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Abram Buehner Reflects On Reliving Metroid Prime | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu Lost In Cult’s Abram Buehner joins us to break down his experience returning to Metroid and learning to experience old things anew instead of attempting to relive previous highs.

Lost In Cult’s @abrambuehner.bsky.social joins us to break down his experience returning to Metroid and learning to experience old things anew instead of attempting to relive previous highs.

www.startmenu.co.uk/home/abram-b...

Holly Hughes-Rowlands Posits That The Switch 2 Is A Drop In The Ocean Of Unaffordable Video Games | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu So everyone was really angry about the Switch 2 price when it was announced… and then it became the fastest-selling console of all time. So why did it happen? What did we learn? And comes next? Holl...

So everyone was really angry about the Switch 2 price when it was announced… and then it became the fastest-selling console of all time.

So why did it happen? What did we learn? And comes next? Holly Hughes-Rowlands investigates.

www.startmenu.co.uk/home/holly-h...

Lots of thanks to @lexluddy.xyz for offering me the opportunity to write for startmenu!!

Since I left PR and moved to Japan, I’ve been thinking a lot about how my media consumption habits have changed through a PR lens, and writing for startmenu let me compile those thoughts.

Update Patch News Roundup (03/12/25) - The Games Of Thanksgiving | startmenu Get more from startmenu on Patreon

There wasn't much in the way of video game news last week, so instead, Simon Estey tried to figure out what games would be coming to Thanksgiving dinner this year.

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

Temporarily Leaving The Games Industry Has Returned Erik Campuzano To Earth Again | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu We welcome Erik Campuzano to the site to break down how stepping away from working in video game PR has given him a new perspective on the wider industry.

We welcome @yabunai.bsky.social to the site to break down how stepping away from working in video game PR has given him a new perspective on the wider industry.

www.startmenu.co.uk/home/erik-ca...

I'm delighted to kick of the Winter Spectacular with this piece from @ela-bambust.bsky.social!

Be sure to check back on @startmenu.bsky.social every day this month for new pieces from people across the games industry and beyond!

in the process of working with @annacwebs.bsky.social on this piece, I, too, became a Blue Prince Sicko

Thanks so much to @startmenu.bsky.social for having me for their Winter Spectacular! This was my first time being asked to write a guest feature, and I’m really pleased with how it turned out!

Blue Prince isn’t just my personal GOTY, it felt like THE game that captured the absurdity of 2025. 🏠🗝️🚪

Anna C. Webster Declares This Year The Era Of The Blue Prince Sicko | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu How do you cope with the onslaught of news in 2025? By becoming a sicko. And Blue Prince is a game made for sickos.

Winter Spectacular 2025 continues with a reflection on one of the biggest indie games of the year from @annacwebs.bsky.social!

How do you cope with the onslaught of news this year? By becoming a sicko. And Blue Prince is a game made for sickos.

AY YO I WROTE AN ARTICLE FOR A THING :)

Ela Bambust Reflects On The Time Of Indies | Winter Spectacular 2025 — startmenu 2025 has highlighted just how many problems the video game industry faces, but Ela Bambust has identified one issue that fuels everything else: Time. Or lack thereof, to be specific.

We're kicking off the Winter Spectacular 2025 with a doozie.

2025 has highlighted just how many problems the video game industry faces, but @ela-bambust.bsky.social has identified one
issue that fuels everything else: Time.

Or lack thereof, to be specific.

www.startmenu.co.uk/home/ela-bam...

So happy with my time spent in @leepetty.bsky.social and @doublefine.com 's Keeper! A bit late to the party, but come read my review of it here on @startmenu.bsky.social!

Thanks for playing and sharing your experience!

Review | Keeper - Finding Your Place — startmenu In its brief runtime, Lee Petty and Double Fine’s Keeper manages to sweep you up in its surrealist world, while keeping you grounded with a simple but affecting tale of found family. Brandon Craw Rev...

In its brief runtime, Lee Petty and Double Fine’s Keeper manages to sweep you up in its surrealist world, while keeping you grounded with a simple but affecting tale of found family.

@mindcontrollers.bsky.social Reviews.

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

Update Patch News Roundup (24/11/25) | startmenu Get more from startmenu on Patreon

It was a light week for gaming news, but there were still plenty of things for Simon Estey to round up in this week's Update Patch.

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

In Duskpunk, @jamespatton.bsky.social writes with a political language whose warnings are legible in our own world, useful to anyone looking to interrogate real structures of oppression. Also, it's quite fun to play.

An absolutely lovely Duskpunk writeup, really engaged with its focus on power, violence, exploitation and collective hope.

Review | Duskpunk - Break Your Chains — startmenu Fans of Citizen Sleeper will find a lot to like in Duskpunk, which puts a gritty spin on the former’s Blades in the Dark–inspired gameplay. Steven Stoermer reviews.

Fans of Citizen Sleeper will find a lot to like in Duskpunk, which puts a gritty spin on the former’s Blades in the Dark–inspired gameplay.

@stevenstoermer.bsky.social reviews.

Review: The August Before - Little to Digest — startmenu Though it tells a relatable story, busywork-esque gameplay and a narrative that offloads much of its exposition to pop-culture references mean that The August Before lacks a cathartic payoff. Hiero d...

Though it tells a relatable story, busywork-esque gameplay and a narrative that offloads much of its exposition to pop-culture references mean that The August Before lacks a cathartic payoff.

@lesbiankakyoin.bsky.social reviews.

For startmenu, I reviewed the excellent indie Touhou strategy RPG Fantasy Maiden Wars!

Review | Fantasy Maiden Wars - For Touhou Fans and First-Timers — startmenu The English-language release of Fantasy Maiden Wars: DREAM OF THE STRAY DREAMER is a combination of four strategy games, which themselves draw from two major franchises: Touhou Project and Super Robot...

The English-language release of Fantasy Maiden Wars: DREAM OF THE STRAY DREAMER is a combination of four strategy games, which themselves draw from two major franchises: Touhou Project and Super Robot Wars.

@wendeego.bsky.social reviews.

Review | Spindle - Don’t Fear Me — startmenu Paired with a trusty pig, Steven Stoermer takes on the role of Reaper — and rolls across the map — in Spindle, a short meditation on grief with the vibe of a classic adventure game.

Paired with a trusty pig, @stevenstoermer.bsky.social takes on the role of Reaper — and rolls across the map — in Spindle, a short meditation on grief with the vibe of a classic adventure game.

I reviewed The Berlin Apartment for @startmenu.bsky.social. I've not written in so long!
bsky.app/profile/star...

Review | The Berlin Apartment - Over the Wall — startmenu The Berlin Apartment tells interesting stories from a rarely covered perspective but doesn’t quite hit the mark when it comes to gameplay. Michael Moran reviews.

The Berlin Apartment tells interesting stories from a rarely covered perspective but doesn’t quite hit the mark when it comes to gameplay.

@sixtytwomike.bsky.social reviews.

IT'S BACK!

The startmenu Winter Spectacular returns for 2025!

- Guest Pieces from people across the industry, including: journalists, developers, PR folks, AND MORE
- Game of the Year Lists
- The startmenu Awards
- AND OTHER BULLET POINTS!

All starting December 1st on www.startmenu.co.uk

Update Patch News Roundup (17/11/25) | startmenu Get more from startmenu on Patreon

The week's Update Patch features Steam Machines and more Mario movie details, all rounded up by Simon Estey.

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

aaaaah, shit

The Feeling Of Good Pixel Art And Curse Crackers — startmenu Our friend Skeleton has something they need to get off their chest about good video game pixel art.

Your friend and our's @deephelldotcom.bsky.social has something they need to get off their chest about good video game pixel art.

www.startmenu.co.uk/home/the-fee...

I cannot believe I'm writing now! This is my first review, and what better way to kick it off than writing about a game that made me cry. This is one of my favorite games of 2025, and I hope you all read the review or at least check out the game.

Huge thanks to @lexluddy.xyz for all their help!

Review | and Roger - Time Well Spent — startmenu We welcome Brandon Craw to the site to review one of 2025’s most affecting video games, and Roger.

We welcome Brandon Craw ( @snuggums.bsky.social ) to the site to review one of 2025’s most affecting video games, and Roger.

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