Aaron A. Reed
@aaronareed.bsky.social
Maker of books, games, games about books, and books about games. Social media content syndicated to multiple platforms: https://linktr.ee/aaronareed
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Aaron A. Reed
@aaronareed.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Downcrawl 2E - Roleplaying in a Weird, Wondrous Underworld
Downcrawl 2E is a TTRPG toolkit for exploring a weird, wondrous underworld of stalactite cities and fungal gods. Now supports zero-prep and solo play!
www.backerkit.com
Yay I'm finally here! I'm Aaron A. Reed, a writer and game designer who has written books about games, games about books, and lots of permutations in between. You might know me from Ice-Bound, Blue Lacuna, 50 Years of Text Games, or my latest thing, a #TTRPG: www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a...
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Here we go...
Announcing the Visible Zorker Project and Patreon! Remember how I did Visible Zork 1 and 2? I'm going to do Zork 3, and then continue through Infocom's entire canon -- in chronological order, one per month.
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/the-...
Announcing the Visible Zorker Project and Patreon! Remember how I did Visible Zork 1 and 2? I'm going to do Zork 3, and then continue through Infocom's entire canon -- in chronological order, one per month.
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/the-...
The Visible Zorker Project (and Patreon)
Announcing the Visible Zorker Project and Patreon. The plan: deconstruct every Infocom game, one per month, and make the source code explorable.
blog.zarfhome.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Here we go...
Announcing the Visible Zorker Project and Patreon! Remember how I did Visible Zork 1 and 2? I'm going to do Zork 3, and then continue through Infocom's entire canon -- in chronological order, one per month.
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/the-...
Announcing the Visible Zorker Project and Patreon! Remember how I did Visible Zork 1 and 2? I'm going to do Zork 3, and then continue through Infocom's entire canon -- in chronological order, one per month.
blog.zarfhome.com/2026/01/the-...
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Rain falls deep beneath the earth, and will not stop. How will you survive a damper, slimier, flooded underground? Can the Godswimmer be found? Will an Aquaeon Conclave be called? Sink or swim in...
The Drizzle Depths
Downcrawl Adventure Zine #3
#ttrpg
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
The Drizzle Depths
Downcrawl Adventure Zine #3
#ttrpg
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
January 21, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Rain falls deep beneath the earth, and will not stop. How will you survive a damper, slimier, flooded underground? Can the Godswimmer be found? Will an Aquaeon Conclave be called? Sink or swim in...
The Drizzle Depths
Downcrawl Adventure Zine #3
#ttrpg
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
The Drizzle Depths
Downcrawl Adventure Zine #3
#ttrpg
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
And heads up: you can also now get **all three Downcrawl Adventure Zines** together and save a few $$. Each is a unique no-prep adventure for your #Downcrawl2E campaign. www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
DriveThruRPG
www.drivethrurpg.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:03 PM
And heads up: you can also now get **all three Downcrawl Adventure Zines** together and save a few $$. Each is a unique no-prep adventure for your #Downcrawl2E campaign. www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
Rain falls deep beneath the earth, and will not stop. How will you survive a damper, slimier, flooded underground? Can the Godswimmer be found? Will an Aquaeon Conclave be called? Sink or swim in...
The Drizzle Depths
Downcrawl Adventure Zine #3
#ttrpg
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
The Drizzle Depths
Downcrawl Adventure Zine #3
#ttrpg
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
January 21, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Rain falls deep beneath the earth, and will not stop. How will you survive a damper, slimier, flooded underground? Can the Godswimmer be found? Will an Aquaeon Conclave be called? Sink or swim in...
The Drizzle Depths
Downcrawl Adventure Zine #3
#ttrpg
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
The Drizzle Depths
Downcrawl Adventure Zine #3
#ttrpg
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
On the night before Christmas, your party encounters the bones of a reindeer...
Traverse the Midnight North in Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists.
🎁 Wishlist now: store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...
Traverse the Midnight North in Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists.
🎁 Wishlist now: store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...
December 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
On the night before Christmas, your party encounters the bones of a reindeer...
Traverse the Midnight North in Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists.
🎁 Wishlist now: store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...
Traverse the Midnight North in Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists.
🎁 Wishlist now: store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...
I understand Christmas is a nice time for some people. If that's you, I hope you have a wonderful week. If it's not, remember you're not alone.
December 23, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I understand Christmas is a nice time for some people. If that's you, I hope you have a wonderful week. If it's not, remember you're not alone.
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
All 35 talks from THINKY CON, about making puzzle games, are on YouTube: thinkygames.com/news/all-35-...
#puzzlegames #gamedev
#puzzlegames #gamedev
All 35 talks from ThinkyCon 2025 are now available to watch on YouTube · Thinky Games
In case you missed any of our 2nd annual online convention centered around the making of the games we love so much, every presentation from ThinkyCon 2025 has now been uploaded to our YouTube channel ...
thinkygames.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:17 AM
All 35 talks from THINKY CON, about making puzzle games, are on YouTube: thinkygames.com/news/all-35-...
#puzzlegames #gamedev
#puzzlegames #gamedev
Roguelike Celebration is happening today and my awesome friend Johnathan is giving this inspiring talk (gonna be a great time). www.roguelike.club
October 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Roguelike Celebration is happening today and my awesome friend Johnathan is giving this inspiring talk (gonna be a great time). www.roguelike.club
Hell yeah man! Thanks for sharing the link, it's such great stuff.
October 15, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Hell yeah man! Thanks for sharing the link, it's such great stuff.
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Nice! Looking forward to reading a deep dive on a tough design space many designers engage with.
October 15, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Nice! Looking forward to reading a deep dive on a tough design space many designers engage with.
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
"Which would you rather play, a GMless or a diceless RPG"
To which I say, "why not both"
To which you say, "examples please"
Leaving out (checks notes) every single one of my games, let me throw out a few. If I miss your favs, chime in!
To which I say, "why not both"
To which you say, "examples please"
Leaving out (checks notes) every single one of my games, let me throw out a few. If I miss your favs, chime in!
October 3, 2025 at 9:57 PM
"Which would you rather play, a GMless or a diceless RPG"
To which I say, "why not both"
To which you say, "examples please"
Leaving out (checks notes) every single one of my games, let me throw out a few. If I miss your favs, chime in!
To which I say, "why not both"
To which you say, "examples please"
Leaving out (checks notes) every single one of my games, let me throw out a few. If I miss your favs, chime in!
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
Hey it's #SteamSale! You can get
🔥 IMMORTALITY for $9.99
👁️ TELLING LIES for $4.99
☕ HER STORY for $4.99
& wishlist Project C and Project D whilst you are there...
It's a good time to play good games in the present and wish for good games in the future! ✨
store.steampowered.com/developer/Sa...
🔥 IMMORTALITY for $9.99
👁️ TELLING LIES for $4.99
☕ HER STORY for $4.99
& wishlist Project C and Project D whilst you are there...
It's a good time to play good games in the present and wish for good games in the future! ✨
store.steampowered.com/developer/Sa...
September 30, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Hey it's #SteamSale! You can get
🔥 IMMORTALITY for $9.99
👁️ TELLING LIES for $4.99
☕ HER STORY for $4.99
& wishlist Project C and Project D whilst you are there...
It's a good time to play good games in the present and wish for good games in the future! ✨
store.steampowered.com/developer/Sa...
🔥 IMMORTALITY for $9.99
👁️ TELLING LIES for $4.99
☕ HER STORY for $4.99
& wishlist Project C and Project D whilst you are there...
It's a good time to play good games in the present and wish for good games in the future! ✨
store.steampowered.com/developer/Sa...
Wow, Alien Earth started out so strong but has sure gotten real dumb the last couple episodes...
September 10, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Wow, Alien Earth started out so strong but has sure gotten real dumb the last couple episodes...
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
It’s an honor to help launch this series with @anasalter.bsky.social
The first copies of my next book, a short reflection on the lasting impact of indie game Undertale, have arrived at @uchicagopress.bsky.social and are in good company with @n-w-f.bsky.social's upcoming book on Animal Crossing. Find both at: press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/se...
September 9, 2025 at 6:51 PM
It’s an honor to help launch this series with @anasalter.bsky.social
⬇️ 🚨🚨Heads up, this sale ends tonight!🚨🚨
This is a _rare_ occasion when my physical books are on sale as well my digital stuff (probably increasingly rare if the tariff situation continues to worsen).
This is a _rare_ occasion when my physical books are on sale as well my digital stuff (probably increasingly rare if the tariff situation continues to worsen).
Reminder: my #BookSale this weekend includes:
🚪 Subcutanean, spooky novel that changes for each reader: subcutanean.textories.com
⚔️ Downcrawl 2E, #TTRPG of underworld exploration: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
💾 50 Years of Text Games, history of interactive fiction: if50.textories.com
🚪 Subcutanean, spooky novel that changes for each reader: subcutanean.textories.com
⚔️ Downcrawl 2E, #TTRPG of underworld exploration: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
💾 50 Years of Text Games, history of interactive fiction: if50.textories.com
Downcrawl 2E - Aaron A. Reed | Downcrawl | DriveThruRPG
Explore cursed mazes. Build stalactite cities. Get addicted to mushrooms.
Welcome Down.
Downcrawl is a tabletop roleplaying toolkit that helps you build and explore a weird, wondrous underworld so far...
www.drivethrurpg.com
September 9, 2025 at 11:03 PM
⬇️ 🚨🚨Heads up, this sale ends tonight!🚨🚨
This is a _rare_ occasion when my physical books are on sale as well my digital stuff (probably increasingly rare if the tariff situation continues to worsen).
This is a _rare_ occasion when my physical books are on sale as well my digital stuff (probably increasingly rare if the tariff situation continues to worsen).
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
good morning, i wrote a manifesto about a new direction for game design / play
possumcreek.medium.com/the-expressi...
possumcreek.medium.com/the-expressi...
The Expressionist Games Manifesto
“Work! Intoxication! Brain-racking! Chewing, eating, gorging, rooting up! Rapturous birth pangs! Jabbing of the brush, preferably right…
possumcreek.medium.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:41 PM
good morning, i wrote a manifesto about a new direction for game design / play
possumcreek.medium.com/the-expressi...
possumcreek.medium.com/the-expressi...
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
I cannot recommend Aaron's books enough, they are fantastic games and 50 years of text games is an amazing dive into the history of games that has largely been left out of the popular consciousness
Reminder: my #BookSale this weekend includes:
🚪 Subcutanean, spooky novel that changes for each reader: subcutanean.textories.com
⚔️ Downcrawl 2E, #TTRPG of underworld exploration: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
💾 50 Years of Text Games, history of interactive fiction: if50.textories.com
🚪 Subcutanean, spooky novel that changes for each reader: subcutanean.textories.com
⚔️ Downcrawl 2E, #TTRPG of underworld exploration: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
💾 50 Years of Text Games, history of interactive fiction: if50.textories.com
Downcrawl 2E - Aaron A. Reed | Downcrawl | DriveThruRPG
Explore cursed mazes. Build stalactite cities. Get addicted to mushrooms.
Welcome Down.
Downcrawl is a tabletop roleplaying toolkit that helps you build and explore a weird, wondrous underworld so far...
www.drivethrurpg.com
September 7, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I cannot recommend Aaron's books enough, they are fantastic games and 50 years of text games is an amazing dive into the history of games that has largely been left out of the popular consciousness
Reminder: my #BookSale this weekend includes:
🚪 Subcutanean, spooky novel that changes for each reader: subcutanean.textories.com
⚔️ Downcrawl 2E, #TTRPG of underworld exploration: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
💾 50 Years of Text Games, history of interactive fiction: if50.textories.com
🚪 Subcutanean, spooky novel that changes for each reader: subcutanean.textories.com
⚔️ Downcrawl 2E, #TTRPG of underworld exploration: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
💾 50 Years of Text Games, history of interactive fiction: if50.textories.com
Downcrawl 2E - Aaron A. Reed | Downcrawl | DriveThruRPG
Explore cursed mazes. Build stalactite cities. Get addicted to mushrooms.
Welcome Down.
Downcrawl is a tabletop roleplaying toolkit that helps you build and explore a weird, wondrous underworld so far...
www.drivethrurpg.com
September 7, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Reminder: my #BookSale this weekend includes:
🚪 Subcutanean, spooky novel that changes for each reader: subcutanean.textories.com
⚔️ Downcrawl 2E, #TTRPG of underworld exploration: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
💾 50 Years of Text Games, history of interactive fiction: if50.textories.com
🚪 Subcutanean, spooky novel that changes for each reader: subcutanean.textories.com
⚔️ Downcrawl 2E, #TTRPG of underworld exploration: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
💾 50 Years of Text Games, history of interactive fiction: if50.textories.com
ReSkies or NuBlues or whatever they're called on here much appreciated 🙏
🎃🍁🍂AUTUMN SALE!🍂🍁🎃 All my books and games are on sale for one week only to celebrate the impending arrival of cooler days and pumpkin lattes.
RPGs: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher...
50 Years of Text Games: if50.textories.com
Subcutanean: subcutanean.textories.com
Cool swag: aaronareed.net/store/
RPGs: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher...
50 Years of Text Games: if50.textories.com
Subcutanean: subcutanean.textories.com
Cool swag: aaronareed.net/store/
September 5, 2025 at 12:09 AM
ReSkies or NuBlues or whatever they're called on here much appreciated 🙏
Absolutely! But with only fifty chapters there were hundreds it would have been great to cover that didn't make it in 😭
(I mean that very literally, I had a long list of over 1000 possible games and a shortlist of several hundred...)
(I mean that very literally, I had a long list of over 1000 possible games and a shortlist of several hundred...)
September 4, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Absolutely! But with only fifty chapters there were hundreds it would have been great to cover that didn't make it in 😭
(I mean that very literally, I had a long list of over 1000 possible games and a shortlist of several hundred...)
(I mean that very literally, I had a long list of over 1000 possible games and a shortlist of several hundred...)
At that last link BTW you can pick up a print copy of Where The Rock Stops: I only did a tiny print run of 100 zines, so grab it soon if you want it!
Also, this is a rare sale where my physical books are all discounted too, so snag a 50 Years of Text Games or Subcutanean if you've been waiting!
Also, this is a rare sale where my physical books are all discounted too, so snag a 50 Years of Text Games or Subcutanean if you've been waiting!
September 4, 2025 at 3:43 PM
At that last link BTW you can pick up a print copy of Where The Rock Stops: I only did a tiny print run of 100 zines, so grab it soon if you want it!
Also, this is a rare sale where my physical books are all discounted too, so snag a 50 Years of Text Games or Subcutanean if you've been waiting!
Also, this is a rare sale where my physical books are all discounted too, so snag a 50 Years of Text Games or Subcutanean if you've been waiting!
🎃🍁🍂AUTUMN SALE!🍂🍁🎃 All my books and games are on sale for one week only to celebrate the impending arrival of cooler days and pumpkin lattes.
RPGs: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher...
50 Years of Text Games: if50.textories.com
Subcutanean: subcutanean.textories.com
Cool swag: aaronareed.net/store/
RPGs: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher...
50 Years of Text Games: if50.textories.com
Subcutanean: subcutanean.textories.com
Cool swag: aaronareed.net/store/
September 4, 2025 at 3:43 PM
🎃🍁🍂AUTUMN SALE!🍂🍁🎃 All my books and games are on sale for one week only to celebrate the impending arrival of cooler days and pumpkin lattes.
RPGs: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher...
50 Years of Text Games: if50.textories.com
Subcutanean: subcutanean.textories.com
Cool swag: aaronareed.net/store/
RPGs: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher...
50 Years of Text Games: if50.textories.com
Subcutanean: subcutanean.textories.com
Cool swag: aaronareed.net/store/
#Downcrawl2E Adventure Zine #2 is here (and ON SALE for launch week)! Explore a new underworld region clinging to an endless roof over bottomless void, in the legendary place Where The Rock Stops. #ttrpg #hexcrawl #DriveThruRPG
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
and SPEAKING OF SALES... (1/2)
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
and SPEAKING OF SALES... (1/2)
September 4, 2025 at 3:43 PM
#Downcrawl2E Adventure Zine #2 is here (and ON SALE for launch week)! Explore a new underworld region clinging to an endless roof over bottomless void, in the legendary place Where The Rock Stops. #ttrpg #hexcrawl #DriveThruRPG
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
and SPEAKING OF SALES... (1/2)
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
and SPEAKING OF SALES... (1/2)
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
our game about DEAD GODS and TAKING BILLIONAIRES TO COURT FOR THEIR CRIMES is in the graun!! thx @yourkyotowife.bsky.social for a thoughtful write-up touching on our complex conversational systems & how joy + rage power transformation 🔥 @allwillrise.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/a...
All Will Rise, the game empowering players to tackle real-world problems
With its rousing card game about activism, indie studio Speculative Agency hopes to inspire players to engage with issues such as pollution and the climate crisis
www.theguardian.com
August 21, 2025 at 5:26 PM
our game about DEAD GODS and TAKING BILLIONAIRES TO COURT FOR THEIR CRIMES is in the graun!! thx @yourkyotowife.bsky.social for a thoughtful write-up touching on our complex conversational systems & how joy + rage power transformation 🔥 @allwillrise.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/a...
Reposted by Aaron A. Reed
@aaronareed.bsky.social's Downcrawl has blown me away with its simultaneous simplicity and complexity.
---
Name a #TTRPG creator (designer, writer, illustrator, etc) you are currently obsessed with and a short point about why.
I'll go first!
---
Name a #TTRPG creator (designer, writer, illustrator, etc) you are currently obsessed with and a short point about why.
I'll go first!
August 19, 2025 at 10:46 PM
@aaronareed.bsky.social's Downcrawl has blown me away with its simultaneous simplicity and complexity.
---
Name a #TTRPG creator (designer, writer, illustrator, etc) you are currently obsessed with and a short point about why.
I'll go first!
---
Name a #TTRPG creator (designer, writer, illustrator, etc) you are currently obsessed with and a short point about why.
I'll go first!