Malindy Hetfeld

Contributor

Malindy is a freelance writer whose equally torrid love affairs with literature, Japan and Guybrush Threepwood have led to her covering video games.

A snowboarder performing an aerial move where they lift their legs with a tall red traditional Japanese building in the background with stacked overlapping roofs, from the game HYPERyuki.

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How game developers worldwide are reliving Y2K Japan, from Jet Set Radio to Dance Dance Revolution

The makers of Unbeatable, Hyperyuki and Denshattack discuss their influences, from trains and Digimon to music and the Dreamcast

Jan. 17, 2026 Malindy Hetfeld

18 comments

Review

Somerville review: an intimate look at the apocalypse

The sound of Somer.

Nov. 15, 2022 Malindy Hetfeld

9 comments

Review

We Are OFK review: an emotional music biopic that’s a bit too Silicon Valley

Stargazing

Aug. 17, 2022 Malindy Hetfeld

9 comments

Feature

Overthinking Games: an armful of surprises in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Live fast, die twice

April 22, 2019 Malindy Hetfeld

6 comments

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Overthinking Games: Devil May Cry 5 and its tangle of heavy metal influences

Devil may wail on the guitar

April 8, 2019 Malindy Hetfeld

9 comments

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Overthinking Games: the achievable goals of Wobble Yoga

Wobble and fall

March 25, 2019 Malindy Hetfeld

5 comments

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Overthinking games: designing natural beauty in Eastshade

Room with a view

March 11, 2019 Malindy Hetfeld

7 comments

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Overthinking Games: the freedom of communicating in Wandersong

Sing when you're winning

Feb. 25, 2019 Malindy Hetfeld

5 comments

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Overthinking Games: The Banner Saga's banner represents unity rather than division

Make flags, not war

Feb. 11, 2019 Malindy Hetfeld

7 comments

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Overthinking Games: How Moonlighter's inventory combats your greed

I'm saving this potion for when I really need it

Jan. 28, 2019 Malindy Hetfeld

4 comments

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Overthinking Games: Final Fantasy XV's love of food

How Ignis makes you want to experiment with food yourself

Jan. 14, 2019 Malindy Hetfeld

8 comments

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Malindy Hetfeld's 5 best games of 2018

We got Malindy for this first

Dec. 27, 2018 Malindy Hetfeld

8 comments

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The Joy Of meaningful death in The Banner Saga

Death becomes us

Oct. 16, 2018 Malindy Hetfeld

7 comments

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The Joy Of karaoke in Yakuza 0

Kiryu is the best boy

Oct. 10, 2018 Malindy Hetfeld

11 comments

Feature

Mosaic is a narrative adventure about not going to work

Escaping the grind

Sept. 6, 2018 Malindy Hetfeld

10 comments

Review

Wot I Think: The Thin Silence

A mysterious puzzler

May 17, 2018 Malindy Hetfeld

1 comment