Matt Gardner
@gametripperuk.bsky.social
Games writer for Forbes | Indie game supporter | Leeds | Hartlepool/Pittsburgh/Leeds fan | GamePupper cameos
I love rocking up to my local garage, walking past the McLarens and Ferraris, then handing them the key to my 2016 Vauxhall Mokka because the wing mirror is fucked
February 6, 2026 at 7:15 PM
I love rocking up to my local garage, walking past the McLarens and Ferraris, then handing them the key to my 2016 Vauxhall Mokka because the wing mirror is fucked
I got the opportunity of a lifetime: reviewing MindsEye as a newbie after its apparent landmark seventh update.
I've seen everything, obviously, but I never have skin in the game for things I've never played, so I'm genuinely excited at the prospect of trying this.
Review in the next week or two
I've seen everything, obviously, but I never have skin in the game for things I've never played, so I'm genuinely excited at the prospect of trying this.
Review in the next week or two
February 5, 2026 at 8:53 PM
I got the opportunity of a lifetime: reviewing MindsEye as a newbie after its apparent landmark seventh update.
I've seen everything, obviously, but I never have skin in the game for things I've never played, so I'm genuinely excited at the prospect of trying this.
Review in the next week or two
I've seen everything, obviously, but I never have skin in the game for things I've never played, so I'm genuinely excited at the prospect of trying this.
Review in the next week or two
No actual spoilers, but... the Royal Rumble was really dull, right?
February 2, 2026 at 12:09 AM
No actual spoilers, but... the Royal Rumble was really dull, right?
Hey look, it's the cutest little patootie ever committed to LEGO
January 31, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Hey look, it's the cutest little patootie ever committed to LEGO
Well, this is a fucking heartbreaking start to the weekend
January 30, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Well, this is a fucking heartbreaking start to the weekend
You've got to love any gaming book where this is the chapter kick-off
January 28, 2026 at 8:52 PM
You've got to love any gaming book where this is the chapter kick-off
There's a massive Beatles reference about 50 yards from my desk at work.
It's Pablo Fanque's grave, and he's the man who inspired "Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!" because he ran the actual circus to pay said Mr Kite.
Not the best Beatles song, but easily one of the best song inspirations
It's Pablo Fanque's grave, and he's the man who inspired "Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!" because he ran the actual circus to pay said Mr Kite.
Not the best Beatles song, but easily one of the best song inspirations
January 26, 2026 at 10:05 PM
There's a massive Beatles reference about 50 yards from my desk at work.
It's Pablo Fanque's grave, and he's the man who inspired "Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!" because he ran the actual circus to pay said Mr Kite.
Not the best Beatles song, but easily one of the best song inspirations
It's Pablo Fanque's grave, and he's the man who inspired "Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!" because he ran the actual circus to pay said Mr Kite.
Not the best Beatles song, but easily one of the best song inspirations
Here's a flashback to 14 years ago, when my housemate fell out with another housemate, changed the Wi-Fi password, then filled the router with caulk. Simpler times.
January 25, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Here's a flashback to 14 years ago, when my housemate fell out with another housemate, changed the Wi-Fi password, then filled the router with caulk. Simpler times.
I wish we could go back to a world where this was the biggest news story of the day
January 22, 2026 at 6:44 PM
I wish we could go back to a world where this was the biggest news story of the day
Once Upon a Katamari is SUCH a good game, and its soundtrack is off the charts.
The fact that they got the San Francisco Boys Choir to record this song was incredible - I think it's the best in the whole series, especially how it's used in certain levels (FFWD to 3:56 if you don't believe me)
The fact that they got the San Francisco Boys Choir to record this song was incredible - I think it's the best in the whole series, especially how it's used in certain levels (FFWD to 3:56 if you don't believe me)
San Francisco Katamari Boys Chorus Song - Once Upon A KATAMARI OST
YouTube video by Katamariism
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Once Upon a Katamari is SUCH a good game, and its soundtrack is off the charts.
The fact that they got the San Francisco Boys Choir to record this song was incredible - I think it's the best in the whole series, especially how it's used in certain levels (FFWD to 3:56 if you don't believe me)
The fact that they got the San Francisco Boys Choir to record this song was incredible - I think it's the best in the whole series, especially how it's used in certain levels (FFWD to 3:56 if you don't believe me)
I love how Twitter blue-tickers are destroying the planet by endlessly posting images of two or more people and saying "grok remove X one", and then Grok doesn't remove the one they want it to, so they then argue with Grok - not an actual person - for 20 further tweets
January 21, 2026 at 7:37 PM
I love how Twitter blue-tickers are destroying the planet by endlessly posting images of two or more people and saying "grok remove X one", and then Grok doesn't remove the one they want it to, so they then argue with Grok - not an actual person - for 20 further tweets
We did a round of Sophie's Choice with Dougal's toys this weekend.
Would you believe he wanted to keep all of them?
Would you believe he wanted to keep all of them?
January 18, 2026 at 9:05 PM
We did a round of Sophie's Choice with Dougal's toys this weekend.
Would you believe he wanted to keep all of them?
Would you believe he wanted to keep all of them?
Can I just congratulate the esteemed "Filmogaz" on running my article through AI and getting to the top of Google
January 16, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Can I just congratulate the esteemed "Filmogaz" on running my article through AI and getting to the top of Google
The second LEGO Zelda set has been announced! It's also a bit pricey. The jury remains out until I see it in person.
Still, the Ganon model looks better than the Pikachu one from earlier this week
Still, the Ganon model looks better than the Pikachu one from earlier this week
The New LEGO Zelda ‘Ocarina Of Time’ Set Looks Great, But Pricey
The LEGO Zelda: Ocarina of Time – The Final Battle (77093) set, which follows the massive Great Deku Tree, looks great, but is it what OG fans want?
www.forbes.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:08 PM
The second LEGO Zelda set has been announced! It's also a bit pricey. The jury remains out until I see it in person.
Still, the Ganon model looks better than the Pikachu one from earlier this week
Still, the Ganon model looks better than the Pikachu one from earlier this week
I'm one of the biggest fans of Thirsty Suitors, and I will literally drop everything in my life to play Dosa Divas from minute one.
My review of TS here. What a game.
My review of TS here. What a game.
January 15, 2026 at 9:31 PM
I'm one of the biggest fans of Thirsty Suitors, and I will literally drop everything in my life to play Dosa Divas from minute one.
My review of TS here. What a game.
My review of TS here. What a game.
I live for stuff like this
For @designroom.bsky.social, I talked to 9 developers of Mirror's Edge for this 6000-word oral history. We've got juicy details on early Heat-inspired iterations, how the iconic art style came to be, and a peek inside the politics of the EA marketing machine.
www.designroom.site/mirrors-edge...
www.designroom.site/mirrors-edge...
Mirror's Edge: An oral history
17 years on from its release, DICE's first-person parkour thriller is a cult classic. We spoke to nine people who worked on it about how the revelatory game came to be.
www.designroom.site
January 14, 2026 at 2:39 PM
I live for stuff like this
Sunshine on Leeds
January 13, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Sunshine on Leeds
This is an absolute must-buy for indie game fans. Aaron's knowledge and passion show to the degree that I'm jealous I didn't write this myself first.
Check out my review of 50 Indie Games that Changed the World here:
Check out my review of 50 Indie Games that Changed the World here:
January 12, 2026 at 10:33 PM
This is an absolute must-buy for indie game fans. Aaron's knowledge and passion show to the degree that I'm jealous I didn't write this myself first.
Check out my review of 50 Indie Games that Changed the World here:
Check out my review of 50 Indie Games that Changed the World here:
Slightly diminish a game:
BioShock Finite
BioShock Finite
Slightly diminish a game:
Cybernonconformist 2077
Cybernonconformist 2077
Slightly diminish a game:
Life is Not Too Bad
Life is Not Too Bad
January 12, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Slightly diminish a game:
BioShock Finite
BioShock Finite
Let's be honest - the Pokémon Lego looks great, right?
LEGO Pokémon Range Revealed: Pikachu, Eevee, And A 6,800-Piece Beast
LEGO and The Pokémon Company International have finally announced the first three sets of their all-new collaboration, and they look fantastic.
www.forbes.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Let's be honest - the Pokémon Lego looks great, right?
I dunno about you lot, but I was gutted they voted my dog off The Traitors.
"I have, and always have been... a good boy."
"I have, and always have been... a good boy."
January 10, 2026 at 8:56 PM
I dunno about you lot, but I was gutted they voted my dog off The Traitors.
"I have, and always have been... a good boy."
"I have, and always have been... a good boy."
Another late night, another stumbling on Shaun of the Dead, so I guess we're watching Shaun of the Dead until 2am
January 9, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Another late night, another stumbling on Shaun of the Dead, so I guess we're watching Shaun of the Dead until 2am
I left Twitter in November 2024 and even that seemed too late. I just can't see why anyone with a moral conscience would still post there now, let alone pay for it. It's fucking embarrassing
January 9, 2026 at 8:34 PM
I left Twitter in November 2024 and even that seemed too late. I just can't see why anyone with a moral conscience would still post there now, let alone pay for it. It's fucking embarrassing
I haven't properly enjoyed a game for fun in a long time, so I just picked up this fruity little number for the weekend. I can't believe it completely passed me by.
January 9, 2026 at 3:33 PM
I haven't properly enjoyed a game for fun in a long time, so I just picked up this fruity little number for the weekend. I can't believe it completely passed me by.
This is by far the best-looking handheld controller for the Switch/Switch 2 that I've seen in ages: swappable modules for GameCube, N64, fighting games, and even point-and-click. Superb stuff from @hyperkin.bsky.social and GameSir:
(sorry, Forbes social cards don't work on Bluesky at the mo; link:)
(sorry, Forbes social cards don't work on Bluesky at the mo; link:)
January 7, 2026 at 9:04 PM
This is by far the best-looking handheld controller for the Switch/Switch 2 that I've seen in ages: swappable modules for GameCube, N64, fighting games, and even point-and-click. Superb stuff from @hyperkin.bsky.social and GameSir:
(sorry, Forbes social cards don't work on Bluesky at the mo; link:)
(sorry, Forbes social cards don't work on Bluesky at the mo; link:)