Brandon Craw
@mindcontrollers.bsky.social
Review bylines on startmenu.co.uk | Also made a podcast about video games and psychology called Mind Controllers 🧠 🎮 | MA Clinical Psychology
linktr.ee/MindControllers
linktr.ee/MindControllers
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Brandon Craw
@mindcontrollers.bsky.social
· Dec 12
Yo! We're Mind Controllers, a podcast focusing on doing deep dives of some of our favorite games and video game characters. We also do a weekly general games chat on the side. Come listen and hang out with us! 🔗 to the pod in bio!
Reposted by Brandon Craw
new blog 💜
talking about substances on boxing day!!! only the lightest, festive topics from me
thank you for reading 💜
ashlikeadragon.bearblog.dev/i-dont-smoke/
talking about substances on boxing day!!! only the lightest, festive topics from me
thank you for reading 💜
ashlikeadragon.bearblog.dev/i-dont-smoke/
i don't smoke
i've been pretty good with substances in my life so far. that's a weird sentence. but it is mostly true.
i don't drink much, and i've recently been tr...
ashlikeadragon.bearblog.dev
December 26, 2025 at 8:50 PM
new blog 💜
talking about substances on boxing day!!! only the lightest, festive topics from me
thank you for reading 💜
ashlikeadragon.bearblog.dev/i-dont-smoke/
talking about substances on boxing day!!! only the lightest, festive topics from me
thank you for reading 💜
ashlikeadragon.bearblog.dev/i-dont-smoke/
Last night, I lost my grandma who was a second mother to me. She was one of the toughest, resilient, and loving persons I've ever known. It's been hard to really focus on anything else right now. If you have the privilege of being with family this season, hold them tightly for me.
December 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Last night, I lost my grandma who was a second mother to me. She was one of the toughest, resilient, and loving persons I've ever known. It's been hard to really focus on anything else right now. If you have the privilege of being with family this season, hold them tightly for me.
This absolutely sucks to hear! Heart goes out to Vince and his family
Vince Zampella, video game developer behind ‘Call of Duty' franchise, killed in crash www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/v...
December 22, 2025 at 8:29 PM
This absolutely sucks to hear! Heart goes out to Vince and his family
We need to add the "Lexi Holiday Hustle" to our collective dictionaries
December 22, 2025 at 6:20 PM
We need to add the "Lexi Holiday Hustle" to our collective dictionaries
Reposted by Brandon Craw
This week has Larian lose its sheen, awards be retracted, and new fan translations of old games.
All this, and more, in the latest Update Patch from @wendeego.bsky.social.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
All this, and more, in the latest Update Patch from @wendeego.bsky.social.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
Update Patch News Roundup (22/12/25) | startmenu
Get more from startmenu on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
This week has Larian lose its sheen, awards be retracted, and new fan translations of old games.
All this, and more, in the latest Update Patch from @wendeego.bsky.social.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
All this, and more, in the latest Update Patch from @wendeego.bsky.social.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
Reposted by Brandon Craw
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is about many things and for @brawler1993.bsky.social, it's about the lengths we're willing to go to avoid extinction and whether it's actually worth it.
Michael Beckwith Unpacks The Hundred Line's Most Challenging Question: How Far Would You Go To Save the Human Race? | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is about many things and for Michael Beckwith, it's about the lengths we're willing to go to avoid extinction and whether it's actually worth it.
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 22, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is about many things and for @brawler1993.bsky.social, it's about the lengths we're willing to go to avoid extinction and whether it's actually worth it.
Reposted by Brandon Craw
GIANT BOMB'S GAME OF THE YEAR STARTS IN EARNST WITH *checks notes* Doctor Hockey, AKA The Dark Echo, AKA Jerf(?)
giantbomb.com/articles/jef...
giantbomb.com/articles/jef...
Jeff Bakalar's Top 10 Games of 2025 | Giant Bomb
Jeff Bakalar's Top 10 Games of 2025 - A list for GiantBomb.com's 2025 Game of the Year extravaganza.
giantbomb.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:03 PM
GIANT BOMB'S GAME OF THE YEAR STARTS IN EARNST WITH *checks notes* Doctor Hockey, AKA The Dark Echo, AKA Jerf(?)
giantbomb.com/articles/jef...
giantbomb.com/articles/jef...
About to eat at the Death Stranding restaurant
December 21, 2025 at 2:35 AM
About to eat at the Death Stranding restaurant
Hostiles were, in fact, NOT eliminated
December 20, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Hostiles were, in fact, NOT eliminated
Reposted by Brandon Craw
This is such a misunderstanding of why writers, artists, and designers do research to begin with, which is to find something unexpected, not capture the average or find reference for the default.
And, as always, the biggest misapprehension: We don’t want to NOT do this part. It’s fun to learn shit
And, as always, the biggest misapprehension: We don’t want to NOT do this part. It’s fun to learn shit
Anyone who supports this is an embarrassment. "Instead of typing it out they'll generate their idea"? Are you insane?
Call yourself whatever you want but you aren't creatives, that's for sure.
Call yourself whatever you want but you aren't creatives, that's for sure.
December 18, 2025 at 5:40 PM
This is such a misunderstanding of why writers, artists, and designers do research to begin with, which is to find something unexpected, not capture the average or find reference for the default.
And, as always, the biggest misapprehension: We don’t want to NOT do this part. It’s fun to learn shit
And, as always, the biggest misapprehension: We don’t want to NOT do this part. It’s fun to learn shit
Love this! Also feels like the below standard priced gamed this year have been some of the most loved!
It’s a weird time to observe games industry trends. Call of Duty is full of AI slop and threadbare updates and costs up to $130, while Clair Obscur, Dispatch and Peak explore a range of price below the standard. But @alexgreen9898.bsky.social's biggest question is, “Where is all the money going?”
Alex Green Tries To Pin Down Why Everything Is So Expensive And What Exactly We Are Paying For | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
It’s a weird time to observe games industry trends. Call of Duty is full of AI slop and threadbare updates and costs up to $130, while Clair Obscur, Dispatch and Peak explore a range of price below th...
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Love this! Also feels like the below standard priced gamed this year have been some of the most loved!
Love me some betas and demos!
We welcome back @oronalex.bsky.social and Super GG Radio to run down the best betas and demo of games coming in 2026.
Alex Orona And Super GG Radio's Best Betas And Early Access Games Of 2025 | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
We welcome back Alex Orona and Super GG Radio to run down the best betas and demo of games coming in 2026.
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Love me some betas and demos!
As if I didn't spend enough money this year 😩
December 18, 2025 at 6:11 PM
As if I didn't spend enough money this year 😩
Reposted by Brandon Craw
What's wrong, babe? You've hardly touched your Mario-inspired denim tote bag.
December 17, 2025 at 11:56 PM
What's wrong, babe? You've hardly touched your Mario-inspired denim tote bag.
Great piece about feeling inspired after beating that hard game! I should probably take this into consideration...
Hollow Knight is a lot of things to a lot of people. To Louise Chase, the once-intimidating game has served as a source of newfound confidence. If she can beat Hollow Knight and its sequel, Silksong, well… what can’t she do?
Hollow Knight Taught Louise Chase Hard Lessons About Herself And What She Could Do | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
Hollow Knight is a lot of things to a lot of people. To Louise Chase, the once-intimidating game has served as a source of newfound confidence. If she can beat Hollow Knight and its sequel, Silksong, ...
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Great piece about feeling inspired after beating that hard game! I should probably take this into consideration...
I LOVED Before Your Eyes, but Goodnight Universe struggled to reach the same highs. Read my full thoughts on @startmenu.bsky.social below!
You might play as a baby in Goodnight Universe, but the game has big shoes to fill. Made by developers who worked on the critically-acclaimed Before Your Eyes, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as its predecessor.
@mindcontrollers.bsky.social reviews.
@mindcontrollers.bsky.social reviews.
Review | Goodnight Universe - Don’t Blink Twice — startmenu
You might play as a baby in Goodnight Universe, but the game has big shoes to fill. Made by developers who worked on the critically-acclaimed Before Your Eyes, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights...
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I LOVED Before Your Eyes, but Goodnight Universe struggled to reach the same highs. Read my full thoughts on @startmenu.bsky.social below!
Reposted by Brandon Craw
You might play as a baby in Goodnight Universe, but the game has big shoes to fill. Made by developers who worked on the critically-acclaimed Before Your Eyes, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as its predecessor.
@mindcontrollers.bsky.social reviews.
@mindcontrollers.bsky.social reviews.
Review | Goodnight Universe - Don’t Blink Twice — startmenu
You might play as a baby in Goodnight Universe, but the game has big shoes to fill. Made by developers who worked on the critically-acclaimed Before Your Eyes, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights...
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 7:38 PM
You might play as a baby in Goodnight Universe, but the game has big shoes to fill. Made by developers who worked on the critically-acclaimed Before Your Eyes, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as its predecessor.
@mindcontrollers.bsky.social reviews.
@mindcontrollers.bsky.social reviews.
Reposted by Brandon Craw
Thanks to @lexluddy.xyz and @startmenu.bsky.social for letting me write some lukewarm takes for their site!! It was so much fun to write and appreciate the opportunity to offer my
Perspective (and deservedly promote some
Irish games in the process ;))
Perspective (and deservedly promote some
Irish games in the process ;))
There was very little good in 2025, yet despite it all, @carlo-no-s.bsky.social has found some games that gave him hope for the future of the video game industry.
www.startmenu.co.uk/home/the-202...
www.startmenu.co.uk/home/the-202...
The 2025 Games That Made Carlo Azzari Hopeful About Our Industry | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
There was very little good in 2025, yet despite it all, Carlo Azzari has found some games that gave him hope for the future of the video game industry.
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Thanks to @lexluddy.xyz and @startmenu.bsky.social for letting me write some lukewarm takes for their site!! It was so much fun to write and appreciate the opportunity to offer my
Perspective (and deservedly promote some
Irish games in the process ;))
Perspective (and deservedly promote some
Irish games in the process ;))
Honestly, not as many games as I thought in my Steam Replay. And surprised Monster Hunter made it's way on when I did not play it much!
December 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Honestly, not as many games as I thought in my Steam Replay. And surprised Monster Hunter made it's way on when I did not play it much!
Great piece that shines the light on the few positives happening in the gaming industry. Go check it out!!
There was very little good in 2025, yet despite it all, @carlo-no-s.bsky.social has found some games that gave him hope for the future of the video game industry.
www.startmenu.co.uk/home/the-202...
www.startmenu.co.uk/home/the-202...
The 2025 Games That Made Carlo Azzari Hopeful About Our Industry | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
There was very little good in 2025, yet despite it all, Carlo Azzari has found some games that gave him hope for the future of the video game industry.
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Great piece that shines the light on the few positives happening in the gaming industry. Go check it out!!
Reposted by Brandon Craw
Reposted by Brandon Craw
hey can we delay christmas a week
December 15, 2025 at 6:44 PM
hey can we delay christmas a week
Reposted by Brandon Craw
Deniz Amasya joins us to take moment to reflect on espressos in Cologne, philosophers, and Sega Saturn visual novels.
Deniz Amasya Reflects On Social Vs. Anti-Social Writing: Visual Novels And Adventure Games | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
Deniz Amasya joins us to take moment to reflect on espressos in Cologne, philosophers, and Sega Saturn visual novels.
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Deniz Amasya joins us to take moment to reflect on espressos in Cologne, philosophers, and Sega Saturn visual novels.
I need to write my Steam library into my will. Someone's got to inherit my backlog
Are our game collections doomed to disappear along with us when we die? @coledone.com unpacks the problem of ownership when it comes to digital libraries, as well as what it means to hold a cartridge in your hands in 2025.
David Cole Craves Ownership | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
Are our game collections doomed to disappear along with us when we die? David Cole unpacks the problem of ownership when it comes to digital libraries, as well as what it means to hold a cartridge in ...
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I need to write my Steam library into my will. Someone's got to inherit my backlog
Reposted by Brandon Craw
Are our game collections doomed to disappear along with us when we die? @coledone.com unpacks the problem of ownership when it comes to digital libraries, as well as what it means to hold a cartridge in your hands in 2025.
David Cole Craves Ownership | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu
Are our game collections doomed to disappear along with us when we die? David Cole unpacks the problem of ownership when it comes to digital libraries, as well as what it means to hold a cartridge in ...
www.startmenu.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Are our game collections doomed to disappear along with us when we die? @coledone.com unpacks the problem of ownership when it comes to digital libraries, as well as what it means to hold a cartridge in your hands in 2025.