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Unwinnable
@unwinnable.com
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Don't get caught in the rain. This month's Exploits includes writing on a missing player two, The Casket Lottery, My Good Side, Misery, Andor and Somerville.
Buy: buff.ly/hH7iYQ7
Subscribe: buff.ly/ffBGA2W
Read @vandennis.bsky.social's essay on Andor: buff.ly/MBxx1Z8
Buy: buff.ly/hH7iYQ7
Subscribe: buff.ly/ffBGA2W
Read @vandennis.bsky.social's essay on Andor: buff.ly/MBxx1Z8
"Henry’s experiences exhibited in the game make clear the delineation between the alterity inseparable from personhood and the exploitation that structures capitalist reproduction."
Christopher Spina examines alienation under capitalism in Henry Halfhead:
Christopher Spina examines alienation under capitalism in Henry Halfhead:
Subjectivity and Exploitation: On the "Right Degree" of Alienation in Henry Halfhead - Unwinnable
Henry does not succumb to this vicious cycle forever.
unwinnable.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:00 AM
"Henry’s experiences exhibited in the game make clear the delineation between the alterity inseparable from personhood and the exploitation that structures capitalist reproduction."
Christopher Spina examines alienation under capitalism in Henry Halfhead:
Christopher Spina examines alienation under capitalism in Henry Halfhead:
Reposted by Unwinnable
the new inazuma eleven game has been getting more buzz than i expected so now i get to plug the unwinnable piece i wrote on it last year again :-)
unwinnable.com/2024/05/07/i...
unwinnable.com/2024/05/07/i...
Inazuma Eleven Deserves More Triumphs and Trophies - Unwinnable
For everything weird about it, I can’t stop myself from coming back to Inazuma Eleven. In the midst of the absurd is heart – for every weird alien subplot or time travel conspiracy is hundreds of mome...
unwinnable.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:24 PM
the new inazuma eleven game has been getting more buzz than i expected so now i get to plug the unwinnable piece i wrote on it last year again :-)
unwinnable.com/2024/05/07/i...
unwinnable.com/2024/05/07/i...
ICYMI: "Devil May Cry’s excellence is defined by its ingeniously designed world and flawless usage of ludonarrative harmony."
Vincent Dilworth digs into what makes the original Devil May Cry so good:
Vincent Dilworth digs into what makes the original Devil May Cry so good:
Cool As Hell: The Excellence of The Original Devil May Cry - Unwinnable
A cool, calm and collected, red-coat-wearing badass who executes demons on behalf of his slain mother and brother.
unwinnable.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
ICYMI: "Devil May Cry’s excellence is defined by its ingeniously designed world and flawless usage of ludonarrative harmony."
Vincent Dilworth digs into what makes the original Devil May Cry so good:
Vincent Dilworth digs into what makes the original Devil May Cry so good:
Reposted by Unwinnable
Perfect summation. First game is still peak. I have yet to do 4 and 5, but my impression is that the series gets defined by 3, which means I have lower expectations. What made 1 and 2 great is lost in the third.
"Devil May Cry’s excellence is defined by its ingeniously designed world and flawless usage of ludonarrative harmony."
Vincent Dilworth digs into what makes the original Devil May Cry so good:
Vincent Dilworth digs into what makes the original Devil May Cry so good:
Cool As Hell: The Excellence of The Original Devil May Cry - Unwinnable
A cool, calm and collected, red-coat-wearing badass who executes demons on behalf of his slain mother and brother.
unwinnable.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Perfect summation. First game is still peak. I have yet to do 4 and 5, but my impression is that the series gets defined by 3, which means I have lower expectations. What made 1 and 2 great is lost in the third.
"Devil May Cry’s excellence is defined by its ingeniously designed world and flawless usage of ludonarrative harmony."
Vincent Dilworth digs into what makes the original Devil May Cry so good:
Vincent Dilworth digs into what makes the original Devil May Cry so good:
Cool As Hell: The Excellence of The Original Devil May Cry - Unwinnable
A cool, calm and collected, red-coat-wearing badass who executes demons on behalf of his slain mother and brother.
unwinnable.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"Devil May Cry’s excellence is defined by its ingeniously designed world and flawless usage of ludonarrative harmony."
Vincent Dilworth digs into what makes the original Devil May Cry so good:
Vincent Dilworth digs into what makes the original Devil May Cry so good:
Reposted by Unwinnable
reminder that @unwinnable.com is incredible
i pitched them FIVE ideas in 2023 and they literally were like "OOHH. this Kurt Cobain/trans-coded/memoir-ish piece ... DO THAT ONE. no word count. whatever you need, we're here to help you write it"
unwinnable.com/2024/04/05/d...
i pitched them FIVE ideas in 2023 and they literally were like "OOHH. this Kurt Cobain/trans-coded/memoir-ish piece ... DO THAT ONE. no word count. whatever you need, we're here to help you write it"
unwinnable.com/2024/04/05/d...
November 15, 2025 at 12:47 AM
reminder that @unwinnable.com is incredible
i pitched them FIVE ideas in 2023 and they literally were like "OOHH. this Kurt Cobain/trans-coded/memoir-ish piece ... DO THAT ONE. no word count. whatever you need, we're here to help you write it"
unwinnable.com/2024/04/05/d...
i pitched them FIVE ideas in 2023 and they literally were like "OOHH. this Kurt Cobain/trans-coded/memoir-ish piece ... DO THAT ONE. no word count. whatever you need, we're here to help you write it"
unwinnable.com/2024/04/05/d...
Reposted by Unwinnable
Anyway I wrote about the original Shadow Tower for @unwinnable.com!
Of course I've long since beaten it before the story made it onto the site, but after watching the credits roll... this might actually be peak Fromsoft..? 😅
Of course I've long since beaten it before the story made it onto the site, but after watching the credits roll... this might actually be peak Fromsoft..? 😅
I’m Having a Bad Time (and Loving it) - Unwinnable
While on a "classic Fromsoft" binge of the King’s Field series, Rob finally returns to Shadow Tower's exceptionally hostile halls.
unwinnable.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Anyway I wrote about the original Shadow Tower for @unwinnable.com!
Of course I've long since beaten it before the story made it onto the site, but after watching the credits roll... this might actually be peak Fromsoft..? 😅
Of course I've long since beaten it before the story made it onto the site, but after watching the credits roll... this might actually be peak Fromsoft..? 😅
ICYMI: "While returning to Shadow Tower after roughly 25 years hasn’t been any less… unwelcoming… I’ve been having a blast all the same."
@robsteinone.bsky.social revisits the brutal world of FromSoftware's Shadow Tower:
@robsteinone.bsky.social revisits the brutal world of FromSoftware's Shadow Tower:
I’m Having a Bad Time (and Loving it) - Unwinnable
While on a "classic Fromsoft" binge of the King’s Field series, Rob finally returns to Shadow Tower's exceptionally hostile halls.
unwinnable.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
ICYMI: "While returning to Shadow Tower after roughly 25 years hasn’t been any less… unwelcoming… I’ve been having a blast all the same."
@robsteinone.bsky.social revisits the brutal world of FromSoftware's Shadow Tower:
@robsteinone.bsky.social revisits the brutal world of FromSoftware's Shadow Tower:
Reposted by Unwinnable
"While returning to Shadow Tower after roughly 25 years hasn’t been any less… unwelcoming… I’ve been having a blast all the same."
@robsteinone.bsky.social revisits the brutal world of FromSoftware's Shadow Tower: unwinnable.com/2025/11/13/i...
@robsteinone.bsky.social revisits the brutal world of FromSoftware's Shadow Tower: unwinnable.com/2025/11/13/i...
I’m Having a Bad Time (and Loving it) - Unwinnable
While on a "classic Fromsoft" binge of the King’s Field series, Rob finally returns to Shadow Tower's exceptionally hostile halls.
unwinnable.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:07 AM
"While returning to Shadow Tower after roughly 25 years hasn’t been any less… unwelcoming… I’ve been having a blast all the same."
@robsteinone.bsky.social revisits the brutal world of FromSoftware's Shadow Tower: unwinnable.com/2025/11/13/i...
@robsteinone.bsky.social revisits the brutal world of FromSoftware's Shadow Tower: unwinnable.com/2025/11/13/i...
ICYMI: "In fact, perhaps the most interesting aspect of Yokai Quest isn’t any of the chibi miniatures, but the plethora of area-of-affect abilities wielded by the various characters, allowing them to pull off some satisfyingly anime-ish attacks."
@orringrey.com plays Yokai Quest:
@orringrey.com plays Yokai Quest:
See You in the Next Adventure: The Familiarity of Yokai Quest - Unwinnable
There are skeletal hone bushi, classic yurei, old-fashioned oni, and much more – including some sinister ninjas, of course.
buff.ly
November 13, 2025 at 7:02 PM
ICYMI: "In fact, perhaps the most interesting aspect of Yokai Quest isn’t any of the chibi miniatures, but the plethora of area-of-affect abilities wielded by the various characters, allowing them to pull off some satisfyingly anime-ish attacks."
@orringrey.com plays Yokai Quest:
@orringrey.com plays Yokai Quest:
ICYMI: "The greatest weapon of the Yiga Clan isn’t their eightfold blades or their deceptive disguises but the potential of an abrupt betrayal of confidence."
Justin Reeve explains how Zelda's Yiga Clan taps into tried and true horror mechanics to promote a feeling of deception:
Justin Reeve explains how Zelda's Yiga Clan taps into tried and true horror mechanics to promote a feeling of deception:
Strangers on the Road - Unwinnable
They’ll suddenly turn on you mid-conversation, revealing themselves to be a secret assassin in disguise, dedicated to your demise.
buff.ly
November 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM
ICYMI: "The greatest weapon of the Yiga Clan isn’t their eightfold blades or their deceptive disguises but the potential of an abrupt betrayal of confidence."
Justin Reeve explains how Zelda's Yiga Clan taps into tried and true horror mechanics to promote a feeling of deception:
Justin Reeve explains how Zelda's Yiga Clan taps into tried and true horror mechanics to promote a feeling of deception:
"In fact, perhaps the most interesting aspect of Yokai Quest isn’t any of the chibi miniatures, but the plethora of area-of-affect abilities wielded by the various characters, allowing them to pull off some satisfyingly anime-ish attacks."
@orringrey.com plays Yokai Quest:
@orringrey.com plays Yokai Quest:
See You in the Next Adventure: The Familiarity of Yokai Quest - Unwinnable
There are skeletal hone bushi, classic yurei, old-fashioned oni, and much more – including some sinister ninjas, of course.
unwinnable.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"In fact, perhaps the most interesting aspect of Yokai Quest isn’t any of the chibi miniatures, but the plethora of area-of-affect abilities wielded by the various characters, allowing them to pull off some satisfyingly anime-ish attacks."
@orringrey.com plays Yokai Quest:
@orringrey.com plays Yokai Quest:
"The greatest weapon of the Yiga Clan isn’t their eightfold blades or their deceptive disguises but the potential of an abrupt betrayal of confidence."
Justin Reeve explains how Zelda's Yiga Clan taps into tried and true horror mechanics to promote a feeling of deception: buff.ly/DrcUggE
Justin Reeve explains how Zelda's Yiga Clan taps into tried and true horror mechanics to promote a feeling of deception: buff.ly/DrcUggE
Strangers on the Road - Unwinnable
They’ll suddenly turn on you mid-conversation, revealing themselves to be a secret assassin in disguise, dedicated to your demise.
unwinnable.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:04 AM
"The greatest weapon of the Yiga Clan isn’t their eightfold blades or their deceptive disguises but the potential of an abrupt betrayal of confidence."
Justin Reeve explains how Zelda's Yiga Clan taps into tried and true horror mechanics to promote a feeling of deception: buff.ly/DrcUggE
Justin Reeve explains how Zelda's Yiga Clan taps into tried and true horror mechanics to promote a feeling of deception: buff.ly/DrcUggE
Reposted by Unwinnable
This marks one year of my column. I really love writing it, and hopefully it saves my loved ones a few lectures.
ICYMI: "Still, the embodied complications of an accelerated puberty are more interesting, and more frightening to me, than the well-trodden sci-fi abstractions of what makes a human."
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
Alien: Earth - Unwinnable
It’s difficult to be scared of something that you’re maybe rooting for.
unwinnable.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:24 PM
This marks one year of my column. I really love writing it, and hopefully it saves my loved ones a few lectures.
ICYMI: "Still, the embodied complications of an accelerated puberty are more interesting, and more frightening to me, than the well-trodden sci-fi abstractions of what makes a human."
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
Alien: Earth - Unwinnable
It’s difficult to be scared of something that you’re maybe rooting for.
unwinnable.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:01 PM
ICYMI: "Still, the embodied complications of an accelerated puberty are more interesting, and more frightening to me, than the well-trodden sci-fi abstractions of what makes a human."
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
Reposted by Unwinnable
Spoiler: it’s not the eyeball
"Still, the embodied complications of an accelerated puberty are more interesting, and more frightening to me, than the well-trodden sci-fi abstractions of what makes a human."
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
Alien: Earth - Unwinnable
It’s difficult to be scared of something that you’re maybe rooting for.
unwinnable.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Spoiler: it’s not the eyeball
"Still, the embodied complications of an accelerated puberty are more interesting, and more frightening to me, than the well-trodden sci-fi abstractions of what makes a human."
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
Alien: Earth - Unwinnable
It’s difficult to be scared of something that you’re maybe rooting for.
unwinnable.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"Still, the embodied complications of an accelerated puberty are more interesting, and more frightening to me, than the well-trodden sci-fi abstractions of what makes a human."
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
@nochshorn.bsky.social digs into the real fear of Alien: Earth:
ICYMI: "Steve Mason either learns to be the Reaper or defaults to the reaped."
@jhensliterature.bsky.social draws parallels between Harvester's suburban hellscape and the American suburb's foundation of violence:
@jhensliterature.bsky.social draws parallels between Harvester's suburban hellscape and the American suburb's foundation of violence:
Harvester and the American Reaper - Unwinnable
To be a proud American is to constantly condone the legacies of violence and bloodshed that still haunt us.
unwinnable.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
ICYMI: "Steve Mason either learns to be the Reaper or defaults to the reaped."
@jhensliterature.bsky.social draws parallels between Harvester's suburban hellscape and the American suburb's foundation of violence:
@jhensliterature.bsky.social draws parallels between Harvester's suburban hellscape and the American suburb's foundation of violence:
Reposted by Unwinnable
HARVESTER MENTIONED!
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 AM
HARVESTER MENTIONED!
"Steve Mason either learns to be the Reaper or defaults to the reaped."
@jhensliterature.bsky.social draws parallels between Harvester's suburban hellscape and the American suburb's foundation of violence:
@jhensliterature.bsky.social draws parallels between Harvester's suburban hellscape and the American suburb's foundation of violence:
Harvester and the American Reaper - Unwinnable
To be a proud American is to constantly condone the legacies of violence and bloodshed that still haunt us.
unwinnable.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 AM
"Steve Mason either learns to be the Reaper or defaults to the reaped."
@jhensliterature.bsky.social draws parallels between Harvester's suburban hellscape and the American suburb's foundation of violence:
@jhensliterature.bsky.social draws parallels between Harvester's suburban hellscape and the American suburb's foundation of violence:
Reposted by Unwinnable
This month for @unwinnable.com's short-form side-mag Exploits, I wrote some brief essays on playing Somerville as the parent of a toddler and the new Casket Lottery record.
Don't get caught in the rain. This month's Exploits includes writing on a missing player two, The Casket Lottery, My Good Side, Misery, Andor and Somerville.
Buy: buff.ly/hH7iYQ7
Subscribe: buff.ly/ffBGA2W
Read @vandennis.bsky.social's essay on Andor: buff.ly/MBxx1Z8
Buy: buff.ly/hH7iYQ7
Subscribe: buff.ly/ffBGA2W
Read @vandennis.bsky.social's essay on Andor: buff.ly/MBxx1Z8
November 10, 2025 at 8:40 PM
This month for @unwinnable.com's short-form side-mag Exploits, I wrote some brief essays on playing Somerville as the parent of a toddler and the new Casket Lottery record.
Reposted by Unwinnable
(oh, right, I actually wrote something recently)
Check out this month's issue of Exploits where I write about the second season of Andor and its depiction of fascist disposability, and/or (heh) read my piece online here! unwinnable.com/2025/11/03/a...
Check out this month's issue of Exploits where I write about the second season of Andor and its depiction of fascist disposability, and/or (heh) read my piece online here! unwinnable.com/2025/11/03/a...
November 10, 2025 at 9:18 AM
(oh, right, I actually wrote something recently)
Check out this month's issue of Exploits where I write about the second season of Andor and its depiction of fascist disposability, and/or (heh) read my piece online here! unwinnable.com/2025/11/03/a...
Check out this month's issue of Exploits where I write about the second season of Andor and its depiction of fascist disposability, and/or (heh) read my piece online here! unwinnable.com/2025/11/03/a...
Reposted by Unwinnable
A while back, I wrote a cover story about Godzilla movies for @unwinnable.com and was lucky enough to get one of my favorite kaiju artists to do the cover. As of today, I have the original of that drawing in my possession. Thanks to @xenofauna.bsky.social and @stuhorvath.com for making it happen.
November 9, 2025 at 1:48 AM
A while back, I wrote a cover story about Godzilla movies for @unwinnable.com and was lucky enough to get one of my favorite kaiju artists to do the cover. As of today, I have the original of that drawing in my possession. Thanks to @xenofauna.bsky.social and @stuhorvath.com for making it happen.
ICYMI: "As it stands, all is well in the end for our boy and our flock, but the rest of the world is nothing."
@jaymcastello.bsky.social discovers emptiness in Herdling's world:
@jaymcastello.bsky.social discovers emptiness in Herdling's world:
Forward to Where? - Unwinnable
If Herdling wants to make a point about humans being an integral part of the ecosystem, it needs both humans and ecosystems.
unwinnable.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
ICYMI: "As it stands, all is well in the end for our boy and our flock, but the rest of the world is nothing."
@jaymcastello.bsky.social discovers emptiness in Herdling's world:
@jaymcastello.bsky.social discovers emptiness in Herdling's world: