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Another year passed and the hosts welcome back thread master Knalb to recount the "Game of the Month" winners of the community throughout 2025. Knalb also brings the stats and trivia to play a guessing game around the community's activity! Did the community choose better games than the year before? Who actually played Hatris? Why has there never been a racing game as GOTM before? And what might be in store for us in 2026? Let's discuss in this extra thick episode! Feel free to use the time stamps below to avoid spoiler-heavy chat over specific games. HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk Email - [email protected] Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:08 What has Knalb beaten? 00:14:00 What has Knalb retired? 00:19:16 What is Knalb playing? 00:48:59 January: Paper Mario 00:55:58 February: Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion 01:01:19 February: Bloodborne 01:14:15 March: Metroid Zero Mission 01:21:26 April: Nier Automata 01:25:10 April: Hatris 01:31:11 May: Fallout New Vegas 01:49:43 June: Portal 01:57:58 July: System Shock 02:03:03 August: Clair Obscure Expedition 33 02:25:34 September: Psychonauts 02:33:36 October: Dino Crisis 02:39:22 October: Signalis 02:47:55 October: Alan Wake 2 02:56:31 November: Aviary Attorney 03:03:38 December: Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3 03:15:44 Stats Trivia! 03:52:40 Future GOTM Plans 04:01:59 Goodbye Games Mentioned by Knalb: Franzen, Hatsune Miku Bomb Squad, Hades 2, Warhammer: Vermintide 2, House Flipper, Yakuza 5, Balatro, Split Fiction, The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures, Mini Metro, Powerwash Simulator, American Truck Simulator, Euro Truck Simulator

With another HLTB community event having wrapped up not too long ago, your trusty hosts Lia, Matt and Roy look back and discuss the games of Itchmas 2025, the annual indie game extravaganza! Additionally, Matt finally dusts off a game that’s been backlogged for over 10 years, Lia rectifies the error of her ways and retires some brand slop, and Roy finally graduates from Hatsune Miku’s school of bomb defusal! Wasp simulations, edging in videogames, language roguelites, and another round of the brand-new, flawless, untitled collections game to round it all off. We got it all! HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26DkEmail - [email protected] Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:07 - Beaten 00:38:03 - Retired 01:02:32 - Playing 01:29:27 - Itchmas 2025 02:20:04 - Collections Game 02:31:46 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Lia: Marathon, Saugzwang, Zugzwang (PC), NEET Girl Date Night (PC), Funko Fusion (PS4), The Falconeer (PC), ᗢ (PC), Wingspan (PC), Super Bernie World (PC), Wordle, Murdle, God of War 2018 (PS4), Professor Layton and the Last Specter (DS), Elder Scrolls Online (PC), Red Dead Online (PS4), Balatro (Mobile), Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch), Birdle (Browser) Matt: Tokimeki Memorial: Taisen Puzzle-Dama (PC), Parallel Experiment (PC), Rayman Origins (PC), Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (SNES), Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA), Pigeon Simulator (PC), Christmas/Xmas Carnage (PC), Wasp Nest Simulation (Mobile), Old School Rally (PC), Bunhouse (PC), Roguebook (PC), Skate Story (PC), Worms Reloaded (PC) Roy: 7 Days to End With You (Switch), The Servers Are Shutting Down in 24 Hours but My Pull Rate's Been Set to 0.0001?! (PC), Megane Breaker (PC), Pokemon Blue (GB), Wordle (PC), Tabletop Simulator (PC)

New year, new me, new ...games? The HLTB podcast hosts ring in the new year with everything we've left in 2025 and what we're bringing into 2026. In addition, we recount all the old childhood games we've tested out as adults and debut a whole new Guess the Game: The Collection Game. Listen in as we discuss those games that are just not easy no matter how old you are, learn how our childhood imaginations created games that don't actually exist, franchises that took us on a ride, and technical issues that left old games never to be replayed again. HowLongToBeat forums - ⁠https://howlongtobeat.com/forum⁠ Discord – ⁠https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk⁠ Email - ⁠[email protected]⁠ Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:11 - Intro 00:01:28 - Beaten 00:39:24 - Retired 00:53:56 - Playing 01:46:29 - Discussion 02:29:40 - Guess the Game 02:42:03 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Diallo: Kirby Air Riders (Switch 2), Tokimeki Memorial (Switch), Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Mega Dimension (Switch 2), Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PC) Lia: Rainbows Are Carnivores, Apollo 2, Shapeshit, Stickshift, Hurt Me Plenty, Succulent, Rinse & Repeat, Where’s the Beef, Logjam, Hard Lads, Cobra Club, That Lonesome Valley, Wordle, Murdle, Demos (The Art of Reflection, B.I.R.D., ServiceIT: You Can Do IT, Aviarium, Gecko Gods, Backpack Battles, Tiny House Simulator), Red Dead Online, Elder Scrolls Online, Funko Fusion, God of War (2018), Good Authority Matt: Puyo Puyo Tetris (PC), Sonic Racing CrossWorlds (PC), Christmas Celebration Escape (PC), Christmas Massacre (PC), Magic The Gathering Arena (PC), Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival (PC), SleepTown (Mobile), Crypt of the Necrodancer: Amplified (PC), Wordle (PC), Parallel Experiment (PC), Tokimeki Memorial: Taisen Puzzle-Dama (PC) Roy: Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch), Wordle (PC), Madden NEXT 12 (PS2), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch), Super Mario Party Jamboree (Switch), Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch), Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword (PC)

As the year draws closer to STAGE COMPLETE, the HLTB Pod hosts gathered one last time in 2025 to discuss everything video and games, especially the elusive freebie known as gifted games. What holidays and event do get them for as well as memorable gift and moments. Who finished off their gifted games too fast and who let their gifts gets dusty? HowLongToBeat forums - ⁠https://howlongtobeat.com/forum⁠ Discord – ⁠https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk⁠ Email - ⁠[email protected]⁠ Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:11 - Intro 00:01:13 - Beaten 00:26:21 - Retired 00:33:56 - Playing 01:30:39 - Discussion 02:13:02 - Guess the Game 02:24:40 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Lia: Arrows (Mobile), Drop the Cat (Mobile), Wordle (Discord), Murdle (Browser), Tiny Bird Garden Deluxe (PC/Mac), Tori Note (Mobile), Travel Frog (Mobile), Professor Layton and the Last Specter/Spectre’s Call (DS), Quetzal (Mobile), Logic Puzzles (Mobile), Funko Fusion (PS4) Matt: The Beginner’s Guide (PC), Worms 2 (PC), Shady Lewd Kart (PC), Isopod: A Webbed Spin-off (PC), Magic The Gathering Arena (PC/Mobile), Puyo Puyo Tetris (PC), Pigeon Simulator (PC), Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival (PC), Sonic Racing CrossWorlds (PC), Worms: Revolution (PC) Diallo: Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2) Kirby Air Riders (Switch 2) Roy: Wordle (PC), Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (Switch), Shin Megami Tensen V: Vengeance (Switch), Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch), Fire Emblem: Cerulean Crescent (PC/GBA)

Some games, like the timeless masterpiece that is Tetris, are eternally replayable. So in this episode the hosts discuss if and when they replay games, remember moments when a return to a game changed their experience significantly, and chat about what games entice them to revisit in the future. Furthermore expect discussions about exciting topics like rainbow waffles, first person pooper games, and emulating fast food restaurant toys! Also: Support your local library! HowLongToBeat forums - ⁠https://howlongtobeat.com/forum⁠ Discord – ⁠https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk⁠ Email - ⁠[email protected]⁠ Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:57 - Beaten 00:13:31 - Retired 00:21:23 - Playing 01:11:47 - Discussing Replays 01:49:33 - Guess the Game 01:57:13 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Diallo: Pokémon Legends: Z-A Lia: Wordle Clones (Browser), Yum Yum Cookstar (Switch),Wordle (Discord), Murdle (Browser), Tiny Bird Garden Deluxe (PC/Mac), Tori Note (Mobile), Travel Frog (Mobile), Professor Layton and the Last Specter/Spectre’s Call (DS), Quetzal (Mobile), Spice World (PS1), Arrows (Mobile), Logic Puzzles (Mobile), Drop the Cat (Mobile)Matt: It Takes A War (PC), Shady Lewd Kart (PC), Pigeon Simulator (PC), Isopod (PC), Magic The Gathering Arena (PC), Puyo Puyo Tetris (PC), Rubik’s Connected (Mobile) Roy: McDonald’s Sonic Speedway (LCD/PC), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch), Summon Night: Swordcraft Story (GBA), Wordle (PC), New Super Mario Bros. U. Deluxe (Switch), Bowser’s Fury (Switch), Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (GBA/Switch), Super Mario Advance 3: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (GBA/Switch), Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (GBA/Switch), Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (Switch), Tabletop Simulator (PC)

As Americans prepare to stuff their faces this Thursday, your trusty hosts turn their attention to the world of cooking and crafting in video games! We hope you brought your appetite, because our Thanksgiving dinner features Sonic blue curry, haunted pickles, the world’s worst mac and cheese, and of course, wall chicken in lieu of the traditional turkey! Need to tune out your drunken uncle? Listen to our (only slightly more coherent) ramblings instead! HowLongToBeat forums - ⁠https://howlongtobeat.com/forum⁠ Discord – ⁠https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk⁠ Email - ⁠[email protected]⁠ Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:17 - Beaten 00:45:25 - Retired 00:46:20 - Playing 01:36:24 - Discussion 02:21:18 - Guess the Game 02:28:53 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Diallo: to a T (PC), Once Upon a Katamari (PC), Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2), Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch 2) Lia: Arrows (Mobile), EnigmBox (Mobile), Logic Puzzles (Mobile), Quetzal (Mobile), Wordle and Wordle Clones (Wordle, Moxle, Heardle, Beadle, 1D Heardle) (Browser), Murdle (Browser), Travel Frog (Mobile), Tori Note (Mobile) Matt: Whispering Willows (PC), Hatsune Miku VR (PC), COVID-19 by Hot Slice (PC), Moorhuhn VR Blast (PC), Sonic Adventure 2 (PC), Dino Crisis (PC), Shady Lewd Kart (PC), Phasmophobia (PC), Magic The Gathering Arena (PC), Rubik's Connected (Mobile) Roy: Wordle (PC), League of Legends (PC), MLB 11: The Show (PS2), Tabletop Simulator (PC)

Get ready for another edition of everyone's favorite podcast! This time we're discussing ROM Hacks and Fan Games and finding out which freakish fan hacks have a special place in our hearts. Stream along as Lia becomes a billionaire, Matt chases Justin Bieber, Roy plays multiple Pokemon and experience the return of Diallo, with the shiniest of nightmares and newest of consoles. HowLongToBeat forums - ⁠https://howlongtobeat.com/forum⁠ Discord – ⁠https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk⁠ Email - ⁠[email protected]⁠ Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:06 - Intro 00:03:03 - Beaten 00:21:04 - Retired 00:49:38 - Playing 01:53:57 - Discussion 02:38:32 - Guess the Game 02:48:52 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Lia: You Are Jeff Bezos (Browser), Magarena (PC), GUNDAM CARD GAME Teaching App (Mobile), Magic the Gathering Arena (Mac/PC), Magic: The Gathering Online (PC), Magic: The Gathering (Browser), Disney Lorcana (Browser), Mahjong Soul (Mobile), Marvel Snap (Mobile), Tricky Bridge (Mobile), Tabletop Simulator (PC/Mac), Disney’s Dreamlight Valley (Switch), Quetzal (Mobile), The Crew 2 (PC), Red Dead Online (PC), Magic: The Gathering Arena (Mobile) Matt: Gnat Attack Redux (PC), The Original Moorhuhn Hunt (PC), multiple “Scary Maze Games” (Original by Jeremy Winterrowd, Justin Bieber version, Maze Game DX by Razoric, Dreader by Donitz…), Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame 3 (PC), Red Alarm (VB), Vox Populi: Germany 2025 (PC), Dino Crisis (PC), Magic the Gathering Arena (PC/Mobile), Jack Bros. (VB) Diallo: Hollow Knight: Silksong (PC), Pokemon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2), to a T (PC) Roy: Wordle (PC), Pokemon Orange (GBC), Pokemon Stadium 1 (N64/Switch), Pokemon Gold 97 Reforged (GBC), Tabletop Simulator (PC), Civilization IV (PC)

As it is Spooky Season™️, Lia, Matt and Roy follow their content creator obligation to talk about fitting things like games that actually managed to scare them and, of course, the best Halloween candy! Between the usual yapping about video games and another round of "Guess the Game", you will also witness a rare return of the soap box segment! Expect further escapades into different trading card games, a shoutout to Candy Crush players, a yearning for vocaloid games, and reports of mild enjoyment of German politics simulation. HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk Email - [email protected] Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:05 - Beaten 00:10:57 - Retired 00:30:48 - Playing 01:18:36 - Soap Box 01:24:29 - Halloween Candy & Scary Games 02:02:47 - Guess the Game 02:06:45 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Lia: Quetzal (Mobile), Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel (Mobile), Magic the Gathering Arena (PC), Warhammer Warpforge (Mobile), Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links (Mobile), Marvel Snap (Mobile), Disney Lorcana (Browser), Mahjong Soul (Mobile), Tricky Bridge (Mobile), Magarena (PC), Magic the Gathering Arena (Mac/Mobile), Tabletop Simulator (PC/Mac) Matt: Silent Hill 2 [2001] (PC), Kind Words 2 (PC), Pokémon Ultra Moon (3DS), Dino Crisis (PC), Magic the Gathering Arena (PC/Mobile), Vox Populi: Germany 2025 (PC) Roy: Wordle (PC), Pokemon Stadium (Switch), Tabletop Simulator (PC), Sid Meier’s Civilization IV (PC), Hatsune Miku Bomb Squad (GBC/PC)

It's time for another descent into gaming madness, wherein we brave hosts discuss all things video games and what presence sports games have on our backlogs and completed. Who has the most sports games in their catalog? Join in as Roy gets destroyed by collegiate football simulations, Matt pulls back on emulations, and digital trading card games become Lia's new recreation. HowLongToBeat forums - ⁠https://howlongtobeat.com/forum⁠ Discord – ⁠https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk⁠ Email - ⁠[email protected]⁠ Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:09 - Intro 00:01:03 - Beaten 00:09:23 - Retired 00:30:59 - Playing 01:19:03 - Sports Games 02:10:38 - Guess the Game 02:16:48 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Lia: Assassin’s Creed III Remastered (PS5), Pokemon TCG Live (Mobile), Max Payne (PC), Red Dead Online (PC), Nier Automata (PS4), Hairdresser Simulator (PC), Magic: The Gathering Arena (PC/Mobile), Disney Lorcana (Browser), Star Wars Unlimited (Browser), One Piece TCG (Browser), Tabletop Simulator (PC), Marvel Snap (Mobile), Wordle (Discord) Matt: Time Flies (PC), Hatsune Miku Bomb Squad! (GBC/Browser), Backgammon + Checkers + Mills (PC), Murky Divers (PC), Wakeboarding Unleashed featuring Shaun Murray (PS2), Magic: The Gathering Arena (PC), Vox Populi: Germany 2025 (PC), Wordle (PC) Roy: Wordle (PC), NCAA Football 10, Tabletop Simulator, Madden NFL 10

Welcome, fellow web surfer, to another episode of the How Long To Beat podcast! Today Lia, Matt and Roy chat about how the proliferation of information through modern technology has impacted the gaming space, as well as the games that they’ve been spending time with recently and playing another round of “Guess the Game”! Expect a yearning for Big Head Mode, criticisms towards videogame representations of New York City, news about pigeon DLC, and tragic tales of IRL Magic: The Gathering experiences! HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk Email - [email protected] Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:09 - Beaten 00:27:59 - Retired 00:34:14 - Playing 01:30:25 - The Proliferation of Information and its Impact on Games 02:26:30 - Guess the Game 02:36:40 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Lia: GTA: San Andreas Definitive Edition (PS4/5), He F*cked The Girl Out Of Me (PC), Death Rally (Classic) (PC), Death Rally (PC), Hitman 3 World of Assassination (PC), Spirit City: Lo-Fi Sessions (PC), Power Wash Simulator (PC), Max Payne (PC), Marvel Rivals (PC), Red Dead Online (PC), Nier Automata (PS4) Matt: Need for Speed: ProStreet (PC), Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (PC), Align It (Mobile), Magic: The Gathering - Arena (PC/Mobile), Wakeboarding Unleashed featuring Shaun Murray (PS2), Wordle (PC) Roy: Wordle (PC), Arknights (PC), Madden NFL 10 (PS2), Tabletop Simulator (PC), Touhou 6 - Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (PC)

The whittled down hosting trio are back for another round of video game chat, this time with slightly more Lia than required! Listen in as they discuss which seasons go with which games and why, and who is the freak who decided this topic was a good one? Follow for discussions on great franchise deals, the issue of meta overtaking storylines, which gacha is good, and whether or not they're all still doing Wordle. HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk Email - [email protected] Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:12 - Intro 00:01:33 - Beaten 00:31:24 - Retired 00:39:15 - Playing 01:11:11 - Seasonal Gaming 01:37:09 - Guess the Game 02:07:24 - Goodbye! Games mentioned: Lia: A Plague Tale: Requiem (PS4/5), A Plague Tale: Innocence (PS4/5), Infinity Nikki (PS5), Alan Wake 2 (PS5), we should talk (PC), GTA: Vice City Definitive Edition (PS4/5), Spider-Man 2 (PS5), nour (PC), The Pathless (PS5), Supermarket Simulator: Prologue (PC), Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order/Survivor (PS5), Tower of Fantasy (PS5), GTA: San Andreas Definitive Edition (PS4/5) Matt: How Do You Do It? (PC), Backgammon + Checkers + Mills (PC), Murky Divers (PC), Magic: The Gathering - Arena (PC/Mobile), Kind Words 2 (PC) Roy: Wordle (PC), Tabletop Simulator (PC), Balatro (PC), Arknights (Mobile)

The birds are angry these days! But that doesn't stop us from blabbering on about videogames that we are playing. Or lack thereof, as we'll also be discussing gaming droughts, what might cause them, what might get us out of them, and what else we do when we're not spending our precious free-time with games. Join us as we chat about rodents, complain about popping wheelies, and experience becoming one with the Wordle. HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk Email - [email protected] Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental)Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:00 - Intro 00:28:44 - Beaten 00:49:44 - Retired 00:29:46 - Playing 01:36:29 - Gaming Droughts 02:01:30 - Guess the Game 02:07:24 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Lia: It Takes Two (PS4/5), Broforce (Switch), Jumanji Wild Adventure (Switch), Tetris 99 (Switch), A Plague Tale Requiem (PS4/5), Power Wash Simulator Wallace & Gromit DLC (PC), Game Demos (Holy Gosh Darn, Squeakross, Until Then, Fix This House) Matt: The House of the Dead: Remake (PC), Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (PC), Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (PS1), Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2010 (PC), Backgammon + Checkers + Mills (PC), Murky Divers (PC), Align It (Mobile), Ninja Gaiden Ragebound (PC), Need for Speed: ProStreet (PC), Pokémon Ultra Moon (3DS), Kind Words 2 (PC) Roy: City Connection (NES/Switch), Mimi’s Delivery Dash (PC), Tabletop Simulator (PC), Wordle (PC)

It's time for another round of chatting about video games! This month we are without Diallo but the remaining hosts gather to discuss the community event Itchmas in July and other stuff that's holding their fancies this month. Including but not limited to: the pros and cons of gamepass and cooking sims, pinball tables real and virtual, racing games real and imagined, and all things historical and current in the world of rats. HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk Email - [email protected] Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:02 - Beaten 00:41:39 - Retired 1:02:49 - Playing 1:54:57 - Itchmas in July 3:00:14 - Guess the Game 3:05:24 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Lia: We Should Talk., Pizza Maker, A Plague Tale: Requiem (PS5), Cook For Love (Switch) Matt: Ultimate Mill (Mobile), The Birdcage (Mobile), The Birdcage 2 (Mobile), Face Racers: Photo Finish (3DS), Worms Pinball (PC), Daytona Championship USA (Arcade), Mills of Morris (PC), Counter-Strike 1.6 (PC), Varooom 3D (GBA/Arcade), Pokémon Ultra Moon (3DS), Backgammon + Checkers + Mills (PC), Murky Divers (PC), Stern Pinball Arcade (PC), Ragnaröck (PC VR), Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (PC) Roy: Pinball (NES/Switch), Battleship (NES), Hypnospace Outlaw (PC), Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PC), Sewer Tales (Itch/PC), The Dark Queen of Mortholme (Itch/PC), Desierto (Itch/PC), Sparvagn (Itch/PC), Need For Speed Most Wanted 2012 (PC), Wordle (PC), Vampire Survivors (PC), Duelists of Eden (PC), Tabletop Simulator (PC) Itchmas in July 2025: Sewer Tales, The Fall of Lazarus, Desierto, Divorce Chatroom, SPÅRVAGN, Packing Up The Rest of Your Stuff on the Last Day at Your Old Apartment, Formless Star, one night, hot springs, individualism in the dead-internet age: an anti-big tech asset flip shovelware r̶a̶n̶t̶ manifesto, The Dark Queen of Mortholme

Join us on a sidequest through the recent videogame showcases, including the big Summer Game Fest schedule as well as a couple individual events outside of that. We talk about how we engage with showcases in general and reveal our most anticipated new games discoveries through these recent live events! Be ready for disingenuous eco games, tangents on horse-breeding games, doing backflips in games, a teardown of wholesomeness, and the state of bodily fluids in gaming. HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk Email - [email protected] Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:53 - General Thoughts on Game Showcases 00:10:39 - SGF: State of Unreal 00:12:23 - SGF: State of Play (Sony) 00:21:39 - SGF: Main Show 00:36:33 - SGF: Day of the Devs 00:44:38 - SGF: Ball x Pit (Devolver Digital) 00:49:18 - SGF: IOI Showcase 00:50:20 - SGF: Wholesome Direct 00:58:21 - SGF: Women-led Games 01:06:39 - SGF: Latin American Games 01:11:58 - SGF: Southeast Asian Games 01:21:22 - SGF: Green Games 01:30:54 - SGF: Frosty Games Fest 01:34:52 - SGF: Xbox Showcase 01:41:30 - SGF: PC Gaming Show 01:42:13 - SGF: Death Stranding 2 Premiere 01:43:21 - SGF: Black Voices In Gaming 01:48:35 - Donkey Kong Bananza Nintendo Direct 01:55:45 - Arc System Works Showcase 01:57:07 - Capcom Spotlight 01:57:26 - Bandai Namco Summer Showcase 01:57:36 - The Horror Games Awards 02:01:15 - Our Most Anticipated New Discoveries 02:40:05 - Outro

On this episode, the hosts take a trip down memory lane: They revisit the very first video games they ever played, and then they take a look at "gateway games" that exposed them to new genres or concepts. Tune in as they talk about shiny poop, recount their childhood medical history, and review the rules of alphabetizing! HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk Email - [email protected] Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro), Abatage (incidental), call me lethargy. (incidental) Graphic design – M4thew and Matt 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:00 - Beaten 01:01:24 - Retired 01:21:03 - Playing 01:57:40 - Our First Video Game + Gateway Games 02:51:44 - Guess the Game 02:59:25 - Goodbye! Games Mentioned: Diallo: Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals TimeLia: Ghost of Tsushima (PS5), Forspoken (PS5), Fashion League (Mobile), Influencer Story (Mobile), A Plague Tale: Requiem (PS5), Helldivers 2 (PC), Infinity Nikki (PS5), GTA: Chinatown Wars (Mobile), Harvest Moon (NSO, SNES), Assassin’s Creed III Remastered (PS5), Kind Words 2 (PC), The Pathless (PS5)Matt: Aquadelic GT (PC), Frog Legs (PC), Purple (Mobile), Pinball of the Dead (GBA), Pinball (NES), HEADACHE (PC), The Amazing Spider-Man (GB), The Little Mermaid 2: Pinball Frenzy (GBC), Need for Speed: ProStreet (PC), Backgammon + Checkers + Mills (PC), Murky Divers (PC)Roy: one night, hot springs (PC), Persona 3 Reload (PC), Citizen Sleeper (PC), Drake of the 99 Dragons (PC), Mona and the Witch’s Hat Deluxe (GBC), Mona and the Witch’s Hat (GB), Mario Party 3 (Switch/N64), StarVaders (PC), Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PC)