Aaron Bolner
@bolnerap.bsky.social
I play too many tabletop games. Busy raising a small human who just keeps getting bigger.
Pinned
Aaron Bolner
@bolnerap.bsky.social
· Nov 12
“Listen up, Eeyore. The world ends with you. If you want to enjoy life, expand your world. You gotta push your horizons out as far as they'll go." - A.A. Milne, "The House at Pooh Corner", 1928.
My 2025 board game wrapup! These are physical plays only; I don’t log digital plays (it would drive me crazy and the experience just isn’t the same).
Most played game of the year was the brilliant 2020 cooperative game Regicide, which I would love to see grow in popularity and audience.
Most played game of the year was the brilliant 2020 cooperative game Regicide, which I would love to see grow in popularity and audience.
January 2, 2026 at 3:41 AM
My 2025 board game wrapup! These are physical plays only; I don’t log digital plays (it would drive me crazy and the experience just isn’t the same).
Most played game of the year was the brilliant 2020 cooperative game Regicide, which I would love to see grow in popularity and audience.
Most played game of the year was the brilliant 2020 cooperative game Regicide, which I would love to see grow in popularity and audience.
Book Thread 2026! Finished book #1: Bible Adventures. In addition to learning more about the unlicensed NES developer Color Dreams that I was only vaguely aware of, I particularly enjoyed the relevance of 1990s Christian bookstores, as a person who grew up in the 80s/90s in a Christian school.
January 2, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Book Thread 2026! Finished book #1: Bible Adventures. In addition to learning more about the unlicensed NES developer Color Dreams that I was only vaguely aware of, I particularly enjoyed the relevance of 1990s Christian bookstores, as a person who grew up in the 80s/90s in a Christian school.
ACNH villager: “Let’s give 2025 the sendoff it deserves!”
Me: “I don’t think Animal Crossing will allow me to do that.”
Me: “I don’t think Animal Crossing will allow me to do that.”
January 1, 2026 at 5:37 AM
ACNH villager: “Let’s give 2025 the sendoff it deserves!”
Me: “I don’t think Animal Crossing will allow me to do that.”
Me: “I don’t think Animal Crossing will allow me to do that.”
My 2025 in video games!
Favorite 2025 release: Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles
Very good but one critical flaw: Shantae Advance (poor sound); Kirby Triple Deluxe (hyper mode very repetitive); Ys Memoire: Oath in Felghana (two bosses render and move at faster speed than all the others).
Favorite 2025 release: Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles
Very good but one critical flaw: Shantae Advance (poor sound); Kirby Triple Deluxe (hyper mode very repetitive); Ys Memoire: Oath in Felghana (two bosses render and move at faster speed than all the others).
December 31, 2025 at 8:16 PM
My 2025 in video games!
Favorite 2025 release: Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles
Very good but one critical flaw: Shantae Advance (poor sound); Kirby Triple Deluxe (hyper mode very repetitive); Ys Memoire: Oath in Felghana (two bosses render and move at faster speed than all the others).
Favorite 2025 release: Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles
Very good but one critical flaw: Shantae Advance (poor sound); Kirby Triple Deluxe (hyper mode very repetitive); Ys Memoire: Oath in Felghana (two bosses render and move at faster speed than all the others).
Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remaster #rollcredits. Largely agree with what @evokerfordogs.bsky.social said earlier today. I like and appreciate the glow up. Fleshing it out from 5-8 hours to 10-12 hours didn’t feel overlong. But it also is more interesting as a relic than it is entertaining to me.
December 31, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remaster #rollcredits. Largely agree with what @evokerfordogs.bsky.social said earlier today. I like and appreciate the glow up. Fleshing it out from 5-8 hours to 10-12 hours didn’t feel overlong. But it also is more interesting as a relic than it is entertaining to me.
Reposted by Aaron Bolner
Happy anniversary to the Phantasy Star series! ⭐
I just wanted to redraw that title screen.
I just wanted to redraw that title screen.
December 20, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Happy anniversary to the Phantasy Star series! ⭐
I just wanted to redraw that title screen.
I just wanted to redraw that title screen.
Me: “I listened to a podcast today about Sprawlopolis [a card game I like], and it had listener testimonials. One said, you might know me from the BoardGameGeek thread in 2020, when I played through all 816 combinations of goals.”
Wife: “Homer Simpson, backing into the bushes.”
I’ve been Darmok’d.
Wife: “Homer Simpson, backing into the bushes.”
I’ve been Darmok’d.
December 17, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Me: “I listened to a podcast today about Sprawlopolis [a card game I like], and it had listener testimonials. One said, you might know me from the BoardGameGeek thread in 2020, when I played through all 816 combinations of goals.”
Wife: “Homer Simpson, backing into the bushes.”
I’ve been Darmok’d.
Wife: “Homer Simpson, backing into the bushes.”
I’ve been Darmok’d.
Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate #rollcredits Played on Steam Deck. My playtime was 2 hours of blitzing story, hitting a brick wall, 18 hours of learning how to play the game and work the system, then 2 more hours of blitzing story. Level up jingle drove my wife nuts.
December 14, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate #rollcredits Played on Steam Deck. My playtime was 2 hours of blitzing story, hitting a brick wall, 18 hours of learning how to play the game and work the system, then 2 more hours of blitzing story. Level up jingle drove my wife nuts.
Reposted by Aaron Bolner
At the bookmobile, where there’s a “would you rather” poll on the whiteboard.
Kid: “would you rather be Santa or an elf?”
Me: “would I rather do all the behind-the-scenes work and not get the credit?”
Kid: “would you rather be Santa or an elf?”
Me: “would I rather do all the behind-the-scenes work and not get the credit?”
December 9, 2025 at 11:42 PM
At the bookmobile, where there’s a “would you rather” poll on the whiteboard.
Kid: “would you rather be Santa or an elf?”
Me: “would I rather do all the behind-the-scenes work and not get the credit?”
Kid: “would you rather be Santa or an elf?”
Me: “would I rather do all the behind-the-scenes work and not get the credit?”
Reposted by Aaron Bolner
Spotify starts tracking for Wrapped on Jan 01. Which means that right now, we are effectively in a Spotify version of The Purge: you can listen to whatever you like, as much as you like, and it won't show up on your public metrics next year.
December 5, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Spotify starts tracking for Wrapped on Jan 01. Which means that right now, we are effectively in a Spotify version of The Purge: you can listen to whatever you like, as much as you like, and it won't show up on your public metrics next year.
Cannot believe the good fortune I had last week. Came into the weekend thinking, nope, not going to look for deals on board games or video games, I got the price I wanted on Zelda Echoes of Wisdom and that’s enough.
Then a copy of Glory to Rome ended up on eBay for 25 US dollars.
Then a copy of Glory to Rome ended up on eBay for 25 US dollars.
December 3, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Cannot believe the good fortune I had last week. Came into the weekend thinking, nope, not going to look for deals on board games or video games, I got the price I wanted on Zelda Echoes of Wisdom and that’s enough.
Then a copy of Glory to Rome ended up on eBay for 25 US dollars.
Then a copy of Glory to Rome ended up on eBay for 25 US dollars.
…an astonishingly high percentage of the problems I have in the world would be solved if people were more apt to admit when they messed up.
November 21, 2025 at 10:33 PM
…an astonishingly high percentage of the problems I have in the world would be solved if people were more apt to admit when they messed up.
Reposted by Aaron Bolner
YOU GUYS WANNA SEE SOMETHING CURSED???? HOW ABOUT NEON GENESIS LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS HOCKEY?????
November 16, 2025 at 11:25 PM
YOU GUYS WANNA SEE SOMETHING CURSED???? HOW ABOUT NEON GENESIS LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS HOCKEY?????
“This means that when the Weeble is wobbled, as in position B…”
November 17, 2025 at 1:31 AM
“This means that when the Weeble is wobbled, as in position B…”
Super Mario Galaxy (replay from about 6 years ago) #rollcredits. It’s still a great game. Glad it’s back out there. All-timer of a soundtrack. Joy-Con 2 controls, detached from the system, were solid. Wish fire levels worked differently / were less punitive, but that’s a 3D Mario problem in general.
November 16, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Super Mario Galaxy (replay from about 6 years ago) #rollcredits. It’s still a great game. Glad it’s back out there. All-timer of a soundtrack. Joy-Con 2 controls, detached from the system, were solid. Wish fire levels worked differently / were less punitive, but that’s a 3D Mario problem in general.
Playing Mario Galaxy on Switch 2 and having a lovely time for the most part. Still don’t like 3D Mario fire levels, still don’t like the slippy blue grabby stars, but overall, good stuff. And the OST is wonderful.
Except for *this* aural abomination. What *is* this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqnq...
Except for *this* aural abomination. What *is* this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqnq...
Super Mario Galaxy - Fire Mario and Ice Mario
YouTube video by zabeon
www.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Playing Mario Galaxy on Switch 2 and having a lovely time for the most part. Still don’t like 3D Mario fire levels, still don’t like the slippy blue grabby stars, but overall, good stuff. And the OST is wonderful.
Except for *this* aural abomination. What *is* this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqnq...
Except for *this* aural abomination. What *is* this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqnq...
I finished a book and I have Thoughts
#49: Queen Esther. This is being sold as a return to the world of “The Cider House Rules” - and indeed, that’s why I’m reading my first Irving since Last Night in Twisted River. This sales pitch, however, is a cynical attempt to sell more books.
November 8, 2025 at 3:11 AM
I finished a book and I have Thoughts
Name one other games writer who would remember and acknowledge the existence of Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night. I’ll wait. 👑
Hey! Happy Halloween! A few years ago I ranked every single Castlevania game as a Patreon article, and I’m making it free to read for 24 hours to celebrate the holiday. It’s missing a couple games now, but I’ll be updating it soon. Subscribe for more writings!
www.patreon.com/posts/737080...
www.patreon.com/posts/737080...
Ranking All of the Castlevania Games: A Halloween Special | Shaun Musgrave
Get more from Shaun Musgrave on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Name one other games writer who would remember and acknowledge the existence of Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night. I’ll wait. 👑
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles #rollcredits. I played it as we did in the old days, a single-class party with only its own abilities. Mystics served me well with only three speed bumps, one of which was entirely due to guest AI.
I have a lot of thoughts, but I need to collect them.
I have a lot of thoughts, but I need to collect them.
October 30, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles #rollcredits. I played it as we did in the old days, a single-class party with only its own abilities. Mystics served me well with only three speed bumps, one of which was entirely due to guest AI.
I have a lot of thoughts, but I need to collect them.
I have a lot of thoughts, but I need to collect them.
Reposted by Aaron Bolner
THIS GAME IS COMPLETE
Genuinely can’t remember the last time I put this much time into a game that wasn’t Animal Crossing or a casual puzzle game. This game is still REALLY good. I thought maybe I was elevating it unfairly based on nostalgia but no, this is still in my very top handful of games.
Genuinely can’t remember the last time I put this much time into a game that wasn’t Animal Crossing or a casual puzzle game. This game is still REALLY good. I thought maybe I was elevating it unfairly based on nostalgia but no, this is still in my very top handful of games.
October 29, 2025 at 1:32 AM
THIS GAME IS COMPLETE
Genuinely can’t remember the last time I put this much time into a game that wasn’t Animal Crossing or a casual puzzle game. This game is still REALLY good. I thought maybe I was elevating it unfairly based on nostalgia but no, this is still in my very top handful of games.
Genuinely can’t remember the last time I put this much time into a game that wasn’t Animal Crossing or a casual puzzle game. This game is still REALLY good. I thought maybe I was elevating it unfairly based on nostalgia but no, this is still in my very top handful of games.
Reposted by Aaron Bolner
I've played well over 100 hours of Final Fantasy Tactics in my life (I know, rookie numbers) and this is the first time I've run into a roaming gang of earth monks!
It devolved into Ramza taking them out individually with double punches while my healer kept the two dying people alive enough.
It devolved into Ramza taking them out individually with double punches while my healer kept the two dying people alive enough.
October 28, 2025 at 12:53 AM
I've played well over 100 hours of Final Fantasy Tactics in my life (I know, rookie numbers) and this is the first time I've run into a roaming gang of earth monks!
It devolved into Ramza taking them out individually with double punches while my healer kept the two dying people alive enough.
It devolved into Ramza taking them out individually with double punches while my healer kept the two dying people alive enough.
Reposted by Aaron Bolner
Okay, I reviewed the Street Fighter burgers from McDonald’s Japan. Please have a read and justify the gastronomical damage I incurred!
postgamecontent.com/post/7984416...
postgamecontent.com/post/7984416...
A Super Combo? Trying the Street Fighter II "Street Burgers" from McDonald's Japan
Following on from the Neon Genesis Evangelion collaboration earlier this year, McDonald's Japan's latest pop culture tie-in is with Capcom's Street Fighter. Once again there were some fun commercials,...
postgamecontent.com
October 26, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Okay, I reviewed the Street Fighter burgers from McDonald’s Japan. Please have a read and justify the gastronomical damage I incurred!
postgamecontent.com/post/7984416...
postgamecontent.com/post/7984416...
There’s definitely been a readjustment of some of the raw numbers in FFT Ivalice Chronicles. Doing a run I’ve done multiple times between original and WOTL - all Mystics with only Mystic abilities/equipment - I started hitting speed bumps in mid to late chapter 3 that weren’t there before.
October 26, 2025 at 3:18 AM
There’s definitely been a readjustment of some of the raw numbers in FFT Ivalice Chronicles. Doing a run I’ve done multiple times between original and WOTL - all Mystics with only Mystic abilities/equipment - I started hitting speed bumps in mid to late chapter 3 that weren’t there before.
It was a @saltandpeppergames.bsky.social kind of day. Listened to the latest Beyond Solitaire (good interview!), then played Onoda at lunch, alongside an older coworker who expressed interest in learning it. Talking through the game with a fresh set of eyes gave me new ideas for how to approach it.
Additionally, Salt & Pepper Games, a Spanish studio, has produced several interesting-looking solo games, so I’m giving them a shot. I didn’t see any copies of their outer space solo game by a Japanese designer, but I’ll start with Onoda and Conservas and see how those go.
October 23, 2025 at 12:19 AM
It was a @saltandpeppergames.bsky.social kind of day. Listened to the latest Beyond Solitaire (good interview!), then played Onoda at lunch, alongside an older coworker who expressed interest in learning it. Talking through the game with a fresh set of eyes gave me new ideas for how to approach it.
Reposted by Aaron Bolner
Take it from us -- an organization that closely studies all the horrific ways people can die from common household items -- have the jelly donut.
October 20, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Take it from us -- an organization that closely studies all the horrific ways people can die from common household items -- have the jelly donut.