The Nomad Soul (1999). This has the greatest disparity between the naive sense of potential here and small shit, you know, like technical base, core gameplay, mechanics, dialogue writing and storytelling. Yet it's a testament to vibes with an inimitable alien world and a David Bowie soundtrack.

Colors of SeverLink #screenshotsaturday #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #lowpoly #y2k

with strength, i will be the inescapable future #myart

Gothic Remake (2026). I love how cruel and abject the world is here. Where initially killing all but the lowliest animal is an achievement. Yet it's also surprisingly beautiful and pulls one back in to try to improvise some asymmetry against the many adversities faced.

It's been six years since Beijing imposed the draconian National Security Law in Hong Kong, creating a highly repressive national security regime. How has the law affected Hong Kong’s vibrant spirit? Learn more: https://bit.ly/4gcOAa3

patience

On the occasion of its 25th anniversary.

Cold War (2018). Seeing another Pawlikowski has illuminated some of the invisible choices of Ida (2013) and the particular genius evinced here. My fullest recommendation. My word. 📽️

Ida (2013). This is one of those rare films whose every shot is a triumph of photography. Despite its brevity, there's a universe of tragedy here about which I spoke to my father regarding the duty of memory in Poland — the horrendous crimes, the unforgivable collaborations. A masterpiece. 📽️

“Just as monstrous and mutant algae invade the lagoon of Venice … in the field of social ecology, men like Donald Trump are permitted to proliferate freely, like another species of algae, taking over entire districts of New York.” —Félix Guattari, 1989

priests

I do wish Rockstar would return to making some small sketchy bleak excursion into the margins of society. It's a testament to the passion of the modding community that they hoisted the task upon their shoulders.

From the demo of Divine Frequency (2026). One of the great surprises of the season. Overessentializing: a cosmic-horror System Shock. Uncommonly Impactful combat, sophisticated RPG systems and a sentient lantern that decided to explore on its own leaving me in darkness. Shot up my anticipated list.

#lowpoly #indiedev

From the demo of SPRAWL Zero (2026). Many developers have tried to replicate the visual and kineaesthetic precision of Source engine games on Unreal but this actually succeeds.

Torment.

Richard III (1995) One of my favourite adaptations of Shakespeare with one of the greatest performances — Ian McKellen demonstrating total virtuosity and command over the text. So many inspired choices here, from the interwar period setting to a glorious impetus for "My kingdom for a horse..." 📽️

refusing to give up unmotivated lighting

From the demo of About Fishing (2026). Long I've wished for a game that would take some occupation or activity simulator — trucking or chess, say — and surround it with an entire person's history of being. Here there's also a surreal mystery thriller. It's one of the best demos I've played.

Eric Ravilious, Shelling by Night, 1941 https://botfrens.com/collections/14375/contents/1114414

Nightdive acquitted themselves brilliantly with their System Shock 2 remaster and this looks just as meticulous and considered.

I don't care how long I must wait for this. 😭

PIGFACE (2025). One of the beautifully decrepit and abject games I've played.

This should really be on everyone's list.

Ida (2013). This is one of those rare films whose every shot is a triumph of photography. Despite its brevity, there's a universe of tragedy here about which I spoke to my father regarding the duty of memory in Poland — the horrendous crimes, the unforgivable collaborations. A masterpiece. 📽️

The Shadow of the Torturer (1980).

a night train makes an unexpected stop. brush burial: bruiseland.

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies (2026). Had the same melancholy I felt toward the end of its predecessor when a game of rare brilliance approaches its curtain call. Fashioned from some of the finest writing and artistry in the medium.

And I think the answer to that question is contained in Benjamin's "Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Today's far-right is not interested in creating any sweeping new ideological vistas. They're just regurgitating the same far-right ideas of the past in mimetic form.

Corporate dystopia #screenshotsaturday #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #lowpoly #y2k

Leviathan (2014). My second viewing of Andrey Zvyagintsev's masterpiece — a full spectrum indictment of contemporaneous Russian society that has only become more significant in both the particular and universal. One of the greatest films of the 21st century. 📽️

Zvyagintsev's one of the greatest living directors and I'm ecstatic his latest seems no less a triumph.

Succumbing to the middle power delusion after successfully escaping the dictator trap, the resource trap and the middle income trap. 😔

Trapdoor spider, oils, sold Time to repost this one ;)

SELACO IS NOT AN IMMERSIVE SIM.

ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies (2026). Had the same melancholy I felt toward the end of its predecessor when a game of rare brilliance approaches its curtain call. Fashioned from some of the finest writing and artistry in the medium.

🥰 sorry im just really happy with this

Vagabond https://botfrens.com/collections/69/contents/20024

Baldur's Gate III (2023). Had the urge to pick up from a second playthrough commenced years ago and it remains a game that I can't believe exists. The intricate density of the world where each combat encounter feels bespoke and resolvable in myriad ways over a hundred-and-fifty hours is absurd.

Oh we talking fake citations? Here are a few particularly salient ones from Neurocracy why not

Some recent level design and asset work in progress. #GameDev

1000xRESIST (2024). Traversing the immigrant experience of Hong Kong dissidents beaten in the 2019 protests to an inestimable future dystopia with complete elegance and imagination, this is one of the most astonishing games I've played. I couldn't recommend it more highly to all.

Breaking off https://botfrens.com/collections/69/contents/19441

1000xRESIST (2024). Traversing the immigrant experience of Hong Kong dissidents beaten in the 2019 protests to an inestimable future dystopia with complete elegance and imagination, this is one of the most astonishing games I've played. I couldn't recommend it more highly to all.

Yet to finish but my word, a triumph.

Idols of Ash (2026). A disproportionately impressive horror game about descending into darkness. Very short and scandalously cheap. Its one of those perfect titles that attempts *three* things, each superlatively realized and one additional thing would court disaster.