Pixelated Playgrounds

In this episode, Bryan and Josh dip their toes into the idle/incremental game space! Three idle games have been chosen: Universal Paperclips, SPACEPLAN, and (the) Gnorp Apologue. All are quite different manifestations of the idle/incremental game and each has its own strengths and unique offerings to explore. Universal Paperclips (2017) was created by Frank Lantz of New York University and has been acclaimed as one of the best of the genre. It features a unique retelling of the paperclip maximizer thought experiment. SPACEPLAN (2017) was developed by Jake Hollands and published by Devolver Digital and features striking visuals and a relaxing synth-heavy soundtrack. Finally, (the) Gnorp Apologue (2023) is the game that spurred the conversation on idle games to begin with and as its description states: “is a game where you help small beings called gnorps get rich”. Its also quite visually interesting any layers in some unique ‘management game’ style mechanics. So listen in while Bryan goes to make some dinner and Josh stares with wrapped attention at his computer screen and they jointly put together their thoughts on this varied and interesting genre. Three Word Reviews: Universal Paperclips: Bryan - Existential Thought Experiment / Josh - An Argument Against SPACEPLAN: Bryan - Perfect Entry Point / Josh - Waiting for Story (the) Gnorp Apologue: Bryan - Prestige Incremental Management / Josh - Spectacle, Strategy, Screensaver

Aspiring linguist Josh and professional guess-and-checker Bryan recently made their way up the tower featured in 2023’s indie puzzle game Chants of Sennaar! Along the way they marveled at the game’s superb use of color, clever language puzzles, and occasionally regrettable use of stealth mechanics. At its heart, Chants of Sennaar is a game about culture and communication, so what better way to celebrate this wonderful game than through an in depth discussion about its design, themes, and artistry. Listen in as Josh and Bryan decipher the secrets of the Tower and make their way to the top of the class in 5 different (completely fictional) languages! Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Stratification, Translation, Unification Josh - Language as Playspace

Isometric Games’ Tunic, released in 2022, is a game that delivers stronger than almost any other title on the promise of a genuine feeling of discovery. From you moment that you are dropped onto the isometric, flat color-shaded beach with nothing but the ethereal soundtrack by Lifeformed and Janice Kwan to keep you company, you are expected to start exploring. To start learning about the game’s various rules, systems, and secrets… because the game will not teach you about any of them itself! Tunic a modern title focused on the early 90’s idea of learning about a game through playground rumors and half understood foreign instruction manuals. Its a game that rewards looking beyond what’s immediately apparent on the screen and experimenting with every suspiciously placed object. On top of all of that, Tunic is also a formidable isometric combat experience. So squeeze through that secret passage into your Chamber of Podcast Listening and join Bryan and Josh for a spoiler-filled discussion of Tunic and its incredible in-game instruction manual! Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Game about Gaming Josh - Lost and Found

Climb to new heights with Josh and Bryan as they ascend the tower, learn its history, and rediscover a love of climbing while playing Jusant! Developed by the narrative powerhouse studio, Don’t Nod, Jusant puts the player in the shoes of a lone wanderer who must ascend a desolate tower filled with remnants of a civilization long past with only their little blue blob buddy and an endless endurance for gripping hard surfaces. Its a truly majestic game, from the vistas afforded as you look back on your progress to the sweeping soundtrack, and both Bryan and Josh enjoyed every minute of their trek up the tower. So grab your rope and climbing spikes and join in for a journey up the tower in Jusant! Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Lesson in Patience Josh - To New Heights

In this episode Bryan and Josh cover The Witness from Jonathan Blow… sort of. Actually they cover The Looker, which is a loving homage/scathing satire of Blow’s game and at the price of Free and the runtime of about 60 minutes, comes highly recommended by the guys. Good satire is hard to find and that is doubly so in the video game sphere, but developer Bradley Lovell hits the mark with The Looker which is just packed with jokes both written and mechanical. Listen in as Bryan and Josh do their best to not just repeat their favorite jokes. Warning: Spoilers for the Witness abound! Three Word Reviews: Bryan - More Gaming Satire Josh - Don’t Look Down

Join Bryan, Josh, and Clint for a journey through the Forgotten Realms as they cover the breakout D&D simulation CRPG, Baldur’s Gate 3! Larian Studios has a long history with RPGs but in 2023 they outdid themselves to create what many considered to be 2023’s Game of the Year. Despite a time gap of over 20 years since the last entry, Baldur’s Gate 3 holds true to what made the originals special while adding in a healthy dose of modern convenience and quality of life for the 5th Edition outing. So gather your party and listen in as Clint joins in for the finale of the journey Bryan and Josh started back at the beginning of 2023 as our book club adventuring party discusses Baldur’s Gate 3! Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Larian’s Legendary Legacy Josh - A Translation Perfected Clint - Isometric RPG Resurgence

In this episode Josh and Bryan play the aggressively random, and often unbeatable “Immersive Sim for People Who Hate Immersive Sims”, Mosa Lina by Stuffed Wombat. Its a unique experience that markets itself as a response to the current trend of Immersive Sim design, where abilities are often part of a "Lock and Key" system, where every ability is a tool that is meant to overcome a single type of problem. Mosa Lina’s randomness guarantees that the player will need to make use of whatever tools are currently at their disposal to retrieve (or destroy) their target and return to the start. Its a brave experimental approach that speaks not only to the developer’s design ethos but also to their commitment to the goal of the project. So join Josh and Bryan as they struggle, sometimes helplessly, to surmount the challenges and discuss the merits of Mosa Lina! Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Relax and Resolve Josh - Spirit of Play

What do you get when you cross the mechanical sensibilities of a casual MMO / mobile game developer with the aesthetics and charm of an indie game studio, then top it off with a dash of abnormally high production value? In the case of Dave the Diver, it is a tasty frozen cocktail of relaxing, tropical fun! For this podcast, Josh and Bryan retire to the tropics and try their hand at sushi restaurant operation / scuba diving. The publisher of several MMO megahits, Nexon, tried their hand at a casual game and took the gaming community by storm in 2023. Listen in as Bryan and Josh do their best to roll up what makes this potent combination of fishing, restaurant management, and undersea adventure a game worth diving deep into. Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Deeper Restaurant Sim Josh - Deep Sea Stardew

I think most people knew we were in for something special with the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but I don’t think anyone quite realized how special. Navigating a six-year-long development cycle that included a pandemic, the Zelda Team has once again ascended to new heights (and new depths) to bring the world an astonishing follow-up to the beloved Breath of the Wild. Keeping the same sense of exploration and discovery while flexing their narrative muscles in new ways, Tears of the Kingdom keeps what made predecessor great while bringing in new and compelling ideas for the Zelda series. Hyrule has never been more alive or more familiar, and yet somehow it feels completely novel at the same time. So join Bryan, Josh, and Clint as they build themselves a makeshift podcasting vehicle and launch into a discussion of the mechanical, narrative, and thematic aspects of what made Tears of the Kingdom truly shine. Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Ascending, Despite Everything Josh - Against All Odds Clint - It Finally Clicked Show Notes: Playing with Nature: On “Tears of the Kingdom” as Ecofiction Eiji Aonuma, Zelda’s mastermind, is at the peak of his power - The Washington Post Making Tears of the Kingdom: Inside The Legend of Zelda's finest hour

Bryan and Josh were feeling a bit nostalgic and with the recent re-release of the Sonic classics through Sonic Origins, so they decided to revisit an old favorite: Sonic and Knuckles 3! Actually two games released months apart in the same year, this one-two punch of 90’s mascot platformer mayhem put a smile on both of their faces as they recalled the joy of going fast, the frustration of running into hidden spike traps, and the universal understanding that playing as Tails is “Little Brother Mode”. So put on your hammer pants and lace up your bright red sneakers, its time for a brisk run with Bryan, Josh, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles! Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Nostalgic Sensory Overload Josh - A Personal Best Show Notes: Tower of Power Insaneintherainmusic’s Jazz Arrangement of Hydrocity Zone

In the 20+ years since its release, many would consider Baldur’s Gate 2 to be the pinnacle of the CRPG genre. Widely recognized as having laid the groundwork for Bioware’s future endeavors in the RPG space with Mass Effect and Dragon Age, Baldur’s Gate 2 stands tall to this day with its innovative scenario design, immersive and complex world building, and engaging (if sometimes overly complex) implementation of 2nd Edition Dungeons and Dragons combat. Bryan has been through the streets of Athkalta before, but Josh joins him for another trip to the Forgotten Realms as they both continue their year of Baldur’s Gate, and ready themselves to close out the trilogy. Its worth mentioning that the inclusion of Throne of Bhaal as an expansion turns this into a game that can easily push into 100 hour territory, so please enjoy this relatively brief tour of what this CRPG classic has on offer. Now gather your headphones, and venture forth! Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Masterpiece Meets Micromanagement Josh - An Era Defined

Dome Keeper is the genre mash up of Mining Game and Tower Defense that Bryan and Josh did not know they needed! Beneath the elegant elevator pitch and striking visual style exists a game that is truly a diamond in the rough. Created by Dresden-based indie game company, Bippinbits, Dome Keeper is their second commercial outing and first to break out on steam in a big way. By crafting a compulsive and immersive game loop that relies on shuttling back and forth between an alien-world mine and the laser-equipped dome you used to defend it, the team has created one of the finer ‘one more round’ experiences the guys can remember in their collective rogue-lite experience. Listen in as Bryan and Josh dig deep to bring you a discussion of Dome Keeper’s mechanics, aesthetics, and the precise engineering that makes it more than the sum of its parts. Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Extractive Addictive Unexpected Josh - Once More, Descend

The Last of Us Part 2, Naughty Dog’s follow up to the critically acclaimed The Last of Us, is a challenging game that tells a challenging story about many challenging topics. It’s well known that the game’s director Neil Druckmann said “If The Last of Us was about love, then its sequel is about hatred.” The game asks the player to introspect in ways that most games don’t, and takes bigger swings, while making bolder narrative choices than almost any project of similar scope and budget. Far from being a straightforward revenge story, The Last of Us Part 2 puts you in the shoes of a new protagonist for fully half of its runtime and expands both mechanically and narratively on its predecessor. The game received a lot of criticism during its release for… so many things, but going back a few years later Bryan and Clint are hoping to come at this game with relatively fresh eyes. So join in as they discuss the narrative beats that make this a unique entry in the AAA landscape, and try to understand better what makes this tale of revenge, empathy, and forgiveness a game for the ages. Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Hatred and Forgiveness Clint - Stop the Hate

Mr. Saitou is a beautiful and brief slice of life game with a charming world and even more charming characters. The success of its light-hearted tone is, however, underwritten by the seriousness of its premise. Mr. Saitou, is a salaryworker. He toils away in front of a computer screen for all hours, goes out for a meal he’s too tired to consume, and stumbles home in a tired, drunken stupor. Next thing we know, he’s collapsed and we’re in a hospital. After meeting a young boy named Brandon in his hospital room, he learns about a fictional character the kid has drawn named Mr. Saitou: a llamaworm who works an important job making buttons for the tunnels that other llamaworms traverse. After waking up in the dream-world of the llamaworms, Saitou and Brandon set off on a journey to the crystal caverns. Mr. Saitou, its worth noting, is a sidequel to another game, Rakuen, both of which were created by game developer and singer-songwriter Laura Shigihara. Three Word Reviews: Bryan - The Little Things Josh - Llamaworm Looking Glass Clint - Lackluster Llama Drama

In 2013 the Indie gaming scene was going strong and interesting projects were everywhere… if you knew where to look for them. This was a time before the widespread population of indies on Steam, and as such many projects were less commercial in nature. One such project, that eventually went on to be a finalist for the Excellence in Design award at the 2013 Independent Games Festival was Starseed Pilgrim. On the surface it is a Pixel art Puzzle platformer, under the surface it is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, sprinkled with intrigue and vague snippets of poetry. The crux of the experience of playing Starseed Pilgrim is figuring out just what Starseed Pilgrim is asking you to do. So join Josh and Bryan as they simultaneously cultivate a symphonic block garden and repeatedly fail to make meaningful progress, but still have fun - and many revelations - along the way. Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Bridge Too Far Josh - Path Not Taken Josh will be speaking at Roguelike Celebration 2023

In August of 2023 Josh released another game! Within a Dead City is a tiny ‘Majesty-like’ with a striking color palette and a moody vibe. For those that haven't played Majesty, the crux of the game is you hire a group of heroes (that you do not directly control, but can influence via bounties and spells) in order to explore the land and eradicate the local fauna (aka monsters). Within a Dead City puts its own spin on this idea placing you in charge of a guild tasked with exploring a long abandoned city. While auto-battlers have come more into vogue in recent years, the combination of these ideas with a lightweight strategy/4x game creates a unique and compelling loop. Its a lovely little package and executes well on providing a quick hit of 'kingdom management' you can play easily over a lunch break. As is tradition, Bryan took an opportunity to interview Josh on the process of creating the game, the lessons learned, and knowledge gained in his first launch working with a publisher. Thanks for listening and rest assured we will be back in the next few weeks with our regularly scheduled programming. Show Notes: Within a Dead City - Steam Page Majesty Gold - Steam Page Tiny Mass Games LoSpec Color Scheme - Oil 6 Kenney Assets

Last Epoch has been in Early access since 2018, a snowball of an ARPG, slowly gathering steam as it descends the mountain to eventually rest at the side of some of the all time great hack and slash RPGs. Bryan and Josh have both played a fair few of what they hoped would be the ‘successor to Dialbo II”, and most (all?) have come up short. But Eleventh Hour Games’ Kickstarter game turned long-term project is making a run for the crown. Boasting some innovative mechanics, a novel world design concept, and some extremely entertaining, if familiar, classes to play with, Last Epoch plows through a lot of the problems that most games in this genre run headlong into. Not satisfied with smashing into the brick wall of similarity, its a title that forges some interesting new paths for the genre, and does so on the back of being a single player experience for the first four plus years of its development cycle. Listen in for Bryan and Josh’s time travelling exploits in the world of Eterra, but stay for the in-depth discussion of what makes a great hack and slash game stand the test of time. Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Crafty Dungeon Crawler Josh - Respect the Respec Show Notes: Josh’s 2020’s GOTY List Feat. Last Epoch

In this episode Josh and Bryan take to the high seas in 2023’s breakout debut from Black Salt Games: Dredge! The potent combination of fishing simulator and Lovecraftian horror had them instantly hooked and eager to explore the Marrows and its surrounding environs (as well as their capacity to generate fishing related puns). Dredge’s light, yet effective touch with storytelling and its subtly creepy atmosphere make it an easy recommendation for anyone who is interested in what it means to quickly put your players in a specific Mood. Aside from this the mechanics offer a simple and compelling loop that keeps the player on the line for the game’s entire runtime. So grab your rod and reel and join Bryan and Josh as they discuss what makes Dredge one of 2023’s most prized catches. Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Hooked on Horror Josh - Mood Over Mechanics

Join Josh and Bryan as they navigate through a wide sampling of the historical events, political intricacies, military conquests, and fascinating narratives that Europa Universalis IV has to offer. Paradox’s magnum opus grand strategy game has you inhabiting different nations and experiencing their unique circumstances as you navigate the political landscape of Europe (and beyond) from 1444 to 1821, during the emergence of the nation-state. So grab your virtual map, prepare your armies, and get ready to dive into the captivating world of Europa Universalis IV. Whether you're seeking strategic advice from relative veteran, Josh, or simply looking to share in Bryan’s perspective as a relative newcomer, the crew is here to discuss what it takes to conquer new horizons and forge your own historical legacy in the EU4. Three Word Reviews: Bryan - Historical Guided Tour Josh - By Other Means Show Notes: A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry - Teaching Paradox

In this episode, Josh and Clint receive their owls and set off to achieve their destiny in the Wizarding World with Hogwarts Legacy. Sadly, Bryan, a lowly muggle (and new father of 2 at the time of recording) could not make it for this one, but listen in as Josh and Clint uncover the secrets, spells, and adventures that await players at Hogwarts. Josh and Clint have a long history with the Harry Potter world as fan of the books and go in depth on the world-building, spellcasting system, and the vast open-world environment that provided an excellent sense of exploration and discovery. So grab your wand, put on your robe, and listen in as Josh and Clint explain what makes Hogwarts Legacy a magical experience. Three Word Reviews: Clint - A Magical Experience Josh - A Legacy Fulfilled