The Return of the Obra Dinn
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Return of the Obra Dinn across the outlets.
'Balatro' Plays Winning Hand at GDCA 2025, Receiving Game of the YearBalatro, the indie roguelike deckbuilder from solo developer LocalThunk, won Game of the Year at the 25th annual Game Developers Choice Awards. The game also secured wins for Best Debut, Best Design, and the Innovation Award. Other notable winners included Astro Bot for Best Audio and Best Technology, and Sam Lake received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
Godot bans "autonomous AI agent use or vibe coded" contributionsThe Godot Foundation has updated its contribution policy to prohibit AI-generated code and contributions from autonomous AI agents. Citing a surge in AI-generated pull requests that overwhelm reviewers and are demoralizing to mentor, the foundation will now require all code to be human-authored. This policy change aims to reduce low-effort submissions and ensure that contributions benefit from human mentorship.- 6 Mom Gamer Picks Worth the Nap-Time Hour (2026) | TAGThis article provides a curated list of six games suitable for parents with limited playtime, specifically targeting the one-hour nap window. It highlights titles like Hades II, Slay the Spire 2, and Return of the Obra Dinn, emphasizing their suitability for short, focused gaming sessions on platforms like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch.
- A demo is now available on The Granny Detective SocietyTeam Empreintes has released a demo for their upcoming detective game, The Granny Detective Society, which is now available on Steam. The game features a retired mouse named Madeleine who uncovers conspiracies with a group of spy grandmothers. The demo was announced with a new trailer during Thinky Direct.
6 Story Games for Players Who Don't Want to Talk | TAGThis article highlights six story-driven games that do not require dialogue choices or role-playing, catering to players seeking a narrative experience without conversational effort. Titles like Journey, Cocoon, Inside, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Return of the Obra Dinn, and Outer Wilds are discussed for their unique methods of storytelling through environment, music, and observation, with many also being compatible with handheld devices like the Steam Deck.
9 Story Games Under 15 Hours to Play After Work | TAGThis guide highlights nine narrative-focused video games that can be completed in under 15 hours, ideal for playing after work. The selection includes titles like A Short Hike, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Return of the Obra Dinn, all offering emotional payoffs and satisfying conclusions without demanding extensive playtime. Most of these games are available on PC, with many also supporting platforms like Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Strange Antiquities Review | TheXboxHubStrange Antiquities is a mystery puzzle game where players manage an Old Curiosity Shop filled with magical artifacts. Clients arrive with problems, and the player must deduce which artifact will solve their issue by consulting in-game books and clues. The game also involves sourcing artifacts from various locations, adding a detective-like element. While some puzzles can be obtuse, the overall experience is highly engaging for fans of deduction and Lovecraftian themes.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Drops Out of Nowhere — Indie Detective Games Are Having a MomentMOUSE: P.I. For Hire has been released with minimal fanfare, highlighting a current trend of successful indie detective games. Titles like Disco Elysium and Paradise Killer have paved the way, demonstrating a strong player appetite for well-written mysteries and engaging puzzle-solving experiences. This release arrives at a time when players are seeking unique narratives over mainstream trends like battle royales and live service games.
25 Best Puzzle Games To Solve In 2026This guide highlights 25 of the best puzzle games available, ranging from recent indie hits like Animal Well to enduring classics such as Portal 2. The list features a variety of brain-teasing experiences across multiple platforms, emphasizing critical thinking and engaging gameplay.
Papers, Please dev, Lucas Pope, isn't talking about new game due to AI concernsDeveloper Lucas Pope, known for Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, is withholding details about his new game due to concerns about artificial intelligence. He expressed worries that AI could be used to copy or exploit his work, impacting the creative process he values. Pope is not interested in using AI to speed up development, emphasizing the importance of understanding all aspects of game creation.
Papers, Please, Return of the Obra Dinn dev Lucas Pope won't talk about current game in case it "gets slurped up by AI"Lucas Pope, the developer behind Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, is hesitant to discuss his current game due to concerns about artificial intelligence. He fears that details about his work could be copied or absorbed by AI, making him uncomfortable sharing progress.- Decode reality in inkle's TR-49, available today on Nintendo SwitchThe narrative deduction game TR-49 by inkle is now available on Nintendo Switch, following its earlier release on PC and iOS. Players will use deduction skills to navigate a machine's archive and find a stolen book. The developer is aware of late-game performance issues on the Switch and has submitted a patch.
"Video games are cooked": Publisher head says "it doesn't matter" how many of us hate gen AI, Pandora's box has opened and "it's gonna get used now"Mike Rose, founder of No More Robots, believes generative AI's integration into game development is irreversible, likening it to Pandora's box. He notes the increasing prevalence of AI-generated assets in game demos and the competitive pressure it creates for publishers. Despite player backlash, Rose asserts that the ease of AI tools will lead to their widespread adoption, fundamentally changing how games are made.
How does Papers, Please creator Lucas Pope deal with sharing his work in this era of AI? A severe lack of postingLucas Pope, the creator of Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, is hesitant to share details about his current projects due to concerns about AI content scraping. He expressed this sentiment during a podcast appearance, noting that the current internet climate makes him uncomfortable discussing his work in progress. Pope also reflected on the pressure of following up his critically acclaimed titles.
Return of the Obra Dinn developer Lucas Pope doesn't feel comfortable talking about new projects because maybe they'll be "slurped up by AI"Indie developer Lucas Pope, known for Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, is hesitant to discuss his upcoming projects due to concerns about them being "slurped up by AI" or copied. He expressed this sentiment on the "Mike & Rami Are Still Here" podcast, noting a general discomfort with revealing work-in-progress details in the current climate. Pope also reflected on his past successes and whether he should continue developing new titles.
After making 2 of the best indie games of all time, Lucas Pope won't even talk about his third because "it's getting slurped up by AI or people are gonna copy it"Indie developer Lucas Pope, known for Return of the Obra Dinn and Papers, Please, is hesitant to discuss his upcoming project due to concerns about AI data scraping and idea theft. He also expresses self-doubt about replicating the success of his previous acclaimed titles.
Papers, Please creator Lucas Pope no longer feels comfortable talking about work-in-progress games: 'the situation…Indie developer Lucas Pope, known for Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, expressed discomfort discussing his current work-in-progress games due to industry trends like AI and potential copying. He also reflected on whether he might retire on a high note after his previous successes.- Return of the Obra Dinn Dev Says AI Makes Him Hesitant to Talk About New ProjectsLucas Pope, the developer behind Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, expressed hesitation in discussing his current projects due to concerns about them being "slurped up by AI." He is worried that artificial intelligence could potentially consume or replicate his work before he is ready to reveal it.
Veteran indie developer scared to reveal new game in case it gets "slurped up by AI"Veteran indie developer Lucas Pope, known for Papers, Please and The Return of the Obra Dinn, expressed concerns about announcing his next game due to the rise of generative AI and potential idea theft. He feels less comfortable discussing his work in progress, fearing it could be copied or used by AI models. Pope also grapples with the pressure of following up his critically acclaimed past titles.