iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 4h

Finished Well Dweller. It's a good, heavily atmospheric game; it's closer to Little Nightmares than Hollow Knight in terms of monstrous creatures, and they're a joy to slay. Progression is odd, though: you never really get tankier, and there's only one trinket to upgrade for more damage.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 15h

On a scale of 1 to grump, how bad am I, walking to school edition. Got angry at: - woman smoking her cigarette as she slow walked in front of our stroller and past a bunch of middle schoolers - school bus parked so that it blocked the crosswalk ramp for strollers - man on e-scooter running a red

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

OK, end-of-year catch-up is here. I've been keeping ahead of the frontlog on my weekly streams, but help me figure out what I've missed! On my list: - Crushed in Time - CICADAMATA" - The Mermaid Mask - The Incident at Galley House - The Message from Deep Space - Schrodinger's Cat Burglar

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Look, I don't want to be that old guy, and I'm all for having public concerts and events like Dom Dolla BUT if the area does not have the infrastructure for that traffic, then the city must have some sort of congestion pricing to discourage rideshares from clogging the roads.

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Reposted by Aaron Riccio

Dominic Tarason @dominictarason.com · 01/10/2026

WARNING! WARNING! A STEAM SALE APPROACHES! Rather than spam up all of your timelines with a gigantic recommendation thread that makes Bluesky's UI creak, I've basically got free reign to spam up Steam Hype instead! I'll be doing a sales recommendations article every day! You can find them all here:

steamhype.com

Steam Autumn Sale - Find Some of the Best Deals & Tips to Get the Most for Your Money

Site-wide discounts until October 8th

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Game impressions for those who don't care to sit through a rambling VOD! I only got to play Well Dweller for a bit before my kiddo woke up, but it's a gorgeous, albeit familiar, hybrid of Ori and Hollow Knight. Using the matchstick to springboard is interesting, but it's slow; not sold on it yet.

store.steampowered.com

Save 15% on Well Dweller on Steam

Well Dweller is a dark fairy-tale metroidvania, full of charming characters living in a wretched kingdom. Play as Glimmer - a tiny bird armed with a matchstick - who must burn the wicked queen to save...

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I don't think I have ever backed a successful Kickstarter campaign, so while I know it has been genuinely useful to some, I think it's time to start calling this shit what it is: legalized gambling.

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Reposted by Aaron Riccio

Slant @slantmagazine.com · 02/10/2026

Racing is a game of margins, and STAR STARS: GALACTIC RACER is always pushing things to the limit. Read @illogicaljoker.bsky.social's review.

slantmagazine.com

'Star Wars: Galactic Racer' Review: The G-Force Is Strong

'Star Wars: Galactic Racer' reaches new heights for the entire racing genre while also serving up a fairly good 'Star Wars' yarn.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Star Wars: Galactic Racer isn't just a great Star Wars game, but it's also my new favorite racer. That it does this in spite of (or because of) its roguelike campaign is something every other racing game ought to take note of. It's a trap--adios free time!--but you'll be having too much fun to care.

slantmagazine.com

'Star Wars: Galactic Racer' Review:

'Star Wars: Galactic Racer' reaches new heights for the entire racing genre while also serving up a fairly good 'Star Wars' yarn.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

What a beautiful presentation! The only thing that would make this better is if there were enough subscribers (and time for the editors) to justify making this monthly!

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Reposted by Aaron Riccio

DSP💙#🟦✡️ @drawstickpeople.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

This is why most women of social media choose the bear

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Yes, because of course the thing we want most is PERSONALIZED music, music only for our ears, as opposed to music that we share with others. That's the saddest thing of this AI craze. How lonely it is.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

If lying under oath is perjury, maybe we need a term (and punishment) for when the person asking them questions is outright and unapologetically lying. (Are fraud and misrepresentation ever punished?) How about pertrump?

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Cryptics tonight! Video games on Friday! Always ~9:00 PM Eastern. Gonna finish that @tshellstudio.bsky.social puzzle that the power went out on last week, then it's all bout that @joeadultman.bsky.social, 'bout that @joeadultman.bsky.social, all trouble :P

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I like rhythm games, in general, and I like the abstract chaos of WarioWare. I enjoyed Elite Beat Agents, for instance, and PaRappa the Rapper. I . . . couldn't finish Rhythm Heaven Groove. While I love some of the minigames and the idea that you can find rhythm everywhere, I hated being TOLD it.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Oh no, someone showed my typ.ing, and now I'm going to spend my lunch breaks typing my way through Fyodor Dostoyevsky's "Demons." Maybe I'll write something up on it after I finish, and see if "reading" in such an active way makes me at all a better reader and/or writer.

typ.ing

A clean and simple typing trainer that cares about how you feel. Type to find out.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

As a New Yorker, I'm eager to feel how "the developers at Remedy use the Patterning’s cosmic rejiggering to convey how the city feels as a physical and cultural space." Also dig the conflict between "the urgency of the narrative moment" and wanting to "luxuriate in the impossible sights and sounds."

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

As a fan of TEARAWAY and PAPER TRAIL, this looks neat. I missed the original in 2020, so I'm excited to see what's new.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I'll be taking a day off next week for my birthday, and will be using that day wisely--to stream a tentative solve of some of the Black Letter Labs '26 ("Rubber Ducky"), or failing that, a metapuzzle suite from P&A Magazine #111 from @foggybrume.bsky.social. Come help me; LMK what times work best!

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This will surprise nobody who has seen how kids use Minecraft to make their own stories (or YouTube videos) or really play with ANY toy (and usually the box it came in). But it's still neat to read, and absolutely in line with what my boys are doing.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I'm sure Witcher 3 Remastered is great. I think it's neat that it's a free update (take that Elder Scrolls). If you haven't played it, you should. But holy wow, there are so many cool new games out right now I can't imagine having the time to replay a game that big.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I just love that Strange Scaffolding seems to just GO FOR IT with every release. Like, I don't like every entry, but I'm glad every single one of them exists and gives me something to think about in terms of what *I* want in a game.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Just a quick heads-up that because of birthdays, I'll be streaming cryptics on Wednesday, September 30, and games on Friday, October 2, both starting around 9:00 PM Eastern. For cryptics, doing a @joeadultman.bsky.social catch-up. For games, likely: - Well Dweller - Retrospace - Isle of Reveries

twitch.tv

thatcrypticguy - Twitch

Enthusiast of all things puzzle-y; all-in on cryptic crosswords especially and any wordplay-based puzzle that has a compelling, funny voice. Grew up on Infocom and LucasArts, which probably explains a...

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Oh, these games were all fantastic. KNUCKLE JET was my favorite of the night, every inch of it oozing with anticorporate ire, like a punk Rocketeer. It's also SUPER smooth; closest I can remember in recent years was that sand-digging Pepper Grinder. Every inch of this game absolutely slaps!

store.steampowered.com

Knuckle Jet on Steam

What's this? An off-the-wall, riveting jetpunk nose-breaking ricochet action platformer, lovingly crafted by the oddballs behind the Teslagrad series!

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

This is also one of the reasons why online gambling is so dangerous. Not only is it without friction--you don't have to physically go anywhere, or talk to a human being--but it is also anonymous. You don't see anyone else who might serve as a reminder to stop.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

One of those news stories that we all knew was happening, but nice to have some confirmation.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Sorry folks, the power went out (sort of): I fell asleep putting my kids to bed. But at least they (and so therefore I) slept through the night! I'll try to pick up the FRONTLOG tonight at the same time!

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I need a new category beyond roguelike and rougelite for the type of game that *cannot* be beaten on a first run, no matter how good you are. (And I'm not talking about forced endings for narrative purposes, or the need to beat a game multiple times ala Hades.) Roguelack?

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

These guys treat education as if it's a casual game of Jenga, where you can just pull out or unlearn whatever's least convenient or hardest, because they don't care if the tower collapses, and the DOE and government should be way warier of what's at risk.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I don't wish that I were rich for selfish reasons but rather because I wish I could just back projects that nobody seems willing to make. Gutted that it now looks as if neither Armed Fantasia not Penny Blood will be completed, so the legacy of Wild Arms and Shadow Hearts remains lost.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I hope they make some money from ads on the site, but yes, important news should be free. Also, a record-setting 25-minute standing ovation? Wow.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Assuming the power doesn't go out again, tomorrow night's FRIDAY NIGHT FRONTLOG will feature some blind playthroughs of - Knuckle Jet - Isle of Reveries - Sprawl Zero and maybe the demo for DITTORI if there's time! ~@9:00PM Eastern on twitch.tv/thatcrypticguy

twitch.tv

thatcrypticguy - Twitch

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

This is the fear I have whenever I send someone something I've written. (And I do not. Love the smell, that is.)

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Well, shit. The electricity went out, so that's an early end to this stream. Will continue this tomorrow.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

One major caveat that I was not aware of: the small two-person studio apparently used GenAI during development. I didn't spot anything off while playing (though the VO didn't wow me), so it may have been removed but, yeah, not great.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I'm so happy that RIVAGE has finally launched because it's a clever puzzle game that I want to talk about, but also because I'm stuck at a few late game puzzles, and am looking forward to chatting about it!

store.steampowered.com

Rivage on Steam

Rivage is an immersive sci-fi puzzle adventure set aboard the A.R.E.S. space station trapped in a space phenomenon. Wake up as Miranda, forced to explore, solve intricate puzzles to unravel the fate o...

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Oh yeah, look what's back! The key text in this new puzzle's instructions that I overlooked? The number is the space that it can move, both in front and back. It doesn't need to go 3 spaces forward only. Thinky Dailies 4-7 Bumper To Bumper Solved in 4:01 thinkygames.com/dailies/puzz...

thinkygames.com

Puzzle 4-7: Bumper To Bumper · Thinky Dailies

A Tren puzzle designed by Martin Ender for Thinky Dailies.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

While I'm not surprised that many reviewers were frustrated with a late SILENT HILL: TOWNFALL puzzle about "deciphering industrial symbols" (I was stuck there for a bit, too, but glad I didn't have a guide available to fall back on), to me, getting stuck there is the crux of the game.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Here you go, folks, SILENT HILL: TOWNFALL is probably my GOTY right now. The only thing I expected was the first-person shift would make Silent Hill feel even more uncomfortable (good!); I wasn't counting on how good of a radio-replacement the CRTV would be, and how it makes stealth feel scary/good.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This whole showcase is great, and represents exactly the type of games I want to play. I highly recommend these two, and can't wait to add a whole bunch of upcoming games to my queue.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

“The oldest argument for doing something wrong is that everyone is doing it." - The Strength of the Few, James Islington I should be sleeping, but I want to keep reading; great book, and I don't know how I'll wait for the third part.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

They're porting Lufia 1 and 2 to Switch but I mean, how about a new one? I loved those puzzles! Golden Sun and Wild Arms were the closest we had to a successor, mechanically; that's what I want in an RPG!

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Finally cleared The Sinking City 2; a really neat setting (especially that Fish Market), but it's too bogged down by forced, clumsy, confined arenas for its weak combat. Like Tormented Souls 2, I think it's really for survivor horror sickos only who enjoy limited inventories and backtracking.

store.steampowered.com

The Sinking City 2 on Steam

Set in the Roaring '20s, The Sinking City 2 is a survival horror steeped in Lovecraftian dread. Defy an eldritch deity and explore the drowned alleys of Arkham, stalked by the dead, as you weigh one l...

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is neat, but a game like this for kids really needs an obvious "unstuck" button or an option to fast travel to a point on the map for when you find yourself in an awkward spot.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The people who make overconfident assertions like Thiago's often come from the sorts of schools where teachers gave them 50 (out of 100) points for writing their name at the top of the page, so no wonder they have such a limited concept of what a 40 must be.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

To explain conservative polling against Trump, they note "weak ratings on inflation, the economy, and gasoline prices suggested dissatisfaction with results rather than an ideological break." I would suggest that the ideology directly leads to those problems, and yes, even the racism part.

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Aaron Riccio @illogicaljoker.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

OK, so I'm working on porting these brief impression-based playthroughs to YouTube, but they'll be on Twitch for at least a month. Here's the scoop, though.

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