Unwinnable Monthly – May 2025
This is a reprint of the letter from the editor in Unwinnable Monthly Issue 187. You can buy Issue 187 now, or purchase a monthly subscription to make sure you never miss an issue!
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Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed last month’s AI theme as much as we did. The cover will haunt my dreams for eons to come.
Our cover feature this month is Jay Weaver on Turbo Kid, the game! Davide Comai provided our rad cover art inspired by the game.
I also clack the keys to muse on the state of independent games criticism.
And now, the regular people doing their regular thing. Elijah Beahm wears an outfit made entirely of hair. Jay Castello plays a game with Diego. Emma Kostopolus starts a cult. Matt Marrone bests Aaron Judge. Natasha Ochshorn talks about a war in the stars. Emily Price plays with fire and hair. Not a good smell. Justin Reeve goes into the mountains, plays with rocks. Levi Rubeck brings the Funeral to his column to chat with Andre Novoa about The Job. Rob Rich is a cop but maybe the best kind? I didn’t like the game and don’t understand why. Pheonix Simms takes solarpunk to a new level. Autumn Wright talks to Jacob Geller.
I also want to call attention to what feels like a massive iceshelf falling into the ocean of our little world. Many of Polygon’s most talented folks were cast off into the sea. It’ll be some time before the dust really settles here but as long as the corporate interest lies in reducing the product to its leanest, least compelling form that can still turn a profit, we will continue to see more and more of our colleagues be sent adrift while owners line their pockets. More to come, but a seismic moment.
If you’re reading this, I know you support independent publications. Thank you. If you want to see more of us, Unwinnable and the like, please make sure you’re sharing, subscribing, gifting and highlighting us. The stars are going out in the sky, the only way we keep the lanterns lit is with your help.
See you all in the next Exploits!
David Shimomura
Chicago, IL
April 11, 2025
