paul
@thecastlebuilder.bsky.social
he/they. perhaps not just another software guy. newbie ttrpg designer. I blog about video games and ttrpgs weekly
blog: https://thoughtsabout.games/
games: https://thecastlebuilder.itch.io/
blog: https://thoughtsabout.games/
games: https://thecastlebuilder.itch.io/
Reposted by paul
Yesterday I wrote about Unbeatable and getting past your own expectations.
noescapevg.com/unbeatable-a...
noescapevg.com/unbeatable-a...
Unbeatable and sitting with dissatisfaction
I don’t know what I want out of UNBEATABLE (D-Cell Games, 2025) that it didn’t either promise or deliver on. I mostly liked the rhythm-action gameplay, and it’s been the way it is…
noescapevg.com
January 25, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Yesterday I wrote about Unbeatable and getting past your own expectations.
noescapevg.com/unbeatable-a...
noescapevg.com/unbeatable-a...
As another newbie walking into the proverbial parlor, it always interested me why "does system matter" is a question but "does table/group/culture" matter is undeniable, because they feel like the two major forces of play outside of the ""flavor"" or set dressing (which is also not to be downplayed)
Thinking through the steps and arguments of this issue with genuine curiosity and openness is a great way to improve as a designer, imo. I get why people bemoan it as “discourse”, because of its evolution into dogmatic “headline of the advice” (per Kieron Gillen’s recent piece on advice) but
January 17, 2026 at 3:52 AM
As another newbie walking into the proverbial parlor, it always interested me why "does system matter" is a question but "does table/group/culture" matter is undeniable, because they feel like the two major forces of play outside of the ""flavor"" or set dressing (which is also not to be downplayed)
Reposted by paul
Öoo is one of the most inventive and satisfying games I've played in years. Full of my favorite genre of puzzle: The puzzle that looks impossible at fire, but invisibly leads you towards the only possible solution, teaching you a whole new mechanic. Feels incredible. And the best soundtrack ever.
January 17, 2026 at 3:38 AM
Öoo is one of the most inventive and satisfying games I've played in years. Full of my favorite genre of puzzle: The puzzle that looks impossible at fire, but invisibly leads you towards the only possible solution, teaching you a whole new mechanic. Feels incredible. And the best soundtrack ever.
Reposted by paul
Artists, I think we're all too comfortable sharing our imposter syndrome.
I would love to see you step out of your comfort zone and confidently state what you think you're actually really good at.
No self deprecation, just what you think you're the strongest at
Is anyone brave eniough? 👀
I would love to see you step out of your comfort zone and confidently state what you think you're actually really good at.
No self deprecation, just what you think you're the strongest at
Is anyone brave eniough? 👀
January 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Artists, I think we're all too comfortable sharing our imposter syndrome.
I would love to see you step out of your comfort zone and confidently state what you think you're actually really good at.
No self deprecation, just what you think you're the strongest at
Is anyone brave eniough? 👀
I would love to see you step out of your comfort zone and confidently state what you think you're actually really good at.
No self deprecation, just what you think you're the strongest at
Is anyone brave eniough? 👀
I am productively discomforted by how difficult this prompt is for me...
I think I'm pretty good at thinking about game mechanics in TTRPG design and what they convey thematically, and building out mechanics that push themes further.
It's a chicken and egg thing but the connection is important.
I think I'm pretty good at thinking about game mechanics in TTRPG design and what they convey thematically, and building out mechanics that push themes further.
It's a chicken and egg thing but the connection is important.
Artists, I think we're all too comfortable sharing our imposter syndrome.
I would love to see you step out of your comfort zone and confidently state what you think you're actually really good at.
No self deprecation, just what you think you're the strongest at
Is anyone brave eniough? 👀
I would love to see you step out of your comfort zone and confidently state what you think you're actually really good at.
No self deprecation, just what you think you're the strongest at
Is anyone brave eniough? 👀
January 15, 2026 at 5:54 AM
I am productively discomforted by how difficult this prompt is for me...
I think I'm pretty good at thinking about game mechanics in TTRPG design and what they convey thematically, and building out mechanics that push themes further.
It's a chicken and egg thing but the connection is important.
I think I'm pretty good at thinking about game mechanics in TTRPG design and what they convey thematically, and building out mechanics that push themes further.
It's a chicken and egg thing but the connection is important.
During some holiday video game backlog delving, I was really drawn into Dread Delusion, an RPG that got me thinking about what makes impactful choices in open world RPGs of this style and scale thoughtsabout.games/blog/posts/g...
Delusion of Choice - Player Choice in Dread Delusion
thoughtsabout.games
January 13, 2026 at 1:23 AM
During some holiday video game backlog delving, I was really drawn into Dread Delusion, an RPG that got me thinking about what makes impactful choices in open world RPGs of this style and scale thoughtsabout.games/blog/posts/g...
Reposted by paul
In an era where corporations are actively pushing for IP law to be bypassed entirely so they can regurgitate plagiarized material to sell back to the world, I'm increasingly of the opinion that making fangames, romhacks, etc the old-fashioned way is cool/punk/a minor act of resistance.
January 10, 2026 at 6:11 PM
In an era where corporations are actively pushing for IP law to be bypassed entirely so they can regurgitate plagiarized material to sell back to the world, I'm increasingly of the opinion that making fangames, romhacks, etc the old-fashioned way is cool/punk/a minor act of resistance.
Reposted by paul
Time for more Menu Cube posting 😌
January 10, 2026 at 5:29 AM
Time for more Menu Cube posting 😌
Reposted by paul
The people with the power to act (and who.aren't) have been really getting a lot of mileage out of saying "don't take the bait" and "don't give him what he wants" while seemingly bending over backwards to give him exactly what he wants all the time.
January 9, 2026 at 12:28 AM
The people with the power to act (and who.aren't) have been really getting a lot of mileage out of saying "don't take the bait" and "don't give him what he wants" while seemingly bending over backwards to give him exactly what he wants all the time.
Reposted by paul
In Tabletop Roleplaying Games the idea of royalties is still relatively new; more of us at the publishing level need to be thinking about ways to undermine the existing paradigm and build to sustain our comrades and collaborators in the long term and give them the fruits of their own labor
My wife had a single line in Kung Fu Panda 17 years ago and still gets checks every few months. Most are way smaller than this, but devs get $0 even though the games we work on will likely be sold for 10+ years soooo yeah.
December 29, 2025 at 10:45 PM
In Tabletop Roleplaying Games the idea of royalties is still relatively new; more of us at the publishing level need to be thinking about ways to undermine the existing paradigm and build to sustain our comrades and collaborators in the long term and give them the fruits of their own labor
Final blog post of the year is my reflection on my year with TTRPGs as I've dug my heels into game design and continued to explore the hobby with friends old and new. It's a bit rambling, but it was nice to revisit my favorite things from a year of work, play, and analysis that I'm really proud of
2025 in Review — Tabletop RPGs
thoughtsabout.games
December 30, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Final blog post of the year is my reflection on my year with TTRPGs as I've dug my heels into game design and continued to explore the hobby with friends old and new. It's a bit rambling, but it was nice to revisit my favorite things from a year of work, play, and analysis that I'm really proud of
Reposted by paul
My last PC Gamer piece for 2025 just went live! Silksong might be the juggernaut that everyone's talking about, but if you like your platformers full of exploration, here's six alternatives (one of them free!) that each do something different with the formula.
I played more than 20 metroidvanias this year other than Silksong, and these are the ones doing the most creative/experimental things with the genre
Already unspooled Silksong? Here's six other platformers exploring new concepts.
www.pcgamer.com
December 28, 2025 at 3:40 PM
My last PC Gamer piece for 2025 just went live! Silksong might be the juggernaut that everyone's talking about, but if you like your platformers full of exploration, here's six alternatives (one of them free!) that each do something different with the formula.
Jackson and Erin probably come off a little harsher on this game than I feel but their critique of the baffling ending is SO vindicating. It's basically a funnier, deeper, and more eloquent version of my blog post from a month ago
an end of year bonus gift for you all! i'm joined by @woodaba.bsky.social to discuss Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that is simultaneously worse, better, and more interesting and frictional a game than its mass award winning status would have you believe:
Abnormal Mapping 181: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — Abnormal Mapping
Surprise! One final Abnormal Mapping before the end of the year. Jackson is joined today by Erin to get thoughts down about the most baffling Game of the Year in recent history, Clair Obscur: Expediti...
www.abnormalmapping.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Jackson and Erin probably come off a little harsher on this game than I feel but their critique of the baffling ending is SO vindicating. It's basically a funnier, deeper, and more eloquent version of my blog post from a month ago
Happy holidays! Enjoy a little holiday one-shot about sharing photos with friends and family.
thecastlebuilder.itch.io/photomancers
thecastlebuilder.itch.io/photomancers
PHOTOMANCERS by paul doyle
a photo-sharing game for 2+ players
thecastlebuilder.itch.io
December 25, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Happy holidays! Enjoy a little holiday one-shot about sharing photos with friends and family.
thecastlebuilder.itch.io/photomancers
thecastlebuilder.itch.io/photomancers
Reposted by paul
Honored to write another Giant Bomb GOTY list: this time, the top 10 games from 2025 I'll be furious you didn't play
you have one year
you've been warned
giantbomb.com/articles/xal...
you have one year
you've been warned
giantbomb.com/articles/xal...
Xalavier Nelson Jr.'s Games He'll Be Furious You Didn't Play | Giant Bomb
Xalavier Nelson Jr.'s Top 12 Games He'll Be Furious You Didn't Play - A guest list for GiantBomb.com's 2025 Game of the Year.
giantbomb.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Honored to write another Giant Bomb GOTY list: this time, the top 10 games from 2025 I'll be furious you didn't play
you have one year
you've been warned
giantbomb.com/articles/xal...
you have one year
you've been warned
giantbomb.com/articles/xal...
10 TTRPGs I want to play in 2026:
- City of Winter
- Mothership
- Slugblaster
- Orbital
- A Land Once Magic
- Fabula Ultima
- Mythic Bastionland
- Dialect
- Gravity RIP
- Alice is Missing
- City of Winter
- Mothership
- Slugblaster
- Orbital
- A Land Once Magic
- Fabula Ultima
- Mythic Bastionland
- Dialect
- Gravity RIP
- Alice is Missing
10 RPGs I want to play in 2026:
- Harvest
- Blades ‘68
- Mythic Bastionland
- Infinite Revolution
- Apocalypse World Burned Over
- Dragon Slayers
- His Majesty the Worm
- World Ending Game
- A Land Once Magic
- .dungeon
- Harvest
- Blades ‘68
- Mythic Bastionland
- Infinite Revolution
- Apocalypse World Burned Over
- Dragon Slayers
- His Majesty the Worm
- World Ending Game
- A Land Once Magic
- .dungeon
10 TTRPGs I want to run/play in 2026
- Metro Otherscape
-Household
-Dolmenwood
- Legend in the Mist
- Slugblaster
-Triangle Agency
-Cloud Empress
-Absurdia
-RiverBank
-More of my favorite game, City of Mist
And so many more…
- Metro Otherscape
-Household
-Dolmenwood
- Legend in the Mist
- Slugblaster
-Triangle Agency
-Cloud Empress
-Absurdia
-RiverBank
-More of my favorite game, City of Mist
And so many more…
December 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
10 TTRPGs I want to play in 2026:
- City of Winter
- Mothership
- Slugblaster
- Orbital
- A Land Once Magic
- Fabula Ultima
- Mythic Bastionland
- Dialect
- Gravity RIP
- Alice is Missing
- City of Winter
- Mothership
- Slugblaster
- Orbital
- A Land Once Magic
- Fabula Ultima
- Mythic Bastionland
- Dialect
- Gravity RIP
- Alice is Missing
Did you know that you can talk as much as you want if you put it in a blog post?
Unrelated, here's my top 10 games of 2025 thoughtsabout.games/blog/posts/g...
Unrelated, here's my top 10 games of 2025 thoughtsabout.games/blog/posts/g...
Best Video Games of 2025
thoughtsabout.games
December 22, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Did you know that you can talk as much as you want if you put it in a blog post?
Unrelated, here's my top 10 games of 2025 thoughtsabout.games/blog/posts/g...
Unrelated, here's my top 10 games of 2025 thoughtsabout.games/blog/posts/g...
I've signed the @nogamesforgenocide.com pledge and I encourage others to do the same and take the suggested actions.
nogamesforgenocide.com/take-action/...
nogamesforgenocide.com/take-action/...
Sign Our Pledge
Sign our pledge.
nogamesforgenocide.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I've signed the @nogamesforgenocide.com pledge and I encourage others to do the same and take the suggested actions.
nogamesforgenocide.com/take-action/...
nogamesforgenocide.com/take-action/...
Reposted by paul
you already know what's up
(steam sale rec thread is what's up)
as always, i focus primarily on older, obscure, and just plain weird games, as big name titles don't need the help.
so, onwards!
(steam sale rec thread is what's up)
as always, i focus primarily on older, obscure, and just plain weird games, as big name titles don't need the help.
so, onwards!
December 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
you already know what's up
(steam sale rec thread is what's up)
as always, i focus primarily on older, obscure, and just plain weird games, as big name titles don't need the help.
so, onwards!
(steam sale rec thread is what's up)
as always, i focus primarily on older, obscure, and just plain weird games, as big name titles don't need the help.
so, onwards!
Reposted by paul
didn’t post about the VGA at all but i’ll do this anyway. fuck it 🧵
New rule this year: If you post "Play more indie games" during the game awards, you are required to make a thread recommending 50 of them.
December 18, 2025 at 6:11 PM
didn’t post about the VGA at all but i’ll do this anyway. fuck it 🧵
For this week's blog post I wrote a (kind of meandering) little exploration of atypical resolution mechanics in tabletop games. There's a lot of cool stuff out there that uses more than just cards and dice, and it's something I've been curious about in my own design
Uncommon Resolution Mechanics
thoughtsabout.games
December 16, 2025 at 1:09 AM
For this week's blog post I wrote a (kind of meandering) little exploration of atypical resolution mechanics in tabletop games. There's a lot of cool stuff out there that uses more than just cards and dice, and it's something I've been curious about in my own design
Okay with the "old games count too" rule this is very doable. Gonna do this gradually but I accept the challenge...
New rule this year: If you post "Play more indie games" during the game awards, you are required to make a thread recommending 50 of them.
December 13, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Okay with the "old games count too" rule this is very doable. Gonna do this gradually but I accept the challenge...
Reposted by paul
expedition 33 is going to win every single category at the geoff keighley game awards, but dont let that fool you, its not actually that bad
November 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
expedition 33 is going to win every single category at the geoff keighley game awards, but dont let that fool you, its not actually that bad
Also worth noting that even if you don't actually blog regularly, it's pretty trivial to find a place to post a blog somewhere with your own awards or top 10 or whatever. if you're the sort of person who's really thinking about these things, your friends probably want your recs!
But I tell you, the number of games I've bought and played and enjoyed because a friend was excited enough to say "well this is the one I would award XYZ to this year" is between one and two orders of magnitude higher than the ones I've bought because they Won An Award.
December 12, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Also worth noting that even if you don't actually blog regularly, it's pretty trivial to find a place to post a blog somewhere with your own awards or top 10 or whatever. if you're the sort of person who's really thinking about these things, your friends probably want your recs!
Reposted by paul
☕I've been privately making little moments for the Liminal Cafe, a story about 2 baristas serving to lost souls in an ever-changing cafe.
If you like eldritch cottagecore, tea, queer stories, and a personal touch, you can follow along here. More news in 2026~
Thank you for giving me the push❤️
If you like eldritch cottagecore, tea, queer stories, and a personal touch, you can follow along here. More news in 2026~
Thank you for giving me the push❤️
December 10, 2025 at 6:43 PM
☕I've been privately making little moments for the Liminal Cafe, a story about 2 baristas serving to lost souls in an ever-changing cafe.
If you like eldritch cottagecore, tea, queer stories, and a personal touch, you can follow along here. More news in 2026~
Thank you for giving me the push❤️
If you like eldritch cottagecore, tea, queer stories, and a personal touch, you can follow along here. More news in 2026~
Thank you for giving me the push❤️