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The Secret Lives of Games

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Rating
★★★★★
4.9
from
159 reviews
This podcast has
266 episodes
Language
English
Explicit
Yes
Date created
2018/09/05
Latest episode
2026/04/18
Average duration
131 min.
Release period
11 days

Description

Candid conversations with game creators that dive deep into the art, craft, and process of making games.

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TSLOG TV Plays De Mol (2026 season) - Episode 3
2026/04/18
We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 3. Who is the Mole, and why was Yannis laughing so hysterically at some November rain? Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
TSLOG TV Plays De Mol (2026 season) - Episode 2
2026/04/10
We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 2. Who is the Mole, and should they receive an Oscar for their duplicitous performance? Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Four Wishes (independent Korean reality tv show) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLimMCLxaXz0Gj-2ueyEdshOaKK9mQzj_0 Every Game in this City podcast (S1, which includes Laura, Jey, Doug) https://soundcloud.com/idlethumbs/sets/every-game-in-this-city Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
156: Filling Buckets with Tonda Ros (Blue Prince)
2026/04/10
We chat with Tonda Ros (Dogubomb) one year after the release of his genre-blending room-drafting puzzlebox sensation, Blue Prince. Our discussion covers Tonda's year as the game's representative in the world; his inspirations across digital, analog, and tabletop works; cultivating player appreciation for virtual spaces; managing player hunches through playtesting; balancing lore with puzzle mechanics; comparing game development with filmmaking; and so! much! more! Kind of like the game itself, we just keep going. Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Blue Prince https://www.blueprincegame.com/  Mythic Spoiler https://mythicspoiler.com/ My Perfect Console – Tonda Ros https://www.myperfectconsole.com/episode/129  realMyst https://cyan.com/realmyst/  Digital version of MAZE: Solve the World's Most Challenging Puzzle by Christopher Manson https://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/1l9urle/website_version_of_christopher_mansons_1985/  "It Seems I Have Found Myself In Another Mysterious House" by Rob Dubbin https://roblemsolving.com/games/2025/04/25/mysterious-house.html The Castles of Mad King Ludwig https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155426/castles-of-mad-king-ludwig Dominion https://www.riograndegames.com/games/dominion/  Ascension https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/69789/ascension-deckbuilding-game  Blue Prince Soundtrack by Trigg and Gusset https://triggandgusset.bandcamp.com/album/blue-prince-the-original-soundtrack  Jewels in the Attic https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16608/jewels-in-the-attic  Tales of the Crystals https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9755/tales-of-the-crystals The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029120/ The Graduate (1967) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061722/ MIO: Memories in Orbit https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672810/MIO_Memories_in_Orbit/ https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
TSLOG TV Plays De Mol (2026 season) - Episode 1
2026/04/03
We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug tango with Episode 1 and share their Mole suspicions.  Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog  
All Systems Brough - Zaga-33
2026/04/01
We're joined by Chris Plante (Besties, Post Games), Hayden "Docky" Scott-Baron (Planet Coaster), and Rand Hall (voicemailer extraordinaire, Zaga-33 guide writer) for the fourth title in our year of All Systems Brough, a year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough: Zaga-33.  This episode: Zaga-33 Next Month: Corrypt (and Lost Levels) Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/04/zaga-33.html  868-BACK (Next Fest demo on February 23rd, 2026!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/  Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/  The Besties https://www.themcelroy.family/podcasts/besties/  Post Games https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/post-games/id1815131711  Rand's Zaga-33 Guide https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1442555333091262566/1475568523018371295  Drop7 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop7  Desert Golfing https://store.steampowered.com/app/757040/Desert_Golfing/  7 Day Roguelike (7DRL) version of Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/03/7drl-zaga-33.html Assorted comments on Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/05/zaga-33-assorted-comments.html Blog about scoring in games https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/05/score-comment-threads-dominant.html Brick101 Review of all 36 combo powers in Zaga-33 https://brick101.com/reviewing-all-36-combo-powers-in-zaga-33/ Blog about iOS sale numbers https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/ios-sale-numbers.html Follow-up blog on iOS sales numbers https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/because-we-may-results.html Blog on zaga, score, expressivity, and personality https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/08/zaga-score-expressivity-personality.html Blog on creating advancement in roguelikes https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/03/7drl-day-2.html 7 Day Roguelike website https://7drl.com/ PRACTICE 2013: Michael Brough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4iswqa8r-Q   https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow   
GDC 2026 LIVE Special!
2026/03/23
Recorded live from the Game Developers Conference 2026! They gave us time in the Official Podcast Box, so we made the most of it discussing the process of writing for the IGF Awards, reflecting on the culture of GDC, and even having a couple surprise guests drop in. Let's get loose! Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Scripto https://scripto.live/ Starfriends https://shop.brainfruit.studio/products/starfriends-card-game  2026 Independent Games Festival Awards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoH4EmfB4Z4 Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet https://store.steampowered.com/app/205730/Insanely_Twisted_Shadow_Planet/  Dustbiters https://dustbiters.com/ Tooth and Tail https://store.steampowered.com/app/286000/Tooth_and_Tail/ Brogue https://sites.google.com/site/broguegame/  Caves of Qud https://www.cavesofqud.com/ Monaco 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1063030/Monaco_2/ https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
154: Gathering Community with Ben Rausch and Anja Venter (Playtopia)
2026/03/18
Doug and Rob are joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis) and Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis) chat with Ben Rausch (Team Lazerbeam) and Anja Venter (Free Lives) about the Playtopia Festival for Indie Games & Immersive Arts that they help organize. They discuss some of the Festival's origins, the logistics of producing in-person games events, the state of alt-control/arts-focused games events around the world, the relationship between South African culture and Playtopia's structure, the importance of showing the new generation how to create these spaces, the balance of growing and maintaining a festival community, and more!   Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Playtopia Festival https://playtopiafestival.co.za/about/  Shroom and Gloom https://teamlazerbeam.itch.io/shroom-and-gloom Jamming to map creative scenes and practices by Anya Venter https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02681102.2023.2281423 A MAZE Festival https://2026.amaze-berlin.de/ The future of public game arts festivals and non-commercial games culture by Robert Yang https://www.blog.radiator.debacle.us/2026/02/the-future-of-public-game-arts.html Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant https://grants.draknek.org/  Don't Get Your Hopes Up https://store.steampowered.com/app/3795490/Dont_Get_Your_Hopes_Up/ boshi's place https://boshis.place/events/  Glitch City https://glitch.city/  Blood on the Clocktower https://bloodontheclocktower.com/?country=US  Pro Jank Footy https://store.steampowered.com/app/3621330/Pro_Jank_Footy/ Plum Road Tea Dream https://store.steampowered.com/app/3206340/Plum_Road_Tea_Dream/ Plum Road Tea Dream (Performance) https://plum-road-tea-dream.com/#performance  Dressmaker https://store.steampowered.com/app/4019220/Dressmaker/ Cozy Lives Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cozylivesgames/reels/ Free Lives Discord https://discord.com/invite/freelives Sex with Friends https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/3407070/ Wee Boats https://store.steampowered.com/app/3578080/Wee_Boats/ Relooted https://store.steampowered.com/app/3255890/Relooted/ Cadence https://store.steampowered.com/app/362800/Cadence/  Starfriends https://starfriends.online Playtopia 2025 Showcased Games https://playtopiafestival.co.za/games-2025/   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
153: Returning to the Wasteland with Jan Willem Nijman, Joonas Turner, and Jukio Kallio (Nuclear Throne)
2026/03/06
Rob and Zach chat with Joonas Turner (Downwell, Noita, Cult of the Lamb), Jukio Kallio (Fall Guys, Minit, Dave the Diver), and Jan Willem "JW" Nijman (Super Crate Box, Ridiculous Fishing, Minit) about their landmark twin-stick wasteland shooter, Nuclear Throne, and its recent blowout 10th anniversary update. They discuss reopening a project after a decade, balancing through play, the decision to not implement traditional invincibility frames, the shifting culture of what makes a design "engaging," and more! Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Nuclear Throne https://nuclearthrone.com/ Controls You Can Feel: Putting Tactility Back Into Touch Controls https://youtu.be/OIOitNx9RHI?si=vcV3GCcsiy1W4Efr Spelunky https://www.spelunkyworld.com/  Shoot First https://www.indiedb.com/games/shoot-first Crimsonland https://www.crimsonland.com/ Downwell https://downwellgame.com/  Tormentor x Punisher https://tormentorxpunisher.com/ PAPERHEAD https://store.steampowered.com/app/2680280/PAPERHEAD/  Jukio's Bandcamp https://jukiokallio.bandcamp.com/   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
All Systems Brough - Kompendium
2026/02/21
We're joined by droqen (The End of Gameplay, Starseed Pilgrim), Liz Ryerson (musician, writer, podcaster), and Harry Lee Shang Lun (Earthrise One) for the third title in our year of All Systems Brough, a year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough: Kompendium.  This episode: Kompendium Next Month: Zaga-33 Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Kompendium https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/kompendium.html  868-BACK (Next Fest demo on February 23rd, 2026!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/  Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/  Liz's talk at boshi's place (Brooklyn, NYC | February 19th, 2026) https://boshis.place/events/26-02-20-boshi-s-lecture-series-presents-liz-ryerson https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2702430653 Harry's work https://hellothisismy.website/work/  Kompendium IGF judge feedback https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/04/kompendium-igf-feedback.html Mutual learning blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/04/mutual-learning-aesthetic-for.html  Metagaming: Playing, Competing, Spectating, Cheating, Trading, Making, and Breaking Videogames by Stephanie Boluk and Patrick LeMieux https://www.upress.umn.edu/9780816687169/metagaming/ Multicolor Alien Olympic https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2970  Glitch Tank https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2011/12/glitch-tank.html  Being good at Glitch Tank blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/05/being-good-at-glitch-tank.html  At a Distance by Terry Cavanagh https://distractionware.com/atadistance/ Brough on iOS sale numbers https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/ios-sale-numbers.html  Garbage In, Garbage Out https://jonathanwhiting.com/games/garbagein/press.html  Exuberant Struggle http://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2011/02/exuberant-struggle.html  Brough writing on zero sum nature of 1v1 games https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2011/10/two-player-lessons.html  TIGSource Versus Competition  https://www.tigsource.com/versus-competition/  TIGSource Versus Competition Rules https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=17083.0  TIGSource Versus Competition 2011 Voting https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=18424.0  TIGSource Versus Competition 2011 Winner (0space by Beau) https://www.tigsource.com/2011/03/31/tigcompo-winner-0space/  0space itch download https://teknopants.itch.io/0space  Jesus vs Dinosaurs https://grapefrukt.itch.io/jesus-vs-dinosaurs  The Impossible Reversal by Peter McDonald https://www.upress.umn.edu/9781517916220/the-impossible-reversal/  Run and Jump: The Meaning of the 2D Platformer https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262547390/run-and-jump/  A Is To B As B Is To C https://bocpages.org/wiki/A_Is_To_B_As_B_Is_To_C Chesh https://www.damiansgames.com/chesh  Brough's blog post about O https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/10/o.html  Brough on the new year (circa 2012) https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-year-cleansing.html  Side By Side S1 E3: Kompendium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWScEl_DbpM  Earthrise One https://www.earthrise.one/  Miscellaneous Two Player iPad Games https://eriksvedang.wordpress.com/shoot/  https://rustymoyher.com/press/bloop/    https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow 
152: Walking Over It with Gabe Cuzzillo and Bennett Foddy (Baby Steps)
2026/02/13
Rob, Doug, Andy, and Sarah chat with Gabe Cuzzillo (Ape Out, Despelote) and Bennett Foddy (Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, QWOP) about their (with Maxi Boch) latest game, the multi-IGF-nominated open-world hard-walking manchild simulator Baby Steps. We discuss the game's in-house approach to voice acting, balancing challenge with humor, creating (and hiding) a looping environment, telling an honest story about masculinity, including explicit content without getting banned from Steam, rock curation, secrets, and so much more! Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Baby Steps https://www.babystepsgame.com/ Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111942/ My Summer Car https://store.steampowered.com/app/516750/My_Summer_Car/ zk map (for stranger) https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/11388  La belle noiseuse (1991) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101428/ Kelly Reichardt https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0716980/ Perfect Days (2023) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27503384/ The Taste of Things (2023) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19760052/ NYU Game Center Lecture Series Presents Jane Ng https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yWIoRuwpm0  DESPELOTE: FIFTH TRAILER (now on nintendo switch) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXKlgMZ3Jc The Love That Remains (2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33381401/ Solo (Australian ad) 1983 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCkz0JsaU8k Solo Man ad, Australia 1986 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T3RS78Tp58 Solo (Australian ad) 1984 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_1nZZrv8aU  Frog Detective 3 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1171320/Frog_Detective_3_Corruption_at_Cowboy_County/  https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
All Systems Brough - Vertex Dispenser
2026/01/30
We're joined by droqen (The End of Gameplay, Starseed Pilgrim), Darius Kazemi (Tiny Subversions, Harvard Applied Social Media Lab), and Tara Macalister (mathematician, composer) to discuss Vertex Dispenser, the second game in our year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough. Next Month: Kompendium Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Vertex Dispenser https://store.steampowered.com/app/102400/Vertex_Dispenser/ Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/ Four color theorem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_color_theorem Graph coloring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graph_coloring  Starcraft II https://starcraft2.blizzard.com/en-us/ Splatoon https://splatoon.nintendo.com/  Dota 2 https://www.dota2.com/home  Droqen's rare color graph/explanation https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1442554518092120186/1465039921147412510  lots of michael brough games https://smestorp.itch.io/lots-of-michael-brough-games  The Sense of Connectedness https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=16151.0  Kompendium https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/kompendium.html The End of Gameplay https://droqen.itch.io/the-end-of-gameplay Utopia Clicker https://tinysubversions.com/game/utopia/ A Jackpot of Skulls https://brainfruit.studio/games/jackpot _update() Jam https://adamatomic.itch.io/update-jam   https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow
Games of the Year 2025
2026/01/08
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners. Happy new year! Audio edited by Dylan Shumway   Our GOTY Picks (SPOILERS!):   ~~~~~~~~~   Rob 5. Many Nights a Whisper - Deconstructeam, Selkie Harbour 4. Blue Prince - Dogubomb 3. Skat - German Trick Taking Game 2. UFO 50 - Mossmouth 1. Caves of Qud - Freehold Games   Zach Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry Pokemon Legends: Z-A - Game Freak Dragon Warrior IV - Chunsoft (Bonus: CorgiSpace - Adam Saltsman) Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (N64) - Lucasarts 1. Kirby and the Forgotten Land - HAL Laboratory   Doug 5. Don't Rank Cuomo - Robert Yang 4. Harold Holt Video Series (first episode) (YouTube uploads)  - James Ward 3. Baby Steps - Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy 2. Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers - Kart Krew 1. Slice & Dice - Tann   Nick Tall Trails - Brady Soglin Magical Athlete - Takashi Ishida - updated design by Richard Garfield The Attraction - Palace Games San Francisco Hot Streak - Jon Perry 1. Öoo - NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus studio, Tsuyomi   Sarah 5. Consume Me - Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, et al. 4. Blue Prince - Dogubomb 3. Slice & Dice - Tann 2. Tiny Bookshop - neoludic games 1. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes - Simogo   Laura The Roottrees are Dead - Evil Trout Inc. Type Help - William Rous Monkey Around: the Wiggle and Giggle Game - Peaceable Kingdom despelote - Julián Cordero, Sebastian Valbuena Death Wears White - Guillaume Montiage/Asmodee   Andy The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Nintendo Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry Hot Streak - Jon Perry Death Stranding 2: On The Beach - Kojima Productions The Old King's Crown - Pablo Clark   Other picks from guests and listeners: UFO 50 - Mossmouth Consume Me - Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, et al. Öoo - NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus studio, Tsuyomi Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry Blue Prince - Dogubomb Clues By Sam - Ad Artis Oy Magical Athlete - Takashi Ishida - updated design by Richard Garfield Complex 629 - Lillex Studios Donkey Kong Bananza - Nintendo Final Fantasy V - Square Enix Baby Steps - Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy Puzzmo Crosswords - Puzzmo Team & Collaborators Numberblocks RPG (developed in Izzy Kestrels mind) Lost Cities - Reiner Knizia Deadlock - Valve Hexadecipad NES Tetris Tournament - Patrick LeMieux and Stephanie Boluk Star Waspir (from UFO 50) - Mossmouth Lumines Arise - Enhance, Monstars Outer Wilds - Mobius Digital Zexion - Gallant Leaf PEAK - Landfall  Writing essays  Elden Ring Nightreign - FromSoftware Unfair Flips - HEATHER FLOWERS DISCOPUP - Parry Mechanics OVER/UNDER - Sam Sorenson Type Help - William Rous Rain World - Videocult Snekburd - Werxzy 2025 Pico-8 Advent Calendar - organized by Kevin Thompson and bikibird Mol Hunt for 2025 Season of De Mol - TSLOG Discord Q-UP - Everybody House Games Many Nights a Whisper - Deconstructeam, Selkie Harbour Vantage - Stonemaier Games The Old King's Crown - Pablo Clark Hot Streak - Jon Perry Cave Noire - Konami Judo (martial art) Retro handheld hobby Clair Obscur | Expedition 33 - Sandfall Interactive Skin Deep - Blendo Games Peekaboo The Séance of Blake Manor - Spooky Doorway Minni & Max (from UFO 50) - Mossmouth Patapon - Pyramid, Japan Studio Promise Mascot Agency - Kaizen Game Works 10S Forever - owch   Miscellaneous Honorable Mentions: Perfect Dark (N64) - Rare ACTION BUTTON REVIEWS Cyberpunk 2077 Party House of the Day (mod of UFO 50) - Mossmouth Cairn - The Game Bakers   Other topics discussed this episode: Why We're Boycotting Xbox (and Maybe You Should Too) - People Make Games Cosmic Encounter - Fantasy Flight Games Upcoming games packed with hidden secrets! – FuryForged Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective - Space Cowboys Klaverjas - Dutch Trick-taking Game 129: Reinforcing Worldbuilding through Gameplay with Spoils despelote - Official Nintendo Switch Trailer Immersipedia https://eggplant.show/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
All Systems Brough - 868-HACK
2025/12/19
We're joined by Shawn Alexander Allen (Beatdown City Survivors), Cole Wehrle (Root), and Drew Wehrle (Pax Pamir) to discuss the first title in our year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough: 868-HACK. Next Month: Vertex Dispenser   Audio edited by Dylan Shumway   Discussed in this episode:   868-HACK https://868-hack.neocities.org/  Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/  XPerience Studios https://xperiencestudios.org/ "King Me": A Defense of King-Making in Board Game Design https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UraJElx1ebg Leder Games https://ledergames.com/ Wehrlegig Games https://wehrlegig.com/  7-Day Roguelike Jam blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/03/7drl-day-2.html  868-HACK Release Trailer (2015) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMH-yDR35lI  PRACTICE 2013: Michael Brough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4iswqa8r-Q  Michael Brough on balancing prog costs: https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2014/06/868-hack-prog-costs.html  Michael Brough on streak scoring https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/05/score-conditions.html  https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2017/09/streak-scoring-redux.html  James Lantz on 868-HACK https://web.archive.org/web/20160531060339/https://www.decisionproblem.com/inmachinam/?p=175  Dewan https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/439742/dewan  Zaynation Complete UFO50 Alternate History Voicemails https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1298414011368607796/1440018452050870385  Michael OBlivion tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R92zN2899s&t=586s  Rock Paper Shotgun 868-HACK Review (2015) https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/868-hack-review-pc  Michael Brough on passive vs active abilities https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/05/uniform-activations.html  Vivafringe blog post on 868-HACK Secret Level and Good vs. Bad Secrets https://vivafringe.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/lets-spoil-868-hacks-secret-level-and-talk-about-good-secrets-vs-bad-secrets/  Beatdown City Survivors https://store.steampowered.com/app/3383040/Beatdown_City_Survivors/ Molly House & John Company Reprinting https://john-company-molly-house-reprint.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders  Michael Brough on Plan B design notes https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2017/07/planb-notes.html  Brick101 - new Steam guide for Powerups https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3577171247  Spawn count chart: https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1418970536137981962/1425545294032146494  https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
Making It Great with Kimmo Lahtinen (Sektori)
2025/12/12
Nick is joined by guest co-host Chris Plante (Post Games) for a chat with Kimmo Lahtinen (aka gimbll) about his dynamite new twin-stick shooter, Sektori. They discuss the joy of the genre, pursuing excellence in an oversaturated genre, and how personal limitations shape solo development. Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Sektori https://www.gimblll.com/sektori/ Day Repeat Day https://www.gimblll.com/dayrepeatday/  Barbearian  https://www.gimblll.com/barbearian/  Drift and Drive https://www.gimblll.com/driftndrive/  Resogun https://housemarque.com/games/resogun  Outland https://housemarque.com/games/outland  Dead Nation https://housemarque.com/games/dead-nation   Super Stardust Portable https://housemarque.com/games/ssp   Geometry Wars https://store.steampowered.com/app/8400/Geometry_Wars_Retro_Evolved/   Rez Infinite https://www.rezinfinite.com/  Post Games podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/post-games/id1815131711  Besties podcast https://www.themcelroy.family/podcasts/besties/   Limetown podcast https://twoupproductions.com/limetown/podcast  Quest Tabletop Game https://www.adventure.game/   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog
Into the Depths: Caves of Qud Finale
2025/11/26
We're proud to present the final installment of our over-a-year-long Into the Depths series on Caves of Qud, as well as our last episode with our recently retired Eggplant branding. Caves of Qud is a massive open-world roguelike RPG that has been in development since 2007 and Early Access since 2015, and we give it an appropriately epic sendoff with nearly four hours of deep discussion. Doug and Rob, joined by special guest host Star St. Germain, dive into the game's finale and overarching themes with narrative designer Caelyn Sandel and co-creators Jason Grinblat and Brian Bucklew. Be warned, major spoilers await: We discuss the aftermath of the Tomb of the Eaters, the Moon Stair, the [Redacted], Reclamation, We Are [Redacted], plus other juicy details about how this legendary game finally came to an end… and what's in store for it next. Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Brian's must-follow bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/unormal.bsky.social Warm static – Official Caves of Qud wiki https://wiki.cavesofqud.com/wiki/Warm_static Independent Games Summit: What Even is 1.0?: Indefinite Early Access and Live Development https://gdcvault.com/play/1035081/Independent-Games-Summit-What-Even End-to-End Procedural Generation in Caves of Qud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV-DZqdKlnE Tile-Based Map Generation using Wave Function Collapse in 'Caves of Qud' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdCgi9E90jw  Caves of Qud Discord https://discord.com/invite/cavesofqud Eris – Girsh Illustration https://www.reddit.com/r/cavesofqud/comments/1n449aw/girsh_qas_and_qon/ A Mythopoetic Interface Reading of Caves of Qud (Roguelike Celebration 2025) https://www.youtube.com/live/UQNfH9pKWd4?si=jFy9VTRZzLPJHn4W&t=1091  Sproggiwood https://store.steampowered.com/app/311720/Sproggiwood/ Slav Epic Paintings by Alphonse Mucha https://www.muchafoundation.org/en/gallery/themes/theme/slav-epic https://secretlives.games/  https://bsky.app/profile/secretlivesofgames.bsky.social https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog (full rebrand still in progress, lol)    

Podcast reviews

Read The Secret Lives of Games podcast reviews


4.9 out of 5
159 reviews
★★★★★
Bellinater 2025/03/30
Been listening a long time
I remember when this show was about spelunky and I was desperate to listen to people talk about roguelikes. It’s always been a very good games podcast...
★★★★★
Andeez the guy 2024/10/13
Love UFO50
Been listening to this podcast for years. If you’re a design nerd you gotta listen. I hope it never ever goes away. Also, I’d just like to use this ou...
★★★★★
archangels89 2024/09/21
Best game design podcast ever!
Best game design podcast ever!
★★★★★
Seamor Buts 2023/08/18
The best video game design podcast on the internet
The title says it all. Simply the best video game design podcast on the internet. And maybe the best kept secret, because this is what I’ve been sear...
★★★★★
mvelasco07 2023/06/07
A new favorite!
Eggplant has quickly become a favorite in my feed! I love the engaging conversations and insightful content. I truly learn something every time I list...
★☆☆☆☆
turbo plop 2023/07/06
Pronoun Garbage
I love Spelunky. Once I saw there was a podcast about I had to try it out. I listend to the first 40 episodes and jumped around on the Into The Depths...
★★★★★
happy_farts 2022/12/08
Best Video Game Podcast
I’ve listened to way too many video game podcasts and none are as joyful or insightful to me as Eggplant. Absolute critical listening for anyone inter...
★★★★★
Halirin 2022/11/09
Great interviews, discussions, and insight
Some fine young men (and Sarah)making a difference one interview at a time!
★★★★★
Frankieg33 2022/11/07
Unique view into the world of games in general with fantastic hosts
Such an interesting perspective on video games unavailable anywhere else. The hosts are warm and knowledgeable and have excellent taste which makes li...
★★★★★
sharkplains 2022/08/16
Really cool show
The Unwrapped of video games podcasts. 10/10.
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