Vic Kostrzewski

#7: “Canabalt”: on frustration

You run, you jump, but you can’t out-run or out-jump your fate. A reassuringly simple metaphor, or a frustrating dud? You decide. About the game It’s hard to tell who you are – there’s no backstory. You’re thrown right in the middle of the action.…

#6: “Frostpunk”: on doing more with less, squeaky bum time, and crossing the line

“Frostpunk” is cold and claustrophobic. It gives you a handful of options to play with, a steep learning curve, and some cruel certainties. But then… why is it so damn good?! About the game You are “the Captain”, and you lead a crew of refugees who…

#5: “The Incredible Machine”: on silliness, sandboxes, and consequences

Hopefully, every generation has its Minecraft; this was mine. I’m still as amazed at this game as I was back in the 1990s. About the game Do you remember seeing Rube Goldberg machines in your cartoons when you were growing up? What if there was a way…

#4: “Adventures with Anxiety”: on danger, language, and what self-reflection can really mean

There are two wolves in you. No, wait, just one. No – maybe not a wolf? The wolf is you? Anxiety’s the wolf? Ah, look: this little game will help you make sense. About the game “Adventures with Anxiety” is a text adventure about a human and their…

#3: “Zwift”: on power, motivation, and going through the motions

To dedicated cyclists or runners, Zwift is a valuable training tool; to others, it may be little more than a gimmick, or Peloton’s cheaper relative. So what’s the appeal, really? About the game Cycling and running sucks in the winter. It may be OK…

#2: “Eve Online”: on multiplayer, economy, and messy problems

The vast space systems of Eve Online may be imaginary – but the players, the risks, the money and the drama are very real. About the game You are a capsuleer – one of humanity’s lucky few, evolved and engineered so that your consciousness gets…

#1: “Sable”: on low stakes, representation, and lines of escape

Sparsely and thoughtfully written, a joy for the eyes and ears, and a gentle gem of a world to explore: “Sable” is a low-stakes, meditative game I didn’t know I needed. About the game You are Sable – a young girl who is preparing to leave her home…

Category: 100 games, and what they taught me

I am an editor, author, translator and teacher based in the UK. I am always looking to get involved in new projects. My areas of expertise: ELT publishing – print and digital Language learning Translation – POL-ENG-POL, non-fiction Editorial project…

10 things I’m thankful for, this #InternationalMensDay

This is a Thanksgiving + International Men’s Day crossover post, and I’m writing it for myself: to remember and celebrate the things which made life better for me this year. Will they work for you? Will they inspire you to make a similar list, or…

Nine things I learned about Mastodon – what is it, why should I try it, and how do I begin?

As I write these words, the amount of people on my Mastodon instance reaches the magic number: 100K. Our admin closes the sign-ups, and switches the instance to invite-only, then upgrades the servers – again. “Houston, we’re holding up pretty well so…

Launching today: “Computational thinking for everyday life”

It gives me great joy to share my latest course with you today. “Computational thinking for everyday life” is now available for download in the Punk Learning shop, on a pay-what-you-can basis. What is the course about, and why should you care? Read…

Launching today: “Computational thinking for everyday life”

It gives me great joy to share my latest course with you today. “Computational thinking for everyday life” is now available for download in the Punk Learning shop, on a pay-what-you-can basis. What is the course about, and why should you care? Read…

How to un-learn a language

When things in our lives no longer “spark joy”, the advice we’re given is to thank them for their service and send them on their way. It works for old DVDs and unwanted clothes – but will it work for languages? “This is the oppressor’s language yet I…

How to live, and learn, in the future

Hint: it ain’t what it used to be. This short essay starts with a personal story and ends with some thoughts about learning, and learning design. Along the way, I’m going to talk about metaverse, tabletop card games, and nostalgia. I’m writing this…

My top 10 titles of 2021

As this year finishes, I’m doing the usual – wrapping up my projects and thinking about how it all went. I’m tempted to write a more bitter post, I really am. Instead, I choose to talk about the good things. Here are ten titles – books, films,…

This is not the Metaverse you’re searching for

It’s so easy to get mad at Meta and Mark Zuckerberg. The tough bit comes later, when it’s time to articulate the things I’m actually mad about. After all, the Metaverse is coming – isn’t this what I always wanted? My answer, for the time being, is a…

How to (accidentally) create brilliant educational videos: Example, analysis + timestamps

The greatest educational video I saw this year didn’t come from a university department or a school. It wasn’t even created by an instructional designer. In the age of YouTube and TikTok, when every second of our attention counts more than ever, I…

5 Tips for Learning a New Language in Your 40s and 50s

It’s often been said that learning a foreign language as a child has the greatest chance of success. But what if you want to start later? Here are five tips for older language learners. 1. Start Simple with Memrise and Duolingo – two great language…

Extended book review: “How to Change” by Dr. Katy Milkman

Sometimes, you don’t really come seeking knowledge from a book. Some books are valuable for telling you what you already know, but in a new, more powerful way. And some are to be cherished for the way they bring common knowledge together, and for the…

#NationalFreelancersDay special – six books that helped me go freelance in 2021

Maybe I’d like to say that deciding to go freelance this year was a spontaneous decision – maybe I’d like to have a “eureka” story to tell at parties. But things are rarely scripted this neatly. Today is National Freelancers Day – my day, as of 3…