Brandon Craw
@brandoncraw.bsky.social
Review bylines on startmenu.co.uk | Also made a podcast about video games and psychology called Mind Controllers 🧠 🎮 | MA Clinical Psychology
linktr.ee/MindControllers
linktr.ee/MindControllers
Pinned
Brandon Craw
@brandoncraw.bsky.social
· Dec 12
Yo! We're Mind Controllers, a podcast focusing on doing deep dives of some of our favorite games and video game characters. We also do a weekly general games chat on the side. Come listen and hang out with us! 🔗 to the pod in bio!
In this week's episode of Scatterbrained, we discuss a new article about the best group composition in co-op games, Abiotic Factor, and a new Metroidvania called Nocturnal 2. Hang out with us on your way to the weekend!
open.spotify.com/episode/2aJg...
open.spotify.com/episode/2aJg...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:12 PM
In this week's episode of Scatterbrained, we discuss a new article about the best group composition in co-op games, Abiotic Factor, and a new Metroidvania called Nocturnal 2. Hang out with us on your way to the weekend!
open.spotify.com/episode/2aJg...
open.spotify.com/episode/2aJg...
Reposted by Brandon Craw
I cannot wait to go home, get high, and short a baby on the intergalactic warlord stock market
It's time to SHORT THAT BABY! 📈
Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator is OUT NOW on Steam!
PLUS even more campaigns and content coming out over the next weeks and months! 💚👽
store.steampowered.com/app/3642000/...
Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator is OUT NOW on Steam!
PLUS even more campaigns and content coming out over the next weeks and months! 💚👽
store.steampowered.com/app/3642000/...
January 29, 2026 at 11:37 PM
I cannot wait to go home, get high, and short a baby on the intergalactic warlord stock market
Yet another amazingly written review by Moises. This game must bring out the best of reviewers!
January 29, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Yet another amazingly written review by Moises. This game must bring out the best of reviewers!
Stunning writeup about Cairn by Lex Luddy. Left me feeling like I toppled an insurmountable challenge. Please go read!!
Cairn is a staggeringly beautiful game that is more than willing to interrogate what drives a person to want to break and redefine the bounds of reality.
www.gamerguides.com/cairn/review...
www.gamerguides.com/cairn/review...
January 29, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Stunning writeup about Cairn by Lex Luddy. Left me feeling like I toppled an insurmountable challenge. Please go read!!
Reposted by Brandon Craw
Hello! I'm updating Future Friends Games' contacts lists for press/content creators who cover VR gaming. If you'd like to make sure you're on our lists, please DM me or email [email protected] to let me know! Knowing what platforms you cover (PS VR2, Quest, SteamVR etc) helps a lot, too.
January 28, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Hello! I'm updating Future Friends Games' contacts lists for press/content creators who cover VR gaming. If you'd like to make sure you're on our lists, please DM me or email [email protected] to let me know! Knowing what platforms you cover (PS VR2, Quest, SteamVR etc) helps a lot, too.
Holy shit this is wild lol
January 28, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Holy shit this is wild lol
I got to try out the Nocturnal 2 demo! Its light progress bar added an interesting mechanic to the typical Metroidvania formula. Come check out my thoughts here!
@mindcontrollers.bsky.social delves into the darkness of Ytash in the new demo for Nocturnal 2.
Preview | Nocturnal 2 Demo - Look for the Light — startmenu
Brandon Craw delves into the darkness of Ytash in the new demo for Nocturnal 2.
www.startmenu.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 3:29 PM
I got to try out the Nocturnal 2 demo! Its light progress bar added an interesting mechanic to the typical Metroidvania formula. Come check out my thoughts here!
Genuinely tried to play Highguard, but kept getting hit with the safe boot error, even though I've enabled it. Guess no Highguard for me yet :(
January 27, 2026 at 5:40 AM
Genuinely tried to play Highguard, but kept getting hit with the safe boot error, even though I've enabled it. Guess no Highguard for me yet :(
Glad my silent optimism got a win 😂. I was really hoping the team could pull this off. Can't wait to try out this game later tonight!
We Played ‘Highguard’ And It’s Really Good
We Played ‘Highguard’ And It’s Really Good
Wildlight's Highguard is just good, it scratches the raiding itch without asking you to sink hundreds of hours into basebuilding.
The post We Played ‘Highguard’ And It’s Really Good appeared first on But Why Tho?.
dlvr.it
January 26, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Glad my silent optimism got a win 😂. I was really hoping the team could pull this off. Can't wait to try out this game later tonight!
Here's a link to the research article regarding embodiment in VR. They added different factors to make VR more immersive, then had the participants complete a survey. We dive into this article and more in our latest pod episode!
dl.digra.org/index.php/dl...
dl.digra.org/index.php/dl...
January 26, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Here's a link to the research article regarding embodiment in VR. They added different factors to make VR more immersive, then had the participants complete a survey. We dive into this article and more in our latest pod episode!
dl.digra.org/index.php/dl...
dl.digra.org/index.php/dl...
Streaming Absolum for a couple of hours. Come hang out with me and Joe as we start this game for the first time!
www.twitch.tv/mindcontroll...
www.twitch.tv/mindcontroll...
Twitch
Twitch is the world's leading video platform and community for gamers.
www.twitch.tv
January 26, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Streaming Absolum for a couple of hours. Come hang out with me and Joe as we start this game for the first time!
www.twitch.tv/mindcontroll...
www.twitch.tv/mindcontroll...
Me: I'm sorry for not getting back to you! My evening got really busy.
My evening:
My evening:
January 24, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Me: I'm sorry for not getting back to you! My evening got really busy.
My evening:
My evening:
Fascinating writeup by @dietdeitz.bsky.social on a new fps Blumhouse game. Go read it when you get the chance!
@dietdeitz.bsky.social took a trip to Hispania, a twisted version of Spain lost in the shadows of fascism and not much else, in Blumhouse Games’ newest FPS horror title.
Preview | Crisol: Theater of Idols - The Blood of Fascism Runs Lukewarm — startmenu
Mik Deitz took a trip to Hispania, a twisted version of Spain lost in the shadows of fascism and not much else, in Blumhouse Games’ newest FPS horror title.
www.startmenu.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Fascinating writeup by @dietdeitz.bsky.social on a new fps Blumhouse game. Go read it when you get the chance!
Love me a narrative deduction game. I gotta check this out!
TR-49 draws you in with the promise of new discoveries. The new narrative deduction game from inkle marries its puzzle elements with an audio drama, laying out a winding path of archival documents for you to trace its central mystery.
@buttonprompt.com reviews.
@buttonprompt.com reviews.
Review | TR-49 - Getting Lost Between The Stacks — startmenu
TR-49 draws you in with the promise of new discoveries. The new narrative deduction game from inkle marries its puzzle elements with an audio drama, laying out a winding path of archival documents for...
www.startmenu.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Love me a narrative deduction game. I gotta check this out!
Had such a good time recording this episode. We go a lot deeper into a discussion about VR research than I expected! Can definitely see the therapeutic uses for this level of immersion
Use the link below or search "Mind Controllers" anywhere you listen to podcasts!
open.spotify.com/episode/0n5S...
Use the link below or search "Mind Controllers" anywhere you listen to podcasts!
open.spotify.com/episode/0n5S...
Scatterbrained - Muppets Again
open.spotify.com
January 23, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Had such a good time recording this episode. We go a lot deeper into a discussion about VR research than I expected! Can definitely see the therapeutic uses for this level of immersion
Use the link below or search "Mind Controllers" anywhere you listen to podcasts!
open.spotify.com/episode/0n5S...
Use the link below or search "Mind Controllers" anywhere you listen to podcasts!
open.spotify.com/episode/0n5S...
Never thought I'd see the day
'Fable' launches Autumn 2026 on Xbox Series, PS5 and PC. Also Game Pass Day One.
Gameplay Teaser:
youtu.be/C5qWGaqzk98?...
Gameplay Teaser:
youtu.be/C5qWGaqzk98?...
January 22, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Never thought I'd see the day
Never thought I'd see the day
'Fable' launches Autumn 2026 on Xbox Series, PS5 and PC. Also Game Pass Day One.
Gameplay Teaser:
youtu.be/C5qWGaqzk98?...
Gameplay Teaser:
youtu.be/C5qWGaqzk98?...
January 22, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Never thought I'd see the day
Umm... was that a Gundam in Forza Horizon 6??
January 22, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Umm... was that a Gundam in Forza Horizon 6??
Really happy about this one! Had a great time playing through this game with my partner. Looking forward to getting some more mileage out of Wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park — What’s on the Way www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVB3...
January 22, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Really happy about this one! Had a great time playing through this game with my partner. Looking forward to getting some more mileage out of Wonder
Reposted by Brandon Craw
So excited to make my debut in Unwinnable!
I dug my claws into Phoenix Springs, analyzing it through the lens of the Tithonus myth and the life cycle of the humble cicada.
I dug my claws into Phoenix Springs, analyzing it through the lens of the Tithonus myth and the life cycle of the humble cicada.
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
Buy: buff.ly/LRotYmo
Subscribe: buff.ly/L0T9hxk
January 21, 2026 at 11:00 PM
So excited to make my debut in Unwinnable!
I dug my claws into Phoenix Springs, analyzing it through the lens of the Tithonus myth and the life cycle of the humble cicada.
I dug my claws into Phoenix Springs, analyzing it through the lens of the Tithonus myth and the life cycle of the humble cicada.
Reposted by Brandon Craw
Perfect Tides: Station to Station is a lovingly crafted, often uncomfortable look at the transition into adulthood.
@taylorjrioux.bsky.social reviews.
@taylorjrioux.bsky.social reviews.
Review | Perfect Tides: Station to Station - Just Enjoy the Ride — startmenu
Perfect Tides: Station to Station is a lovingly crafted, often uncomfortable look at the transition into adulthood. Taylor Rioux reviews.
www.startmenu.co.uk
January 21, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Perfect Tides: Station to Station is a lovingly crafted, often uncomfortable look at the transition into adulthood.
@taylorjrioux.bsky.social reviews.
@taylorjrioux.bsky.social reviews.
Reposted by Brandon Craw
This week's Update Patch saw the shoe drop in the VR space and even more change at Ubisoft Massive.
@bigbovy.bsky.social put all the biggest gaming news together into one place.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
@bigbovy.bsky.social put all the biggest gaming news together into one place.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
Update Patch News Roundup (20/01/26) | startmenu
Get more from startmenu on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:30 PM
This week's Update Patch saw the shoe drop in the VR space and even more change at Ubisoft Massive.
@bigbovy.bsky.social put all the biggest gaming news together into one place.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
@bigbovy.bsky.social put all the biggest gaming news together into one place.
www.patreon.com/posts/update...
"You have the pressure of the children that makes you a better person 'cause you have no choice." Not even 10 minutes into the @remapradio.bsky.social goty pod and @gameonysus.bsky.social already spitting out gold
January 17, 2026 at 5:44 PM
"You have the pressure of the children that makes you a better person 'cause you have no choice." Not even 10 minutes into the @remapradio.bsky.social goty pod and @gameonysus.bsky.social already spitting out gold
The Bone Temple though 👀....
January 17, 2026 at 4:37 PM
The Bone Temple though 👀....
No quote has ever made more sense than this one from @smashynick.bsky.social
"8 bucks is still 5 bucks, it doesn't become 10 bucks."
That's just math!
That's just math!
January 14, 2026 at 11:39 PM
No quote has ever made more sense than this one from @smashynick.bsky.social