Difference Engine

fetching pixels. . . wrangling NPCs. . . HIT <SPACE> TO START 🕹️ Pop in your cartridges and get ready for the ultimate co-op 🎮 The quest was to create the ultimate multi-medium anthology about video games, and we're so locked in for the twenty-one stories in "Free to Play: A Video Games Anthology". Leading the party are award-winning guest contributors Ken Liu, Erica Eng, Wen-yi Lee, and Alvin Pang, but you best believe that this lineup of creators each bring their own fire to the table 🔥 Expect references to Animal Crossing, Super Mario, Pokémon, Fortnite, Skyrim, and Snake (for those who remember their Nokia days). But whether you've clocked a hundred hours of playtime or have never picked up a controller before, you're welcome to indulge in this critical analysis and celebration of visual culture, virtual third spaces, and figuring out our imperfect reality through immersive, playable online worlds. Preorder “Free to Play: A Video Games Anthology” from differenceengine.sg, wormhole.sg, or Bookshop.org and other major online retailers. All links in bio. — SYNOPSIS Literature as a game. Gaming as literature. How are writers and artists interacting with video games, gaming, and notions of play? Spanning fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, comics, and multimedia works from an international array of emerging and established voices, “Free to Play: A Video Games Anthology” is both a love letter to and a bold exploration of what video games and gaming culture are, and can be. FEATURING “A Seat at Venba’s Table” by Varsha Sivaram “All the Skin(s) You Left Behind” by Sarah Mak (@sarahmakmq ) & Nic Chan (@nicnixniks ) “All the Times I was Dragonborn” by Nuraliah Norasid (@nuraliahnorasid ) “Boys and Girls Across Dead Worlds” by Alex K. Masse (@alexkmasse ) “Dawn of Clarandera” by Meihan Boey (@formidablemisscassidy ) “Don’t Start Without Me” by Kenneth Lam (@kenairplanemode ) “Fast Travel” by Adriana X. Jacobs (axjacobs) “God of War” by Maya Escobar “He is You, She’s For You” by Hana Yaacob (@elsewherehana ) “It’s Dangerous to Go Alone” by Anthony Falleroni (@anthonyfalleroni ) “Less Than Three Stars” by Jack Xi (@jack_xi ) <continued in pinned comment>

It's the anthology cover of our dreams! @d.daddystar ’s cover art for “Free to Play: A Video Games Anthology" is a feast for the eyes and too good not to share 🔥 Stare at it long enough and you’ll hear the clash between swords, smell the waves rushing against a dangerous cliff, see the shadows of strange creatures; the moment of a gamer’s quiet ambition as they meet the unknown destinies that lie ahead when we press play. This is definitely one for the bookshelf. ✨ “Free to Play: A Video Games Anthology” is available for preorder from differenceengine.sg (selected regions only), wormhole.sg, bookshop.org, and other major online retailers (worldwide). All links in bio.

We couldn’t be prouder of “To the Last Gram” and “Tiger Girls”, our 2025 pub babies and now award siblings! 👯‍♂️ ✨”Tiger Girls” — Best Graphic Novel & Best Marketing Campaign ✨”To the Last Gram” — Best Cover Design Both hard-hitting comics with a fierce message behind them, we’re so thrilled for the talented tag-team of Shreya Davies (@shreydavies ), Vanessa Wong (@tradervans ), Felicia Low-Jimenez (@aj_low_writers ), Claire Low (@comatomato ), and book cover designer May Thu (@absorbingblue ) to get the recognition they deserve 🔥 Big congratulations to our creators and thank you to the Singapore Book Awards judges, Singapore Book Publishers Association, and everyone who has supported these comics for making this moment possible! Check out all the other shortlisted titles at @sbpa.sg Grab both comics at differenceengine.sg or check in with your favourite local bookstore. International preorders are available through bookshop.org or other major online retailers (links in bio). #DifferenceEngineSg #DEComics #bookaward #bookstagram

snake on a train Written by Judith Huang (@judtheobscure ) Before Candy Crush and Mobile Legends, commuters on their way to work would be locked in on their Nokia phones playing the iconic mobile game, Snake. Judith Huang’s visual poem captures the enduring tragedy of the pixelated reptile, sentenced to chasing down blips to feed its never-ending hunger. As thumbs fly across the keypad, we can’t help but wonder who actually is stuck in an endless cycle — the snake, or us. ✨ Read Judith’s poems in “Free to Play: A Video Games Anthology”, available at differenceengine.sg (selected regions only), wormhole.sg, bookshop.org, and other major online retailers (worldwide). All links in bio.

IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE Written & illustrated by Anthony Falleroni (@anthonyfalleroni ) Missed treasure. Falling for floor traps. Forgetting that you had a much more effective, super powerful bomb arrow in your arsenal. Your backseat gamer becomes a naggy little voice as you trawl through the dungeon, and sometimes you wish they could keep their “experience” to themselves. But as the game gets tougher, you start to realise that maybe that voice is also an encouragement to keep going, and some adventures are better taken together 💕 ✨ Read Anthony’s comic in “Free to Play: A Video Games Anthology”, available at differenceengine.sg (selected regions only), wormhole.sg, bookshop.org, and other major online retailers (worldwide). All links in bio.

THE WRITER AS GAMER Written by Alvin Pang (@alvinpang ) As a young person finding your way in life, videos games were a portal into different worlds whether it was through building an empire in SimCity or raiding dungeons in World of Warcraft. Using the choose-your-own-adventure format as an analogue to life, making choices, and the many paths taken, Alvin Pang reflects on a creative life logged in game hours, worlds built, and achievements unlocked. ✨ Read Alvin’s piece in “Free to Play: A Video Games Anthology”, available at differenceengine.sg (selected regions only), wormhole.sg, bookshop.org, and other major online retailers (worldwide). All links in bio.

We’re bringing Southeast Asian comics to the city of Chicago! 🏙️ From magical girl stories to thrilling fantasies, we’ve got a whole catalogue of comics at ALA (@americanlibraryassociation )! Find our books at: ✨Publisher Spotlight (Booth 3631) ✨Consortium (Booth 3431) Our 2026 Chicago tour also wouldn’t be complete without hitting up Children’s Institute 2026 (@americanbooksellers )! Grab us for a coffee – we’d love to talk more about comics! If you’re a book reviewer, comics journalist, librarian/educator, bookseller, or comics enthusiasts, book a meeting with our rep at [email protected] 📨 📚 ALA 2026 Annual Conference & Exhibition 25 – 29 June 2026 Find out books at: Publisher Spotlight (Booth 3631) & Consortium (Booth 3431) 📚 Children’s Institue 2026 26 – 29 June 2026 #ALAAC26

DON’T START WITHOUT ME Written by Kenneth Lam (@kenairplanemode ) The low dim of a LAN shop. An online game interrupted by a phone call on dial-up. The hot glow of a CRT television on your face as you blow into your PlayStation memory card hoping to get back a lost world of your invention. Kenneth Lam’s poems are a composite of almost-forgotten memories shared across geographies — ones belonging to a generation of youths who saw themselves mirrored in generations of consoles while ever-evolving technologies clash and emerge in entangled rituals, images, realities, and new intimacies. ✨ Read Kenneth’s piece in “Free to Play: A Video Games Anthology”, available for preorder from differenceengine.sg (selected regions only), wormhole.sg, bookshop.org, and other major online retailers (worldwide).

GET YOUR TISSUES OUT 🥹… for our most wholesome reel yet! It takes a village to raise a child and then another huge leap of faith to support their creative journey as an artist, especially if it means walking towards the unknown. Our first encounter with Nicolette “@wanlingnic ” Lee and her mom Geraldine warmed the cockles of our hearts 💗and we just knew that we had to get them down together for another chat. They’re a true dream team when it comes to navigating life’s detours and making space for each other to be their own person, and everyone needs someone who’ll always be in their corner the same way these two are. Check out Wanlingnic’s comic in “DELAY: A Comics Anthology” available at differenceengine.sg or worldwide on bookshop.org and other major online retailers. 🎵 thoughts by massobeats

BOYS AND GIRLS ACROSS DEAD WORLDS Written by Alex K. Masse (@alexkmasse ) Choose your avatar 👕👖👗 MMO games promised sprawling digital realities, customisable avatars, and a chance to explore being someone else — perfect for a queer kid figuring out the person they want to be and a place to be in. Alex K. Masse maps out their internet life in both time and space, revisiting past selves in the form of avatars, games that have embraced, reckoned with, or rejected their queerness, and the people they have found along the way — including themselves. ✨ Read Alex’s piece in “Free to Play: A Video Games Anthology”, available for preorder from differenceengine.sg (selected regions only), wormhole.sg, bookshop.org, and other major online retailers (worldwide). All links in bio.

GOD OF WAR Written & illustrated by Maya Escobar 📷 Photo credit: Sam Ross It’s in his name: Kratos, God of War, is never without a thirst for blood, weapons of mass disembowelment, or a bare chest. When you’re cuddled up cosy on your couch with your partner though, all of Kratos’ aggro chest-thumping (and a little toxic) masculine bluster starts to seem a bit icky and even a little silly. Through Maya’s humorous and humanising observations, maybe there’s redemption for Kratos yet if we can see past his ⚡️Big God Energy⚡️ and embrace a flawed but endearing side of him as “the deadbeatiest of dads” to his son Atreus. ✨ Read Maya’s comic in “Free to Play: A Video Games Anthology”, available for preorder from differenceengine.sg (selected regions only), wormhole.sg, bookshop.org, and other major online retailers (worldwide). All links in bio.

A whole realm awaits! Take a peek into the world of comics and the people who make them come alive at this year’s Asian Festival of Children’s Content (@afccsg )! Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2026 📆 21–24 May 📍National Library Singapore 🎟️ Tickets available at afcc.com.sg/2026/page/tickets (link in bio) — ✨ SATURDAY, 23 MAY ✨ The Industry of Comics: Views from Around the World Feat. Felicia Low-Jimenez, Difference Engine Publisher and Co-founder 2:30pm – 4pm Motivating Multiliteracies: Comics and Games as Literacy Tools Moderated by DE creator and editor Adan Jimenez 1pm – 2:15pm Writer's Pitch With DE's Publisher/Co-founder Felicia Low-Jimenez and Designer May Thu 5pm – 6pm Make Facts Fun Again: Authors & Illustrators of Children’s Non-Fiction Feat. Darel Seow and Debby Ng, creators of "Marvellous Mammals: A Wild A to Z of Southeast Asia” 5pm – 6:15pm ✨ SUNDAY, 24 MAY ✨ Worlds of Fantasy Comics Feat. "Tiger Girls" illustrator Claire Low and writer of "Afterlife: The Boy Next Realm" Gina Chew 10.30am – 11:45am #AFCC2026 #NLBsg