pantha-ree

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🌬️ⲯ﹍︿﹍︿﹍ ᴏꜰ ᴡɪɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ ﹍ⲯ﹍ⲯ﹍︿﹍☼🌊

“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧.”

- ᴡɪʟʟɪᴀᴍ ꜱʜᴀᴋᴇꜱᴘᴇᴀʀᴇ

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⚔️🐉 𝖌𝖆𝖒𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖇𝖆𝖈𝖐𝖌𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉𝖘🐉🎮

“ʙʟᴏᴏᴅʟɪɴᴇꜱ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ꜱᴛʀᴏɴɢ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴅᴏᴇꜱ.”

- ᴋʏᴏ ᴋᴜꜱᴀɴᴀɢɪ (ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪɴɢ ᴏꜰ ꜰɪɢʜᴛᴇʀꜱ)

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“𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚞𝚙 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝.”

- 𝘗𝘰𝘬é𝘮𝘰𝘯

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𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴. ☕️🫖🍰

“𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘵.”

– ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴏʀᴛᴀ (ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴀɢᴇ, 2019)

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☀️🌅 𝔖𝔲𝔫𝔰𝔢𝔱 🌄☀️

“𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.”

– 𝘌𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘤𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺

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📽️🎮🧃✨

"Life is all about resolve. Outcome is secondary."

– 🅦🅐🅚🅐, 🅞🅚🅐🅜🅘

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“𝙳𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞.”

- 𝚃𝚘𝚋𝚢 𝙵𝚘𝚡.

#2 The Power of Storytelling in Indie Games

Hey there, fellow gamers and creators! 🎮✨

Have you ever played a game that lingered in your thoughts long after the credits rolled? The kind of game where the characters felt so real, the world so immersive, that you found yourself thinking about it while doing the dishes or walking the dog? That’s the power of storytelling in indie games, and today, I want to dive into how these smaller, often overlooked gems are pushing the boundaries of narrative and character development to create some of the most memorable experiences in gaming.

Why Storytelling Matters

Let’s start with the basics: why does storytelling matter in games? Sure, we all love a good action-packed shooter or a fast-paced platformer, but there’s something magical about a game that can tell a story so compelling, so emotionally resonant, that it draws you in completely. For indie games, storytelling isn’t just an add-on—it’s often the core of the experience.

As an indie developer myself, I’ve seen how a well-crafted story can elevate a game from “just fun” to “absolutely unforgettable.” With limited budgets and small teams, indie developers might not have the resources to compete with AAA studios in terms of graphics or scale, but we can focus on what really makes a game stick with you: the story.

Unique Narratives that Break the Mold

One of the coolest things about indie games is how they can explore narratives that might be too risky or niche for bigger studios. In the indie world, you’ll find stories that tackle complex themes like mental health, identity, love, loss, and everything in between. These aren’t just surface-level explorations either—indie games often go deep, offering nuanced takes that resonate on a personal level.

Celeste: On the surface, it’s a challenging platformer about climbing a mountain. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a powerful story about dealing with anxiety and self-doubt. The narrative is woven seamlessly into the gameplay, making every climb not just a physical challenge, but an emotional journey as well.

Night in the Woods: This game explores the struggles of small-town life, focusing on themes of economic hardship, mental illness, and the transition into adulthood. The characters are richly developed, each with their own stories, struggles, and growth. It’s a game that feels more like a slice-of-life novel than a traditional video game, and that’s what makes it so special.

Undertale: This indie hit turns traditional RPG mechanics on their head, offering players a choice between combat and compassion. Its story explores themes of morality, empathy, and the consequences of your choices, all while breaking the fourth wall and engaging with the player directly.

Gris: A stunningly beautiful game that uses its art and gameplay to tell a story about grief and recovery. Without a single line of dialogue, Gris conveys deep emotions through its visuals and mechanics, making it a powerful example of how games can tell stories in unique ways.

Spiritfarer: A game about death, but not in the way you’d expect. Spiritfarer is a cozy management game where you ferry spirits to the afterlife. It’s a touching exploration of loss, friendship, and letting go, with each spirit’s story unfolding as you help them find peace.

Characters That Feel Real

Character development is another area where indie games shine. With fewer resources to work with, indie developers often pour their hearts into creating characters that feel authentic, relatable, and, most importantly, human. These characters aren’t just avatars for the player to control—they’re people (or, you know, anthropomorphic animals) with hopes, fears, and dreams that players can connect with.

In Oxenfree, for instance, the relationships between the characters are central to the story. The dialogue feels natural, and the choices you make shape the characters’ relationships in ways that feel meaningful. It’s a coming-of-age story wrapped in a supernatural thriller, and it’s the characters that make it so engaging.

Connecting with Players on a Deeper Level

At the end of the day, the power of storytelling in indie games comes down to connection. When players see themselves in a character or find a story that speaks to their own experiences, it creates a bond that goes beyond simple entertainment. It’s why games like Undertale have such passionate fanbases—because the story, characters, and choices resonate on a deeply personal level.

As a trans woman and an indie game developer, I’m particularly drawn to stories that explore identity and belonging. Indie games offer a space to tell these stories in ways that are both authentic and impactful. They allow creators like me to share our experiences and connect with players who might be going through something similar.

Wrapping It Up

Indie games may not have the flashiest graphics or the biggest budgets, but they have something that often matters even more: heart. The power of storytelling in indie games lies in their ability to create narratives and characters that feel real, that resonate, and that stick with you long after you’ve put down the controller. So, the next time you’re looking for a game that’ll really make you think (and feel), give an indie title a shot—you might just find your new favorite story.

Until next time, keep leveling up! 🎉👾

[pantha-ree]

“𝙸𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞.”

- 𝙰𝚅𝙸𝚂 𝚅𝚒𝚜𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗

Cancer New Moon Tarot Predictions - All Signs Pt.1 (Aries-Virgo)

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Part 2

What do you need to know for this new moon and what is the energy you should embody for it?

Read your Ascendant/Rising, Moon, and Sun sign as well. Enjoy!

Aries:

Your emotional pain, hurt, sadness, heartbreak and/or mental upheaval regarding a new romantic connection or creative project is valid and seen. Allow yourself to feel and release it with love. All of your emotions have to be felt and not rationalize. You can't avoid experiencing some things, and that is fine because otherwise, how do we leave it behind us?

Just know that no matter how strong this emotional turmoil feels, it is temporary. It will pass, and you will remain. Be strong! You need to embody an energy of self care, and comfort into your life. Whatever you do now, do it slowly, with care, love, and intention. Want a nice meal? do it calmly and nourish your body with good ingredients.

Overall, choose to be alone during this time and rejoice in the peace of your own healing space.

Signs: Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) and Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). Saturn in Libra. Lessons/Kama in romance and relationship.

Taurus:

There is an immense strength that lies within you, but you must see past the illusions and fears of what you do not yet logically understand. Your intuition knows what lies beyond and that by having faith in yourself other matters will become clear at their own timing and pace.

It's almost as if you're afraid of your own hidden powers and abilities to tell when someone or a situation is not what it appears to be. Practice self love by having courage and knowing most of our fears come from within. Do small intuition tests and as you sharpen it positively reinforce it through encouragement if you got it right, and if not, practice compassion.

There is magic within you and your gifts. New beginnings in love and friendships lies ahead, just remember that strength comes from resilience, and you already have it. You got both the tarot AND oracle card of strength appearing, so this will definitely be the energy you'll be embodying during this new moon.

Signs: Water signs (specifically Cancer and Pisces), and Leo.

Gemini:

You'll be receiving sudden information and unexpected situations occuring regarding your finances, work and/or profession. You might realize that something isn't holding up the way it used to anymore, and that it falling apart was to be expected. In the moment it might surprise you and leave you confused, but this is the change you've been craving for a while now.

If we ask for new beginnings then we need to expect for the old things to fall apart to make room for what is coming to stay. You've been needing a more secure foundation, and you already have the experience anyways.

This new moon wants you to embody an energy of accepting the truth and finding peace with it. When we've been in a dark room for too long turning on the light feels frightening because now we see everything that we could easily ignore, but it also illuminates everything that we loved and forgot about. Your passion exists within your skills, craft, and self employment.

Signs: Aries, Scorpio, Sun in Virgo, Mars, and Pluto.

Cancer:

This will be a moment of self reflection and introspection for you about the inner truths of life. You will prefer to stay alone or in solitude during this time. There might be a difficult situation at hand, and instead of trying to party or cook it away, you will want to withdraw from it.

You might feel socially isolated during this time. A situation could lead you with no other option but to walk away. A self isolation that you are choosing, even if you could press on doing otherwise.

It is okay to not want interaction from others and choose to ponder about situations that are calling you to see it from a different perspective. Do not allow it to make you feel stuck though or as if the things you need to sacrifice in order to move forward are the good ones. It is not the time to play victim or avoid accountability!

You have the power to resolve this dilemma, but you won't be able to do so unless you relax and stop trying to control things. Allow yourself to simply exist in your own presence. You have to embody an energy of higher consciousness at this time by allowing yourself to go beyond yourself and your ego.

Under all of that self denial and avoidance there is pain, and you should allow yourself to feel it and name it accordingly. Tend to your wounds softly and gently.

Signs: Virgo, Pisces, Neptune.

Leo:

There is a new fire, passion, creative spark, or exciting awakening coming your way. As if a hunger has been renewed completely. There’s a lot of energy surrounding this situation. You might even be feeling more sexual than usual. Now, make sure you might evaluate and be assertive in order to find the clarity you seek.

Ignore those who might be judging you harshly and trust that there's a reason why you're feeling emotionally excited about any new situation. Trust on the lessons of your past to avoid making a haste decision, but rather from a place of confidence.

Any dishonesty towards this situation will only bring you more obstacles. Destiny and good luck are on your side. You're being guided to embody an energy of having faith that no matter what, you will be okay. Wherever the path may lead you it will have you exactly where you need to be.

You will be enjoying the fruits of your efforts and appreciating your accomplishments as well.

Signs: Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), Scorpio and Pluto.

Virgo:

You will be feeling very energetic, passionate, sexy, independent, and overall optimistic during this time. It is time to bask into this newfound confidence that the new moon is ushering your way.

There's a lot of healing surrounding you at this time and you will feel more attracted to your witchy powers and gifts. The queen of wands is strong within you! You will be accomplishing many tasks and multitasking, which is natural for your mercurial energy.

Also, do expect a lot of sexual energy and appeal during this time. It is advised to release creatively if possible, otherwise enjoy sexy time with a special someone and let loose.

The energy you need to embody is one of good ol' happiness, just experience it, and feel its warmth. The time to take action and proceed with your plan is now, even if it might be a bit anxiety inducing. Less overthinking, and more doing!

Signs: Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), and Aquarius.

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𝕾𝖙𝖗𝖊𝖊𝖙𝖘

„𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙲𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎.“

~ 𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚘

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꧁༺ 𝓢𝔂𝓶𝓫𝓲𝓸𝓼𝓮 ༻꧂

„𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚢, 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍.“ —𝙻𝚊𝚘 𝚃𝚣𝚞

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Wednesdays 🧪🔮✨

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- 𝔰𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔢𝔯.

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. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒸𝒽𝓎 𝓋𝒾𝒷ℯ𝓈 ݁. ݁˖ ݁.⊹₊ ݁.

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𝚙𝚝. 𝙸

𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍..

~ “𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧, 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 - 𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠.”

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🌆🚖 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 🛵🌃

𝙷𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢!

- 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎𝚍. 📻✨

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Saturday is saturdaying. 🪩🍸

[pantha-ree]

„The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a thought-provoking narrative experience from the creators of The Red Strings Club. Featuring a richly diverse cast of characters, Tarot-like card creation, divination, and a branching story that spans time and space, The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood explores themes of identity, community, and personal responsibility in a beautifully hand-crafted universe.“