iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Luke vdB

if you aren't already supporting @mothership.blog, you should be. support women and queer people in video game criticism and journalism. we deserve to exist in these spaces but, at least in the case of mothership, we can only exist and pay our writers and introduce you to new writers if YOU help us.

2386160

Reposted by Luke vdB

Hannah Flynn 🐀 @itshannahflynn.bsky.social · 8h

does anyone know of a helpful primer for checking your game's content viz rules for releasing in china??

002

Reposted by Luke vdB

Sean McCoy @sean.tuesdayknightgames.com · 30/09/2026

Last day to submit! We have ... 374 submissions so far 🫣

64510

Reposted by Luke vdB

Aysha U. Farah @ayshaufarah.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I always advertise my writing and consulting services like “I have lots of experience with every step of the dev process! I have a great grasp on pipelines!” But honestly. Hire me to make a guy everyone will want to fuck. I’m so good at it.

0327

Reposted by Luke vdB

Failbetter Games | Wishlist Mandrake on Steam! @failbettergames.com · 22/09/2026

For those of you who own Sunless Sea, there's a cheeky wee bundle with Nighthawks so you can get a modest discount on some more top class words from @richardcobbett.bsky.social 🩸

store.steampowered.com

Save 5% on Nighthawks x Sunless Sea on Steam

07131

Luke vdB @thebarse.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

it's out! and it's huge and it's excellent

021

Reposted by Luke vdB

Chris Gardiner @chrisgardiner.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I’m loving Thousand Hells: the Underworld Heists. There’s so much that’s ingenious & delightful in here, as you assemble CRACK SQUADS of AMBITIOUS SCREW-UPS to venture into MERCILESS HELLS in search of TREASURE AND GLORY. Things can go so, so wrong. Its great. store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...

store.steampowered.com

Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists on Steam

Recruit your team, choose your path, and descend into hell. Four heroes must overcome the trials of the underworlds in tactical narrative encounters. A new systemic storybook experience blending mytho...

1227

Luke vdB @thebarse.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

i love to be 30 because i get ads for Student Card Holder Deals and also old person vitamin supplements in the same video

030

Reposted by Luke vdB

Created Wrongly @creativewronging.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

120. Kith & Kindling by @thebarse.bsky.social A blazing forested depthcrawl for Cairn 2e 🔥 Dark, warm art direction & very dense with a number of interesting & flavorful roll tables. Not quite science-fantasy, but definitely adjacent with its otherworldly story & unnatural nature. A top-tier entry

barse.itch.io

Kith & Kindling by barse

An arboreal depthcrawl for Cairn.

032

Luke vdB @thebarse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

they should invent a sleep that makes you feel good instead of bad

150

Reposted by Luke vdB

jade, whose voice is the Deluge @goblinmode.com · 27/08/2026

the quiet year is one of those games that blew up my understanding of how tabletop narratives work, and has served as the foundation to many of the stories i have gone on to tell. even if we start a campaign without the quiet year, part of me is always referencing the principles contained within.

041

Luke vdB @thebarse.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

these are all bangers and a boon to any table

030

Reposted by Luke vdB

Anna Anne Anthropy @cyborgurl.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A fringe researcher, her secretive colleague, a ladder-climbing fascist and an impossible machine. my second Fallen London story, The Poetry of God, is now live.

14114

Reposted by Luke vdB

Failbetter Games | Wishlist Mandrake on Steam! @failbettergames.com · 27/08/2026

The Linguist turns the plaque toward the audience; its lines glisten red. Has the room grown darker? You feel the terrifying thrill of plunging into one of London's darkest alleys alone. Someone screams. September's Exceptional Story is The Poetry of God, by @cyborgurl.bsky.social.

A woman with a jaunty red beret, tiny pince nez glasses, and an air about her that she might just do whatever she wants. She's wearing a grey suit with a pussybow blouse and grey gloves, and she's using a wheelchair with a high leather back.

1389

Reposted by Luke vdB

Failbetter Games | Wishlist Mandrake on Steam! @failbettergames.com · 27/08/2026

Look for us at gamescom! You won't see rhubarb finer than this.

The Mandrake desk at gamescom. Key art of a figure in a hooded cape carrying rhubarb and a sickle is behind the playing area/monitor. The rhubarb is luxurious and green. It continues onto the desktop and down the front of the table like a beautiful farmer's market display.

210913

Reposted by Luke vdB

Heather Flowers (500FF DEMO OUT NOW) @hthrflwrs.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

i love reading the 500 FINGER FILLET demo reviews

Recommended (7.6 hours on record) - this is the single most stressful thing i've ever experienced in my life

1628

Reposted by Luke vdB

Heather Flowers (500FF DEMO OUT NOW) @hthrflwrs.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The thing about working in a no-AI studio (@deadbodygames.bsky.social) is that it's literally the easiest thing in the world to not use AI. It's the default option. All you have to do is keep doing things the exact same way you did two years ago and not stick your head in the Brain Fryer 3000

613027

Luke vdB @thebarse.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

now we're talking, Camp Miasma is a real fuckin movie, big recommend

150

Reposted by Luke vdB

Harrison Lemke @hplemke.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

10 things WIRE MOTHER doesn't want you to know about CLOTH MOTHER

2212

Reposted by Luke vdB

Hannah Flynn 🐀 @itshannahflynn.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

any games media who are going to gamescom would find themselves welcomed at the Mandrake mini booth within Indiearenabooth

195

Reposted by Luke vdB

Digital Poppy Poppy Zone @poppyzone.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

SOON. lovelyladyverse.com/waterhead/

312636

Reposted by Luke vdB

dr. hazel 🕯️ @hazelmonforton.com · 10/07/2026

games workshop i am still asking politely

1563982

Reposted by Luke vdB

Failbetter Games | Wishlist Mandrake on Steam! @failbettergames.com · 18/08/2026

The Candlefinder Society return in Fallen London! The Urchin Detective has found herself a pet: The Unkempt Collie! The perfect companion for the diminutive sleuth. Provided, of course, that you can clear his name of the charges levelled against him by one of the city's haughtiest cats.

An unassuming pub on a darkened street, whose shingle is a candle shaped like a question mark. One window is large and bright, and by its light we see the silhouettes of the Candlefinder Society. One of them is clearly a tiger. Text reads: The Candlefinder Society, The Case of the Stolen Sceptre.

3447

Reposted by Luke vdB

Giada Zavarise ➡️ AdvX @cheerfulgoth.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Reminder that this month's Fallen London Exceptional Story is written by yourself truly, and you can play it right now! Look for a missing girl in the tomb-colonies! Chill on the beach! Go on a cruise! I promise absolutely nothing ominous is gonna happen! www.failbettergames.com/news/excepti...

failbettergames.com

Exceptional Story for August: Tired of London

The Exceptional Story for August is 'Tired of London' by Giada Zavarise

44911

Reposted by Luke vdB

Bruno Dias @brunodias.dev · 17/08/2026

This is out starting today (It'll run updates twice-weekly for four weeks). Please enjoy what started as a serious endeavor and mostly devolved into a vehicle for jokes about sports.

0209

Reposted by Luke vdB

uel @greaterrealityarea.net · 15/08/2026

A TOP DOWN PERSPECTIVE I heard tale, once, of a tribe who lived at the summit of a bottomless mountain. They had been a nomadic people, eons before; they knew this from the thousand and one names of their ancestors they chanted in shared memory, the songs.. www.greaterrealityarea.net/a-top-down-p...

greaterrealityarea.net

A TOP-DOWN PERSPECTIVE

I heard tale, once, of a tribe who lived at the summit of a bottomless mountain. They had been a nomadic people, eons before; they knew this from the thousand and one names of their ancestors they cha...

33213

Reposted by Luke vdB

Robin @seraphbin.dev · 14/08/2026

GoodLuck has been sitting for over half a year untouched. I wrote it when I was horribly sad, and I played it today, expecting to see that sadness. But all I saw was a promise to grow old, and keep going. I hope you’ll give it, and yourself grace. GoodLuck. seraphbin.itch.io/goodluck

seraphbin.itch.io

GoodLuck! by Robin

Available for Windows

02610

Luke vdB @thebarse.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

did something happen i was busy with my big bucket of petroleum and my box of matches

051

Reposted by Luke vdB

Draknek & Friends @draknek.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

We're excited to announce that applications are open for the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant 2026 🎉 The grant will award $15,000 to five thinky puzzle game developers from all over the world, and a year's mentorship with genre veterans. Deadline: September 27th More info 👇

5229188

Reposted by Luke vdB

Luke vdB @thebarse.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

i am brave enough to say that i would eat the crème brûlée chalice in a heartbeat

242

Luke vdB @thebarse.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

i am brave enough to say that i would eat the crème brûlée chalice in a heartbeat

242

Reposted by Luke vdB

Failbetter Games | Wishlist Mandrake on Steam! @failbettergames.com · 10/08/2026

The Choices Matter Festival by @telltalegames.bsky.social is happening right now! For our contribution, we're talking about character creation. Foundational choices say a lot about your character, and our approach in Mandrake is quite different to our previous games.

A screenshot of Mandrake's character creation. The menu across the top reads: Appearance. Birthplace. Youth. Visitation. Summary. We're on the Birthplace screen. It reads: Once, your family was a high-born house from a far-off land. But that was long ago. Their fortunes fell. A survivor fled. A hundred years went by. You grew up in the place they escaped to. The choice selected is The Leeward Isles: A rainswept archipelago. Hand-me-down boats fish the choppy waters, their mast-witches listening to the voices on the winds. The other choices are The Sophean Heartlands and The High Eld. The choice we've made gives us Magician +1.

18526

Reposted by Luke vdB

Failbetter Games | Wishlist Mandrake on Steam! @failbettergames.com · 12/08/2026

Here's a tour of Mandrake's village, Chandley, including chatting to some of our favourite characters*! Plus a look at how character creation influences the kinds of options you get in conversation, via traits and insights. *psych, they're all our favourites

youtube.com

Choices Matter in Mandrake || Rural Life Sim Game

YouTube video by Failbetter Games

210532

Reposted by Luke vdB

Maddy Myers 🏳️‍🌈 @midimyers.com · 11/08/2026

all of my successes have been luck, but get this — all my failures are my fault. this is just a weird thing that’s only true of me specifically and not anyone else though, so the rest of you should feel free to still be proud of your accomplishments

11588103

Reposted by Luke vdB

Andrew Gillis @andrewgillis.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Mythic Bastionland? More like Seer's Catalogue.

3466

Reposted by Luke vdB

Magpie Games @magpiegames.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Backers for Fallen London: the RPG got their first full PDF preview today! We can't wait to hear what all our delicious friends think!

15712

Reposted by Luke vdB

Hannah Flynn 🐀 @itshannahflynn.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

we've been for a walk

A noticeboard from Big Walk. Three notes are on it. One: all work and no play makes toby a dull boy, all work and no play makes toby a dull boy, all work and no play makes toby a dull boy. Two: FBG woz ere. Three: wishlist mandrake

071

Reposted by Luke vdB

Luke vdB @thebarse.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

big walkers have eyes on the side of their face, ergo they are prey animals

141

Luke vdB @thebarse.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

big walkers have eyes on the side of their face, ergo they are prey animals

141

Reposted by Luke vdB

cmrn knzlmn @ckunzelman.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

I think you should subscribe to Rascal.

0345

Luke vdB @thebarse.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

another horrible (complimentary) piece of work, congrats to all involved

0102

Reposted by Luke vdB

Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Behind the bewildering transformation of British universities, are management consultants being paid millions Really proud to have this vital piece on our unis are being gutted from the inside by @jheathershaw.bsky.social on Democracy for Sale. Do read democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-bri...

democracyforsale.substack.com

Inside Britain's university crisis

As teaching staff face job loss, their bosses have netted pay rises and bought advice from a “vampiric” management consultancy, writes Prof. John Heathershaw of the University of Exeter

24555319

Reposted by Luke vdB

Crystal @crystal.undertow.cards · 06/08/2025

DALE COOPER: [runs down the stairs too fast because he really needs to pee and trips and rolls to the bottom while pissing his pants] WINDOM EARLE: [500 miles away] (smiling) Knight takes Rook... Check.

1404153