Dominic Tarason
@dominictarason.com
Veteran freelance games crit & PR. Hyped for indie games & mods. Bylines on RPS, PC Gamer, PCGamesN. Find my work, Steam curation & contact info below - He/Him
Find me elsewhere online at dominictarason.com
Contact email: [email protected]
Find me elsewhere online at dominictarason.com
Contact email: [email protected]
Pinned
Dominic Tarason
@dominictarason.com
· Apr 26
Dominic Tarason - Games Crit & PR
Professional Profile, Contact Details & Links
dominictarason.com
Wow, I apparently cleared 10,000 followers!
You've all made a terrible mistake and are going to spend too much on obscure games!
I am terribly sorry, but relieved to see others suffering from my curse.
I also have a Steam curator page, and accept tips (which helps me find games). Details below:
You've all made a terrible mistake and are going to spend too much on obscure games!
I am terribly sorry, but relieved to see others suffering from my curse.
I also have a Steam curator page, and accept tips (which helps me find games). Details below:
Reposted by Dominic Tarason
This holiday season we're bringing not just one present, but TWO! Wishlist SantaCorps 4: DX and SantaCorps: Snow Patrol DX on Steam now!
[ #indiedev #indiegames #gaming #Christmas ]
linktr.ee/virtuosoneom...
[ #indiedev #indiegames #gaming #Christmas ]
linktr.ee/virtuosoneom...
December 10, 2025 at 2:23 AM
This holiday season we're bringing not just one present, but TWO! Wishlist SantaCorps 4: DX and SantaCorps: Snow Patrol DX on Steam now!
[ #indiedev #indiegames #gaming #Christmas ]
linktr.ee/virtuosoneom...
[ #indiedev #indiegames #gaming #Christmas ]
linktr.ee/virtuosoneom...
Reposted by Dominic Tarason
The aforementioned excellent youtube video here: youtu.be/x7G8Dkkc7nc?...
The Indie Classic Time Forgot
YouTube video by The KHC | Kyle Hyde's Corner
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 1:01 AM
The aforementioned excellent youtube video here: youtu.be/x7G8Dkkc7nc?...
Reposted by Dominic Tarason
A random youtube video just reminded me of a pair of genuinely great freeware gems - Vacant Ark and Iwanaga, a pair of very Treasure-inspired experimental freeware shmups from a developer known only as Buster who just kinda disappeared from the scene.
They are both very cool and hold up great today
They are both very cool and hold up great today
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
A random youtube video just reminded me of a pair of genuinely great freeware gems - Vacant Ark and Iwanaga, a pair of very Treasure-inspired experimental freeware shmups from a developer known only as Buster who just kinda disappeared from the scene.
They are both very cool and hold up great today
They are both very cool and hold up great today
I am genuinely in awe at how bad Amazon are at selling games. Remember recently, one of their managers said that they'd tried to launch a games store to compete with Steam and threw billions at it? And everyone's response was 'What store?'.
Genuinely incredibly fascinating study in what marketing vectors lead to literally zero sales here, wowwww
kotaku.com/king-meat-gl...
kotaku.com/king-meat-gl...
December 10, 2025 at 1:58 AM
I am genuinely in awe at how bad Amazon are at selling games. Remember recently, one of their managers said that they'd tried to launch a games store to compete with Steam and threw billions at it? And everyone's response was 'What store?'.
Reposted by Dominic Tarason
Genuinely incredibly fascinating study in what marketing vectors lead to literally zero sales here, wowwww
kotaku.com/king-meat-gl...
kotaku.com/king-meat-gl...
December 10, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Genuinely incredibly fascinating study in what marketing vectors lead to literally zero sales here, wowwww
kotaku.com/king-meat-gl...
kotaku.com/king-meat-gl...
So, there's that whole 'recommend 50 indie games' thing going around.
I'm very tired so I'm just going to link 750 that mostly cost money...
store.steampowered.com/curator/4313...
And 400+ more, mostly free.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
There's some crossover, but I think that's enough?
I'm very tired so I'm just going to link 750 that mostly cost money...
store.steampowered.com/curator/4313...
And 400+ more, mostly free.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
There's some crossover, but I think that's enough?
December 9, 2025 at 11:49 PM
So, there's that whole 'recommend 50 indie games' thing going around.
I'm very tired so I'm just going to link 750 that mostly cost money...
store.steampowered.com/curator/4313...
And 400+ more, mostly free.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
There's some crossover, but I think that's enough?
I'm very tired so I'm just going to link 750 that mostly cost money...
store.steampowered.com/curator/4313...
And 400+ more, mostly free.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
There's some crossover, but I think that's enough?
I just saw a whole bunch of people call Disney's Fireball 'Gooner slop'.
I think we need to ban both of those words.
I think we need to ban both of those words.
Fireball (TV series) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 9, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I just saw a whole bunch of people call Disney's Fireball 'Gooner slop'.
I think we need to ban both of those words.
I think we need to ban both of those words.
Reposted by Dominic Tarason
Christmas miracle - guy called trap15 just began working on a translation for Busin 0 for PS2, arguably the coolest Japanese Wizardry ever.
Said not to expect anything for at least a year, but it's exciting news nonetheless!
Said not to expect anything for at least a year, but it's exciting news nonetheless!
December 9, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Christmas miracle - guy called trap15 just began working on a translation for Busin 0 for PS2, arguably the coolest Japanese Wizardry ever.
Said not to expect anything for at least a year, but it's exciting news nonetheless!
Said not to expect anything for at least a year, but it's exciting news nonetheless!
Some minor teething troubles with the Unbeatable launch, huh?
Key sendouts can be a fiddly nightmare. Not dragging anyone over hot coals for this one.
(To anyone with this issue, click the 'View this email in your browser' link at the top and it'll probably give you your keys - they're not lost!)
Key sendouts can be a fiddly nightmare. Not dragging anyone over hot coals for this one.
(To anyone with this issue, click the 'View this email in your browser' link at the top and it'll probably give you your keys - they're not lost!)
December 9, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Some minor teething troubles with the Unbeatable launch, huh?
Key sendouts can be a fiddly nightmare. Not dragging anyone over hot coals for this one.
(To anyone with this issue, click the 'View this email in your browser' link at the top and it'll probably give you your keys - they're not lost!)
Key sendouts can be a fiddly nightmare. Not dragging anyone over hot coals for this one.
(To anyone with this issue, click the 'View this email in your browser' link at the top and it'll probably give you your keys - they're not lost!)
Oh, wow, apparently the third Quake Brutalist Jam got over SIXTY maps submitted. And one of them is a three-hour-long monster. And there's some other beefy ones in there too.
For comparison, the original Quake was 30 maps long and none were especially big. Easily the biggest community project yet.
For comparison, the original Quake was 30 maps long and none were especially big. Easily the biggest community project yet.
Quake Brutalist Jam 3 Announced
Quake Brutalist Jam 3
It's here! After a brief delay, Quake Brutalist Jam 3 has begun. Painstakingly crafted over the course of a year, QBJ3 features a new enemy roster and weapon arsenal that both l...
www.slipseer.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Oh, wow, apparently the third Quake Brutalist Jam got over SIXTY maps submitted. And one of them is a three-hour-long monster. And there's some other beefy ones in there too.
For comparison, the original Quake was 30 maps long and none were especially big. Easily the biggest community project yet.
For comparison, the original Quake was 30 maps long and none were especially big. Easily the biggest community project yet.
This year was so dense with games that I was sure one of my summer favourites actually came out last year.
If you've got a buddy to play with and think that a hybrid of It Takes Two, Puzz-Loop and Splatoon sounds fun, Popucom is just a charmer. Not a huge game, but fun start to finish.
If you've got a buddy to play with and think that a hybrid of It Takes Two, Puzz-Loop and Splatoon sounds fun, Popucom is just a charmer. Not a huge game, but fun start to finish.
POPUCOM on Steam
Venture together with your friends on an unknown planet. Use color switching, match-3 shooting, and artifact powers to overcome challenges and keep advancing. What lies ahead of you is an adventure fi...
store.steampowered.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
This year was so dense with games that I was sure one of my summer favourites actually came out last year.
If you've got a buddy to play with and think that a hybrid of It Takes Two, Puzz-Loop and Splatoon sounds fun, Popucom is just a charmer. Not a huge game, but fun start to finish.
If you've got a buddy to play with and think that a hybrid of It Takes Two, Puzz-Loop and Splatoon sounds fun, Popucom is just a charmer. Not a huge game, but fun start to finish.
Not the *absolute* cheapest it has been (there's been some bundles) but still 100% worth it.
Turns out that genetically splicing Thief and Resident Evil 4 (with a little bit of Bloodborne for flavor) is a potent blend.
Turns out that genetically splicing Thief and Resident Evil 4 (with a little bit of Bloodborne for flavor) is a potent blend.
December 9, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Not the *absolute* cheapest it has been (there's been some bundles) but still 100% worth it.
Turns out that genetically splicing Thief and Resident Evil 4 (with a little bit of Bloodborne for flavor) is a potent blend.
Turns out that genetically splicing Thief and Resident Evil 4 (with a little bit of Bloodborne for flavor) is a potent blend.
The five highest rated fangames on IGDB.
No notes.
No notes.
December 9, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The five highest rated fangames on IGDB.
No notes.
No notes.
This whole thread is great and she's not wrong about this deserving more of a spotlight needing to be shone on this whole INCREDIBLY STUPID story.
Both parties thoroughly embarassed themselves in public.
Both parties thoroughly embarassed themselves in public.
A reminder that it wasn't just the use of AI - players were willing to give the benefit of the doubt that RWS was being duped. It was RWS's absolute horrific attitude towards its fans that killed this game as well and it's suspicious that's not mentioned at all here.
AI Accusations Have Killed a PS5, PS4 Game Just Two Days After Announcement.
December 9, 2025 at 12:56 AM
This whole thread is great and she's not wrong about this deserving more of a spotlight needing to be shone on this whole INCREDIBLY STUPID story.
Both parties thoroughly embarassed themselves in public.
Both parties thoroughly embarassed themselves in public.
Oh hey, I also missed that the Celeste Crossover Collab launched over the weekend.
gamebanana.com/mods/637482
A full-game-length mod where Madeline goes wandering through a bunch of other games.
As with all other Celeste mods, all you need is the Olympus community hub app, and search from there.
gamebanana.com/mods/637482
A full-game-length mod where Madeline goes wandering through a bunch of other games.
As with all other Celeste mods, all you need is the Olympus community hub app, and search from there.
Crossover Collab – Release Date Trailer
YouTube video by Crossover Collab
www.youtube.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Oh hey, I also missed that the Celeste Crossover Collab launched over the weekend.
gamebanana.com/mods/637482
A full-game-length mod where Madeline goes wandering through a bunch of other games.
As with all other Celeste mods, all you need is the Olympus community hub app, and search from there.
gamebanana.com/mods/637482
A full-game-length mod where Madeline goes wandering through a bunch of other games.
As with all other Celeste mods, all you need is the Olympus community hub app, and search from there.
Reposted by Dominic Tarason
If you're going to have rules, have rules. If there's room for debate (as there is clearly, here) there should be some kind of transparency and appeals process
Steam does not provide that. They operate as an inscrutable black box with no clear rules-as-written and vast contradictions in plain sight
Steam does not provide that. They operate as an inscrutable black box with no clear rules-as-written and vast contradictions in plain sight
December 3, 2025 at 6:16 PM
If you're going to have rules, have rules. If there's room for debate (as there is clearly, here) there should be some kind of transparency and appeals process
Steam does not provide that. They operate as an inscrutable black box with no clear rules-as-written and vast contradictions in plain sight
Steam does not provide that. They operate as an inscrutable black box with no clear rules-as-written and vast contradictions in plain sight
Reposted by Dominic Tarason
Valve claim this is an absolute line. A key company policy. And immutable fact of the storefront.
Award-winning indie darling Immortality has full-frontal nudity, sex and violence. Fully explicit, while Vile was just implication.
That's not a good way to run a business, I reckon.
Award-winning indie darling Immortality has full-frontal nudity, sex and violence. Fully explicit, while Vile was just implication.
That's not a good way to run a business, I reckon.
IMMORTALITY on Steam
Marissa Marcel was a film star. She made three movies. But none of the movies were ever released. And Marissa Marcel disappeared. An interactive trilogy from Sam Barlow, creator of Her Story.
store.steampowered.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Valve claim this is an absolute line. A key company policy. And immutable fact of the storefront.
Award-winning indie darling Immortality has full-frontal nudity, sex and violence. Fully explicit, while Vile was just implication.
That's not a good way to run a business, I reckon.
Award-winning indie darling Immortality has full-frontal nudity, sex and violence. Fully explicit, while Vile was just implication.
That's not a good way to run a business, I reckon.
Reposted by Dominic Tarason
Steam are notoriously inconsistent and have been for years. For every game they block claiming one reason that's supposedly a hard line in the sand, they handwave five that drove a monster-truck over that same line.
Case, Vile: Exhumed. Banned for having real photography with *implied* nudity.
Case, Vile: Exhumed. Banned for having real photography with *implied* nudity.
Vile Is Banned
Developer Statement: VILE: Exhumed is a game about searching through an old computer, uncovering dark secrets, and experiencing the horrors […]
dreadxp.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Steam are notoriously inconsistent and have been for years. For every game they block claiming one reason that's supposedly a hard line in the sand, they handwave five that drove a monster-truck over that same line.
Case, Vile: Exhumed. Banned for having real photography with *implied* nudity.
Case, Vile: Exhumed. Banned for having real photography with *implied* nudity.
Sounds like the long-awaited v1.0 release of Black Reliquary (a standalone Darkest Dungeon total conversion mod, released on Steam with Red Hook's blessings) isn't too far off now.
It's like if Darkest Dungeon was inspired primarily by Robert E. Howard (Conan, etc) instead of Lovecraft.
It's like if Darkest Dungeon was inspired primarily by Robert E. Howard (Conan, etc) instead of Lovecraft.
Black Reliquary on Steam
Black Reliquary is a challenging overhaul mod for Darkest Dungeon, one which makes sweeping changes to gameplay, adds a new story, a new setting, new narration, new music, new enemies, and so very muc...
store.steampowered.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Sounds like the long-awaited v1.0 release of Black Reliquary (a standalone Darkest Dungeon total conversion mod, released on Steam with Red Hook's blessings) isn't too far off now.
It's like if Darkest Dungeon was inspired primarily by Robert E. Howard (Conan, etc) instead of Lovecraft.
It's like if Darkest Dungeon was inspired primarily by Robert E. Howard (Conan, etc) instead of Lovecraft.
Ah, and a fresh cut of Gloomwood just in time for sales season, too.
Prepare for Gloomwood's Hightown district with these new screenshots, doctor.
It's coming SOON™️
store.steampowered.com/news/app/115...
It's coming SOON™️
store.steampowered.com/news/app/115...
December 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Ah, and a fresh cut of Gloomwood just in time for sales season, too.
Reposted by Dominic Tarason
submitted my Quake level "One Need Not Be A House" to Quake Brutalist Jam 3, one of 50+ maps!! the mod will maybe release in a few weeks, after QA and bug fixes
December 8, 2025 at 9:49 AM
submitted my Quake level "One Need Not Be A House" to Quake Brutalist Jam 3, one of 50+ maps!! the mod will maybe release in a few weeks, after QA and bug fixes
I dip into the Steam forums for THIRTY SECONDs. First thing I see is a thread of people coming to the conclusion that, yes, right-wing christian fundamentalists are probably aiming to censor anime titty games.
And thus, they conclude that Sweet Baby Inc and all the 'wokes' are right-wing christians
And thus, they conclude that Sweet Baby Inc and all the 'wokes' are right-wing christians
December 8, 2025 at 1:20 PM
I dip into the Steam forums for THIRTY SECONDs. First thing I see is a thread of people coming to the conclusion that, yes, right-wing christian fundamentalists are probably aiming to censor anime titty games.
And thus, they conclude that Sweet Baby Inc and all the 'wokes' are right-wing christians
And thus, they conclude that Sweet Baby Inc and all the 'wokes' are right-wing christians
Reposted by Dominic Tarason
Oh jeez, Angeline Era and Skate Story out tomorrow, Unbeatable the day after, Eternity Egg and Neverawake 2 the day after that, Ashes of Creation after that, and Terminator 2D to wrap up the week.
And that's just my highlights over the next few days.
December is going down swinging.
And that's just my highlights over the next few days.
December is going down swinging.
December 8, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Oh jeez, Angeline Era and Skate Story out tomorrow, Unbeatable the day after, Eternity Egg and Neverawake 2 the day after that, Ashes of Creation after that, and Terminator 2D to wrap up the week.
And that's just my highlights over the next few days.
December is going down swinging.
And that's just my highlights over the next few days.
December is going down swinging.
I got sent an early key for this one and I REALLY need to play more because almost every second has been a joy.
As with Analgesic's other games it's slightly dreamlike and fragmented-feeling, but it leans so hard into that, with level design, storytelling, prose and even gameplay mechanics unbound.
As with Analgesic's other games it's slightly dreamlike and fragmented-feeling, but it leans so hard into that, with level design, storytelling, prose and even gameplay mechanics unbound.
Angeline Era is OUT NOW!!!
🔍Every level hidden in plain sight…
🗺️… chart your own path through the world!
⚔️Tons of thrilling combat, mysterious places…
👼… and a soul-shattering story!
GET IT HERE!!
store.steampowered.com/app/2393920/...
🔍Every level hidden in plain sight…
🗺️… chart your own path through the world!
⚔️Tons of thrilling combat, mysterious places…
👼… and a soul-shattering story!
GET IT HERE!!
store.steampowered.com/app/2393920/...
December 8, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I got sent an early key for this one and I REALLY need to play more because almost every second has been a joy.
As with Analgesic's other games it's slightly dreamlike and fragmented-feeling, but it leans so hard into that, with level design, storytelling, prose and even gameplay mechanics unbound.
As with Analgesic's other games it's slightly dreamlike and fragmented-feeling, but it leans so hard into that, with level design, storytelling, prose and even gameplay mechanics unbound.
Oh jeez, Angeline Era and Skate Story out tomorrow, Unbeatable the day after, Eternity Egg and Neverawake 2 the day after that, Ashes of Creation after that, and Terminator 2D to wrap up the week.
And that's just my highlights over the next few days.
December is going down swinging.
And that's just my highlights over the next few days.
December is going down swinging.
December 8, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Oh jeez, Angeline Era and Skate Story out tomorrow, Unbeatable the day after, Eternity Egg and Neverawake 2 the day after that, Ashes of Creation after that, and Terminator 2D to wrap up the week.
And that's just my highlights over the next few days.
December is going down swinging.
And that's just my highlights over the next few days.
December is going down swinging.