Max Nichols
@maxnichols.bsky.social
He/him. Game designer. I make worlds that you want to explore. Sr. Tech Design in AAA. Prev: Bungie, Turbine. I run @HyruleInterviews.bsky.social
Blog: namelessquality.com
Portfolio: maxnicholsdesign.com
Blog: namelessquality.com
Portfolio: maxnicholsdesign.com
Reeeally loving the Trails in the Sky remake. My first Trails game.
My brain: "This rocks and also seems like it would be really story-driven game-over-game, I should probably play them in order--"
Maybe I'll just finish the Liberl arc and then skip to the newest one, spoilers be damned, hahah
My brain: "This rocks and also seems like it would be really story-driven game-over-game, I should probably play them in order--"
Maybe I'll just finish the Liberl arc and then skip to the newest one, spoilers be damned, hahah
January 5, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Reeeally loving the Trails in the Sky remake. My first Trails game.
My brain: "This rocks and also seems like it would be really story-driven game-over-game, I should probably play them in order--"
Maybe I'll just finish the Liberl arc and then skip to the newest one, spoilers be damned, hahah
My brain: "This rocks and also seems like it would be really story-driven game-over-game, I should probably play them in order--"
Maybe I'll just finish the Liberl arc and then skip to the newest one, spoilers be damned, hahah
I watched @paigeedits.bsky.social play FF16 recently and… that game seemed so good??
I had skipped it because the reveal looked sooo boring and edgelord-y and seemed to show no women characters AGAIN. And the last time I had loved an FF game was 10, 24 years ago
But i think I’ll like this one
I had skipped it because the reveal looked sooo boring and edgelord-y and seemed to show no women characters AGAIN. And the last time I had loved an FF game was 10, 24 years ago
But i think I’ll like this one
January 5, 2026 at 7:44 AM
I watched @paigeedits.bsky.social play FF16 recently and… that game seemed so good??
I had skipped it because the reveal looked sooo boring and edgelord-y and seemed to show no women characters AGAIN. And the last time I had loved an FF game was 10, 24 years ago
But i think I’ll like this one
I had skipped it because the reveal looked sooo boring and edgelord-y and seemed to show no women characters AGAIN. And the last time I had loved an FF game was 10, 24 years ago
But i think I’ll like this one
Reposted by Max Nichols
ME: yeah could i get the impossible burger with cheese.
THE VIZIER WHO'S BEEN ADVISING ME: ahh, an excellent choice sire. an imitation of the genuine article. there are some "friends" of yours to whom it bears a passing similarity
ME: you want anything
VIZIER: [chuckles] what i want is of no import
THE VIZIER WHO'S BEEN ADVISING ME: ahh, an excellent choice sire. an imitation of the genuine article. there are some "friends" of yours to whom it bears a passing similarity
ME: you want anything
VIZIER: [chuckles] what i want is of no import
June 2, 2025 at 3:32 AM
ME: yeah could i get the impossible burger with cheese.
THE VIZIER WHO'S BEEN ADVISING ME: ahh, an excellent choice sire. an imitation of the genuine article. there are some "friends" of yours to whom it bears a passing similarity
ME: you want anything
VIZIER: [chuckles] what i want is of no import
THE VIZIER WHO'S BEEN ADVISING ME: ahh, an excellent choice sire. an imitation of the genuine article. there are some "friends" of yours to whom it bears a passing similarity
ME: you want anything
VIZIER: [chuckles] what i want is of no import
Has there ever been a party-based RPG that, midway through, unexpectedly increased your party size after you thought you’d hit the limit?
Closest I can think of is when Golden Sun: The Lost Age starts letting you swap between the two parties at will in battle
Closest I can think of is when Golden Sun: The Lost Age starts letting you swap between the two parties at will in battle
January 3, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Has there ever been a party-based RPG that, midway through, unexpectedly increased your party size after you thought you’d hit the limit?
Closest I can think of is when Golden Sun: The Lost Age starts letting you swap between the two parties at will in battle
Closest I can think of is when Golden Sun: The Lost Age starts letting you swap between the two parties at will in battle
If someone is sharing political opinions in your mentions with a newly made account and nobody you know is following them, block them
Doesn't matter what the opinions are. They're a bot or might as well be, they're not someone you need to listen to or dignify with your platform or attention
Doesn't matter what the opinions are. They're a bot or might as well be, they're not someone you need to listen to or dignify with your platform or attention
January 3, 2026 at 9:25 PM
If someone is sharing political opinions in your mentions with a newly made account and nobody you know is following them, block them
Doesn't matter what the opinions are. They're a bot or might as well be, they're not someone you need to listen to or dignify with your platform or attention
Doesn't matter what the opinions are. They're a bot or might as well be, they're not someone you need to listen to or dignify with your platform or attention
Absolutely sick at the horrors my country continues to inflict on innocents around the world
January 3, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Absolutely sick at the horrors my country continues to inflict on innocents around the world
Reposted by Max Nichols
Since I love procgen / high systemic story generator games, I decided to finally pick up Rim World. But I did not like it, which did not make any sense. So I spent a bunch of time trying to figure out why and made a little graph.
January 2, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Since I love procgen / high systemic story generator games, I decided to finally pick up Rim World. But I did not like it, which did not make any sense. So I spent a bunch of time trying to figure out why and made a little graph.
There are many year-end lists, but there's only one that truly matters: @paigeedits.bsky.social and I's favorite anime opening songs from 2025
My favorite:
ReawakeR, from Solo Leveling S2, by LiSA and Felix
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0zM...
My favorite:
ReawakeR, from Solo Leveling S2, by LiSA and Felix
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0zM...
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- Opening | "ReawakeR" by LiSA feat Felix of Stray Kids
YouTube video by Crunchyroll
www.youtube.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:45 PM
There are many year-end lists, but there's only one that truly matters: @paigeedits.bsky.social and I's favorite anime opening songs from 2025
My favorite:
ReawakeR, from Solo Leveling S2, by LiSA and Felix
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0zM...
My favorite:
ReawakeR, from Solo Leveling S2, by LiSA and Felix
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0zM...
Reposted by Max Nichols
I was wondering what Mamdani's first executive order would be, and I'm not disappointed by this.
He has wiped off the books EVERY Eric Adams executive order issued on or after September 26, 2024, the day Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges.
He has wiped off the books EVERY Eric Adams executive order issued on or after September 26, 2024, the day Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges.
January 1, 2026 at 11:07 PM
I was wondering what Mamdani's first executive order would be, and I'm not disappointed by this.
He has wiped off the books EVERY Eric Adams executive order issued on or after September 26, 2024, the day Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges.
He has wiped off the books EVERY Eric Adams executive order issued on or after September 26, 2024, the day Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges.
Emergency room nurse, paraphrased: “I can see your skull right now! Pretty cool, right?”
I asked if anyone could grab a mirror so I could see it, but they said no
Curses
I asked if anyone could grab a mirror so I could see it, but they said no
Curses
Forget insults, what’s the most unhinged *compliment* you’ve ever received?
December 31, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Emergency room nurse, paraphrased: “I can see your skull right now! Pretty cool, right?”
I asked if anyone could grab a mirror so I could see it, but they said no
Curses
I asked if anyone could grab a mirror so I could see it, but they said no
Curses
Hmm
I am having a hard time picking a GOTY this time. Nothing landed that strongly for me. All the games everyone else is picking either aren’t my style (ie, Blue Prince) or had issues that stop them from being slam dunks for me (ie, Clair Obscur, Silksong).
I don’t recall ever being this unsure!
I am having a hard time picking a GOTY this time. Nothing landed that strongly for me. All the games everyone else is picking either aren’t my style (ie, Blue Prince) or had issues that stop them from being slam dunks for me (ie, Clair Obscur, Silksong).
I don’t recall ever being this unsure!
December 31, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Hmm
I am having a hard time picking a GOTY this time. Nothing landed that strongly for me. All the games everyone else is picking either aren’t my style (ie, Blue Prince) or had issues that stop them from being slam dunks for me (ie, Clair Obscur, Silksong).
I don’t recall ever being this unsure!
I am having a hard time picking a GOTY this time. Nothing landed that strongly for me. All the games everyone else is picking either aren’t my style (ie, Blue Prince) or had issues that stop them from being slam dunks for me (ie, Clair Obscur, Silksong).
I don’t recall ever being this unsure!
Reposted by Max Nichols
Reposted by Max Nichols
Here are ~90 photos of weapons, armor, & costumes from the Lord of the Rings films--likely used as reference by the LotR: War in the North dev team. I found these during my data recovery efforts.
Some photos have data loss, but this is still good reference for LotR fans! archive.org/details/lotr...
Some photos have data loss, but this is still good reference for LotR fans! archive.org/details/lotr...
December 30, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Here are ~90 photos of weapons, armor, & costumes from the Lord of the Rings films--likely used as reference by the LotR: War in the North dev team. I found these during my data recovery efforts.
Some photos have data loss, but this is still good reference for LotR fans! archive.org/details/lotr...
Some photos have data loss, but this is still good reference for LotR fans! archive.org/details/lotr...
December 28, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Reposted by Max Nichols
GOOD NEWS! Researchers have shown Alzheimer’s disease can be REVERSED- not just prevented. Using a potent neuroprotective compound called P7C3-A20, they found RESTORING balance to a central cellular energy molecule (NAD+) not only PREVENTED disease features but REVERSED them, EVEN at late stages.
December 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM
GOOD NEWS! Researchers have shown Alzheimer’s disease can be REVERSED- not just prevented. Using a potent neuroprotective compound called P7C3-A20, they found RESTORING balance to a central cellular energy molecule (NAD+) not only PREVENTED disease features but REVERSED them, EVEN at late stages.
I got a whole list of stuff to go listen to from this.
Love to see this kind of thing
Love to see this kind of thing
VGC asked a bunch of video game composers about their favourite music from 2025. 🎵 Game OST enthusiasts, this is for you! See what hits and what you might have missed from the musicians themselves.
DL: www.videogameschronicle.com/features/thi...
DL: www.videogameschronicle.com/features/thi...
December 28, 2025 at 6:33 AM
I got a whole list of stuff to go listen to from this.
Love to see this kind of thing
Love to see this kind of thing
Game history folks that follow me: Is there any consensus on whether we can trust the quotes in Sheff's book (Game Over, 1993)?
I know that the book has a less-than-stellar reputation as a source of truth these days, but I'm not sure if that extends to the actual quotations being wrong or not
I know that the book has a less-than-stellar reputation as a source of truth these days, but I'm not sure if that extends to the actual quotations being wrong or not
That or Sheff I'm guessing. We're only allowed two history books max, that's the canon history, everything past that isn't original or authentic
December 27, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Game history folks that follow me: Is there any consensus on whether we can trust the quotes in Sheff's book (Game Over, 1993)?
I know that the book has a less-than-stellar reputation as a source of truth these days, but I'm not sure if that extends to the actual quotations being wrong or not
I know that the book has a less-than-stellar reputation as a source of truth these days, but I'm not sure if that extends to the actual quotations being wrong or not
Reposted by Max Nichols
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 5:27 PM
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
Colorgrave, the indie studio that made this, seems to be living the dream: they're a tiny team (~5-7 folks?) putting out small GB/SNES scope games on average of about 1 a year
At this point in my career that sounds like heaven, lol. I really hope they're finding a path to sustainability
At this point in my career that sounds like heaven, lol. I really hope they're finding a path to sustainability
December 27, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Colorgrave, the indie studio that made this, seems to be living the dream: they're a tiny team (~5-7 folks?) putting out small GB/SNES scope games on average of about 1 a year
At this point in my career that sounds like heaven, lol. I really hope they're finding a path to sustainability
At this point in my career that sounds like heaven, lol. I really hope they're finding a path to sustainability
This game is a huge blast. It’s basically a spelling game combined with Balatro. The good shit.
Two things:
1. Man that name has some of the all-time worst SEO
2. I desperately wish it was on mobile and it’s very weird that it isn’t
store.steampowered.com/app/3586660/...
Two things:
1. Man that name has some of the all-time worst SEO
2. I desperately wish it was on mobile and it’s very weird that it isn’t
store.steampowered.com/app/3586660/...
Save 30% on Word Play on Steam
Spell words, pick perks, score points, and survive until the end. Every round is different. How far can you make it?
store.steampowered.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:55 AM
This game is a huge blast. It’s basically a spelling game combined with Balatro. The good shit.
Two things:
1. Man that name has some of the all-time worst SEO
2. I desperately wish it was on mobile and it’s very weird that it isn’t
store.steampowered.com/app/3586660/...
Two things:
1. Man that name has some of the all-time worst SEO
2. I desperately wish it was on mobile and it’s very weird that it isn’t
store.steampowered.com/app/3586660/...
I've been playing Prodigal, it's good fun. I've played MANY top-down Zelda-likes over the years, I rarely enjoy them.
This is probably the best of all that I've tried. It's vibes are right. I love the GBC color palette on what FEELS like how GB resolution felt in my memory
This is probably the best of all that I've tried. It's vibes are right. I love the GBC color palette on what FEELS like how GB resolution felt in my memory
Save 90% on Prodigal on Steam
Journey through a vibrant world fighting vicious monsters, exploring puzzling dungeons, and collecting magical artifacts. Unravel the mysteries of Vann's Point and bond with all of its curious townsfo...
store.steampowered.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:50 AM
I've been playing Prodigal, it's good fun. I've played MANY top-down Zelda-likes over the years, I rarely enjoy them.
This is probably the best of all that I've tried. It's vibes are right. I love the GBC color palette on what FEELS like how GB resolution felt in my memory
This is probably the best of all that I've tried. It's vibes are right. I love the GBC color palette on what FEELS like how GB resolution felt in my memory
It's been hard to buy my siblings games for a long time, because they tend to have very specific or nostalgia-oriented taste and don't play much.
My youngest bro is now dating a woman who likes action-adventures, I am excited to FINALLY buy gifts for someone whose taste I fully understand, hahah
My youngest bro is now dating a woman who likes action-adventures, I am excited to FINALLY buy gifts for someone whose taste I fully understand, hahah
December 27, 2025 at 6:00 AM
It's been hard to buy my siblings games for a long time, because they tend to have very specific or nostalgia-oriented taste and don't play much.
My youngest bro is now dating a woman who likes action-adventures, I am excited to FINALLY buy gifts for someone whose taste I fully understand, hahah
My youngest bro is now dating a woman who likes action-adventures, I am excited to FINALLY buy gifts for someone whose taste I fully understand, hahah
Well this game looks cool as shit
Halberd Studios is based out of Mexico too, it looks like
youtu.be/5K139b5y_so?...
Halberd Studios is based out of Mexico too, it looks like
youtu.be/5K139b5y_so?...
Mariachi Legends - Official Release Window Trailer | Latin American Games Showcase TGA Edition 2025
YouTube video by GameTrailers
youtu.be
December 27, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Well this game looks cool as shit
Halberd Studios is based out of Mexico too, it looks like
youtu.be/5K139b5y_so?...
Halberd Studios is based out of Mexico too, it looks like
youtu.be/5K139b5y_so?...
Boromir, in slow motion, as the first arrow hits him: “FUCK—“
The Lord of The Rings movies were rated PG-13. By current rules that means that each film could contain one use of the word "Fuck". Which line are you altering to insert the most useful swear word?
"I can't carry it for you, but I can Fucking carry you"
"I can't carry it for you, but I can Fucking carry you"
December 27, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Boromir, in slow motion, as the first arrow hits him: “FUCK—“
Yeah. When I was in school I was big into “networking”, I would read networking guides, constantly redo my business card, think about how to stand out, etc
I made a lot of linkedin connections!
…None of which have ever been even 1% useful.
That whole concept is worthless
I made a lot of linkedin connections!
…None of which have ever been even 1% useful.
That whole concept is worthless
Just gonna say this again for games sphere cus we get the same question:
Networking doesn't mean schmoozing up to famous people, it means making friends with your peers. Then in 10 years, 20, one of you might be famous? And sure you're still helping each other cus well yeah friends.
Make. Friends.
Networking doesn't mean schmoozing up to famous people, it means making friends with your peers. Then in 10 years, 20, one of you might be famous? And sure you're still helping each other cus well yeah friends.
Make. Friends.
Talking to one of these types at a con who asked how I 'got in' with so many 'famous writers' who I'd been talking to and I said "we made friends before anyone knew who we were decades ago by striking up interesting conversations and enjoying each other's company" and he kept re-asking the question.
December 27, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Yeah. When I was in school I was big into “networking”, I would read networking guides, constantly redo my business card, think about how to stand out, etc
I made a lot of linkedin connections!
…None of which have ever been even 1% useful.
That whole concept is worthless
I made a lot of linkedin connections!
…None of which have ever been even 1% useful.
That whole concept is worthless