iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Matthew Gallant

Chris Plante @plante.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

50 critics, directors, designers, reporters, comedians, and authors share their earliest picks for Game of the Year 2026. Welcome to the EGOTYs!!!

postgame.substack.com

The Earliest Game of the Year Awards

50 critics, directors, designers, reporters, comedians, and authors share their favorite games of 2026

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Did just about everything I could in Silksong before the true final boss. Just an astounding game from start to finish.

Screenshot of Silksong. White text on a black background: "Game completion, percentage 100%, time 63h 48m 17s"

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Finally dusted off the 50th cartridge in UFO 50 on my flight home. My top four: 🏠 Party House / 🔫 Velgress / 🏎️ Paint Chase / 🌴 Seaside Drive. backloggd.com/u/gangles/li...

A screenshot of the UFO game selection screen, sorted by "most played". The top three are Party House, Velgress, and Paint Chase.

The victory screen of Party House. There are 22 party guests of various types. Caption: "YOU THREW THE ULTIMATE PARTY! WIN!"

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

2025 in books read & games completed. www.goodreads.com/user/year_in... backloggd.com/u/gangles/li...

Book covers: The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan, Glad We Met by Steven Rogelberg, Situational Awareness by Leopold Aschenbrenner, Outer Order Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin, The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth, Quiet by Susan Cain, Play Nice by Jason Schreier, The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant, Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, Slow Down by Kōhei Saitō, Ravelstein by Saul Bellow, The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica, After Virtue by Alasdair MacIntyre, Gilgamesh by David Ferry, How a Game Lives by Jacob Geller

Game covers: Before Your Eyes, Indika, Mouthwashing, The Exit 8, Skygunner, Daemonologie, Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk, House of the Dying Sun, A Mortician's Tale, Vanquish, Fear the Spotlight, The Sins of New Wells, The Lemurian Phoenix, Death Stranding, Mant Nights a Whisper, Spilled!, A Game About Digging a Hole, Metaphor ReFantazio, Metroid Dread, Metal Garden, Bernband, Unfair Flips, Despelote, Arctic Eggs, Gris

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

In 2025, I experimented with a structured weekly practice of picking one game from my backlog and playing it for at least an hour or two. I wrote about how that experiment went, and highlighted a few standouts from the 52 games I played.

gangles.ca

Weekly Backlog 2025

Like many people who love video games, I have a conundrum: I own more games than I will ever realistically have time to play. It’s a problem that has accumulated slowly over many years, compounded by ...

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Merry Christmas! 🎄 Got my daughter a copy of Pokémon X to play on her refurbished 2DS, it’s a hit so far (and getting her to practice her reading).

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Randomly went down a rabbithole today researching getting a Retroid Pocket 5 for running PC games on Android via Winlator, and by the end of the day the company announced the Pocket 6. The world of handhelds moves fast.

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

Been enjoying another great year for the League World Championship. Credit to Riot's always-excellent production, but also a continued benefit of the switch over to a Swiss tournament format 2 years ago. I wrote at the time how much it helped create drama & dynamism (through the lens of game design)

gangles.ca

Tournament Design as Game Design

For many years, I’ve been casually following the competitive LoL esports scene, especially enjoying the Worlds championship tournament that caps off each year. Worlds 2023 has been particularly great ...

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Inspired by a recent episode of @intothecast.bsky.social, I am playing Parasite Eve.

Screenshot of Parasite Eve. A woman in a black dress aims a pistol at a clown in a dressing room. Dialogue caption: “Man: Ahhhh! Here! Take it! Take everything! It’s all on the counter!”

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

My accomplishment for the day 😪

Screenshot from Silksong, Hornet standing next to a dead and disintegrating boss (The Last Judge).

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Been fun seeing a 2XKO bracket at EVO France, works really well as a spectator esport. Made some early attempts to learn myself, appreciate that the basic combos seem relatively straightforward.

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Enjoyed playing through Metal Garden this weekend. Vibey atmospheric indie FPS; great level design, minimalist but flavourful, punches far above its weight. store.steampowered.com/app/3539440/...

Screenshot of Metal Garden. FPS view: a player with a sniper rifle overlooks a massive grey dam extending into the horizon and getting lost in the fog. Above them the sky is grey and metallic.

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Reposted by Matthew Gallant

David Blatt @kopfstoff.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

I really enjoyed working on this image! Congratulations @suckerpunchprod.bsky.social and @erikaishii.bsky.social on the release of Ghost of Yōtei! 🧡 It looks stunning, and I can't wait to play it myself!

Atsu (based on Erika Ishii from Ghost of Yōtei) and Ellie (from The Last of Us Part 2) sit on a cliff, making music. Atsu plays a shamisen and Ellie the guitar. A large wolf lies relaxed between them, eyes closed, one ear turned toward Ellie. A huge iconic mountain lies in the background, and yellow-orange ginkgo tree leaves swirl. The entirely hand-drawn, digital illustration looks like an ink work and is entirely in black and white; only the leaves and the kintsugi-repaired mask on Atsu's belt are yellow-orange.

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Reposted by Matthew Gallant

Duncan Robson @duncanrobson.com · 23/09/2025

For sale:

Steam screenshot. Baby Steps, Neva and Sworn at discounted prices.

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Finally checked out Blue Prince this weekend. Got as far as this this heartbreaking near-run, one gem short of the Antechamber.

A screenshot from Blue Prince. Text on screen: "Select a room to draft", with options "Closet", "Lavatory", "Observatory". The first two rooms fail to connect to the final Antechamber, the third option costs a gem and the player doesn't have one.

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Reposted by Matthew Gallant

PlayStation @playstation.com · 08/07/2025

Experience Ellie and Abby’s journeys in a new way with The Last of Us Part II Remastered's Chronological mode, out today. The free update includes new unlockable skins and trophies: play.st/3Ij9sNH

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

PSA: a bunch of classic SEGA games are currently free on iOS ahead of being delisted. Never had a SEGA console growing up so most are new to me!

iOS app icons for various SEGA games: Sonic, Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage

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Reposted by Matthew Gallant

qntm @qntm.org · 19/05/2025

I feel like saying this again: creating systems is generally much easier than understanding systems' behaviour

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Reposted by Matthew Gallant

Brendon Chung @blendogames.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

🎉 Skin Deep is RELEASED! 🎉 👉 Steam store.steampowered.com/app/301280/S... 👉 Epic Games Store store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/skin... This game was made with a crew of wonderful folks: blendogames.com/skindeep/cre... We hope you enjoy Skin Deep! ✨

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Reposted by Matthew Gallant

Grayson Morley @graysonmorley.com · 15/04/2025

Wanderstop is about burnout, yes, but it’s also about injury. Here’s me on ambition, pain, recovery, and stillness, in the game and in life. I’m proud of how this piece turned out, and I hope you’ll enjoy it.

backlogmag.com

The only review of Wanderstop that is also a review of the app Gentler Streak

Burnout, shmurnout

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Reposted by Matthew Gallant

✨Stephanie Drew✨ @drpaint-png.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Complete collection, Team Jackson VS Team Seattle. #TheLastofUsPartII #tlou

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

The Last of Us Part II Remastered arrives on PC today! And we've got a new update for No Return on both PS5 and PC. I wrote a little about the design process behind Bill & Marlene's unique character traits.

gangles.ca

No Return – Bill & Marlene

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is out now on PC, and includes a small update for the roguelike survival mode No Return. We’ve added four new maps to the rotation, and two new playable characters fr...

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Excited to announce an update to No Return, coming to TLOU2 Remastered on both PC and PS5 in April. Bill & Marlene as new playable characters with unique traits, and four new maps! www.naughtydog.com/blog/the_las...

naughtydog.com

The Last of Us Part II Remastered PC Features, New No Return Content Detailed || Naughty Dog

Learn about the quality-of-life PC, new No Return maps and characters, and more in store.

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

After a lifetime of assuming it had some deeper meaning, it turns out “Funiculì, Funiculà” is indeed about the simple joy of riding a funicular.

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Good signs from the Skin Deep demo.

Screenshot from the Skin Deep demo. A hatch on a spaceship labelled "DEEP FREEZE INSURANCE COMMANDO / UNTHAW IN CASE OF EMERGENCY".

Screenshot from the Skin Deep demo. A sign on a spaceship labelled "Sotnick Informational Signage / DO WHAT THE SIGN TELLS YOU TO DO".

Screenshot from the Skin Deep demo. A pamphlet for "SKULL SAVER Immortality Device. My Head floats away when I'm about to die. Why die? Defy death with SKULL SAVE and live to see another day."

Screenshot from the Skin Deep demo. Tubes in a living quarter labelled: "NUTRIENT TUBE: GREEN FLAVOR / YELLOW FLAVOR"

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

2024 in books read & games completed. www.goodreads.com/user/year_in... www.backloggd.com/u/gangles/li...

Book covers aligned in rows and columns:
Liftoff: Couch to Barbell, Future Home of the Living God, All Joy And No Fun, Saving Time, Technofeudalism
Uncivilisation, Shoal of Time, Debt: The First 5,000 Years, Valuable Humans in Transit, Feel Good Productivity
Cooking As Though You Might Cook Again, Piransei, 101 Things I Learned in Product Design School, Silent Hill 2, The Wager
The Art of Failure, Hell Yeah or No, ADHD 2.0, The Voltage Effect, Dominion

Game covers aligned in rows and columns:
Diablo IV, Tears of the Kingdom, Game Builder Garage, Octopath Traveler 2, Balatro
FF7 Rebirth, The Minish Cap, Stellar Blade, The Lemurian Empire (DLC), Unicorn Overlord
Lil Gator Game, 1000xRESIST, Costume Quest 2, Kirby & The Forgotten World, Astro Bot
Paranormasight, Slay The Princess, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, The Rise of the Golden Idol

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Our studio shares some love for our favourite games of 2024, thanks to all the devs out there making incredible inspiring work ❤️

naughtydog.com

Naughty Dog's Favorite Games of 2024 || Naughty Dog

Celebrating some of the many wonderful games that captured our imaginations this year.

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Reposted by Matthew Gallant

Rob Sheridan @rob-sheridan.com · 18/12/2024

Here's a closer look at the title/logo sequence I created for the "Intergalactic" trailer using practical/analog FX. The spiral background is a miniature magnetic vortex @steph-sheridan.bsky.social & I made, filmed at 1000fps. The logos were made with CRT TVs & glitch hardware. More info in alt txt!

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Surprise! 🌀 Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a new adventure from Naughty Dog. Excited to share my role as co-game director on the project, working alongside @kurtmargenau.bsky.social The live reaction to the trailer was incredible, thrilled I could be here for it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7TV...

youtube.com

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Announcement Trailer

YouTube video by Naughty Dog

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Always excited to see this category announced, congratulations to all the nominees! 👏 www.thegameawards.com/nominees/inn...

Screenshot of The Game Awards website. "Innovation in Accessibility:
Recognizing software and/or hardware that is pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience."
The nominees are Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Diablo IV, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and Star Wars Outlaws.

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

TIL the name "Trafalgar" of Napoleonic naval battle fame comes from Arabic: "Taraf al-Ghar" ('cape of the cave') off the coast of Andalusia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Tr...

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 02/11/2024

Been a joyful yearly ritual watching the League Worlds tournament, and just now catching Faker & T1 win their unbelievable 5th championship 👑 I was there in the Staples Center when they first won in 2013!

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 28/10/2024

PARANORMASIGHT as the horror inheritor of Phoenix Wright's incredible reaction faces.

Screenshot of PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo. Subtitled dialogue of Richter shouting: "Kankichiro Iwai!" Three other characters react with exagerrated horrified / shocked looks.

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

Congrats on the stellar release of Fear The Spotlight @hotbabybryan.bsky.social & @cristac.bsky.social! 🎉 bsky.app/profile/cozy...

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 15/10/2024

• William Adams • Francis Drake • Tony Hawk Real historical person 🤝 Bot in Astrobot

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 26/09/2024

Blown away by this incredible Steam Deck startup movie, grown with real fungus by our very own Jason Ferry! 🍄 store.steampowered.com/points/shop/...

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 11/08/2024

This breakdown of interior decorating principles doubles remarkably well as a level design tutorial. www.reddit.com/r/HomeDecora...

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 24/06/2024

Hard countered by the boss blind 😵

Screenshot of Balatro. The joker card Pareidolia is hovered, showing the text: "All cards are considered face cards". The boss blind is The Mark: "All face cards are drawn face down."

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 26/05/2024

First Balatro victory! 🃏 Finally managed to get a score engine going with full +chip, +mult, ×mult combo.

Screenshot of Balatro. UI box says "YOU WIN!" with various performance stats on the run.

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Reposted by Matthew Gallant

Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 17/05/2024

My latest cartoon for New Scientist.

First panel: a line of modern electric cars.

Second panel: A woman and a man are talking. She is holding a book.
She says "It's hard to get excited about these new electric cars when I've seen much ambitious possibilities in fiction"
"Sci-fi fan,huh?" he asks

Third panel.
"Uhh... yeah. Sci-fi." she says unsurely, looking at her book.

Fourth panel: We can see a page of the book. It shows animals happily driving food-shaped cars in the style of Richard Scarry. The cars are labelled: Pickle car, Apple car and Hotdog car.

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 02/05/2024

I knew Rebirth had a lot of minigames but I did not see gourmet mushroom picking coming.

Screenshot of FF7 Rebirth. Close up of a mushroom with UI overlay explaining how to tug and pluck the mushroom’s sides in order.

Screenshot of FF7 Rebirth. Cloud kneels, holding a mushroom and cheering the successful harvest. The UI says “Perfect”.

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Matthew Gallant @gangles.bsky.social · 29/04/2024

Finished Octopath Traveler 2 this weekend. A huge improvement on the first game, adding some minimal interaction between the characters, far more compelling individual stories, and better exploration & dungeons. Also incredible art direction, showing an evolving mastery of the “HD-2D” art style.

Octopath Traveller 2 screenshot. The party of eight faces a giant circular window, backlit by the rising sun of dawn.

Octopath Traveler 2 screenshot. A drawing of the party posing happily together, with the text: “Thank you for traveling with us.”

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