The Short Game

Dive into a meditative archery game merging ancient rituals with modern mechanics. Experience the weight of community wishes as players navigate a vibrant island setting. Discover emotional dilemmas presented through unique gameplay, where decisions significantly impact characters’ narratives. Enjoy nostalgic family game nights with adjustable challenges in titles like Shredder's Revenge. The hosts also tackle digital clutter and social media overload, offering tips for a more intentional online experience.

Dive into the world of 'Expelled', where unexpected plot twists and rich character arcs take center stage! Unravel the transformation of Verity, who shifts from protagonist to villain. Explore quirky gameplay strategies, including manipulating social dynamics and humorous narratives, like that of a pregnant nun. The hosts share their gaming adventures, personal anecdotes, and the fascinating intersections of morality and gameplay. Join the conversation as they invite listener engagement and tease future developments in this captivating gaming universe!

This week, Laura and Nate dive into Trash the Planet, a free, browser-based resource-management game that subverts clicker mechanics to serve its narrative. You play as a group of raccoons who start out collecting trash and, through a rapid evolution of society, end up ruling the planet—manipulating the stock market with absolutely no consequences. Stick around for the return of What’s Making Us Happy This Week. (00:00) - Trash the Planet (36:26) - What's Making Us Happy This Week? (36:45) - Nate: Paper Mario: The 1000 Year Inter-Library Loan (40:24) - Laura: Crossed Skis (44:28) - Outro

Shane and Nate were buzzing about FlyKnight, a $5 indie dungeon crawler that surprised us with its humor and depth. In this episode, we break down what makes this tiny first-person RPG so fun, from its retro aesthetic and first person Souls-like combat to its great co-op potential. Should you bug your buddies to play it? Let’s find out! (00:00) - Intro (01:20) - FlyKnight (01:02:16) - Outro

The hosts dive into the exciting world of 'Expelled!', a follow-up to 'Overboard!', blending humor and intrigue. They explore gameplay innovations in a murder mystery set in a 1920s girls' school. Discussions include how player choices impact narratives and create moral dilemmas. The unique mechanics of conversational design and character motivations enhance engagement and replayability. They also reflect on their podcast's expansion to YouTube, emphasizing community building and unique storytelling techniques.

Steam Next Fest just concluded and the Short Game team searched through the mountain of demos to discuss some of the most exciting games with short game energy coming out this year. 00:00 Intro04:09 WYRMHALL: Brush and Banter09:12 Wheel World18:19 Despelote25:08 Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 333:33 Haste: Broken Worlds39:50 Is This Seat Taken?46:54  Art of Reflection51:01 Bambas!52:56 Run TavernQuest54:45 Nitro Express58:06 Lightning Round and Outro (00:00) - Intro (04:09) - WYRMHALL: Brush and Banter (09:12) - Wheel World (18:19) - Despelote (25:08) - Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 (33:33) - Haste: Broken Worlds (39:50) - Is This Seat Taken? (46:54) -  Art of Reflection (51:01) - Bambas! (52:56) - Run TavernQuest (54:45) - Nitro Express (58:06) - Lightning Round and Outro

All four co-hosts are present and accounted for as we talk about ultra-short platformer, Sheepy: A Short Adventure. It’s right there in the name! Sheepy is a FREE game on Steam and itch.io, and it’ll take you about an hour. It’s surprisingly polished for a free release, with charming animations and very good music, plus some incomprehensible lore! We also go into some tech tips for those playing on Steam Deck, since the game is completely playable but technically “unsupported”. (00:00) - Intro (01:47) - Mysterious Production (06:21) - Cool Game (06:33) - A last minute update! (08:29) - Back to the Episode (11:07) - It's A Platformer (15:06) - Mobility (22:11) - Animation (25:08) - Aww (31:18) - Steam Deck Issues (37:14) - What's Making Us Happy This Week? (37:17) - Laura: NBA (41:42) - Raygan: TRMNL (48:57) - Nate: Garmin Forrunner 165 (57:36) - Shane: Bike Lane Win (01:02:01) - Outro

Rats with Knives! It’s time to finally talk about Fight’N Rage! This has been on the back burner for a while; it was first suggested to us nearly 4 years ago as a modern, mechanically interesting beat ’em up in the vein of Streets of Rage 4. “Easy to play, hard to master” is a bit of a cliche, but it feels very apt here. Fight’N Rage channels the golden age of arcade brawlers with deep, satisfying combos, chunky pixel art cheesecake, and a branching structure that gives you lots of options. It pays homage to classics like Final Fight while advancing the genre in interesting and distinct ways. (00:00) - 431: Fight'n Rage (12:26) - Raygan's Retro Corner (16:05) - More Fight'n Rage (46:19) - What's Making Us Happy This Week? (46:29) - Shane: Weed Rats (48:03) - Raygan: Not Getting Picked (50:47) - Nate: Free from Star Trek Discovery (53:57) - Outro

Jason McIntosh, a Steam Deck enthusiast and host of the Venthuffer podcast, joins the conversation sharing his deep passion for the handheld device. They discuss its transformative impact on gaming habits and the delightful experience of family gaming. Discover modding possibilities, the thrill of customizing games like Skyrim, and the Steam Deck's advantages for travel. Personal anecdotes convey how it enhances entertainment and community connections, while revealing evolving views on Valve's role in gaming culture.

An indie gardening game takes center stage, mixing charm with eerie elements in its unique gameplay. The hosts explore the fascinating world of Sockpop, a collective known for its innovative approach and quirky titles. They dive into the cozy horror experience of Grunn, highlighting its atmospheric sound and puzzles. Personal anecdotes about an adorable adopted cat and chaotic gaming adventures with family add humor to the mix, along with discussions about the joy of quirky gourmet gifts.