Inside (me)
In recent months, I’ve been making a concerted effort to reconnect with the world of video games—a phrase that might make some smile, but let me explain. Back in 1999, when I made the definitive switch from Windows to Linux, I also bid farewell to gaming. As a devoted Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast, I had fallen in love with Diablo and, later, its much-criticized expansion Hellfire, where I played as the Monk. A few years later, my aunt gifted me a PlayStation 2, and I dabbled in Kingdom Hearts. However, I quickly lost interest. That was a difficult period in my life, marked by my first major bout of depression, and I couldn’t even find solace in gaming. As the saying goes, the first time is never forgotten.
Recently, I rediscovered the joy of gaming, thanks to an Italian creator, Phenrir, whose work I discovered through her review of the TV series The Man in the High Castle. I started with a few indie games—To the Moon, Machinarium, Nocturnal, The Bridge, Swapper, and Sheepy. Then, through recommendations and the ever-reliable Steam (bless it!), I stumbled upon a game that left me utterly breathless: Inside. Released in 2016 and developed by Playdead, this game features a minimalist yet profoundly impactful narrative.