Podcast
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 5: Duties to the Self and Avatars
Join us for a conversation with Daniel Muñoz and our founder on the intersection of self-directed ethics and gamers' duties to avatars.
All Articles
The Missing Soulmate in Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Ni No Kuni quietly tricks its adult player into curing both herself and the White Witch of cynicism.
All Articles
The Horror of Code Vein is You
The hidden achievement of Code Vein's fusion of Dark Souls with JRPGs is that it quietly turned you, its player, into a monster.
All Articles
How Fictional Stories Become True: Where the Water Tastes Like Wine
A puzzle about how much of Where the Water Taste Like Wine is true reveals an unexpected lesson about the value of folk tales.
A Comprehensive Theory of EarthBound
The Drawing Board: What is a “Comprehensive Theory” of a Video Game?
On our latest podcast episode, we chat with two of our team members who are developing "comprehensive theories" of landmark video games.
All Articles
How Fire Emblem: Awakening’s Mechanics Resolve Its Biggest Plot Hole
Some of the most heavily criticized elements of Fire Emblem: Awakening contribute to its narrative in surprising ways.
All Articles
The Real Architect of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is Plato
One of the world's oldest thinkers gives us a surprising view into one of the world's newest forms of storytelling.
A Comprehensive Theory of EarthBound
A Guide to Nihilism in EarthBound
When it comes to EarthBound, cops and punks aren’t Ness’s greatest enemies: it’s Nothingness.
All Articles
Why It’s a Good Thing That Dark Souls Isn’t Coming Back
How Dark Souls committed an act of genius by building a world where Dark Souls IV is impossible.
All Articles
The Real Hostage in the Zero Escape Series is You
The Zero Escape games are prisons for more than just their characters.