Pages of Play

Dive into the intriguing world of Metal Garden with insightful discussions on life within a megastructure. The hosts explore their favorite fictional architecture, analyzing the influence of art style on storytelling. They recap the gripping plot centered around nomads and hidden secrets, highlighting the importance of lore notes. Reactions to the game’s unexpected ending spark a debate on minimalist storytelling. Join the trio as they unpack the narrative's unique setting and its impact on atmosphere and intrigue.

Maggie and Eli, young fans of the game Stray, provide adorable insights as they discuss their favorite cat characters and thrilling moments from the story. They vividly recount the cat's fall into the Dead City and the encounters with quirky robots like B-12. The siblings share their thoughts on key missions, including fixing gadgets and evading Sentinels. With innocent wisdom, they reflect on themes of sacrifice and hope, making their perspectives both charming and profound. Their playful banter keeps the conversation lively and entertaining!

Join a deep dive into captivating video game narratives as a guest shares five standout titles. Explore the ethical dilemmas in The Alters and its emotionally charged choices. Discover the surprising depth of Horace with its clever cultural references and heartfelt storytelling. Journey is celebrated for its breathtaking wordless narrative and the unique impact of anonymous multiplayer interactions. Spiritfarer touches on themes of grief and caregiving, while Citizen Sleeper 2 impresses with its rich character relationships and intricate mechanics that elevate the storytelling.

David, Caleb, and Erik point-and-click their way through one of the best game narratives of 2025. Pages of Play podcast is a book club for gaming narratives, where the hosts discuss their personal experience with a game and its story via book club style discussion questions submitted by listeners. Please join our discord so that you can chat with the amazing Pages of Play community and ask discussion questions to be featured on our next episode!The wonderful music in this episode comes from the Jusant soundtrack by Guillaume Ferran. Check it out here.Contents:(00:00) Intro(06:19) Q1(14:20) Q2(28:25) Q3(39:54) Spoiler Wall: Story Recap(44:54) Q4(58:22) Q5(01:10:29) Q6(01:24:49) ClosingReferences from the show:Sally Beaumont inteview on So Many Games podcast

Between the Lines (BTL) is a sub-series of the Pages of Play podcast where we explore hidden gem indie games. In this episode, Erik and Caleb shine a spotlight on an incredibly talented indie game developer, Interactive Dreams, and a few of their games. This episode is a combination of two game reviews and a discussion about the studio that made them. We hope this format helps more people discover the developer, which you can learn more about via the links below. Special thanks to Luis León for reaching out to me (Erik) and sharing his game dev story.We hope you enjoy the show! Interactive Dreams websiteInteractive Dreams itch.io pageA Dream About Parking Lots on SteamSwann's Song on Steam

Off the Shelf is an interview format where we bring a guest on the show to talk about the following scenario: “Imagine you have a library full of books that represent to you the greatest video game narratives. If I were to pull 5 books at random off of those shelves, what would I find? How did each book earn a spot on your shelf?”This week, I was joined by Rick from the Pixel Project Radio podcast. Below you will find the linktree for that show.Pixel Project Radio LinktreeThe discussion of each game contains spoilers, so please refer to the timestamps below to avoid those as needed.(00:00) Introduction & Spoiler Policy(06:51) Disco Elysium(24:21) Lisa the Painful(35:20) Outer Wilds(50:39) Xenosaga(01:05:41) Pentiment(01:21:14) Closing CommentsIf you enjoy the show please join our patreon to stay up to date on the podcast. Thanks for listening!

Dive into a nostalgic journey through Quito, Ecuador, as the hosts reflect on the heartfelt game Despelote. They share personal sports fandom and the communal vibes of the World Cup. The discussion delves into how the game’s ambient sounds and 3D textures evoke vivid memories. Explore the balance between completionism and a child's playful perspective. Highlights include a breakdown of Julian's story, cinematic mechanics, and moments that resonate with childhood authenticity. It's a rich exploration of gaming narratives and their emotional impacts.

Dive into the world of Missile Command, where Caleb and Lydia discuss its groundbreaking approach to storytelling through gameplay. Explore the unique cabinet design and trackball controls that enhance player immersion. They also reflect on the game's cultural impact, showcasing its appearances in film and TV. With a thoughtful look at environmental storytelling, the hosts unravel how the game captures the emotional weight of Cold War fears. Discover what makes this classic title still worth playing today.

Off the Shelf is an interview format where we bring a guest on the show to talk about the following scenario: “Imagine you have a library full of books that represent to you the greatest video game narratives. If I were to pull 5 books at random off of those shelves, what would I find? How did each book earn a spot on your shelf?”This week, I was joined by Michael from the Tiny Game Chronicles Podcast. Below you will find links to that wonderful show. Please check it out, especially if you love short video games! BlueskySpotifyApple PodcastsThe discussion of each game contains spoilers, so please refer to the timestamps below to avoid those as needed. (00:00) Introduction & Spoiler Policy(07:25) Myst(34:30) The Witcher 2(53:49) Uncharted 2(01:13:45) Octopath Traveler 2(01:28:34) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33(01:44:02) Closing CommentsIf you enjoy the show please join our discord to stay up to date on the podcast. Thanks for listening!

David, Caleb, and Erik take a breather to discuss burnout in Wanderstop, a whimiscal yet surprisingly vulnerable tea-shop management sim by Ivy Road studio. Pages of Play podcast is a book club for gaming narratives, where the hosts discuss their personal experience with a game and its story via book club style discussion questions submitted by listeners. Please join our discord (https://discord.com/invite/jMzR6WdpTR) so that you can chat with the amazing Pages of Play community and ask discussion questions to be featured on our next episode!The wonderful music in this episode comes form the Jusant soundtrack by Guillaume Ferran. Check it out ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.Contents:(00:00) Intro(04:50) Q1(08:20) Q2(16:28) Q3(27:30) Spoiler Wall(28:56) Story Recap(32:06) Q4(34:32) Q5(43:29) Q6(01:05:16) Q7(01:12:15) Q8(01:17:10) Q9(01:26:25) Q10(01:32:04) Q11(01:34:44) ClosingReferences from the show:Erik's Wanderstop ReviewPC Gamer ArticleDavey Wreden Presentation