iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 29/09/2026

I love Gemtchi on the Tamagotchi Paradise 🥹

ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 24/08/2026

What are your favourite games for getting into the Autumnal mood? I’d love to curate a list of your recommendations (with credit!) for a future post, and also selfishly add a bunch of beautiful games to my backlog! (Game pictured is Wytchwood!)

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 09/08/2026

I’m thinking of playing Doloc Town soon, has anyone else played? It’s out now in 1.0 and looks gorgeous!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 01/07/2026

July #promosky ♡ I'm Ellie, aka Pixels, and I'm a video game writer. I love: 🧦Playing cosy, pixel art games ☕Drinking chai 🐾My pets 🧸Collecting stickers 🪵Walking in forests 🍂Autumn 📖Reading small-town fiction 🌧Rain 🎧Podcasts 🥐Visiting cafes 🍪Snacks 🍄Mushrooms and fungi Let's be pals! ♡

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 26/06/2026

Games bought in the sale so far: - Rain World - Catmaze - Phoenotopia Rising - Teacup - Ultros I was stoked to see Rain World at 90% off!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 24/06/2026

Strange Horticulture is my favourite game to play when the weather is hot, and I’m really hoping to pick up Strange Antiquities in the sale this week! Rainy rainy rain 🌧️

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 19/06/2026

The website for Neverway is SO cool. It is just like scrolling through a website from 1998. I wish I could screenshot the cursor! @coldbloodinc.studio neverwaygame.com

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 01/06/2026

Has anyone opened up the cabin in Cast n Chill yet? I’m going to hopefully get it tonight - it looks like absolute cosiness defined 🪵

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 29/05/2026

I finally FINALLY got a new outfit in Palia today, thanks to a lovely friend telling me how to get a free one! I felt like a dork not knowing it was there 🫠 What do you think?! I love the ivy green colour!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 13/05/2026

My grid in cosy video games! Ok, some of these aren’t strictly cosy, but they are to me (especially when played on easy mode!)

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 02/05/2026

Going to be streaming some more Garden Story tomorrow, probably in the afternoon (1pm BST-ish) if you want to come along and hang out!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 26/04/2026

Just one game bought this weekend, which was Flock Around! A super fun multiplayer that I’ve had a blast with on streams! I think there’s a few games coming out in the next few weeks that I’m after 👀 Moomintroll, InKONBINI, and Adorable Adventures!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 04/04/2026

It’s Fishbowl Saturday! Sooo excited to dive into this game by @imissmyfriends.bsky.social today (published by @wholesomegames.com) - AND @patchmagazine.bsky.social has just upped my excitement! The sticker?! It’s too cute! 🐟 🫧

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 04/04/2026

What’s the last screen shot you took from a game? Lemme see it. Post it here. (This is from Lost Nova ✨)

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 03/04/2026

There’s so many new games out all the time it’s starting to feel like I’ll never get around to them all! But Fishbowl looks to be something special - a narrative game about dreams, grief, and hope. I played the demo but made myself put it down so I could experience the full game this weekend!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 18/03/2026

Some of my favourite bits from Lost Nova! (There were more but I forgot to screenshot 🤪)

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 28/01/2026

Been hit with Covid this last week but I’m still playing games! My third and fourth games of 2026 were Astronook and Paper Trail. Keep an eye on the blog for the full reviews!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 14/01/2026

I’m going to be playing a new indie game every weekend in 2026 and writing about it. Follow along, and please suggest games! Game 3 of 2026 will be CASSETTE BOY, the puzzle-action RPG from Tokyo's Wonderland Kazakiri, releasing today!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 12/01/2026

I’m going to be playing a new indie game every weekend in 2026 and writing about it. Follow along, and please suggest games! Game 2 of 2026 was the brand-new release Pencil Stories. A full review will be going live later this week ✍️🌙 Spoiler: this was the perfect bedtime game for me!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 31/12/2025

Some cosy crafting for the last week of 2026! These came from @pixyls.bsky.social and I absolutely loved working on them. Happy new year to all my friends on Bluesky! 🩵

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 27/12/2025

Just wanted to share an achievement. Here is a photo of me. I went to SquidFest and won the squid hat. I also caught all 5 legendary fish over the last few days. I have decorated a room in my house to celebrate this. I am now the fishing god.

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 20/12/2025

Just me petting the cats in Pentiment. Side note - absolutely LOVE this game after 5 hours… lots more to go. It’s 50% off in the Steam sale.

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 18/12/2025

Two games I’ve been waiting to go on sale are in the Steam winter sale! Yay. They couldn’t be more different 🤣 What you hoping to pick up??

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 17/12/2025

My favourite cosy game this year has to be Grimshire. I loved it, and it’s still in Early Access. Really hard to choose though!!! I genuinely loved all the games in those screen shots.

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 17/12/2025

Stream Replay is here! Some of my faveeees from 2025! Can’t believe I played 75 games but there were tons of great ones out (and some older classics I’d not picked up before) so it definitely tracks!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 14/12/2025

Some more photos from my play through 🪵 🕯️ 🎄

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 14/12/2025

Log Away has stolen my heart. I’ll be writing a full review on it this week, but wanted to share it! I love decorating, design games, cosiness and cabins, so this was made for me. What I loved most is taking photos of my builds, and changing the weather to get the perfect light for my shots!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 10/12/2025

Tryna work, but just want to stop for Christmas… anyone else?!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 02/12/2025

Is anyone else playing/played Cast n Chill? I’ve had it since the summer, but this week I’ve been playing non stop! It’s so relaxing and actually pretty addicting 😅

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 01/12/2025

Cute!! I got a little Christmas cat!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 25/11/2025

Me and my horse are feeling cosy, and my chicken says hi

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 18/11/2025

All I have to say is: STARDEW CALENDAR 2026. 🗓️

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 15/11/2025

Had a lovely Saturday! Caught up on some streams on Twitch and played Winter Burrow ❄️ Sharing some of the lovely wintery artwork in game because it’s so cosy! 👇

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 14/11/2025

Well 🤞 we get some dry walks in, I’ll try and go for a couple! I also have new wellies - it’s a non negotiable at this point isn’t it 🤣 This is my boy Stan!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 13/11/2025

Sorry but can we just stop and look at how gorgeous the art in Winter Burrow is, and how utterly adorable the little mouse is?!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 13/11/2025

Instantly bought Winter Burrow last night and spent the evening playing. Absolute gem of a game where you play as a little mouse trying to survive the winter in a burrow that needs fixing up! Perfect to coorie in with on a cold stormy night 🌧️ 🐭

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 07/11/2025

Happy weekend everyone 🥰 What are you all playing this weekend? I’ve started Unbox the Room, also have my Stardew farm on the go as always, and patiently waiting for Winter Burrow to release on Tuesday…!

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 03/11/2025

Happy Monday, friendlings! I’m working today, but taking it easy with lots of tea and listening to some lofi. Can’t stop thinking about Winter Burrow - I’m so excited to play the full game. I’ve uploaded my demo play through onto YouTube if you want to take a look 🐁 Have a peaceful day ✌️

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 01/11/2025

Just finished Öoo and absolutely loved it. The puzzles were a perfect balance for me, clever without being frustrating, and the whole game has a nostalgic, cozy vibe that totally pulled me in. A gem of a game that I’ll be thinking about for a while! Thank you @namataka.bsky.social 🐛🩷

A cozy gaming desk setup, with green and pink lights in the background. On the screen is the video game Öoo.

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 19/10/2025

Who is 40+ and still playing video games? What are you guys playing?

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 17/10/2025

Hello Bluesky! It’s been a relentlessly busy work week so I’m really happy to now be at the weekend and ready to chill out with some games! Also wanted to share some little desk details with you, these really cute fidgets are from Flexi Fidgets and they really help my anxiety 🫶

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 11/10/2025

I picked up Öoo this week after hearing a review on the @underplayedpod.bsky.social podcast and HOLY SHIT it’s good! It’s the exact kind of clever, cosy puzzle-platformer I adore. Highly recommended! And 20% off on Steam right now! Also… the colours are to die for right?!

Photo of a cozy gaming desk setup, with two monitors. On one monitor is the video game Öoo. There are lights on the wall behind the monitor which are green and pink, matching the colour palette of the game.

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 04/10/2025

It’s spooky season so I’ve changed my fishing bobber in Stardew, and hung out in the cemetery with Abigail for a while. With some clay.

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 02/10/2025

Hi, I’m Ellie! By day I’m a data analyst at a UK charity; by night I run Pixels and Chai, a cozy space for games & desk setups as a woman over 40. I share cozy game recs, rainy-day desk photos & thoughts on gaming as a 40 year old gamer who still loves to play 🎮 Lovely to meet you! 🧡

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 02/10/2025

It’s Patch Magazine delivery day! @patchmagazine.bsky.social I received both the digital and print versions today 💜 Some spooky articles on Ritual of Raven, Gloomy Eyes, and R.E.P.O - to name only a few!! Just about to settle down with a cuppa and have a read ☕️

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ellie ˖°☕ @pixelsandchai.neocities.org · 01/10/2025

HAPPY OCTOBER!! 🍂🎃 What better way to start this month than by sitting by the fire in Beacon Pines?! So cozy!

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