Nikhil Murthy
@murthynikhil.bsky.social
Experimental game designer currently working on Hoop Dungeon. Previous games: Syphilisation, The Quiet Sleep
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
I often think about Jonathan Cooper's posts about TLOU2, that the studio ran out of seasoned game animators because its reputation was so bad and thus had to hire film folks who had to be taught how to put games together.
January 14, 2026 at 1:57 PM
I often think about Jonathan Cooper's posts about TLOU2, that the studio ran out of seasoned game animators because its reputation was so bad and thus had to hire film folks who had to be taught how to put games together.
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
I'm excited to share that Game Poems Issue 1 is now live at www.gamepoems.com/issue01
A new online literary magazine dedicated to exploring the artistic and poetic potential of short-form videogames by publishing new games directly in a playable format.
Thanks for playing and sharing!
A new online literary magazine dedicated to exploring the artistic and poetic potential of short-form videogames by publishing new games directly in a playable format.
Thanks for playing and sharing!
Game Poems #1
An online literary magazine publishing short-form videogames directly in a playable format. Issue #1 features interactive works by international artists and game designers.
www.gamepoems.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:20 PM
I'm excited to share that Game Poems Issue 1 is now live at www.gamepoems.com/issue01
A new online literary magazine dedicated to exploring the artistic and poetic potential of short-form videogames by publishing new games directly in a playable format.
Thanks for playing and sharing!
A new online literary magazine dedicated to exploring the artistic and poetic potential of short-form videogames by publishing new games directly in a playable format.
Thanks for playing and sharing!
Look, I don't know if $8 is $10, I don't know if $7.99 is $5, but I do know that $8 being $10 does not mean that $7.99 is also $10.
How much is eight dollars? defector.com/how-much-is-...
How Much Is Eight Dollars? | Defector
You heard me. Is eight dollars five dollars? Or is eight dollars 10 dollars? Why are you making that face right now? Stop making faces and answer the question: How much is eight bucks? Stephen…
defector.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Look, I don't know if $8 is $10, I don't know if $7.99 is $5, but I do know that $8 being $10 does not mean that $7.99 is also $10.
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
I am looking into this, I've reached out to Steam directly, and I'm actively pitching stories on this subject of the platform's shaky moderation. If any other devs have experienced something similar with reviews and moderation, do reach out.
the Steam team responded to my support request and said they will not remove the review calling me a liar and ridiculing my sexual assault because of censorship concerns.
steamcommunity.com/profiles/765...
if Steam refuses to enforce their community guidelines and allows harassment, what can i do?
steamcommunity.com/profiles/765...
if Steam refuses to enforce their community guidelines and allows harassment, what can i do?
January 10, 2026 at 11:29 AM
I am looking into this, I've reached out to Steam directly, and I'm actively pitching stories on this subject of the platform's shaky moderation. If any other devs have experienced something similar with reviews and moderation, do reach out.
It’s very funny to call out Queen Victoria’s taste in reading in a book titled The Victorians and their Reading
January 10, 2026 at 6:44 PM
It’s very funny to call out Queen Victoria’s taste in reading in a book titled The Victorians and their Reading
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
We also have a Showcase Zero 2025 bundle live now on itch.io/b/3476/showc.... Get 8 incredible games from @kobanya.bsky.social @backwardsttrpg.bsky.social @andrewgillis.bsky.social @cutestpatoot.itch.io @yanahn.bsky.social and me at over 50% off!
January 10, 2026 at 1:56 AM
We also have a Showcase Zero 2025 bundle live now on itch.io/b/3476/showc.... Get 8 incredible games from @kobanya.bsky.social @backwardsttrpg.bsky.social @andrewgillis.bsky.social @cutestpatoot.itch.io @yanahn.bsky.social and me at over 50% off!
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
the Steam team responded to my support request and said they will not remove the review calling me a liar and ridiculing my sexual assault because of censorship concerns.
steamcommunity.com/profiles/765...
if Steam refuses to enforce their community guidelines and allows harassment, what can i do?
steamcommunity.com/profiles/765...
if Steam refuses to enforce their community guidelines and allows harassment, what can i do?
January 10, 2026 at 6:14 AM
the Steam team responded to my support request and said they will not remove the review calling me a liar and ridiculing my sexual assault because of censorship concerns.
steamcommunity.com/profiles/765...
if Steam refuses to enforce their community guidelines and allows harassment, what can i do?
steamcommunity.com/profiles/765...
if Steam refuses to enforce their community guidelines and allows harassment, what can i do?
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
it’s early yet but i’m actually feeling more friction in pathologic 3 than in 2. like sure 2 had survival mechanics that were v punishing but “eat food and don’t get stabbed” is a game loop we are all familiar with. “don’t do combat while sad or you’ll shoot yourself in the head” is something else
January 10, 2026 at 6:46 AM
it’s early yet but i’m actually feeling more friction in pathologic 3 than in 2. like sure 2 had survival mechanics that were v punishing but “eat food and don’t get stabbed” is a game loop we are all familiar with. “don’t do combat while sad or you’ll shoot yourself in the head” is something else
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
Huh? AP Thomson's what? AP Thomson's what's the name of that game?
Finally I can fuckin talk about it!!!!!
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
Finally I can fuckin talk about it!!!!!
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
January 9, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Huh? AP Thomson's what? AP Thomson's what's the name of that game?
Finally I can fuckin talk about it!!!!!
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
Finally I can fuckin talk about it!!!!!
store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/...
Microlandia looks very interesting (courtesy @edwinet.bsky.social)
www.rockpapershotgun.com/microlandia-...
www.rockpapershotgun.com/microlandia-...
Microlandia is a "brutally honest" scion of SimCity that thinks of cities as "beautiful but insane machines"
If you like your city management games meticulous, bleak and grounded in real-life research, check out Microlandia.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Microlandia looks very interesting (courtesy @edwinet.bsky.social)
www.rockpapershotgun.com/microlandia-...
www.rockpapershotgun.com/microlandia-...
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
I wrote about Despelote, and how it’s unique presentation paves a way forward for new forms of documentary storytelling.
Despelote isn't just an interesting narrative game. It passes the ball forward for interactive documentaries writ large. www.avclub.com/despelote-do...
Despelote takes a bold step forward for documentary storytelling
Despelote isn't just an interesting narrative game. It passes the ball forward for interactive documentaries writ large.
www.avclub.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
I wrote about Despelote, and how it’s unique presentation paves a way forward for new forms of documentary storytelling.
This @edwinet.bsky.social talk with Hooded Horse highlights that prototype assets easily become production assets. When I worked as a prototyper, I made a point of poison-pilling the prototype to make sure that it wouldn't become production.
www.rockpapershotgun.com/hooded-horse...
www.rockpapershotgun.com/hooded-horse...
Hooded Horse ban AI-generated art in their games: "all this thing has done is made our lives more difficult"
Hooded Horse CEO Tim Bender has taken a firm view on genAI art assets. "I fucking hate gen AI art and it has made my life more difficult in many ways."
www.rockpapershotgun.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:34 PM
This @edwinet.bsky.social talk with Hooded Horse highlights that prototype assets easily become production assets. When I worked as a prototyper, I made a point of poison-pilling the prototype to make sure that it wouldn't become production.
www.rockpapershotgun.com/hooded-horse...
www.rockpapershotgun.com/hooded-horse...
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
friends! acquaintances! help!
i'm looking to hire a game designer (living in the Netherlands) to help build games in The Hidden Folks Universe, starting with a sequel to the indie hit game Hidden Folks.
know someone who's a good fit? pls forward this, ty!
hiddenfolks.com/job-opening/...
i'm looking to hire a game designer (living in the Netherlands) to help build games in The Hidden Folks Universe, starting with a sequel to the indie hit game Hidden Folks.
know someone who's a good fit? pls forward this, ty!
hiddenfolks.com/job-opening/...
Job opening: game designer @ Hidden Folks
We're looking for a game designer in the Netherlands to help build games in The Hidden Folks Universe, starting with a sequel to the indie hit game Hidden Folks.
hiddenfolks.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:58 PM
friends! acquaintances! help!
i'm looking to hire a game designer (living in the Netherlands) to help build games in The Hidden Folks Universe, starting with a sequel to the indie hit game Hidden Folks.
know someone who's a good fit? pls forward this, ty!
hiddenfolks.com/job-opening/...
i'm looking to hire a game designer (living in the Netherlands) to help build games in The Hidden Folks Universe, starting with a sequel to the indie hit game Hidden Folks.
know someone who's a good fit? pls forward this, ty!
hiddenfolks.com/job-opening/...
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
join us 2/19 for our first ever lecture series event, featuring @ellaguro.bsky.social: "What Doth Videogame? A personal history of art and life in the age of collapse."
following the talk will be a listening party for liz's new album, Saint Elizabeth!
rsvp here: www.eventbrite.com/e/boshis-lec...
following the talk will be a listening party for liz's new album, Saint Elizabeth!
rsvp here: www.eventbrite.com/e/boshis-lec...
January 6, 2026 at 3:26 PM
join us 2/19 for our first ever lecture series event, featuring @ellaguro.bsky.social: "What Doth Videogame? A personal history of art and life in the age of collapse."
following the talk will be a listening party for liz's new album, Saint Elizabeth!
rsvp here: www.eventbrite.com/e/boshis-lec...
following the talk will be a listening party for liz's new album, Saint Elizabeth!
rsvp here: www.eventbrite.com/e/boshis-lec...
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
Incredibly shocked and saddened to learn of Steve Dee’s passing. His passion for making games and sharing the craft of gamemaking was unmatched. He made a whole bunch of great games (It Is Forbidden is stellar), and in his memory I want to share my favourite:
January 5, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Incredibly shocked and saddened to learn of Steve Dee’s passing. His passion for making games and sharing the craft of gamemaking was unmatched. He made a whole bunch of great games (It Is Forbidden is stellar), and in his memory I want to share my favourite:
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
I’m planning a column about women and games next year. I want to discuss how stories about women are told/received in games, and how does womens’ criticism exist- where/what is it? If you are a woman game writer/dev/critic and would like to share your thoughts, dm or email eaprice.work@gmail.com !
December 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I’m planning a column about women and games next year. I want to discuss how stories about women are told/received in games, and how does womens’ criticism exist- where/what is it? If you are a woman game writer/dev/critic and would like to share your thoughts, dm or email eaprice.work@gmail.com !
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
The third Quake Brutalism Jam - launched last night. Largest community project of its kind.
The biggest surprise: It's available both as a mod or as a FULLY STANDALONE FREE GAME. 77 one-shot Quake adventures using a whole new set of weapons, enemies and a whole lot of concrete.
qbj3.slipseer.com
The biggest surprise: It's available both as a mod or as a FULLY STANDALONE FREE GAME. 77 one-shot Quake adventures using a whole new set of weapons, enemies and a whole lot of concrete.
qbj3.slipseer.com
QUAKE BRUTALIST JAM III - Release Trailer
YouTube video by Fairweather
www.youtube.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:55 PM
The third Quake Brutalism Jam - launched last night. Largest community project of its kind.
The biggest surprise: It's available both as a mod or as a FULLY STANDALONE FREE GAME. 77 one-shot Quake adventures using a whole new set of weapons, enemies and a whole lot of concrete.
qbj3.slipseer.com
The biggest surprise: It's available both as a mod or as a FULLY STANDALONE FREE GAME. 77 one-shot Quake adventures using a whole new set of weapons, enemies and a whole lot of concrete.
qbj3.slipseer.com
This is a great list from @edwinet.bsky.social. The Bustling World is my most anticipated game for 2026 and I've had an eye on Folk Emerging for a while. I'm definitely going to give Mars Tactics a spin as well.
www.rockpapershotgun.com/edwins-most-...
www.rockpapershotgun.com/edwins-most-...
Edwin's most anticipated PC games for 2026
Through cracked and wizened eyes, Edwin looks out at 2026's coming maelstrom of releases and selects the games he most anticipates.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:51 AM
This is a great list from @edwinet.bsky.social. The Bustling World is my most anticipated game for 2026 and I've had an eye on Folk Emerging for a while. I'm definitely going to give Mars Tactics a spin as well.
www.rockpapershotgun.com/edwins-most-...
www.rockpapershotgun.com/edwins-most-...
I like to think about games by looking at the breadth of their imagination. What is in the possibility space afforded by the game and what is not. eg; in Sid Meier's Colonization, the natives can never live like the colonists and the colonists can never live like the natives.
January 1, 2026 at 12:23 PM
I like to think about games by looking at the breadth of their imagination. What is in the possibility space afforded by the game and what is not. eg; in Sid Meier's Colonization, the natives can never live like the colonists and the colonists can never live like the natives.
1. Go to your personal library
2. Find a book you haven't read in a while.
3. Take a moment and remember your favorite part of the book.
4. Tear those pages out. You're never reading it again. Your book now has a hole in it. Too bad.
2. Find a book you haven't read in a while.
3. Take a moment and remember your favorite part of the book.
4. Tear those pages out. You're never reading it again. Your book now has a hole in it. Too bad.
I need everyone to make a shitpost game that fits into at most 3 posts on here before the end of the year otherwise thr sun will not rise again
Not enough shitpost games though
December 31, 2025 at 10:13 AM
1. Go to your personal library
2. Find a book you haven't read in a while.
3. Take a moment and remember your favorite part of the book.
4. Tear those pages out. You're never reading it again. Your book now has a hole in it. Too bad.
2. Find a book you haven't read in a while.
3. Take a moment and remember your favorite part of the book.
4. Tear those pages out. You're never reading it again. Your book now has a hole in it. Too bad.
I had no idea about Benjamin Disraeli writing novels to skewer aristocratic fashions
December 30, 2025 at 9:17 AM
I had no idea about Benjamin Disraeli writing novels to skewer aristocratic fashions
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
1,5 years of making "a game for Steam players" + €40k promoting the Steam release (YT/T creators, ads, etc) but Rift Riff's daily revenue is 4x higher on mobile with €0 marketing spent there……?
Rift Riff's daily avg net revenue:
±$100 on Steam
±$400 on mobile (90% App Store, 10% Google Play)
Rift Riff's daily avg net revenue:
±$100 on Steam
±$400 on mobile (90% App Store, 10% Google Play)
December 29, 2025 at 11:14 AM
1,5 years of making "a game for Steam players" + €40k promoting the Steam release (YT/T creators, ads, etc) but Rift Riff's daily revenue is 4x higher on mobile with €0 marketing spent there……?
Rift Riff's daily avg net revenue:
±$100 on Steam
±$400 on mobile (90% App Store, 10% Google Play)
Rift Riff's daily avg net revenue:
±$100 on Steam
±$400 on mobile (90% App Store, 10% Google Play)
I guess now I have to find some time to reread The Count of Monte Cristo so that I can play The Count of Monte Clicker
www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rps-sele...
www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rps-sele...
The RPS Selection Box: Julian's bonus games of the year
On top of our official best games of 2025 picks, Julian shares the idle clicker, strategy game, and puzzle game that stood out to him.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:11 AM
I guess now I have to find some time to reread The Count of Monte Cristo so that I can play The Count of Monte Clicker
www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rps-sele...
www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rps-sele...