Pause Menu
@thepausemenu.bsky.social
Pause Menu is a reflective gaming newsletter about play, time, and how we relate to games.
A quieter way to love games as an adult.
pausemenu.substack.com
A quieter way to love games as an adult.
pausemenu.substack.com
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Pause Menu
@thepausemenu.bsky.social
· Oct 13
The Pause Menu | Substack
Video game reflections from the pause menu of life. Click to read The Pause Menu, a Substack publication. Launched 3 months ago.
pausemenu.substack.com
🎮 Welcome to Pause Menu
Reflective gaming essays for the moments between missions
I write about what games teach us— about calm, growth, and meaning — when life won’t let us hit pause.
🕹 New reflections Tuesdays & Thursdays
Join:
pausemenu.substack.com
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming #reflection
Reflective gaming essays for the moments between missions
I write about what games teach us— about calm, growth, and meaning — when life won’t let us hit pause.
🕹 New reflections Tuesdays & Thursdays
Join:
pausemenu.substack.com
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming #reflection
❄️ Friday is the winter biome.
Progress is slower, stamina is low, but the save point is visible.
Almost at the weekend campfire.
Progress is slower, stamina is low, but the save point is visible.
Almost at the weekend campfire.
January 23, 2026 at 12:11 PM
❄️ Friday is the winter biome.
Progress is slower, stamina is low, but the save point is visible.
Almost at the weekend campfire.
Progress is slower, stamina is low, but the save point is visible.
Almost at the weekend campfire.
🏮 Not every day asks for momentum.
Some days ask for care,
and the patience to come back.
Some days ask for care,
and the patience to come back.
January 21, 2026 at 12:34 PM
🏮 Not every day asks for momentum.
Some days ask for care,
and the patience to come back.
Some days ask for care,
and the patience to come back.
🐭 In Winter Burrow, courage is not speed or bravado.
It is checking the sky.
Counting supplies.
Deciding whether tonight is worth the risk.
Staying warm is the objective.
New Pause Menu is live today.
#Pausemenu #Videogames
It is checking the sky.
Counting supplies.
Deciding whether tonight is worth the risk.
Staying warm is the objective.
New Pause Menu is live today.
#Pausemenu #Videogames
January 20, 2026 at 6:30 PM
🐭 In Winter Burrow, courage is not speed or bravado.
It is checking the sky.
Counting supplies.
Deciding whether tonight is worth the risk.
Staying warm is the objective.
New Pause Menu is live today.
#Pausemenu #Videogames
It is checking the sky.
Counting supplies.
Deciding whether tonight is worth the risk.
Staying warm is the objective.
New Pause Menu is live today.
#Pausemenu #Videogames
🧭 This week on Pause Menu doesn’t ask for speed.
It asks for warmth.
For small care taken seriously.
For staying present even when clarity lags.
That’s where this one seems to begin.
It asks for warmth.
For small care taken seriously.
For staying present even when clarity lags.
That’s where this one seems to begin.
January 19, 2026 at 12:42 PM
🧭 This week on Pause Menu doesn’t ask for speed.
It asks for warmth.
For small care taken seriously.
For staying present even when clarity lags.
That’s where this one seems to begin.
It asks for warmth.
For small care taken seriously.
For staying present even when clarity lags.
That’s where this one seems to begin.
☕️ This morning’s coffee feels like a healing potion.
Just enough HP to keep moving, clear one more day, and reach the weekend without respawning.
Just enough HP to keep moving, clear one more day, and reach the weekend without respawning.
January 16, 2026 at 1:13 PM
☕️ This morning’s coffee feels like a healing potion.
Just enough HP to keep moving, clear one more day, and reach the weekend without respawning.
Just enough HP to keep moving, clear one more day, and reach the weekend without respawning.
🏮 Sometimes the board feels steadier once the gap is gone.
Not because the move was perfect.
Because something finally landed.
Not because the move was perfect.
Because something finally landed.
January 14, 2026 at 12:58 PM
🏮 Sometimes the board feels steadier once the gap is gone.
Not because the move was perfect.
Because something finally landed.
Not because the move was perfect.
Because something finally landed.
🏮 We often leave space for the perfect piece.
A clean gap.
A future version.
A moment that hasn’t arrived yet.
Today’s essay is about what happens when you stop waiting and place what’s actually falling.
Tetris 99: Stop Saving Space for the Perfect Piece is now live.
#Pausemenu #Videogames
A clean gap.
A future version.
A moment that hasn’t arrived yet.
Today’s essay is about what happens when you stop waiting and place what’s actually falling.
Tetris 99: Stop Saving Space for the Perfect Piece is now live.
#Pausemenu #Videogames
Tetris 99: Stop Saving Space for the Perfect Piece
Gaming reflections from the pause menu of life
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:17 PM
🏮 We often leave space for the perfect piece.
A clean gap.
A future version.
A moment that hasn’t arrived yet.
Today’s essay is about what happens when you stop waiting and place what’s actually falling.
Tetris 99: Stop Saving Space for the Perfect Piece is now live.
#Pausemenu #Videogames
A clean gap.
A future version.
A moment that hasn’t arrived yet.
Today’s essay is about what happens when you stop waiting and place what’s actually falling.
Tetris 99: Stop Saving Space for the Perfect Piece is now live.
#Pausemenu #Videogames
🏮 There are moments where we realize we’re not stuck.
We’re just paused inside something unfinished.
An awkward piece falls.
An old save loads.
Nothing explains itself.
And we keep playing anyway.
We’re just paused inside something unfinished.
An awkward piece falls.
An old save loads.
Nothing explains itself.
And we keep playing anyway.
January 12, 2026 at 12:52 PM
🏮 There are moments where we realize we’re not stuck.
We’re just paused inside something unfinished.
An awkward piece falls.
An old save loads.
Nothing explains itself.
And we keep playing anyway.
We’re just paused inside something unfinished.
An awkward piece falls.
An old save loads.
Nothing explains itself.
And we keep playing anyway.
🕯️The year doesn’t always need a main quest right away.
Sometimes it starts by helping someone with something small and seeing what that changes.
A new Legacy essay on Final Fantasy XVI and side quests publishes this evening.
Sometimes it starts by helping someone with something small and seeing what that changes.
A new Legacy essay on Final Fantasy XVI and side quests publishes this evening.
January 12, 2026 at 12:37 AM
🕯️The year doesn’t always need a main quest right away.
Sometimes it starts by helping someone with something small and seeing what that changes.
A new Legacy essay on Final Fantasy XVI and side quests publishes this evening.
Sometimes it starts by helping someone with something small and seeing what that changes.
A new Legacy essay on Final Fantasy XVI and side quests publishes this evening.
🌤️ Sundays don’t ask much.
Just enough quiet to remember yourself before pressing save on the weekend.
Just enough quiet to remember yourself before pressing save on the weekend.
January 11, 2026 at 11:59 AM
🌤️ Sundays don’t ask much.
Just enough quiet to remember yourself before pressing save on the weekend.
Just enough quiet to remember yourself before pressing save on the weekend.
🎮 Saturday afternoon energy is free-roam mode.
No main quest.
No side quest.
Just moving through the world and letting the game breathe.
#Pausemenu
No main quest.
No side quest.
Just moving through the world and letting the game breathe.
#Pausemenu
January 10, 2026 at 6:10 PM
🎮 Saturday afternoon energy is free-roam mode.
No main quest.
No side quest.
Just moving through the world and letting the game breathe.
#Pausemenu
No main quest.
No side quest.
Just moving through the world and letting the game breathe.
#Pausemenu
🛠️ Not every struggle means you need an upgrade.
Sometimes it means your tools don’t fit you anymore.
Today’s Quiet Mode is about equipping before improving
and why misalignment feels like failure even when you’re “doing everything right.”
#Pausemenu
Sometimes it means your tools don’t fit you anymore.
Today’s Quiet Mode is about equipping before improving
and why misalignment feels like failure even when you’re “doing everything right.”
#Pausemenu
January 8, 2026 at 12:12 PM
🛠️ Not every struggle means you need an upgrade.
Sometimes it means your tools don’t fit you anymore.
Today’s Quiet Mode is about equipping before improving
and why misalignment feels like failure even when you’re “doing everything right.”
#Pausemenu
Sometimes it means your tools don’t fit you anymore.
Today’s Quiet Mode is about equipping before improving
and why misalignment feels like failure even when you’re “doing everything right.”
#Pausemenu
🏮
“In Elden Ring, resting is not a grand ending. It is a breath.”
Taking one of those today.
“In Elden Ring, resting is not a grand ending. It is a breath.”
Taking one of those today.
January 7, 2026 at 12:15 PM
🏮
“In Elden Ring, resting is not a grand ending. It is a breath.”
Taking one of those today.
“In Elden Ring, resting is not a grand ending. It is a breath.”
Taking one of those today.
🕯️ Today’s Pause Menu starts at a Site of Grace.
Not a reset.
Just a place to sit, take the heal, and continue.
Not a reset.
Just a place to sit, take the heal, and continue.
Elden Ring: You Don’t Need a New Save File
Gaming reflections from the pause menu of life
open.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:04 PM
🕯️ Today’s Pause Menu starts at a Site of Grace.
Not a reset.
Just a place to sit, take the heal, and continue.
Not a reset.
Just a place to sit, take the heal, and continue.
🕯️ January isn’t about starting over.
It’s noticing what’s still here
after the noise fades.
#PauseMenu
It’s noticing what’s still here
after the noise fades.
#PauseMenu
January 5, 2026 at 11:59 AM
🕯️ January isn’t about starting over.
It’s noticing what’s still here
after the noise fades.
#PauseMenu
It’s noticing what’s still here
after the noise fades.
#PauseMenu
☕ Coffee. A slow start.
No quests yet. Just the title screen music playing.
Some days are meant to load quietly.
#Pausemenu
No quests yet. Just the title screen music playing.
Some days are meant to load quietly.
#Pausemenu
January 4, 2026 at 2:04 PM
☕ Coffee. A slow start.
No quests yet. Just the title screen music playing.
Some days are meant to load quietly.
#Pausemenu
No quests yet. Just the title screen music playing.
Some days are meant to load quietly.
#Pausemenu
😌 I chose rest instead of pushing myself to play last night.
Woke up today feeling amazing.
Happy Saturday everyone.
Woke up today feeling amazing.
Happy Saturday everyone.
January 3, 2026 at 1:04 PM
😌 I chose rest instead of pushing myself to play last night.
Woke up today feeling amazing.
Happy Saturday everyone.
Woke up today feeling amazing.
Happy Saturday everyone.
💾 Tonight isn’t for planning the next run.
It’s for saving where you are.
Tomorrow can load when it’s ready.
It’s for saving where you are.
Tomorrow can load when it’s ready.
December 31, 2025 at 7:46 PM
💾 Tonight isn’t for planning the next run.
It’s for saving where you are.
Tomorrow can load when it’s ready.
It’s for saving where you are.
Tomorrow can load when it’s ready.
🕯️ Last night’s Octopath Traveler 0 session had everything.
A little XP grinding. A boss fight. Talking to townsfolk. Wandering without a plan.
Progress + Presence
#PauseMenu #OctopathTraveler0
A little XP grinding. A boss fight. Talking to townsfolk. Wandering without a plan.
Progress + Presence
#PauseMenu #OctopathTraveler0
December 30, 2025 at 2:58 PM
🕯️ Last night’s Octopath Traveler 0 session had everything.
A little XP grinding. A boss fight. Talking to townsfolk. Wandering without a plan.
Progress + Presence
#PauseMenu #OctopathTraveler0
A little XP grinding. A boss fight. Talking to townsfolk. Wandering without a plan.
Progress + Presence
#PauseMenu #OctopathTraveler0
🎮 Snow day energy.
Warm house.
Games that don’t ask much in return.
That’s enough for a Sunday.
Warm house.
Games that don’t ask much in return.
That’s enough for a Sunday.
December 28, 2025 at 3:38 PM
🎮 Snow day energy.
Warm house.
Games that don’t ask much in return.
That’s enough for a Sunday.
Warm house.
Games that don’t ask much in return.
That’s enough for a Sunday.
⏸️ Saturday feels like a natural pause menu.
No objectives blinking.
No progress lost if you step away.
If you need it, take it.
Games will wait.
So will this.
#Pausemenu
No objectives blinking.
No progress lost if you step away.
If you need it, take it.
Games will wait.
So will this.
#Pausemenu
December 27, 2025 at 2:53 PM
⏸️ Saturday feels like a natural pause menu.
No objectives blinking.
No progress lost if you step away.
If you need it, take it.
Games will wait.
So will this.
#Pausemenu
No objectives blinking.
No progress lost if you step away.
If you need it, take it.
Games will wait.
So will this.
#Pausemenu
As the year closes, I keep thinking about how many people are quietly carrying unfinished things into January.
Not because they failed.
Because they’re still working on it.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
#PauseMenu
Not because they failed.
Because they’re still working on it.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
#PauseMenu
December 26, 2025 at 9:39 PM
As the year closes, I keep thinking about how many people are quietly carrying unfinished things into January.
Not because they failed.
Because they’re still working on it.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
#PauseMenu
Not because they failed.
Because they’re still working on it.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
#PauseMenu
🎄It’s Christmas Eve.
No quests left to finish tonight.
If you celebrate it, Merry Christmas!
#pausemenu #Christmaseve
No quests left to finish tonight.
If you celebrate it, Merry Christmas!
#pausemenu #Christmaseve
December 24, 2025 at 3:13 PM
🎄It’s Christmas Eve.
No quests left to finish tonight.
If you celebrate it, Merry Christmas!
#pausemenu #Christmaseve
No quests left to finish tonight.
If you celebrate it, Merry Christmas!
#pausemenu #Christmaseve
🎮
Not every year needs a big ending.
Some just need a clean save.
Pause Menu wrapped its first year quietly, and that feels right.
Year in Review is live.
#PauseMenu #Videogames
Not every year needs a big ending.
Some just need a clean save.
Pause Menu wrapped its first year quietly, and that feels right.
Year in Review is live.
#PauseMenu #Videogames
December 23, 2025 at 6:53 PM
🎮
Not every year needs a big ending.
Some just need a clean save.
Pause Menu wrapped its first year quietly, and that feels right.
Year in Review is live.
#PauseMenu #Videogames
Not every year needs a big ending.
Some just need a clean save.
Pause Menu wrapped its first year quietly, and that feels right.
Year in Review is live.
#PauseMenu #Videogames
🎮 Late December feels like Octopath Traveller 0 energy.
No stat resets.
No “new year, new build.”
No rush to become someone else.
Just standing at the edge of what’s next, allowed to keep going exactly as you are.
#PauseMenu #EndOfYear #OctopathTraveller0
No stat resets.
No “new year, new build.”
No rush to become someone else.
Just standing at the edge of what’s next, allowed to keep going exactly as you are.
#PauseMenu #EndOfYear #OctopathTraveller0
December 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
🎮 Late December feels like Octopath Traveller 0 energy.
No stat resets.
No “new year, new build.”
No rush to become someone else.
Just standing at the edge of what’s next, allowed to keep going exactly as you are.
#PauseMenu #EndOfYear #OctopathTraveller0
No stat resets.
No “new year, new build.”
No rush to become someone else.
Just standing at the edge of what’s next, allowed to keep going exactly as you are.
#PauseMenu #EndOfYear #OctopathTraveller0