Timothy Monbleau
@timmonbleau.bsky.social
Former Guide Editor at Destructoid, bylines at PC Gamer, Kotaku, and GamesRadar+. I write about video games and even play them sometimes. He/Him
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Timothy Monbleau
@timmonbleau.bsky.social
· Oct 18
Guess I'll do an introduction too.
Hi, I'm Tim and I write about video games! I was an editor for Destructoid, and nowadays you can catch my words on PC Gamer and Kotaku. If you enjoy celebrating the ways games make us laugh, cry, or just entertain us, you might like my work! Highlights are below.
Hi, I'm Tim and I write about video games! I was an editor for Destructoid, and nowadays you can catch my words on PC Gamer and Kotaku. If you enjoy celebrating the ways games make us laugh, cry, or just entertain us, you might like my work! Highlights are below.
Final Fantasy XIV should make Culinarian a healing class so they can have a move called Eggs Benediction.
November 8, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Final Fantasy XIV should make Culinarian a healing class so they can have a move called Eggs Benediction.
I drew the duck blue because I've never seen a blue duck before and, to be honest with you, I wanted to see a blue duck.
October 30, 2025 at 12:36 AM
I drew the duck blue because I've never seen a blue duck before and, to be honest with you, I wanted to see a blue duck.
Holding off on a verdict until I see the end credits (twice), but I’ve been enjoying Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. It’s so wildly transformative that you could call it a new game, but its story-driven focus on keeping hope alive is just what we need now. More to come on this soon. #blutoid
October 29, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Holding off on a verdict until I see the end credits (twice), but I’ve been enjoying Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. It’s so wildly transformative that you could call it a new game, but its story-driven focus on keeping hope alive is just what we need now. More to come on this soon. #blutoid
It's crazy that my girlfriend @lunardove.bsky.social is not only an amazing and supportive partner, she can also snap some damn good photos too. I was long overdue for a new profile picture, especially now that I've got some stuff on my face.
Thank you to my handsome model, @timmonbleau.bsky.social, for letting me stretch my photography legs!
October 16, 2025 at 3:31 PM
It's crazy that my girlfriend @lunardove.bsky.social is not only an amazing and supportive partner, she can also snap some damn good photos too. I was long overdue for a new profile picture, especially now that I've got some stuff on my face.
Thank you EGM and Seanbaby for goading teenage Tim into playing this.
I'll be honest, it's not the WORST thing I've ever seen. Lunar: Dragon Song single-handedly ensured I'd never buy a game without reading reviews again, and that's coming from the man who beat the Diabetes platformer.
I'll be honest, it's not the WORST thing I've ever seen. Lunar: Dragon Song single-handedly ensured I'd never buy a game without reading reviews again, and that's coming from the man who beat the Diabetes platformer.
October 15, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Thank you EGM and Seanbaby for goading teenage Tim into playing this.
I'll be honest, it's not the WORST thing I've ever seen. Lunar: Dragon Song single-handedly ensured I'd never buy a game without reading reviews again, and that's coming from the man who beat the Diabetes platformer.
I'll be honest, it's not the WORST thing I've ever seen. Lunar: Dragon Song single-handedly ensured I'd never buy a game without reading reviews again, and that's coming from the man who beat the Diabetes platformer.
Been reading criticism of roguelite systems today, which I typically agree with. Absolum's take on it did manage to work for me, which I discuss here.
My advice: Spend those first 8 hours learning enemy tells and your defensive options. Gaining that knowledge is as important as the stat upgrades.
My advice: Spend those first 8 hours learning enemy tells and your defensive options. Gaining that knowledge is as important as the stat upgrades.
Don't sleep on Absolum. Dotemu and Guard Crush's follow-up to Streets of Rage 4 combines meaningful variety with crunchy mechanical depth, and its story about the rise and effects of tyranny inspired ~700 words of analysis out of me. Absolutely loving this, even 30 hours later. My full review below:
Review – Absolum
Before I completely gush about Absolum for approximately 3000 words (grab the popcorn for this one), we’ve got to set the stage by talking about 2020’s Streets of Rage 4. Developed by Lizardcube, G…
maxutmost.com
October 9, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Been reading criticism of roguelite systems today, which I typically agree with. Absolum's take on it did manage to work for me, which I discuss here.
My advice: Spend those first 8 hours learning enemy tells and your defensive options. Gaining that knowledge is as important as the stat upgrades.
My advice: Spend those first 8 hours learning enemy tells and your defensive options. Gaining that knowledge is as important as the stat upgrades.
Reposted by Timothy Monbleau
@timmonbleau.bsky.social is here to tell us all about Absolum and its place in the hierarchy of bemups!
maxutmost.com/review-absol...
maxutmost.com/review-absol...
Review – Absolum
Before I completely gush about Absolum for approximately 3000 words (grab the popcorn for this one), we’ve got to set the stage by talking about 2020’s Streets of Rage 4. Developed by Lizardcube, G…
maxutmost.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM
@timmonbleau.bsky.social is here to tell us all about Absolum and its place in the hierarchy of bemups!
maxutmost.com/review-absol...
maxutmost.com/review-absol...
Don't sleep on Absolum. Dotemu and Guard Crush's follow-up to Streets of Rage 4 combines meaningful variety with crunchy mechanical depth, and its story about the rise and effects of tyranny inspired ~700 words of analysis out of me. Absolutely loving this, even 30 hours later. My full review below:
Review – Absolum
Before I completely gush about Absolum for approximately 3000 words (grab the popcorn for this one), we’ve got to set the stage by talking about 2020’s Streets of Rage 4. Developed by Lizardcube, G…
maxutmost.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Don't sleep on Absolum. Dotemu and Guard Crush's follow-up to Streets of Rage 4 combines meaningful variety with crunchy mechanical depth, and its story about the rise and effects of tyranny inspired ~700 words of analysis out of me. Absolutely loving this, even 30 hours later. My full review below:
Reposted by Timothy Monbleau
Hey Absolum absolutely whips and you should not sleep on it. Roguelikes are usually harder sells for me because I don't like banging my head against a wall until it breaks, but this one's fantasy beat-em-up dressings got its hooks in me.
The Streets Of Rage 4 Team's New Fantasy Beat-Em-Up Breathes Fresh Life Into The Genre https://kotaku.com/absolum-review-streets-of-rage-4-impressions-beat-em-up-2000633646
Absolum Is A Refreshing Fantasy Beat-Em-Up
Absolum’s fantasy roguelike dressings keep things interesting after multiple runs
kotaku.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Hey Absolum absolutely whips and you should not sleep on it. Roguelikes are usually harder sells for me because I don't like banging my head against a wall until it breaks, but this one's fantasy beat-em-up dressings got its hooks in me.
If Destructoid never entered the Gamurs era, this article would have been called "New Buyout Turns Electronic Arts Into Electronic Sharts" and everyone in the comments would be complaining about how no one should buy Electronic Arts unless it's at least 50% off on Steam. #blutoid #darksiders2
very cool of destructoid to post this, and, lo and behold, if you ctrl+f "queer" or "lgbtqia+" you will find zero instances of it on the page.
"the deal could be good actually if you don't talk about any of the very real harm it could do."
"the deal could be good actually if you don't talk about any of the very real harm it could do."
October 6, 2025 at 7:39 PM
If Destructoid never entered the Gamurs era, this article would have been called "New Buyout Turns Electronic Arts Into Electronic Sharts" and everyone in the comments would be complaining about how no one should buy Electronic Arts unless it's at least 50% off on Steam. #blutoid #darksiders2
Doing some prep work ahead of Dragon Quest I+II HD this month, and man, Dragon Quest 1 remakes are such satisfying bite-sized games. Can’t think of many RPGs that I can play for an hour and go “You know, I’m already this far in, I might as well finish it.”
October 4, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Doing some prep work ahead of Dragon Quest I+II HD this month, and man, Dragon Quest 1 remakes are such satisfying bite-sized games. Can’t think of many RPGs that I can play for an hour and go “You know, I’m already this far in, I might as well finish it.”
After an hour of playing Fire Emblem Shadows, I can safely say that I still have no clue what I'm playing. And based on reactions I'm seeing, I don't think anyone else knows what they're playing either.
I am literally playing this video game right now and I still have no clue what I’m playing. #blutoid
September 25, 2025 at 1:09 AM
After an hour of playing Fire Emblem Shadows, I can safely say that I still have no clue what I'm playing. And based on reactions I'm seeing, I don't think anyone else knows what they're playing either.
Reposted by Timothy Monbleau
Breaking: The backlash to Dave Chappelle saying he was "team TERF" in a then newly-released special was not cancel culture.
Watch them twist themselves into pretzels to justify the hypocrisy
September 18, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Breaking: The backlash to Dave Chappelle saying he was "team TERF" in a then newly-released special was not cancel culture.
Reposted by Timothy Monbleau
My latest for @endlessmode.bsky.social is my entry into the remakes debate. They should have purpose and justification to exist for reasons other than dollar signs, and the literary tradition of revisions and new translations of classics like The Iliad have already shown the industry how to do that.
There's a Right and Wrong Way to Remake A Classic Video Game—And The Iliad Explains How
What justifies a remake? Between Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter and endless translations of Homer and Shakespeare, we've found some answers.
www.endlessmode.com
September 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
My latest for @endlessmode.bsky.social is my entry into the remakes debate. They should have purpose and justification to exist for reasons other than dollar signs, and the literary tradition of revisions and new translations of classics like The Iliad have already shown the industry how to do that.
Looking out for Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter in this sizzle reel
September 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Looking out for Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter in this sizzle reel
I am officially announcing my availability for guide and review work for Nester's Funky Bowling
September 12, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I am officially announcing my availability for guide and review work for Nester's Funky Bowling
Oh man I can buy Super Mario Galaxy again on Switch, again
September 12, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Oh man I can buy Super Mario Galaxy again on Switch, again
So this is very funny, I assume one of two things are happening here.
1: RPG Maker 2K(3) can get funky playing MIDIs. Songs going totally sour wasn't the most common glitch, but I've seen it happen.
2: A terrible DQ theme rendition would be 100% on brand with Japanese shitpost RPG Maker games.
1: RPG Maker 2K(3) can get funky playing MIDIs. Songs going totally sour wasn't the most common glitch, but I've seen it happen.
2: A terrible DQ theme rendition would be 100% on brand with Japanese shitpost RPG Maker games.
Presenting the worst-ever rendition of the Dragon Quest Anthem
September 12, 2025 at 2:01 AM
So this is very funny, I assume one of two things are happening here.
1: RPG Maker 2K(3) can get funky playing MIDIs. Songs going totally sour wasn't the most common glitch, but I've seen it happen.
2: A terrible DQ theme rendition would be 100% on brand with Japanese shitpost RPG Maker games.
1: RPG Maker 2K(3) can get funky playing MIDIs. Songs going totally sour wasn't the most common glitch, but I've seen it happen.
2: A terrible DQ theme rendition would be 100% on brand with Japanese shitpost RPG Maker games.
Reposted by Timothy Monbleau
Liked this, from Defector
defector.com/the-critic-c...
defector.com/the-critic-c...
September 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Liked this, from Defector
defector.com/the-critic-c...
defector.com/the-critic-c...
I don’t think Silksong is a super hard game, but I would take suggestions for controllers with D-pads that are more comfortable than what’s on the PS5 Dualsense. #blutoid
September 8, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I don’t think Silksong is a super hard game, but I would take suggestions for controllers with D-pads that are more comfortable than what’s on the PS5 Dualsense. #blutoid
I always took "respect your time" to mean that the time spent playing a video game is meaningful. Losing progress feels bad when a blatant beginner's trap kills me. Meanwhile, I'll gladly smash my head against a well designed boss if I enjoy the process and can really chew on the mechanics. 🧵 (1/7)
This convo I had highlights the difference in what "respect your time" means in games.
A lot of players want to trade time for in-game progress. It's purely transactional: 1 hour = 1 progress
But I want to feel like my actions matter i.e. what I do with time creates progress, not time itself.
A lot of players want to trade time for in-game progress. It's purely transactional: 1 hour = 1 progress
But I want to feel like my actions matter i.e. what I do with time creates progress, not time itself.
September 5, 2025 at 9:25 PM
I always took "respect your time" to mean that the time spent playing a video game is meaningful. Losing progress feels bad when a blatant beginner's trap kills me. Meanwhile, I'll gladly smash my head against a well designed boss if I enjoy the process and can really chew on the mechanics. 🧵 (1/7)