Realism, Catharsis, and Why Pyre Works

Realism, Catharsis, and Why Pyre Works

This piece contains spoilers for Pyre throughout.

In Pyre, Supergiant Games’ 2017 sports sim, players take the role of a faceless and nameless “Reader,” a character who is able to read both the stars and the written word. Having been convicted of some loosely defined crime, the Reader is exiled from the world above and forced to wander the wastelands. Over the course of the game, my Reader found themself committing to bigger and bigger causes: to friendship with the three weirdos who ultimately recruit them, to the sports team they form in an effort to escape exile, and, ultimately, to revolution. In 2021, this revolution felt peculiarly prescient—not because it represented reality, but because it represented what it’s easy to want reality to be. (more…)

July Roundtable: Summer Barbecue (With Our Faves)

July Roundtable: Summer Barbecue (With Our Faves)

It’s summer here in the Northern Hemisphere! Time for lake swimming, marshmallow toasting, and the ever-important summer barbecue. Oh, and games. Don’t forget the games.

When we brainstormed this month’s topic, we came up with a few different ideas: astronomy, astrology, the dog days of summer, dogs… hot dogs… and barbecuing. Which leads to two important questions that will form the backbone—but not the entirety—of this month’s spicy, grilled discussion.

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September Roundtable: Sports in Games

September Roundtable: Sports in Games

It’s always sports time, but as the weather cools down in the Northern Hemisphere, it feels like sports are everywhere. The beginning of football season is my cue to get a flu shot, and it should be yours as well, so go do that before you settle in to read our thoughts on sports in games, sports as games, and probably also splorts. (more…)