Unwinnable
@unwinnable.com
A place for stories | Subscribe: http://bit.ly/1VQ9omB | Pitch: http://bit.ly/3oBCo5z
Pinned
Unwinnable
@unwinnable.com
· 19d
Rise from the ashes and begin anew. This month's issue of Unwinnable Monthly features @aeneas-nin.bsky.social on Re-Animator, @kellymerka.bsky.social on Phoenix Springs and our regulars on the topics poking their brains.
Buy: buff.ly/LRotYmo
Subscribe: buff.ly/L0T9hxk
Buy: buff.ly/LRotYmo
Subscribe: buff.ly/L0T9hxk
Reposted by Unwinnable
In which I don’t really care what the others are supposed to represent, and I’m accidentally a little mean to my Pop.
"It’s important to understand Carol as a person instead of a representative, not only for a better understanding of how fiction works, but for a better understanding of how people work."
@nochshorn.bsky.social pushes against an allegorical reading of Pluribus:
@nochshorn.bsky.social pushes against an allegorical reading of Pluribus:
Pluribus - Unwinnable
Allegory works better at a more remote, mythic level where the specifics of character matter less than their function in the story.
unwinnable.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:03 AM
In which I don’t really care what the others are supposed to represent, and I’m accidentally a little mean to my Pop.
"It’s important to understand Carol as a person instead of a representative, not only for a better understanding of how fiction works, but for a better understanding of how people work."
@nochshorn.bsky.social pushes against an allegorical reading of Pluribus:
@nochshorn.bsky.social pushes against an allegorical reading of Pluribus:
Pluribus - Unwinnable
Allegory works better at a more remote, mythic level where the specifics of character matter less than their function in the story.
unwinnable.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:00 AM
"It’s important to understand Carol as a person instead of a representative, not only for a better understanding of how fiction works, but for a better understanding of how people work."
@nochshorn.bsky.social pushes against an allegorical reading of Pluribus:
@nochshorn.bsky.social pushes against an allegorical reading of Pluribus:
Reposted by Unwinnable
This is a sweet deal and even if it wasn't, being a subscriber helps keep one of the longest running independent games and culture publications thriving into the future
My mission this year is to get a new subscriber to Unwinnable every day. For 5 bucks, you get two monthly magazines, a back issue archive of 95 issues of Exploits and the satisfaction of supporting freeform cultural criticism free of the usual online publishing nonsense: unwinnable.com/subscribe/
February 9, 2026 at 11:10 PM
This is a sweet deal and even if it wasn't, being a subscriber helps keep one of the longest running independent games and culture publications thriving into the future
Reposted by Unwinnable
The mag that gave Fermi's Progress it's first cover feature, right there between Lil Nas X and Dracula, where it belongs.
My mission this year is to get a new subscriber to Unwinnable every day. For 5 bucks, you get two monthly magazines, a back issue archive of 95 issues of Exploits and the satisfaction of supporting freeform cultural criticism free of the usual online publishing nonsense: unwinnable.com/subscribe/
February 9, 2026 at 10:05 PM
The mag that gave Fermi's Progress it's first cover feature, right there between Lil Nas X and Dracula, where it belongs.
Reposted by Unwinnable
My mission this year is to get a new subscriber to Unwinnable every day. For 5 bucks, you get two monthly magazines, a back issue archive of 95 issues of Exploits and the satisfaction of supporting freeform cultural criticism free of the usual online publishing nonsense: unwinnable.com/subscribe/
February 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
My mission this year is to get a new subscriber to Unwinnable every day. For 5 bucks, you get two monthly magazines, a back issue archive of 95 issues of Exploits and the satisfaction of supporting freeform cultural criticism free of the usual online publishing nonsense: unwinnable.com/subscribe/
ICYMI: "Did I succeed? Of course not. But the journey, as they say, is the destination."
@mattmarrone.bsky.social tries to escape Night City:
@mattmarrone.bsky.social tries to escape Night City:
Escape from Night City - Unwinnable
Did I succeed? Of course not. But the journey, as they say, is the destination.
unwinnable.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:00 PM
ICYMI: "Did I succeed? Of course not. But the journey, as they say, is the destination."
@mattmarrone.bsky.social tries to escape Night City:
@mattmarrone.bsky.social tries to escape Night City:
"Did I succeed? Of course not. But the journey, as they say, is the destination."
@mattmarrone.bsky.social tries to escape Night City:
@mattmarrone.bsky.social tries to escape Night City:
Escape from Night City - Unwinnable
Did I succeed? Of course not. But the journey, as they say, is the destination.
unwinnable.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:00 AM
"Did I succeed? Of course not. But the journey, as they say, is the destination."
@mattmarrone.bsky.social tries to escape Night City:
@mattmarrone.bsky.social tries to escape Night City:
ICYMI: "Now you’re saying no else can come here? What makes you so special?"
@hotsliceofjesus.bsky.social digs into the paradox of John Denver:
@hotsliceofjesus.bsky.social digs into the paradox of John Denver:
The Paradox of John Denver and "Rocky Mountain High" - Unwinnable
It is hypocritical to condemn those who also wish to enjoy a place.
unwinnable.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:01 PM
ICYMI: "Now you’re saying no else can come here? What makes you so special?"
@hotsliceofjesus.bsky.social digs into the paradox of John Denver:
@hotsliceofjesus.bsky.social digs into the paradox of John Denver:
Reposted by Unwinnable
I love games that feel like strange found artifacts. They don’t have to literally be found footage like Sam Barlow’s brand of FMV games, but games that don’t feel like they’re chief aim is to be experienced in a recognizably game-y way.
Indie and AA games will be more of a focus for me this year.
Indie and AA games will be more of a focus for me this year.
"Ironically, despite its whole industry being about play, there’s less and less playfulness in big studio design work."
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social yearns for more Weird in AAA and AA games:
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social yearns for more Weird in AAA and AA games:
Where is the Weird? - Unwinnable
I miss AA and AAA being unabashedly bizarro in their design, whether they’re story-driven or not.
unwinnable.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:51 PM
I love games that feel like strange found artifacts. They don’t have to literally be found footage like Sam Barlow’s brand of FMV games, but games that don’t feel like they’re chief aim is to be experienced in a recognizably game-y way.
Indie and AA games will be more of a focus for me this year.
Indie and AA games will be more of a focus for me this year.
ICYMI: "Ironically, despite its whole industry being about play, there’s less and less playfulness in big studio design work."
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social yearns for more Weirdness in AAA and AA games:
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social yearns for more Weirdness in AAA and AA games:
Where is the Weird? - Unwinnable
I miss AA and AAA being unabashedly bizarro in their design, whether they’re story-driven or not.
unwinnable.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM
ICYMI: "Ironically, despite its whole industry being about play, there’s less and less playfulness in big studio design work."
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social yearns for more Weirdness in AAA and AA games:
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social yearns for more Weirdness in AAA and AA games:
"Now you’re saying no else can come here? What makes you so special?"
@hotsliceofjesus.bsky.social digs into the paradox of John Denver:
@hotsliceofjesus.bsky.social digs into the paradox of John Denver:
The Paradox of John Denver and "Rocky Mountain High" - Unwinnable
It is hypocritical to condemn those who also wish to enjoy a place.
unwinnable.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:00 AM
"Now you’re saying no else can come here? What makes you so special?"
@hotsliceofjesus.bsky.social digs into the paradox of John Denver:
@hotsliceofjesus.bsky.social digs into the paradox of John Denver:
"Ironically, despite its whole industry being about play, there’s less and less playfulness in big studio design work."
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social yearns for more Weird in AAA and AA games:
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social yearns for more Weird in AAA and AA games:
Where is the Weird? - Unwinnable
I miss AA and AAA being unabashedly bizarro in their design, whether they’re story-driven or not.
unwinnable.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:00 AM
"Ironically, despite its whole industry being about play, there’s less and less playfulness in big studio design work."
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social yearns for more Weird in AAA and AA games:
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social yearns for more Weird in AAA and AA games:
Reposted by Unwinnable
Any game can teach you a valuable lesson. It might not be the one you expected, but if it makes you feel something that profound, then it's achieved a feat worth celebrating.
ICYMI: "My memory might be all that keeps it alive, like so many people I’ve known."
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
Grieving with Anthem - Unwinnable
Almost everyone you meet has lost something, trying to find some way to move forward, to rebuild.
unwinnable.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:41 AM
Any game can teach you a valuable lesson. It might not be the one you expected, but if it makes you feel something that profound, then it's achieved a feat worth celebrating.
Reposted by Unwinnable
ICYMI: "My memory might be all that keeps it alive, like so many people I’ve known."
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
Grieving with Anthem - Unwinnable
Almost everyone you meet has lost something, trying to find some way to move forward, to rebuild.
unwinnable.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:03 PM
ICYMI: "My memory might be all that keeps it alive, like so many people I’ve known."
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
Reposted by Unwinnable
"Where's all the good writing about games?"
It's right here, ready for you to take a look!
It's right here, ready for you to take a look!
Last chance to take advantage of the Unwinnable year-end special subscription offer: sign up for $5, get all 24 issues from 2025. Ends tonight!
Easily one whole day of distraction from doomscrolling.
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
@unwinnable.com
Easily one whole day of distraction from doomscrolling.
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
@unwinnable.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:54 PM
"Where's all the good writing about games?"
It's right here, ready for you to take a look!
It's right here, ready for you to take a look!
"My memory might be all that keeps it alive, like so many people I’ve known."
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
Grieving with Anthem - Unwinnable
Almost everyone you meet has lost something, trying to find some way to move forward, to rebuild.
unwinnable.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:07 AM
"My memory might be all that keeps it alive, like so many people I’ve known."
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
Reposted by Unwinnable
For the night crew, a complete rundown of the new Exploits. Plus, subscribe to @unwinnable.com now and get the entire 95-issue Exploits archive!
1500 pages of doom-scrolling distractions! unwinnable.com/subscribe/
1500 pages of doom-scrolling distractions! unwinnable.com/subscribe/
February 5, 2026 at 12:46 AM
For the night crew, a complete rundown of the new Exploits. Plus, subscribe to @unwinnable.com now and get the entire 95-issue Exploits archive!
1500 pages of doom-scrolling distractions! unwinnable.com/subscribe/
1500 pages of doom-scrolling distractions! unwinnable.com/subscribe/
Reposted by Unwinnable
anywho, new issue of Exploits by @unwinnable.com is out, I wrote about last year's "reconstructionist romance" Materialists, and it's a piece I'm still proud of! Check it out here: bsky.app/profile/stuh...
The February issue of Exploits is out now. That's @unwinnable.com's monthly cultural diary, a collection of recommendations, warnings and short form essays to inspire you to read, watch, play and listen to new things this month.
Let's see what is inside, yea?
Let's see what is inside, yea?
February 5, 2026 at 12:46 AM
anywho, new issue of Exploits by @unwinnable.com is out, I wrote about last year's "reconstructionist romance" Materialists, and it's a piece I'm still proud of! Check it out here: bsky.app/profile/stuh...
Reposted by Unwinnable
Oh, before I go on, I should note, Unwinnable (and by extension, Exploits) is subscriber funded. In fact, Exploits mostly ONLY exists for subscribers, so to get the full experience, you have to sign up: unwinnable.com/subscribe/
Subscribe - Unwinnable
Monthly subscriptions are $5. Annual subscriptions are $55. Subscriptions rebill automatically unless cancelled. Exploits comes out on or about the 1st of the month. Unwinnable comes out on or about t...
unwinnable.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Oh, before I go on, I should note, Unwinnable (and by extension, Exploits) is subscriber funded. In fact, Exploits mostly ONLY exists for subscribers, so to get the full experience, you have to sign up: unwinnable.com/subscribe/
Reposted by Unwinnable
The February issue of Exploits is out now. That's @unwinnable.com's monthly cultural diary, a collection of recommendations, warnings and short form essays to inspire you to read, watch, play and listen to new things this month.
Let's see what is inside, yea?
Let's see what is inside, yea?
February 4, 2026 at 5:55 PM
The February issue of Exploits is out now. That's @unwinnable.com's monthly cultural diary, a collection of recommendations, warnings and short form essays to inspire you to read, watch, play and listen to new things this month.
Let's see what is inside, yea?
Let's see what is inside, yea?
ICYMI: "Silent Hill f did nothing else so much as remind me just how badly being a teenager sucked."
@glassethound.bsky.social explains how Silent Hill f reflects the horrors of adolescence:
@glassethound.bsky.social explains how Silent Hill f reflects the horrors of adolescence:
Puberty is Hell: Growing up in Silent Hill f - Unwinnable
Silent Hill f did nothing else so much as remind me just how badly being a teenager sucked.
unwinnable.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:04 PM
ICYMI: "Silent Hill f did nothing else so much as remind me just how badly being a teenager sucked."
@glassethound.bsky.social explains how Silent Hill f reflects the horrors of adolescence:
@glassethound.bsky.social explains how Silent Hill f reflects the horrors of adolescence:
"Silent Hill f did nothing else so much as remind me just how badly being a teenager sucked."
@glassethound.bsky.social explains how Silent Hill f reflects the horrors of adolescence:
@glassethound.bsky.social explains how Silent Hill f reflects the horrors of adolescence:
Puberty is Hell: Growing up in Silent Hill f - Unwinnable
Silent Hill f did nothing else so much as remind me just how badly being a teenager sucked.
unwinnable.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:00 AM
"Silent Hill f did nothing else so much as remind me just how badly being a teenager sucked."
@glassethound.bsky.social explains how Silent Hill f reflects the horrors of adolescence:
@glassethound.bsky.social explains how Silent Hill f reflects the horrors of adolescence:
Reposted by Unwinnable
Do you want to read me defending Secret Lives of Mormon Wives as a 4th-wave feminist text? Sure you do. Sub now!
The February Exploits is out! I've been talking a lot about Unwinnable Monthly lately, but Exploits is the other Unwinnable-produced magazine, our on-going cultural diary. 16 pages of thoughtful recommendations and the occasional warning.
Subscribe and get it now!: unwinnable.com/subscribe/
Subscribe and get it now!: unwinnable.com/subscribe/
February 2, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Do you want to read me defending Secret Lives of Mormon Wives as a 4th-wave feminist text? Sure you do. Sub now!
Reposted by Unwinnable
A handy link for all you lovelies! We’d love to hear from you!
If you missed my earlier post, I’m now the co editor of Exploits’ books section! If you have a pitch for us, please email exploitssubmissions@unwinnable.com and find our pitch guide here
The Unwinnable Submission Guide - Unwinnable
You have stories to tell. We want to hear them. We are always searching for new voices to add to the conversation at Unwinnable and we firmly believe that personal experience is the foundation of a gr...
unwinnable.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:51 AM
A handy link for all you lovelies! We’d love to hear from you!