Pause Menu
@thepausemenu.bsky.social
Pause Menu is for gamers who don’t play as much as they used to but still love what games mean. It’s a calm space to reflect, reconnect, and see gaming as more than entertainment—a pause to remember why it still matters.
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The Pause Menu | Substack
Video game reflections from the pause menu of life. Click to read The Pause Menu, a Substack publication. Launched 3 months ago.
pausemenu.substack.com
🎮 Welcome to Pause Menu
Reflective gaming essays for the moments between missions
I write about what games teach us— about calm, growth, and meaning — when life won’t let us hit pause.
🕹 New reflections Tuesdays & Thursdays
Join:
pausemenu.substack.com
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming #reflection
Reflective gaming essays for the moments between missions
I write about what games teach us— about calm, growth, and meaning — when life won’t let us hit pause.
🕹 New reflections Tuesdays & Thursdays
Join:
pausemenu.substack.com
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming #reflection
🔥 This week on Pause Menu:
🎮 Madden 25 (Tue/free) –finding calm in repetition
🧩 Tetris 99 (Thu/paid) –responding to and carrying the weight we didn’t choose
🍌 Donkey Kong Country( Sun/Legacy paid)– lessons that still echo as an adult gamer
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #madden #tetris #dkc
🎮 Madden 25 (Tue/free) –finding calm in repetition
🧩 Tetris 99 (Thu/paid) –responding to and carrying the weight we didn’t choose
🍌 Donkey Kong Country( Sun/Legacy paid)– lessons that still echo as an adult gamer
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #madden #tetris #dkc
November 10, 2025 at 12:48 PM
🔥 This week on Pause Menu:
🎮 Madden 25 (Tue/free) –finding calm in repetition
🧩 Tetris 99 (Thu/paid) –responding to and carrying the weight we didn’t choose
🍌 Donkey Kong Country( Sun/Legacy paid)– lessons that still echo as an adult gamer
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #madden #tetris #dkc
🎮 Madden 25 (Tue/free) –finding calm in repetition
🧩 Tetris 99 (Thu/paid) –responding to and carrying the weight we didn’t choose
🍌 Donkey Kong Country( Sun/Legacy paid)– lessons that still echo as an adult gamer
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #madden #tetris #dkc
🏈 After long days, I don’t always want a quest.
Sometimes I just want a clean play call, and a quiet loop tha grounds me.
Thats what tomorrow’s new Pause Menu article is about.
🎮 #Madden 25 and the Comfort of Repetitive Game Loops
A reflection on finding comfort in routine when life gets loud.
Sometimes I just want a clean play call, and a quiet loop tha grounds me.
Thats what tomorrow’s new Pause Menu article is about.
🎮 #Madden 25 and the Comfort of Repetitive Game Loops
A reflection on finding comfort in routine when life gets loud.
November 10, 2025 at 12:41 PM
🏈 After long days, I don’t always want a quest.
Sometimes I just want a clean play call, and a quiet loop tha grounds me.
Thats what tomorrow’s new Pause Menu article is about.
🎮 #Madden 25 and the Comfort of Repetitive Game Loops
A reflection on finding comfort in routine when life gets loud.
Sometimes I just want a clean play call, and a quiet loop tha grounds me.
Thats what tomorrow’s new Pause Menu article is about.
🎮 #Madden 25 and the Comfort of Repetitive Game Loops
A reflection on finding comfort in routine when life gets loud.
☕️ Sunday morning load screen.
Kids up. Coffee half gone. Controller calling from name from across the room.
Likely no campaign work today, but maybe a side quest or two later this afternoon.
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming #sundayvibes
Kids up. Coffee half gone. Controller calling from name from across the room.
Likely no campaign work today, but maybe a side quest or two later this afternoon.
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming #sundayvibes
November 9, 2025 at 12:42 PM
☕️ Sunday morning load screen.
Kids up. Coffee half gone. Controller calling from name from across the room.
Likely no campaign work today, but maybe a side quest or two later this afternoon.
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming #sundayvibes
Kids up. Coffee half gone. Controller calling from name from across the room.
Likely no campaign work today, but maybe a side quest or two later this afternoon.
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming #sundayvibes
☀️ Saturday’s here.
The world slows down just enough to breathe.
Maybe you’ll grind a quest, start something new, or just let the controller rest for a bit.
Whatever your pace today, play slow, play kind, and play for you. 🎮
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames
The world slows down just enough to breathe.
Maybe you’ll grind a quest, start something new, or just let the controller rest for a bit.
Whatever your pace today, play slow, play kind, and play for you. 🎮
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames
November 8, 2025 at 3:19 PM
☀️ Saturday’s here.
The world slows down just enough to breathe.
Maybe you’ll grind a quest, start something new, or just let the controller rest for a bit.
Whatever your pace today, play slow, play kind, and play for you. 🎮
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames
The world slows down just enough to breathe.
Maybe you’ll grind a quest, start something new, or just let the controller rest for a bit.
Whatever your pace today, play slow, play kind, and play for you. 🎮
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames
🕹️ Weekend unlocked.
Picked up two games on sale this week: Northgard and They Are Billions.
Both promise a bit of chaos and some calm strategy this weekend.
🎮 What are you playing this weekend?
#PauseMenu #Gaming #videogames #northgard #theyarebillions
Picked up two games on sale this week: Northgard and They Are Billions.
Both promise a bit of chaos and some calm strategy this weekend.
🎮 What are you playing this weekend?
#PauseMenu #Gaming #videogames #northgard #theyarebillions
November 7, 2025 at 12:07 PM
🕹️ Weekend unlocked.
Picked up two games on sale this week: Northgard and They Are Billions.
Both promise a bit of chaos and some calm strategy this weekend.
🎮 What are you playing this weekend?
#PauseMenu #Gaming #videogames #northgard #theyarebillions
Picked up two games on sale this week: Northgard and They Are Billions.
Both promise a bit of chaos and some calm strategy this weekend.
🎮 What are you playing this weekend?
#PauseMenu #Gaming #videogames #northgard #theyarebillions
Some games don’t wait for you to be ready. They just drop you in and say: hold the line. ⚔️
Today’s Quiet Mode reflection dives into Warcraft III and the quiet heroism of showing up when it’s hardest.
Link to article is in the comments.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #warcraft
Today’s Quiet Mode reflection dives into Warcraft III and the quiet heroism of showing up when it’s hardest.
Link to article is in the comments.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #warcraft
November 6, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Some games don’t wait for you to be ready. They just drop you in and say: hold the line. ⚔️
Today’s Quiet Mode reflection dives into Warcraft III and the quiet heroism of showing up when it’s hardest.
Link to article is in the comments.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #warcraft
Today’s Quiet Mode reflection dives into Warcraft III and the quiet heroism of showing up when it’s hardest.
Link to article is in the comments.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #warcraft
Midweek reset.
Small quest, soft light, warm mug.
Load in, do one good thing to advance your file, save. 💾
#pausemenu #gaming #vidrogames
Small quest, soft light, warm mug.
Load in, do one good thing to advance your file, save. 💾
#pausemenu #gaming #vidrogames
November 5, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Midweek reset.
Small quest, soft light, warm mug.
Load in, do one good thing to advance your file, save. 💾
#pausemenu #gaming #vidrogames
Small quest, soft light, warm mug.
Load in, do one good thing to advance your file, save. 💾
#pausemenu #gaming #vidrogames
Sell your catch before it rots. 🎣
In Dredge and in life, the things we hold too tightly lose their shine.
Ideas, kindness, and even regret fade if we keep them too long.
🕯 New reflection - Dredge: Sell Your Catch Before It Rots
#PauseMenu #Gaming #Dredge #Reflection #videogames
In Dredge and in life, the things we hold too tightly lose their shine.
Ideas, kindness, and even regret fade if we keep them too long.
🕯 New reflection - Dredge: Sell Your Catch Before It Rots
#PauseMenu #Gaming #Dredge #Reflection #videogames
Dredge: Sell Your Catch Before It Rots
Gaming reflections from the pause menu of life.
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Sell your catch before it rots. 🎣
In Dredge and in life, the things we hold too tightly lose their shine.
Ideas, kindness, and even regret fade if we keep them too long.
🕯 New reflection - Dredge: Sell Your Catch Before It Rots
#PauseMenu #Gaming #Dredge #Reflection #videogames
In Dredge and in life, the things we hold too tightly lose their shine.
Ideas, kindness, and even regret fade if we keep them too long.
🕯 New reflection - Dredge: Sell Your Catch Before It Rots
#PauseMenu #Gaming #Dredge #Reflection #videogames
Some catches aren’t meant to keep. 🎣
In #Dredge, your haul decays if you cling too long.
In life, ideas and kindness do too.
Sell your catch before it rots.
And when the storm hits, remember — even the footman becomes the hero by holding the line. ⚔️
New articles Tuesday/Thursday
#gaming
In #Dredge, your haul decays if you cling too long.
In life, ideas and kindness do too.
Sell your catch before it rots.
And when the storm hits, remember — even the footman becomes the hero by holding the line. ⚔️
New articles Tuesday/Thursday
#gaming
November 3, 2025 at 11:33 AM
It’s a calm Sunday spawn point. 🌤
Low stakes, soft light, warm mug.
Just breathe, load in, and start slow. 🍁
#PauseMenu #CozyGaming #SundayMorning #Fallgaming
Low stakes, soft light, warm mug.
Just breathe, load in, and start slow. 🍁
#PauseMenu #CozyGaming #SundayMorning #Fallgaming
November 2, 2025 at 12:48 PM
It’s a calm Sunday spawn point. 🌤
Low stakes, soft light, warm mug.
Just breathe, load in, and start slow. 🍁
#PauseMenu #CozyGaming #SundayMorning #Fallgaming
Low stakes, soft light, warm mug.
Just breathe, load in, and start slow. 🍁
#PauseMenu #CozyGaming #SundayMorning #Fallgaming
November 1, 2025 at 3:13 PM
👻The world feels a little more like a video game tonight: masks, quests, side characters at every door. 🎃
After the doorbells stop, pick up a game that fits the season. Play by lamplight, and let the world stay enchanted a little longer. 🕯️🎮
Happy #Halloween !
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming
After the doorbells stop, pick up a game that fits the season. Play by lamplight, and let the world stay enchanted a little longer. 🕯️🎮
Happy #Halloween !
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming
October 31, 2025 at 10:57 AM
👻The world feels a little more like a video game tonight: masks, quests, side characters at every door. 🎃
After the doorbells stop, pick up a game that fits the season. Play by lamplight, and let the world stay enchanted a little longer. 🕯️🎮
Happy #Halloween !
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming
After the doorbells stop, pick up a game that fits the season. Play by lamplight, and let the world stay enchanted a little longer. 🕯️🎮
Happy #Halloween !
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming
Some stories only make sense after dark.
🌙 My latest reflection Chronicles of the Wolf: Shorter Days, Longer Nights is about games that reward patience and stillness, while also paying respect to #spookyseason
What game feels like it belongs to the long night for you?
#pausemenu #indiegames
🌙 My latest reflection Chronicles of the Wolf: Shorter Days, Longer Nights is about games that reward patience and stillness, while also paying respect to #spookyseason
What game feels like it belongs to the long night for you?
#pausemenu #indiegames
October 29, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Some stories only make sense after dark.
🌙 My latest reflection Chronicles of the Wolf: Shorter Days, Longer Nights is about games that reward patience and stillness, while also paying respect to #spookyseason
What game feels like it belongs to the long night for you?
#pausemenu #indiegames
🌙 My latest reflection Chronicles of the Wolf: Shorter Days, Longer Nights is about games that reward patience and stillness, while also paying respect to #spookyseason
What game feels like it belongs to the long night for you?
#pausemenu #indiegames
The nights stretch longer. The games get quieter. 🌙
Chronicles of the Wolf: Shorter Days, Longer Nights is a reflection on patience, shadows, and the stories meant for the dark.
🕯️
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #indiegames #chroniclesofthewolf
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
Chronicles of the Wolf: Shorter Days, Longer Nights is a reflection on patience, shadows, and the stories meant for the dark.
🕯️
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #indiegames #chroniclesofthewolf
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
Chronicles of the Wolf: Shorter Days, Longer Nights
Gaming reflections from the pause menu of life.
open.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:26 AM
The nights stretch longer. The games get quieter. 🌙
Chronicles of the Wolf: Shorter Days, Longer Nights is a reflection on patience, shadows, and the stories meant for the dark.
🕯️
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #indiegames #chroniclesofthewolf
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
Chronicles of the Wolf: Shorter Days, Longer Nights is a reflection on patience, shadows, and the stories meant for the dark.
🕯️
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #indiegames #chroniclesofthewolf
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
The nights are getting longer. 🌒
Perfect time for games that thrive in the dark. The slow, haunted ones that remember who you were when you last saved.
🔥 Chronicles of the Wolf + 👻 Haunted Backlog are live on Pause Menu Tue/Thu this week
Late-night reflections for the season of long shadows.
Perfect time for games that thrive in the dark. The slow, haunted ones that remember who you were when you last saved.
🔥 Chronicles of the Wolf + 👻 Haunted Backlog are live on Pause Menu Tue/Thu this week
Late-night reflections for the season of long shadows.
October 27, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The nights are getting longer. 🌒
Perfect time for games that thrive in the dark. The slow, haunted ones that remember who you were when you last saved.
🔥 Chronicles of the Wolf + 👻 Haunted Backlog are live on Pause Menu Tue/Thu this week
Late-night reflections for the season of long shadows.
Perfect time for games that thrive in the dark. The slow, haunted ones that remember who you were when you last saved.
🔥 Chronicles of the Wolf + 👻 Haunted Backlog are live on Pause Menu Tue/Thu this week
Late-night reflections for the season of long shadows.
Happy Sunday all.
The world can wait a minute.
Sit by the fire. Warm your hands. 🔥
Even heroes need downtime between levels.
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming
The world can wait a minute.
Sit by the fire. Warm your hands. 🔥
Even heroes need downtime between levels.
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming
October 26, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Happy Sunday all.
The world can wait a minute.
Sit by the fire. Warm your hands. 🔥
Even heroes need downtime between levels.
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming
The world can wait a minute.
Sit by the fire. Warm your hands. 🔥
Even heroes need downtime between levels.
#pausemenu #videogames #gaming
Not every night’s for grinding XP.
Some nights, just sitting at the campfire is progress.
🌙 #PauseMenu #Gaming #videogames
Some nights, just sitting at the campfire is progress.
🌙 #PauseMenu #Gaming #videogames
October 25, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Not every night’s for grinding XP.
Some nights, just sitting at the campfire is progress.
🌙 #PauseMenu #Gaming #videogames
Some nights, just sitting at the campfire is progress.
🌙 #PauseMenu #Gaming #videogames
✨ Not every win needs a monumental cutscene.
Small progress still counts. Save your game and keep going. #PauseMenu #gaming #videogames
Small progress still counts. Save your game and keep going. #PauseMenu #gaming #videogames
October 25, 2025 at 12:33 PM
✨ Not every win needs a monumental cutscene.
Small progress still counts. Save your game and keep going. #PauseMenu #gaming #videogames
Small progress still counts. Save your game and keep going. #PauseMenu #gaming #videogames
Not every week needs a boss fight win.
Sometimes the victory is just hitting save and logging off. 💫
#CozyGames #PauseMenu
#gaming #videogames
Sometimes the victory is just hitting save and logging off. 💫
#CozyGames #PauseMenu
#gaming #videogames
October 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Not every week needs a boss fight win.
Sometimes the victory is just hitting save and logging off. 💫
#CozyGames #PauseMenu
#gaming #videogames
Sometimes the victory is just hitting save and logging off. 💫
#CozyGames #PauseMenu
#gaming #videogames
👻 We all have one —
that save file we’ll never open again.
Not because we didn’t love the game, but because we’ve changed since the last time we played.
Haunted Backlog: The Save File I’ll Never Open Again
🎮 A reflection on Metroid Dread, memory, and digital ghosts.
#PauseMenu #metroid #promosky
that save file we’ll never open again.
Not because we didn’t love the game, but because we’ve changed since the last time we played.
Haunted Backlog: The Save File I’ll Never Open Again
🎮 A reflection on Metroid Dread, memory, and digital ghosts.
#PauseMenu #metroid #promosky
The Haunted Backlog: Games We Keep Avoiding
Gaming reflections from the backlog menu of life
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:26 AM
👻 We all have one —
that save file we’ll never open again.
Not because we didn’t love the game, but because we’ve changed since the last time we played.
Haunted Backlog: The Save File I’ll Never Open Again
🎮 A reflection on Metroid Dread, memory, and digital ghosts.
#PauseMenu #metroid #promosky
that save file we’ll never open again.
Not because we didn’t love the game, but because we’ve changed since the last time we played.
Haunted Backlog: The Save File I’ll Never Open Again
🎮 A reflection on Metroid Dread, memory, and digital ghosts.
#PauseMenu #metroid #promosky
🍁 In case you missed it:
Stardew Valley: The Perfect Fall Game — cozy mornings, pixel harvests, and that bittersweet reminder that every season passes.
#pausemenu #stardewvalley #gaming #videogames #promosky
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
Stardew Valley: The Perfect Fall Game — cozy mornings, pixel harvests, and that bittersweet reminder that every season passes.
#pausemenu #stardewvalley #gaming #videogames #promosky
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
Stardew Valley: The Perfect Fall Game
Gaming reflections from the pause menu of life
open.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
🍁 In case you missed it:
Stardew Valley: The Perfect Fall Game — cozy mornings, pixel harvests, and that bittersweet reminder that every season passes.
#pausemenu #stardewvalley #gaming #videogames #promosky
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
Stardew Valley: The Perfect Fall Game — cozy mornings, pixel harvests, and that bittersweet reminder that every season passes.
#pausemenu #stardewvalley #gaming #videogames #promosky
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
🍁 Fall in Stardew Valley feels like a warm blanket and a ticking clock.
Crops to harvest. Festivals to attend. Coffee to sip before winter sets in.
This week on Pause Menu: The Perfect Fall Game.
#stardewvalley #pausemenu #fall
#videogames #gaming
Crops to harvest. Festivals to attend. Coffee to sip before winter sets in.
This week on Pause Menu: The Perfect Fall Game.
#stardewvalley #pausemenu #fall
#videogames #gaming
Stardew Valley: The Perfect Fall Game
Gaming reflections from the pause menu of life
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:12 AM
🍁 Fall in Stardew Valley feels like a warm blanket and a ticking clock.
Crops to harvest. Festivals to attend. Coffee to sip before winter sets in.
This week on Pause Menu: The Perfect Fall Game.
#stardewvalley #pausemenu #fall
#videogames #gaming
Crops to harvest. Festivals to attend. Coffee to sip before winter sets in.
This week on Pause Menu: The Perfect Fall Game.
#stardewvalley #pausemenu #fall
#videogames #gaming
🍂 This week, Pause Menu drifts between comfort and memory.
🌾 Stardew Valley and cozy fall rituals. Tuesday.
👻 The Haunted Backlog and the games that won’t let go. Thursday (paid)
One warm, one haunted — both perfectly October.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #halloween
🌾 Stardew Valley and cozy fall rituals. Tuesday.
👻 The Haunted Backlog and the games that won’t let go. Thursday (paid)
One warm, one haunted — both perfectly October.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #halloween
October 20, 2025 at 11:40 AM
🍂 This week, Pause Menu drifts between comfort and memory.
🌾 Stardew Valley and cozy fall rituals. Tuesday.
👻 The Haunted Backlog and the games that won’t let go. Thursday (paid)
One warm, one haunted — both perfectly October.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #halloween
🌾 Stardew Valley and cozy fall rituals. Tuesday.
👻 The Haunted Backlog and the games that won’t let go. Thursday (paid)
One warm, one haunted — both perfectly October.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames #halloween
🍬 Every Halloween haul had its final boss: my siblings stealing from my chocolate stash.
New Pause Menu Side Quest: Snacks That Fueled My Gaming Quests
🎮 Cream soda. Sour candy. Save files that still taste like childhood.
#pausemenu #gaming #halloween
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
New Pause Menu Side Quest: Snacks That Fueled My Gaming Quests
🎮 Cream soda. Sour candy. Save files that still taste like childhood.
#pausemenu #gaming #halloween
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
🎃 Snacks That Fueled My Gaming Quests
Side Quest: Gaming reflections from the pause menu of life
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:02 AM
🍬 Every Halloween haul had its final boss: my siblings stealing from my chocolate stash.
New Pause Menu Side Quest: Snacks That Fueled My Gaming Quests
🎮 Cream soda. Sour candy. Save files that still taste like childhood.
#pausemenu #gaming #halloween
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
New Pause Menu Side Quest: Snacks That Fueled My Gaming Quests
🎮 Cream soda. Sour candy. Save files that still taste like childhood.
#pausemenu #gaming #halloween
open.substack.com/pub/pausemen...
Sundays feel like the cooldown after a long boss fight.
You don’t need to rush the next one. You can breathe, repair, and refocus.
See you at the next checkpoint.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames
You don’t need to rush the next one. You can breathe, repair, and refocus.
See you at the next checkpoint.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames
one.you
October 19, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Sundays feel like the cooldown after a long boss fight.
You don’t need to rush the next one. You can breathe, repair, and refocus.
See you at the next checkpoint.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames
You don’t need to rush the next one. You can breathe, repair, and refocus.
See you at the next checkpoint.
#pausemenu #gaming #videogames