Girl Mode

CW: Mentions of alcoholism in the Cabernet discussion (specifically from around 34:45 to 38:20)This week we’re discussing Cabernet, a game with a lot to say about the social construction of vampires, the cyclical nature of authoritarianism, and blood play.Editor’s note: I cut out us deciding not to discuss a game because we haven't played enough but left a few vague mentions of it in. It’s Cage of Roses, by one of our favorite VN developers, ebi-hime, so it’s probably good. I could go back and clean up the edit but who has the time?Timestamps(02:00) Cabernet(13:30) More explicit story spoilers for Cabernet(40:30) Vampyr(47:00) Bloodlines(54:20) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. Avowed, a smorgasbord of vampire recommendations)Mentioned this week:Secrets of the Voice Acting Process in CabernetVAMPYR: A COVID-19 Pandemic PerspectiveTheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Please take some time to consider how you can help trans people, immigrants, and others targeted by our fascist government:Call your elected officials to oppose anti-trans, anti-immigrant policies. It’s so easy, we promise!Three big lists of trans advocacy orgs you should donate to and volunteer withHow to protect yourself and your neighbors from ICEThe Trans Literature Preservation ProjectLots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and moreHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

02-26

01:09:50

We’ve watched the State of Play and played a bunch of games this week, so naturally we start off with an update on the 2005 Fantastic Four movie before getting to any of that.Timestamps(01:05) We’re a Fantastic Four podcast now(04:00) State of Play(08:20) The ones we’re kind of excited about(26:05) The State of Play(ing Overwatch)(34:40) Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog(39:50) Of the Devil(44:20) Lost Records(54:00) Possible extremely vague Lost Records spoilers(59:10) Slightly less vague Lost Records ending spoilers(1:02:30) End of Lost Records spoilers(1:03:20) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. Death Becomes Her, Moves of the Diamond Hand, Birds of Prey, Ted Lasso)TheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Please take some time to consider how you can help trans people, immigrants, and others targeted by our fascist government:Call your elected officials to oppose anti-trans, anti-immigrant policies. It’s so easy, we promise!Three big lists of trans advocacy orgs you should donate to and volunteer withHow to protect yourself and your neighbors from ICEThe Trans Literature Preservation ProjectTrans Joy Game JamLA Mutual Aid Network fire resourcesLots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

02-19

01:21:23

This week, we spend an unbelievable amount of time talking about the Fantastic Four before remembering we’re supposed to be a video game podcast and pivoting to World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV. Then, Sony said we’re not allowed to play Elden Ring, so we talk about some indies we’ve played instead.Timestamps(00:20) An incredibly long tangent on the Fantastic Four(13:35) A shorter tangent on the Mets(15:25) MMO corner with WoW and FFXIV(30:55) Sony tells gamers to go touch grass(35:20) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. The Roottrees Are Dead, The Mountain Is As It Always Was, Monarch)Mentioned this week:The Fantastic Four trailer we talk so much aboutIt’s weird that HERBIE is hereWoW housing newsChristine Mi on itchEmerging from the Loam in worm girlfriend dating simulator - dotzipTheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Please take some time to consider how you can help trans people, immigrants, and others targeted by our fascist governmentCall your elected officials to oppose anti-trans, anti-immigrant policiesThree big lists of trans advocacy orgs you should donate to and volunteer withHow to protect yourself and your neighbors from ICEThe Trans Literature Preservation ProjectTrans Joy Game JamLots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and moreLGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

02-12

51:50

BioWare is 30 years old and collapsing (relatable amirite) so we’re talking about the legacy, decline, and doubtful future of a studio whose work we’ve both really enjoyed this week. Then, Willa has brainworms for a new anime movie and Robin has two certified sicko games to share with the class.Timestamps(01:45) Complaining/reminiscing about BioWare(33:50) Two quick, less depressing shoutouts for the Video Game History Foundation and Trans Joy Jam(39:00) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. The Colors Within, Eternal Strands, Techno Banter)Mentioned this week:BioWare Studio UpdateDigital Archive at VGHF LibraryArimia’s blogTrans Joy Jam 2025TheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Please take some time to consider how you can help:Call your elected officials to oppose anti-trans, anti-immigrant policies. It’s so easy, we promise!Three big lists of trans advocacy orgs you should donate to and volunteer withHow to protect yourself and your neighbors from ICEThe Trans Literature Preservation ProjectTrans Joy Game JamLots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

02-05

01:00:48

This week, we played the sequel to one of our mutual favorite RPGs, and one of our most anticipated games of the year. Listen in to hear how that went, and be wary of spoilers! Check the timestamps! Take care, love you, bye.Timestamps(02:00) Non-spoiler Citizen Sleeper 2 thoughts(46:00) Citizen Sleeper 2 spoilers start here!!!(1:26:45) Citizen Sleeper 2 spoilers end here!!!(1:32:00) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week?TheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Please take some time to consider how you can help trans people, immigrants, and others targeted by our fascist government:Call your elected officials to oppose anti-trans, anti-immigrant policies. It’s so easy, we promise!Three big lists of trans advocacy orgs you should donate to and volunteer withHow to protect yourself and your neighbors from ICEThe Trans Literature Preservation ProjectTrans Joy Game JamLA Mutual Aid Network fire resourcesLots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

01-30

01:47:21

Since there’s no big news from Nintendo or anything this week, we take this episode to go over last year’s gaming predictions and try to correctly guess more than one thing that will happen in 2025. Then, as you could have predicted, Robin has no memory of the past week and Willa talks about yuri.Timestamps(01:15) Our great 2024 gaming predictions(19:00) Our hopefully better 2025 gaming predictions(35:20) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week?Mentioned this weekThe Worst Game Jam 2025TheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Here are some links that can help you get started:LA Mutual Aid Network fire resourcesLots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

01-15

47:57

A new year is upon us, and everyone’s decided to keep making video games. This week, we ease into 2025 by running down some of the games we’re most excited about playing in the coming year.Timestamps(01:30) The Worst Garbage game jam announcement!!(05:30) Our 2025 most anticipated games(56:00) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week?Mentioned this weekThe Worst Game Jam 2025Metroid Prime has been making gamers love reading since 2002TheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Here are some links that can help you get started:Lots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

01-08

01:08:59

It’s time once again for the most important and sincere awards show in all of gaming: The Girlies! Listen in as we hand out awards new and old, from Best Game That’s Just Mid to Best Inanimate Object. Thanks to everyone who started listening or stuck with us in 2024! Happy New Year!!!Timestamps(00:30) What are we doing here?(02:40) The awards begin(1:39:45) GOTY discussionMentioned this weekThe thing they say they’re mad at never actually mattersThe Way They Walk in LiberlUFO 50 review: the 8-bit era returns in this fantastic retro collectionSolace State and the Return of Bio-awareness in CyberpunkI Have No Mouth and I Must Scream: The Terror of TamagotchiGrief and Grace Along Route ZeroPlanescape Torment: Never meet other people’s heroesAgeism in Games: Stop Calling Old Games Outdated: A Self-Review of AnodyneTheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Here are some links that can help you get started:Lots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

01-01

02:06:06

There’s no way most of you little freaks ended up on the nice list this year, but we’re bringing you a gift anyway. For this edition of our annual game swap, we’re talking about 1000xResist and Lovely Lady RPG, two games with so little in common I can’t even write a cute little quip comparing them here. Timestamps(02:30) 1000xResist(1:34:30) Fixer’s Song by Alex Mah & A Sum(1:35:10) Lovely Lady RPG(2:37:20) Untitled by Lutzl & Digital Poppy(2:37:55) Willa and Robin haven’t been up to anything else this weekMentioned this week1000xResist Lovely Lady RPGTalking for 5 Hours About 1000xResist - dotzipTheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Here are some links that can help you get started:Lots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12-25

02:45:01

The Game Awards found some exciting new ways to be disappointing this year, but Fumito Ueda also announced a game so who can really be that mad? We talk through this year’s “awards show” then catch up with our mutual obsession, a game about fishing and wearing dresses.Timestamps(00:30) You do not have to hand it to Geoff(1:01:00) What else have Willa and Robin been up to? (feat. Infinity Nikki, Reverse 1999, Caves of Qud)Mentioned this weekThe Game Awards for Games Who Can't Afford the Game AwardsNext week we’ll be discussing 1000xResist and Lovely Lady RPG!TheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Here are some links that can help you get started:Lots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12-18

01:32:33

We watched the PC Gaming Show as an amuse-bouche for The Game Awards, and found a few games to pique our interest plus one to pique our anger. Then we talk through a handful of games we’re either having fun with or anticipate doing so, and end by announcing our plans for the rest of the year, including what games we'll be discussing at length in the final episode of 2024!Timestamps(01:00) The ups and downs of the PC Gaming Show(26:10) Toem 2 & Prisma sure look cool(30:50) Dungeon crawling in Dungeon Antiqua (37:20) Having fun being nice in Infinity Nikki(46:20) Getting down to business (and announcing our annual game swap selections)(58:00) What else have Willa and Robin been up to? (feat. Sakura Quest, Girls Band Cry)Mentioned this weekIs it Wizardry? Is it Final Fantasy? No! It's Dungeon AntiquaKhara, Sunrise Animate Gundam GQuuuuuuX TV Series1000xResistLovely Lady RPGFinding the You Inside in Psychroma - dotzipTheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Here are some links that can help you get started:Lots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12-11

01:08:55

We’re both sleepy from cooking and/or eating big meals this week, so we’re meandering through a discussion of Fantasian Neo Dimension, Sony’s latest bad idea, and Ewan McGregor’s penis.Timestamps(00:40) Willa’s gonna tell you a little bit about Thanksgiving(05:15) Fantasian Neo Dimension and Final Fantasy chat(22:55) Arcane Season 2 (is bad)(32:50) The PS5P(38:30) Slitterhead minute(41:00) What else have Willa and Robin been up to? (feat. The Golden Compass, Velvet Goldmine, Stonetop)Mentioned this weekJapanese RPGs are thriving this decade, so why isn't Final Fantasy?Listen to Mel StoneTheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Here are some links that can help you get started:Lots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12-04

55:31

This week we’re mainly talking about Final Fantasy XIV Mobile and The Game Awards. Guess which one we get really riled up about. Timestamps(01:50) FF14 Mobile (22:20) An incredibly cynical look at The Game Awards(52:40) The Indie Game Awards seem cool-ish(57:30) What else have Willa and Robin been up to? (feat. Threshold, Sudden Death, Neurokino Retrograde, Wicked)Mentioned this weekLiz Ryerson on The Indie Game AwardsThresholdSudden DeathNeurokino RetrogradeTheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Here are some links that can help you get started:Lots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11-27

01:20:23

This week, we’re doing Game Awards discourse, playing a couple new and not-so-new games, and showing preferential treatment toward one listener with a return to our email pile.Timestamps(01:15) Who handles the fire in your relationship?(4:40) It’s Game Awards discourse season!(23:00) Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is fine(27:10) Dragon Quest 3 (but not the one you’re thinking of)(35:50) Sorry We’re Closed looks better than it feels(42:35) Reading Ashley’s email(1:05:30) What else have Willa and Robin been up to? (feat. Look Back, riding bikes, generic fantasy)Mentioned this weekStunning Anime Look Back Appreciates the Work of ArtWilla’s blogTheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Here are some links that can help you get started:Lots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11-20

01:16:32

Listen. We’re not doing great and we suspect you’re not either. After a brief chat about the election and Willa’s recent layoff, we dive into Mouthwashing, an emotionally challenging game that made us both feel like shit and is undoubtedly one of the year’s best. If you’re looking for something positive to do with your energy after you’ve processed the results of the election, check the end of the shownotes for some hopefully helpful links.Timestamps(00:30) What a week it’s been (derogatory)(01:20) Hey please take care of each other, things are pretty fucked(07:45) The second annual layoff spectacular(11:05) Cheering ourselves up with Mouthwashing, the saddest game ever made(25:20) Mouthwashing spoilers begin [CW: mentions of sexual assault, suicide, alcoholism](55:20) Spoilers for Silent Hill 2 and Signalis, somehow(1:04:00) The Mouthwashing scene that gave Robin a mental breakdown(1:11:30) What else have Willa and Robin been up to? (feat. Dungeon Inn, Witching Stone, Arcane season 2)Mentioned this weekTen Free Ebooks for Getting FreeThis post from Rowan ZeoliSome help changing your name and gender markerWilla’s blogTheWorstGarbage.onlineJoin The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Here are some links that can help you get started:Lots of resources from Critical DistanceFind local mutual aid groupsGet free masks and Covid-19 testsHuge spreadsheets of mutual aid, justice orgs, and morePrisonculture shares a lot of good resources on BlueskyHow to Change Your Legal Name and Gender 101LGBTQ+ Healthcare DirectoryLet us know what we should add to this list! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.