Matt Horton
@matt.bsky.social
Games crit at YouTube.com/@flowstatecrit
Talking comics on @insequence.pictures with my friends every other week!
Talking comics on @insequence.pictures with my friends every other week!
Pinned
Matt Horton
@matt.bsky.social
· 27d
2025 was a weird year for games...
YouTube video by ~ flow state ~
youtu.be
2025 was a strange year for video games. It was really hard for me to make a traditional "GOTY list."
So I didn't.
That said, the best thing I played this year was Known Mysteries by @solarserver.games (Kara Stone), and it's not even close.
youtu.be/kkvQQwN5fyo?...
So I didn't.
That said, the best thing I played this year was Known Mysteries by @solarserver.games (Kara Stone), and it's not even close.
youtu.be/kkvQQwN5fyo?...
Reposted by Matt Horton
anyway this is one of the greatest panel layouts of all time
January 24, 2026 at 2:56 PM
anyway this is one of the greatest panel layouts of all time
It's not often that Willa and I agree about a game, but a lot of this review rings true for me having just finished TR-49.
Afted playing I'm struck by how much the game wants to be saying something and fails to do so.
Incredible gameplay, performances, and notetaking, but it doesn't come together.
Afted playing I'm struck by how much the game wants to be saying something and fails to do so.
Incredible gameplay, performances, and notetaking, but it doesn't come together.
TR-49 is a good mystery game held back by a narrative that raises capital "T" themes but says nothing about them. Instead of insight on fascism or AI we are left with no option but to take TR-49 at face value: some art deserves to be destroyed
*SPOILER REVIEW*
willarowe.bearblog.dev/tr-49-review/
*SPOILER REVIEW*
willarowe.bearblog.dev/tr-49-review/
TR-49 review: Cracking complex codes reveals shallow answers
Inkle's “deductive reasoning meets audio drama” expirement raises big themes but says little, forcing the player to fill in the blanks to dangerous results.
willarowe.bearblog.dev
January 24, 2026 at 7:46 PM
It's not often that Willa and I agree about a game, but a lot of this review rings true for me having just finished TR-49.
Afted playing I'm struck by how much the game wants to be saying something and fails to do so.
Incredible gameplay, performances, and notetaking, but it doesn't come together.
Afted playing I'm struck by how much the game wants to be saying something and fails to do so.
Incredible gameplay, performances, and notetaking, but it doesn't come together.
Reposted by Matt Horton
Today your panelists bring you an episode about women with swords....again
Absolute Wonder Woman is an Eisner winner and a badass warrior raised in actual hell
Written by @kellythompson.bsky.social
Art by @cleanlined.bsky.social
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Absolute Wonder Woman is an Eisner winner and a badass warrior raised in actual hell
Written by @kellythompson.bsky.social
Art by @cleanlined.bsky.social
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
In Sequence - A Comics Podcast for Everyone | “Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon” by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, and Mattia De Iulis
Today our panelists talk about women with swords - hey, wait a second, didn't we do this last time? Join us for a discussion of
insequence.pictures
January 22, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Today your panelists bring you an episode about women with swords....again
Absolute Wonder Woman is an Eisner winner and a badass warrior raised in actual hell
Written by @kellythompson.bsky.social
Art by @cleanlined.bsky.social
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Absolute Wonder Woman is an Eisner winner and a badass warrior raised in actual hell
Written by @kellythompson.bsky.social
Art by @cleanlined.bsky.social
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
BIG SWORDT
Today your panelists bring you an episode about women with swords....again
Absolute Wonder Woman is an Eisner winner and a badass warrior raised in actual hell
Written by @kellythompson.bsky.social
Art by @cleanlined.bsky.social
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Absolute Wonder Woman is an Eisner winner and a badass warrior raised in actual hell
Written by @kellythompson.bsky.social
Art by @cleanlined.bsky.social
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
In Sequence - A Comics Podcast for Everyone | “Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon” by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, and Mattia De Iulis
Today our panelists talk about women with swords - hey, wait a second, didn't we do this last time? Join us for a discussion of
insequence.pictures
January 22, 2026 at 3:50 PM
BIG SWORDT
The only Davos speech I give a shit about is Magneto's
January 22, 2026 at 2:36 PM
The only Davos speech I give a shit about is Magneto's
Reposted by Matt Horton
been using and loving this
being able to just copy and paste the text note i keep while editing and have it automatically place those chapters in the file is so killer
being able to just copy and paste the text note i keep while editing and have it automatically place those chapters in the file is so killer
🔗 ChapterPod is out now! https://birchtree.me/blog/chapterpod-is-out-now/
ChapterPod is out now!
I'm excited to announce that ChapterPod, my new app for adding chapters to your podcasts, is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac! I've already written about most of the app's functionality elsewhere, so I won't rehash all those details here. Here's the basic pitch. If you're a podcast producer
birchtree.me
January 21, 2026 at 7:32 PM
been using and loving this
being able to just copy and paste the text note i keep while editing and have it automatically place those chapters in the file is so killer
being able to just copy and paste the text note i keep while editing and have it automatically place those chapters in the file is so killer
Reposted by Matt Horton
metaphor refantazio
January 21, 2026 at 4:33 PM
metaphor refantazio
Hire Robin.
She's one of the smartest people thinking and writing about games and she regularly surprises me with her insight.
She's one of the smartest people thinking and writing about games and she regularly surprises me with her insight.
I’m an experienced game critic/journalist looking for work! I’d love to continue writing about games, but I’d happily consider PR, consulting, narrative, or non-gaming editorial work. I have experience hosting and producing podcasts, and I’m comfortable on mic and camera.
Portfolio/email in bio! 🧵
Portfolio/email in bio! 🧵
January 20, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Hire Robin.
She's one of the smartest people thinking and writing about games and she regularly surprises me with her insight.
She's one of the smartest people thinking and writing about games and she regularly surprises me with her insight.
Reposted by Matt Horton
We know that many people want to listen to In Sequence but are afraid of spoilers on things they haven't read.
Starting with Thursday's Absolute Wonder Woman episode, we'll begin each episode with a spoiler free segment before moving into spoilers later in the episode!
Starting with Thursday's Absolute Wonder Woman episode, we'll begin each episode with a spoiler free segment before moving into spoilers later in the episode!
January 20, 2026 at 7:03 PM
We know that many people want to listen to In Sequence but are afraid of spoilers on things they haven't read.
Starting with Thursday's Absolute Wonder Woman episode, we'll begin each episode with a spoiler free segment before moving into spoilers later in the episode!
Starting with Thursday's Absolute Wonder Woman episode, we'll begin each episode with a spoiler free segment before moving into spoilers later in the episode!
Lol I got blocked overnight because I like Ichiban Kasuga
January 20, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Lol I got blocked overnight because I like Ichiban Kasuga
Nothing has convinced me that a Steam Machine is worth it like plugging a PC into my TV.
It's a new issue every day.
It's a new issue every day.
January 19, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Nothing has convinced me that a Steam Machine is worth it like plugging a PC into my TV.
It's a new issue every day.
It's a new issue every day.
I finally finished blippo+ and it turns out that everyone was right. It's peak. Would have made my list last year. Also it's doing something I've been wanting to do in a creative project for years.
Shouts out to @jmrivera.bsky.social for telling me how to actually progress the story 😅
Shouts out to @jmrivera.bsky.social for telling me how to actually progress the story 😅
January 19, 2026 at 9:00 PM
I finally finished blippo+ and it turns out that everyone was right. It's peak. Would have made my list last year. Also it's doing something I've been wanting to do in a creative project for years.
Shouts out to @jmrivera.bsky.social for telling me how to actually progress the story 😅
Shouts out to @jmrivera.bsky.social for telling me how to actually progress the story 😅
Reposted by Matt Horton
all the more reason to support @bearandbeagle.store!!! keeping your $$$ in the community is an empowering thing, and these fine folks make some of the best stickers and prints in the game!
bearandbeagle.store
bearandbeagle.store
January 17, 2026 at 2:39 AM
all the more reason to support @bearandbeagle.store!!! keeping your $$$ in the community is an empowering thing, and these fine folks make some of the best stickers and prints in the game!
bearandbeagle.store
bearandbeagle.store
Reposted by Matt Horton
Breaks my heart to share this, but today is my last day at The Verge and I am looking for work! I'd really like to stay in video games, preferably in some kind of journalistic capacity but I can do PR/Marketing and maybe even a lil Narrative Design. Please get in touch!
www.ashparrish.com
www.ashparrish.com
Ash Parrish
www.ashparrish.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Breaks my heart to share this, but today is my last day at The Verge and I am looking for work! I'd really like to stay in video games, preferably in some kind of journalistic capacity but I can do PR/Marketing and maybe even a lil Narrative Design. Please get in touch!
www.ashparrish.com
www.ashparrish.com
Reposted by Matt Horton
Inverse has decided to "divest from gaming content" so I'm out of a job again!
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
January 16, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Inverse has decided to "divest from gaming content" so I'm out of a job again!
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
The Boyfriend is perfect television.
I have so many feelings about these men so quickly, and whoever Huwei picks will be so lucky holy shit. Olympian?! Gender studies PhD???? Beautiful?!1?!?
More gay dating shows!!!!!!!!
I have so many feelings about these men so quickly, and whoever Huwei picks will be so lucky holy shit. Olympian?! Gender studies PhD???? Beautiful?!1?!?
More gay dating shows!!!!!!!!
January 15, 2026 at 5:31 PM
The Boyfriend is perfect television.
I have so many feelings about these men so quickly, and whoever Huwei picks will be so lucky holy shit. Olympian?! Gender studies PhD???? Beautiful?!1?!?
More gay dating shows!!!!!!!!
I have so many feelings about these men so quickly, and whoever Huwei picks will be so lucky holy shit. Olympian?! Gender studies PhD???? Beautiful?!1?!?
More gay dating shows!!!!!!!!
Reposted by Matt Horton
Animal Crossing: New Horizon's 3.0 update is here. I wrote about returning to a game that was so linked to a time of fear of isolation. Can you still find a cozy home in a time capsule loaded with emotional baggage? www.polygon.com/animal-cross...
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a time capsule full of 2020 anxiety
Get ready to unpack some baggage
www.polygon.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Animal Crossing: New Horizon's 3.0 update is here. I wrote about returning to a game that was so linked to a time of fear of isolation. Can you still find a cozy home in a time capsule loaded with emotional baggage? www.polygon.com/animal-cross...
Got a new gaming laptop and immediately installed blippo+
January 14, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Got a new gaming laptop and immediately installed blippo+
Reposted by Matt Horton
I'm excited to give myself even more recreational homework by joining the very good podcast dotzip!!
We’re back for 2026 with a NEW HOST! Everyone say hello to @robinbombus.bsky.social as we go through our next few months of games!!!
Listen here!: share.transistor.fm/s/8a62d0e3
Listen here!: share.transistor.fm/s/8a62d0e3
Picking the Slate! - January to Marchish | fart.piss 3 | dotzip | Episode
Welcome Robin to dotzip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!In this one we pick 11 games that we'll be playing over the next few months! Don't forget there's a NextFest in there too! Hah ha ! Hehe! Ho hoh!!!!Check out A...
share.transistor.fm
January 13, 2026 at 3:49 PM
I'm excited to give myself even more recreational homework by joining the very good podcast dotzip!!
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is really working on me. Loved the demo and I think I'll be picking this one up.
It looks beautiful and feels great to play, and I was unaware how good the writing was. I would die for Patrick.
It looks beautiful and feels great to play, and I was unaware how good the writing was. I would die for Patrick.
January 13, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is really working on me. Loved the demo and I think I'll be picking this one up.
It looks beautiful and feels great to play, and I was unaware how good the writing was. I would die for Patrick.
It looks beautiful and feels great to play, and I was unaware how good the writing was. I would die for Patrick.
Reposted by Matt Horton
The GOTY video is here 😤 youtu.be/FKG3vjyUldw
Stephen's Favorite Games from 2025
YouTube video by Memory Card Manuscript
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM
The GOTY video is here 😤 youtu.be/FKG3vjyUldw
Reposted by Matt Horton
new game! plastic coquina is a narrative dress-up game about reassembling yourself alongside a doll 🪡
made for #dollandkigujam, with the wonderful @goblin-cat.bsky.social and zeno, with help from @widowcore.bsky.social for music 🐚
playable in browser (but not mobile), 7-10 min ✂️
< #oc #gamedev >
made for #dollandkigujam, with the wonderful @goblin-cat.bsky.social and zeno, with help from @widowcore.bsky.social for music 🐚
playable in browser (but not mobile), 7-10 min ✂️
< #oc #gamedev >
January 12, 2026 at 1:03 AM
new game! plastic coquina is a narrative dress-up game about reassembling yourself alongside a doll 🪡
made for #dollandkigujam, with the wonderful @goblin-cat.bsky.social and zeno, with help from @widowcore.bsky.social for music 🐚
playable in browser (but not mobile), 7-10 min ✂️
< #oc #gamedev >
made for #dollandkigujam, with the wonderful @goblin-cat.bsky.social and zeno, with help from @widowcore.bsky.social for music 🐚
playable in browser (but not mobile), 7-10 min ✂️
< #oc #gamedev >
Playing blippo+ at the Magfest LAN
January 11, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Playing blippo+ at the Magfest LAN
Reposted by Matt Horton
Today your panelists talk about "Blade Maidens" by @zoewithasword.bsky.social and @valentinemsmith.bsky.social
2026 is a big year for women with swords on In Sequence
insequence.pictures/episodes/bla...
2026 is a big year for women with swords on In Sequence
insequence.pictures/episodes/bla...
In Sequence - A Comics Podcast for Everyone | "Blade Maidens" by Zoe Tunnell and Valentine M. Smith
Further Reading
insequence.pictures
January 8, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Today your panelists talk about "Blade Maidens" by @zoewithasword.bsky.social and @valentinemsmith.bsky.social
2026 is a big year for women with swords on In Sequence
insequence.pictures/episodes/bla...
2026 is a big year for women with swords on In Sequence
insequence.pictures/episodes/bla...
I have never gone so quickly from excitement to wanting to return a product. The Palma 2 Pro screen is really bad.
January 7, 2026 at 7:09 PM
I have never gone so quickly from excitement to wanting to return a product. The Palma 2 Pro screen is really bad.