Matt Horton
@matt.bsky.social
Games crit at YouTube.com/@flowstatecrit
Talking comics on @insequence.pictures with my friends every other week!
Talking comics on @insequence.pictures with my friends every other week!
Pinned
Matt Horton
@matt.bsky.social
· 15d
2025 was a weird year for games...
YouTube video by ~ flow state ~
youtu.be
2025 was a strange year for video games. It was really hard for me to make a traditional "GOTY list."
So I didn't.
That said, the best thing I played this year was Known Mysteries by @solarserver.games (Kara Stone), and it's not even close.
youtu.be/kkvQQwN5fyo?...
So I didn't.
That said, the best thing I played this year was Known Mysteries by @solarserver.games (Kara Stone), and it's not even close.
youtu.be/kkvQQwN5fyo?...
Reposted by Matt Horton
Breaks my heart to share this, but today is my last day at The Verge and I am looking for work! I'd really like to stay in video games, preferably in some kind of journalistic capacity but I can do PR/Marketing and maybe even a lil Narrative Design. Please get in touch!
www.ashparrish.com
www.ashparrish.com
Ash Parrish
www.ashparrish.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Breaks my heart to share this, but today is my last day at The Verge and I am looking for work! I'd really like to stay in video games, preferably in some kind of journalistic capacity but I can do PR/Marketing and maybe even a lil Narrative Design. Please get in touch!
www.ashparrish.com
www.ashparrish.com
Reposted by Matt Horton
Inverse has decided to "divest from gaming content" so I'm out of a job again!
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
January 16, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Inverse has decided to "divest from gaming content" so I'm out of a job again!
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
The Boyfriend is perfect television.
I have so many feelings about these men so quickly, and whoever Huwei picks will be so lucky holy shit. Olympian?! Gender studies PhD???? Beautiful?!1?!?
More gay dating shows!!!!!!!!
I have so many feelings about these men so quickly, and whoever Huwei picks will be so lucky holy shit. Olympian?! Gender studies PhD???? Beautiful?!1?!?
More gay dating shows!!!!!!!!
January 15, 2026 at 5:31 PM
The Boyfriend is perfect television.
I have so many feelings about these men so quickly, and whoever Huwei picks will be so lucky holy shit. Olympian?! Gender studies PhD???? Beautiful?!1?!?
More gay dating shows!!!!!!!!
I have so many feelings about these men so quickly, and whoever Huwei picks will be so lucky holy shit. Olympian?! Gender studies PhD???? Beautiful?!1?!?
More gay dating shows!!!!!!!!
Reposted by Matt Horton
Animal Crossing: New Horizon's 3.0 update is here. I wrote about returning to a game that was so linked to a time of fear of isolation. Can you still find a cozy home in a time capsule loaded with emotional baggage? www.polygon.com/animal-cross...
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a time capsule full of 2020 anxiety
Get ready to unpack some baggage
www.polygon.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Animal Crossing: New Horizon's 3.0 update is here. I wrote about returning to a game that was so linked to a time of fear of isolation. Can you still find a cozy home in a time capsule loaded with emotional baggage? www.polygon.com/animal-cross...
Got a new gaming laptop and immediately installed blippo+
January 14, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Got a new gaming laptop and immediately installed blippo+
Reposted by Matt Horton
I'm excited to give myself even more recreational homework by joining the very good podcast dotzip!!
We’re back for 2026 with a NEW HOST! Everyone say hello to @robinbombus.bsky.social as we go through our next few months of games!!!
Listen here!: share.transistor.fm/s/8a62d0e3
Listen here!: share.transistor.fm/s/8a62d0e3
Picking the Slate! - January to Marchish | fart.piss 3 | dotzip | Episode
Welcome Robin to dotzip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!In this one we pick 11 games that we'll be playing over the next few months! Don't forget there's a NextFest in there too! Hah ha ! Hehe! Ho hoh!!!!Check out A...
share.transistor.fm
January 13, 2026 at 3:49 PM
I'm excited to give myself even more recreational homework by joining the very good podcast dotzip!!
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is really working on me. Loved the demo and I think I'll be picking this one up.
It looks beautiful and feels great to play, and I was unaware how good the writing was. I would die for Patrick.
It looks beautiful and feels great to play, and I was unaware how good the writing was. I would die for Patrick.
January 13, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is really working on me. Loved the demo and I think I'll be picking this one up.
It looks beautiful and feels great to play, and I was unaware how good the writing was. I would die for Patrick.
It looks beautiful and feels great to play, and I was unaware how good the writing was. I would die for Patrick.
Reposted by Matt Horton
The GOTY video is here 😤 youtu.be/FKG3vjyUldw
Stephen's Favorite Games from 2025
YouTube video by Memory Card Manuscript
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM
The GOTY video is here 😤 youtu.be/FKG3vjyUldw
Reposted by Matt Horton
new game! plastic coquina is a narrative dress-up game about reassembling yourself alongside a doll 🪡
made for #dollandkigujam, with the wonderful @goblin-cat.bsky.social and zeno, with help from @widowcore.bsky.social for music 🐚
playable in browser (but not mobile), 7-10 min ✂️
< #oc #gamedev >
made for #dollandkigujam, with the wonderful @goblin-cat.bsky.social and zeno, with help from @widowcore.bsky.social for music 🐚
playable in browser (but not mobile), 7-10 min ✂️
< #oc #gamedev >
January 12, 2026 at 1:03 AM
new game! plastic coquina is a narrative dress-up game about reassembling yourself alongside a doll 🪡
made for #dollandkigujam, with the wonderful @goblin-cat.bsky.social and zeno, with help from @widowcore.bsky.social for music 🐚
playable in browser (but not mobile), 7-10 min ✂️
< #oc #gamedev >
made for #dollandkigujam, with the wonderful @goblin-cat.bsky.social and zeno, with help from @widowcore.bsky.social for music 🐚
playable in browser (but not mobile), 7-10 min ✂️
< #oc #gamedev >
Playing blippo+ at the Magfest LAN
January 11, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Playing blippo+ at the Magfest LAN
Reposted by Matt Horton
Today your panelists talk about "Blade Maidens" by @zoewithasword.bsky.social and @valentinemsmith.bsky.social
2026 is a big year for women with swords on In Sequence
insequence.pictures/episodes/bla...
2026 is a big year for women with swords on In Sequence
insequence.pictures/episodes/bla...
In Sequence - A Comics Podcast for Everyone | "Blade Maidens" by Zoe Tunnell and Valentine M. Smith
Further Reading
insequence.pictures
January 8, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Today your panelists talk about "Blade Maidens" by @zoewithasword.bsky.social and @valentinemsmith.bsky.social
2026 is a big year for women with swords on In Sequence
insequence.pictures/episodes/bla...
2026 is a big year for women with swords on In Sequence
insequence.pictures/episodes/bla...
I have never gone so quickly from excitement to wanting to return a product. The Palma 2 Pro screen is really bad.
January 7, 2026 at 7:09 PM
I have never gone so quickly from excitement to wanting to return a product. The Palma 2 Pro screen is really bad.
I'm like 18 months late to the club
January 7, 2026 at 6:18 PM
I'm like 18 months late to the club
Reposted by Matt Horton
You can get one of the Shortbox Comics Fair books we covered in our Christmas Day episode now!
DEAD HORSES - a feline lesboviolence fantasy western about getting what you deserve
🐛Available now on physical + digital 🐛
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
freya-jn.itch.io/dead-horses
🐛Available now on physical + digital 🐛
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4...
freya-jn.itch.io/dead-horses
January 5, 2026 at 9:43 PM
You can get one of the Shortbox Comics Fair books we covered in our Christmas Day episode now!
K-Pop Demon Hunters and Persona 4 have the same narrative problem of refusing to show the audience what accepting parts of yourself you don't like actually means
January 5, 2026 at 5:48 PM
K-Pop Demon Hunters and Persona 4 have the same narrative problem of refusing to show the audience what accepting parts of yourself you don't like actually means
Reposted by Matt Horton
for my last piece written in 2025 and first published in 2026, I got sappy about the games that helped me feel more connected during an otherwise pretty alienating year
so glad I got to work with @lexluddy.xyz and @kellymerka.bsky.social on this too!
so glad I got to work with @lexluddy.xyz and @kellymerka.bsky.social on this too!
The games that had the biggest impact on @robinbombus.bsky.social in 2025 were about bringing people together.
Human Connection Was At The Heart Of Robin Bea’s Favourite Games This Year | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
The games that had the biggest impact on Robin Bea in 2025 were about bringing people together.
www.startmenu.co.uk
January 3, 2026 at 9:00 PM
for my last piece written in 2025 and first published in 2026, I got sappy about the games that helped me feel more connected during an otherwise pretty alienating year
so glad I got to work with @lexluddy.xyz and @kellymerka.bsky.social on this too!
so glad I got to work with @lexluddy.xyz and @kellymerka.bsky.social on this too!
This take is weeks late, but Pokémon Legends Z-A is fine. I'm having mostly a good time, but I am craving a game that would blow me away right now.
January 4, 2026 at 3:50 AM
This take is weeks late, but Pokémon Legends Z-A is fine. I'm having mostly a good time, but I am craving a game that would blow me away right now.
Reposted by Matt Horton
you simply do not have to preface your statements about this with “but Maduro sucks”
whether or not Maduro sucks is entirely beside the point - we invaded another country and grabbed their leader with no justification other than “we wanted to”
don’t give them cover on it
whether or not Maduro sucks is entirely beside the point - we invaded another country and grabbed their leader with no justification other than “we wanted to”
don’t give them cover on it
January 3, 2026 at 6:12 PM
you simply do not have to preface your statements about this with “but Maduro sucks”
whether or not Maduro sucks is entirely beside the point - we invaded another country and grabbed their leader with no justification other than “we wanted to”
don’t give them cover on it
whether or not Maduro sucks is entirely beside the point - we invaded another country and grabbed their leader with no justification other than “we wanted to”
don’t give them cover on it
January 3, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by Matt Horton
As you read the news today, watch who phrases the news as an "illegal invasion and regime change" versus "bringing democracy". It'll tell you everything you need to know about the news source you're reading, and frankly should decide whether you ever read them seriously again.
January 3, 2026 at 1:05 PM
As you read the news today, watch who phrases the news as an "illegal invasion and regime change" versus "bringing democracy". It'll tell you everything you need to know about the news source you're reading, and frankly should decide whether you ever read them seriously again.
Yosuke is so closeted it's ridiculous
January 2, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Yosuke is so closeted it's ridiculous
Where was Hopper on January 6th?
January 1, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Where was Hopper on January 6th?
Reposted by Matt Horton
I'm so happy with both year-end episodes, but the Girlies especially feel like such an encapsulation of our deal. It's weird and funny, there's like four WLW categories, game jam submissions get awards, bad take-havers catch strays for no reason, and we get embarrassingly personal about our GOTY.
Wow it's the Girlies! Listen to hear all about the year's best horses, trees, bad opinions, and more!
Thanks for listening to the show this year! We'll back with more in 2026 and we mean that as a threat!
shows.acast.com/girl-mode/ep...
Thanks for listening to the show this year! We'll back with more in 2026 and we mean that as a threat!
shows.acast.com/girl-mode/ep...
Episode 154 - The Fourth Annual Girl Mode Awards | Girl Mode
The awards show the games industry deserves
shows.acast.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:16 PM
I'm so happy with both year-end episodes, but the Girlies especially feel like such an encapsulation of our deal. It's weird and funny, there's like four WLW categories, game jam submissions get awards, bad take-havers catch strays for no reason, and we get embarrassingly personal about our GOTY.
If you are going to MAGFest, please reach out / say hi if you see me!
January 1, 2026 at 5:13 PM
If you are going to MAGFest, please reach out / say hi if you see me!
2025 was a strange year for video games. It was really hard for me to make a traditional "GOTY list."
So I didn't.
That said, the best thing I played this year was Known Mysteries by @solarserver.games (Kara Stone), and it's not even close.
youtu.be/kkvQQwN5fyo?...
So I didn't.
That said, the best thing I played this year was Known Mysteries by @solarserver.games (Kara Stone), and it's not even close.
youtu.be/kkvQQwN5fyo?...
2025 was a weird year for games...
YouTube video by ~ flow state ~
youtu.be
January 1, 2026 at 2:47 PM
2025 was a strange year for video games. It was really hard for me to make a traditional "GOTY list."
So I didn't.
That said, the best thing I played this year was Known Mysteries by @solarserver.games (Kara Stone), and it's not even close.
youtu.be/kkvQQwN5fyo?...
So I didn't.
That said, the best thing I played this year was Known Mysteries by @solarserver.games (Kara Stone), and it's not even close.
youtu.be/kkvQQwN5fyo?...