Look, you all say you're looking for hidden gems and that you want to support indie studios and that you like the '90s and that detective games are awesome and you're super into Backrooms right now and just.... Please, please play Desktop Explorer. I'm not wrong about this one.

Enthralled by DESKTOP EXPLORER; I had to write down my thoughts on it (which are only scratching the surface). This is a great, surprising detective game set inside a Windows 97-ish interface.

I'm working on as spoiler-free a review as I can muster right now, but one thing I did not expect is how similar certain themes of Desktop Explorer would hit to what Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is trying to do with the modern-day segments. (And how much better Desktop Explorer is at it.)

It's not that The Artisan of Glimmith mistakes quantity for quality--there are both a lot of logic puzzles, and none of them are bad--so much as the fact that the longer it goes with only the slightest of plots, the less it feels like a game, and the more it resembles a book of puzzles.

Redistributed income has got to back a show of feelings? I might just be sleepy, but I'm not seeing the surface sense for this one (although I very much like the definition and use of [redistributed income]). Parseword #172 ⚡️ 39s 💎 Perfect 🗿 Challenge Mode

My only issue with this cryptic clue from Andrew Ries is that I've yet to had my kids bug me for dinner (usually it's the other way around), so I'm not entirely sure this surface is accurate ;)

Wizard is cycling, promoting youth? Crenditi did a number on me with this surface; I suspected [cycling] would be the indicator, but that ? definition was so slick, I passed right over it. Parseword #171 ⏱️ 1m55s ✅ 3 Assists ⛲ Secret Found 🗿 Challenge Mode

Expert routine outside of Hawaii bar If this clue were more specifically about something you might find only at a Hawaii bar, I'd feel more strongly about it. As is, it's just very fine wordplay from Jess Shulman. Parseword #170 ⚡️ 41s 💎 Perfect 🗿 Challenge Mode

Bears hiding number two in a cage? An outstanding ? definition here, but don't sleep on the surface sense of [number two] for poo (even if Minute Cryptic didn't offer it up to our sensitive ears and eyes). Really nice sirdakka! Parseword #169 ⏱️ 1m31s ✅ 1 Assist 👊 Secret Found 🗿 Challenge Mode

Apparently I missed a bunch: sorry! Misses sign after first warning This one, from the PW creator, is so close to perfect. The quibble is [first warning], which should be [first of warning], but I'd bend the rules for this, too. Parseword #168 ⚡️ 22s 💎 Perfect 🟨 Secret Found 🗿 Challenge Mode

Car crashes are ugly and terrible but they make this cryptic clue sing, especially when you realize just how much nothing is as it seems. (And if anyone with a Minute Cryptic subscription can let me know who the setter was, I'd appreciate it!)

A well-earned difficulty for this variant, as I needed to restart several times trying to build that odd path from start to finish. Once I understood the limitations of the four-length bulbs, though, I got it. Thinky Dailies 3-46 Mentor: Missing Solved in 17:50 thinkygames.com/dailies/puzz...

This was a sneaky puzzle, but once I started working from both ends, I was able to narrow down where the path had to be going—which is the way I like my pathfinding puzzles to wend! Thinky Dailies 3-45 A Hasty Retreat Solved in 6:03 thinkygames.com/dailies/puzz...

Critical acclaim is no better a metric than concurrent player counts when it comes to a company's finances, but if you need to lay off such a big chunk of your team after release, maybe be more transparent about what the financial goals were, and whether they were ever realistic.

Loved Type Help; for the first time I'm excited for whatever you call this glowup? port? remake? as I'm pretty sure that once I play this new version, I'll be able to put it on my "Best Of" list in 2026 as well.

The genius of DESKTOP EXPLORER is that there are three user profiles, and from what I can tell, each installs its own version of Desktop Explorer, generating puzzles specific to the interests/memories of each. I don't think I've repeated a concept yet, and the themes are fascinating.

I loved Crow Country and finally got around to playing Tangle Tower. It's a very promising framework with terrific voice acting and colorful puzzles, and I now I definitely need to check out The Mermaid Mask before the end-of-year lists come due. (I also like this format better than the Layton one.)

This cryptic clue comes to you from @maddogcryptics.bsky.social and it's the kind of historical proper name referencing that I'm down with—thanks in large part to the overwhelming popularity of the Hamilton musical.

I got sent a code for DESKTOP EXPLORER, and if you like exploring a fake (and creepy) OS, this one uses puzzles to slow burn each revelation. I'll revisit with a full write-up when I'm done, but I'm having fun searching for {passwords} by manipulating files/folders and installing/using new programs.

For today, let me serve you a delicious new cryptic clue from a relatively new setter's "new deli"—I think you'll like it (and you can thank Chef @rocketdog46.bsky.social).

A little late in posting this (sorry, I thought I'd set it in advance before my day got really chaotic), but this is a really nice cryptic clue from Dilly about a little musical you may have heard of (hint: it's not really about that musical at all).

All this tells me is that we also have to also shut down the golf courses

The type of person to show up to cast a physical vote likely differs from the by-mail voter, and there shouldn't be any surprise if the results differ. That's why scientific studies work so carefully to get REPRESENTATIVE samples, as asking only people you see on the street is BIASED.

I'm not generally a fan of remasters or ports, but I make an exception for games like Moss that were trapped on niche/expensive VR platforms. Looking forward to checking this one soon.

Oh no.

Oh, I get it. They're the T Party.

I find myself often thinking about the use of mathematicians in World War II, who broke the prevailing though that you needed to add more armor to the parts of planes that were riddled with bullet holes. No, those planes made it back. THOSE parts were clearly sufficiently armored.

Won't be streaming that long tonight, maybe from about 9 to 1, but I intend to get through a Rackenfracker and Gnomon or three. Hope to see you all there for cryptic crosswords and chat. twitch.tv/thatcrypticguy

The left hand side of the grid felt a bit wasteful to me; I get that this is part of the logical constraint, but it felt so weird to just fill in squares that way. I think I like Cave more for this. Thinky Dailies 3-44 Forgotten Deliveries Solved in 6:30 thinkygames.com/dailies/puzz...

Roman ships regularly retreat My sincere suggestion to Parseword is that they not use any surface—even on an easy week—that can be solved with a single transformation. Because while I like this surface, it required zero thought to solve. Parseword #167 ⚡️ 22s 💎 Perfect 🗿 Challenge Mode

Today's cryptic clue from Fez's contribution to a Platypus also comes with a poll where I ask whether there are certain types of subjects that should be avoided. (Clearly I didn't think this murderous but fictional subject was off-limits!)

Reposting for the evening crowd, as KAZ has blink-and-you'll-miss-it gameplay but doesn't have to be a blink-and-you-missed it game.

This Cave puzzle looked way more intimidating at first than it actually was—always nice when you find the right entry point and it really does start forcing all the other places to fill in. Thinky Dailies 3-43 Surrounded By Wildlife Solved in 4:14 thinkygames.com/dailies/puzz...

I know there's a huge market for Nonogram puzzles—which is exactly why I don't need to see them in my Thinky Dailies. This was just far too familiar/easy. Thinky Dailies 3-42 Local Legends Solved in 0:58 thinkygames.com/dailies/puzz...

I had to skip one, as it was a variation on a logic puzzle that I'm still having trouble visualizing when it comes to the BASIC version. Thankfully, this visual puzzle was just my cup of tea. Thinky Dailies 3-41 A Little Treat Solved in 4:26 thinkygames.com/dailies/puzz...

Screen captures: western fleet I like the wordplay on this one from Fraser Simpson quite a bit, but that fragmentary surface isn't doing anything for me. Surely there's a way to make this about Hormuz or something, no? [Investigate holding Western fleet]

A wild code for KAZ hit my inbox and despite me not being a huge fan of arcade games or roguelites, I found myself enamored by how KAZ used aesthetically distinct characters/skins to charm me into laughing at the concept more than roaring in frustration. thatsoundscool.wordpress.com/2026/07/13/t...

Cryptic crosswords are word games, and I like seeing games written about other games—even if I have mostly traumatic memories of playing this one (along with Trouble) as a kid (and fears of when my kids will make me start playing again). Thanks, @kayebrown.bsky.social and @joeadultman.bsky.social.

I, following ultimate proof, almost arrest first responder Not my kind of clue. The definition seems obvious, [ultimate proof] feels slightly off, and the "hard" thing is figuring out the word for [arrest] (not an issue in Parseword). Parseword #165 ⚡️ 30s 💎 Perfect 🥖 Secret Found 🗿 Challenge Mode

Wireless missing one essentially redundant element Momentarily stymied by forgetting to tell Parseword to change [one] to I to make this work, but yeah, for a "hard" clue, I was very much picking up what Bard was putting down. Parseword #164 ⚡️ 41s 💎 Perfect 🔌 Secret Found 🗿 Challenge Mode

This is one hell of a grid-spanning entry from PiGuyN. I kept reading it, thinking that it described things way too accurately to be a cryptic clue surface, but no, it's just really well put together (unlike, you might say, a certain ill, dry creep).

I just think it's wild that the UFC had two former champions recovering from injuries fighting on last night's card, and they put the one who has been active and in compliance in the prelims and let the five year question mark take the main event.

Proud to announce the next game Vampirium: 1997 Dracula is king of the United British Empire. Kill his enemies and find your own path through a minimalist immersive sim sandbox. Wishlists and retweets massively appreciated (and, you know, massively helpful) store.steampowered.com/app/4035190/...

As someone who liked how the modern day segments tried to make this *more* than just a historical romp, I agree with this take, and they were more accessible than the literal "data" dumps you can collect instead. But I do like how the new Animus Rift segments do this from within Kenway's "world."

Now that our mid-year list is closed, I'm looking at all the stuff that just released, or which sounds like I'm going to have to catch up on. Feel free to add any bangers I've missed!

Well NOW I'm interested in the Marvel fighting game.

Under embargo right now, but I love when a publicist or developer sends me a spare code for something they think I'd like. It's win-win when they're right, and definitely has me thinking about how bad our blinders can be when it comes to shopping for ourselves.

I saw the opportunity to complain a bit about how poorly teachers get treated (and how much their job and all the work they do is misunderstood)—but I also saw a really good cryptic clue to spotlight from @hpicciotto.bsky.social and @joshuakosman.bsky.social.

hiring two rare+cool positions at Fangamer right now: 🧸 Product Development Manager: responsible for taking on licenses and getting merch made! 🗣️ Partnership Manager: communicate with our AAA and indie partners about merch licenses & plans RTs always appreciated 🙇 www.fangamer.com/pages/jobs

Just replayed Tunic, and it's such a good game--that would be even better without combat. Discovery games just really are my jam, even if I'm never going to dig down into the deepest levels of secrets. Back to EMUUROM next.