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Josh Bycer

@gwbycer.bsky.social

1.9K followers 1.2K following 6.6K posts

Game Design Critic, player of all indie games www.game-wisdom.com www.youtube.com/c/game-wisdom discord.gg/jGWxsj2eZH www.routledge.com/Game-Design-Deep-… www.patreon.com/c/GWBycer

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 5h

I'm not liking Dead as Disco as much as Hi-Fi Rush and I'm curious what people who played both think of it. It's hard to describe, but Hi-Fi felt like an action game first, rhythm game second, and DaD is the opposite.

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 8h

starting up a stream next checking out Dead as Disco youtu.be/-MXGfoCQjQY

A Music-Filled Afternoon Checking out Dead as Disco |#gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 8h

today's #indiegamedev shoutout goes to Break of Dawn that we checked out and showed promise for tower defense fans youtube.com/shorts/fUmUo... store.steampowered.com/app/5040830/...

A Solid Start for Tower Defense : Break of Dawn Demo Spotlight | #indiegame Spotlight #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

for today's #indiegamedev shoutout, Guns & Dragons is the latest FPS roguelite coming out that looks like it's going to try and differentiate itself from the likes of Gunfire Reborn youtube.com/shorts/6RU1I... store.steampowered.com/app/4687860/...

Guns & Dragons Looks to be the Fantasy Gunfire Reborn | #indiegame Spotlight #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

for the stream tonight, we're continuing Draco and the Seven Scales and Dog in the Machine youtu.be/0RTC-29iFwk

More Draco and the Seven Scales and Dog in the Machine Stream |#gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

October is turning out to be a busy month, between so many interviews to post, I have to finish IGF judging, looking at the Latin American Games Showcase, and we have one more next fest in a few weeks. Who knows how many games I'm going to be playing in the next 30 days.

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

And False Hero is done, it was hard fought, but this final shot turn out pretty good

the final scene before the end of False Hero, standing triumphally with an angel behind.

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

for the stream tonight, we're going to try and finish up False Hero youtu.be/zAa191tOLmg

Can We Finish False Hero? |#gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

And the final game we looked at from our last Debut Devs stream is Ambitions of Azateim, our first RPG maker submitted game I believe youtu.be/T0YmJ6jr7CY, and with that, I'll be looking to fill slots for our next showcase looking at games from first time #indiegamedev forms.gle/FcXyjzoRvEgx...

An RPG of Random Encounters: Ambitions of Azateim first look | Debut Devs #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Steam sale has snuck up on me, are there any underrated games I should be checking out?

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

we checked out Dog in the Machine last night and this one reminds me a little bit of Into the Breach, but going to give it more of a look tonight store.steampowered.com/app/4613180/...

store.steampowered.com

Save 20% on Dog in the Machine on Steam

Train an AutoDog to escape a dystopian mecha-city in this tactical roguelite. Craft powerful modular attacks, plan every move with stress-free real-time previews, and unleash devastating chain reactio...

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

starting up next, join me for our weekly stream looking at new and upcoming games from #indiegamedev youtu.be/4ryqTSRumcs

The Weekly Indie Game Showcase Stream Looking at New Games and Demos |#gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

the third game we checked out from our Debut Devs event was Hibera, Requiem for the Forgotten by @milesthemighty.bsky.social youtu.be/iDtn-GrhG6o which is showing promise as their own take on the Fire Emblem formula #indiegamedev

Upcoming Fire Emblem Like To Check Out : Hibera, Requiem For the Forgotten | Debut Devs #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

replaying Resonance of Fate...again, and I need more games that let me just put every.thing. on my weapons. I want a gunbladekniferifle with 15 different scopes on them that all seemingly make the weapon more accurate.

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

today's #indiegamedev shoutout is for Ex Sanguis youtube.com/shorts/9g24z... the follow up to Othercide by @lightbulbcrew.bsky.social with even more timeline-based tactical combat store.steampowered.com/app/3275050/...

Bloody Tactics With Ex Sanguis | #indiegame Spotlight, #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

there's a big problem I have when talking about difficulty in games, every time I say something is very hard and maybe it should be adjusted for people, I end up beating it almost comically easy and possibly countering my own point.

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

for the stream, we have more of False Hero and checking out The Merlies youtu.be/nx-hwPZS2HI

More False Hero and a Look at The Merlies | #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

the second game we covered from my Debut Devs stream last week is now up youtu.be/NzjcnlG_SUU with the very promising Incoherence: Dark Rooms from @pmrd.net that is looking to combine the room building of Blue Prince with survival horror. #indiegamedev

Survival Horror Meets Blue Prince First Look - Incoherence: Dark Rooms Play | Debut Devs #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I think False Hero is giving me some bad advice.

False Hero NPC on the joys of cannibalism

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I don't know if this is a spicy take or not, but in my next design video talking about game trends, I want to discuss how I've been seeing more "noncrementals" lately. Games that look like incrementals, but are just idle games with a little more interaction.

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Here I go again, fifth time playing through Resonance of Fate, will I get it done this time?

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

for the stream tonight, we're continuing our plays of False Hero and Draco and the Seven Scales youtu.be/E3t7CGFvZRA

False Heroing and Sailing the Seven Seas Streaming |#gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

last week's Debut Devs stream looking at first time games from #indiegamedev went great, and I'm posting the archives of those plays this week, starting with the roguelike Coup De Koala youtu.be/ejSKpPJ428o store.steampowered.com/app/3850090/...

Koalas and Combat From a First Time Developer : Coup De Koala Debut Devs Play | #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

today's #indiegamedev shoutout is for Looppip youtube.com/shorts/2zbO7... a time-rewinding platformer that was a lot of fun to check out last week store.steampowered.com/app/3254910/...

Time Rewinding Platforming: Looppip #indiegame Spotlight | #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Game, you severely overestimate my golfing ability

golfing to handle a hostage situation

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I think I have too many RPGs of all a sudden, between Sgniy & Mino, Nighthawks and I just picked up Metaphor. I know October is horror month, but is there an RPG month?

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

for the stream tonight, we're doing more of Draco and the seven scales and checking out Signy and Milo youtu.be/Tfq-UJNvQiU

More Draco Streaming and Checking out Signy and Milo |#gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I thought I was going to have a simple recording in Xpiratez, and in one month's time I had a base attack, terror map, and a 2 hour battle.

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

setting up for some streaming of Plan B Terraform next youtu.be/e1zoyQiti8E

Afternoon Streaming Plan B Terraform |#gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

today's #indiegamedev shoutout is for Entropy, the follow up to Dread Delusion focusing on JRPG design this time around youtube.com/shorts/aGeUM... @lovelyhellplace.bsky.social

Dread Delusion's Follow Up With Entropy: #indiegame Spotlight | #gamewisdom #rpg

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Seems like every year with the IGF judging, there's one amazing game I want to gush about, but it's always under embargo so I can't talk about it after I played it.

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I have a video topic I want to do discussing all the indie game trends I've seen over the past 15 years and how I keep getting caught in this loop of playing one game, then playing 20 games that are just like it.

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

False Hero has been a challenge so far, but it has that same mistake that I see from indie developers with working in 3D. Making overly large areas with little to no landmarks for navigation. The game showed me a door I need to get to, and I have no idea where it even is.

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

for the stream, we're going to play more of False Hero and then check out Draco and the Seven Scales youtu.be/olOcEGVC8Jc

More False Hero and checking out Draco and the Seven Scales |#gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

just finished trying TR-49 and it looks like an interesting deductive reasoning game, but it's just not grabbing me like the other ones I've played.

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Part 2 of my chat about Little Ghost with Alan is now up youtu.be/MuLQuyMbw6M as we discussed coming up with the style and design of the game. #indiegamedev

Punk Rock and Papercraft Metroidvania Design : Little Ghost Interview Part 2 | Perceptive Podcast

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I think I may be playing too many indie games. Just had a dream that I was reading a thread here about abandoned indie games and one of them sounded really cool, but now I wake up and find out that it doesn't exist.

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

today's #indiegamedev shoutout is for IGTAP, an incremental game that's also a platformer -- combining the thrill of making numbers go up with optimizing your platforming youtube.com/shorts/fc18m... store.steampowered.com/app/4364730/...

One of The Best Incremental Games of 2026 : IGDTAP #indiegame Spotlight | #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I'm feeling that annual pull to once again install Resonance of Fate and try to beat it this time.

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

for the stream tonight, we have a new soulslike to play with False Hero and more of Graveyard Keeper 2 youtu.be/0sD4pVN9Mgs

Fighting Souls and Keeping Graves For the Stream |#gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

new design video up today on inverted difficulty. When games start at 100 and end up at 10, and why invert can often lead to imbalanced gameplay. youtu.be/QSFgrc17pMQ #indiegamedev

When Difficulty Gets Inverted : Critical Thought | #gamewisdom #gamedev #indiedev

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I tried Mr. Records earlier tonight and it's one of the most charming rhythm games I've played store.steampowered.com/app/3053470/... reminds me a little of what Harmonix did with the sound scape concept from the Beatles Rock Band

store.steampowered.com

MR. RECORDS on Steam

Meet George, an old dreamer with an extraordinary gift that lets him transcend through music. After a lifetime of standing still, he breaks free from routine and opens the store he always wished for....

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

starting up next, it's time for our weekly play of new indie games and demos for our showcase stream youtu.be/by6g8DjPa2Y

Our Weekly Indie Game Showcase Stream |#gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

if you enjoyed my stream covering first time games from #indiegamedev, I'll be posting the archives of it later this week, and sign-ups are open for future Debut Devs events: forms.gle/d4BfwJ3b7m6p...

Debut Devs Showcase Sign up

A little project I would like to try for Game-Wisdom is providing more ways of showing off games from first time developers and students. The Debut Devs Showcase is a once a month, 2-hour stream, show...

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

new review is up for Labyrinth.OS youtu.be/npjK0BOc8b4 and if you're a fan of dungeon crawlers looking for a challenging take, be sure to give it a look.

A New Dungeon Crawler in 2026: Labyrinth.os Review | #gamewisdom #rpg

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

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Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

today's #indiegamedev shoutout goes to Brazilian Drug Dealer Before 4 (rest of title too long to fit into this post) youtube.com/shorts/Ie4qS... a celebration of boomer shooting, Brazil, and a whole lot of loud noises store.steampowered.com/app/4241920/...

Boomer Shooting in Brazil: Brazilian Drug Dealer Before 4 Spotlight | #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

for the stream tonight, we're checking out Little Ghost and Graveyard Keeper 2 youtu.be/6AefcNfS7Kk

A New Metroidvania to Play and Some New-er Graves to Keep |#gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

there's apparently a new Silent Hill game and I had no idea it was out; I still haven't played RE 9 yet.

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

our latest #indiegamedev interview is also up today, with the first part of a chat with Alan who just released Little Ghost, a papercraft metroidvania youtu.be/m2GtxINf_zw

Making a Handmade Metroidvania With Little Ghost (Part 1) | Perceptive Podcast #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom

Josh Bycer @gwbycer.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

today's #indiegamedev shoutout is for Iron Bramble youtube.com/shorts/f8N1v... the sequel to Rusted Moss looks like it will be an even more high bouncing and grappling time store.steampowered.com/app/4328820/... @playismen.bsky.social

Bountiful Bungee Combat: Iron Bramble #indiegame Spotlight | #gamewisdom

YouTube video by Game Wisdom