II love Bitsy games. The software’s itch.io page describes its goal as “to make it easy to make games where you can walk around and talk to people and be somewhere.” Developers who use Bitsy have found incredible ways to evoke these feelings of place. Stars…
Jay Castello
45 Articles
Jay is a freelance games writer specialising in intersectional feminist critique, how to improve games and use them to improve the world, and cute dogs. She loves inhabiting digital spaces in all their forms, and being constantly surprised by just how weird and wonderful games can be.
Jay Castello
1 Min Read
Cosmo sees you, an intrepid space bee, explore a very colourful slice of space. Your task is to wind between a rainbow scattering of asteroids to join together satellites. Doing so will add new layers to the bouncy backing track, as though they’re now broadcasting…
Jay Castello
1 Min Read
In Kuiper Belt Plaza you play as adorable maintenance robot Scrub. One day, everything is normal. You carry out your allotted cleaning duties and go to sleep. Next thing you know, you’re awoken 20 years later by a loud sound to find an abandoned mall….
Jay Castello
1 Min Read
small is a no capital letters kind of affair. It’s fitting. Exploring this non linear poem, it feels soft spoken in a way that doesn’t need that kind of formality. Rather than an essay, it’s a gentle conversation that invites the player to respond in…
Jay Castello
1 Min Read
Beyond R’proach is a game about pushing aside plants. As you explore this strange, colourful landscape, you will automatically sweep aside the leaves that block your path. It’s a gentle, repetitive, and soothing motion that accompanies your casual walk. After a minute or two, something…
Jay Castello
1 Min Read
The 9 drops you into a dark maze and lets its ambiance speak for itself. The only lights here are floating orbs and the scattered chips of colour that fill each room, marking out its edges in soft focus. These are actually made from a…
Jay Castello
1 Min Read
Ah, mornings. What’s better than turning off your alarm, cozying up in your slippers, and taking that first sip of coffee while watching the sunrise? Well, making a second cup of coffee. And then a third. And then… The Unending Sacrament of Mornings is less…
Jay Castello
1 Min Read
What would you do if you were walking home and you heard a kitty meowing in a creepy alley? Well, if you don’t want Bean’s “loser” ending, you go pick it up and take it with you. What you do when it turns out to…
Jay Castello
1 Min Read
Iapetus is a chill hang out session with a cluster of alien monoliths. Set into a white island under a pastel pink sky, these black stones loom on the horizon, encouraging you to approach them. As you get close, they seem to sense your presence,…
Jay Castello
1 Min Read
Analysis Complete is about collecting space rocks. You are a sweet alien child excited about the recent meteor shower that’s left your garden strewn with any number of interesting stones from far beyond the atmosphere. Float around this pretty little area, collecting them all up…
Jay Castello
2 Min Read
At its core, Battle Chef Brigade is simple: beat up some monsters and use match-three magic to turn them into delicious meals. This simplicity is a great foundation, but it’s not what makes the game one of the best I’ve played this year. Everything that…
Jay Castello
3 Min Read
What is death? In A Mortician’s Tale, it’s a lot of things. It’s heartbreak, a respectable career, and an opportunity for profit. It’s as mundane as it is tragic. [As well as death, content warning for discussions of suicide and transphobia.] I, like most people,…
Jay Castello
1 Min Read
One of the best things about video games is the way in which they allow us to inhabit and explore a virtual space. These arenas are often beautiful, and some features, such as photo modes, encourage players to appreciate their graphics. But Gigoia Studios takes…
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