iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Gosh I'm really liking seeing the full cover art for the games! So glad I finally made that change 😅

Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Made some UI changes to Backlog Explorer...It now shows the full game art and then the information on hover...what do we think?

Screenshot showing Backlog Explorer Library page with game cards showing the game title, platforms, genres, progress, and status badges. Games shown are Short Hike, Abzu, Animal Crossing New Horizons

Screenshot showing Backlog Explorer Library page with game cards showing the game title, platforms, genres, progress, and status badges when the user hovers over the card. Games shown are Short Hike, Abzu, Animal Crossing New Horizons.

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

I know it's less professional looking, but I have to start budgeting wisely while job hunting :( Your games are not affected and the app still works exactly the same. You'll just see a supabase url during the google sign in window rather than backlogexplorer.com

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Now that I completed the Pokédex in Pokémon Scarlet I think I’m going back to Pokémon Legends Arceus and trying it there. Sooo I coded a little simple companion helper app for my play through 😂

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

I did it!! 🎉 I completed the Paldean Pokédex! This wasn’t just a game goal. This proved to me that I can follow through and actually finish games. Feeling so proud!

Screenshot of Pokémon Scarlet and registered Hydreigon

Pokémon Scarlet diploma for completing the Pokédex

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

🍂 Backlog Explorer is ready for autumn! It’s now recommending the perfect cozy games to play this fall. Which of these would you play this fall?

screenshot showing the game Cuisine and the text "The cozy vibes of this game are like a warm kitchen on a chilly evening. It's a wonderful, relaxed adventure filled with cute moments and lots of delicious food, perfect for those of us who love to cook (or eat) when the weather turns cold."

A screenshot showing the game Wylde Flowers and the text "This game is like tending to your own little garden of stories, and couldn't be more fitting for the season. The relaxing, cozy atmosphere of the game will match perfectly with the calm, quiet evenings of fall."

A screenshot of the game Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time with the text "This game is light-hearted, relaxing and cozy -- just like a fall afternoon should be. The game's fun, cozy vibes are perfect for when you want to wind down and enjoy the season."

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

@partyarlie.com ‘s recent YouTube video inspired me to boot up my OG Animal Crossing New Leaf game. I truly hope the next installment will have more of the New Leaf/Wild World charm. I don’t care much for the crafting and terraforming mechanics.

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

I randomly picked up Pokémon Scarlet again, and have finally rolled credits. I think this is the first Pokémon game I rolled credits on since Pokémon Diamond/Pearl on the DS 😅 I don’t remember Pokémon stories being this good

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

It’s definitely past my bedtime but I am enjoying Donkey Kong Bananza so much. Finally unlocked all the Bananzas. Happy the NVC spoiler cast got delayed to next week because now I can still catch up! 🐵 #donkeykongbananza #nintendoswitch2 #backlog

Screenshot of the Backlog Explorer app showing a welcome message: “Welcome back, Joana!” with a waving hand emoji. Under “Currently Playing,” there is a card for “Donkey Kong Bananza” on Nintendo Switch 2, featuring colorful artwork of Donkey Kong smashing through rocks with gold shards flying around. The “Next Up” section says: “Continue Story – I’ve now unlocked all the Bananzas. I want to continue the story as much as possible so that I can listen to the NVC spoiler cast next week.” A progress bar shows 50% complete.

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Get your backlog explorer library updated y’all! The smart recommendation system is finally at a point where I can roll it out to users! The whole thing that started this all is finally coming out this week! I’m so excited to have users try it 🥳

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

Bibi update 🐥 They are now 5 yrs old and 30lbs. They never tell me when they’ve pooped.

Tamagotchi screen showing stats for 5 years old and weight 30lbs

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

This is my favorite level/environment in Donkey Kong Bananza so far. All the snow and ice crystals everywhere. So satisfying rolling around in it ❄️ Haven’t had a chance to buy any of the clothing in this sub layer yet but curious to see if they stop shivering if they wear it 🤔

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Wow they grow fast. They took a nap while I biked to the baker and suddenly they were older. Bibi is now 1 years old and weighs 10lbs.

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Hello lil tamagotchi 😊 My new friend. I’ll call them Bibi. They are currently 0 years old and 5lbs.

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

I am enjoying Donkey Kong Bananza so much. Who knew destruction could be so fun 😅 But this is just mean towards the Rhino 🫣 Not Pauline going “high five” 😂

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Being unemployed & facing job rejections made it hard to feel momentum. So I built something tiny. I reimagined the game card component from Backlog Explorer and polished it up.

Game card for ‘A Short Hike’ showing vibrant autumn artwork with a character gliding near a waterfall. Status: Completed. Available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. Tags: Adventure, Exploration, Relaxing. A green progress bar is shown at the bottom.

Four game cards displayed under the title ‘Game Card Microbuild’. Games shown: A Short Hike (Completed), Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (Playing), Mario Kart World (Playing), and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Wishlist). Each card includes platform icons and genre tags such as Adventure, Exploration, Relaxing, Metroidvania, Action, and Souls-like.

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

I don’t have a cozy aesthetic desk setup. But I do have sun, fresh air, and a deck lounge chair 😎

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

It's probably really bad that I have no idea what 6 games I've added to my backlog since the last time I posted my stats from Backlog Explorer 🤦🏻‍♀️ (18 days ago! 😂)

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Yeah, I’ve added a few more games since my last Backlog Explorer stats post 😅 I also pulled out our favorite game types and how they make us feel. Mine? Relaxed. Turns out I gravitate toward flexible sim-style games—perfect for short or long sessions (hello Animal Crossing 👋).

Screenshot of a personal gaming dashboard from Backlog Explorer. Shows a total library of 154 games, with 105 in backlog (68.2%), 3 currently playing, and 44 completed (28.6% completion rate). Favorite game type is “Simulator • Flexible,” most used platform is “Nintendo Switch,” and most common mood is “Relaxing.” All completed games were finished in 2025.

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Yes! The Nintendo Switch 2 is out and you can add it as a platform in Backlog Explorer for all your Nintendo Switch 2 games! (I finally caved and bought Fantasy Life...How will I actually get any work done now!?)

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

🛑 DNF = Did Not Finish 🛑 These are the games I’ve marked as DNF in my backlog. For me, that means I’ve given them a fair shot, but they’re just not worth any more of my time. What games have you DNF’d? And which of these do you think I’m totally wrong about? 👀 #backlog #faefarm #indiedev #hkia

Screenshot of a game library in Backlog Explorer, showing 9 games marked as DNF (Did Not Finish). Titles include Bear & Breakfast, Fae Farm, Fashion Dreamer, Garden Paws, Haven Park, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, Potion Permit, and Sun Haven. Each game card displays its cover art, platform (Nintendo Switch or Steam), genre tags, and buttons to edit or delete.

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

🕹️📊 Just updated my backlog on Backlog Explorer and wow… I have 151 games in my collection, and 105 are still in the backlog 😅 Completion rate? 28.5%. 🫣 What do you think your completion rate would be? #backlog #indiedev #games

Screenshot of a gaming dashboard from Backlog Explorer. It shows 151 total games, 105 in the backlog, 1 currently playing, and 43 completed (28.5% completion rate). Most played genre is Adventure, most used platform is Nintendo Switch, and most common mood is Relaxing

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

getting closer to that original vision for backlog explorer ✨ i’ve integrated the openai api so that the “backlog buddy” can now help you resist the urge to buy a new game — by recommending something from your own library that scratches the same itch. 💜 #indiedev #backlog #workinprogress

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

I've added ✨“Up Next”✨ notes to the game cards on the homepage. Now you can instantly remember what you were doing last time you were playing. No more opening the game and thinking “uhhh where was I?” 😅 #solodev #passionproject #backlog #buildinginpublic #cozygames

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Steam integration is now polished and live in production! 🚂✨ You can now connect and import your game library directly ✨ I’ve also fixed a bunch of bugs and improved the loading experience. Things should feel smoother all around 🛠️💖 #solodev #steam #gametracker #backlog #cozygames

Screenshot of backlog explorer showing the steam integration and steam games to add to the library

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

🎮 Steam Integration Finally!!! 🚀 After a lot of hard work (and tears), I’ve got Steam integration working! 😅 There are still some kinks to iron out (like, the double steam component in the Profile page 🙈), but you can see me add Traveler's Rest to my library! #BuildingInPublic #DevJourney #Progress

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

It’s been a bit quiet—I was really sick last week 🤒 but feeling better! Customization may not be a top priority, but I love making things feel personal. So we've got: Themes! 🎨 Choose from clean & simple to bold & colorful. Check it out in your profile! Excited to be back! 🚀 #passionproject #solodev

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Every evening this week, after the toddler went to bed, I was deep in coding mode, building out Backlog Explorer. But this weekend? No coding—just gaming! Finally taking time to use the journaling feature to track my journey in Dragon Quest XI. ✨🎮 #DQXI #NintendoSwitch #SoloDev #NowPlaying

A Nintendo Switch displaying Dragon Quest XI rests on a MacBook keyboard. The laptop screen shows the Backlog Explorer app, open to a journaling entry for the game. The app prompts the user to log their session details, including memorable moments and screenshots. A cozy, warmly lit room with a glowing lantern is visible in the background.

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

🎮 Just shipped a new update to Backlog Explorer! ✨ You can now personalize your profile by adding your display name. It's a small but meaningful step towards making your gaming journey more personal. Next up: Steam integration coming soon! 🚂 #SoloDev #GamingBacklog #NowPlaying #GameDev

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

🎮 Backlog Explorer Update! You can now customize game cover art in your library! Don’t like the default? Just paste any image URL (even YouTube thumbnails work too!) The app checks the link before saving, so no broken images. #GameDev #SoloDev #GamingBacklog #NowPlaying #BacklogBattlers

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Fixed a bug where game moods weren’t saving properly! Now your mood choices stick, whether you’re adding a game to your wishlist or marking one as complete! 🎮✨ #MomDev #SoloDev #GamingBacklog #NowPlaying

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Jopo @levelupjo.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Trying Windsurf by Codeium to finally tackle my love-hate with CSS (Bootcamp crew knows). instead of handing me code, it’s walking me through the why behind design choices, and honestly, it’s making me a smarter, more creative dev. Anyone else using AI editors to level up?

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