iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Today I announce that teenage (& still current) me was a big fan of dubstep and its subgenres... 🎶 Currently prepping for AIMS 2026, where I explore antiquity receptions in electronic dance music, from stereotyped remixes to technologized futures where antiquity tries to reclaim humanity or fantasy.

171

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

This has got to be one of my favorite Classics jokes in a video game... #TheBloodofDawnwalker

Screenshot from The Blood of Dawnwalker (2026, Rebel Wolves). A dark book lies on a table. Coen says: "Aristotle, 'Second Book of Poetics.' Hrm. Useless."

031

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Eduardo García-Molina @egarcmol.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

A Roman legion management RTS with hints of folk horror? You've got a wishlist, The Ninth Legion.

091

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

The Middle Ages in Modern Games @midagesmodgames.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Truly starting #MAMG26 is our Keynote Address from Leandro Wallace: ‘Why we play the Middle Ages? A proposition for engaged thinking’, so join us now and bring your questions for a thought-provoking discussion about medievalisms, colonialism, and more: middleagesinmoderngames.net?p=1310

middleagesinmoderngames.net

155

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

The Middle Ages in Modern Games @midagesmodgames.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

It's time! The Middle Ages in Modern Games Asynchronous Conference 2026 begins TODAY, October 5th, at 9:45am UTC+1 with our opening address to kick off a fantastic programme of three days of papers. Everything you'll need is in the live programme here: middleagesinmoderngames.net/mamg26/middl...

middleagesinmoderngames.net

Middle Ages in Modern Games, October 5-7 2026: Programme – The Middle Ages in Modern Games

01611

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Alexis Christensen @amchristensen.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Just listened to @alexvandewalle.bsky.social's episode about Greek myth and video games on @ancienthistory101.org this morning. Great stuff and made me excited to teach my games course again next fall. Also sharing it with my myth students today.

132

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Eduardo García-Molina @egarcmol.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Decided to do a 2026 roundup of video games set in or inspired by antiquity. Hope it's useful to some. A lot of really interesting ideas in recently released and upcoming games! From reimaginings of myths to HD versions of classics to Pokémon! anotherclassicsblog.wordpress.com/2026/08/22/2...

anotherclassicsblog.wordpress.com

2026 Classics Summer Video Games Roundup

A collection of recently announced and released games and modifications set in or inspired by Mediterranean antiquity The ancient Mediterranean continues to be fertile ground for developers creatin…

54912

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Eduardo García-Molina @egarcmol.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

So many promising smaller games set in antiquity popping up on Steam. Turn-based Greek colonization and army management game?! Instant wishlist.

3472

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Richard Cole @richardcole.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I grew up playing games like Age of Empires. The Festival is our way of giving back, an exploration of what happens when you bring together game designers, heritage professionals, academic researchers and players to imagine better historical games. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eof...

youtube.com

Festival of History and Heritage in Games

YouTube video by University of Bristol

02510

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

My personal discovery of the summer has been Sovereign Tower, an Arthurian-esque version of last year's Dispatch where you manage the knights of your Round Table and send them on quests. Great art style, lots of choices, and funny dialogue, too - recommended! store.steampowered.com/app/4113940/...

store.steampowered.com

Save 15% on Sovereign Tower on Steam

Play as the Sovereign of a magical tower in this story-rich, Round Table management RPG. Recruit eccentric Knights, assign quests and balance egos whilst carving out your kingdom's destiny. If destiny...

040

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Jeremiah McCall (he/him) @gamingthepast.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

🗃️ #AncientBluesky educators, just a psa that my Designing Historical Games -- for classroom educators making historical boardgames and choice-based texts for classes AND guiding students to make them-- is out just in time for Semester 1. www.routledge.com/Designing-Hi...

routledge.com

Designing Historical Games for Classrooms: A Practical Guide for Educators

Designing Historical Games for Classrooms: A Practical Guide for Educators is a complete introductory guide for designing analog games and interactive choice‑based historical texts for history classes...

1188

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Ancient History 101 Podcast @ancienthistory101.org · 03/08/2026

Mythography is the collection and compilation of myths, and the genre is millennia old - who knew that video games would continue the tradition? Our full episode on Greek Mythology in Video Games with Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social is out now!

094

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Ancient History 101 Podcast @ancienthistory101.org · 31/07/2026

With all the furore over Nolan's diverse Odyssey cast, it turns out that video games have quietly been diversifying their own casts for years. Take the non-binary depiction of Hermes of #StrayGods! Our full episode examining Greek myths in video games with @alexvandewalle.bsky.social is out now!

1155

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Tales from the Mabinogion @mabinogiongame.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

This was an interesting piece to write, reflecting on how stories changes over time, how they both shape and are shaped by ideas of national identity, and how that feeds into my own current work. I've been following the HGN blog posts for a while now - it was lovely being invited to contribute!

2178

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Had a genuine blast talking with @belovedofoizys.bsky.social on the Ancient History 101 Podcast about everything video games and mythology! We talk about games like Hades, Odyssey, Stray Gods, and more, and even about the kind of games we'd make ourselves. Thanks again for having me!

1126

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Zylla Black @zyllable.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

YES

011

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

New article out! 🎮🚨 I explore hegemonic and counter-hegemonic forces in video game receptions of Greco-Roman mythology, considering whether the contrast between conservative and progressive depictions maps onto the similar distinction between AAA and indie games. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

link.springer.com

AAA Versus Indie? Hegemonic and Counter-Hegemonic Forces in Video Game Receptions of Greco-Roman Mythology - International Journal of the Classical Tradition

The reception and tradition of Greco-Roman mythology in video games is traditionally considered as violent, masculine and sexist. Nevertheless, there are alternatives to this generalising description,...

12710

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Australasian Classical Reception Studies Network (ACRSN) @acrsn.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

#CFP [chapters] Ten Years of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: Legacy, Impact, Future - eds. Richard Cole & Alexander Vandewalle (Screening Antiquity series at Edinburgh University Press) Abstracts due August 24, 2026 bristoldigitalgamelab.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2026/06/19/c...

075

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Call for papers! 📢 🎮 @richardcole.bsky.social and I are co-editing an academic volume entitled "Ten Years of Assassin's Creed Odyssey: Legacy, Impact, Future". The goal is to analyze how the game has shaped popular understandings of antiquity. Abstracts due August 24 - all information below!

050

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Traveling to Ireland tomorrow for #DiGRA2026, where I'll present a paper on mythological game mechanics beyond pure violence (w/ Marco Caracciolo), and another on haptics & focalization in video games, VR, and 4DX film (or, just a sneaky way to talk about Star Wars). Looking forward to it!

0110

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

You know the economy is bad when the silver studs in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight now only give you 1 instead of 10 points...

020

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

God of War Laufey was announced last night, featuring Faye as protagonist and set in the Afterlife of the Gods where she meets (dead) gods from various mythologies ⚡ If only someone had just published a chapter on games & mythological crossovers... www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLMX...

youtube.com

God of War Laufey - Gameplay Reveal Trailer | PS5 Games

*Audio Description Available* Death was supposed to be the end, bu...

181

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Dr Kate Cook @katexe.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Was delighted to contribute with my fellow series editors to this piece on intersections between the Humanities disciplines and game studies in our series and more broadly, as part of a great collection!

12911

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Next week, I'll be traveling to Rome for the 2026 Games and Literary Theory Conference! I'll present a taxonomy of five strategies with which games have presented ancient literature, from clicking through translations in visual novels to materializing texts in a historical space.

080

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Esther Wright @enwright.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

It's publication day for Writing Game Histories!! 🥳🎉 Please do recommend it for your library, but it's also out in paperback so not as hideously expensive as academic books can be: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/writing-g... @doktornick.bsky.social @doni.bsky.social @historygamesnet.bsky.social

511259

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

A very special day today: the physical copies of my book arrived! It felt great to finally hold it in my hands for the very first time ⚡

0142

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Antiquity in Media Studies (AIMS) @antiquitymedia.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

This weekend!! The AIMS May event. Register: antiquityinmediastudies.wordpress.com/events/

176

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Very excited to announce that my new postdoc project, "Who Plays Mythology? Player (Counter-)Hegemonies of Greek Mythology in Video Games" (in collaboration with Marco Caracciolo and Steven Malliet), has just been accepted for funding by @fwovlaanderen.bsky.social! 🎮 🎉

5271

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

The Video Game Library 📚 @thevideogamelibrary.org · 19/05/2026

Congratulations to @alexvandewalle.bsky.social who's 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 released from @bloomsburyacademic.bsky.social this past week. More details in this week's Newsletter ☝️ #Gaming #Booksky

Book cover for Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games by Alexander Vandewalle, published by Bloomsbury. The cover features fantasy video game artwork of a red-haired warrior facing a massive one-eyed monster carrying a tree trunk, with a blue title panel overlaid on the lower-left side.

1142

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Tales from the Mabinogion @mabinogiongame.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

#ScreenshotSaturday Before Games of Thrones, before Lord of the Rings, before even Geoffrey of Monmouth compiled the legends of King Arthur - before all of these came the Mabinogion. Discover the magical stories of this ancient book in Tales from the Mabinogion.

1238

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

The hardback version of Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games (in @bloomsburyacademic.bsky.social's IMAGINES series) is out today! 🎉 Visit www.bloomsbury.com/uk/character... for more information on everything myth, games, & more!

bloomsbury.com

Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games

The first book-length study on mythology reception in video games, this monograph examines how video games characterize mythological characters from the perspec…

0177

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Looking forward to traveling to Granada next week to present my paper on @supergiantgames.bsky.social's Hades II at the Ancient World on Screen Conference, celebrating 50+ years of classics and film reception!

060

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

MultiPlay Network @multiplaynetwork.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

It's Star Wars Day and there is a special event on the horizon for the franchise's 50th anniversary next year. Durham University is hosting a special conference in 2027 reflecting on the legacy of the iconic series. The CFP is below. starwarsat50.webspace.durham.ac.uk

starwarsat50.webspace.durham.ac.uk

Call for Papers - Star Wars at 50: Forces, Forms, Legacies

A one-day scholarly conference at Durham University scheduled for May 7th 2027.

0106

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Lexie Henning @lexie-henning.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Great to have @alexvandewalle.bsky.social present on some of the findings from his forthcoming book and research in Bristol today!

051

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Durham Classics and Ancient History @durhamclassics.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

✨ Third annual international prize for a doctoral thesis in Classical Reception Studies! 📅 Submit your thesis to centre directorDr Caroline Barron by 30th June to enter. 🔗 More details: www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...

063

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Richard Cole @richardcole.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Mythological Characters in Video Games - join us for this Centre for Creative Technologies and Game Lab keynote lecture by International Visiting Fellow Dr @alexvandewalle.bsky.social. Thursday 30 April 5pm (BST), University of Bristol (in person and online). forms.office.com/pages/respon...

1155

Alexander Vandewalle @alexvandewalle.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

The ebook versions of my book Characters and Characterization in Mythological Video Games are now out! It's a study of mythological games and how they include characters like gods, heroes or monsters. The hardback releases on May 14th. For more information: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/character...

0186

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Rami Ismail (رامي) @ramiismail.com · 06/04/2026

I've wished for Arab-made games about Arab mythology for so long, and despite assisting on the project I still can't believe there's one swinging for the fences this hard. House of Hikmah is something very needed in a time where the world would rather erase us. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZTu...

youtube.com

Official Launch Trailer for The House of Hikmah | Arrives April 8th, 2026

YouTube video by Lunacy Studios

3029781146

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Hooded Horse @hoodedhorse.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Truly a fantastic launch weekend for Nova Roma. So far it's garnered over 2,200 peak concurrent players and an overwhelmingly positive review score. We could not be more proud of the development team. Thank you to everyone who has played the game so far! You are true Roman spirits.

27010

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Peopling The Past @peoplingthepast.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Our latest instalment of the #PeoplingBlog, features the exciting pedagogical work of @egarcmol.bsky.social. Here, he takes us through his course “The Ancient World in Video Games” to highlight the value of bringing gaming into the modern university classroom: peoplingthepast.com/2026/03/27/b...

Graphic featuring a collage of screen grabs from gaming platforms and the text "Let's Play Antiquity with Eduardo García-Molina"

02716

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Martin James Flanagan @mjflanagan.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

As we get more 'Daredevil: Born Again' on our screens, with Wilson Fisk, Jessica and more, it might be a good time to have a look at this piece by @alexvandewalle.bsky.social and I, published at the end of 2025. #DaredevilBornAgain (1/3) playstorypress.org/books/the-ps...

A book chapter called 'the Hero this city needs, or Not?' from the book : 'The Psychgeist of Pop Culture - the Marvel Cinematic Universe' (free download, link in #1 post)

Cover of the book : 'The Psychgeist of Pop Culture - the Marvel Cinematic Universe' (free download, link in #1 post). It shows Thor's hammer sparkling

132

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Stefano Gualeni @gua-le-ni.com · 24/03/2026

Play HAMM-3R! 🚀 FREE + SHORT (5-10 mins.) >> hammer.gua-le-ni.com << An experimental game about tools and technologies made with @amidos2006.bsky.social, @demigiant.com and other friends at the @indigitalgames.bsky.social! 🔨

hammer.gua-le-ni.com

HAMM-3R

HAMM-3R is a SHORT and FREE experimental videogame about how our equipment influences the ways we understand the world and act within it.

32418

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Ancient History 101 Podcast @ancienthistory101.org · 20/03/2026

Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred platform and never miss an episode! Find all of the relevant links, as well as links to our website, other socials, and online bookshop here: linktr.ee/ancienthisto...

1379

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Jeremiah McCall (he/him) @gamingthepast.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Hey folks, CfP coming up for a Workshop on Analogue Games and the Ancient and Pre-Modern Past at Durham University hosted by cool HGS folk @drhelenroche.bsky.social and @peregrinekiwi.bsky.social. Looks great; wish I could be there! submission email in the CfP

CfP: ANALOGUE GAMES AND THE ANCIENT & PRE-MODERN PAST - INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDY, DURHAM UNIVERSITY, FRIDAY 1 MAY 2026
Organisers: Dr. Helen Roche (Durham University, UK) and Dr. Hamish Cameron (Victoria University of Wellington, NZ)
Recently, analogue games have been gaining increasing attention within the context of Game Studies, Ludonarratology, Historical Game Studies and Classical Game Studies. This interdisciplinary workshop will focus on modern analogue games which engage with ancient and pre-modern pasts, with an eye to producing an edited volume which will complement existing work already in progress.

The organisers are currently seeking abstracts, and welcome suggestions for 20-minute papers which engage with:
• a broad range of historical periods (including games with historical elements which are not purely historical, e.g. historically-inspired fantasy and science fiction; mythical games); archaeogaming;
• any analogue game genres - including, but not limited to, board games and card games, Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs), live action games, tabletop wargames, miniature wargaming, and megagames;
• analogue games which range beyond the popular (e.g. analyses of indie games as well as well-known classics);
• analogue games as vectors for historical pedagogy, engagement and outreach; serious games; creative ludic research methods;
• intersectional and postcolonial perspectives are especially welcome.
Our primary goal is for the workshop to take place in person (though please note that we cannot guarantee funding to cover speakers' expenses, and any funding we can find will be used to facilitate attendance by ECRs and precarious speakers). However, given sufficient interest, we would consider organising a separate online workshop at a later date to accommodate those who are unable to travel to Durham in person.

Please send abstracts of no more than 300 words to gaming.history.ias@gmail.com by 31 MARCH 2026.

01919

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Moo Yu (Mythmatch on Switch and Steam Now!) @oneofmoo.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

🏹🏹🏹 Mythmatch is OUT NOW on Steam! 🏹🏹🏹 AND there's a 20% launch discount! 🐐 Merge the items 💪 Unite the people 🏠 Make a home And it's Steam Deck Verified!! store.steampowered.com/app/1778050/...

48384182

Reposted by Alexander Vandewalle

Vinicius Marino Carvalho @vinicius-marino.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

🚨NEW ARTICLE OUT🚨 My most recent paper on historical agency & games is available in open access! It deals with environmental studies, posthumanism, fantasy, the 'ontological turn' in the philosophy of history & my upcoming video-game, Galar. Quick thread on the contents 🧵1/6 #gamestudies #gtp

tandfonline.com

History and more-than-human agency in videogames

This article highlights how digital games and digital game scholarship can contribute to ongoing theoretical debates about more-than-human agency in history. Inspired by ecological theory, the more...

12915