Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Katya Ryabova

@katyar.bsky.social

460 followers 110 following 630 posts

Video games freelance writer & journalist. Gaming, motherhood, drinks. She/her. Games I love: 🐺 The Witcher 🎨 Expedition 33 🌻 Stardew Valley 🧠 Baldur's Gate 3 💀 Hades Substack: playingthisweek.substack.com Coffee and games fund: https://ko-fi.com/katyar

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Jul 16

Hi, I'm Katya, and I play video games, write about video games, and think about video games way too much these days!

I live in Toronto, Canada, and spend a lot of time in Spain. I'm also a new mom, so sleep is a fav hobby 🤩

You can find my video games writing here: playingthisweek.substack.com

Playing This Week | Katya Ryabova | Substack

Decidedly unserious video game essays, reviews, and interviews from a recovering marketer and average human based in Toronto. Open-minded but a sucker for good RPGs, adventure, and cozy games (whateve...

playingthisweek.substack.com

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 2d

We have a coffee grinder though, so French press is an option, bless

A glass double-wall mug of coffee with milk, an empty French press, and a small black booklet titled Brew Guide sitting on a wooden table and a grey placemat in the background

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 2d

Our espresso machine is looking at three weeks in service, and I'm... ummm... not coping

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 3d

Wind's howling ✈️💨

Reposted by Katya Ryabova

Amanita Design @amanita-design.net · 3d

Machinarium turns 16 today 🤖

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 3d

Missed something cool! JollyRoll by @sugamustudio.bsky.social now has a Steam page: store.steampowered.com/app/3914160/...

What a good day to add a locally developed indie to one's wishlist 😉

JollyRoll on Steam

Step into the toy-box world of JollyRoll, a cheerful marble-matching game. Line up shots, trigger satisfying combos, and clear handcrafted tracks filled with nostalgic charm.

store.steampowered.com

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 3d

Still enjoying my time with Silksong... by watching someone else play it. Every so often I think, maybe I should try it myself, and then, every 10 minutes of the stream or so, it's an immediate "hell no" from me.

Amazing achievement tho, gg Team Cherry.

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 4d

They came back after last year's show was sold out so quickly—I managed to buy tickets this time!

It was fantastic. I'd buy the album if they ever record it!

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 4d

Oh you 😊🫣

It was lovely! Very nice change of scenery

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 4d

Fun!!

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you! 💛

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 4d

Right back at ya!

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 4d

What are you playing right now, Russ?

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 4d

The best kind of busy!

I missed all of you folks, that's something huge to miss 🫶

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 4d

About last night:

Stardew Valley Symphony of Seasons, wonderful music, and DIY Stardrop-inspired eye makeup to celebrate.

Such a wholesome new genre of live events.

#stardewvalley

A screen showing the poster for Stardew Valley Symphony of Seasons and saying October 14 Meridian Hall Toronto all ages

Katya making a funny face looking to her right, wearing colourful eye makeup and a Stardew Valley stardrop pin

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 4d

Back from a much-needed break that was almost a month-long, wow!

After trips with family and fun vacation time, I'm ready to end my no-video-games streak *cracks knuckles*

What did I miss, chat?

Reposted by Katya Ryabova

Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · 24d

Canada nation built (and built and built and built) until the 1970s, then began the great dismantling. I'd pin it to Mulroney era when rails were ripped out across country & Chretien/Harris pulling out of housing funding/backstopping. Canada Post stuff is just another dismantling moment.

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · 25d

Canadian games get me all excited, but Indigenous-led games developed on Turtle Island? Even more so!

My latest on Akiiwan: Survival by @littlebuffalogames.bsky.social:

playingthisweek.substack.com/p/akiiwan-su...

Canadian spotlight: Akiiwan Survival

An Indigenous-led cozy survival game readying for early access

playingthisweek.substack.com

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 12

HELL YES

Supergiant Games @supergiantgames.bsky.social · Sep 12

HADES II v1.0 is coming September 25!🌒

Battle beyond the Underworld in our launch trailer.🏔️

Play in blazing-fast 120fps in TV Mode on Nintendo Switch 2, or 60fps on Nintendo Switch (w/ free upgrade to Switch 2). Transfer PC progress from Steam/Epic w/ Cross Saves.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8lJ...

Hades II – v1.0 Launch Trailer (Coming Sep. 25!)

YouTube video by Supergiant Games

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Katya Ryabova

Iffi Mooz’pan @iffimoozipan.bsky.social · Sep 12

Celebrating Nintendo Direct reveals by... completely ignoring them and going live with Hollow Knight!

Still recovering from flu, but determined to wrap this up as much as I can.
Collectibles? White Palace? Endings? Grimm Troupe? Pantheons??
How close to 112% can I get? 🤔

www.twitch.tv/iffimoozipan

Hollow Knight, the White Lady

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 12

So many games I'm excited not to play!

Wrote about the how and the why in my latest: playingthisweek.substack.com/p/the-games-...

#letsplaysrule

To the games I won't ever play...

An ode to those who make experiencing them still possible.

playingthisweek.substack.com

Reposted by Katya Ryabova

AndresPlays🎮🦇 @andresplays.bsky.social · Sep 10

Bluesky is growing and folks wanting to find more gaming content don't know where to start.

I made this Starter Park full of devs, content creators and gaming journalists making meaningful posts that I love seeing on my TL!

go.bsky.app/TtCF8vE

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 10

Such a giving soul you are. Some really lovely folks followed me back this time around, all thanks to you!

Reposted by Katya Ryabova

gameuxsummit.com @gameuxsummit.com · Sep 9

This is already our last session at the #GameUXsummit… Our keynote speaker today is David Sears, creative director (most recently on South of Midnight) and writer. He takes us on a journey: “Life takes you to unexpected places, love brings you home”.

Photo of David Sears presenting his title slide

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 9

I'm even worse at stealth than I am at shooting, plus my blood pressure spikes when I stealth, so maybe I should stick to LP watches 😅

Katya Ryabova @katyar.bsky.social · Sep 9

I've only watched one by Jacksepticeye! Thank you for the reco, I'll check Chip out 😀