iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

21. Star Wars: Galactic Racer (The best racing game I've played in years. Super fast, but completely within your control a la F Zero. They've even included the CaRPG mechanics in multiplayer! The rogue-like stuff feels appropriate. Just the right touch of Star Wars. Suck it, Kestar Bool. 10/10)

Antagonist of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, alien Kestar Bool, congratulates player character Shade on a victory while holding a blaster. Eff Kestar Bool.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

19. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Another revisit. Cliche to say Kojima+co. were prescient w/this story about how AIs controlling everything might be bad, but...they were. Also wrapped up a lot of loose threads from previous games, satisfying conclusion. Glad this broke free from PS3.)

The poster's final score and code name earned after completing the video game Metal Gear Solid 4. He earned the nickname "Hawk."

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

16. Triangle Strategy (Finally got around to this. Solid tactics game, but doesn't push the envelope. Got into the story the more it went on and they make some cool choices w/branching paths. Got the Frederica ending ("Freedom"), but they really expect more playthroughs for true ending?)

Ending screenshot of one of the possible endings of video game Triangle Strategy, depicting a beach scene with a woman wearing a circlet holding an amulet in her hand as two knights look on towards the sea and 4 children play by the shoreline.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

14. Mina The Hollower (Hard [but fair!] game w/some interesting bosses and plays with the limited mechanics in fun level design. Thought the twist was well telegraphed but also had a surprise ending. Only critique is the second-to-last dungeon has a puzzle barrier that I had to look up. 8/10)

The player's clear status screen of Mina The Hollower, depicting stats of 10 across three categories, and a number of items and trinkets collected. The player finished the game in 24 hours and 32 min.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

12. Star Fox (Turns out, Nintendo was cooking with SF64. Still slaps decades later. Really like the choices of the Remake, probably the best looking Switch 2 game thus far, orchestral remix of the swelling OST, great VO, and some fleshed out cutscenes to add world building and color. More please!)

The poster's Campaign Complete screen of Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2. Depicted is the path of levels taken on normal difficulty: Corneria, Sector Y, Aquas, Zoness, Sector Z, Area 6, and Venom 2. Total of 1162 Hits and 15 Lives in this playthrough, with 0 Continues Used.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Sunset Riders voice: Bury me with my controllers

The poster's Steam Controller, a black gaming controller, shown in the box it comes in, alongside its charging puck.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

11. Titanium Court (A fascinating blend of Match 3 and RTS that's both captivating and infuriating, with an interesting meta-commentary. Feels like someone is constantly messing with you...because they are. Strange and delightful.)

A screenshot of PC game Titanium Court, which shows a blue, pink, and white bus stop with the text "The game is over. There is nothing left for you to do other than wait for the bus." A stop sign and a book appear below the text.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

The real question of the Star Fox 64 remake is how cool they've made the James McCloud model.

James McCloud from StarFox, a fox pilot who wears aviator sunglasses in his cockpit.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

8. Pokemon FireRed (Keep coming back to this one. The presence of RetroAchievements greatly enhances this. 10/10 Pokemon game IMHO)

The player's Hall of Fame Pokemon team after defeating the Elite Four in Pokemon FireRed on an AYN Thor: Vaporeon, Nidoking, Hypno, Snorlax, Arcanine, and Dodrio.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

5. Keep Driving (Neat little low stakes light game that reminds me a lot of that toy in the 90s where you were driving and avoiding things in lanes. Solid writing and great road trip soundtrack.)

Screenshot of the video game Keep Driving, where you play as a teenager going on a road trip in a sedan. A car is in the center of the screen with a gas station convenience store and a small grocery in the background. An energy meter, status bar, car durability, money count, and gas meter are on the bottom of the screen.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

4. SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered (Insert Scorcese What a Picture meme. Tells incredible vignettes as part of a larger generational story. Watercolor art is iconic. QOL improvements in remaster smooth out occasional difficulty spikes. I wish the SaGa series was more like this and SG1.)

"SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered" appears over concept art of the various characters in thks video game.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

2. Hollow Knight: Silksong (Should I stop at the end of Act II? There's a semi-completionist Act III. Enjoyed my time here, but think 'generational game' is a bit overblown. Some tense boss fights and fun movement, great Metroidvania vibes. Thinking of it as a spiritual DuckTales successor.)

The poster's Game Completion screen at the end of Act II of Hollow Knight: Silksong, showing a time count of just over 15 hours.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Games I beat in 2026, a thread: 1. SteamWorld Heist II (This is my new favorite in this series. Masterful tactics game about ricocheting bullets that has the XCOM/Civ/Into the Breach "Just one more turn" thing. Highly recommended.)

Screenshot from SteamWorld Heist II. A robot in an industrial setting wearing a black top hat and green mechanical arm is firing a grenade launcher below him at a robot riding another massive robot that is heavily armed.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

My Steam and PSN in review, along with my Top 10 for GOTY. Really loved Clair Obscur, Death Stranding 2, and Hades II (mechanically at least). So many of the games from this year I thought about well after I was done, even lower on my list: 4-10 were pleasant surprises for me.

The poster's Steam Replay 2025 summary, with 65 games played, 683 achievements, and the most played games by playtime including Clair Obscur, Hades II, Final Fantasy XVI, Elden Ring Nightreign, and Avowed.

The poster's spider graph describing his tastes, with the Souls-like quadrant most strongly represented.

The poster's Top 10 games from this year:
1. Clair Obscur Expedition 33
2. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
3. Hades II
4. Elden Ring Nightreign
5. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
6. Sektori
7. Blue Prince
8. Ball X Pit
9. Absolum
10. Dynasty Warriors Origins

The poster's PSN wrap-up summary, with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach being the top played game on the PS5 for him in 2025.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

#24. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Fun little romp, can be completed in 10-12 hours. The time from starting the game to doing cool ninja stuff is short, and I think the difficulty curve over the stages is great. Don't know that this will win awards or crack top 10s, but worth trying. Evocative art.)

The dark outline of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance protagonist Joe Musashi standing with his wife overlooking a dark field at night and a distant city in the background, with a crescent moon in the night sky.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

#22. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (Y'know what's a really good video game? MGS3. This is the world's most unnecessary remaster, especially since the Master Collection exists, but makes this classic approachable with a new control scheme and some minor QOL improvements.)

A screenshot from Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, which features protagonist Snake confronting his soldier mentor The Boss in a climatic battle in a field of white flowers.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Late-to-the-party GOTY contender: Sektori. Super Hexagon meets Geometry Wars. Incredible scenes

An anxiety-inducing screenshot from twin-stick shooter game Sektori, featuring many geometric shapes in a tight arena with lots of particle effects.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

#20. Absolum (A great beat-em-up following the footsteps of Streets of Rage 4. Great art. Fun roguelike structure. Some very broken builds. Character design and world is inspired. Two players make it easy to get to penultimate bosses.)

The playable characters of Absolum: a robotic grappler in yellow wearing a mask, a blue bearded dwarf with a musket and a gauntlet, white haired knight carrying a longsword. And a pink frog wizard holding a staff with a crystal in it.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

First game of Fortnite ever (yes, yes, The Simpsons got me) and...I locked in.

The poster earning a Victory Royale/1st Place Finish his very first time playing Fortnite on the Simpsons map.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Double shot, chaser. We don't allow AI authorship in our publications, but suddenly we're going to allow staff to enter in potentially proprietary stuff into an AI that Microsoft pinky promises it wont be used to train their LLM?

An email from my organization's IT department detailing how new Copilot features as part of Microsoft 365's software suite will now be allowed for productivity enhancements.

A section of the email labeled "Enterprise Data Protection" detailing how using this AI will be OK because the data is secure, private, and won't be used to train Microsoft's Copilot. A green check mark will appear to make you feel all hunky dory about feeding the AI slop monster.

A section of our AI author guidelines from our flagship journal in which it explicitly states that use of AI tools does not qualify for authorship and must be disclosed, effectively rendering any use of it ineligible for publication.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

#18. Hades II (Expands on original in some smart ways, from combat and level design...the sheer amounts of world building and detail in this are great. Think there are too many resources and "money sinks", but Melinoë & Co. are great adds to the pantheon. Roguelike sickos need to see it through.)

The "Task Complete" screen with three green eyes skulls below once a player gets the true ending of Hades II.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Almost tempted to put in Stranger of Paradise in here, but this is my FF pantheon.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

5th Win with the Black Coat (and the first one where I went Up!). That people can do that path without the ability to block or dodge is crazy. Going after improving dodge chance and damage by picking certain elements was huge on this run.

The Poster's 5th Win victory screen with the Black Coat weapon in Hades II, depicting his buffs and that he took the Up path instead of the Down path of levels.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

4th Win with the Argent Skull. This is a cool skull-throwing weapon that benefits from burst damage and dashing around, particularly the Hephaestus boons.

The poster's 4th win victory screen in Hades 2, showing the boons used in combination with the Argent Skull weapon.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

3rd win with the Sister Blades. Stacking the fire boons really melted most enemies, including Chronos. This game supporting widescreen on PC is also 👨‍🍳😚

The poster's victory screen in Hades II, this time with the Sister Blades.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

2nd win was with the torches. Again, focused on improving the special attack, including making it faster and adding another projectile, but...also got the Hex that lets you summon the last minion you killed, which helped draw aggro.

The poster's second victory screen from defeating Chronos in Hades II. Done with the Torches, and depicting a bunch of boons.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Starting a thread of my Hades II wins, kind of how I did with Hades on the other platform: 1st win was with the Ax, of all things. Having more Death Defiance helped, but buffing the Special attack and trying to do that from afar because of the bonuses really clutched it for me.

The poster's first victory screen from defeating Chronos in Hades II. Done with the Ax, and depicting a bunch of boons.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

#17. Warriors Abyss (Feels like a roguelike phone game with the gacha/energy/mobile mechanics sanded off. You think there's going to be strategic depth, then it turns out you just need to avoid the purple areas and build a team to delete health bars, which is easy to do. Lots of flashy FX.)

The poster's winning run score screen in Warriors Abyss, using Shu warrior Zhao Yun as the playable character, with 30 acquired heroes across the Dynasty Warriors universe.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Among horses, Red Hare. Among men, Labubu

The head of a Labubu crudely photoshopped atop a picture of Lu Bu riding Red Hare

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

👀 www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Bloomberg interview with the director of the Final Fantasy Tactics remaster, who revealed that Cid (who was very OP) originally was designed to get weaker as you level him up because he is older.

More importantly, the director drops a hint that, if the remaster succeeds, he would want to explore SEQUELS to Final Fantasy Tactics. HELL YEAH DUDE

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

Thinking about this for no particular reason...

Wikipedia entry describing the downfall and death of Dong Zhuo at the hands of Lu Bu, which the author of this post is thinking about since it is rumored that a certain terrible senior US official is not feeling too well.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

#15. Avowed (Not long, but also feels way too long. Think I'm done with this style of "choices matter" RPG in this setting, but maybe I just don't like the Pillars of Eternity-verse? Story has cool moments, but by beginning of the third area, I wanted this to be over. Cover art still awesome.)

Screenshot of Avowed gameplay, showing a volcano in the background with a toolbar of abilities at the player character's disposal, health and mana bars, and two companion characters' status named Yatzli and Marius.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

We talk all the time to our kids that the characters they see and love in media are "pretend" and make it a point to separate it from reality. This passage (and tragedy) is so damning for genAI that I shudder every time an industry embraces it as a tool: www.reuters.com/investigates...

"It is acceptable to engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual, according to Meta's "GenAI: Content Risk Standards." The standards are used by Meta staff and contractors who build and train the company's generative Al products, defining what they should and shouldn't treat as permissible chatbot behavior. Meta said it struck that provision after Reuters inquired about the document earlier this month.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

I just replaced a joystick with a Hall Effect Joystick on a Switch L Joy Con with the help of @ifixit.com and now I feel like I can fix anything 💪

A Hall Effect Joystick replacement box for the original Nintendo Switch is next to a fixed Left Joy Con with it installed on a computer desk.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Edited to protect the person asking the question, but...the average person cannot fathom capitalism happening to them when it happens all time. This was asked after the nonprofit I worked at just did layoffs (I'm ok). As always: nonprofit is a tax status, it is not a business plan.

Question in a dialogue box aasking "Has ___ thought about opening a for-profit sector?"

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Inspired by @giantbomb.bsky.social's 10 Best Games of the 21st Century (H/T to @tvreeh.bsky.social), I voted and made my own list! Basically, games after the year 2000 I'm constantly thinking about and wish I could replay not knowing anything about them again.

My Top 10 Best Video Games of the 21st Century, listed in rank order with their cover art: 1. Hades 2. Final Fantasy Tactics 3. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 4. XCOM: Enemy Unknown 5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain 6. Balatro 7. Yakuza 0 8. Slay the Spire 9. Darkest Dungeon 10. Hotline Miami

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Man, I fell hard for the FF MTG crossover. Got the FFVII and FFX commander decks, the starter kit, and a really nice Cloud Deck Box. Plus, one of the sample packs contained the special Tidus card.

My Final Fantasy Magic the Gathering haul, 4 deck boxes featuring Final Fantasy characters Tidus, Cloud, and Sephiroth.

A holographic card of Tidus from the Final Fantasy Magic the Gathering set.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

#13. Mario Kart World (Best part of this game is honestly the music. Like the road trip aesthetic and Free Roam is a neat idea, but I'm left wanting to explore older MK tracks. Difficulty feels more balanced and Knockout Tour is a natural fit - ppl are savage at it online though.)

Congratulations screen upon completing Mario Kart World, depicts all the Mario characters on a newspaper on a front page in a group photo on a racetrack.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

#12. Clair Obscur Expedition 33 (What a lovely, incredibly memorable RPG. Great themes, music and art is so beautiful and interesting, and turn-based combat that never wore out its welcome. Some messy elements, but I think this is my current GOTY.)

Members of Expedition 33, three women dressed in black and gold, raise their group's banner in a field of flowers.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

#11. Blue Prince (This was my end game. Can see why this game was talked about in some circles. Ultimately would recommend, but I think it's easy to drop off if the RNG doesn't give you the many Aha! moments.)

Day 30 of my Blue Prince run, showing a diagram of the map and rooms I drafted when I ultimately unlocked the Antechamber and got to Room 46.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

#10. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (Fun short romp for those of us hooked to Yakuza. How you make cribbing ship, crew, and squad management from other games and give it that over the top but appropriate sheen is amazing.)

Award screen from video game Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii depicting a group of pirates showing off their signature salute.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

#9. Citizen Sleeper (Love the vibes of this and some interesting press-your-luck-style dice mechanics. Pretty easy to get yourself to a spot where resources aren't scarce.)

The protagonist of Citizen Sleeper, a robot in a space suit, looks out at a pink sky and spaceships.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

#7. Monster Hunter Wilds (Can you ever really finish a MonHun game? Think World was a better intro for most, new monsters are interesting, PC version poorly optimized, you'll slop this up if you're, like me, a sicko for this series)

Hunter in Monster Hunter Wilds unleashing a fully charged charge blade attack on a Rathian, a green dragon monster, shooting sparks at the ground.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Emulation is so cool. You can play the hits of yesteryear like you've always dreamed of doing when they were current.

The title screen of Burnout 3 Takedown (PS2) being played on the Retroid Pocket 5, a handheld video game console.

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Ryan Reeh @ryanreeh.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

#6. Lies of P (True final boss again, ridiculous, really interesting setting and tease at the end)

Lies of P protagonist in a red coat, sword resting on his right shoulder, standing in an Opera House.

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