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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

this was 2025, as told by 91 writers across the world intothespine.com/2025/12/31/s...

a collage of 15 different games included on the list, from silent hill f to elden ring nightreign

Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

"The students noticed first: my pink backpack, pink bike helmet, pink sneakers. I didn’t start loud. It built slowly." Jervon Perkins shares the story of Serenity Hart and learning to be seen in Final Fantasy XIV. intothespine.com/2025/08/23/s...

A Lalafell wearing Aerith's outfit smiles while lifting their arms to the air in Final Fantasy XIV. They're surrounded by flowers.

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

"For those of us who struggle with mental health, it offers a sanctuary — a space to dream of a life that feels out of reach." Jastine Beatrice Yap shares her story of playing The Sims 4 as a depressed queer, and turning 25. intothespine.com/2025/07/10/t...

a screenshot of a baby sleeping in the sims 4

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

"An act that is supposed to deny uncertainty ironically becomes complicit in a rigid state of stagnation and exhaustion." Zonghang Zhou (@zhzhou86.bsky.social) examines the meaning of repetition via Papers, Please, and Tang Shanjun's Sisyphean efforts. intothespine.com/2025/05/23/t...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

"A fourth-wall break moment early on, however, quickly changed my mind." Mikhail Madnani (@va11halla.bsky.social) is pulled into Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo by one specific sequence. intothespine.com/2025/02/22/t...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

"Perhaps that's why this scene felt so angsty, because Vertin is me, and Schneider had said that to me. Schneider was bidding farewell, and I would no longer see her again." Ree Summers explores a dialogue line in Reverse: 1999. intothespine.com/2025/01/27/g...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

"I’m afraid, but my mouth isn’t. 'Would they see him if he was a little girl?'” Autumn McGarr (@flamingo-teeth.bsky.social) shares their story about gardening in Sonic Adventure 2. intothespine.com/2025/01/13/o...

shadow and sonic cross paths while running in sonic adventure 2

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Following the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 roundups, writers deconstruct the year with short stories. This was 2024, told by 102 people. intothespine.com/2024/12/30/s...

a collage of 15 images featuring different games. in order: dungeons of hinterberg, ultros, threshold, crow country, content warning, balatro, stalker 2, 1000x resist, lorelei and the laser eyes, mouthwashing, neva, elden ring shadow of the erdtree, dread delusion, nine sols, and persona 3 reload

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

"She’s the ship that’s going to get you where you need to go, no matter the cost." Harry Sprinks muses about Bastion's narration and Weeping Nellie. intothespine.com/2024/12/01/w...

the kid fighting a group of enemies in bastion, a title from supergiant games

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

"Why should a game about creative problem solving underpinned by actual magic employ the most tired imagery in gaming?" Dayten Rose asks to stop giving wizards, and games, guns. intothespine.com/2024/11/24/p...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

"She curses Brad with one breath and repeats his behavior the next." Isaiah Williams (@iwilliamsvo.bsky.social) reflects on parental figures through the lens of Buddy and Brad's relationship in Lisa: The Painful. intothespine.com/2024/11/17/h...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 09/11/2024

"It is 2024. You’ve been using they/them pronouns in one social group or another for about four years. One of those social groups has started playing Helldivers 2." Megan B. Wells details their history with gender through video games. intothespine.com/2024/11/09/m...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 31/10/2024

“(…) while we’re our own worst enemy, we’re also our own best champion.” Conor Killmurray on heralding our darkness. intothespine.com/2024/10/31/h...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 22/10/2024

“You never know when your boss is going to bury you in a mine for profit.” Lucas Asher reflects on a decision he made in Frostpunk 2, and how the game did not let him forget it. intothespine.com/2024/10/22/t...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 12/10/2024

"The one strong enough to carry the weight, The one strong enough to quell the demons and put darkness in its place, The one who made it through." Isaiah Luck offers introspection through Final Fantasy XVI. intothespine.com/2024/10/12/m...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 06/10/2024

"'Why am I paying taxes to support the United States military industrial complex, aka, Mayor Onion?'" Madison Pimental examines the mirrored realities of Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion and the U.S. presidential debate. intothespine.com/2024/10/06/e...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 26/09/2024

"Where must we go, we who wander this wasteland, in search of our better selves?" Wyeth Leslie portrays the moods and colors of the wasteland in Max Mad through a 56-screenshot gallery. intothespine.com/2024/09/26/5...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 14/09/2024

"As someone with a degree in the arts, it gave me joy to see Princess Peach: Showtime! hold much appreciation for the profession." Monique Barrow (@moniquebarrow.bsky.social) on the importance of protecting the arts from being disparaged and disrespected. intothespine.com/2024/09/14/s...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 28/08/2024

"(...) this scene is a microcosm of the character: finding joy in an unlikely place, even with hell behind and ahead of him." Ashley Schofield (@hazzahazzahazza.bsky.social) explores the working class heart of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and the worth of a ¥400 gyudon. intothespine.com/2024/08/28/t...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 19/08/2024

"Paint your own sunflowers, and then pay a fiver for a slice of dry cake." Samiee "Gutterpunk" Tee recalls their time in "Van Gogh Alive" and reflects upon it through the virtual artwork gallery of Cuccchi. intothespine.com/2024/08/19/g...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 12/08/2024

"Buying a game console was equivalent to months of living costs. Buying a single game could mean skipping out on buying groceries for the month." Dea Ratna (@dearatna.bsky.social) tells their story of growing up with video games via emulation. intothespine.com/2024/08/12/e...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 05/08/2024

"Going on make-believe adventures with friends and strangers or attending festivals with my pretend spouse helped me to be more comfortable with the concept of ‘me.'" Timo Reinecke explores how roleplaying in FFXIV turned gender dysphoria into gender euphoria. intothespine.com/2024/08/05/c...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 28/07/2024

"The sound of rushing water, the relaxing atmosphere of a hotel… they fill you with determination." Xyla Storm examines Undertale's unforgettable one-word line, and what it says about video game completionism. intothespine.com/2024/07/28/d...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 21/07/2024

"Alive as I grow older and begin to date, wondering to myself if I set my standards too high at sixteen years old, waiting for a man who will become worthy of my love." This week, Kyle Tam (@percypropa.bsky.social) on Hidetoshi Odagiri's confession in Persona 3. intothespine.com/2024/07/21/t...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 14/07/2024

"Those weren’t tables; they were desks. I wasn’t among offices, but classrooms. This was a school." Alexander B. Joy describes a horrifying moment with a lowercase letter in Door in the Woods. intothespine.com/2024/07/14/l...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 30/06/2024

"(...) they’re all these intersecting, coiled beings that respond to one another as elements of a singular setting." Eithan Rosemberg (@eithi.bsky.social) revisits familiar ground with newfound curiosity in The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero. intothespine.com/2024/06/30/c...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 23/06/2024

"Although Fishy!’s eat-or-be-eaten winning scenario is sardonic at best, I find myself slightly jarred by its ending as an adult living on the edge of climate disaster." Aline Bouwman dives into the ecocriticism of Fishy! and endless consumption. intothespine.com/2024/06/23/t...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 16/06/2024

"Video games should be encouraged, but always with balance in mind." Taffeta Chime @taffetachime.bsky.social shares her experience encouraging her daughter to play video games growing up with balance in mind. intothespine.com/2024/06/16/v...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 02/06/2024

"I find myself scrolling past TikToks that don’t grab me in the first three seconds, only listening to the first minute of songs before changing them." Hannah Ratner finds the monotony of farm sims a welcoming change amidst daily stress. intothespine.com/2024/06/02/s...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 25/05/2024

"My precious companion is gone, and I find myself back in the losers’ bracket." Stephen Wilds (@wilds.bsky.social) fondly recalls the Thermal DMR in Fortnite as a legally blind user, and reflects on its absence. intothespine.com/2024/05/25/v...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 19/05/2024

"And while the true ending reminds us that Hyrule will rebuild once more, the sky islands can never return to the land below." Monique Barrow (@moniquebarrow.bsky.social) skydives into Hyrule's past, and future, in Tears of the Kingdom. intothespine.com/2024/05/19/t...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 12/05/2024

"It’s a tune you can’t quite place, one that calls to you from your youth." For this week's Fragments, Perry Gottschalk (@gottsdamn.bsky.social) remembers road trips of old, and Twilight Town. intothespine.com/2024/05/12/e...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 05/05/2024

"To confront these pasts requires steadfastness, a desire to be better, and a willingness to fail." Clint Morrison, Jr. reflects on God of War: Ragnarök Valhalla's meditations, and moving sideways. intothespine.com/2024/05/05/m...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 28/04/2024

"Contrary to idealized depictions in media, nature isn’t about living in harmony." For this week's Fragments, Xyla Storm explores the unpredictable and disempowering difficulty of Rain World. intothespine.com/2024/04/28/s...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 21/04/2024

"I longed for the familiar depths where I could have some sense of control." Jack Dunn embraces the depths of Half-Life 1, and becomes a part of Black Mesa. intothespine.com/2024/04/21/e...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 14/04/2024

"I could express my frustration by leading my character into battle and landing hits with my mace; I could show that I was still capable of caring for someone by adopting a child." Hannah Wolfram - hmwolfram.com - finds a fragile beacon in Skyrim. intothespine.com/2024/04/14/s...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 07/04/2024

"They’re also about how we shouldn’t sacrifice our own values when we listen to others." Niki Fakhoori (@otomeniki.bsky.social) examines Pokémon Black and White's themes around Ghetsis, and maintaining our values. intothespine.com/2024/04/06/b...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 16/03/2024

"I'm afraid I'm defenseless to avert such a dreadful end, and fate cares not to comfort me." For this week's Fragments, John Anderson muses over Drangleic in Dark Souls 2, and being remembered. intothespine.com/2024/03/16/d...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 10/03/2024

"We’d been dating for six months. Almost two years later, she still tends her pixelated domain." Lena Wilson shares the story of finding out her girlfriend was marriage material thanks to Animal Crossing: New Leaf. intothespine.com/2024/03/10/i...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 03/03/2024

"Leshy’s mask slips; under all that brooding mystique, he’s a sore loser and manchild of a dungeon-master." For this week's Fragments, here's Chris John Poole on facing the bear wall in Inscryption, and resisting control. intothespine.com/2024/03/03/o...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 24/02/2024

"It was as if I was venturing across an actual country, a far cry from the small town I felt confined to." Jonathon Greenall shares the story of their journey in Pokémon Gold, and searching for their own place in the real world. intothespine.com/2024/02/24/g...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 17/02/2024

"Because it always happens in the fall, when things change, when they begin to rot and decay." Heather Labay shares her story of revisiting BioShock every three years without much memory of it. intothespine.com/2024/02/17/r...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 11/02/2024

"(...) before every click, there’s always a glimmer of hope lingering. A feeling that something life-changing will be inside." Melissa Rorech dives into approaching crates and vases in Baldur's Gate 3 with a scarcity mindset. intothespine.com/2024/02/11/s...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 03/02/2024

"Then our eyes lock. Chompski’s kind, loving gnome glance pierces deep, reminding me of what’s at stake." David Barnes tells the story of how he got the "Little Rocket Man" achievement in Left 4 Dead 2. intothespine.com/2024/02/03/a...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 26/01/2024

"No lie, I make the perfect soap cake. I don’t need a recipe—just the castle kitchen and the princess in papery pink, whipping soap in her mixing bowl." Natalie Schriefer shares a poem for Gourmet Guy from Paper Mario 64. intothespine.com/2024/01/26/p...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 19/01/2024

"For if damage telegraphed that nothing mattered and all was permissible, then the pristine and manicured did the opposite, asserting that law and order still reigned." Alexander B. Joy examines Paperboy 2 and society valuing property over people. intothespine.com/2024/01/19/b...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 14/01/2024

"As I enter the room, the first weak notes of her theme start to play, a sad melody struggling to be heard." John Sangster describes a wordless encounter on the edges of Rain World. intothespine.com/2024/01/14/m...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 07/01/2024

"His body isn’t a machine. Flesh and bone cannot be augmented to provide a better service. But as long as there’s some grip left in his hands to maneuver the wheel of the machine that does, he’ll march on." What happened to the last fisherman in Dredge? intothespine.com/2024/01/07/t...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 29/12/2023

"How upsetting can the demise of some polygons be?" Samuel Sims looks back at the classic Tomb Raider games and reflects on Lara Croft's treatment of animals as a vegan. intothespine.com/2023/12/29/v...

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Into The Spine @intothespine.bsky.social · 20/12/2023

Following the roundups of 2020, 2021, and 2022, past contributors and a few guests get together to break down 2023 with personal essays, poems, and criticism. These are the stories of 2023 — told by 70 writers around the world. intothespine.com/2023/12/20/s...

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