Gonçalo Santos
@mushwrites.bsky.social
Freelance writer on all things videogames.
https://buttonmusher.substack.com/
https://buttonmusher.substack.com/
Pinned
Gonçalo Santos
@mushwrites.bsky.social
· Nov 26
"We were worried about how our Monster Sanctuary community would react to the change in genre"- moi rai games' community-first approach to game development with Aethermancer
Interview with the studio behind indie hit Monster Sanctuary on how they're striking a balance between innovating and staying true to the community they've built as they develop Aethermancer.
buttonmusher.substack.com
"We were worried about how our Monster Sanctuary community would react to the change in genre"- moi rai games' community-first approach to game development with Aethermancer
How @moiraigames.bsky.social are striking a balance between innovating and staying true to the community they've built.
How @moiraigames.bsky.social are striking a balance between innovating and staying true to the community they've built.
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
if there are any sites looking for a freelancer to review/cover yakuza kiwami 3 who has also reviewed infinite wealth + pirate yakuza and wrote about the series at length in the past, i'm truly the girl for it 💜
aware this is a little early
shares appreciated 💜
aware this is a little early
shares appreciated 💜
December 22, 2025 at 10:49 AM
if there are any sites looking for a freelancer to review/cover yakuza kiwami 3 who has also reviewed infinite wealth + pirate yakuza and wrote about the series at length in the past, i'm truly the girl for it 💜
aware this is a little early
shares appreciated 💜
aware this is a little early
shares appreciated 💜
youtu.be/icR8vvu5UuY?... a comprehensive and nuanced piece of criticism of gen-AI in videogames and condensed into an 11 minute video, great stuff.
I Was Wrong About Ethical AI in Games
YouTube video by Laura Fryer
youtu.be
December 21, 2025 at 11:49 AM
youtu.be/icR8vvu5UuY?... a comprehensive and nuanced piece of criticism of gen-AI in videogames and condensed into an 11 minute video, great stuff.
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
We spoke to a dozen professional concept artists who are currently or have previously worked in game development about whether generative AI image tools have made their jobs any easier.
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Concept Artists Say Generative AI References Only Make Their Jobs Harder
“The ‘early ideation stages’, when worlds are being fleshed out by writers and artists, are literally crucial to the development of a game’s vision,” said one artist.
thisweekinvideogames.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:06 PM
We spoke to a dozen professional concept artists who are currently or have previously worked in game development about whether generative AI image tools have made their jobs any easier.
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Zero said it did. Most said it made things harder.
thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/conc...
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Buried in this article are FIVE DIFFERENT WIP versions of Begin Again. Unbelievably cool.
December 20, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Buried in this article are FIVE DIFFERENT WIP versions of Begin Again. Unbelievably cool.
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Ending the work year feeling very thankful and unbelievably privileged to have worked with so many great people and talented teams who've trusted me with their games as a freelancer.
Shoutout to all of the press and creator pals who've believed in those titles and have shown them some love, too 💛
Shoutout to all of the press and creator pals who've believed in those titles and have shown them some love, too 💛
December 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Ending the work year feeling very thankful and unbelievably privileged to have worked with so many great people and talented teams who've trusted me with their games as a freelancer.
Shoutout to all of the press and creator pals who've believed in those titles and have shown them some love, too 💛
Shoutout to all of the press and creator pals who've believed in those titles and have shown them some love, too 💛
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
I love handing over Game of the Year to VGIM readers. A small way for the community to show some love to the games that mattered to them.
The excellent @georgeosborn.bsky.social has selected a handful of his readers' GOTY reviews (and had the goodness in his heart to publish mine) for one of the final VGIM's of the year.
What esteemed company I am in!
This is a great read.
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/vgim-game-...
What esteemed company I am in!
This is a great read.
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/vgim-game-...
VGIM Game of the Year 2025, 18/12/2025
Clair Obscur, Blue Prince, Silksong, and Mario Kart all made the good list
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I love handing over Game of the Year to VGIM readers. A small way for the community to show some love to the games that mattered to them.
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
the good news is that the media attention and support from an audience has helped Horses do well enough that Santa Ragione has been able to pay all its owed royalties and loans. so it's not in debt.
the bad news is it's still not enough to keep the studio together.
www.ign.com/articles/hor...
the bad news is it's still not enough to keep the studio together.
www.ign.com/articles/hor...
Horses Sells Over 18k Copies, Pays Back Loans and Royalties Despite Removal From Steam and Epic - IGN
Horses, the indie horror game that was banned from both Steam and the Epic Games Store ahead of its launch two weeks ago, has nonetheless managed to sell over 18,000 copies, says publisher Santa Ragio...
www.ign.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:09 PM
the good news is that the media attention and support from an audience has helped Horses do well enough that Santa Ragione has been able to pay all its owed royalties and loans. so it's not in debt.
the bad news is it's still not enough to keep the studio together.
www.ign.com/articles/hor...
the bad news is it's still not enough to keep the studio together.
www.ign.com/articles/hor...
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Subscribe to Unwinnable before the end of the year and get all the 2025 issues free! That's twelve issues of Unwinnable Monthly AND twelve issues of Exploits for five clams. Feed your brain over the holidays!
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
(@unwinnable.com)
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
(@unwinnable.com)
December 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Subscribe to Unwinnable before the end of the year and get all the 2025 issues free! That's twelve issues of Unwinnable Monthly AND twelve issues of Exploits for five clams. Feed your brain over the holidays!
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
(@unwinnable.com)
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
(@unwinnable.com)
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
If I had known the two paragraphs about genAI in my article today would be so controversial, I would have expanded them a bit! Here's a rough transcript of the relevant portion of my interview with Swen Vincke, so everyone has all the context. (Full article here: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...)
December 16, 2025 at 11:52 PM
If I had known the two paragraphs about genAI in my article today would be so controversial, I would have expanded them a bit! Here's a rough transcript of the relevant portion of my interview with Swen Vincke, so everyone has all the context. (Full article here: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...)
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
this interview is essential reading for SILENT HILL fans 🐜🦟🦗 i know i wrote it 🤧 but 😇😈 silent hill f producer motoi okamoto and scriptwriter ryukishi07 were just so honest with me about their vision for the franchise, and what they need from you...
www.gamesradar.com/games/silent...
www.gamesradar.com/games/silent...
Silent Hill f writer knows you don't really want to see "a happily ever after," and the game's horrific portrayal of young womanhood makes it my GOTY
Year in Review 2025 | Konami returns to Silent Hill with a steel pipe and a wedding veil
www.gamesradar.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:18 PM
this interview is essential reading for SILENT HILL fans 🐜🦟🦗 i know i wrote it 🤧 but 😇😈 silent hill f producer motoi okamoto and scriptwriter ryukishi07 were just so honest with me about their vision for the franchise, and what they need from you...
www.gamesradar.com/games/silent...
www.gamesradar.com/games/silent...
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
I know the holidays are the worst for hiring but I'm still looking for work :')
my website goes into detail on my contributions to Civ VII, MMS, and Hindsight: emmkid.info
I'm quick, adaptable, and eager to learn from smart people who enjoy abusing custom slack emotes
my website goes into detail on my contributions to Civ VII, MMS, and Hindsight: emmkid.info
I'm quick, adaptable, and eager to learn from smart people who enjoy abusing custom slack emotes
December 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I know the holidays are the worst for hiring but I'm still looking for work :')
my website goes into detail on my contributions to Civ VII, MMS, and Hindsight: emmkid.info
I'm quick, adaptable, and eager to learn from smart people who enjoy abusing custom slack emotes
my website goes into detail on my contributions to Civ VII, MMS, and Hindsight: emmkid.info
I'm quick, adaptable, and eager to learn from smart people who enjoy abusing custom slack emotes
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
@alphanomos.bsky.social is a delight and you should be playing the demo right now (especially if you've been itching for something similar to Hifi Rush)!
✍️ Brawling On The Beat @aiig.bsky.social
✍️ Brawling On The Beat @aiig.bsky.social
Brawling On Beat: Alpha Nomos
Beat the cursed toys on beat in this rhythm roguelite arena fighting game.
open.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:28 PM
@alphanomos.bsky.social is a delight and you should be playing the demo right now (especially if you've been itching for something similar to Hifi Rush)!
✍️ Brawling On The Beat @aiig.bsky.social
✍️ Brawling On The Beat @aiig.bsky.social
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
My review of Scrabdackle, a special game almost solely made by an ambitious, talented maniac called @jakefriend.bsky.social .
Not only is Scrabdackle fun to say, it is incredibly fun to play. My personal pick for 2025's hidden gem. Congratulations to jake and @fellowtraveller.games.
Not only is Scrabdackle fun to say, it is incredibly fun to play. My personal pick for 2025's hidden gem. Congratulations to jake and @fellowtraveller.games.
Scrabdackle- The Best Metroidvania You've Never Heard of
How jakefriend (and friends) scribbled an unexpectedly complex world into existence.
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
My review of Scrabdackle, a special game almost solely made by an ambitious, talented maniac called @jakefriend.bsky.social .
Not only is Scrabdackle fun to say, it is incredibly fun to play. My personal pick for 2025's hidden gem. Congratulations to jake and @fellowtraveller.games.
Not only is Scrabdackle fun to say, it is incredibly fun to play. My personal pick for 2025's hidden gem. Congratulations to jake and @fellowtraveller.games.
My review of Scrabdackle, a special game almost solely made by an ambitious, talented maniac called @jakefriend.bsky.social .
Not only is Scrabdackle fun to say, it is incredibly fun to play. My personal pick for 2025's hidden gem. Congratulations to jake and @fellowtraveller.games.
Not only is Scrabdackle fun to say, it is incredibly fun to play. My personal pick for 2025's hidden gem. Congratulations to jake and @fellowtraveller.games.
Scrabdackle- The Best Metroidvania You've Never Heard of
How jakefriend (and friends) scribbled an unexpectedly complex world into existence.
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
My review of Scrabdackle, a special game almost solely made by an ambitious, talented maniac called @jakefriend.bsky.social .
Not only is Scrabdackle fun to say, it is incredibly fun to play. My personal pick for 2025's hidden gem. Congratulations to jake and @fellowtraveller.games.
Not only is Scrabdackle fun to say, it is incredibly fun to play. My personal pick for 2025's hidden gem. Congratulations to jake and @fellowtraveller.games.
Not one, but two classic literature quotes in a review of a Doom 2 total conversion mod. Beautiful
TOTAL CHAOS — a game title that requires you growl it like kurt russell — made me want to puke and quote lord byron ⛄ that's kinda what the long nights of winter inspire, too @apogeeent.com
www.gamesradar.com/games/horror...
www.gamesradar.com/games/horror...
Nearly 10 years later, Doom 2 mod Total Chaos is reborn as a standalone horror FPS I'll be playing all winter, and it makes Silent Hill look like a rom-com
Indie Spotlight | Sam Prebble's gothic Doom 2 mod is now bigger, darker, and more haunting than ever
www.gamesradar.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Not one, but two classic literature quotes in a review of a Doom 2 total conversion mod. Beautiful
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Working with Ash on her brilliant VA-11 Hall-A book has been comfortably among the most enjoyable things I've done in 2025. Please consider commissioning her!
hey, i'm looking for work! full-time or freelance 💜
journalist, critic, author
proficient in features, criticism, reporting, reviews, previews, news, guides
words at lost in cult, RPS, VGC, unwinnable, gamesradar+, polygon, EDGE, PLAY
muckrack.com/ash-like-a-d...
ashleyschofieldwrites@gmail.com
journalist, critic, author
proficient in features, criticism, reporting, reviews, previews, news, guides
words at lost in cult, RPS, VGC, unwinnable, gamesradar+, polygon, EDGE, PLAY
muckrack.com/ash-like-a-d...
ashleyschofieldwrites@gmail.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Working with Ash on her brilliant VA-11 Hall-A book has been comfortably among the most enjoyable things I've done in 2025. Please consider commissioning her!
Portuguese-made goodness.
little goody two shoes from @astralshiftpro.com launched 3 years ago 🦢 but it just got a 600+ page digital artbook 🧁
consider this my plea to support "girl games" longterm! the devs that make them are some of the most committed to beauty, mythology, and ART, and i think the biz needs more of that
consider this my plea to support "girl games" longterm! the devs that make them are some of the most committed to beauty, mythology, and ART, and i think the biz needs more of that
December 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Portuguese-made goodness.
Great read! Parry fatigue is a real thing now that it seems ubiquitous in games, but a good implementation of it can still be excellent (Sekiro, my beloved).
The interviewed devs seem to agree that the key is finding the fine line between frustratingly difficult and game-breakingly easy.
The interviewed devs seem to agree that the key is finding the fine line between frustratingly difficult and game-breakingly easy.
I'm a parrying skeptic, so I just had to reach out to a few folks (the devs behind Nine Sols, Ultrakill, Tails of Iron, Steel Carnelian) on how they design their parries, in Game Developer www.gamedeveloper.com/design/what-...
What goes into a good parry system?
The developers of Nine Sols, Ultrakill, and more explain how to make parrying fun in games.
www.gamedeveloper.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Great read! Parry fatigue is a real thing now that it seems ubiquitous in games, but a good implementation of it can still be excellent (Sekiro, my beloved).
The interviewed devs seem to agree that the key is finding the fine line between frustratingly difficult and game-breakingly easy.
The interviewed devs seem to agree that the key is finding the fine line between frustratingly difficult and game-breakingly easy.
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Kotaku are looking for freelance contributors (rate info in the link) bsky.app/profile/kota...
Come help us write articles for the internet made by humans https://kotaku.com/kotaku-is-looking-for-freelance-contributors-2000650081
Kotaku Is Looking for Freelance Contributors - Kotaku
We're looking for thoughtful writers to help with covering news, reporting, and more
kotaku.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Kotaku are looking for freelance contributors (rate info in the link) bsky.app/profile/kota...
Looks better and better!
New Burn With Me trailer!!!
It's such a joy to work on this game! Pure happiness from growing together with the game.
Each month it looks and feels better and better, and, what can I say, I just can't wait to show even more — when it's time.
#burnwithme
It's such a joy to work on this game! Pure happiness from growing together with the game.
Each month it looks and feels better and better, and, what can I say, I just can't wait to show even more — when it's time.
#burnwithme
December 3, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Looks better and better!
@alphanomos.bsky.social is a delight and you should be playing the demo right now (especially if you've been itching for something similar to Hifi Rush)!
✍️ Brawling On The Beat @aiig.bsky.social
✍️ Brawling On The Beat @aiig.bsky.social
Brawling On Beat: Alpha Nomos
Beat the cursed toys on beat in this rhythm roguelite arena fighting game.
open.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:28 PM
@alphanomos.bsky.social is a delight and you should be playing the demo right now (especially if you've been itching for something similar to Hifi Rush)!
✍️ Brawling On The Beat @aiig.bsky.social
✍️ Brawling On The Beat @aiig.bsky.social
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
5000 is such a psychological barrier, breaking it is gonna rule.
thanks to everyone who has subbed so far, I hope you're enjoying it all, but also if you haven't, a reminder that we're running a $1 sale at the moment!
thanks to everyone who has subbed so far, I hope you're enjoying it all, but also if you haven't, a reminder that we're running a $1 sale at the moment!
November 27, 2025 at 11:02 PM
5000 is such a psychological barrier, breaking it is gonna rule.
thanks to everyone who has subbed so far, I hope you're enjoying it all, but also if you haven't, a reminder that we're running a $1 sale at the moment!
thanks to everyone who has subbed so far, I hope you're enjoying it all, but also if you haven't, a reminder that we're running a $1 sale at the moment!
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Our upcoming game HORSES was preemptively banned from Steam, with no path to appeal. The game will still launch next week on December 2nd and will be available on EGS, GOG, Humble, and Itch for $4.99. Here is a detailed FAQ covering what happened: horses.wtf/BannedFromSt...
November 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Our upcoming game HORSES was preemptively banned from Steam, with no path to appeal. The game will still launch next week on December 2nd and will be available on EGS, GOG, Humble, and Itch for $4.99. Here is a detailed FAQ covering what happened: horses.wtf/BannedFromSt...
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
hey, i'm looking for work! full-time or freelance 💜
journalist, critic, author
proficient in features, criticism, reporting, reviews, previews, news, guides
words at lost in cult, RPS, VGC, unwinnable, gamesradar+, polygon, EDGE, PLAY
muckrack.com/ash-like-a-d...
ashleyschofieldwrites@gmail.com
journalist, critic, author
proficient in features, criticism, reporting, reviews, previews, news, guides
words at lost in cult, RPS, VGC, unwinnable, gamesradar+, polygon, EDGE, PLAY
muckrack.com/ash-like-a-d...
ashleyschofieldwrites@gmail.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:52 AM
hey, i'm looking for work! full-time or freelance 💜
journalist, critic, author
proficient in features, criticism, reporting, reviews, previews, news, guides
words at lost in cult, RPS, VGC, unwinnable, gamesradar+, polygon, EDGE, PLAY
muckrack.com/ash-like-a-d...
ashleyschofieldwrites@gmail.com
journalist, critic, author
proficient in features, criticism, reporting, reviews, previews, news, guides
words at lost in cult, RPS, VGC, unwinnable, gamesradar+, polygon, EDGE, PLAY
muckrack.com/ash-like-a-d...
ashleyschofieldwrites@gmail.com
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Hello indies! It's almost Thanksgaming 2025!
If you have an unknown indie project in dev or just released, please could you email me at jwalker@kotaku.com with the subject "THANKSGAMING 2025", and a store page and YouTube link? I'll put as many as I can on Kotaku.
Rules next. Reposts appreciated!
If you have an unknown indie project in dev or just released, please could you email me at jwalker@kotaku.com with the subject "THANKSGAMING 2025", and a store page and YouTube link? I'll put as many as I can on Kotaku.
Rules next. Reposts appreciated!
November 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Hello indies! It's almost Thanksgaming 2025!
If you have an unknown indie project in dev or just released, please could you email me at jwalker@kotaku.com with the subject "THANKSGAMING 2025", and a store page and YouTube link? I'll put as many as I can on Kotaku.
Rules next. Reposts appreciated!
If you have an unknown indie project in dev or just released, please could you email me at jwalker@kotaku.com with the subject "THANKSGAMING 2025", and a store page and YouTube link? I'll put as many as I can on Kotaku.
Rules next. Reposts appreciated!