Survival Is Earned. Chaos Is Documented.
Describe a family member.
The closest thing I have to a family member in my daily routine is my inventory screen. It nags me when I carry too much, reminds me I’m starving, and never forgets that one ruined can of peaches from 20 days ago. Reliable, slightly judgmental, and always there when I need it — basically family.
(We don’t talk about the time I accidentally ate the raw meat.)
[Signal detected…]
Six months ago, I started this little corner of chaos thinking I’d maybe post a few survival stories, get a handful of clicks, and quietly freeze to death somewhere in The Long Dark. Back then, it was just me, a Nintendo Switch, and the idea of documenting how many ways I could die before breakfast.
Since then, the blog’s grown far beyond what I expected — from Switch survival diaries to Steam Deck expeditions, from small guides to full-blown playthroughs and embracing chaos. And somehow, it’s still alive — which feels like a small miracle, considering most blogs don’t make it past the first few months. Hundreds of clicks, countless laughs, and a few subscribers later, I’m still here — fuelled by caffeine and questionable decisions.
So first and foremost — thank you. Whether you’ve clicked, read, liked, shared, or just wandered in wondering how someone can die to a rabbit, I appreciate every single bit of support.
To mark the occasion, I decided to put together a short video. Some of you might’ve thought this would finally be my voice reveal. To that I say… really?
A brief burst of static, gratitude, and one very loud Godpigeon scream. Full credit, of course, to the brilliant Animaniacs team for that glorious noise.
I’ve also quietly launched a Ko-fi page — emphasis on quietly. I didn’t make a big announcement about it because I didn’t want it to feel like a sales pitch. Everything I create will always stay free to read and free to enjoy. That’s a promise.
I know times are tough and not everyone can spare a few pounds — and that’s perfectly fine. Your clicks, comments, and time already mean more than enough. The Ko-fi page is just there for anyone who genuinely wants to toss a tip into the mug to help keep the coffee flowing and the generator humming. Please don’t go overboard; keep the lights on at home first.
Down the line, I might look at adding a few ads on the blog or YouTube channel, but I’ll do my best to keep them minimal and non-intrusive. I’d rather focus on sharing stories and surviving the next storm than filling screens with banners and pop-ups.
There’s still a lot left to explore — new games, new disasters, same portable chaos. I’m excited (and mildly terrified) to see what the next six months bring.
So here’s to six months of frostbite, fuel shortages, and unexpected victories — and here’s to making it a full year of portable chaos. Thank you for being part of this weird, wonderful journey.
[Transmission terminated. Coffee levels: critical.]
“I saw it. It saw me. I screamed louder.”
You know that moment in Subnautica when you realise the ocean doesn’t just want you gone — it wants to make a spectacle out of it? This was mine.
Recorded on Steam Deck, this short captures my first (and very unwanted) close encounter with a Reaper Leviathan. Let’s just say I left the area faster than the PDA could update my vitals — and somehow survived with a sliver of health left.
From: Submerged: A Subnautica Survival Diary – Log 3
Platform: Steam Deck
Series: Survivor’s Shorts
Sometimes survival isn’t about bravery. It’s about panic-swimming in the opposite direction and hoping the monster gets bored first.
What is your favorite form of physical exercise?
Does running from virtual wolves count? Because if so, I’ve clocked enough cardio in The Long Dark to qualify for the Olympics. Real-world me prefers walks — usually with a podcast or just the sound of rain. It’s less “gym grind” and more “calm before the next survival disaster.”
(Exercise is just stealth training with extra steps.)
Platform: Steam Deck |
Apex Predator Rule: Three strikes to start. Only Charles can take them.
Each egg restores one — never more than three total.
My first stop was a house belonging to someone I can only describe as the Pickle Lady. According to her, there’s “one last jar of pickles” hidden deep in her pickle cave. She wanted me to retrieve it, and honestly, the promise of scrap was enough for me to overlook how absolutely unhinged she seemed.
Charles, mercifully, must have agreed—because he didn’t interrupt this one. Maybe even he thought, “Yeah, she’s crazy,” and decided to give me a pass. Pickles retrieved, reward collected, and my sanity mostly intact.
Next up was Sasha, who casually informed me that the Slender Man was also apparently hanging around the island. She’d already collected eight pages and wanted me to grab the next set. Logical, right? Because clearly, one supernatural monster just isn’t enough.
Unfortunately, the universe had other plans. No sooner had I finished talking to her than that familiar whistle pierced the air. Charles. I bolted for my train, but he was faster. The beast blindsided me and shredded my health bar like paper. Charles earns his first win. Two chances left.
Still annoyed—and slightly traumatized—I decided to humor Sasha anyway. I managed to grab three pages before some unseen Slender-like presence told me to “go away.” Quest abandoned. Sanity preserved.
After a quick recovery, I shifted gears and tracked down Santiago’s journal. Delivered it safely—though apparently, I could’ve snooped inside first. Missed opportunities, I guess. My next stop was Eugene’s son, who still believes his father is alive and well on the mainland. I didn’t have the heart to correct him.
He handed me a set of explosives and outlined the island’s master plan: lure Charles onto a wooden bridge, blow it sky-high, and end this nightmare once and for all. It’s a bold plan. Questionable, sure—but bold. I now have the temple key for when it’s time to place the eggs and start the final battle.
As the day closed, I parked the train near a resident’s home rumored to hold another weapon. After my last run-in with Charles, I’m more than ready to upgrade my firepower. Whether or not I get a moment’s peace to actually do it—that’s another story.
For now, I’ve survived long enough to plan my next move. But I can’t shake the feeling that Charles is circling again, waiting for round two.
How much would you pay to go to the moon?
Depends — does the ticket include a return journey and snacks? Because if not, I’m going to need a serious discount. Honestly, I’d rather explore a digital moon first; fewer airlock malfunctions, and I can pause when I inevitably forget my oxygen tank. But if we’re talking real life? Maybe a fiver — provided I can blog about it and call it “The Long Dark: Lunar Edition.”
(Portable chaos, but with zero gravity.)
What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in?
Honestly? A game tester or environmental storyteller. I already spend half my time wandering through digital wastelands, taking notes on how believable the snowdrift physics are or whether a crate makes sense there. Might as well make it official. Either that or something cozy like writing survival guides for people who still get lost in the tutorial.
(Turns out “professional survivor” isn’t an HR-approved title… yet.)
Truck of the Day: Frank (Fleetstar F2070A)
Primary Objective: Complete Steel River Supplies and Riverside Repair tasks
With Frank sporting his brand-new tyres, I couldn’t resist giving him a proper shakedown. Scanning my task list, Steel River Supplies caught my eye. Not only would it send me back to Black River, but it would also let me grab consumables from the farm here in Smithville Dam — a perfect excuse to see how he’d handle water crossings now.
The last time Frank tackled this road, the flooded section was a serious obstacle. This time? Just a mild inconvenience. Consumables loaded, I spun him around and headed for Black River.
Once in Black River, I checked my map. To complete the task, I’d need to drop off consumables, pick up wooden planks, and deliver a fuel carrier trailer. My options:
I chose Option 3. Why? Simple — I wanted to see what Frank could do now. If he’d dragged a large fuel carrier trailer to the warehouse before upgrades, surely he could do even better now.
Plotting my course, I took the same route Scout had previously tackled. It turns out Frank is now amphibious — or at least close enough that he handles water without drama. Good to know.
Reaching the trailer, we looped back toward our starting point. The mud tried to slow us, but with all his upgrades, Frank treated it like an irritating speed bump. No winching, no stalling — just steady progress.
We rolled into the destination without a hitch, dropped off the trailer and consumables, then headed for the lumber mill. Wooden planks loaded, one final short trip sealed the deal. Steel River Supplies completed with minimal hassle and maximum satisfaction. Frank’s test run? A resounding success.
I decide to tackle one more task: Riverside Repair. This would be the ultimate test of Frank’s mud and water handling. As expected, he took on the terrain slowly but steadily. Then I stumbled upon a small trick — if I angled the camera just right, I could see a path under the water. Handy.
Then came the real obstacle: barriers and a sign that read Water Over Road. Understatement of the year — it was a full-on river over the road. Frank pushed through, but the climb on the other side was another story. Thick mud locked him in place. Time passed. Progress was a crawl. I was creeping forward, sliding back, winching, and repeating. Just when I thought Frank was doomed to live here forever, this happened:
Yep, he somehow managed to free himself. I feel like he took that notification as a personal attack. The rest of the journey went off without a hitch, although I made sure to take the long way round back. Once I completed Riverside Repair, I turned off Frank’s engine and celebrated a job well done.
Day 14 | You are here | Day 16 (Coming Soon)
What food would you say is your specialty?
Disaster cuisine. I can turn a “five-minute snack” into a survival episode. Toast that’s just this side of charcoal, pasta that crunches like gravel, and the occasional miracle where something actually turns out edible. Basically, if it can be cooked in a digital campfire pan, I’ll find a way to mess it up first.
(Practice makes progress… or smoke. Usually both.)
What major historical events do you remember?
The ones that made the whole world hold its breath: landers touching down on Mars, images of a black hole, global moments where timelines paused and everyone stared at the same screen. Closer to home, I remember “history” in gaming too — the day saves moved to the cloud, the launch of the Switch and Steam Deck, and those patch notes that quietly changed everything. Big or small, it’s the shared “we were all there” feeling that sticks.
(More small moments that feel big — at Survivor Incognito.)
Survivor Incognito 