Tag: Nintendo Switch Gaming

Isolation Protocol: An Alien Isolation Survival Diary – Log 2: The Jack, the Gun, and the Monster

Isolation Protocol – Log 2: The Jack, the Gun, and the Monster

Difficulty: Medium

Optional Features: Permadeath enabled with the Three Strikes Rule

Alien Deaths: 0/3

“Axel says it’s called surviving. I’m starting to think it’s called ‘dying slower.’”

Sevastopol isn’t a space station anymore — it’s a coffin with too many rooms. The walls groan, the lights flicker, and the floor is littered with suitcases nobody will ever claim. Every corner creaks like it’s considering whether to collapse, and the stench is somewhere between fried wires and unwashed corpses.

Somewhere in this mess, I’ve decided, lies survival. Or at least the tools to fake it.

The Maintenance Jack (Switch Edition)

My first discovery is a vent leading to baggage claim. A shadow darts past, proof I’m not as alone as I thought. Naturally, I follow — because curiosity didn’t just kill the cat, it strapped the cat into a jumpsuit and dumped it on Sevastopol.

That shadow leads me to a morgue. Body bags stacked like leftovers nobody wants. And there, in a nearby room, I finally spot my prize: a corpse clutching the Maintenance Jack. He’s left behind an ID tag and a final audio log, a last will whispered into static. I take both, because apparently, I’ve become a grave robber with a side hustle in identity theft.

The Jack is clunky but glorious. On Switch, it works like this:

  • A: Grab the brace
  • Hold ZL + ZR: Apply elbow grease
  • Left Stick: Yank open the door like you mean it

With this tool, half the station is suddenly my oyster. Unfortunately, the other half is still locked behind plasma torches, ion torches, and my crippling lack of luck.

Enter Axel, Stage Left (Gun in Hand)

Just as I’m getting used to prying open doors like a budget locksmith, I find myself in a cutscene with a gun pressed to my head.

Meet Axel. His opening line is basically “don’t move.” My counter-offer is “please don’t shoot.” Somehow, we agree on a deal: he’ll help me through Sevastopol if he gets a seat on the Torrens. His sales pitch is… intense.

He mentions “a killer” stalking the station, but claims he hasn’t seen it. Which is funny, because I have — in the shadows, in the atmosphere, in the dripping dread that clings to every vent.

Not five minutes later, Axel points his gun at two other survivors. His definition of “nice guy” clearly needs work. The elevator door shuts, they vanish, and I find myself trapped in the world’s most awkward team-up.

Flashlights, Blueprints, and Sneaking 101

Axel hands me a flashlight — finally, something to pierce the gloom. On Switch: Y toggles it. Of course, batteries are rarer than honesty in a card game, so I use it sparingly.

Soon after, he introduces me to Sevastopol’s main sport: sneaking past armed strangers. Axel assures me they’ll kill us if spotted, which I would’ve figured out from the way they pace around with twitchy trigger fingers.

I crouch-walk the whole way, hugging shadows while my heartbeat plays the percussion section of a horror soundtrack. I flick the generator off as a distraction and duck into a vent, holding my breath as one of them passes inches from the grate. My first close call, and probably not my last.

On the plus side: I find a Medkit blueprint. Ingredients: 1 x SCJ Injector, 1 x Compound B, 1 x Bonding Agent, and 10 Scrap. I craft one immediately, because nothing says “confidence” like carrying your own first-aid kit in a death maze.

Death of a Guide

We work together to force open a door. Axel gets jumped. I swing the Maintenance Jack like a baseball bat, knocking the guy back. Axel overreacts with a bullet, which echoes down the corridors like a dinner bell for every hostile in range.

We run, ducking into corridors as voices shout behind us. Axel yells, “This is survival!” I yell, “This is stupid!” Neither of us is wrong.

Then: drip.

A shadow looms overhead. Axel freezes. A tail punctures his chest, lifts him clean off the ground, and throws him like a doll into the darkness. No quips. No bravado. Just silence.

The killer is real. And it spares me — for now.

Transit Terror

Shell-shocked, I stumble into the transit station. The lights flicker, the vents groan, and every sound feels like it belongs to the thing that just gutted Axel.

I hit the call button. The screen tells me the train is coming. I wait.

And wait.

Every second stretches into eternity. My eyes dart between the vents and the shadows, convinced something will lunge at me before the doors hiss open.

When the transit finally arrives, I sprint inside, slam the button, and ride it out toward the Spire. Axel is gone. The Alien is here. And I have never hated public transport more in my life.

Log 2 Key Takeaways

  • Maintenance Jack: Your new best friend (A, ZL + ZR, Left Stick).
  • Flashlight: Y toggles it — conserve those batteries.
  • Medkit Blueprint: Injector, Compound B, Bonding Agent, and Scrap.
  • Not all survivors are friendly. Some are Axel. Some are worse.
  • The Alien has entered the stage. Stealth is no longer optional.
Continue the Protocol:
Log 1 |
Log 2 (You Are Here) |
Log 3
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My First Week with the Steam Deck: Expanding the Portable Chaos

My First Week with the Steam Deck: Expanding the Portable Chaos

“It’s not replacing my Switch — just giving the wolves more ways to find me.”

Back to PC… Sort Of

Once upon a time I had a PC. Then I didn’t. Then the Steam Deck came along, and suddenly all those forgotten Steam library games started whispering: “Play us again. This time you won’t rage-quit… probably.”

The first thing I did? Downloaded Viscera Cleanup Detail. Nothing says “welcome back to PC gaming” like mopping up alien goo while questioning your life choices.

Truck Sim Therapy

After that, I traded my mop for a lorry. Euro Truck Simulator 2 has been my chill-out spot — just me, the open road, and the occasional catastrophic parking attempt. It’s strangely peaceful knowing my cargo can’t eat me (unlike certain survival games).

Game-Hopping, Incognito Style

My first week has basically been a buffet of Steam games:

  • Alan Wake – because why not swap blizzards for shadows?
  • Dead by Daylight – handheld horror on the go, what could possibly go wrong.
  • Elite Dangerous – back to the black, this time from the sofa.
  • Team Fortress 2 – nostalgia and chaos, still alive and kicking.
  • 7 Days to Die – zombies don’t care that I’m handheld now.

I’ve been swapping between them like a survivor looting random cupboards: some junk, some gold, all of it entertaining.

Battery, Docks, and Prime Loot

Do I have a dock? No. Will I get one? Unsure. For now, handheld works fine — especially since the battery life is short, but honestly, I don’t mind. It’s like an enforced survival timer: finish your mission before the Deck keels over.

Also, shoutout to Prime Gaming for handing me freebies like it’s Christmas every week. It makes my library grow faster than I can play it.

A Companion, Not a Replacement

The Steam Deck isn’t stealing my Switch’s crown. My Switch is still home to The Long Dark, Skyrim, and the rest of my survival disasters. But the Deck? It’s a welcome companion — giving me the chance to replay old PC titles, test new survival challenges, and expand the chaos beyond Nintendo’s snowy borders.

Two handhelds. Twice the worlds to survive. Zero guarantees I’ll survive any of them.

Continue the Journey

Survivor’s Camp Hub |
Elite Dangerous Diary |
SnowRunner Permagear Diaries

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SnowRunner Survival: The Permagear Diaries – Day Seven: Mud, Bridges, and Big Dreams


“Sometimes the smallest truck has the biggest heart. And sometimes, Red gets new shoes.”

📜 Series Hub: SnowRunner Survival: The Permagear Diaries Main Hub

🛠 Rules: SnowRunner Permagear Rules

💡 Why Permagear Works: Read the reasoning behind the challenge

Missed Day Six? Find it here.

🛣️ Exploring With Red (and Just a Little Jealousy)

With Pipe Dreams in the rear-view mirror, it’s a well-earned day off for Frank. Today? It’s all about Red. He’s got the boundless energy of a puppy on caffeine and the mud-crawling tenacity of… well, a Scout who’s tired of being second-best.

The target? The wooden bridge task. Along the way, I spot a trailer Red thinks he can handle. He can’t. But you’ve got to admire the ambition.

We reach the bridge and, of course, it needs wooden planks. Frank’s domain. But Red’s not done—he also picks up a SnowRunner throttle upgrade (one for himself and one for Scout). Naturally, Red gets the install. Scout remains benched.

🌊 Mud Wrestling and Watchtower Glory

Tempted to spoil Red with more upgrades, I decide to hold off. Then he earns them. Charging through deep mud and water, Red smashes through the terrain to grab another Watchtower like a tiny, determined hero.

Back to the garage we go—Red gets a roof rack for longer hauls and, most importantly, a tyre upgrade. That’s right: better grip, less slipping, and maximum mud-mashing potential. Watch out, Frank.

🪵 Frank Does What Frank Does Best

Now it’s Frank’s turn. Time to deliver those wooden planks and make that bridge a reality. He follows the same route Red scouted earlier, proving why he’s still the heavy-lifting king.

  • Bridge? Built.
  • Frank? Effective as ever.
  • Red? Flexing in the garage.
  • Scout? Still patiently waiting for relevance.

📍 Next Stop: Smithville Dam

Black River is slowly bending to our will, and tomorrow we head deeper into Michigan—straight into Smithville Dam. There will be mud. There will be breakdowns. But Red’s got new tyres, and morale is high.

🛞 Team Status Update

  • Red: Roof rack, throttle upgrade, fresh set of tyres. Officially a mud-slaying menace.
  • Frank: Old reliable. Still gets the job done. Probably feeling a little upstaged.
  • Scout: Collecting dust. One day, Scout. One day.

📸 Coming Soon

  • Red showing off the new tyres.
  • Watchtower victory shot.
  • Frank delivering planks like a pro.

Want more SnowRunner? Day 8 link coming soon.

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Isolation Protocol: An Alien Isolation Survival Diary – Log 1: Welcome to Sevastopol

Isolation Protocol – Log 1: Welcome to Sevastopol

Difficulty: Medium

Optional Features: Permadeath enabled with the Three Strikes Rule

Alien Deaths: 0/3

“Wake up, get dressed, and then—oh look—Sevastopol is already on fire. Just another day in space.”

I surface from hypersleep mid-dream: Samuels, calm as ever, telling me they might have found my mother. The memory dissolves with the condensation on the pod, and I’m back on the Torrens—groggy, curious, and already bracing for whatever comes next. A quick change (Left Stick to move, L Stick Press to sprint if you’re running late), a polite check-in with Samuels and Taylor, and it’s off to the bridge.

The view outside is a mix of stars, shadows, and the silhouette of Sevastopol Station — our intended destination. We attempt contact, but whoever’s in charge sounds less “welcoming committee” and more “we’re about to collapse into the void.” The Torrens’ captain gives us a 24-hour window before she has to leave. Naturally, the sensible next step is to spacewalk over to the station.

Spacewalk to Disaster

It starts calmly enough… and then part of Sevastopol explodes. Just, you know, explodes. The blast sends Taylor, Samuels, and me flying in separate directions. I lose sight of them immediately. Whether they’re alive or not is a question for later — right now, my only option is to board the station and hope I can make contact with the Torrens.

I make it inside, but not without blacking out first. When I wake, the game politely suggests I “find help.” Thanks for the tip, game.

Arrivals, Departures, and Dust

I strip out of my spacesuit (A to interact when prompted) and begin exploring. The arrivals and departure area is silent — not “space peaceful” silent, but “something is wrong” silent. A detour through a vent (A to climb in, Left Stick to crawl) brings me to a terminal (A to use) with a file explaining the station is being decommissioned. That explains the peeling paint and flickering lights, but not the explosion.

I scavenge what I can — scrap metal, random bits and bobs, anything that looks vaguely useful (A to pick up). The game hands me a flare and tells me how to use it (B to open the radial menu, Right Stick to select flare, ZR to raise it, R to throw). I decide to keep it for emergencies… and then immediately waste it in the next room because the tutorial insists. Lovely.

The Stash and the Strangers

A generator hums back to life under my hands (Tap A three times to crank it like a stubborn lawnmower), and another terminal gives me a code for a stash: 0340. Apparently no one’s bothered to loot it because “nobody goes there anymore.” I file that away for later.

Turning the power on triggers movement — two figures sprint across the room and vanish through a door they promptly lock behind them. Friendly bunch. I give chase, but I’m stopped cold by security glass.

Spotting the Torrens

I reach the passenger lounge, and there she is: the Torrens, still in one piece. All I need now is a way to contact her. Another terminal fills in a few more blanks about the station’s decline, and I even find a new flare to replace the one I wasted earlier. I save my progress (A at an emergency save station, then confirm with A again) — no sense tempting fate.

Next log: with luck, I’ll have more than just a handful of supplies and unanswered questions.

Log 1 Switch Pro Tips

  • Left Stick: Move
  • L Stick Press: Sprint
  • R Stick Press: Crouch
  • ZL: Peek
  • ZR: Raise Motion Tracker
  • A: Interact / Pickup / Save
  • B: Open Radial Menu
  • R: Fire / Throw equipped item
  • D-Pad Up: Open Journal
  • 0340: First stash code — note it down
  • Always save at emergency stations when you can

Continue the Journey

Log 1 (You Are Here) | Log 2

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New Survival Series Begin: Alien Isolation & Elite Dangerous

Two New Survival Journeys Begin This Week

“Because one disaster at a time just isn’t enough.”

This week, two fresh series are launching across the hubs:

Both kick off this week. Keep an eye on the hubs — and as always, expect chaos.

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Sunburnt & Sinking: A Stranded Deep Survival Diary – Final Day

Sunburnt & Sinking: A Stranded Deep Survival Diary – Final Day

Difficulty: Normal
Optional Features: Permadeath enabled (naturally)

“They say the sea is unpredictable. Turns out the real danger was bacon on legs.”

Weather / Loot / Mood

  • Weather: Pre-dawn calm, rising chop mid-crossing, sun blazing by mid-morning
  • Loot: One rock (upgraded into a knife), empty shipping container, one near-death experience
  • Mood: Optimistic → seasick → suspicious → hogged off the mortal coil

Goodbye, Starter Island

I woke before sunrise, sipped the last drips from my water still, and realised food was once again my biggest problem. My emergency coconut stash stared back at me like an unsolvable puzzle — great for hydration, but without a knife, they were just spherical disappointments. The conclusion was obvious: this island had given me all it could, and it was time for me to move on.

Two new islands called from the horizon, their silhouettes promising fresh loot and maybe, just maybe, an edible dinner. I picked one, whispered a fond but brief farewell to my starting island, and began the process of leaving. This was a mistake — not the leaving, but underestimating how much my raft had bonded with the beach.

Raft Wrestling & Ocean Gymnastics

Step one was prising the raft off the sand. The thing behaved like it had signed a long-term tenancy agreement and was not about to leave voluntarily. Once I freed it, I faced my next foe: the paddle, which seemed determined to stay attached like a stubborn remora. Then came the ocean itself.

Within minutes, my crossing turned into an impromptu extreme sport. I capsized more times than I care to admit, each time righting the raft while muttering things not suitable for a survival diary. The swell toyed with me, and every few waves I was convinced I’d see a shark fin break the surface. But eventually, the new island came into focus — and with it, signs of potential treasure. A red shipping container sat on the shore, while offshore, a wooden pole jutted out of the water. Wreckage? Supplies? Or just an elaborate distraction?

New Shore, New Knife, No Loot

Landfall came with an overwhelming sense of relief. First priority: tools. I grabbed a rock, worked it into a knife, and set out to investigate the shipping container. The excitement lasted right up until I swung the door open to reveal… absolutely nothing. No food, no tools, not even decorative debris. My mood sank faster than my raft had earlier that morning.

Still, the island was bigger than it first appeared, with palm trees casting long shadows across the sand. Somewhere out here, there had to be food. Or at least something less likely to stab me in the stomach than my own hunger.

The Hog Strikes Back (…Twice, Actually Thrice)

That’s when I saw it: a hog. Large, broad-shouldered, and wearing the kind of expression that suggested it already hated me. Before I could take a step back, it charged — no hesitation, no negotiation, just a blur of tusks and fury.

Desperation kicked in. I fought back with my newly crafted knife, scoring a few hits before it bolted into the undergrowth. Victory? Not quite. As I turned to check my surroundings, I spotted a snake winding its way across the sand. Excellent — protein! I lunged, only for the hog to return for round two. We clashed again, my health dropping with each collision.

By the time round three began, I was already bleeding and winded. I’d love to say I managed a heroic counter, but the truth is the hog bowled me over like I was nothing more than driftwood in its path. The world went dark, the game flashed its verdict, and my save was gone. Just like that.

Epilogue: Lessons from the Hog

So ends my Stranded Deep run — three days according to the game, four by my own count. I learned a lot: coconuts are useless without a knife, rafts are stubborn, and hogs are nature’s way of telling you to keep your distance. It was a short ride, but fun. Next time, maybe I’ll survive long enough to cook that bacon instead of becoming it.

Continue the Journey

Day 1 |
Day 3 |
Final Day (You Are Here)

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Survivor’s Dread Hub + Rules of Survival Updates

Hub & Rules Updates – Survivor’s Dread and Beyond

Two big refreshes: the Survivor’s Dread hub gets a makeover with clickable images and new content, and the Rules of Survival page is sharper, broader, and now includes Day One Diaries.

Survivor’s Dread Hub Refresh

The horror corner of Survivor Incognito has had a makeover. The Survivor’s Dread Hub is now cleaner, more visual, and easier to explore:

  • Clickable images: Each series hub can be entered directly by tapping/clicking the banner images.
  • Subnautica added: While not strictly survival horror, leviathans in the dark absolutely qualify as “horror-adjacent.”
  • Cleaner sections: Each series now has its own block with a blurb so you can jump straight in.
  • Coming soon: Future plans include Resident Evil, Metro Redux, and more Switch-friendly nightmares.

Check out the updated Survivor’s Dread hub →

Rules of Survival Page Updated

The Rules of Survival (According to Me) page also got a major refresh. It now serves as the central rulebook across all my permadeath runs and diaries, and includes:

  • Day One Diaries rules: One day, one shot. Added with a link to the Day One Diaries Hub.
  • Expanded series add-ons: Grounded, Stranded Deep, Subnautica, Alien: Isolation, Dredge, Skyrim, The Long Dark, and SnowRunner all have their own entries.
  • Streamlined global rules: Now strictly focused on in-game survival, with practical, Switch-friendly allowances.

If you’ve ever wondered what invisible rulebook guides my permadeath chaos, this is the place to look.

See the updated Rules of Survival page →

Why This Matters

These refreshes make the site easier to navigate, clearer for new readers, and a stronger foundation for the survival chaos to come. Whether you’re following the horror diaries or the more traditional survival runs, you’ll know exactly what rules I’m following, what’s changing, and where to dive in.

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The Great Blog Refresh – Survivor Incognito Gets a Full Update

Site Update: The Big Refresh

It’s cleanup time at Survivor Incognito. Every single post and page is getting updated—tightened navigation, consistent formatting, proper “previous/next” links, and some extra polish where needed.

The good news? SnowRunner, Subnautica, The Cold Chronicles, Day One Diaries, and Stranded Deep are already fully refreshed. Those series now have smooth navigation, consistent style, and zero dead-end links.

The rest are next in line. If you stumble into a post mid-update and the links feel a bit… chaotic, just know it’s all part of the process. Order will be restored soon.

Why this matters:

  • Better flow for binge-reading entire series.
  • Consistent formatting across the site.
  • Quick access to hub pages and related guides.

So if something suddenly looks cleaner or has a shiny new link, that’s me in the background, doing the digital equivalent of tidying camp before nightfall.

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New Page Alert – Subnautica Survival Guide Now Live!

Attention survivors – your underwater playbook has arrived!

The brand-new Subnautica Survival Guide is now live on Survivor Incognito, packed with everything you need to go from panicked paddler to confident deep-sea explorer. Whether it’s your first day swimming out of the lifepod or you’re gearing up for an Aurora run, this guide covers it all – from must-have early tools to predator evasion tips and base-building advice.

We’ve even included:

  • A quick-reference predator list (because sometimes you just need to know if the big shadow is going to eat you).
  • Switch control table so you can stop pressing the wrong button when panic sets in.
  • A linked map hub for finding resources without wandering into Leviathan territory by “accident.”
  • A quick start card for Days 1–3 priorities.

If you’re starting fresh in Subnautica – or just want to survive without becoming lunch – this page is your new best friend.

🌊 Read the full Subnautica Survival Guide here

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🛠 Something Big Is Brewing

A quick update post from me.

Behind the scenes, I’m working on something… complicated. It’s going to take time, screenshots, formatting, and far too many tables. Possibly a mild headache or two.

I’m not saying what it is. Not yet. But if you’ve followed the blog for a while, you’ll probably guess. It involves survival. It involves chaos. It may or may not involve dead livestock and unsafe generators.

Content might slow slightly while this gets stitched together, but regular playthroughs will continue soon.

Until then, stay sneaky. And maybe don’t blow any skill checks near me.

— Survivor Incognito

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