leah isobel
@humblepopstar.bsky.social
video games & music journalist w @48hills.bsky.social , @singlesjukebox.bsky.social and very occasionally @superjumpmagazine.com
i'm just chilling in the panopticon
i'm just chilling in the panopticon
Pinned
leah isobel
@humblepopstar.bsky.social
· Jul 22
Leah isobel's homepage
leahisobel.neocities.org
hello! this is an introductory post. i am a writer writing about video games and music in the bay area, with a particular interest in how artists adapt to and change the systems they work within. i want to end this post with something pithy and cute but i can't think of anything. here's my website-
Reposted by leah isobel
🍄 Hermit and Pig is out now on Steam 👴🏽🐷
A story-rich, turn-based adventure RPG where you fend off wild assailants, forage mushrooms, survive social anxiety, and stumble into a corporate conspiracy with your trusty pig.
▶️ s.team/a/2408350
#indiegame #gamedev #gamingnews
A story-rich, turn-based adventure RPG where you fend off wild assailants, forage mushrooms, survive social anxiety, and stumble into a corporate conspiracy with your trusty pig.
▶️ s.team/a/2408350
#indiegame #gamedev #gamingnews
February 5, 2026 at 3:08 PM
🍄 Hermit and Pig is out now on Steam 👴🏽🐷
A story-rich, turn-based adventure RPG where you fend off wild assailants, forage mushrooms, survive social anxiety, and stumble into a corporate conspiracy with your trusty pig.
▶️ s.team/a/2408350
#indiegame #gamedev #gamingnews
A story-rich, turn-based adventure RPG where you fend off wild assailants, forage mushrooms, survive social anxiety, and stumble into a corporate conspiracy with your trusty pig.
▶️ s.team/a/2408350
#indiegame #gamedev #gamingnews
Reposted by leah isobel
paris hilton's diamond quest, screenshot, mobile (2006) www.mobygames.com/game/25043/p...
September 6, 2025 at 11:16 AM
paris hilton's diamond quest, screenshot, mobile (2006) www.mobygames.com/game/25043/p...
Reposted by leah isobel
i had imposter syndrome trying to talk about fascism alongside Alberto Toscano, but i'm glad i did coz it was an incredibly generative conversation that helped distill & crystallize my own thoughts about fascism worldwide today & it's differentiations from the past.
www.tni.org/en/article/l...
www.tni.org/en/article/l...
Lifeboats, steampunk and colonialism – fascism today | Transnational Institute
In this fascinating opening interview for State of Power 2026, scholar activists Toscano and Walia explore the historic roots and current capitalist dynamics that have led to the rise of fascism world...
www.tni.org
February 3, 2026 at 9:43 PM
i had imposter syndrome trying to talk about fascism alongside Alberto Toscano, but i'm glad i did coz it was an incredibly generative conversation that helped distill & crystallize my own thoughts about fascism worldwide today & it's differentiations from the past.
www.tni.org/en/article/l...
www.tni.org/en/article/l...
📍gay guy central (the jade concert)
February 4, 2026 at 3:37 AM
📍gay guy central (the jade concert)
describe a horror movie as if it were a hallmark movie:
a lonely, middle-aged woman takes a job nannying two precocious children in the english countryside - and rekindles her capacity for romance
a lonely, middle-aged woman takes a job nannying two precocious children in the english countryside - and rekindles her capacity for romance
Describe a horror movie as if it were a Hallmark movie:
New babies give a man and his chronically ill ex-wife a second chance at romance.
(I'll let you guess this one)
New babies give a man and his chronically ill ex-wife a second chance at romance.
(I'll let you guess this one)
Describe a horror movie as if it were a Hallmark movie:
A man with a troubled past moves to a remote small town in Serbia and finds acceptance after learning to embrace the local culture (Vampir 2021).
A man with a troubled past moves to a remote small town in Serbia and finds acceptance after learning to embrace the local culture (Vampir 2021).
February 3, 2026 at 2:22 AM
describe a horror movie as if it were a hallmark movie:
a lonely, middle-aged woman takes a job nannying two precocious children in the english countryside - and rekindles her capacity for romance
a lonely, middle-aged woman takes a job nannying two precocious children in the english countryside - and rekindles her capacity for romance
Reposted by leah isobel
Thousands hit the streets & marched across San Francisco yesterday as part of this weekend's national protests against ICE—many of them students.
Here are more photos from the day.
📸 Mariana Garcia
Here are more photos from the day.
📸 Mariana Garcia
January 31, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Thousands hit the streets & marched across San Francisco yesterday as part of this weekend's national protests against ICE—many of them students.
Here are more photos from the day.
📸 Mariana Garcia
Here are more photos from the day.
📸 Mariana Garcia
started perfect tides (2022)
January 26, 2026 at 5:18 AM
started perfect tides (2022)
Reposted by leah isobel
You know me I don't share fundraisers unless I can tell you I trust them with my whole heart and my own wallet. This one gets protective gear to legal observers in Minneapolis / Saint Paul
www.gofundme.com/f/help-equip...
www.gofundme.com/f/help-equip...
Donate to Help Equip Twin Cities Legal Observers with PPE, organized by Jac Kovarik
I have been involved in rapid response in the Twin Cities area since the b… Jac Kovarik needs your support for Help Equip Twin Cities Legal Observers with PPE
www.gofundme.com
January 24, 2026 at 6:26 PM
You know me I don't share fundraisers unless I can tell you I trust them with my whole heart and my own wallet. This one gets protective gear to legal observers in Minneapolis / Saint Paul
www.gofundme.com/f/help-equip...
www.gofundme.com/f/help-equip...
Reposted by leah isobel
If you’re outside of Minnesota and you’re wondering how to help, this guide is excellent.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
How To Help if You are Outside Minnesota
Last edited January 22, 2026 I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this, you more or less understand the situation in Minnesota and I don’t have to explain it to you! That sa…
naomikritzer.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:47 PM
If you’re outside of Minnesota and you’re wondering how to help, this guide is excellent.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
Reposted by leah isobel
There's a video out there of ice lynching a man. Don't watch it. It will not help you or others to traumatize yourself.
Spend the time you would have spent watching it/wanting to vomit and scream making a donation to somewhere in Minnesota, or if you can't, researching where you can help locally.
Spend the time you would have spent watching it/wanting to vomit and scream making a donation to somewhere in Minnesota, or if you can't, researching where you can help locally.
Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory
Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.
www.standwithminnesota.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:07 PM
There's a video out there of ice lynching a man. Don't watch it. It will not help you or others to traumatize yourself.
Spend the time you would have spent watching it/wanting to vomit and scream making a donation to somewhere in Minnesota, or if you can't, researching where you can help locally.
Spend the time you would have spent watching it/wanting to vomit and scream making a donation to somewhere in Minnesota, or if you can't, researching where you can help locally.
good morning!
underscores — Do It (Yves Remix)
YouTube video by underscores
youtu.be
January 23, 2026 at 6:02 PM
good morning!
Reposted by leah isobel
wrote a special newsletter today for @coyotemedia.org that's chock-full of mutual aid links for work happening in Minneapolis-St. Paul www.coyotemedia.org/coyote-weekl...
COYOTE Weekly: Heave ho!
Keep pushing.
www.coyotemedia.org
January 19, 2026 at 6:48 PM
wrote a special newsletter today for @coyotemedia.org that's chock-full of mutual aid links for work happening in Minneapolis-St. Paul www.coyotemedia.org/coyote-weekl...
Reposted by leah isobel
persona, screenshot, playstation (1996) www.mobygames.com/game/4422/pe...
January 11, 2026 at 2:46 AM
persona, screenshot, playstation (1996) www.mobygames.com/game/4422/pe...
Reposted by leah isobel
Iran has killed all connections to the outside. But in the early morning the regular internet works briefly. In that time, @hackimi.bsky.social sent me a letter about what it's like being a developer without the internet as the government tries to squash everyone:
insertcredit.com/feature/a-ga...
insertcredit.com/feature/a-ga...
A Game Developer Without Internet
Iran has been without internet for 9 days. Arash sent a letter as a developer without the internet, in the few moments when the great firewall faltered.
insertcredit.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Iran has killed all connections to the outside. But in the early morning the regular internet works briefly. In that time, @hackimi.bsky.social sent me a letter about what it's like being a developer without the internet as the government tries to squash everyone:
insertcredit.com/feature/a-ga...
insertcredit.com/feature/a-ga...
good morning!
Tremor
YouTube video by Daniel Avery - Topic
youtu.be
January 14, 2026 at 5:57 PM
good morning!
Reposted by leah isobel
"Not a single person among Daniel Lurie’s’s 31 hand-picked avatars meant to reshape San Francisco’s city charter over the next year has a connection to or seeming interest in SF’s fertile art scene," writes theater critic Charles Lewis III #DramaMasks
Drama Masks: Does City Hall even care about the arts anymore? - 48 hills
Mayor Lurie's city charter reform group contains no one with local arts experience, sidelining a huge part of SF.
48hills.org
January 9, 2026 at 5:40 PM
"Not a single person among Daniel Lurie’s’s 31 hand-picked avatars meant to reshape San Francisco’s city charter over the next year has a connection to or seeming interest in SF’s fertile art scene," writes theater critic Charles Lewis III #DramaMasks
Reposted by leah isobel
Throwback to that time Nintendo dropped a Splatoon trailer where they sing:
"P U S S Y! Pussy, pussy, suck my fucking pussy! Pussy, get pussy, lick my fucking pussy!"
"P U S S Y! Pussy, pussy, suck my fucking pussy! Pussy, get pussy, lick my fucking pussy!"
January 8, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Throwback to that time Nintendo dropped a Splatoon trailer where they sing:
"P U S S Y! Pussy, pussy, suck my fucking pussy! Pussy, get pussy, lick my fucking pussy!"
"P U S S Y! Pussy, pussy, suck my fucking pussy! Pussy, get pussy, lick my fucking pussy!"
feels insane to be like “read my new piece” rn but uh… here’s my goty piece featuring mostly games that are not from 2025
Whether it was a foundational classic, an underplayed indie, or a weirdo experimental masterpiece, 2026 was a banner year to play video games. Critic Leah Isobel runs down her favorites:
Cool plays: 5 video games that hooked us in 2025 - 48 hills
A Mexican folklore-inspired noir puzzle, a seamless RPG classic, a profound lesson on protecting kids, and more
48hills.org
January 8, 2026 at 6:28 PM
feels insane to be like “read my new piece” rn but uh… here’s my goty piece featuring mostly games that are not from 2025
Reposted by leah isobel
San Francisco! Emergency Action TONIGHT!
Join us for an emergency vigil and protest in response to ICE killing a woman in Minneapolis.
630 Sansome St. SF at 6 PM.
Join us for an emergency vigil and protest in response to ICE killing a woman in Minneapolis.
630 Sansome St. SF at 6 PM.
January 7, 2026 at 10:07 PM
San Francisco! Emergency Action TONIGHT!
Join us for an emergency vigil and protest in response to ICE killing a woman in Minneapolis.
630 Sansome St. SF at 6 PM.
Join us for an emergency vigil and protest in response to ICE killing a woman in Minneapolis.
630 Sansome St. SF at 6 PM.
Reposted by leah isobel
I had the honor of meeting Yoshiro Kimura last year at the Onion Games office in Tokyo, and got to listen to him talk very earnestly about game development and Stray Children and, well, life.
www.ign.com/articles/str...
www.ign.com/articles/str...
Stray Children: Why the Developer of the Game That Inspired Undertale Has Now Made a Game Inspired by Undertale - IGN
I spoke with Moon: Remix RPG Adventure and Stray Children creator and head of Onion Games Yoshiro Kimura about his inspirations, how he relates to his art, and "oddball" games like Undertale.
www.ign.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:09 PM
I had the honor of meeting Yoshiro Kimura last year at the Onion Games office in Tokyo, and got to listen to him talk very earnestly about game development and Stray Children and, well, life.
www.ign.com/articles/str...
www.ign.com/articles/str...
four indies games:
January 7, 2026 at 12:00 AM
four indies games:
really cool to have one of my pieces included with all of these other wonderful writers!
January 1, 2026 at 7:22 PM
really cool to have one of my pieces included with all of these other wonderful writers!
really delighted to be asked to contribute to this ☺️ it’s so fun seeing how everyone’s lists compare (or don’t, lol)
These are the best songs of 2025, as chosen by some of the Bay Area's finest culture writers and critics. sf.gazetteer.co/the-bay-area...
The Bay Area’s best music critics pick the best songs of 2025
A selection of hits from a fabulous group of local writers and editors
sf.gazetteer.co
December 31, 2025 at 9:29 PM
really delighted to be asked to contribute to this ☺️ it’s so fun seeing how everyone’s lists compare (or don’t, lol)
saw resurrection and... i fear my goat is cooked :( we need to get bi gan on shoestring budgets again
December 31, 2025 at 5:36 AM
saw resurrection and... i fear my goat is cooked :( we need to get bi gan on shoestring budgets again