Elizabeth Hambleton, PhD, MLIS (she/they)
@brohannesjahms.bsky.social
Librarian, ludomusicologist, voice actor, music theorist, cat mom.
I have a yt channel where I post videos of first looks at demos, betas, and new videogame releases! If you're an indie dev, reach out!
https://www.youtube.com/@BrohannesJahms
I have a yt channel where I post videos of first looks at demos, betas, and new videogame releases! If you're an indie dev, reach out!
https://www.youtube.com/@BrohannesJahms
I don't have a subscription to WSJ, and this is ballsy asking a question when I haven't read the article, but I was low-key assuming that the existing subsidies were just gonna bandaid over all that? Is there a different scenario in the contents of this article?
December 8, 2025 at 10:56 PM
I don't have a subscription to WSJ, and this is ballsy asking a question when I haven't read the article, but I was low-key assuming that the existing subsidies were just gonna bandaid over all that? Is there a different scenario in the contents of this article?
So I'm truly asking. For those doing a hobby, why take a "shortcut" that you know stunts your skill and enjoyment? For those producing products for sale (e.g. indie games; this has been a thread about indie games all along), why not use an existing free asset or toss a coin to a fellow artist?
December 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
So I'm truly asking. For those doing a hobby, why take a "shortcut" that you know stunts your skill and enjoyment? For those producing products for sale (e.g. indie games; this has been a thread about indie games all along), why not use an existing free asset or toss a coin to a fellow artist?
I'm truly asking. And yes obviously I do get it in a way. Learning is hard. Time crunch exists. I am terrible with visuals and spatialization, so the idea of making a 3D model terrifies me. BUT, I also know I can download an asset and tweak it. Depending on use case (hobby, not $$), this is fine.
December 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I'm truly asking. And yes obviously I do get it in a way. Learning is hard. Time crunch exists. I am terrible with visuals and spatialization, so the idea of making a 3D model terrifies me. BUT, I also know I can download an asset and tweak it. Depending on use case (hobby, not $$), this is fine.
"Now now, Elizabeth, not everyone knows how to use all tools!" True, but I know there are a million one-page written tutorials and 2-minute video tutorials. Are people really so desperate for a finished product that they avoid learning a skill that takes 20 minutes to learn?
December 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
"Now now, Elizabeth, not everyone knows how to use all tools!" True, but I know there are a million one-page written tutorials and 2-minute video tutorials. Are people really so desperate for a finished product that they avoid learning a skill that takes 20 minutes to learn?
With all these excellent, free, user-friendly tools and options, I am genuinely baffled why anyone would ever generate sfx with AI. It takes so many tries to get it right, when you could have just found the perfect sound on freesound or done a simple edit in Audacity.
December 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
With all these excellent, free, user-friendly tools and options, I am genuinely baffled why anyone would ever generate sfx with AI. It takes so many tries to get it right, when you could have just found the perfect sound on freesound or done a simple edit in Audacity.
At long last, I have found the language for me!
December 1, 2025 at 7:05 PM
At long last, I have found the language for me!
Omg hi Sean Chiplock, fancy seeing you round these parts 😅
November 25, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Omg hi Sean Chiplock, fancy seeing you round these parts 😅
Bonus games: here are the four that I initially had on my list and was genuinely surprised to learn they came out Q4 2024 and therefore don't make my list:
Caravan SandWitch
CopyCat
Mouthwashing
Symphonia
Caravan SandWitch
CopyCat
Mouthwashing
Symphonia
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Bonus games: here are the four that I initially had on my list and was genuinely surprised to learn they came out Q4 2024 and therefore don't make my list:
Caravan SandWitch
CopyCat
Mouthwashing
Symphonia
Caravan SandWitch
CopyCat
Mouthwashing
Symphonia
So that's my list of top 10 games of 2025, without any of the big names getting nominated for silly awards! It's been a stellar year for indie games - but also a lot of notable flops. I think there's just *so much* that it's both a lot of good and a lot of bad. Just...a lot.
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
So that's my list of top 10 games of 2025, without any of the big names getting nominated for silly awards! It's been a stellar year for indie games - but also a lot of notable flops. I think there's just *so much* that it's both a lot of good and a lot of bad. Just...a lot.
10. this game will end in 205 clicks.
It's bite-sized. I finished in like 15 minutes. But it has been 3 months since I played it and I can't stop thinking about it. Without giving anything away...it's worth your time.
store.steampowered.com/app/3585630/...
It's bite-sized. I finished in like 15 minutes. But it has been 3 months since I played it and I can't stop thinking about it. Without giving anything away...it's worth your time.
store.steampowered.com/app/3585630/...
this game will end in 205 clicks. on Steam
What does a SUPERVILLAIN do, when he is forbidden from doing anything evil for the day? WARNING: This is not the type of game where you can make meaningful choices.
store.steampowered.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
10. this game will end in 205 clicks.
It's bite-sized. I finished in like 15 minutes. But it has been 3 months since I played it and I can't stop thinking about it. Without giving anything away...it's worth your time.
store.steampowered.com/app/3585630/...
It's bite-sized. I finished in like 15 minutes. But it has been 3 months since I played it and I can't stop thinking about it. Without giving anything away...it's worth your time.
store.steampowered.com/app/3585630/...
Bonus content on Duck Detective: The voice actor is Sean Chiplock, who is also the voice of Revali in Zelda and Spider-Man in Marvel's Avengers, so....actually yeah, give him all the awards???
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Bonus content on Duck Detective: The voice actor is Sean Chiplock, who is also the voice of Revali in Zelda and Spider-Man in Marvel's Avengers, so....actually yeah, give him all the awards???
9. Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping. Look, all those big name nominees for voice acting are great, but the guy who voices Eugene McQuacklin deserves that award. Also, the story is hilarious and the puzzle is just the right difficulty. Love it!
store.steampowered.com/app/2714620/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2714620/...
Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping on Steam
You are the one and only Duck Detective, a depressed and recently divorced duck who must quack the case. Inspect evidence, make de-duck-tions, and solve this no-murder mystery!
store.steampowered.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
9. Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping. Look, all those big name nominees for voice acting are great, but the guy who voices Eugene McQuacklin deserves that award. Also, the story is hilarious and the puzzle is just the right difficulty. Love it!
store.steampowered.com/app/2714620/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2714620/...
8. Squirreled Away. You are a squirrel. You can be a squirrel with a friend. Raid trash cans, annoy dogs, climb trees, do archeology, normal squirrel stuff really. Probs my pick for multiplayer of the year!
(Do I just want to be a lil critter? Maybe...)
store.steampowered.com/app/2977620/...
(Do I just want to be a lil critter? Maybe...)
store.steampowered.com/app/2977620/...
Squirreled Away on Steam
Live your best squirrel life. Explore, gather, craft, and build incredible treehouses in acres of beautiful parkland. Scurry across lawns, up trees, and leap limb to limb solo, or up to four friends c...
store.steampowered.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
8. Squirreled Away. You are a squirrel. You can be a squirrel with a friend. Raid trash cans, annoy dogs, climb trees, do archeology, normal squirrel stuff really. Probs my pick for multiplayer of the year!
(Do I just want to be a lil critter? Maybe...)
store.steampowered.com/app/2977620/...
(Do I just want to be a lil critter? Maybe...)
store.steampowered.com/app/2977620/...
7. Winter Burrow. Be a mouse learning to forage and knit sweaters and brew tea. I saw someone say this was if Beatrix Potter made The Long Dark, which is...kind of perfect. I loved every second of my 12 hour playthrough of this one!
store.steampowered.com/app/3008740/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3008740/...
Save 10% on Winter Burrow on Steam
Winter Burrow is a cozy woodland survival game about a mouse returning home to restore their childhood burrow. Explore, gather resources, craft, knit warm sweaters, bake pies and meet the locals.
store.steampowered.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
7. Winter Burrow. Be a mouse learning to forage and knit sweaters and brew tea. I saw someone say this was if Beatrix Potter made The Long Dark, which is...kind of perfect. I loved every second of my 12 hour playthrough of this one!
store.steampowered.com/app/3008740/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3008740/...
6. Cabernet. I generally *like* visual novels and story-heavy games, but I *loved* this one! The art is gorgeous, the winding and tangling storylines are outstanding, the music is beautiful, and I finally got to have a vampire girlfriend 10/10.
store.steampowered.com/app/2401410/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2401410/...
Cabernet on Steam
Cabernet is a 2D narrative RPG set in a 19th century Eastern European inspired world, with a modern twist. Guide Liza, a young vampire in her new unlife among the unsuspecting townsfolk. Will you reta...
store.steampowered.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
6. Cabernet. I generally *like* visual novels and story-heavy games, but I *loved* this one! The art is gorgeous, the winding and tangling storylines are outstanding, the music is beautiful, and I finally got to have a vampire girlfriend 10/10.
store.steampowered.com/app/2401410/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2401410/...
5. Artis Impact. It's a turn-based RPG set in post-apoc world of AI and robots and ninja assassin humans. The art style is utterly unique and I am obSESSed! The writing is funny and the story is a great bit of sci-fi.
store.steampowered.com/app/1864000/...
store.steampowered.com/app/1864000/...
Artis Impact on Steam
A fun turn-based RPG set in a future world of humans and AI. Play as Akane to explore vibrant locations, battle with simple yet fluid combat, and enjoy side quests full of charming surprises. With a p...
store.steampowered.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
5. Artis Impact. It's a turn-based RPG set in post-apoc world of AI and robots and ninja assassin humans. The art style is utterly unique and I am obSESSed! The writing is funny and the story is a great bit of sci-fi.
store.steampowered.com/app/1864000/...
store.steampowered.com/app/1864000/...
4. Strange Antiquities. Give people what they ask for - or, maybe what they actually need, for the good of everyone. Part shop sim and HUGE part hidden puzzles and choices matter in this amazing mystery!
store.steampowered.com/app/2885870/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2885870/...
Strange Antiquities on Steam
Become the custodian of a store dealing in occult antiquities. Explore the quaint and gloomy town of Undermere, where strange goings-on and dark mysteries abound. Find and identify arcane artefacts, u...
store.steampowered.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
4. Strange Antiquities. Give people what they ask for - or, maybe what they actually need, for the good of everyone. Part shop sim and HUGE part hidden puzzles and choices matter in this amazing mystery!
store.steampowered.com/app/2885870/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2885870/...
3. Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker. Ok it's a DLC but it's one of those stand-alone adventures. They even change the protags' powers, so it could have been a true sequel! It's the same amazing quality as the base game. Gorgeous all the way through.
store.steampowered.com/app/1244090/...
store.steampowered.com/app/1244090/...
Sea of Stars on Steam
Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG inspired by the classics. It tells the story of two Children of the Solstice who will combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic, the only force c...
store.steampowered.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
3. Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker. Ok it's a DLC but it's one of those stand-alone adventures. They even change the protags' powers, so it could have been a true sequel! It's the same amazing quality as the base game. Gorgeous all the way through.
store.steampowered.com/app/1244090/...
store.steampowered.com/app/1244090/...
2. Tiny Bookshop. It lets me flex my librarian book recommendation muscle while decorating a cute trailer and listening to a chill soundtrack and waving at every person who comes in my shop. Such a chill, cozy game loop!
store.steampowered.com/app/2133760/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2133760/...
Tiny Bookshop on Steam
Leave everything behind and open a tiny bookshop by the sea in this cozy narrative management game. Stock your tiny bookshop with different books and items, set up shop in scenic locations, and run yo...
store.steampowered.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
2. Tiny Bookshop. It lets me flex my librarian book recommendation muscle while decorating a cute trailer and listening to a chill soundtrack and waving at every person who comes in my shop. Such a chill, cozy game loop!
store.steampowered.com/app/2133760/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2133760/...
1. Fretless: The Wrath of Riffson. A musical deck builder RPG with cute pixel graphics and a banger soundtrack. I played this one multiple times through with the different instruments and loved every second.
store.steampowered.com/app/2429050/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2429050/...
Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson on Steam
In this turn-based RPG, wield powerful legendary instruments, gather mighty riff attacks and save the land from Rick Riffson's devilish goons and musical hybrid monsters!
store.steampowered.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
1. Fretless: The Wrath of Riffson. A musical deck builder RPG with cute pixel graphics and a banger soundtrack. I played this one multiple times through with the different instruments and loved every second.
store.steampowered.com/app/2429050/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2429050/...