Sign in

Aaron A. Reed

@aaronareed.bsky.social
809 followers 287 following 113 posts

Maker of books, games, games about books, and books about games. Social media content syndicated to multiple platforms: linktr.ee/aaronareed

PostsRepliesMedia
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Due to a fun error at the book printer I've ended up with some identical pairs of Subcutanean, WHICH DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE. Resourcefully, I've now put up a product page for "Non-unique Subcutaneans" at a discount price, in case you don't mind being a twin. aaronareed.net/store/produc...
aaronareed.net
Non-Unique Subcutanean – Aaron A. Reed
092
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
This #TTRPG looks awesome! First edition had been on my to-play list for a long time, so rad to see a revamped and polished take coming out.
021
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I wrote some words for this lovely game, out now! Assemble a team of misfits for doomed missions into weird underworlds. Interesting choices, gorgeous art, super replayable... fans of Fallen London and inkle games take note! Congrats to @radiofreelunch.bsky.social and @kitfoxgames.com on release 🎉🎉🎉
04915
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
inkle @inkle.co · 08/09/2026
Narrative heist game Thousand Hells is out now, and we're happy to say it's bundled with Heaven's Vault in the "Heaven's and Hells" bundle!
store.steampowered.com
Save 5% on Heavens and Hells on Steam
08836
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I wrote some words for this lovely game, out now! Assemble a team of misfits for doomed missions into weird underworlds. Interesting choices, gorgeous art, super replayable... fans of Fallen London and inkle games take note! Congrats to @radiofreelunch.bsky.social and @kitfoxgames.com on release 🎉🎉🎉
04915
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Kate Compton @galaxykate.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
In the meantime, I have something I haven't had in a while: free time. If you'd like me to visit your classroom, research lab, maker space, or tech company, please reach out. Danish law means I can't take payment for this, but I'm always happy to travel and talk.
1123
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Kitfox Games 🦊 @kitfoxgames.com · 25/08/2026
14 Days until release!! 🎉 Mark your calendars and wishlist now! Thousand Hells: then Underworld Heists is a tactical narrative adventure! 📑 Many timelines. ⚒️ Deep Lore. 💰️ Vaults to Heist. store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...
"Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists" title over a hooded, horned, robed figure with a single red eye seated on a throne in a dark, cavernous underworld temple, tentacle-like robes and a lava glow at left creating an ominous, infernal mood.
0397
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Kitfox Games 🦊 @kitfoxgames.com · 24/08/2026
The princes have been murdered and now I must go to hell to bring them back... 🤴 Watch 29 minutes of Thousand Hells gameplay: youtu.be/4vAWmoy9a7Y
0218
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
I wrote something like 100K words of weird underworld content for this gorgeously illustrated "tactical narrative" game from the creator of King of Dragon Pass, and that's only a fraction of the content... definitely worth a wishlist.
112928
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
I know international shipping has gotten mad expensive in the last few years. I've worked out a slightly cheaper shipping solution for orders outside the US, so if that's you & you're craving a Subcutanean or Downcrawl swag, small orders are now $19 to ship to most of the world. aaronareed.net/store
aaronareed.net
Aaron A. Reed – Stuff
062
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Hi Ben, cool project! The internal links all seem broken: clicking any hyperlink just goes to a 404 for me? Also I'd appreciate it if on the homepage you credit me as the original author as per CC-BY-4.0, & remove the copy-pasted frontmatter.html that falsely attributes your version to me (thanks!)
100
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Shorts in a V/H/S movie pretty consistently break down as one pretty good one, one with some fucked-up imagery you didn't super need to see, and three or four that are mediocre/bad, so odds are decent we'll get one good short and some amount of trauma (on or off screen)
050
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Clarkesworld @clarkesworldmagazine.com · 09/06/2026
Between now and October (our 20th anniversary issue), we're running a subscription drive and dedicating all new revenue toward improving pay for our staff, writers, artists, and contractors. Details on how to subscribe can be found here: clarkesworldmagazine.com/subscribe/
clarkesworldmagazine.com
Subscribe to Clarkesworld Magazine
Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast.
7507415
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
"I Awaken at the Sound of a Dropping Coin" is a two-player storytelling game where one player is a mechanical fortune-teller who only knows the future, and the other a lost and lonely seeker who only knows the past. Designed to be like a TTRPG "short story" (20-30 min). aareed.itch.io/dropping-coin
aareed.itch.io
I Awaken at the Sound of a Dropping Coin by Aaron A. Reed
A roleplaying game for two players about the future and the past
000
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Dr. Miko Charbonneau @drmikachu.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Just got out of Backrooms and if you like that vibe I MUST AGAIN RECOMMEND you read Subcutanean by @aaronareed.bsky.social! One of the best book club experiences I ever had because no two copies are the same! Brilliant. subcutanean.textories.com #horror #conversationpitsareweirdlyscary
subcutanean.textories.com
Subcutanean: A Novel Where No Two Copies Are the Same
A horror novel that's different for every reader. A queer coming-of-age story about yearning for possibilities.
0126
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Same
020
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
How did I somehow not know that this was also your game
000
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Haven't read the book, sorry, but Monster Island, the PBM game I covered for 50 Years, was pretty solidly exploration/adventure rather than wargame. if50.substack.com/p/1989-monst...
if50.substack.com
1989: Monster Island
How thousands of players explored a shared virtual world with a quarter of a million rooms using nothing but pencils, paper, and postage stamps.
110
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Kitfox Games 🦊 @kitfoxgames.com · 06/05/2026
For #WishlistWednesday, may I offer you a game that's been to hell and back 😈 store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...
Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists
2224
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Just need an eighteen-inch high berm to either side and we've got a classic adventure game puzzle
100
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
(2/2) Great overview post from him about the project here: samplereality.com/2026/04/30/t... And I would be remiss if I didn't note you can still order your own original, unique variant of Subcutanean (a 2020 Lambda Lit nom for speculative fiction, did I mention?) here: subcutanean.textories.com
031
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
OK, this is incredible. Mad genius @samplereality.bsky.social has created a web tool for exploring Subcutanean (my novel where each copy is unique) across every axis you can think of: source code, 25 diffed versions, VR projections(!), bubble viz(!!) & a lot more. (1/2) subcutanean.fugitivetexts.net
subcutanean.fugitivetexts.net
Subcutanean Variorum
Compare textual variations across unique editions of Aaron Reed's novel Subcutanean.
1218
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Just released this 2-player one that fits the bill... also in the "TTRPGs you can play in 30 minutes or less" category: aareed.itch.io/dropping-coin
aareed.itch.io
I Awaken at the Sound of a Dropping Coin by Aaron A. Reed
A roleplaying game for two players about the future and the past
010
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Ben Robbins is launching M2 @lamemage.com · 16/04/2026
Unboxing challenge: I'm looking for more GMless games that you can play together without any reading in advance. Games you can just pick up and follow the instructions cold Show me what you got!
242011
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
I made a new (short) #TTRPG ! It's a two-player storytelling game where one player is a mechanical fortune-teller who only knows the future, and the other a lost and lonely seeker who only knows the past. (yes I stole the title from Blue Prince) aareed.itch.io/dropping-coin
aareed.itch.io
I Awaken at the Sound of a Dropping Coin by Aaron A. Reed
A roleplaying game for two players about the future and the past
092
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Kitfox Games 🦊 @kitfoxgames.com · 18/03/2026
Ocean's Eleven meets Dante's Inferno with a mythological twist! 👯 Build the best team for the job 🔥 Dynamic narrative where your choices matter 🎮 Highly replayable 🖌️ 100s of hand-painted illustrations Wishlist on Steam now: store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...
29622
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Go Play NW is an incredible annual event for fans of storytelling roleplaying games, and a wonderful community of kind and generous human beings. They could use a little help getting over the finish line for their annual fundraising drive this year!
042
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Still available for one more week!
000
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Downcrawl 2E and Skycrawl are this week's Bundle of Holding! Get both #TTRPG games and ALL supplements at tremendous savings while you can. Explore weird and wondrous environments in pointcrawl adventures through forgotten labyrinths and skyborne kingdoms... bundleofholding.com/presents/Dow...
bundleofholding.com
Downcrawl-Skycrawl Bundle
Adventurer! This new Downcrawl-Skycrawl Bundle presents Downcrawl and Skycrawl, twin toolkits from designer Aaron A. Reed that help you create spontaneous tabletop roleplaying adventures in the Deep, ...
084
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
If you're like me, you can't get anything done without emotional support tea. I am deeply soothed by the ancient ritual of boiling the water, choosing which tea to get down from the cabinet, letting it steep on the desk beside me, and then completely forgetting about it until the following evening
050
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Andrew Plotkin @eblong.com · 26/01/2026
Here we go... Announcing the Visible Zorker Project and Patreon! Remember how I did Visible Zork 1 and 2? I'm going to do Zork 3, and then continue through Infocom's entire canon -- in chronological order, one per month. blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/the-...
blog.zarfhome.com
The Visible Zorker Project (and Patreon)
Announcing the Visible Zorker Project and Patreon. The plan: deconstruct every Infocom game, one per month, and make the source code explorable.
13517
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Rain falls deep beneath the earth, and will not stop. How will you survive a damper, slimier, flooded underground? Can the Godswimmer be found? Will an Aquaeon Conclave be called? Sink or swim in... The Drizzle Depths Downcrawl Adventure Zine #3 #ttrpg www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
Cropped cover for "The Drizzle Depths" showing woodcut art of a flooded Victorian street, rain drizzling down and faint stalactites dimly visible on a distant roof above.
143
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
And heads up: you can also now get **all three Downcrawl Adventure Zines** together and save a few $$. Each is a unique no-prep adventure for your #Downcrawl2E campaign. www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
drivethrurpg.com
DriveThruRPG
000
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Rain falls deep beneath the earth, and will not stop. How will you survive a damper, slimier, flooded underground? Can the Godswimmer be found? Will an Aquaeon Conclave be called? Sink or swim in... The Drizzle Depths Downcrawl Adventure Zine #3 #ttrpg www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
Cropped cover for "The Drizzle Depths" showing woodcut art of a flooded Victorian street, rain drizzling down and faint stalactites dimly visible on a distant roof above.
143
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Kitfox Games 🦊 @kitfoxgames.com · 24/12/2025
On the night before Christmas, your party encounters the bones of a reindeer... Traverse the Midnight North in Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists. 🎁 Wishlist now: store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...
1307
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
I understand Christmas is a nice time for some people. If that's you, I hope you have a wonderful week. If it's not, remember you're not alone.
170
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Lorri Hopping ✍🏼 📚🕹️ 🎲 🔜 NYC @hoppingfun.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
All 35 talks from THINKY CON, about making puzzle games, are on YouTube: thinkygames.com/news/all-35-... #puzzlegames #gamedev
thinkygames.com
All 35 talks from ThinkyCon 2025 are now available to watch on YouTube · Thinky Games
In case you missed any of our 2nd annual online convention centered around the making of the games we love so much, every presentation from ThinkyCon 2025 has now been uploaded to our YouTube channel ...
0167
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
Roguelike Celebration is happening today and my awesome friend Johnathan is giving this inspiring talk (gonna be a great time). www.roguelike.club
Wait, No, Hear Me Out: Simulating Encounter AI in Slay the Spire with SQL.

Bring your best warding potions, safety sigils, and blessings: this talk is a light dip of some cursed queries to show how to simulate Slay the Spire's encounter AI with nothing more than SQL (and a lot of free time). Along the way, we'll go over some basic data structures for simulation, declarative vs imperative programming and how (with a little probability) even simple systems can lead to memorable, complex AI.
072
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Hell yeah man! Thanks for sharing the link, it's such great stuff.
010
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Jacob Garbe 💀 @logodaedalus.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Nice! Looking forward to reading a deep dive on a tough design space many designers engage with.
3436
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Ben Robbins is launching M2 @lamemage.com · 03/10/2025
"Which would you rather play, a GMless or a diceless RPG" To which I say, "why not both" To which you say, "examples please" Leaving out (checks notes) every single one of my games, let me throw out a few. If I miss your favs, chime in!
910218
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Sam Barlow 🔥 @mrsambarlow.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Hey it's #SteamSale! You can get 🔥 IMMORTALITY for $9.99 👁️ TELLING LIES for $4.99 ☕ HER STORY for $4.99 & wishlist Project C and Project D whilst you are there... It's a good time to play good games in the present and wish for good games in the future! ✨ store.steampowered.com/developer/Sa...
3199103
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Wow, Alien Earth started out so strong but has sure gotten real dumb the last couple episodes...
020
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Noah Wardrip-Fruin @n-w-f.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
It’s an honor to help launch this series with @anasalter.bsky.social
071
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
⬇️ 🚨🚨Heads up, this sale ends tonight!🚨🚨 This is a _rare_ occasion when my physical books are on sale as well my digital stuff (probably increasingly rare if the tariff situation continues to worsen).
063
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
jay Dragon 🔜 Metatopia @jdragsky.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
good morning, i wrote a manifesto about a new direction for game design / play possumcreek.medium.com/the-expressi...
possumcreek.medium.com
The Expressionist Games Manifesto
“Work! Intoxication! Brain-racking! Chewing, eating, gorging, rooting up! Rapturous birth pangs! Jabbing of the brush, preferably right…
23479158
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Dr. Nic Junius @quakefultales.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
I cannot recommend Aaron's books enough, they are fantastic games and 50 years of text games is an amazing dive into the history of games that has largely been left out of the popular consciousness
041
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
Reminder: my #BookSale this weekend includes: 🚪 Subcutanean, spooky novel that changes for each reader: subcutanean.textories.com ⚔️ Downcrawl 2E, #TTRPG of underworld exploration: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5... 💾 50 Years of Text Games, history of interactive fiction: if50.textories.com
drivethrurpg.com
Downcrawl 2E - Aaron A. Reed | Downcrawl | DriveThruRPG
Explore cursed mazes. Build stalactite cities. Get addicted to mushrooms. Welcome Down. Downcrawl is a tabletop roleplaying toolkit that helps you build and explore a weird, wondrous underworld so far...
0106
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
ReSkies or NuBlues or whatever they're called on here much appreciated 🙏
010
Aaron A. Reed @aaronareed.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Absolutely! But with only fifty chapters there were hundreds it would have been great to cover that didn't make it in 😭 (I mean that very literally, I had a long list of over 1000 possible games and a shortlist of several hundred...)
210