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Katya Ryabova

@katyar.bsky.social

460 followers 100 following 610 posts

Video games freelance writer & journalist. Gaming, motherhood, drinks. She/her. Games I love: 🐺 The Witcher 🎨 Expedition 33 🌻 Stardew Valley 🧠 Baldur's Gate 3 💀 Hades Substack: playingthisweek.substack.com Coffee and games fund: https://ko-fi.com/katyar

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Jul 16

Hi, I'm Katya, and I play video games, write about video games, and think about video games way too much these days!

I live in Toronto, Canada, and spend a lot of time in Spain. I'm also a new mom, so sleep is a fav hobby 🤩

You can find my video games writing here: playingthisweek.substack.com

Playing This Week | Katya Ryabova | Substack

Decidedly unserious video game essays, reviews, and interviews from a recovering marketer and average human based in Toronto. Open-minded but a sucker for good RPGs, adventure, and cozy games (whateve...

playingthisweek.substack.com

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Reposted by Katya Ryabova

Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · 19d

Canada nation built (and built and built and built) until the 1970s, then began the great dismantling. I'd pin it to Mulroney era when rails were ripped out across country & Chretien/Harris pulling out of housing funding/backstopping. Canada Post stuff is just another dismantling moment.

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 20d

Canadian games get me all excited, but Indigenous-led games developed on Turtle Island? Even more so!

My latest on Akiiwan: Survival by @littlebuffalogames.bsky.social:

playingthisweek.substack.com/p/akiiwan-su...

Canadian spotlight: Akiiwan Survival

An Indigenous-led cozy survival game readying for early access

playingthisweek.substack.com

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 12

HELL YES

Supergiant Games @supergiantgames.bsky.social · Sep 12

HADES II v1.0 is coming September 25!🌒

Battle beyond the Underworld in our launch trailer.🏔️

Play in blazing-fast 120fps in TV Mode on Nintendo Switch 2, or 60fps on Nintendo Switch (w/ free upgrade to Switch 2). Transfer PC progress from Steam/Epic w/ Cross Saves.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8lJ...

Hades II – v1.0 Launch Trailer (Coming Sep. 25!)

YouTube video by Supergiant Games

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Katya Ryabova

Iffi Mooz’pan @iffimoozipan.bsky.social · Sep 12

Celebrating Nintendo Direct reveals by... completely ignoring them and going live with Hollow Knight!

Still recovering from flu, but determined to wrap this up as much as I can.
Collectibles? White Palace? Endings? Grimm Troupe? Pantheons??
How close to 112% can I get? 🤔

www.twitch.tv/iffimoozipan

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 12

So many games I'm excited not to play!

Wrote about the how and the why in my latest: playingthisweek.substack.com/p/the-games-...

#letsplaysrule

To the games I won't ever play...

An ode to those who make experiencing them still possible.

playingthisweek.substack.com

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Reposted by Katya Ryabova

AndresPlays🎮🦇 @andresplays.bsky.social · Sep 10

Bluesky is growing and folks wanting to find more gaming content don't know where to start.

I made this Starter Park full of devs, content creators and gaming journalists making meaningful posts that I love seeing on my TL!

go.bsky.app/TtCF8vE

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 10

Such a giving soul you are. Some really lovely folks followed me back this time around, all thanks to you!

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Reposted by Katya Ryabova

gameuxsummit.com @gameuxsummit.com · Sep 9

This is already our last session at the #GameUXsummit… Our keynote speaker today is David Sears, creative director (most recently on South of Midnight) and writer. He takes us on a journey: “Life takes you to unexpected places, love brings you home”.

Photo of David Sears presenting his title slide

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 9

I'm even worse at stealth than I am at shooting, plus my blood pressure spikes when I stealth, so maybe I should stick to LP watches 😅

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 9

I've only watched one by Jacksepticeye! Thank you for the reco, I'll check Chip out 😀

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 8

Heck I'm even tempted to try playing it although I'm abysmal at action and shooters (and don't enjoy them tbh)

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 8

I have now completed my let's play watch. I'm firmly on board with ALL OF THIS

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 5

I knew nothing about Metal Gear Solid games—NOTHING—before starting a let's play watch of Metal Gear Solid Delta.

I thought they're just war action games

GUYS WHAT THE FUCK

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 5

THIS EXACTLY

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 5

Yay!!!

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 5

I knew nothing about Metal Gear Solid games—NOTHING—before starting a let's play watch of Metal Gear Solid Delta.

I thought they're just war action games

GUYS WHAT THE FUCK

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 4

It sure does!

I deeply care about Silksong in that I'm very excited for peeps to play and enjoy it, but I won't be playing it myself if that makes sense

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Reposted by Katya Ryabova

Jessica Cogswell 🌸 @awildjessichu.bsky.social · Sep 4

Every GOTY podcast this year is going to be forced to answer the age old question of who would win: one little buggy, or a deeply unwell French family?

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 4

Happy Silksong Day to those who celebrate!

May the servers crash no more, and your journey begins as smooth as... well, silk 🧵

Reposted by Katya Ryabova

From The Sublime… Magazine @fromthesublime.bsky.social · Aug 28

Doors are open, details are in the graphic. We’d love to hear from you if you fancy flexing your writing or illustrating muscles!

From The Sublime… Magazine @fromthesublime.bsky.social · Aug 25

Let’s open the doors up again shall we?

Deadlines for pitches is September 12th 2025!

From The Sublime… Open call for pitches

With the fundraising campaign for Issue Four underway, it's now time to open up our doors to pitches for the new issue.

We already have some great returning names lined up for the issue, but we want to hear from you if you have a brilliant, offbeat or original popular culture take.

Accepted contributions are remunerated - all proceeds generated by the magazine are distributed equally among the contributors after production costs are deducted.

For this issue, we're particularly keen for original takes on tabletop gaming, music and the state of the major pop culture franchises after a tumultuous 2025...

But these are only suggestions - our minds are open and ready to be blown!

FTS has an open door policy - and in particular welcomes new or early experience writers and artists from underrepresented and minority backgrounds.

To submit a pitch or if you have any questions, mail: pitch@fromthesublime.com

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Reposted by Katya Ryabova

Christopher Patrick @blankshore.bsky.social · Aug 27

‼️ CONTENT CREATORS & GAMES PRESS ‼️

If you like sci-fi stories, keeping your team alive on an alien planet, gorgeous turn-based battles, and demos that are OUT NOW...then Dead In Antares is for you!

@ishtar.games is cooking with this one, I swear: s.team/a/2511800

Reposts/likes appreciated!

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Aug 27

Thank you for that "tutu" screenshot 🥴

Surely, you mean "sadists" not "masochists", since they're the ones inflicting torture?

Great write-up. Not playing it in a million years!

Reposted by Katya Ryabova

Mystic Muffin 🧁 @mysticmuffin.bsky.social · Aug 26

Indie game devs when they find out silksong releases the same day

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Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Aug 26

The logs are the worst. Reading them made my skin crawl. As a parent, I just can't imagine the pain.

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Aug 26

What are your favourite fall games?

Best autumn vibes?

Ideal when paired with a hot cup of tea while the wind rustles outside?

Looking for examples of games that get the fall season right 🍂

Screenshot of a river farm from Stardew Valley shown in the fall season

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Aug 26

Thanks so much Brad! And their booth is sooo cool, I loved seeing it and can't wait to read your thoughts in the round-up!