Nikhil Murthy
@murthynikhil.bsky.social
Experimental game designer currently working on Hoop Dungeon. Previous games: Syphilisation, The Quiet Sleep
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
Valve HQ:
"AAA game about murdering a lot of Muslims and destroying their homes" "ship it"
"solo game in which you fight the IDF" "ban the savages"
"indie game that criticizes Western power dynamics with a horse metaphor" "unacceptable"
"This review hates Muslims" "ahh smell that thats freedom"
"AAA game about murdering a lot of Muslims and destroying their homes" "ship it"
"solo game in which you fight the IDF" "ban the savages"
"indie game that criticizes Western power dynamics with a horse metaphor" "unacceptable"
"This review hates Muslims" "ahh smell that thats freedom"
Valve has now rejected my complaint, confirming that "I don't like muslims" is a valid reason to leave a negative review on a game on Steam
This is where we're at now.
This is where we're at now.
December 11, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Valve HQ:
"AAA game about murdering a lot of Muslims and destroying their homes" "ship it"
"solo game in which you fight the IDF" "ban the savages"
"indie game that criticizes Western power dynamics with a horse metaphor" "unacceptable"
"This review hates Muslims" "ahh smell that thats freedom"
"AAA game about murdering a lot of Muslims and destroying their homes" "ship it"
"solo game in which you fight the IDF" "ban the savages"
"indie game that criticizes Western power dynamics with a horse metaphor" "unacceptable"
"This review hates Muslims" "ahh smell that thats freedom"
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
Valve has now rejected my complaint, confirming that "I don't like muslims" is a valid reason to leave a negative review on a game on Steam
This is where we're at now.
This is where we're at now.
December 10, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Valve has now rejected my complaint, confirming that "I don't like muslims" is a valid reason to leave a negative review on a game on Steam
This is where we're at now.
This is where we're at now.
I very rarely play true AAA games and so it's such a shock every time I try. How does anyone talk literally about immersion when the level design is artificial, the interactions constrained, the time frozen, the dialog stilted, and the meat mannequins are always awkwardly posed?
December 11, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I very rarely play true AAA games and so it's such a shock every time I try. How does anyone talk literally about immersion when the level design is artificial, the interactions constrained, the time frozen, the dialog stilted, and the meat mannequins are always awkwardly posed?
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
"I can't afford to support my favorite author right now, I—"
Reviews.
Reviews are free AND they are a gift to authors that can keep on giving (i.e., exposure, marketing, algo boosts, etc.)
Please, give the gift of reviews to your authors this holiday season. It really can make a difference!
Reviews.
Reviews are free AND they are a gift to authors that can keep on giving (i.e., exposure, marketing, algo boosts, etc.)
Please, give the gift of reviews to your authors this holiday season. It really can make a difference!
December 9, 2025 at 11:04 PM
"I can't afford to support my favorite author right now, I—"
Reviews.
Reviews are free AND they are a gift to authors that can keep on giving (i.e., exposure, marketing, algo boosts, etc.)
Please, give the gift of reviews to your authors this holiday season. It really can make a difference!
Reviews.
Reviews are free AND they are a gift to authors that can keep on giving (i.e., exposure, marketing, algo boosts, etc.)
Please, give the gift of reviews to your authors this holiday season. It really can make a difference!
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
We had an Overwhelmingly Positive score on Steam, then these two reviews rolled in
Why does Valve allow this?
Why does Valve allow this?
December 8, 2025 at 9:54 AM
We had an Overwhelmingly Positive score on Steam, then these two reviews rolled in
Why does Valve allow this?
Why does Valve allow this?
I don’t see the argument as much any more but this is why I don’t like the idea that liberal arts will undercut fascism
December 7, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I don’t see the argument as much any more but this is why I don’t like the idea that liberal arts will undercut fascism
I believe you, Dr. Fanon. You don’t need to prove it.
December 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I believe you, Dr. Fanon. You don’t need to prove it.
Immersion discourse in 1915
December 6, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Immersion discourse in 1915
Portuguese game from the 60’s
December 6, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Portuguese game from the 60’s
The Hangtime! demo was a decent hour but it shows how spectacular polish and juice can only do so much for a hollow core.
December 5, 2025 at 11:33 PM
The Hangtime! demo was a decent hour but it shows how spectacular polish and juice can only do so much for a hollow core.
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
ian bogost getting the timeline riled up by ludocentrism posting….. i will sleep soundly in my bed tonight because obama is president and idle thumbs still puts out episodes weekly and i’ve got uni in the morning for it is 2015
December 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
ian bogost getting the timeline riled up by ludocentrism posting….. i will sleep soundly in my bed tonight because obama is president and idle thumbs still puts out episodes weekly and i’ve got uni in the morning for it is 2015
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
I feel like Street Fighter 5 and games in its wake were made with this idea that "fighting games are hard for beginners because there are too many things players can do, so if we let the player do less it'll be easier"
which is a pretty reasonable assumption. but I think it might be wrong as fuck?
which is a pretty reasonable assumption. but I think it might be wrong as fuck?
December 3, 2025 at 4:59 AM
I feel like Street Fighter 5 and games in its wake were made with this idea that "fighting games are hard for beginners because there are too many things players can do, so if we let the player do less it'll be easier"
which is a pretty reasonable assumption. but I think it might be wrong as fuck?
which is a pretty reasonable assumption. but I think it might be wrong as fuck?
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
i don't think you can be a linkedin grindset guy or gal and also argue for the value of what you're doing as socially transformative, important art. i don't think those two things are ultimately compatible or can be reconciled.
December 2, 2025 at 10:35 PM
i don't think you can be a linkedin grindset guy or gal and also argue for the value of what you're doing as socially transformative, important art. i don't think those two things are ultimately compatible or can be reconciled.
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
sorry to some folks, but if we want games to be viewed as consequential art and not products - eventually game development at large is going to have to move past the realm of linkedin, forbes 30 under 30, how to market your game, professional business conference stuff and into something else.
December 2, 2025 at 10:34 PM
sorry to some folks, but if we want games to be viewed as consequential art and not products - eventually game development at large is going to have to move past the realm of linkedin, forbes 30 under 30, how to market your game, professional business conference stuff and into something else.
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
The 4th annual #TurnBasedThursdayFest will be March 9-16!
Hundreds of excellent games & discounts on Steam, Let's Plays & giveaways, & our first ever Featured Reveals trailer showcase!
Help us spread the word? ❤️🔃
Developer & content creator signups are open, 🔗 in replies 👇
Hundreds of excellent games & discounts on Steam, Let's Plays & giveaways, & our first ever Featured Reveals trailer showcase!
Help us spread the word? ❤️🔃
Developer & content creator signups are open, 🔗 in replies 👇
December 1, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The 4th annual #TurnBasedThursdayFest will be March 9-16!
Hundreds of excellent games & discounts on Steam, Let's Plays & giveaways, & our first ever Featured Reveals trailer showcase!
Help us spread the word? ❤️🔃
Developer & content creator signups are open, 🔗 in replies 👇
Hundreds of excellent games & discounts on Steam, Let's Plays & giveaways, & our first ever Featured Reveals trailer showcase!
Help us spread the word? ❤️🔃
Developer & content creator signups are open, 🔗 in replies 👇
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
you think you need to leave intelligent, thoughtful comments? lmao no
“loved it!” is all you need to say. blurt that out on Steam, YouTube, Amazon for whatever game, book, or video caught your fancy
The algorithm is all consuming but you can help cool people by just commenting “👍🏼”’ so do it
“loved it!” is all you need to say. blurt that out on Steam, YouTube, Amazon for whatever game, book, or video caught your fancy
The algorithm is all consuming but you can help cool people by just commenting “👍🏼”’ so do it
PRO TIP
If you have YouTubers you like and follow and watch their videos a lot
leave innane/positive comments on their videos. The algo is all fucked up for YT creators and a lot of videos get sent to the void for whatever reason.
I hate doing it, but I've been trying to do it.
If you have YouTubers you like and follow and watch their videos a lot
leave innane/positive comments on their videos. The algo is all fucked up for YT creators and a lot of videos get sent to the void for whatever reason.
I hate doing it, but I've been trying to do it.
December 2, 2025 at 1:53 AM
you think you need to leave intelligent, thoughtful comments? lmao no
“loved it!” is all you need to say. blurt that out on Steam, YouTube, Amazon for whatever game, book, or video caught your fancy
The algorithm is all consuming but you can help cool people by just commenting “👍🏼”’ so do it
“loved it!” is all you need to say. blurt that out on Steam, YouTube, Amazon for whatever game, book, or video caught your fancy
The algorithm is all consuming but you can help cool people by just commenting “👍🏼”’ so do it
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
Hi GameDevs please share to help your friends get hired. We are opening more roles: www.absurdventures.com/careers
November 29, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Hi GameDevs please share to help your friends get hired. We are opening more roles: www.absurdventures.com/careers
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
SOUP ROOMS is a collaborative minimalist art-game featuring over 100 ROOMS created by cool and talented indie devs from around the world.
Admission is free of charge, and you can even make your own ROOMS and SOUP-like games to share with others!
We hope you enjoy your stay.
LINKS BELOW!
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Admission is free of charge, and you can even make your own ROOMS and SOUP-like games to share with others!
We hope you enjoy your stay.
LINKS BELOW!
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
November 29, 2025 at 4:19 PM
SOUP ROOMS is a collaborative minimalist art-game featuring over 100 ROOMS created by cool and talented indie devs from around the world.
Admission is free of charge, and you can even make your own ROOMS and SOUP-like games to share with others!
We hope you enjoy your stay.
LINKS BELOW!
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Admission is free of charge, and you can even make your own ROOMS and SOUP-like games to share with others!
We hope you enjoy your stay.
LINKS BELOW!
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
Game Poems is coming soon! A free online 'magazine' featuring new short-form videogames in a playable format. Add your email to our Substack to be notified when issue 1 is available online: gamepoems.substack.com/subscribe
November 28, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Game Poems is coming soon! A free online 'magazine' featuring new short-form videogames in a playable format. Add your email to our Substack to be notified when issue 1 is available online: gamepoems.substack.com/subscribe
I like thinking of difficulty as a way to modulate the player’s focus. They can skim through the easy difficulty sections and have to slow down and concentrate for the tougher ones
Part of me feels like Dark Souls wouldn't have caught on if the first game had difficulty settings. It'd be "cheap", "pointless", etc.
Arcade games had a relatively granular difficulty option via credit feeding and it played a big part in them written off as "button mashers"/"quarter munchers".
Arcade games had a relatively granular difficulty option via credit feeding and it played a big part in them written off as "button mashers"/"quarter munchers".
November 29, 2025 at 7:30 AM
I like thinking of difficulty as a way to modulate the player’s focus. They can skim through the easy difficulty sections and have to slow down and concentrate for the tougher ones
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
Our upcoming game HORSES was preemptively banned from Steam, with no path to appeal. The game will still launch next week on December 2nd and will be available on EGS, GOG, Humble, and Itch for $4.99. Here is a detailed FAQ covering what happened: horses.wtf/BannedFromSt...
November 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Our upcoming game HORSES was preemptively banned from Steam, with no path to appeal. The game will still launch next week on December 2nd and will be available on EGS, GOG, Humble, and Itch for $4.99. Here is a detailed FAQ covering what happened: horses.wtf/BannedFromSt...
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
I've been left out of credits of a game (Civ3) I was the lead designer for the first ~6 months, yet core ideas that Doug Kaufman and I had prototyped (eg resource site rules) were prominently featured in the final game. I'm well known so I survived, but stolen crediting is a real industry problem.
My controversial take is that if you didn't get credited on a game you have proof you've worked on, just list it on your CV.
I do with one. Never had any issues.
Not being credited still sucks but you don't need to be polite when they're not.
I do with one. Never had any issues.
Not being credited still sucks but you don't need to be polite when they're not.
November 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I've been left out of credits of a game (Civ3) I was the lead designer for the first ~6 months, yet core ideas that Doug Kaufman and I had prototyped (eg resource site rules) were prominently featured in the final game. I'm well known so I survived, but stolen crediting is a real industry problem.
Reposted by Nikhil Murthy
Last night's interview with Novara on the Rockstar firings is now up as its own standalone video, if you'd like to watch.
Delighted to see the story picked up by the wider media in this way, as surreal as it felt to appear on a show I've been watching for years now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxuP...
Delighted to see the story picked up by the wider media in this way, as surreal as it felt to appear on a show I've been watching for years now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxuP...
Rockstar Games’ MASS Firing Of Unionised Workers
YouTube video by Novara Media
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Last night's interview with Novara on the Rockstar firings is now up as its own standalone video, if you'd like to watch.
Delighted to see the story picked up by the wider media in this way, as surreal as it felt to appear on a show I've been watching for years now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxuP...
Delighted to see the story picked up by the wider media in this way, as surreal as it felt to appear on a show I've been watching for years now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxuP...