Joshua Novalis
@jnovalis.bsky.social
Writing about games, stories, and the myths we live by. He/him. Subscribe to my Substack, Area of Effect: https://joshuanovalis.substack.com/.
I'm finished with Act 2 of Silksong and have seen *an* ending! Starting to clean up side quests and work on the prerequisites to Act 3. (That hour count's probs 10-15 hours off, as I tend to leave my Steam Deck open for hours at a time.) What an incredible game.
September 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I'm finished with Act 2 of Silksong and have seen *an* ending! Starting to clean up side quests and work on the prerequisites to Act 3. (That hour count's probs 10-15 hours off, as I tend to leave my Steam Deck open for hours at a time.) What an incredible game.
Me, finishing Widow’s first phase, thinking I’ve got a real handle on this game:
September 20, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Me, finishing Widow’s first phase, thinking I’ve got a real handle on this game:
You’re also not too far away from Three Mile Island; it’s pretty easy to pull off and get some good angles from the roads around it. Although, things might be changing now that it’s slated to become…data centers for Microsoft.
September 20, 2025 at 12:44 AM
You’re also not too far away from Three Mile Island; it’s pretty easy to pull off and get some good angles from the roads around it. Although, things might be changing now that it’s slated to become…data centers for Microsoft.
In a morning full of W’s for Team Cherry, perhaps this is the biggest flex of them all.
August 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
In a morning full of W’s for Team Cherry, perhaps this is the biggest flex of them all.
name a non-LotR character who is a cool and good person but would nevertheless set land speed records for getting fucked up by the One Ring
August 19, 2025 at 2:38 AM
name a non-LotR character who is a cool and good person but would nevertheless set land speed records for getting fucked up by the One Ring
@bombsfall.bsky.social Spotted over in Lancaster County too.
August 9, 2025 at 3:32 AM
@bombsfall.bsky.social Spotted over in Lancaster County too.
Finished #UntilThen last night, and yeah, this is a really special game. The pacing wobbles in the third act, and the supernatural elements are stretched a bit too far into abstraction, but this game has beautiful, intricate characterization with rich interiority. Cried my way through the ending.
August 8, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Finished #UntilThen last night, and yeah, this is a really special game. The pacing wobbles in the third act, and the supernatural elements are stretched a bit too far into abstraction, but this game has beautiful, intricate characterization with rich interiority. Cried my way through the ending.
Started Until Then this afternoon. I’m 4 chapters deep and have teared up on no fewer than 3 occasions. This damn game is ripping me to shreds.
August 3, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Started Until Then this afternoon. I’m 4 chapters deep and have teared up on no fewer than 3 occasions. This damn game is ripping me to shreds.
The teaser for the teaser for the trailer for the movie.
August 1, 2025 at 4:08 PM
The teaser for the teaser for the trailer for the movie.
I started Grunn on a whim this weekend, and it is delightful. If you’ve been looking for something that scratches that Outer Wilds itch, this is your game. Compact, clever puzzle design, a hint of roguelike elements, and an oddball sense of humor.
July 28, 2025 at 2:44 AM
I started Grunn on a whim this weekend, and it is delightful. If you’ve been looking for something that scratches that Outer Wilds itch, this is your game. Compact, clever puzzle design, a hint of roguelike elements, and an oddball sense of humor.
July 16, 2025 at 12:57 AM
I mentioned this elsewhere, but I’m also curious if even the Xbox logo was AI-generated. I’ve never seen this piece of the B have a curved edge. Did they fire the one team with access to the brand kit!?
July 15, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I mentioned this elsewhere, but I’m also curious if even the Xbox logo was AI-generated. I’ve never seen this piece of the B have a curved edge. Did they fire the one team with access to the brand kit!?
Did...did they even generate their own logo? This is the only time I've ever seen this part of the B curved instead of straight.
July 14, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Did...did they even generate their own logo? This is the only time I've ever seen this part of the B curved instead of straight.
Lo Fi Bleats To Study To
June 21, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Lo Fi Bleats To Study To
You know Auron would be giving him the stankiest look as he walks back to camp.
June 13, 2025 at 2:17 PM
You know Auron would be giving him the stankiest look as he walks back to camp.
*Roche has entered the chat*
May 21, 2025 at 3:52 PM
*Roche has entered the chat*
I'm a broken record at this point, but in case you haven't been convinced to check it out yet: 1000xResist is one of the best sci-fi stories I've experienced across all mediums, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that. An intimate, sprawling, stunning work of art.
May 15, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I'm a broken record at this point, but in case you haven't been convinced to check it out yet: 1000xResist is one of the best sci-fi stories I've experienced across all mediums, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that. An intimate, sprawling, stunning work of art.
presented without comment
May 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
presented without comment
When designing the Gestral Village in Expedition 33, Sandfall was brave enough to ask: what if a village was composed exclusively of weird little guys?
April 27, 2025 at 2:52 AM
When designing the Gestral Village in Expedition 33, Sandfall was brave enough to ask: what if a village was composed exclusively of weird little guys?
There's a place for these more weedy conversations about ethical consumption, but I think it's important to remember that the BDS movement's requests are relatively specific. It's targeting Game Pass and key games *owned* by Microsoft.
bdsmovement.net/microsoft
bdsmovement.net/microsoft
April 24, 2025 at 5:29 PM
There's a place for these more weedy conversations about ethical consumption, but I think it's important to remember that the BDS movement's requests are relatively specific. It's targeting Game Pass and key games *owned* by Microsoft.
bdsmovement.net/microsoft
bdsmovement.net/microsoft
Started Black Mirror S7 last night, and Episode 1, "Common People," wrecked me. There's a version of this story that could have just been a satire of subscription models and tech start-ups, but interfacing that critique with disability and healthcare just kicked me right in the gut.
April 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Started Black Mirror S7 last night, and Episode 1, "Common People," wrecked me. There's a version of this story that could have just been a satire of subscription models and tech start-ups, but interfacing that critique with disability and healthcare just kicked me right in the gut.
Choose 20 games that greatly influence you.
One game per day, for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, no particular order.
Day 16: 1000xResist (2024)
One game per day, for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, no particular order.
Day 16: 1000xResist (2024)
April 16, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Choose 20 games that greatly influence you.
One game per day, for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, no particular order.
Day 16: 1000xResist (2024)
One game per day, for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, no particular order.
Day 16: 1000xResist (2024)
The catholics aren't the only ones who have it hard...
April 14, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The catholics aren't the only ones who have it hard...