and more! lifebarmag.com/my-time-with...