Playing This Week
Katya RyabovaVideo game essays and reporting putting the spotlight on the Canadian video game industry, by a journalist and a recovering marketer based in Toronto. A sucker for good RPGs, adventure, and cozy games (whatever that means).
| Platform |  | Pricing | Only free issues | Publishes | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 76 | Founded | a year ago | Last Issue | 4 days ago |
| Active | |||||
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playingthisweek.substack.comLatest Issues
When video games make you work, part 2
I started Esoteric Ebb last week.
Folks, I don’t know if I can do it.
Look, I’m only three hours in, and I can tell it’s a fabulous game. Fa-bu-lous. The writing alone is crazy impressive, giving roleplaying tons of depth and options. Abs...
A Lil' palate cleanser for these trying times
After I finished 007: First Light, I needed something really different to come off my James Bond high. As luck would have it, I had just befriended a local studio founder… who happened to have made the game I'd been meaning to play.
Toron...
Indie devs sorely need playtesting. The G.R.I.D. is here to provide.
The G.R.I.D. 2026 trophy
Last year, Antonio Miceli had an idea to bring back something he once found very valuable as a game developer. Structured playtesting is a largely unmet need on the indie dev scene, and Miceli’s event, called the G...
There are Bond games and Bond games; 007: First Light is the latter
The title is a slightly disingenuous riff, since 007: First Light is the only dinner jacket, I mean, Bond game, I have ever known. It was a Christmas gift. The only reason why it was even on my wishlist was that, well, it’s a triple-A title...
Five Canadian indie gems to look out for
As is tradition, XP Game Summit 2026 opened with the Indie Pitch Competition, which happens to be one of my favourite parts of all XP Gaming events.
Indie Pitch Competition is a fun showcase of select indie games currently in development....
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Freelance writer & journalist. Gaming, Canadian-made video games, hot takes and cold drinks. She/her
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