The Bell Tree Forums and Forum Culture
In the fast-paced world of social media, The Bell Tree Forums offer a slice of internet nostalgia where Animal Crossing fans still find their digital home. Long before Twitter wars and TikTok trends, there were forums—a simpler, slower-paced corner of the internet where people gathered to discuss their passions in depth. Among these early digital…
The Resurrection of MySims: Cosy Nostalgia or Corporate Ploy?
EA bets on cosy vibes and nostalgia, but will the return of MySims warm our hearts or just our wallets? In a gaming landscape where nostalgia sells, EA is dusting off the cobwebs of its once-beloved MySims franchise and reintroducing it to a new generation on the Nintendo Switch. Slated for a 19 November 2024…
A Short Goodbye to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
As Nintendo announces the end of service for Pocket Camp, it’s time to say a temporary farewell to the Animal Crossing worlds within our phones In an email to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp players, Nintendo has announced that the service for the game will sadly be coming to an end on November 28th 2024 at…
Style Savvy: The Nostalgic Dress-Up Game for the Nintendo DS
With the resurgence of digital dress-up games online, one game had surprisingly been ahead of its time… Written by Hafsa Ahmed Dress-up games became a hit in the online digital space during the 2000s. Many of these were the classic, click-and-select gameplays that provided clothes to dress up avatars. However, they didn’t just exist online.…
Fantage: A Glittering Digital Ghost Town
Ah, Fantage—a flashback to the days when the internet felt like a freshly discovered galaxy. Imagine it: 2008, an era where the internet was less algorithmic and more anarchic, where the hottest trend wasn't about who had the most followers, but who had the most neon-clad avatar in an online game designed for kids. Fantage was the digital utopia for the tweenage crowd, a place where your biggest dilemma was whether to splurge your hard-earned Stars on a new virtual outfit or save up for a more exclusive hairdo. It was a pixelated paradise, until it wasn't.
Spiritfarer: A Game About Life, Death, and Human Connection
How Spiritfarer Embraces the Complexities of Life and Death Written by Calypso Morgan 2020 is a year many of us would rather forget, but if it is to be remembered for one thing, it should be the release of a game that turned the world upside down. This isn’t a reference to Animal Crossing: New…
Mum’s Letters in Animal Crossing
In the world of Animal Crossing, the letters from Mum (or Mom) have evolved into something of a cult artefact, a weird blend of digital nostalgia and a reminder of that soft, maternal nudge from a simpler time. They’re these peculiar little notes you receive as you toil away, pulling weeds and catching bugs on your quaint little island. Mum's letters are equal parts endearing and slightly offbeat—a perfect encapsulation of the game’s charm, but with an undertone that makes you question who’s really writing them and why they keep coming.
Dave The Diver: Plunging Headfirst into New Worlds
Too scared to play Subnautica, but want to traverse a deep sea environment? Meet Dave The Diver, developed by studio Mint Rocket, a cosy, yet challenging experience as the player inhabits Dave, a diver returning from his vacation, as he gathers different types of fish for the renowned Bancho Sushi. Pact full of incredible animations, dynamic boss battles and quests, Dave The Diver is easily one of the best games I’ve had the pleasure to play this year.
Charli XCX’s Brat Era Takes Over Dress to Impress
This Might Be the Best Brat Collab Yet Just when we thought our favourite digital dress-up game, Dress to Impress (DTI), had reached its peak, they’ve gone and outdone themselves. If you read our recent piece, “The New Era of Digital Dress-Up: How Roblox’s Dress to Impress Captivates a Generation”, you’ll know we’re completely besotted…
The New Era of Digital Dress-Up: How Roblox’s “Dress to Impress” Captivates a Generation
In recent years, many female gamers have found themselves nostalgic for childhood staples like GirlsGoGames and Disney’s Pixie Hollow—once thriving, now long gone. Nearly two decades after its launch, Roblox is keeping the spirit alive, turning outfit creation into a competitive, multiplayer experience.