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Rise from the ashes and begin anew. This month's issue of Unwinnable Monthly features
@aeneas-nin.bsky.social
on Re-Animator,
@kellymerka.bsky.social
on Phoenix Springs and our regulars on the topics poking their brains. Buy:
buff.ly/LRotYmo
Subscribe:
buff.ly/L0T9hxk
17 days ago
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ICYMI: "Did I succeed? Of course not. But the journey, as they say, is the destination."
@mattmarrone.bsky.social
tries to escape Night City:
loading . . .
Escape from Night City - Unwinnable
Did I succeed? Of course not. But the journey, as they say, is the destination.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/06/escape-from-night-city/
about 4 hours ago
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"Did I succeed? Of course not. But the journey, as they say, is the destination."
@mattmarrone.bsky.social
tries to escape Night City:
loading . . .
Escape from Night City - Unwinnable
Did I succeed? Of course not. But the journey, as they say, is the destination.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/06/escape-from-night-city/
about 21 hours ago
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ICYMI: "Now youâre saying no else can come here? What makes you so special?"
@hotsliceofjesus.bsky.social
digs into the paradox of John Denver:
loading . . .
The Paradox of John Denver and "Rocky Mountain High" - Unwinnable
It is hypocritical to condemn those who also wish to enjoy a place.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/05/the-paradox-of-john-denver-and-rocky-mountain-high/
1 day ago
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Unwinnable
Phoenix
1 day ago
I love games that feel like strange found artifacts. They donât have to literally be found footage like Sam Barlowâs brand of FMV games, but games that donât feel like theyâre chief aim is to be experienced in a recognizably game-y way. Indie and AA games will be more of a focus for me this year.
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ICYMI: "Ironically, despite its whole industry being about play, thereâs less and less playfulness in big studio design work."
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social
yearns for more Weirdness in AAA and AA games:
loading . . .
Where is the Weird? - Unwinnable
I miss AA and AAA being unabashedly bizarro in their design, whether theyâre story-driven or not.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/05/where-is-the-weird/
1 day ago
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"Now youâre saying no else can come here? What makes you so special?"
@hotsliceofjesus.bsky.social
digs into the paradox of John Denver:
loading . . .
The Paradox of John Denver and "Rocky Mountain High" - Unwinnable
It is hypocritical to condemn those who also wish to enjoy a place.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/05/the-paradox-of-john-denver-and-rocky-mountain-high/
2 days ago
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"Ironically, despite its whole industry being about play, thereâs less and less playfulness in big studio design work."
@phoenixwritesdown.bsky.social
yearns for more Weird in AAA and AA games:
loading . . .
Where is the Weird? - Unwinnable
I miss AA and AAA being unabashedly bizarro in their design, whether theyâre story-driven or not.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/05/where-is-the-weird/
2 days ago
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Elijah Beahm Ver. 3.1
2 days ago
Any game can teach you a valuable lesson. It might not be the one you expected, but if it makes you feel something that profound, then it's achieved a feat worth celebrating.
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Alex W. DeJong
2 days ago
I wrote this for
@unwinnable.com
check it out.
unwinnable.com/2026/02/05/t...
loading . . .
The Paradox of John Denver and "Rocky Mountain High" - Unwinnable
It is hypocritical to condemn those who also wish to enjoy a place.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/05/the-paradox-of-john-denver-and-rocky-mountain-high/
0
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ICYMI: "My memory might be all that keeps it alive, like so many people Iâve known."
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social
says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
loading . . .
Grieving with Anthem - Unwinnable
Almost everyone you meet has lost something, trying to find some way to move forward, to rebuild.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/04/grieving-with-anthem/
2 days ago
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reposted by
Unwinnable
It's Ryan!
8 days ago
"Where's all the good writing about games?" It's right here, ready for you to take a look!
add a skeleton here at some point
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"My memory might be all that keeps it alive, like so many people Iâve known."
@unabridgedgamer.bsky.social
says goodbye to Anthem and learns something about grief in the process:
loading . . .
Grieving with Anthem - Unwinnable
Almost everyone you meet has lost something, trying to find some way to move forward, to rebuild.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/04/grieving-with-anthem/
3 days ago
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Stu Horvath
3 days ago
For the night crew, a complete rundown of the new Exploits. Plus, subscribe to
@unwinnable.com
now and get the entire 95-issue Exploits archive! 1500 pages of doom-scrolling distractions!
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
add a skeleton here at some point
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10
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Van Dennis
3 days ago
anywho, new issue of Exploits by
@unwinnable.com
is out, I wrote about last year's "reconstructionist romance" Materialists, and it's a piece I'm still proud of! Check it out here:
bsky.app/profile/stuh...
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Stu Horvath
3 days ago
Oh, before I go on, I should note, Unwinnable (and by extension, Exploits) is subscriber funded. In fact, Exploits mostly ONLY exists for subscribers, so to get the full experience, you have to sign up:
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
loading . . .
Subscribe - Unwinnable
Monthly subscriptions are $5. Annual subscriptions are $55. Subscriptions rebill automatically unless cancelled. Exploits comes out on or about the 1st of the month. Unwinnable comes out on or about t...
https://unwinnable.com/subscribe/
1
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Stu Horvath
3 days ago
The February issue of Exploits is out now. That's
@unwinnable.com
's monthly cultural diary, a collection of recommendations, warnings and short form essays to inspire you to read, watch, play and listen to new things this month. Let's see what is inside, yea?
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ICYMI: "Silent Hill f did nothing else so much as remind me just how badly being a teenager sucked."
@glassethound.bsky.social
explains how Silent Hill f reflects the horrors of adolescence:
loading . . .
Puberty is Hell: Growing up in Silent Hill f - Unwinnable
Silent Hill f did nothing else so much as remind me just how badly being a teenager sucked.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/03/puberty-is-hell-growing-up-in-silent-hill-f/
3 days ago
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"Silent Hill f did nothing else so much as remind me just how badly being a teenager sucked."
@glassethound.bsky.social
explains how Silent Hill f reflects the horrors of adolescence:
loading . . .
Puberty is Hell: Growing up in Silent Hill f - Unwinnable
Silent Hill f did nothing else so much as remind me just how badly being a teenager sucked.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/03/puberty-is-hell-growing-up-in-silent-hill-f/
4 days ago
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Emma Kostopolus
5 days ago
Do you want to read me defending Secret Lives of Mormon Wives as a 4th-wave feminist text? Sure you do. Sub now!
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reposted by
Unwinnable
chilton đ
5 days ago
A handy link for all you lovelies! Weâd love to hear from you!
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reposted by
Unwinnable
chilton đ
5 days ago
The rumors are true!
@emilyprice.bsky.social
and I are the shiny new Exploits books editors đđ if youâd like to write about books for us, might I suggest pitching?
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Unwinnable
DonE
5 days ago
I had a good time writing about listening to jazz (thatâs me on Little Big III) thanks to
@freshoelectro.bsky.social
. Check it out!
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Unwinnable
David Shimomura
5 days ago
I work with some of the coolest people
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Dr. Emily Price
5 days ago
If you missed my earlier post, Iâm now the co editor of Exploitsâ books section! If you have a pitch for us, please email
[email protected]
and find our pitch guide here
loading . . .
The Unwinnable Submission Guide - Unwinnable
You have stories to tell. We want to hear them. We are always searching for new voices to add to the conversation at Unwinnable and we firmly believe that personal experience is the foundation of a gr...
https://unwinnable.com/submissions/
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Dr. Emily Price
5 days ago
Is Angeline Era âFAâ or âFOâ question for the ages
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Dr. Emily Price
5 days ago
@chiltonm.bsky.social
and I are the new Books Editors for Exploits! I had the pleasure of editing this monthâs review of Chain Gang All Stars.
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Navi đ | is UNBEATABLE đłïžââ§ïž
6 days ago
Very good read. Highly recommend
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Unwinnable
KM is looking for work!
5 days ago
For
@unwinnable.com
's February issue of Exploits, I wrote a short piece on practical effects in The Vourdalak and Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess which became a treatise of sorts on puppetry.
loading . . .
Something to Touch - Unwinnable
"The point is not realism, but presence and sensation."
https://unwinnable.com/2026/02/02/something-to-touch/
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Stu Horvath
5 days ago
(We're still trying to bring on one new subscriber a day, and today it could be you. I hear being an
@unwinnable.com
subscriber makes you 37% cooler and 12% more likely to understand what people younger than you are talking about.)
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Stu Horvath
5 days ago
Even after I gave up most of the work on Unwinnable Monthly to other folks, I still do the layout and final edit on Exploits because it genuinely entertains me. Short form AND freeform! What a combo! And it is often just...silly and irreverent in just the right way. So, yea, check it out!
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Stu Horvath
5 days ago
The February Exploits is out! I've been talking a lot about Unwinnable Monthly lately, but Exploits is the other Unwinnable-produced magazine, our on-going cultural diary. 16 pages of thoughtful recommendations and the occasional warning. Subscribe and get it now!:
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
1
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Stay in from the snowcrete and get cozy with some micro-criticism. This month's Exploits includes writing on topics like The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and Materialists. Buy:
buff.ly/tbqYoVp
Subscribe:
buff.ly/tGadYLN
Read
@kellymerka.bsky.social
's essay on puppets:
buff.ly/YRqFcGZ
5 days ago
0
9
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Jordan Cassidy đ PAX East
5 days ago
I liked this quick read by
@orringrey.com
at
@unwinnable.com
about the way game design that values iterative play can erect barriers to the table.
unwinnable.com/2026/01/13/t...
loading . . .
The Woods Are Lovely, Dark and Deep: On Why I Havenât Played Root, Like, Twice - Unwinnable
I picked it up because of Kyle Ferrinâs art.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/01/13/the-woods-are-lovely-dark-and-deep-on-why-i-havent-played-root-like-twice/
1
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reposted by
Unwinnable
David Shimomura
5 days ago
Lovely to see
@unwinnable.com
is able to keep such esteemed company
add a skeleton here at some point
0
5
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reposted by
Unwinnable
chilton đ
6 days ago
Wrote about my western adventures for Unwinnable! WATCH THE RUTHLESS FOUR!
add a skeleton here at some point
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5
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ICYMI: "I spent most of last year, when faced with a few hours to myself, thinking, 'Damn, I want to watch a Western.'"
@chiltonm.bsky.social
shares a few of the Western movies she watched in 2025:
loading . . .
A Fistful of Westerns - Unwinnable
There's nothing as satisfying as a well-framed shot of a horse running fast.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/01/30/a-fistful-of-westerns/
7 days ago
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7
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"I spent most of last year, when faced with a few hours to myself, thinking, 'Damn, I want to watch a Western.'"
@chiltonm.bsky.social
shares a few of the Western movies she watched in 2025:
loading . . .
A Fistful of Westerns - Unwinnable
There's nothing as satisfying as a well-framed shot of a horse running fast.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/01/30/a-fistful-of-westerns/
8 days ago
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4
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reposted by
Unwinnable
David Shimomura
8 days ago
LETS GOOOOO Honestly some of these are straight fire and I'll probably buy some extras for the rest of the year. Also if we get a bunch more subs I can hire a bunch more writers.
add a skeleton here at some point
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One week left to pitch! Feel free to reply/DM with any questions.
add a skeleton here at some point
8 days ago
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ICYMI: "Playing Angeline Era, one of my favorite games of 2025, is like dreaming with all the fear and frustration, but also reckless joy, it entails."
@emilyprice.bsky.social
bumps into Angeline Era:
loading . . .
Angeline Era vs Videogames - Unwinnable
In Angeline Era, discursive difficulty leads to meaningful experiences.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/01/29/angeline-era-vs-videogames/
8 days ago
0
4
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Joshua Rivera
8 days ago
Unwinnable is cool, man
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Stu Horvath
8 days ago
What's Unwinnable? A site dedicated to freeform cultural criticism, founded 2010, subscriber supported since 2014. We love READERS and don't fuck around with SEO, ad tech, paywalls or anything else that interferes with the story. A better internet is possible, and you can help with just $5 a month.
0
7
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Stu Horvath
8 days ago
Last chance to take advantage of the Unwinnable year-end special subscription offer: sign up for $5, get all 24 issues from 2025. Ends tonight! Easily one whole day of distraction from doomscrolling.
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
@unwinnable.com
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"Playing Angeline Era, one of my favorite games of 2025, is like dreaming with all the fear and frustration, but also reckless joy, it entails."
@emilyprice.bsky.social
bumps into Angeline Era:
loading . . .
Angeline Era vs Videogames - Unwinnable
In Angeline Era, discursive difficulty leads to meaningful experiences.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/01/29/angeline-era-vs-videogames/
9 days ago
0
19
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Dr. Emily Price
9 days ago
Angeline Era is like a dream: random, transcendent, frustrating. That feeling made it one of my favorite games of 2025. My review:
unwinnable.com/2026/01/29/a...
loading . . .
Angeline Era vs Videogames - Unwinnable
In Angeline Era, discursive difficulty leads to meaningful experiences.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/01/29/angeline-era-vs-videogames/
1
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Stu Horvath
11 days ago
I took down the year-end special. Now when you subscribe to Unwinnable, you get the current issue. Like a secret fast food restaurant menu, though, I'll continue to honor the deal until Friday. So, last chance to get all of the 2025 issues for five bucks:
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
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ICYMI: "This month we reflect on the year gone past and how the spirit of revolution never really dies[.]" Oluwatayo Adewole dips into 2025's One Battle After Another, Palestine 36 and Happyend:
loading . . .
2025 - Unwinnable
This month we reflect on the year gone past and how the spirit of revolution never really dies.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/01/28/2025/
9 days ago
0
0
0
reposted by
Unwinnable
Stu Horvath
9 days ago
Thread below is a full reckoning of the contents of the January issue of
@unwinnable.com
. Several of the stories are online now, so you can get a further taste. The year-end special goes away after tomorrow, so, tick, tock, tick, tock:
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
add a skeleton here at some point
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"This month we reflect on the year gone past and how the spirit of revolution never really dies[.]" Oluwatayo Adewole dips into 2025's One Battle After Another, Palestine 36 and Happyend:
loading . . .
2025 - Unwinnable
This month we reflect on the year gone past and how the spirit of revolution never really dies.
https://unwinnable.com/2026/01/28/2025/
10 days ago
0
5
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reposted by
Unwinnable
Gonçalo Santos- Freelance Journalist Available For Work
10 days ago
Fantastic read on a striking game that I missed entirely. Time to fix that.
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