idgaf the numbers are what they are, and they don't even include console which heavily skews in Destiny's favor. This situation is absolute insanity - one of the most nonsensical, ass-backwards decisions I've ever seen.
AustinUp
@austinup.bsky.social
Game Reviewer / Video Editor @ Skill Up 🎬 MMO goblin 🏹 Business enquiries: austin@skillupgaming.com
Gonna be the best birthday present of all time if this is what I think it is omg
Guild Wars@guildwars2.com · 2mo agoThe wind stirs. The world shifts. Stand ready.
For our Best of 2025 series, we asked our staff and columnists to share their favourite videogame-related things of the year (and they didn’t necessarily need to be new for 2025). MMORPG and roguelite die-hard @austinup.bsky.social shares some expected and unexpected titles that shaped his year.
Austin Bolliger's Top 4 Games of 2025
MMORPG and roguelite die-hard Austin Bolliger shares some expected and unexpected picks for his top games for 2025.
thisweekinvideogames.com
"For the moment, there’s nothing quite like Fellowship. It’s clear to me that Chief Rebel ‘get it’ -- they deeply understand what makes the MMO dungeons so compelling, and what needs to be trimmed..." - @austinup.bsky.social on @playfellowship.com
Fellowship (Early Access) Review
Fellowship deeply understands what makes MMO dungeons so compelling, offering an accessible and moreish PvE experience.
thisweekinvideogames.com
Despite a disappointing ending, Hades II had me completely spellbound with its scope, cohesion and visual flair - once again raising the bar for one of the industry’s most consistently excellent studios. My review: youtu.be/L2BGd3x5gP4?...
Austin strongly recommends: Hades II (Spoiler-Free Review)
YouTube video by Skill Up
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Idk who needs to hear this but if you’re into anime at all, pls go watch To Be Hero X. Creative blend of animation styles, great music, rad twist on the superhero genre, cool characters and some of the best fight scenes you’ve ever seen. S1 just wrapped and it deserves more love, imo
a colorful drawing of a man with sunglasses and a triangle in the background
ALT: a colorful drawing of a man with sunglasses and a triangle in the background
media.tenor.com
Finally finished Spiritfarer some 3 years after picking it up. What a profoundly beautiful game. 🛶 Very much looking forward to At Fate’s End next year.
Yooo wtf, I think Ravenswatch is the co-op roguelite I’ve always dreamed of? The storybook theme, the class designs, the ARPG-esque power-ups - damn it’s good. The design of the Romeo & Juliet characters? Genius, man 👌
I know Hades II is just around the corner, but I just wanna shout out Rogue PoP which dropped into 1.0 last month and has sadly slipped under the radar. Absolutely S tier music with super fluid combat and traversal. Just a really cool, unique roguelite that deserves far more attention, imo.
Peak is officially around the corner. What a year for indies, man 👑
Supergiant Games@supergiantgames.bsky.social · 11mo agoHADES II v1.0 is coming September 25!🌒 Battle beyond the Underworld in our launch trailer.🏔️ Play in blazing-fast 120fps in TV Mode on Nintendo Switch 2, or 60fps on Nintendo Switch (w/ free upgrade to Switch 2). Transfer PC progress from Steam/Epic w/ Cross Saves. www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8lJ...
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance ruuuules. I never played the originals, and tbh I find the usual metrodivania formula a bit played out at this point - but even then, this game had me hooked from start to finish with its level variety, its stellar art and S tier combat. My review: youtu.be/P8e57SvP4M0?...
Austin strongly recommends: 'Shinobi: Art of Vengeance' (Review)
YouTube video by Skill Up
youtu.be
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon! Played and finished this a little while ago but wanted to get a review out since it’s kinda slipped under the radar. Fell off the more I played, but those first 20 hours or so were magical. A+ buildcraft and quest design imo. Review: youtu.be/4mb_xsby7LU?...
Austin recommends: Tainted Grail - Fall of Avalon (Review)
YouTube video by Skill Up
youtu.be
An extra special game that deserved an extra special video. The story of Sandfall / E33 is chock-full of valuable takeaways, but most of all… it’s incredibly inspiring. It’s already had a real impact on me personally, and I think anyone in a creative field will resonate with it just as deeply.
Skill Up@skillup.bsky.social · last yr.After 2 months of work, the Clair Obscur Expedition 33 video is here. I interviewed most of the game's senior leadership team asking one simple question: how did you do this? Their answers were inspiring and moving, and it's no surprise that COE33 is as remarkable as it is: youtu.be/mXLOLgC2V2Q?...
Finished Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Sits comfortably in my top 5 favourite games of all time. What a top to bottom masterpiece.
Wildgate, man. It’s fun. Very fun. Moonshot Games might genuinely have a sleeper hit on their hands. My impressions: youtu.be/7dOYDaDuhnU?...
Wildgate has that old-school Blizzard magic (Austin's Hands-On Impressions)
YouTube video by Skill Up
youtu.be
lol had a weird moment where I closed Guild Wars 1 and opened up the Oblivion Remake, but thought I had GW1 still open in the background because both their music is done by Jeremy Soule and sounds basically identical 🙃
Been a bit since I shared a review on here, but finally released my review for South of Midnight which I think is sadly going under the radar. On the gameplay front it’s nothing special - but narratively, artistically and musically it’s really stuck with me. My review: youtu.be/vs8q6ynxlco?...
Austin recommends: South of Midnight (Review)
YouTube video by Skill Up
youtu.be
Got into the Elden Ring: Nightreign network test but my matchmaking doesn’t work
I know we’re all meme’ing on Blizzard bringing back loot boxes (agree it’s dumb) but having watched the full presentation, I’m lowkey pretty impressed? That new mode with a MOBA/CS:GO-esque item shop full of perks to mix and match genuinely feels like the shake-up I’ve been waiting so long for.
We have another returning guest on tonight's episode of Back Pocket - it's Austin from @skillup.bsky.social! Plus, our first Pete's Party of the year... 📺 7PM AEDT | twitch.tv/back_pocket
Reviewed ‘Eternal Strands’ this week, had a great time! It’s a visually pretty, focussed, trimmed-back RPG with a very playful sandbox - think the giant-climbing combat of Shadow of the Colossus / Dragon’s Dogma meets Legend of Zelda-esque powers! Watch my full review here: youtu.be/lnhyG1t8bSs?...
Austin recommends: Eternal Strands (Review)
YouTube video by Skill Up
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Played the early access of Heart Machine’s new game. As someone who really dug Hyper Light Drifter & Solar Ash, unfortunately this just didn’t click with me. Atm it feels frustrating, confused, and lacks the sauce that made their previous games so special :/ My review: youtu.be/jhIjVy37eAo?...
Austin does not recommend: Hyper Light Breaker (Early Access Review)
YouTube video by Skill Up
youtu.be
Watched The Lord of the Rings Musical tonight - honestly very impressed! Nicely truncated retelling of the LOTR trilogy. Awesome presentation. Incredible cast, all of whom can somehow sing, act, dance AND play musical instruments simulatenously (the orchestra IS the cast??). Do recommend it 👍
Finished Dragon Age: The Veilguard after 65 hours. Dialogue was very rough until midway through, but all the companions really grew on me, I loved the presentation, enjoyed the combat & buildcraft, and it finished quite strong with Act 3. Decent fantasy romp imo, had a good time with it 👍
Well I didn’t think I’d get *this* into Marvel Rivals, but here we are. Lowkey proud of this 😬 Onward to Diamond!!
