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Update Patch News Roundup (06/10/25) | startmenu Get more from startmenu on Patreon

Well... That was certainly an eventful week of gaming news...

Thankfully, @wendeego.bsky.social rounded up everything, good and bad, for this week's Update Patch.

www.patreon.com/posts/update...

I reviewed CloverPit for startmenu

In which I try to evoke the feel of the game while being critical of its mechanical and thematic superficiality

Review | CloverPit - And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Debt — startmenu With its macabre trappings and roguelike mechanics, CloverPit ’s slot machine reels you back in again, over and over. Perhaps fortunately, its compulsive allure does not appear to be lasting. Artemi...

With its macabre trappings and roguelike mechanics, CloverPit’s slot machine reels you back in again, over and over. Perhaps fortunately, its compulsive allure does not appear to be lasting.

@stopcar.ing reviews.

Hey there! As you may or may not have noticed, we didn't release a podcast this week. We'll resume regular programming in a few weeks.

Review | Blippo+ - A Planet Left Too Soon — startmenu Blippo+ combines a retro television experience with intergalactic new wave style to tell the channel-spanning story of the planet Blip. Philip Adrian reviews.

Blippo+ combines a retro television experience with intergalactic new wave style to tell the channel-spanning story of the planet Blip.

Philip Adrian reviews.

I appreciated the unique angle @qwertyprophecy.bsky.social brought to The Dark Queen of Mortholme, and the tightness of its execution. @monstertheater.bsky.social a solid addition to your publishing repertoire.

Review | Dark Queen of Mortholme - Witness Me — startmenu Playing as the antagonist is not a new concept, but Dark Queen of Mortholme puts its own twist on the material in a short, but impactful, game. Steven Stoermer reviews.

Playing as the antagonist is not a new concept, but Dark Queen of Mortholme puts its own twist on the material in a short, but impactful, game.

@stevenstoermer.bsky.social reviews.

Update Patch News Roundup (30/09/25) | startmenu Get more from startmenu on Patreon

For the final Update Patch of September @raisinbman.bsky.social highlights Sony's big State of Play, Nintendo's major corporate shake-up, and Microsoft's huge price tags.

www.patreon.com/posts/update...

New piece for start menu! I wrote about the history of Final Fantasy Tactics rom hacks, and where they now stand following the release of The Ivalice Chronicles.

A Heretic's History of Final Fantasy Tactics — startmenu With the release of The Ivalice Chronicles, Adam W muses on the history of Final Fantasy Tactics, and how the game’s reputation has been shaped as much by fan contributions as official releases.

With the release of The Ivalice Chronicles, @wendeego.bsky.social muses on the history of Final Fantasy Tactics, and how the game’s reputation has been shaped as much by fan contributions as official releases.

With Hades 2's release reminded me of StarMenu art that Lex Luddy commissioned me earlier this year. Good times! @startmenu.bsky.social @lexluddy.xyz

It was my pleasure to review the excellent @staticdread.bsky.social for @startmenu.bsky.social

Update Patch News Roundup (24/09/25) | startmenu Get more from startmenu on Patreon

The week before TGS saw lots of news, yet another Xbox price increase, and plenty of controversy.

@raisinbman.bsky.social rounds it all up in this week's Update Patch.

www.patreon.com/posts/update...

Review | Static Dread - Ghosts on the Wire — startmenu Static Dread harnesses the isolation inherent to being a lighthouse keeper and gives it a Lovecraftian twist, making you the bulwark that keeps your community safe from eldritch terrors. Steven Stoer...

Static Dread harnesses the isolation inherent to being a lighthouse keeper and gives it a Lovecraftian twist, making you the bulwark that keeps your community safe from eldritch terrors.

@stevenstoermer.bsky.social reviews.

Update Patch News Roundup (15/09/25) | startmenu Get more from startmenu on Patreon

If you are thinking, "These news stories look like they are a week old?" please blame Lexi because @raisinbman.bsky.social submitted this Update Patch on time and she was swanning about in Japan and forgot to set it live.

www.patreon.com/posts/update...

Always great to write for @startmenu.bsky.social even though not once did I see Erik or their home

Review | Eriksholm - The Stolen Dream — startmenu Eriksholm pairs stealth-based puzzles with vivid cutscenes to tell an interesting story, but it feels like it doesn’t fulfill its potential. Scott Nowbaveh reviews.

Eriksholm pairs stealth-based puzzles with vivid cutscenes to tell an interesting story, but it feels like it doesn’t fulfill its potential.

@bigbovy.bsky.social reviews.

Preview | What Little Nightmares III’s Co-Op Lacks in Scares, It Makes Up for in Joy — startmenu Angus Law got up to some hijinks in Little Nightmares III’s co-op mode, where dying feels less like failure and more like a punchline.

Angus Law got up to some hijinks in Little Nightmares III’s co-op mode, where dying feels less like failure and more like a punchline.

always thrilled to talk with @kellymerka.bsky.social and Dave, but this one’s special because me and @ashlikeadragon.bsky.social get to argue and agree and kvetch and kvell about Silksong (the game) and Silksong (the discourse)

in case my review apparently being this weekend's discourse wasn't enough, here's even more of me talking about it (midway through writing the review at the time)

thanks for having me!! 💜

I am having the fun experience of listening to a podcast that I started without me on it.

Turns out The startmenu Podcast is pretty good.

The startmenu Podcast | 016 — startmenu Silksong is out, and with Lex out on assignment and Dave and KM woefully underinformed, the wonderful Mik Deitz and Ashley Schofield have jumped in to talk us through one of the biggest launches of th...

Silksong is out, and with Lex out on assignment and Dave and KM woefully underinformed, the wonderful @dietdeitz.bsky.social and @ashlikeadragon.bsky.social have jumped in to talk us through one of the biggest launches of the year.

Review | Leila - Reminiscing in the Future — startmenu In Ubik Studios’ Leila, the titular character brings the player along on a journey of self-reflection. A meditative experience guided by gentle narration, the game examines what it means to be human —...

In Ubik Studios’ Leila, the titular character brings the player along on a journey of self-reflection. A meditative experience guided by gentle narration, the game examines what it means to be human — both when we’re at our best, and our worst.

Jay Weaver reviews.

That's right folks, I'm covering news this month, so send me pictures of spider - I'm mean fighting games!

Or other things you think deserve coverage

Update Patch News Roundup (08/09/25) | startmenu Get more from startmenu on Patreon

Update Patch is back for another month with @raisinbman.bsky.social guiding us through a strange week for fighting games, one of the biggest game launches of the year, and a rather low-key State of Play.

www.patreon.com/posts/update...

This was all kicked off by @lexluddy.xyz realising that her bio still linked to her Twitter. So that has also been fixed.

We also finally updated @imomellor.bsky.social, @jamesmaclaw.bsky.social, and @mole.club legacy bio to include there super nice and professional looking headshots!

MASSIVELY OVERDUE UPDATE!

We have finally updated our "Meet The Team" page... and that's because we've officially added @kellymerka.bsky.social to the startmenu team as Managing Editor, and @uselessdave.bsky.social the host of The startmenu Podcast!

www.startmenu.co.uk/meet-the-team

[PATREON UNLOCK] Update Patch - August 2025 — startmenu August saw the continued battle against payment processors evolve, while Gamescom hearlded several noteable accountments. Sana SMW rounded it up each week for our ongoing Update Patches.

August saw the continued battle against payment processors evolve, while Gamescom hearlded several noteable accountments.

@onlyforsana.bsky.social rounded it up each week for our ongoing Update Patches.

www.startmenu.co.uk/home/update-...

I'll be taking point at @startmenu.bsky.social while @lexluddy.xyz travels this month and I'm already threatening to give a goat a byline