Asa Donald | Backwards Tabletop
@backwardsttrpg.bsky.social
He/him. Designing indie ttrpgs
In beta: SPINE - A dark solo ttrpg about losing yourself in a book
https://backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
In beta: SPINE - A dark solo ttrpg about losing yourself in a book
https://backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
I had a few extra proofs of SPINE, so I found a few Little Free Libraries in the area and dropped them off. I'm hopeful that whoever picks them up will pass them along as well.
One day, I'd like to send a few batches to folks I know in major cities (U.S.-only, likely) and have them do the same.
One day, I'd like to send a few batches to folks I know in major cities (U.S.-only, likely) and have them do the same.
November 7, 2025 at 2:55 AM
I had a few extra proofs of SPINE, so I found a few Little Free Libraries in the area and dropped them off. I'm hopeful that whoever picks them up will pass them along as well.
One day, I'd like to send a few batches to folks I know in major cities (U.S.-only, likely) and have them do the same.
One day, I'd like to send a few batches to folks I know in major cities (U.S.-only, likely) and have them do the same.
P.S. The digital version of this game is literally free on itch for 3 more days. If you like it, maybe buy a print copy for a measly $9.99:
More information and links here:
bsky.app/profile/did:...
More information and links here:
bsky.app/profile/did:...
October 29, 2025 at 2:01 AM
P.S. The digital version of this game is literally free on itch for 3 more days. If you like it, maybe buy a print copy for a measly $9.99:
More information and links here:
bsky.app/profile/did:...
More information and links here:
bsky.app/profile/did:...
And you can grab the free digital copy / printable booklet on itch through October 31st:
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
October 26, 2025 at 4:09 PM
And you can grab the free digital copy / printable booklet on itch through October 31st:
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
October 26, 2025 at 4:09 PM
October 26, 2025 at 3:42 PM
SPINE is free through the end of October. You can find out more about it and share it with the link below:
bsky.app/profile/back...
bsky.app/profile/back...
October 26, 2025 at 3:16 AM
SPINE is free through the end of October. You can find out more about it and share it with the link below:
bsky.app/profile/back...
bsky.app/profile/back...
"A game for the frenetic obsessed researcher in all of us. You’ll be up into the late hours, frantically flipping pages, deciphering notes in the margins, and trying to solve the cryptic puzzle that is SPINE."
—Seb Pines (Dwelling, Deadline)
—Seb Pines (Dwelling, Deadline)
October 26, 2025 at 3:16 AM
"A game for the frenetic obsessed researcher in all of us. You’ll be up into the late hours, frantically flipping pages, deciphering notes in the margins, and trying to solve the cryptic puzzle that is SPINE."
—Seb Pines (Dwelling, Deadline)
—Seb Pines (Dwelling, Deadline)
SPINE is free for a limited time. You can find out more about it and share it here:
bsky.app/profile/back...
bsky.app/profile/back...
October 23, 2025 at 10:45 AM
SPINE is free for a limited time. You can find out more about it and share it here:
bsky.app/profile/back...
bsky.app/profile/back...
"Siderius Plug's Immortality in Ninety-nine Endnotes is a venus flytrap of a book, it entices its readers in and you’ll find yourself sinking deeper into a truly immersive mystery, until you look up and find yourself completely lost to its pages."
—@smolghost.bsky.social (Dwelling, Deadline)
—@smolghost.bsky.social (Dwelling, Deadline)
October 23, 2025 at 10:45 AM
"Siderius Plug's Immortality in Ninety-nine Endnotes is a venus flytrap of a book, it entices its readers in and you’ll find yourself sinking deeper into a truly immersive mystery, until you look up and find yourself completely lost to its pages."
—@smolghost.bsky.social (Dwelling, Deadline)
—@smolghost.bsky.social (Dwelling, Deadline)
The *best* auto-transcription of a voicemail that I have ever received:
![Hello this is Rick with [excised] fence company just giving you a call in regards to getting you some crazy nudes more aliens uh if you'd like you could take a picture of the stairs or the area that you're looking to have the railing installed my cell phone is [excised] thank you](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yrgmcsjn5xh5fqchk56puxs5/bafkreigjwwkvavxrlzy3niar3nsuqcsp6riu7ftsvg2bo4vwiwdswuywlq@jpeg)
October 22, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The *best* auto-transcription of a voicemail that I have ever received:
Signed up to read thons post on "The Rule Book" and was pleased to find a kind shoutout for SPINE as well
October 20, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Signed up to read thons post on "The Rule Book" and was pleased to find a kind shoutout for SPINE as well
The final proofs for SPINE arrived, and I'm very happy with them.
If I had to pick my favorite part, it would probably be, you know, the spine...
If I had to pick my favorite part, it would probably be, you know, the spine...
October 18, 2025 at 10:51 PM
The final proofs for SPINE arrived, and I'm very happy with them.
If I had to pick my favorite part, it would probably be, you know, the spine...
If I had to pick my favorite part, it would probably be, you know, the spine...
SPINE is free for a limited time. You can find out more about it and share it here:
bsky.app/profile/back...
bsky.app/profile/back...
October 18, 2025 at 3:26 AM
SPINE is free for a limited time. You can find out more about it and share it here:
bsky.app/profile/back...
bsky.app/profile/back...
"I’m partial to art about the transformative threat of art – and doubly enamored of SPINE, which equips you to transform the art right back. Whatever happens, neither you nor the game are walking away from the experience unchanged."
—@kenlowery.bsky.social (VOID 1680 AM, No-Tell Motel)
—@kenlowery.bsky.social (VOID 1680 AM, No-Tell Motel)
October 18, 2025 at 3:26 AM
"I’m partial to art about the transformative threat of art – and doubly enamored of SPINE, which equips you to transform the art right back. Whatever happens, neither you nor the game are walking away from the experience unchanged."
—@kenlowery.bsky.social (VOID 1680 AM, No-Tell Motel)
—@kenlowery.bsky.social (VOID 1680 AM, No-Tell Motel)
“A thoroughly chilling yet engrossing experience. I found myself enthralled by the interconnected mysteries lurking within the pages, until I simply couldn’t put it down. Horror enthusiasts & linguistic puzzlers must explore!”
— @mirror-lock.bsky.social (Her Odyssey, Galatea, Untitled Moth Game)
— @mirror-lock.bsky.social (Her Odyssey, Galatea, Untitled Moth Game)
October 13, 2025 at 11:01 AM
“A thoroughly chilling yet engrossing experience. I found myself enthralled by the interconnected mysteries lurking within the pages, until I simply couldn’t put it down. Horror enthusiasts & linguistic puzzlers must explore!”
— @mirror-lock.bsky.social (Her Odyssey, Galatea, Untitled Moth Game)
— @mirror-lock.bsky.social (Her Odyssey, Galatea, Untitled Moth Game)
"SPINE is a captivating, tactile experience, compelling the reader to unravel layer after hidden layer. One of the most unique and memorable solo RPGs I've ever played." — @goblinmixtape.bsky.social
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
October 11, 2025 at 3:27 AM
"SPINE is a captivating, tactile experience, compelling the reader to unravel layer after hidden layer. One of the most unique and memorable solo RPGs I've ever played." — @goblinmixtape.bsky.social
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
Thanks everyone for your interest in SPINE, which is currently in the top spot for physical games on itch.
It's not so impressive for a game that's currently free, but I am happy to see so many folks take interest in it. Thank you.
It's not so impressive for a game that's currently free, but I am happy to see so many folks take interest in it. Thank you.
October 3, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Thanks everyone for your interest in SPINE, which is currently in the top spot for physical games on itch.
It's not so impressive for a game that's currently free, but I am happy to see so many folks take interest in it. Thank you.
It's not so impressive for a game that's currently free, but I am happy to see so many folks take interest in it. Thank you.
SPINE is in beta, and it will be free for a limited time on @itch.io
The beta will be released on itch on October 14th and will include digital versions as well as a printable booklet. A physical beta will go on sale at the end of October.
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
The beta will be released on itch on October 14th and will include digital versions as well as a printable booklet. A physical beta will go on sale at the end of October.
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
September 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
SPINE is in beta, and it will be free for a limited time on @itch.io
The beta will be released on itch on October 14th and will include digital versions as well as a printable booklet. A physical beta will go on sale at the end of October.
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
The beta will be released on itch on October 14th and will include digital versions as well as a printable booklet. A physical beta will go on sale at the end of October.
backwards-tabletop.itch.io/spine
In SPINE, I set out to make a game that foregrounds the textual nature of TTRPGs, that codifies reading as part of play, and whose text insists upon itself in a material way.
While it's free, I’ll be releasing essays and interviews on these subjects, each of which has informed SPINE’s development.
While it's free, I’ll be releasing essays and interviews on these subjects, each of which has informed SPINE’s development.
September 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
In SPINE, I set out to make a game that foregrounds the textual nature of TTRPGs, that codifies reading as part of play, and whose text insists upon itself in a material way.
While it's free, I’ll be releasing essays and interviews on these subjects, each of which has informed SPINE’s development.
While it's free, I’ll be releasing essays and interviews on these subjects, each of which has informed SPINE’s development.
And SPINE’s bizarre ramblings are indebted to the wonderful @furtsburrow.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
And SPINE’s bizarre ramblings are indebted to the wonderful @furtsburrow.bsky.social
SPINE’s incredible prop design was done by none other than Nala J. Wu of @naladraws.com
September 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
SPINE’s incredible prop design was done by none other than Nala J. Wu of @naladraws.com
SPINE has several contributors who have helped make it special. The book features beautiful block prints by Holly Freiberg.
September 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
SPINE has several contributors who have helped make it special. The book features beautiful block prints by Holly Freiberg.
SPINE is a ttrpg about losing yourself in a book. It insists upon playing with words and hunting down secret messages, although unspoken rules recommend against it.
In its endnotes and playful insistence on language, it is also loosely inspired by one of my favorite books: Nabokov’s Pale Fire.
In its endnotes and playful insistence on language, it is also loosely inspired by one of my favorite books: Nabokov’s Pale Fire.
September 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
SPINE is a ttrpg about losing yourself in a book. It insists upon playing with words and hunting down secret messages, although unspoken rules recommend against it.
In its endnotes and playful insistence on language, it is also loosely inspired by one of my favorite books: Nabokov’s Pale Fire.
In its endnotes and playful insistence on language, it is also loosely inspired by one of my favorite books: Nabokov’s Pale Fire.
SPINE is a solo tabletop RPG that looks like a book. It is your anchor to the fictional world, a prop, and a work of art — a keepsake — that you co-create, all in one.
In SPINE, you quite literally embody a researcher who is reading and marking up the physical book in front of you.
In SPINE, you quite literally embody a researcher who is reading and marking up the physical book in front of you.
September 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
SPINE is a solo tabletop RPG that looks like a book. It is your anchor to the fictional world, a prop, and a work of art — a keepsake — that you co-create, all in one.
In SPINE, you quite literally embody a researcher who is reading and marking up the physical book in front of you.
In SPINE, you quite literally embody a researcher who is reading and marking up the physical book in front of you.
When you’re done, you can play SPINE again. Or trade your book with a friend. Or leave it mysteriously in a Little Free Library, abandon it on a dusty library shelf, or mail it to a friend with no return address.
September 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
When you’re done, you can play SPINE again. Or trade your book with a friend. Or leave it mysteriously in a Little Free Library, abandon it on a dusty library shelf, or mail it to a friend with no return address.