The hottest Games Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

Let's play a game!

Disaffected Newsletter • 399 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. There's a fun game where you guess the movie from a famous line. The line given is 'She goes to the opening of an envelope.'
  2. To participate, you need to share your guess along with your age and sexual orientation.
  3. Everyone can join in since there are no winners or spoilers; it's just for fun in the comments section.

👾 Lofi and games

internetisbeautiful • 334 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. Internet Is Beautiful shares interesting websites from the internet
  2. PowerMode uses AI to create presentations quickly
  3. Lofi and Games offers relaxing browser games like Solitaire and 2048

TITAA #51: Tool People & People Tools

Things I Think Are Awesome • 157 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Games
  1. Non-human tools with personality are becoming more common, especially with AI support.
  2. Large Language Models (LLMs) are being explored for creativity and role-playing, showing potential to improve creative output when working together.
  3. Real human behavior can sometimes view humans as disposable tools, with ongoing layoffs in industries like tech and games.

Why am I bad at Scrabble?

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 373 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
📚 Literature Games
  1. Being good at Scrabble isn't just about having a large vocabulary or great spelling skills. It's more about understanding the specific rules and structure of the game.
  2. Scrabble requires a different type of thinking that is more linear and bounded, which can be challenging for those who excel in creative and associative thinking.
  3. This kind of thinking challenge is similar for both people and language models. They can be great at connecting ideas but struggle with systematic tasks like Scrabble.

TITAA #42: Liqueured Up in the SciFi Wild West

Things I Think Are Awesome • 275 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. Monks in the Alps make a secret green liqueur involving a mysterious alchemical manuscript and 130 plants.
  2. Chartreuse monks are facing production cutbacks to focus more on prayer due to environmental impact concerns.
  3. Recent advancements in AI art tools, video and sound generation, and narrative agents offer exciting creative possibilities.
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Who's top of Steam Next Fest for October 2023?

The GameDiscoverCo newsletter • 255 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Games
  1. The top games at Steam Next Fest for October 2023 were a diverse mix of genres and styles, with a focus on deep building and crafting mechanics.
  2. There is a discussion about the existence of an 'indie games bubble,' highlighting challenges in funding new games and market saturation.
  3. Game discovery news includes updates on Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Sony testing PC trophies for PSN, and Epic Games Store's new features.

On Scary Chess

Poczwardowski Notes • 177 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. Playing chess is not about intelligence but about practice and a systematic approach to learning.
  2. Chess is a game of skill and strategy, with no luck involved. It's a battle of brains where the better prepared player usually wins.
  3. Overcoming fear of judgment can lead to valuable experiences. Trying new things, like learning chess, can be rewarding and fun.

this is not a love poem

Both Are True • 161 implied HN points • 30 May 25
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. Having fun together can be a nice break from everyday stress, like parenting. Playing games allows couples to connect without heavy discussions.
  2. Good food and the right atmosphere enhance the experience of enjoying games together. Choosing a cozy spot can make even a simple dinner feel special.
  3. Life can be tough, but small moments like shared games and laughter can bring relief. These simple joys help us cope with the challenges we face.

The Adjacent Possible: Gaming Our Way to Utopia

Anima Mundi • 103 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. A new card game called LUCID helps people think creatively about building a better future together. Players discuss ideas for an ideal society, focusing on collaboration instead of competition.
  2. The concept of the 'adjacent possible' suggests that there are many new ways to create change that we have not yet imagined. By exploring these possibilities, people can identify achievable steps toward building a more sustainable and just society.
  3. Engaging in meaningful conversations through games like LUCID can lead to local community projects and inspire participants to take action. They realize they can make a difference in their own neighborhoods by implementing their visions for a better world.

An Introduction to Donkeyspace

Donkeyspace • 9 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. Games are a broad category — from video games to board games, sports, party games, and theoretical models — and studying them helps reveal how rules, play, emergence, and systems work.
  2. Games are an artform that mixes creative, aesthetic experience with technical, STEM-like qualities, so conversations about them naturally involve taste, craft, identity, history, ideas, and ethics.
  3. Games act as metaphors, models, and laboratories for big philosophical and practical questions, and because our world is increasingly driven by software and new technologies, games can offer valuable insight for understanding and shaping the future.

Quantum Quandaries

do clouds feel vertigo? • 19 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
🔬 Science Games
  1. Quantum Country is a great book for learning about quantum computing. It's easy to understand if you know some basic math.
  2. Thinking about problems in more than two dimensions can open up new ideas. It can be really helpful to have extra complexity in your thinking.
  3. There’s a board game called Entanglion that teaches quantum logic in a fun way. It's a creative way to see quantum concepts in action.

TITAA #48: Magic Mirrors and Radios

Things I Think Are Awesome • 117 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Games
  1. Jean Cocteau's film Orpheus explores themes of inspiration and creativity through tech signals and mirror portals.
  2. Mirrors serve as symbols and characters in Cocteau's film, representing death and reflection.
  3. The post also includes recommendations for AI/art creativity, narrative research, and TV shows like Our Flag Means Death and The Terror.

The Unremitting Monedey

The Lifeboat • 160 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. Selling virtual items, like gems in games, raises questions about morality and customer responsibility. People should manage their finances wisely, even in digital spaces.
  2. Entertainment in the form of virtual games can distract people from their real-life struggles, but there's concern about the exploitative aspects of selling virtual goods.
  3. The workplace can feel mundane and draining, leading to a desire for escape or change. Many people face the struggle of balancing personal happiness with their jobs.

GM Shaders Mini: MandelBots

GM Shaders Mini Tuts • 117 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Games
  1. Using raymarching for rendering buildings can simplify complex fractal generation
  2. Deferred rendering can be utilized to optimize lighting workload by rendering lights onto surfaces
  3. Implementing HDR tone mapping can enhance color accuracy and brightness transitions in the game graphics

Talk Paper Scissors

eieio games • 59 implied HN points • 23 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Games
  1. There's a new phone game called Talk Paper Scissors, where you can play rock paper scissors with a stranger by calling a specific number.
  2. The game is played over three rounds, and after each round, you'll find out what your opponent chose and if you won or lost.
  3. It was fun to create this game and see people enjoy it, especially when they try to keep their moves secret from their opponent.

TITAA #41.5: Agents and Rich Description

Things I Think Are Awesome • 78 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Games
  1. The post discusses Segment Anything for creative tasks, social agents in game contexts, and new LLMs in the AI landscape.
  2. The content covers AI art tools, game design elements like agents and NPCs, and updates in the field of NLP.
  3. The author mentions increases in paid subscriptions, interesting topics like AI art copyright, and shares a variety of exciting updates.

You’re eligible to earn USDC by creating content 👀

Ronin’s Newsletter • 36 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
🔮 Crypto Games
  1. The Ronin Creator Rumble is a contest where creators can win up to $2,000 in USDC every week by making content about Ronin. It's open to anyone, not just program members!
  2. To join, you can either place in the Top 25 on the cookie.fun leaderboard or submit original video content through a form. It's a fun way to get recognized for your creativity.
  3. Your content should be original and positive, focusing on Ronin's ecosystem like games or products. Get creative and share your videos on social media for a chance to win!

J-3 offsuit and the Monster Ballads Poker Game

Matt’s Five Points • 179 implied HN points • 10 Dec 22
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. Home poker games can turn into special experiences filled with laughter and friendship. They create memories that last beyond the games themselves.
  2. The atmosphere and community in a poker game often matter more than the actual cards being played. Serious conversations can happen in a fun, relaxed setting.
  3. Even if a poker game ends or changes, the bonds formed and the memories created can be revisited and celebrated years later.

Work, Abuse, and Unwinnable Games

72 Degrees North • 39 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. Life can sometimes present unwinnable situations where moving on is the best option.
  2. People may engage in unwinnable games like pursuing unattainable goals in relationships or falling into abusive patterns.
  3. Corporate work under capitalism shares similarities with abusive relationships, using small rewards and big punishments to keep workers captive.

GM Shaders Mini: Chromatic Aberration

GM Shaders Mini Tuts • 58 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Games
  1. Chromatic aberration can enhance visual style in games when used tastefully
  2. Color shift effects can be achieved by sampling textures and applying weights for blending
  3. Exploring different blending techniques like linear, radial, and twist can create unique visual effects

Vol. 1, Issue 9 - The Legacy of Pokémon (Part 2)

Johto Times • 99 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. The author shares a personal story about becoming a Pokémon fan, looking back on their early experiences with the games. It's nice to remember where we started, especially if others can relate to those feelings.
  2. Niantic is changing how Remote Raids work in Pokémon GO, making them more expensive and limiting how many you can use daily. This change could affect players who enjoyed playing from home during the pandemic.
  3. A new Pokémon trading card set featuring the original 151 Pokémon is coming out, which includes Kadabra for the first time in years! It's exciting for collectors and fans of the original Pokémon artwork.

Infinite Sudoku

Infinitely More • 23 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🚌 Education Games
  1. Sudoku is typically a solo puzzle where you fill a 9x9 grid with numbers, ensuring that each number appears only once in each row, column, and 3x3 box.
  2. There's a fun two-player version called the Sudoku game where players take turns placing numbers on an empty board, trying to outsmart each other without breaking the Sudoku rules.
  3. The Sudoku game can be played on larger or different shaped boards, and there are even ideas for playing infinite versions of the game on larger grids.

What's Cheering Me Up Lately

Green Graphic Design • 39 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Games
  1. Author shares what's bringing joy in their life recently, inspired by a YouTuber.
  2. Appreciation for David Bird's 'Becorn' art and partner's creative fiction project.
  3. Discovery of the game 'Little Mouse's Encyclopedia' and starting a new personal project about nature journaling.

The Real Reason Adam Silver Wants To Shorten NBA Games

Huddle Up • 40 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🎾 Sports Games
  1. Adam Silver wants to shorten NBA games to 40 minutes by changing quarters from 12 to 10 minutes. He thinks this would fit better with TV viewing habits today.
  2. He believes that shorter games could help boost the NBA's declining TV viewership. A two-hour game could make it more appealing as a televised sport.
  3. While team owners may support his revenue-focused ideas, fans might not agree with changes that could impact traditional game structure.

Games as Training

David Friedman’s Substack • 143 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🚌 Education Games
  1. Games like bridge, chess, and Diplomacy can be viewed as training exercises for skills like coordination, tactics, strategy, and commitment.
  2. Playing games can help develop real-world skills like finding your way around environments and accomplishing goals.
  3. Some games are designed specifically to teach skills, such as computer programming or the principles of mutual advantage over conquest.

Why are there 62,208 puzzles?

actinium226’s Substack • 4 HN points • 03 Jun 24
🔬 Science Games
  1. The 'Genius Square' puzzle game has a unique selling point of 62,208 puzzles always solvable.
  2. The author explores multiple attempts to understand how the specific number of puzzles was derived.
  3. By closely examining the dice used in the game, the author reveals the mathematical reasoning behind the 62,208 puzzles.

Infinite Connect Four

Infinitely More • 15 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. Connect Four is a game where players try to get four of their coins in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The game shows that the first player has a winning strategy if they play perfectly.
  2. The concept of an infinite version of Connect Four allows for interesting variations, like playing on an infinite board. This leads to questions about how long winning chains players can aim to create.
  3. With infinite possibilities, players might aspire to create very long winning combinations, even infinite chains. This expands the game beyond traditional limits and invites deeper strategic thinking.

Darts, I love you

The Rectangle • 28 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🎾 Sports Games
  1. Darts is more than just a game; it's a popular social activity in places like the UK. People often play darts in pubs and at home, making it an accessible sport for everyone.
  2. Playing darts can be a fun way to relax and clear your mind. It's a great alternative to screen time and helps keep you active.
  3. The history of darts shows how it became a beloved pastime. It evolved from a simple throwing game into a major sport enjoyed by millions.

Things I appreciate

Nonlinear • 19 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🎭️ Culture Games
  1. Having things to look forward to can boost happiness on different time scales.
  2. Music can have a powerful impact on mood and energy levels.
  3. Finding a special, less crowded place can make routine activities more enjoyable.