No Small Games

Ep. 64 - Hermit and Pig feat. Jerica and Kayla, JK! Games!

Follow the escapades of two unlikely heroes and community builders in Hermit and Pig, a charmingly odd turn-based RPG. Hermit has grown comfortable in his life of solitude and foraging alongside his best friend, Pig. But the pair feel uncharacteristically called to act when they hear that a local factory has been taken over by a corporation that is firing its workers and destroying the local environment. You must help Hermit and Pig overcome numerous challenges and grow as people... er, yeah, people. We were so glad to get to chat with our friends at JK! Games! about this singularly quirky and hilarious title. Jerica and Kayla join Kate and Emily to discuss the fast-paced and engaging turn-based combat and unique dialogue mechanics. You'll hear where Hermit and Pig hit its mark, where it fell a little flat, and where it was just so outside the box that it's hard to qualify. We hope you enjoy this episode!
Timestamps00:00:00 - Intro00:05:17 - Weekly Boss Battles00:16:37 - Meet our Guests - Jerica and Kayla, JK! Games!00:38:46 - Hermit and Pig Discussion01:30:57 - Hermit and Pig Spoilers01:40:25 - Game Ratings01:46:52 - One Small Thing
Meet our GuestsJK! Games!@jkgames.bsky.socialJerica and Kayla are two of the hosts of JK! Games!, a gaming and nerd-centric podcasts where the hosts discuss gaming news, debates on video game culture and technology, as well as their passion for gaming. The two are also part of the ensemble cast of hosts of Drop-In Drop-Out podcast.Check out JK! Games! on:Bluesky Instagram YouTube JK! Games! Website
Keep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 
Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Ep. 63 - Cairn feat. Adam Gumbert, The Tier List

Cairn, developed by The Game Bakers, is a 2026 survival climbing game that follows world-renowned alpinist Aava as she attempts to single-handedly (well, figuratively, at least) climb one of the highest and most treacherous mountains in the world. Players must familiarize themselves with a unique control schema for climbing and choose their path to ascent wisely as they guide Aava up this formidable peak. In addition to the climbing itself, players need to monitor the supplies she's carrying in her backpack wisely, to make sure Aava never runs out of food or water on her journey. The adventure is harrowing, but so are the emotions that get stirred up on the way to the top.It was an absolute pleasure to get to talk about this powerful and extremely challenging game with Adam Gumbert, of The Tier List and Respawn Aim Fire podcasts. In this discussion we share our thoughts on the climbing mechanics and whether the survival elements supported or detracted from our experience of the game. We also take a close look at Aava's personal journey and ask ourselves which is the "good" ending and which is the "true" ending of this game.
Timestamps00:00:00 - Intro00:03:50 - Weekly Boss Battles00:09:42 - Meet our Guest - Adam Gumbert, The Tier List00:21:52 - Cairn Discussion01:23:05 - Game Ratings01:28:02 - One Small Thing
Meet our GuestsAdam (he/him)@adamgumby.bsky.socialYou may have read his words on Game Sandwich or heard him on shows like Respawn Aim Fire or his newest podcast The Tier List. Or maybe you’ve attended (or participated in) his live gaming events like this year’s Game-pardy panel at PAX East. We were delighted to have Adam come join us for this episode! Check out Adam's work on:Bluesky The Tier List Respawn Aim Fire Game Sandwich
Keep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 
Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Ep. 61 - Say No! More feat. Claire and Kanisha, Date with Us

Say No! More is a quirky game with a powerful message, developed by Studio Fizbin. You play as a young person, trying to get their footing in a new career, dealing with the pressures of office life. Simultaneously, you're also trying to navigate social pressures, as your roommate keeps asking you to cover their half of the rent, month after month. Everything comes to a head when your new manager steals your precious lunchbox. The solution? Time to bust out modern society's most feared two-letter word: NO! You'll get to see the power and the consequences of saying "no" to a variety of people, in a variety of manners, and discover the collective power we all have when we encourage each other to put our foot down.We were delighted to be joined for this episode by Kanisha and Claire of Date with Us, a dating sim podcast, to discuss this unique gaming experience. We chat about which "no" style fits each of us best, our experiences with saying "no" more in our real lives, and the pressures the world puts on us all to say "yes." Thanks to the Date with Us hosts for joining us in this fascinating discussion!
Timestamps00:00:00 - Intro00:07:12 - Weekly Boss Battles00:14:23 - Meet our Guests - Kanisha and Claire, Date with Us00:36:08 - Say No! More Discussion01:41:20 - Game Ratings01:48:05 - One Small Thing
Meet our GuestsDate with Us@datewith.us
Join internet friends Claire and Kanisha as they come together to gab about games and dissect their fictional romantic relationships in this Dating Sim recap and review podcast. Join them for their digital debriefs about our pixelized paramours. Whether they’re in visual novels, roguelites, or funky indie darlings, they dish on who they’re romancing and if their choices really mattered.Check out Date with Us on:Bluesky Instagram Podcast Apps Claire's Bluesky Kanisha's Bluesky
Keep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 
Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Indie Game Roundup - April 2026 feat. Kyle Stephenson, Six One Indie

Welcome back to the NSG Indie Game Roundup, our monthly series featuring indie games news, plus game demos and new release discussions.
We are rocketing into the 2026 gaming showcase season, and the indie game announcements just keep coming!! This month we caught some exciting events like The Triple-i Initiative, Galaxies Showcase, Second Wind Showcase, Top Hat Studios Showcase, and we're just getting started! Summer Game Fest is right around the corner, with even more gaming announcement goodness. But before then, we're anxiously anticipating the premiere of the Six One Indie Showcase this next month in May! To prepare for that event, we got to chat with the one and only Kyle Stephenson of Six One Indie, about their process to put together this showcase and about the current state of indie gaming.Also, huge thanks to our newest Patreon supporters! In addition to other fun perks, members on Patreon get early access to all of the Indie Game Roundup episodes. If you love No Small Games and would like to support us in growing the show, while also unlocking fun, exclusive content, you can check out our Patreon page.You can find our full show notes, including links and shoutouts, on the No Small Games site: Indie Game Roundup - April 2026 Show Notes
Timestamps00:00:00 - Intro00:03:09 - Icebreaker Question00:06:45 - Indie Game News00:23:48 - Demos00:41:08 - The Wide Open Sky Is Running Out of Catfish00:45:34 - Titanium Court00:56:50 - She Danced In The Wind Like a Holographic Dream Before The World Died01:01:32 - Berry Bury Berry01:07:10 - A Year of Springs 01:09:40 - Dungeon Bodega Simulator01:18:16 - Rubato01:21:44 - Dice A Million01:31:03 - On-Together: Virtual Co-working01:34:15 - Flock Around01:40:30 - Interview - Kyle Stephenson, Six One Indie
Meet our GuestKyle Stephenson (he/him)@mrkstep.bsky.socialKyle is the co-founder and the organizer of Six One Indie, a gaming media outlet featuring indie game news and reviews. Six One Indie also hosts an annual showcase each May and organizes The Indie Game Awards. In addition to his work with Six One Indie, he is also one of the wonderful co-hosts of The Trophy Room - A PlayStation Podcast.Check out Kyle's work on:Six One Indie Bluesky The Trophy Room
Keep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 
Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Ep. 62 - Blue Wednesday

Blue Wednesday, from Korean indie game developers Buff Studio, follows the mostly unremarkable life of Morris, a young man trying to make it big as a jazz musician in the big city. This slice-of-life narrative game gives us a window into his struggles and successes as he grapples with the weight of having big dreams and aspirations. Of course, no narrative game about musicians would be complete without a rhythm game component, so you'll be tickling the ivories alongside Morris in fun and beautiful jazz-themed mini games.In episode 62 of No Small Games, Kate and Emily get to celebrate and compare this emerging mini genre of narrative games with a music and rhythm gameplay element. You'll hear how Blue Wednesday stacks up against some of their other favorites. The two also share about their personal experiences with jazz music and with their own journeys as creators, dealing the thrilling but sometimes uncomfortable experience of pursuing your dreams. We had a lovely time discussing this very sweet and heartfelt game, and we hope you enjoy the episode!
Timestamps00:00:00 - Intro00:03:25 - Boss Battles00:17:35 - Blue Wednesday Discussion01:19:00 - Game Ratings01:23:00 - One Small Thing01:27:20 - Next Game Announcement
Keep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 
Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Indie Game Roundup - PAX East 2026

We had an incredible time at PAX East 2026, spending time with wonderful friends and colleagues, chatting with developers and publishers, and getting our hands on awesome indie game demos!Join us for our day-by-day PAX East 2026 recap, where we relive all the exciting and memorable moments we experienced at this year's event! No Small Games was honored once again with the opportunity to cover the show as media attendees in 2026, and we took advantage of every moment. In this recap episode, we're taking you directly onto the show floor for developer and publisher interviews. We're also reflecting on the game demos we got to play, and the overall PAX East experience compared to last year. Come along for the ride as we share all the highlights!
Timestamps00:00:00 - Intro00:00:58 - PAX East 2026 First Impressions00:10:22 - Thursday Recap00:22:14 - Interview - DarkStone Digital00:47:54 - Friday Recap01:00:13 - Interview - Yangyang Mobile01:17:09 - Interview - Serenity Forge01:27:23 - Saturday Recap01:35:28 - Interview - Total Mayhem01:59:08 - Sunday Recap02:12:22 - Interview - Perfect Garbage02:22:22 - Interview - Jade Meadows
Keep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 
Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

100th Episode

Join us in celebrating 100 episodes of No Small Games!! We're so grateful to everyone who's been along for this ride with us.It feels like we blinked and we've suddenly got 99 episodes under our belt! We pulled out all the stops for this celebratory episode, with special segments looking back at the milestones we've hit along the way, special guest appearances, and even an on-air game. It's incredibly humbling to look back on how many wonderful friends, collaborators, and community members we've gotten to know along the way. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, to everyone who has been with us for this wild ride! We look forward to all the memories we'll make over the course of the next 100 episodes.
Timestamps00:00:00 - Intro00:05:55 - No Small Games timeline and milestones00:42:25 - Why indie games matter Part 100:48:00 - Advice for our past selves01:06:42 - How we've changed as gamers01:20:00 - Why indie games matter Part 201:25:05 - No Small Games by the numbers01:38:00 - Why indie games matter Part 301:43:15 - A look back at early episode clips01:59:30 - Why indie games matter Part 402:04:00 - Game: mystery Steam reviews02:52:00 - Why indie games matter Part 502:56:30 - Listener messages
Special GuestsIn order of appearance:
Dave Jackson, Tales from the Backlog
Kayla & Jerica, JK! Games!
Luna, Luna's Gaming Log
Jenny Windom, Geeks & Grounds
Mike Towndrow & Kyle Stephenson, Six One Indie
MarcyLaycelle
Matt Storm & Gen Moonen, "Fun" & Games Podcast
Chris Biagini-Foote, Honest Indies
Claire & Kanisha, Date with Us Podcast
Nick & Will, Friday Night Gamecast
Rachel Watts, Indieventure Podcast
CGDannyB, Playlog Podcast
Jacob McCourt, Joseph Hooper & Luke Lewis, Crossplay Conversations
Milady Confetti
RoganPlaysGames
Adam Gumbert, The Tier List Podcast
BoPo & DiscoCola, Underplayed Podcast
AJ Fillari, dotzip
Andrew Valentine, Dialogue Tree
Keep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 
Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Yearbook Vol. 3

We're closing the book on year three of No Small Games. In many ways, this has been the year of MORE for us and the podcast. We expanded the number of articles and reviews we publish on the website, grew our Patreon offerings and community, and we got to guest on so many other wonderful shows. Similarly, 2025 was also the year of more for the indie games space, with an incredible (and overwhelming) volume of stellar games. We just can't wait to see what year 4 and 2026 have in store for us and indie gamers!In addition to giving a recap of all of the games covered this past year, in Yearbook Vol. 3 we reveal our picks for their Top 5 games from the 2025-2026 year, and the fan favorite episodes voted on by YOU! Featuring superlatives and thank you's to No Small Games supporters, this episode is a tribute to all of you and all of these impactful indie games and game developers highlighted in the third year of the show! We are so grateful to all of you who have tuned in this year, and can't wait to bring you more indie game content in the years to come!
Timestamps00:00:00 - Intro00:07:57 - Reflections on the Year00:15:54 - Recap of Games Covered in 2025-202600:23:20 - Kate & Emily's Top 5 Favorites01:12:12 - Superlatives01:35:46 - Thank You's01:42:45 - Spring Season Announcement
Keep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 
Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com