Author | Lightnews

Top 13 Halloween Games for 2025 - Indie Game Reviewer - The Best Indie Games

Reposted by Greg Costikyan

Infinitywaltz @infinitywaltz.bsky.social · 6d

It's almost #Halloween, which means it's time for @indiegamereviewer.bsky.social's Top 13 Halloween Games for 2025!

This year's list features #indiegames from @moonhood.bsky.social, @jrhudepohl.bsky.social, @warkus.bsky.social, @katanalevy.bsky.social...

indiegamereviewer.com/top-13-hallo...

We have tricks and treats aplenty to help usher in the autumn with 13 indie games that are perfect for spooky season celebrations!

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley Review - Music and Moomins

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Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · 6d

I reviewed SNUFKIN: Melody of Moominvalley at Indie Game Reviewer. It's a gentle game consisting mostly of navigational and stealth challenges, set in the world of Tove Jansson's Moomin books for children.

indiegamereviewer.com/snufkin-melo...

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley offers cozy charms even to those who aren't huge fans of the Tove Jansson books. Read our complete review.

Netflix to do.... Catan Stories? - Tabletop Quester

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · 8d

Friend Computer: It is still year 224. It was year 224 last year as well. History does not keep happening, and if it does, it can be redacted. We have always been at war with Beta Complex!

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Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · 14d

I have a somewhat satirical post on Netflix's announcement that it has obtained film & TV rights to the boardgame Settlers of Catan on Tabletop Quester here:

tabletopquester.com/netflix-to-d...

Netflix eyes a Catan series—live action or animated. Can a story-less strategy game translate to screen? Greg has thoughts.

tabletopquester.com

Developer Profile: Digital Eel - Indie Game Reviewer - The Best Indie Games

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · 16d

I posted a profile of Digital Eel, a pioneering indie game developer, on Indie Game Reviewer:

indiegamereviewer.com/developer-pr...

They were "indie before there was indie," which is literally true; they released their first game before Steam existed, basically on faith and a prayer.

Greg Costikyan reflects on the legacy of Digital Eel, one of the earliest studios in indie video game scene.

Game-A-Palooza Fall 2025 | NYC’s Largest Celebration of Indie Game Developers

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Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · 17d

Also attended Game-A-Palooza, an indie game event with 50-ish developers attending, taking copious notes, and will write it up for Indie Game Reviewers.

gameapalooza.love

Join Game-A-Palooza Fall 2025 on October 18 at Hana House, Brooklyn — the biggest celebration of NYC-based indie game developers! Play 50+ new and unreleased games, meet local creators, and access exc...

gameapalooza.love

Top 13 Halloween Games for 2025 - Indie Game Reviewer - The Best Indie Games

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · 17d

Busy day today: attended the No Kings protest in Park Slope, Brooklyn, reprising my sign based on this 19-century image:
live.staticflickr.com/189/51003032...

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Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · 26d

Indiegamereviewers has a post about Halloween-relevant games. I mention PRIM, a graphic adventure in which you play Death's daughter; and GHOST TOWN PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, a sort-of MMO in which you carve pumpkins and leave them for other players to encounter.
indiegamereviewer.com/top-13-hallo...

We have tricks and treats aplenty to help usher in the autumn with 13 indie games that are perfect for spooky season celebrations!

Desert Angels Review - Blowing Things Up in an Ancient Junkyard

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Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · 27d

Bah. I can recommend La Esquina, just south of Houston, and the Essex Taqueria. For sure, NYC is not a hotbed of good Mexican food, but we are not barbarians.

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · 29d

I reviewed Desert Angels for Indie Game Reviewer. Its a kind of narrative walking sim, but with FPS elements.

indiegamereviewer.com/desert-angel...

Desert Angels combines a walking simulator with a first-person shooter...but with no enemies to shoot. Read more...

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Oct 3

Well. I guess I'll never buy an EA game again.

Fanzine Friday: Fire the Arquebusiers #1

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Sep 28

Wow.... A YouTube review of a D&D fanzine I published 50 years ago was not what I expected to encounter today.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UmO...

YouTube video by Old School Rules

www.youtube.com

Petit Island review | Adventure Game Hotspot

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Sep 23

I reviewed Petit Island for Adventure Game Hotspot. I didn't hate it, but felt lots of other games do cozy narrative puzzle games with platforming elements better.

adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4939/...

While charming in delivering a somewhat heartwarming story, Petit Island is ultimately rather dull in its delivery, with boring implementations of activities like fishing and bug catching...

adventuregamehotspot.com

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Sep 19

Today, my wife ended her subscription to Disney+, and I ended mine to Hulu. When asked why, I said, "I don't give money to companies that kowtow to fascism, and as a former Disney employee, I am bitterly ashamed."

Earth the Board Game Review - Interesting Design, but... - Tabletop Quester

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Sep 18

I reviewed EARTH, a fairly complex boardgame about planting plants for Tabletop Quester. It's a decidedly mixed review; well-designed system, but emotionally flat.

tabletopquester.com/earth-the-bo...

A seasoned game designer reviews EARTH, the board game.

tabletopquester.com

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Reposted by Greg Costikyan

Adventure Game Hotspot @aghotspot.bsky.social · Sep 9

Sam Amiotte-Beaulieu reviews Paco for AGH. A gorgeous free small-scale adventure about a tiny clown with a lot of heart
adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4999/po…#indiegamem#adventuregameme

Poco review | Adventure Game Hotspot

One of the best free games you’re ever likely to play, Poco is a short but beautiful adventure that will pull you in with its undeniable charm while keeping you guessing with its surprisingly deep mys...

https://adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4999/po…

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Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Sep 7

I am one of the designers of Paranoia, a TTRPG. We have Japanese and Italian licensees, with recent new additions. Our author copies of the Japanese edition have been returned to the publisher, for no good reason; and the Italian publisher cannot send because... Republicans.

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Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Sep 5

I reviewed Ark Nova, a boardgame of competitive zoo building here:

tabletopquester.com/ark-nova-com...

Ark Nova Review- Competitive Zoo-Building and Wildlife Conservation - Tabletop Quester

I’ve visited a lot of zoos over the years, both because I love them, and because I have three kids (now all adults). Once, I was in Cleveland with my...

tabletopquester.com

Tiny Bookshop - Cozy Narrative Business Sim

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Sep 2

I used to write for a bunch of publications before the Internet came around. When it did, I was like, cool, now I can get paid the full value of the content I provide! Turns out, that's zero. I still wire, tho.
indiegamereviewer.com/tiny-booksho...

adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4751/...

Tiny Bookshop is a cozy business sim with narrative aspects and an engaging book-selling system featuring real-world books.

Tiny Bookshop - Cozy Narrative Business Sim

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Aug 31

I reviewed Tiny Bookshop for Indie Game Reviewer. It's a cozy business sim; your bookshop is in a trailer you haul around to different locations in a small seaside down, stocking books and making recommendations to customers.

indiegamereviewer.com/tiny-booksho...

Tiny Bookshop is a cozy business sim with narrative aspects and an engaging book-selling system featuring real-world books.

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Aug 31

50 years ago, our food was safe. Nibble on ground beef? No problem, the FDA made sure it was safe. Today? Cook the hell out of that, not safe anymore! Why? Republicans.

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Aug 31

I have an idea I think every Democrat wanting to recapture blue collar votes should consider. Bring back unions.

60 years ago, most Americans lived a decent life. 60 years ago, 35% percent of Americans belonged to unions. Today, 10% belong to unions. Coincidence? Nope.

Why? Because Republicans.

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Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Aug 31

That... is weird. Cool, but weird.

Wanderstop review | Adventure Game Hotspot

Greg Costikyan @costik.bsky.social · Aug 18

I reviewed Wanderstop. It's an attractive, cozy tea-making game with the humorous element that Alta, the protagonist, doesn't really want to be in this game. She'd much rather be in a rogue-like sword combat game, but she's stuck here making tea.

adventuregamehotspot.com/review/4751/...

Wanderstop is a cozy game of tea-making, featuring quirky customers and a protagonist who, amusingly, would rather be sword fighting than stuck here, making tea...

adventuregamehotspot.com