Pragmata review - Thumbsticks With inventive combat, a memorable characters, and a gloriously strange setting, Pragmata gives Capcom a bold and brilliant new IP.

What a blast this game is. Inventive combat, memorable characters, and a gloriously strange setting make Pragmata a bold new IP for Capcom.

Indiana Jones and the Making of a Culturally Accurate Video Game - Thumbsticks At GDC, Kate Edwards revealed how meticulous research and cultural rigour helped shape Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

Our final write-up from #GDC explores how Indiana Jones and the Great Circle approaches cultural accuracy, and why it matters. 🤠

#IndianaJones #GDC #GameDev

How PlayStation built a brand system for the Horizon franchise - Thumbsticks At GDC Festival of Gaming, PlayStation Studios Creative revealed how it built a flexible brand system for Horizon.

This was a great #GDC talk on logos, branding, and design systems, and how they’re used in the Horizon franchise. #PlayStation #gamedev

Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park review - Thumbsticks Is the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder a meaningful upgrade, or an unnecessary remix of a near-perfect platformer?

Is the #NintendoSwitch2 edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder a meaningful upgrade, or like getting cramp while swimming?

www.thumbsticks.com/super-mario-...

How Ghost of Yōtei got a 'good old dose of narrative design' - Thumbsticks At GDC Festival of Gaming, Sucker Punch’s Ariadna Martinez revealed how narrative reshaped the open world of Ghost of Yōtei.

At #GDC, Sucker Punch revealed how narrative reshaped the open world of Ghost of Yōtei. Introducing… the Cone of Entry! #gamedev #ghostofyotei

www.thumbsticks.com/how-ghost-of...

Pokémon Pokopia review - Thumbsticks Pokémon Pokopia is a spin-off that swaps catching for crafting and turns out to be one of the best Pokémon games ever made.

A little late to the party on this one, but yes, it's true, #Pokémon Pokopia is wonderful!

www.thumbsticks.com/pokemon-poko...

The sounds and memories that made Despelote - Thumbsticks At GDC 2026, Despelote creator Julián Cordero explored the game’s inspiration and how the sounds of home shaped its identity.

At #GDC 26, Julián Cordero spoke about the inspiration behind #Despelote and how the sounds of home became integral to its identity. #GameDev

www.thumbsticks.com/the-sounds-a...

How Obsidian fixed combat in The Outer Worlds 2 - Thumbsticks At GDC 2026, Obsidian's Rob Donovan revealed the framework behind combat in The Outer Worlds 2.

At GDC 2026, Obsidian's Robert Donovan revealed the framework behind combat in The Outer Worlds 2. Super interesting stuff.

#GDC #TheOuterWorlds2 #GameDev

www.thumbsticks.com/how-obsidian...

GDC Festival of Gaming: a reset for the industry’s biggest conference - Thumbsticks GDC Festival of Gaming introduces a new format for the industry’s biggest conference. But does the rebrand solve its biggest challenges?

GDC Festival of Gaming introduces a new format for the industry’s biggest conference. But does the rebrand solve its biggest challenges? Here's our report from #GDC26.

#gamedev #gaming #GDC

Don Daglow on art, business, and surviving the industry - Thumbsticks At GDC 2026, veteran game designer Don Daglow reflected on his career and the lessons he learned along the way.

The legendary Don Daglow reflects on his career and the lessons learned along the way.

Our report from #GDC2026. #gamedev #gdc

Conference call: What to expect from GDC 2026 - Thumbsticks The Game Developers Conference, now rebranded as the “GDC Festival of Gaming”, expands beyond its traditional conference roots.

GDC returns next week with a new name and a shift in direction. The schedule is still sprawling, however, so we've picked some session highlights.
#gdc #gamedev @officialgdc.bsky.social

www.thumbsticks.com/conference-c...

How the Sega Master System changed the way I play - Thumbsticks The passing of hardware designer Hideki Sato has made me reflect on how the Sega Master System shaped the way I enjoy video games.

Thoughts from @olddannew.bsky.social on how the Sega Master System shaped a love of video games, and the friendship that came with it.

#Sega #VideoGames #RetroGames

Mario Tennis Fever review - Thumbsticks Mario Tennis Fever puts the nostalgia debate to bed and succeeds on its own terms as an excellent tennis game for Nintendo Switch 2.

Mario Tennis Fever bins the nostalgia baggage and delivers a genuinely excellent #NintendoSwitch2 tennis game. Here's our review: www.thumbsticks.com/mario-tennis...

The cool tricks behind backwards compatibility on the Game Boy Color - Thumbsticks When Nintendo released the Game Boy Color in 1998, players didn’t just get a new system with new features.

When Nintendo released the Game Boy Color, players didn’t just get a new system with new features. They got an upgrade that instantly refreshed the games they already owned.

www.thumbsticks.com/the-cool-tri...

#nintendo #gameboy

The massive influence of Double Dragon (on ZX Spectrum) - Thumbsticks Arcade-to-home conversions in the 1980s often left a lot to be desired. Especially on the ZX Spectrum. And especially if it was Double Dragon.

No one could say the ZX Spectrum version of Double Dragon was good, but it was a genuine learning experience for @olddannew.bsky.social. #gaming #arcadegames #zxspectrum

Grid Legends: Deluxe Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 review - Thumbsticks Grid Legends races to Nintendo Switch 2, but can Feral Interactive repeat its porting magic with this Codemasters classic?

VROOOM!!! Grid Legends races to Nintendo Switch 2, but can Feral Interactive repeat its porting magic? Read our review and find out, if you like. 🏁

#NintendoSwitch2 #videogames #GRIDLegends

From the Backlog: Mario Sports Superstars - Thumbsticks Mario Sports Superstars is a forgotten Nintendo 3DS game, and a home run hidden in plain sight.

Is the forgotten Nintendo 3DS game Mario Sports Superstars a home run hidden in plain sight? Find out in our latest From the Backlog. ⚾

#Nintendo #SuperMario #Baseball #TorontoBlueJays #Retrogames

www.thumbsticks.com/from-the-bac...

The best thing Stadia gave us is still going strong - Thumbsticks Google officially ended support for updating Stadia controllers at the end of 2025, but I'll be using mine for a long time to come.

Google has officially ended support for updating Stadia controllers, but I'll be using mine for a long time to come.

#google #stadia

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review - Thumbsticks Metroid Prime 4 evolves a classic formula into something bigger, stranger, and more ambitious, but does it hold together?

Metroid Prime 4 evolves a classic formula into something bigger, stranger, and more ambitious… and a little more uneven. Here’s our review.

#metroidprime4 #nintendo

www.thumbsticks.com/metroid-prim...

Poker, Pixels, and Persuasion: The Marketing Bets Behind Balatro - Thumbsticks Balatro looked like an overnight indie miracle, but the game's success took planning, strategy, outreach, and a little luck.

Balatro looked like an overnight indie success, but it took planning, strategy, outreach, and a little luck. Read our report from #MIGS25 to find out how Playstack brought the game to a wider audience.

#balatro #indiegames #indiedev #gamedev #videogames

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment review - Thumbsticks Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment tells a sweeping war story that makes the Musou formula feel essential.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a surprisingly rich companion to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, pairing sharp, satisfying Musou combat with a story that actually feels essential. Here's our review...

www.thumbsticks.com/hyrule-warri...

#NintendoSwitch2 #LegendOfZelda

Inside MIGS25 and the Future of Canadian Video Games - Thumbsticks The Montréal International Game Summit (MIGS25) charts a path forward for the Canadian video games industry.

Can Canada stay one of the best places to make video games? Here's our report from the 2025 Montréal International Game Summit.

#MIGS25 #gamebusiness #gamedev #indiedev #canada

Today’s mood.

Nintendo's mobile apps need fixing - Thumbsticks Nintendo needs to streamline its messy ecosystem of smartphone apps to match its otherwise impressive online services.

Nintendo’s suite of mobile apps is great, but do we really need so many? 🤔

#Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #NintendoSwitch2 #NintendoToday #Android #iOS #Apple #SuperMario #NintendoGames #smartphones #apps

#migs25 is here. Don’t forget your boots. (Like we did)

#gamedev #montreal #gamebusiness

Conference Call: What to expect from MIGS25 - Thumbsticks The post-pandemic landscape hasn’t been kind to video game conferences. While global giants rethink their futures, MIGS is doubling down.

All set for the Montréal International Game Summit? Here’s our preview of this year’s event, including some session recommendations and an interview with the organizing team.

#MIGS25 #gaming #gamedev #canada #gamebusiness #videogames #b2b #MIGS

Pokémon Legends: Z-A review - Thumbsticks Can Pokémon ever truly reinvent itself? Pokémon Legends: Z-A makes a compelling case that it can.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is uneven, but it’s also inventive, surprising, and often brilliant.

#nintendoswitch #nintendoswitch2 #pokemon

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 review  - Thumbsticks Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 return. But is a visual polish enough for these cosmic masterpieces?

Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 return. But is a visual polish enough for these cosmic masterpieces?

#supermariogalaxy #supermariogalaxy2 #nintendoswitch #nintendoswitch2 #videogames #nintendo

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment preview - Thumbsticks Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment impresses ahead of its fall release on Nintendo Switch 2.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment impresses ahead of its release on Nintendo Switch 2. It’s preview time!

#nintendoswitch2 #videogames #nintendocanada #nintendo #zelda #thelegendofzelda #gaming #hyrulewarriors #totk

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