Pixelated Playgrounds

In this episode of Pixelated Playgrounds, Bryan and Josh dive into the cozy corner of gaming with two titles redefining what it means to “play” in the background: Rusty’s Retirement, the low-screen-real-estate Stardew that keeps your crops thriving while you multitask, and Spirit City: Lo-Fi Sessions, a beautiful blend of productivity and play that turns your to-do list into an aesthetic experience. We’ll unpack how these games fit (or don’t fit) into our lives, explore why ambient gaming is on the rise, and debate whether these functional, low-pressure titles are the future of the cozy game trend or just a passing vibe. Along the way, we’ll touch on the fascinating stories of their developers, the design philosophies behind these multitask-friendly experiences, and how they blur the line between tool and entertainment. Tune in as we break down what makes these experiences so compelling even as they push you away to go do other things.Three Word Reviews:Spirit City: Lo Fi SessionsBryan - Chill Life AdminJosh - A Different DrummerRusty's RetirementBryan - Second Screen StardewJosh - Chill Garden PartyMusic Used:To the Beach by Mondo LoopsVermillion Cliffs by Odem MedoLast River by InternalEyeWhen Stars Lit Up the Sky by lost.minddLars Asger - CarrotLars Asger - March of the MachinesLars Asger - Seven Minus TwoLars Asger - Sun BeamLars Asger - StreamEarly Garden - Secret MessagesCoastal Moods - MujjO

In this episode of Pixelated Playgrounds Bryan and Josh explore Metal Garden, a short but atmospheric indie FPS from solo Croatian developer Alexandra Herout aka Tinerasoft. Set in a crumbling megastructure reclaimed by nature, the game blends old-school shooting mechanics with immersive environmental storytelling, subtle lore, and haunting mid-2000s aesthetics. Ammo scarcity, limb damage, and weighty weapons make every encounter tense, while double-jump platforming and cryptic logs reward exploration with glimpses into a forgotten Dyson-scale civilization. The game’s sparse dialogue and ambient sound design evoke a sense of isolation and scale far beyond the game's runtime. So tune in as we dive into Metal Garden's bleak beauty and brutal combat while pondering the lingering question: Why do we keep descending?Three Word Reviews:Bryan - Subtlety is KeyJosh - Small Rusty Flower

In this episode of Pixelated Playgrounds, Bryan and Josh plunge into the pachinko-powered chaos of Peglin and Ballionaire: Two roguelikes that reimagine physics-based randomness as strategic gameplay. From Peglin’s fantasy-infused, Slay-the-Spire-meets-Peggle mechanics to Ballionaire’s neon-drenched, idle arcade spectacle, they discuss how each title transforms the humble falling ball into a vehicle for experimentation, synergies, and absurd score-chasing. Along the way, they dive into the history and design choices behind each game, compare their approaches to randomness and agency, and ask whether these games elevate pachinko or merely dress it up in genre trappings. It’s a rollicking discussion full of crit builds, capitalist satire, and enough bouncing orbs to make Peggle proud.Three Word Reviews:Peglin: Bryan - Adaptation, Not Evolution Josh - Ball and ChainBallionaire: Bryan - Overwhelming Chaotic SpectacleJosh - Flashy, Shiny, Flat

In this episode of Pixelated Playgrounds, Bryan and Josh dive into Umurangi Generation, the vibrant, potent, and subversive photography game from Māori developer Naphtali Faulkner. Set in a near-future Aotearoa (New Zealand) under invasion and authoritarian control, the game asks players not to save the world, but to document its unraveling. Bryan and Josh explore how Faulkner’s anger at systemic failure, fueled by the bushfires and pandemic response, shapes the game’s unapologetic aesthetics, themes, and searing environmental storytelling. From graffiti-covered skate parks to militarized train stations, every frame you capture is an indictment, not an escape.Bryan and Josh also discuss Umurangi Generation’s unique take on photography as play, protest, and preservation. Through its deliberately clunky movement, time-bound challenges, and varied levels, the game interrogates the tension between art and commerce, beauty and collapse. As Māori language and culture saturate its design, Umurangi Generation’s world feels deeply personal and localized, yet globally resonant. This isn’t a story of revolution or heroism—it’s a quiet, furious insistence on witnessing collapse. Join us as we unpack how Umurangi Generation turns a camera into a weapon of truth in a world on the brink.Show Notes:Interview containing the Quote Bryan shared: The Umurangi Generation is Asking You To CareThree Word Reviews:Bryan - Documenting the FallJosh - Afraid of Judgement

In this episode of Pixelated Playgrounds, Bryan and Josh jack into the neon-drenched, yet utterly dismal world of Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red’s ambitious yet turbulent foray into dystopian sci-fi. Based on Mike Pondsmith’s classic tabletop RPG, the game places players in the boots of V, a mercenary struggling to survive in the megacity of Night City while sharing brain space with a digital ghost. From bugs to bikes, dialogue quirks to faction dynamics, Josh and Bryan dissect how Cyberpunk 2077 blends cyber-noir tropes, world-building, and RPG systems, even as it wrestles with its own lofty promises and troubled launch.We’d be remiss to leave out the game’s deep character cast and the player-driven story arcs that branch through romances, alliances, and explosive conclusions. They also break down the nuts and bolts of gameplay, from combat builds and progression to stealth, hacking, and high-octane firefights. Along the way, they examine the design of Night City itself—its architectural storytelling, traversal options, and sense of place. Whether you're a Nomad, Corpo, or Street Kid, this spoiler-filled discussion digs into the chrome and circuitry of what makes Cyberpunk 2077 flawed, fascinating, and, at times, pretty preem.Three Word Reviews:Bryan - Necessary Human ElementJosh - The Spaces Between

In this episode Josh and Bryan have a relatively timely (for them) discussion of 2025’s surprise indie hit Blue Prince! Blue Prince puts you in the shoes of Simon P. Jones, a boy who recently willed the Mt. Holly Estate, a mansion owned by his deceased great uncle Herbert S. Sinclair. There’s one catch: Simon must locate a hidden 46th room within the mansion in order to secure his inheritance. In addition to this challenge the estate’s rooms continually reset and re-arrange each day. What starts as a card drafting puzzle asking the player to connect the right rooms to open the way to the 46th room evolves quickly into a nested and broad ranging puzzle to unravel the mysteries of the Mt. Holly Estate and the family that has occupied it.Bryan and Josh very much enjoyed their time unravelling the game’s puzzles, but came away with differing opinions on how it made use of its intricate backstory, mind-bending puzzles, and random generation elements. Overall, both agree that this was a game worth experiencing for the novel ways it combined its gameplay focuses and storytelling methods. So grab your magnifying glass and get ready to investigate the Mt. Holly Hill Estate with Josh and Bryan as they discuss Blue Prince!Three Word Reviews:Bryan - Roguelike Epistemic CrisisJosh - Puzzle Versus Roguelike

In this podcast Josh and Bryan hit the road! … And the road hits back! While crisscrossing the fictional countryside in YCJY Games’ Keep Driving both of our hosts recorded their fair share of stories and this podcast was the perfect opportunity to share them with each other, and with all of you! Borrowing inspiration from Oregon Trail and injecting a healthy dose of 2000’s era coming-of-age nostalgia, Keep Driving generates stories that will inevitably resonate players of a certain vintage.Aside from being a potent ‘interesting-situation’ generator, Keep Driving is also a compelling resource management game as the player strives to keep all the needs of your driver and passengers topped up while battling against the trials and tribulations on the road. Flat Tires, Check Engine Lights, and Low Gas indicators come for us all, but Bryan and Josh did their best to keep moving down the road. So listen in as we recount our stories of life behind the wheel…Three Word Reviews:Bryan - Down Memory LaneJosh - Farewell to YouthSongs Used:Westkust - SwirlCrystal Boys - GoldCrystal Boys - NightlifeZimmer Grandioso - HometownsZimmer Grandioso - Cowboy PillsWestkust - 0700Fucking Werewolf Asso - The Tito Beltran MassacreWestkust - DrownWestkust - WeekendsHoly Now - Wake Up

Bryan and Josh recently took off the gloves and picked up a katana to play Shogun Showdown, a kinetic turn-based tactics game that has you dispatching waves of enemy warriors through careful positioning and timely deployment of combat skills. Sporting roguelike and deckbuilding elements along with a strong Japanese-inspired pixel art aesthetic, Shogun Showdown is surprisingly deep for operating on a 1-dimentional battlefield. Like most of the guys’ favorite roguelikes, the game allows the player a great deal of choice in how you build out your own ninja and each run is always giving the player a new view into how to best take out your samurai and ninja foes. So dodge that incoming ninja star and tune into Bryan and Josh’s discussion on the finer points of ninja tactics as they discuss Shogun Showdown!Three Word Reviews:Bryan - Combat Dancing PoemJosh - One Dimensional Greatness

You're on a path in the woods, and at the end of that path is a cabin. And in the basement of that cabin is a Podcast… I mean Princess. In this episode Bryan, Josh, and Clint steel their nerves and descend the staircase to discuss Slay the Princess. Developed by Black Tabby Games and released for PC in 2024, Slay the Princess was developed as a side project to support the ongoing development of their other game Scarlet Hollow. And what a side project it is! Boasting a dizzying variety of possible outcomes, Slay the Princess is a fascinatingly broad and cerebral visual novel that explores a lot of interesting themes in a very economical approach to storytelling and a stylish black and white hand-drawn aesthetic. However, what starts as merely a provocative 4th wall breaking narrative eventually gives way to something even more surreal and captivating. So grab your dagger… I mean headphones… and listen in as the guys explore the multitude of ways to Slay the Princess! But remember: Its a love story…Show Notes:The Egg by Andy WeirThree Word Reviews:Bryan - Personality Uncertainty PrincipleJosh - Power of StoryClint - What Just Happened

Have you ever wanted to play a turn-based city builder that’s inspired by Luck be a Landlord and Islanders? That’s drenched in a stylish cyberpunk aesthetic and boasts intricate tactical depth? One with a dark sense of humor and killer hip-hop inspired soundtrack? Well you’re in luck! Josh’s latest game, Neongarten, is releasing on April 22nd, 2025 on Steam! As is tradition, Bryan and Josh sat down to record a podcast about the game, its inspirations, and the process of creating it. Neongarten was a novel experience for Josh to develop for a variety of reasons, not least of which was working in 3d and a new engine, Godot. This time around Josh also partnered with Goblinz Publishing to take the game to the next level. With the initial prototype finishing up just ahead of the birth of his second child, Neongarten has been a game that’s grown alongside his own family and alongside his own craft as a game developer. So listen in as Bryan interviews Josh about how he riffed, fixed, and remixed his way to creating the game he envisioned those many months ago, and check it out when it releases on April 22nd, 2025!Show Notes:Neongarten Steam PageGoblinz PublishingTinyMass GamesNeongarten’s Composer, Joel Kent, is part of AudimusDex is the album that helped inspire the game

In this episode Bryan and Josh welcome host of Tales from the Backlog, Dave Jackson, to discuss Persona 4 Golden! Bryan’s played Persona 5, Josh has played Persona 3, so now they’re meeting in the middle and asked Dave to join for a wide ranging discussion that starts with an analysis of the studio’s evolving approach to game design then pivots to a deep dive of Persona 4 Golden’s characters, combat mechanics, and broader themes. The Persona series is an interesting game for multiple reasons, not least of which are its design priorities which focus on atypical areas such as UI design and Music, and writing. By the same token analyzing a social / life sim game from 2008 in 2025 is not without its pitfalls including the sometimes clumsy handling of representation and other social issues. Even so, the artistry of the game’s stylish design and writing, combined with a unique take on themes of personal growth rooted in Jungian psychology, are certainly with the price of admission.Show Notes:Dave’s Podcast - Tales from the BacklogPersona 4 ReincarnationThree Word Reviews:Bryan - Experience Myriad TruthsJosh - Solid Detective StoryDave - Jungian Scooby Doo

In this atypical episode of Pixelated Playgrounds Josh and Bryan talk through a couple of “Game Poems”. A “Game Poem” (as defined by Josh) is “An experimental/artsy/short game or some combination therein. A game that the player can play once, for five or thirty minutes, and experience a distinct sort of message." Two such games are Every Day the Same Dream, released in 2009 by Molleindustria and Every Day the Same Dream released in 2020 by Cecile Richard. Every Day the Same Dream bills itself as a game about alienation and refusal of labour, while Under A Star Called Sun is described as a sci-fi bitsy game about grieving, holding on to fading memories, and carrying the world on your shoulders. Both are able to be played in 5-10 minutes or less and are readily available online, so if you’ve ever been wary to listen because of our spoiler policy, now is the time to subvert it!Bryan and Josh also take a tangent into the history of browser games and reminisce a bit on some of their favorites, so boot up your ancient laptop that still has a running version of Flash and listen in to this episode on Game Poems!Show Notes:Every Day the Same DreamUnder A Star Called SunMolleindustriaThe Actor and the Audience by Josh GaleckiI Am Sitting in a Room by Alvin LucierThree Word Reviews:Under A Star Called SunBryan - Smelling Digital RosesJosh - Actor and AudienceEvery Day The Same DreamBryan - Potent Fading MemoryJosh - Treachery of Memory

Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel Horizon Forbidden West have had an uphill battle to become some of the most successful AAA open world games. The first entry released alongside The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and the follow-up came out just ahead of Elden Ring, two games that are not just direct competitors for the Horizon series, but also genre re-defining titles. Yet, much like the series’ protagonist, Aloy, the Horizon games have persisted. They have eventually found their audience and have delivered some of the best Open World gaming the current generation has seen as of 2025. While the Horizon games on their face are a visual feast focused on hunting down robotic dinosaurs in a stunning post apocalypse, what lies beneath the surface is what kept Bryan and Clint coming back for more. A sweeping sci-fi story with ambitious and surprising writing drives Horizon’s cybernetic heart forward. That and a surprisingly deep combat system that forces you to use all parts of the robotic buffalo. In this podcast Clint and Bryan discuss the sweeping story told across both Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West before focusing in on the finer points of the more recent entry. So grab your bow and spear and tune your focus in to Pixelated Playgrounds as we discuss the Horizon Series!Three Word Reviews:Bryan - Defying Human NatureClint - Giant Robot Dinosaurs!

The indie game space is full of creative and inspiring projects. Projects that spark joy. Projects that make you feel a sense of awe, or joy, or wonder…. and then there are some that are just plain unhinged. In this episode Bryan and Josh discuss two games that are very different, but equally unhinged: Arctic Eggs and CLICKOLDING.Arctic Eggs by the Water Museum puts you in the shoes of a nameless, faceless, drone in a post apocalyptic antarctica with but one remit: cook eggs for the people. From there it… goes places….CLICKOLDING by Strange Scaffold was originally on Josh and Bryan’s list to cover in the Halloween timeframe but instead of being scary it was more just unsettling, so they held off to find an equally oddball game to discuss in tandem. The purpose of the game is simple: The man in the corner of your hotel room wants you to click a tally counter and he wants to watch you click it. Its a surreal and sometimes upsetting experience that takes only 40 minutes or so to complete.So sit down, have an egg, and start clicking as we talk through the deeply strange experiences of Arctic Eggs and CLICKOLDING!Three Word Reviews:Arctic EggsBryan - End Times VibingJosh - A Compelling GravityCLICKOLDINGBryan - Clicking Through ItJosh - A Harsh Light

There was probably no greater end of the year gaming surprise in 2024 than the release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Clint’s skepticism about swapping out Harrison Ford for Troy Baker was only matched by Bryan’s confusion about what this game was supposed to be drawing comparisons to Dishonored and Hitman, while being developed by the studio behind Wolfenstein, Machine Games, and the producer of the last several Elder Scrolls games, Todd Howard. It turns out Baker delivered the performance of the year as Indiana Jones and the game itself turned out to be a sprawling and pitch perfect first person 3d adventure game with stealth, puzzling, and a not-insignificant amount of using improvised weaponry against fascists: Truly the most appropriate thing for Indiana Jones to be doing.So Bryan, Josh, and Clint set off on their respective journeys to uncover the mysteries of the Great Circle. Clint’s took a long a circuitous route through all manner of optional side content, Bryan’s was a bit more on the straight and narrow, and Josh’s ended a bit prematurely. Regardless of where they ended all three of our hosts enjoyed the sites, sounds, and hi-jinks they got up to along the way. So pull up your old timey phonograph and listen in the guys discuss Indiana Jones and the Great Circle!Three Word Reviews:Bryan - Museum Worthy AdventureJosh - Scenes and SignpostsClint - An Instant Classic

Happy New Year! This year Bryan, Josh, and Clint tried something a bit different… which every other video game podcast on earth is already doing: We recorded our Games of the Year for 2024! So listen in as the guys discuss the top 5 games they enjoyed in 2024 among others and take a look forward to 2025 and just generally chill out and reminisce on a year of gaming!Here’s what we talked about:Look back at 2024 / Plans for 2025Games we have our eyes on to coverGames you missed in 2024 and still want to playThe Top 5’s5’s4’s3’s2’s1’sHonrable Mentions— — — Spoiler Wall — — — ...................The 5’sClint Game #5 - Stellar BladeJosh Game #5 - DotAGEBryan Game #5 - Metaphor: ReFantazioThe 4’sClint Game #4 - Black Myth: WukongJosh Game #4 - Tiny GladeBryan Game #4 - Final Fantasy 7 RebirthThe 3’s Clint Game #3 - Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2Josh Game #3 - ArcoBryan Game #3 - Elden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeThe 2’s Clint Game #2 - Final Fantasy 7 RebirthJosh Game #2 - Animal WellBryan Game #2 - 1000xResistThe 1’s Clint Game #1 - Helldivers 2Josh Game #1 - 1000xResistBryan Game #1 - Unicorn Overlord

Black Myth Wukong is perhaps the least ‘under the radar’ game to have ever caught Clint and Bryan by surprise. As the breakout single player offering from GameScience, a team of former Tencent employees hailing from China, Wukong is certainly a game that is entering the 3rd person action genre during a moment of particularly stringent demands for both novelty and quality. Luckily for us, Black Myth: Wukong succeeded on both counts to provide an extremely polished action game experience borrowing some mechanical flourishes from the Soul-like genre and infusing a high level of care for its source material: the 500 year old Chinese classic, Journey to the West. While neither Clint nor Bryan have much exposure to that source material aside from what has been adapted previously to suit western audiences (see Dragon Ball, etc.) both were quite impressed with the cinematic quality on display with this particular adaption. So join Clint and Bryan for a quick drink from the gourd as they chat about the experience and spectacle that is Black Myth: Wukong!Three Word Reviews:Bryan - Senational Simian StorytellingClint - Top-notch Monkey Business

In this episode, Josh and Bryan don their pixelated sombreros and head into the Mesoamerican wilderness to check out the latest in indie tactical greatness with Arco! Boasting some snappy writing, inventive tactical gameplay, and truly gorgeous pixel artistry, Arco has a lot on offer. Arco is the product of Polish pixel artist Franek Nowotniak (one of Josh’s pixel artist idols), Australian game developer Max Cahill, Spanish composer and sound designer José Ramón "Bibiki" García, and Mexican developer Antonio "Fayer" Uribe, and published by Panic Inc. While it initially did not have the commercial success the team hoped for, it has begun to quickly rack up awards and nominations as we near the end of 2024. It can be tough to break through in today’s indie landscape, with so many high quality games coming out every week, but Arco is beyond a shadow of a doubt a game that is worth your time. From the compelling “inverse Western” story which conveys a unique perspective on the history of the colonization of the Americas, to the novel tactical mechanics which integrate player choice in a profound and intriguing way, you will not find many games that feel as tight and well integrated as Arco. So saddle up and join Bryan and Josh on their quest for revenge, er I mean, discussion as they journey through Arco!Three Word Reviews:Bryan - Personal Pixelated Parables Josh - Fresh Tactical Take

This episode Clint, Josh, and Bryan pledged their eternal service to the Emperor and suited up in some fancy new blue power armor to defend humanity in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2! While only one of us has played the series’ first entry, the Warhammer atmosphere and Saber Interactive’s tight and polished co-op gameplay pulled all three of the guys through to victory. Its rare in today’s video game release landscape to get a well-scoped and extremely high fidelity co-op campaign like Space Marine 2’s, so if you are a fan of co-op PVE, enjoy the Warhammer Universe, or just like stomping around as a giant space marine then be sure to check this one out! So suit up with Bryan, Josh, and Clint as they face down the Tyranid scourge in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2!Three Word Reviews:Bryan - Epic Cooperative Crusade Josh - Big Boots, FilledClint - Gears of Warhammer

Have you ever asked yourself what quirky humor forward take on a breach and clear tactics game featuring wizards might look like? Well about 8 years ago Tom Francis of Suspicious Developments did just that, and what started as a throw away in-joke amongst colleagues is now one of the most impressive and enjoyable indie games of 2024. Bringing his signature wit in the writing and character development along with a tactics sandbox that is polished to a mirror shine Tactical Breach Wizards is a step in the right direction for everything Francis and his studio have been building towards with their previous outings. So hop on your tactical broomstick and set your assault wand to stun as Bryan and Josh flex their magical mastery with Tactical Breach Wizards!Three Word Reviews:Bryan - Tom’s Tactics Triumph Josh - Terrific, Brief, Witty