Mollie Russell
@spookysyntax.bsky.social
Scream Queen at Wargamer. Autistic. South Wales poet and facilitator. Nerd for gaming, horror, music, and literature. She/Her.
Pinned
Mollie Russell
@spookysyntax.bsky.social
· Sep 26
Molly House is the most important board game you'll play this year
Molly House is a perfect marriage of theme and mechanics, where the challenges you face are complex, frightening, and very, very real.
www.wargamer.com
Finally played Molly House. Had a breakdown. Bon appetit. www.wargamer.com/molly-house/...
Me: I love physical media! I love having a collection of books, board games, and DVDs that bring me joy!
Me, about to move house: 😭
Me, about to move house: 😭
January 4, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Me: I love physical media! I love having a collection of books, board games, and DVDs that bring me joy!
Me, about to move house: 😭
Me, about to move house: 😭
D&D party are going into the New Year with a positive mindset
January 1, 2026 at 12:34 AM
D&D party are going into the New Year with a positive mindset
Going into 2026, I'm going to make a lot more effort to share writing that made me smile. Starting with:
Solving mysteries in a world without answers
aftermath.site/mystery-games-...
aftermath.site/mystery-games-...
December 31, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Going into 2026, I'm going to make a lot more effort to share writing that made me smile. Starting with:
A lot of this year felt more "survive" than "thrive", but I still wrote some of my best ever work for Wargamer. Put my face to video for the first time, did some interviews that I'm immensely proud of. Oh, and introduced tens of thousands of people to Birdemic.
December 24, 2025 at 2:43 PM
A lot of this year felt more "survive" than "thrive", but I still wrote some of my best ever work for Wargamer. Put my face to video for the first time, did some interviews that I'm immensely proud of. Oh, and introduced tens of thousands of people to Birdemic.
It's my last day at work before Christmas, and I can't stop thinking about this party card game where fighting for the right to take sick leave from work is presented as an adorable party game with fuzzy animals. www.wargamer.com/use-up-all-y...
This "cozy" board game about sick leave might be the strangest tabletop title I've seen all year
Nothing screams cute, cozy board game like corporate burnout and fighting with HR about when to take sick leave - what a party!
www.wargamer.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:32 PM
It's my last day at work before Christmas, and I can't stop thinking about this party card game where fighting for the right to take sick leave from work is presented as an adorable party game with fuzzy animals. www.wargamer.com/use-up-all-y...
Reposted by Mollie Russell
18th Century Colleagues: lots to see here.
Yep, over on BGG I wrote up some relevant ways gender has mattered for this history: boardgamegeek.com/thread/34237... ... WRT pretend play across media in general, I'd add Lizzie Stark (2012; ch. 3) and Marina Viallon (2025; server seems down right now www.metafilter.com/209376/Knigh... )
The women who invented murder mystery LARPs and other old parlor games | BGG
A few weeks ago, I was looking into the history of a murder mystery parlor game and basically stumbled across a number of stories attributing the invention and popularization of a particular kind of m...
boardgamegeek.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
18th Century Colleagues: lots to see here.
Reposted by Mollie Russell
The restorative power of lying down in a quiet, dark room is so strong for me that I'm starting to suspect I'm not just autistic but a vampire.
December 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The restorative power of lying down in a quiet, dark room is so strong for me that I'm starting to suspect I'm not just autistic but a vampire.
Reposted by Mollie Russell
I am having a really stressful few weeks, so I've redownloaded Red Dead Redemption 2. I will not be doing any shooting or heists. I am just here to brush my horse, play dominoes, and perform menial tasks. As God intended.
December 12, 2025 at 10:40 PM
I am having a really stressful few weeks, so I've redownloaded Red Dead Redemption 2. I will not be doing any shooting or heists. I am just here to brush my horse, play dominoes, and perform menial tasks. As God intended.
Reposted by Mollie Russell
A beautiful write up that captures the heart of The Time We Have
“During setup, my buddy and I scoffed at this. We were zombie movie scholars, and we knew there was no logical reason to open a door with a hungry zombie behind it.
And then we began to play.”
“During setup, my buddy and I scoffed at this. We were zombie movie scholars, and we knew there was no logical reason to open a door with a hungry zombie behind it.
And then we began to play.”
My December so far? Stress and anxiety. How am I coping? ✨Games that simulate stress and anxiety ✨
On a more serious note, very glad to have backed @moreblueberries.bsky.social ' The Time We Have. Exactly the heart wrenching zombie narrative I was hoping for. www.wargamer.com/the-time-we-...
On a more serious note, very glad to have backed @moreblueberries.bsky.social ' The Time We Have. Exactly the heart wrenching zombie narrative I was hoping for. www.wargamer.com/the-time-we-...
This tragic, apocalyptic board game will probably make you cry - but you should play it anyway
The world is a scary place, and I'm using board games like The Time We Have, an emotional zombie apocalypse simulator, as a coping mechanism.
www.wargamer.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:52 PM
A beautiful write up that captures the heart of The Time We Have
“During setup, my buddy and I scoffed at this. We were zombie movie scholars, and we knew there was no logical reason to open a door with a hungry zombie behind it.
And then we began to play.”
“During setup, my buddy and I scoffed at this. We were zombie movie scholars, and we knew there was no logical reason to open a door with a hungry zombie behind it.
And then we began to play.”
My December so far? Stress and anxiety. How am I coping? ✨Games that simulate stress and anxiety ✨
On a more serious note, very glad to have backed @moreblueberries.bsky.social ' The Time We Have. Exactly the heart wrenching zombie narrative I was hoping for. www.wargamer.com/the-time-we-...
On a more serious note, very glad to have backed @moreblueberries.bsky.social ' The Time We Have. Exactly the heart wrenching zombie narrative I was hoping for. www.wargamer.com/the-time-we-...
This tragic, apocalyptic board game will probably make you cry - but you should play it anyway
The world is a scary place, and I'm using board games like The Time We Have, an emotional zombie apocalypse simulator, as a coping mechanism.
www.wargamer.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:06 PM
My December so far? Stress and anxiety. How am I coping? ✨Games that simulate stress and anxiety ✨
On a more serious note, very glad to have backed @moreblueberries.bsky.social ' The Time We Have. Exactly the heart wrenching zombie narrative I was hoping for. www.wargamer.com/the-time-we-...
On a more serious note, very glad to have backed @moreblueberries.bsky.social ' The Time We Have. Exactly the heart wrenching zombie narrative I was hoping for. www.wargamer.com/the-time-we-...
Reposted by Mollie Russell
Remember your favorite creator possibly might be struggling with imposter syndrome and doubt and this timeline sucks.. so if you find yourself thinking “wow I really relate to this persons work” or that persons work gives you joy, you should probably tell them. It’s a hard time to be a creative.
November 26, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Remember your favorite creator possibly might be struggling with imposter syndrome and doubt and this timeline sucks.. so if you find yourself thinking “wow I really relate to this persons work” or that persons work gives you joy, you should probably tell them. It’s a hard time to be a creative.
When you and your fiance both die in Phasmaphobia, but it's still date night so you've gotta be romantic about it.
November 25, 2025 at 11:11 PM
When you and your fiance both die in Phasmaphobia, but it's still date night so you've gotta be romantic about it.
Reposted by Mollie Russell
I don't know how to introduce this one. After three titles about opium peddling, I figured the rest of SDHistCon would be breezy by comparison. I was wrong. The next day, I experienced one of the toughest board games I've ever played. Perhaps *the* toughest. spacebiff.com/2025/11/24/u...
Unnameable
After the first day of SDHistCon, where I played three games about opium peddling, I figured the second would be easier on my stomach. I could not have been more wrong. It has no name. Its designer…
spacebiff.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I don't know how to introduce this one. After three titles about opium peddling, I figured the rest of SDHistCon would be breezy by comparison. I was wrong. The next day, I experienced one of the toughest board games I've ever played. Perhaps *the* toughest. spacebiff.com/2025/11/24/u...
Here's Part Two of my recent interview with the ever-thoughtful @colewehrle.bsky.social . Expect rich ruminations on historical board games, the violation of player agency, and games that are meant to feel bad on the first playthrough: www.wargamer.com/molly-house/...
Board game auteur Cole Wehrle says "Molly House is the most controversial game I've worked on"
"A lot of the core board game audience is playing to master a system or demonstrate some kind of skill - that's not how I play games."
www.wargamer.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Here's Part Two of my recent interview with the ever-thoughtful @colewehrle.bsky.social . Expect rich ruminations on historical board games, the violation of player agency, and games that are meant to feel bad on the first playthrough: www.wargamer.com/molly-house/...
I love watching my Fitbit try to figure out what the hell is going on when I'm at a metal gig.
November 6, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I love watching my Fitbit try to figure out what the hell is going on when I'm at a metal gig.
I've never been one to turn down two concerts back to back so VOLBEAT. Consistently great every time I see them.
...every muscle in my body hurts.
...every muscle in my body hurts.
November 6, 2025 at 11:06 PM
I've never been one to turn down two concerts back to back so VOLBEAT. Consistently great every time I see them.
...every muscle in my body hurts.
...every muscle in my body hurts.
Can't wait for Castle Rat to inevitably blow up because man, is this a metal band that deserves it. Bristol show was an absolute sweat fest.
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Can't wait for Castle Rat to inevitably blow up because man, is this a metal band that deserves it. Bristol show was an absolute sweat fest.
Reposted by Mollie Russell
'Melted cockerel' by @betarish.bsky.social badlilies.uk/rishi-dastidar
November 4, 2025 at 10:28 AM
'Melted cockerel' by @betarish.bsky.social badlilies.uk/rishi-dastidar
Reposted by Mollie Russell
it hasn't helped sell any mags but it appears our nonsense on here has just pushed our account over 5K 'followers', so let's embrace that as some kind of achievement!
Like & repost this to be in with a chance to win every in-print issue of Wyrd Science & a t-shirt of your choice*
Like & repost this to be in with a chance to win every in-print issue of Wyrd Science & a t-shirt of your choice*
November 3, 2025 at 12:31 PM
it hasn't helped sell any mags but it appears our nonsense on here has just pushed our account over 5K 'followers', so let's embrace that as some kind of achievement!
Like & repost this to be in with a chance to win every in-print issue of Wyrd Science & a t-shirt of your choice*
Like & repost this to be in with a chance to win every in-print issue of Wyrd Science & a t-shirt of your choice*
Had a delightful chat with @colewehrle.bsky.social recently about the practical and artistic aspects of board game design, and the meaning it creates.
There were so many thoughtful threads of conversation to follow that I had to split the interview into two parts. www.wargamer.com/board-games/...
There were so many thoughtful threads of conversation to follow that I had to split the interview into two parts. www.wargamer.com/board-games/...
Modern board game maestro Cole Wehrle on getting mad, metaphor in game design, and future projects that are "Big with a capital B"
For Cole Wehrle, the designer behind Arcs, Root, and John Company, "games are not just their pieces" - they are an ongoing conversation.
www.wargamer.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Had a delightful chat with @colewehrle.bsky.social recently about the practical and artistic aspects of board game design, and the meaning it creates.
There were so many thoughtful threads of conversation to follow that I had to split the interview into two parts. www.wargamer.com/board-games/...
There were so many thoughtful threads of conversation to follow that I had to split the interview into two parts. www.wargamer.com/board-games/...
I know that 'I love my friends' is a near universal experience at the RPG table but seeing my Strahd group all dress as their characters for a Halloween session really reminded me how much love and trust and passion they've poured into this silly little game we've shared together for almost 3 years
October 30, 2025 at 11:15 PM
I know that 'I love my friends' is a near universal experience at the RPG table but seeing my Strahd group all dress as their characters for a Halloween session really reminded me how much love and trust and passion they've poured into this silly little game we've shared together for almost 3 years
Reposted by Mollie Russell
my pumkin
he is everything
he is everything
October 27, 2025 at 12:47 AM
my pumkin
he is everything
he is everything
God I LOVE seeing Battle Beast live. One of the most underrated voices in metal. Noora Louhimo just kills it every time.
October 23, 2025 at 10:25 PM
God I LOVE seeing Battle Beast live. One of the most underrated voices in metal. Noora Louhimo just kills it every time.
As a lover of movies that most people would call "utter crap", I genuinely can't overstate how excited I was to talk to Whitney Moore about Birdemic. Oh, and Tyranny from Critical Role, too. www.wargamer.com/dnd/whitney-...
How star D&D player Whitney Moore went from being cast in the worst movie ever made to a lead seat at Critical Role
I chat Whitney Moore about her Dungeons and Dragons character Tyranny, as well as the lessons she learned from Critical Role and infamous B-movie, Birdemic.
www.wargamer.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
As a lover of movies that most people would call "utter crap", I genuinely can't overstate how excited I was to talk to Whitney Moore about Birdemic. Oh, and Tyranny from Critical Role, too. www.wargamer.com/dnd/whitney-...