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In this week's episode, Josh and Kayla discuss the indie horror/spooky games they recommend from this year and what they are looking forward to! 00:00 - Start 3:01 - Housekeeping 7:37 - Easy Mode | What We’ve Been Playing  33:35 - Main Topic | Recs    Catch us live every Monday at 9 PM ET on Twitch! JK! Games! Website: https://jkgamespodcast.com Drop-In Drop-Out: https://dropindropoutpod.com #DropInDropOut #DIDO #indiegames #indies #horror #horrorgames #GamingPodcast #OneMoreGame #JKGames #gaming Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

Jerica and Kayla are catching up on the gaming news they actually care about and video games they are playing right now. fyi Jerica has fallen hard for Splatoon Raiders and its dangerous...while Kayla shares her thoughts on Fishbowl, Beast of Reincarnation, and Leafy Corner! TIMECODES 00:00 – Start 10:45 – Housekeeping 15:17 – Normal Mode: Gaming News 15:32 – Hideo Kojima Turns 63 22:54 – Is PlayStation 6 Going Handheld? 34:24 – Can the PlayStation Handheld Run GTA 6? 39:20 – Double Fine Is Independent Again 41:13 – Amnesia Fortnight Returns 47:53 – Expert Mode: What We’ve Been Playing 48:00 – Splatoon Raiders 57:10 – Fishbowl 1:02:27 – Beast of Reincarnation 1:06:13 – Leafy Corner 1:10:40 – Getting Ready for Control Resonant Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

We break down the biggest gaming news from D23, including Kingdom Hearts IV, the new Kingdom Hearts animated series, and Disney is making a Fortnite ride. Then we discuss what are the best Disney video games of all time? Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments! Timecodes: 00:00 – Start 09:52 – Easy Mode: What We’ve Been Playing 10:40 – Spiritstead & Slots and Diapers 13:20 – Dimhaven 18:00 – Big Walk 26:43 – D23 Gaming News 29:30 – Star Wars: Smugglers Run Comes to Fortnite 35:00 – Kingdom Hearts 55:21 – Expert Mode: Our Favorite Disney Games Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

In this week's episode, Josh and Kayla discuss how narratives are portrayed in books vs games and their love for both.  They also take you through a journey of a bit of their gaming history, their reading history, and Kayla gives you a few recommendations of "if you like this game, read this book".  Timecodes: 00:00 - Start 3:37 - Housekeeping 6:59 - Our Qualifications/Reading History 25:19 - “This or That pt.1” 41:50 - Our Favorite Narratives 1:08:55 - "This or That pt.2" 1:15:35 - Agency (Books vs. Games) 1:23:19 - Worldbuilding (Books vs. Games) Catch us live every Monday at 9 PM ET on Twitch! Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

The trial comes to an end. Last week, the prosecution brought the first wave of evidence against Super Mario Sunshine, arguing that one of Nintendo's most beloved GameCube games is guilty of crimes against the player experience. This week, court is back in session as the prosecution presents new exhibits, surprise witness testimony, and one final argument before the jury reaches a verdict. Can the defense convince the court that Sunshine deserves its place among Nintendo's classics, or will it be found guilty once and for all? Along the way, we also talk about what we've been playing, including The Legend of Korra, The Quarry, Keyboard Warrior, Swan Song, and more. Timecodes: 00:00 - Start 12:20 - Housekeeping 15:08 - Recap: The Trial So Far 17:17 - Housekeeping 19:26 - Easy Mode: What We've Been Playing 20:00 - Jerica Plays The Legend of Korra 24:15 - Josh's Indie Game Roundup 28:01 - Kayla Reviews The Quarry 34:27 - Why Swan Song Is So Underrated 36:56 - Court Is Back In Session 38:55 - The Charges Against Super Mario Sunshine 40:05 - The Defense's Opening Statement 42:45 - New Evidence Presented 47:30 - Andy Cortez Testifies Against Sunshine 52:30 - Witness Testimonies 55:05 - Crimes Against Mario's Fists 1:01:30 - The GameCube Controller Debate 1:04:00 - Closing Statements and Final Verdicts Catch us live every Monday at 9 PM ET on Twitch! Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

Super Mario Sunshine is officially on trial. In Part 1, Jerica steps in as the prosecution, Kayla defends one of her favorite childhood games, and Josh serves as judge as we begin the case against one of Nintendo's most divisive Mario games. The prosecution brings multiple charges against Super Mario Sunshine, including frustrating controls, questionable design decisions, and Nintendo's rushed development timeline. The defense argues that nostalgia isn't the only reason this game deserves its place as one of the best Mario games. Will Sunshine be found guilty? We'll deliver the final verdict in Part 2. Timecodes 00:00 - Start 01:06 - Housekeeping 04:52 - Court Is Now in Session 10:56 - The Charges Against Super Mario Sunshine 13:24 - Crime #1: Crimes Against the Player Experience 18:20 - Exhibit A: Mario Doesn't Feel Like Mario 22:00 - Camera Controls & Confusing Objectives 32:02 - Nintendo Rushed Super Mario Sunshine? 38:39 - Court Recess: Technical Difficulties 39:29 - The Defense Takes the Stand 42:42 - Community Witness Testimony 44:58 - Defense Argument #1: The Vibes 50:04 - Defense Argument #2: Innovation 55:10 - Defense Argument #3: Mario's Community Service 58:57 - Defense Argument #4: The Hideo Kojima Defense Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

This month on One More Game, we're revisiting Super Mario Sunshine to find out if one of our favorite Mario games still holds up over 20 years later. Before diving back into Isle Delfino, we're looking back at our personal history with the GameCube classic, discussing its rushed 18-month development, the creation of FLUDD, and why Nintendo almost gave Mario a water gun. We also talk about the 2020 Super Mario 3D All-Stars release and whether nostalgia has clouded our memories of one of Nintendo's most divisive mainline Mario games. Is Super Mario Sunshine still a masterpiece, or are we blinded by nostalgia? Join us as we kick off our July One More Game series. 00:00 - Intro 03:42 - Housekeeping 11:42 - Our History with Super Mario Sunshine 30:00 - The History of Super Mario Sunshine 40:18 - How FLUDD Was Created 45:00 - Reception & Miyamoto’s Thoughts 57:47 - Will Super Mario Sunshine Still Hold Up? Listen to JK! Games! * JKGamesPodcast.com * DropInDropOutPod.com Join our Discord and let us know: Are you replaying Super Mario Sunshine with us this month? Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

This week on One More Game, Jerica finally rolls credits on Dave the Diver, while Josh experiences the game for the very first time—and neither of us can stop talking about it. We break down what makes Dave the Diver one of the most surprising games we've ever played, why its progression constantly keeps you hooked, our favorite characters, gameplay systems, music, and the few criticisms we have after spending dozens of hours with it. We also share our early impressions of Into the Jungle, discussing why it already feels like one of the best examples of meaningful DLC and why it might be the perfect reason to jump back into one of the best indie games ever made. If you've been waiting for an excuse to play Dave the Diver... this is it. 00:00 Start 01:29 Why We're Revisiting Dave the Diver 04:08 Housekeeping 06:24 First Impressions 08:14 What Is Dave the Diver? 16:26 Why the Characters Work So Well 22:07 The Sea People & World Building 28:14 Gameplay That Never Stops Evolving 42:26 Restaurant Management & Building Your Staff 52:02 Music & Sound Design 57:52 Our Biggest Criticisms 01:04:10 The Surprisingly Great Photo Mode 01:08:32 Into the Jungle DLC Impressions 01:21:57 Could This Become Dave the Diver 2? 01:27:08 Final Scores Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

This week on JK! Games!, Kayla shares her impressions of the new Dave the Diver: In the Jungle DLC before we dive into one of gaming's biggest conversations. With the recently announced Steam Machine price, rumors about future hardware, rising console costs, and more games becoming available across multiple platforms, are console exclusives still worth it? We discuss whether we're reaching our limit on hardware prices, if graphical fidelity still matters, and what it would actually take for us to buy a PS6 or Steam machine. Timecodes 00:00 – Episode Start 07:20 – Easy Mode: Dave the Diver: In the Jungle DLC 11:40 – Into the Jungle Review 19:24 – Normal Mode: Steam Machine & The Cost of Consoles 38:06 – Has Your Relationship with Consoles Changed? 40:39 – Are We Ready for the PS6? 43:37 – Are We Chasing Visual Fidelity Too Much? 48:14 – Do Console Exclusives Still Matter? 1:03:30 – If Every Console Had Every Game... Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

What makes a game feel like summer? This week on JK! Games!, we're diving into one of our favorite seasonal gaming discussions yet. From beach vacations, boating, and water levels, we're exploring the games that instantly transport us to summer. Before that, all three of us have been playing Dave the Diver, and we discuss why it's become one of the most beloved indie games of the last few years. Plus, we talk Mario Sunshine, Tony Hawk, fishing in games, Kioku, the best water levels ever made, and whether water levels actually deserve their bad reputation. What game instantly makes you think of summer? Timecodes 00:00:00 – Start 00:02:35 – Housekeeping 00:05:50 – Easy Mode: Dave the Diver 00:29:30 – Expert Mode: What Makes a Great Summer Game? 00:37:46 – Kioku 00:44:54 – Fishing in Games 00:46:45 – Mario Sunshine 01:00:49 – Tony Hawk 01:04:19 – Water Levels 01:04:30 – Echo the Dolphin 01:23:41 – Outro Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

Summer Game Fest 2026 delivered hundreds of announcements across dozens of showcases, but which games actually stood out? This week on JK! Games!, we're skipping the giant recap and focusing on discoverability. Between Summer Game Fest, Xbox Showcase, State of Play, Future Games Show, Day of the Devs, and more, plenty of incredible games got buried beneath the biggest headlines. We discuss our favorite showcases, biggest surprises, biggest disappointments, whether SGF has a discoverability problem, and the games we think deserved far more attention. Timecodes 00:00:00 – start 00:07:00 – Easy Mode: What We've Been Playing 00:15:27 – Normal Mode: Summer Game Fest 2026 Reactions 00:26:52 – Expert Mode: The Games You Missed Games Featured in Expert Mode Tenebris SomniaApple CrumbleThe Granny Detective SocietyAgni: Village of CalamityFroggy BrewsToko no Himitsu: Ocean of SecretsMr RecordsCommunity Question What game from Summer Game Fest week deserved way more attention, and why? Follow JK! Games! Website: jkgamespodcast.com Network: dropindropoutpod.com Discord: Join through our website to participate in future episodes. Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

Destiny 2 is ending active development, and it got us thinking: what makes someone stick with a live service game for years? This week on JK! Games!, we discuss why some games become part of our daily lives while others never quite click. From Destiny 2 and Final Fantasy XIV to Fortnite, Apex Legends and more, we're breaking down the secret sauce that keeps players coming back. We also discuss whether live service games have become too difficult for new players to jump into and what publishers owe players when these games eventually reach the end of their lives.  Timestamps 00:00:00 – Start 00:21:46 – Housekeeping 00:27:53 – Easy Mode: What We've Been Playing 00:39:29 – Normal Mode: News We Care About 00:49:49 – Expert Mode: What Makes Someone Commit to a Live Service Game? Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

This is JK! Games! — the gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we care about. Welcome back to One More Game, our monthly video game book club series where we break down games together at your pace and dive deep into the moments, themes, characters, and anything else that stuck with us after credits. This month’s One More Game is Mixtape, the musical narrative adventure from Beethoven and Dinosaur and Annapurna Interactive. From skateboarding through dreamy suburban streets to awkward teen memories...Mixtape feels like looking through your yearbook. Before our full review, we also build our own personal “Mixtapes” by picking songs that defined our high school experiences. Timecodes: 00:00:00 - Start 00:08:18 - Our Mixtapes 00:26:40 - What did we expect? 00:37:40 - Best Character? 00:44:20 - What stood out first? 00:54:20 - Is it like Life is Strange? 01:02:20 - Depression and Great Story Telling 01:11:00 - Fourth Wall is broken 01:15:00 - Dino Park 01:18:20 - Cabin Stash 01:23:43 - Slater's Room 01:31:30 - Party Time! 01:38:35 - End Scenes and thoughts 01:48:44 - Final Review Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

This is JK! Games! — the gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we care about. This week we’re diving into the world of shop sims and store management games. From cozy bookstores and pizza shops what actually makes these games so addictive? We break down our favorite shop sim mechanics, the games we love, the features that instantly annoy us and what we want more of. Plus, we talk Marathon’s updates, LEGO Batman becoming the highest rated LEGO game ever, and celebrate a new Plants vs. Zombies partnership giveaway. Timecodes 00:00 – Intro 07:00 – Housekeeping & Plants vs. Zombies Giveaway 13:47 – Easy Mode: What We’ve Been Playing 29:16 – Normal Mode: Marathon & LEGO Batman News 39:45 – Expert Mode: What Makes a Great Shop Sim? 52:30 – Shop Sim Pet Peeves & Bad Mechanics 01:03:20 – Our Dream Store Sim Games 01:14:10 – Community Write-Ins & Wrap Up Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky

This is JK! Games! — the gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we care about. And if you’ve been playing along with us in One More Game, you know we’re all about breaking down the games that actually stay with you. May the Fourth be with you. This week, we’re diving deep into Star Wars games — from the ones that made us fall in love with the galaxy, to the underrated gems you probably missed, and the games still sitting in our backlog. We’re talking classics, surprises, and the Star Wars games that deserved way more love. Whether you grew up with these or are just getting into them… you’re part of this conversation. Timecodes 00:00 – Start 02:02 – Housekeeping 10:30 – Normal Mode: News We Care About (Influencers shaping player opinions discussion) 25:13 – Expert Mode: Star Wars Games Our History with Star Wars Games 43:00 – Standout Games & Franchises (KOTOR, Battlefront, Jedi series, more) 59:30 – Underrated Star Wars Games 1:13:00 – Backlog Games We Need to Play Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch  Youtube Insta Bsky