Please note, I am primarily a Linux user. I only really game on Windows. So while I hope everything I recommend here will work on Windows I cannot guarantee it.
I would recommend anyone who uses Windows to switch to Linux for any sensitive work you are doing due to the way Microsoft is putting AI into everything these days.
Writing
One recommendation I have is when you are looking for software and services to save your writing to avoid anything proprietary. I have lost work in the past due to a program I used no longer being made and not being able to access the contents in their proprietary file storage due to encryption. I now stick with text only formats like markdown.
Do not trust places like google docs. You cannot back up your work, those “files” are just id links to where they store your work in a database somewhere. You have no actual files you can back up somewhere else when using google drive.
Text Editors
WritersGrove.net: A personal project creating a place for authors with top of the line writing tools
Obsidian: Great markdown based editor. Supports dark mode and plugins. Can be used for free.
Backup
Github: Great for more than programming, a perfect place to store your writing and even track versions of it.
Dropbox: Dropbox is a great place to store your work
Google Drive: Only if you store your markdown files directly, do not use Google Docs.
AWS S3: Not for beginners but if you use AWS already this is a nice way to store your work securely. Much more private than the other options.
Programming
Neovim: My favorite Editor. This is what I use for personal and professional projects. My Neovim Config
VSCode: What I used until the Mustache Man convinced me to switch to NeoVim.
Game Development
Ebitengine: Best in class in my opinion. I love Go as a programming language. I would use this if it had better SteamWorks support out of the box. When I am doing game dev I do not want to build my own tooling, I do enough of that at work.
MonoGame: Awesome 2D game engine if you don’t care about web deployments.
Godot: What I would recommend for anyone getting into game dev.
Game Maker Studio: Never used but the pirate man often recommends it.
Love and Lovr: Great Lua based frameworks
Art
Piskel: Free online pixel art app
Aseprite: My favorite pixel editor.
Tiled: Great level editor if you are using a code based framework.
This list may grow over time, or contract, as I change the software I use and find new software.