No Small Games

Ep. 19 - Kena: Bridge of Spirits feat. dprince216

Befriend both cute and formidable friends to fulfill the brutal yet rewarding role of Spirit Guide...Explore a forgotten village and it's surroundings as you help bring peace to unsettled spirits, who are longing to move on. Kena: Bridge of Spirits, developed and published by Ember Lab, features intense combat and heartfelt stories of love and loss. On a quest to find and reconnect with her father, the Spirit Guide before her, Kena must face up to spirits corrupted by anger and grief. Ultimately you and Kena learn the fate of this long-deserted region.In Episode 19 of No Small Games, special guest Rio (known online as dprince216) joins Kate and Emily to review the "Disney souls-like" game, Kena: Bridge of Spirits. The three discuss the toughest boss fights, compare impressions of the storylines, and most importantly... which hats they put on their little spirit world companions.Episode TimecodesMeet our Guest - Rio aka dprince216 ✦ 00:00:35Weekly Boss Battles ✦ 00:20:15Kena: Bridge of Spirits Game Discussion ✦ 00:24:37Kena: Bridge of Spirits Spoilers ✦ 01:21:43Game Ratings ✦ 01:27:25Next Episode's Game Announcement ✦ 01:34:23
Meet our Guestdprince216 aka Rio (he/him)@dprince216Rio, also known on Twitch as dprince216, is a content creator who plays a wide variety of games. He is a self-described lifelong gamer and huge fan of narrative games, as well as online PVP games. He streams a combination of AAA and indie games, including Stardew Valley, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, and Kena Bridge of Spirits!
Follow Rio on the following platforms:TwitchYouTubeTwitterKeep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossomEmily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEggNo Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames 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. 18 - Stray Gods

Imagine a week where being accused of murder isn't the wildest thing that happened to you... because you just discovered every Greek god you had ever heard of is real.That's exactly the week that main character Grace is experiencing in the game Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, developed by Summerfall Studios.  After a chance (or maybe fated) encounter with the muse Calliope, Grace finds herself abruptly dropped in the middle of centuries-old drama and tensions among the Greek pantheon of gods and idols. But processing this brand new information is the least of Grace's worries, as she's given an ultimatum to prove her innocence within seven days or be tried for Calliope's murder.Join Kate and Emily for episode 18 of No Small Games, in which Kate and Emily review their experiences playing Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical. Kate shares her expertise in theater, revealing the many considerations that writers and composers make when designing a musical. The two share their favorite moments and impressions of this cinematic musical adventure.
Episode Timecodes
Weekly Boss Battles ✦ 00:06:58
Stray Gods Game Discussion ✦ 00:11:56
Stray Gods Spoilers ✦ 01:16:00
Game Ratings ✦ 01:27:17
Next Episode's Game Announcement ✦ 01:33:38
Keep in touch with us on social media:Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossomEmily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEggNo Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames 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. 17 - Secret Santa Games feat. Underplayed

Ho ho ho!! Santa came early this holiday season and he (or she) is brining us indie games!
Buckle up for a very special holiday episode of No Small Games!! Kate and Emily are joined for the first ever Secret Santa Games, by guests Bo_Po and DiscoCola, the co-hosts of the indie game podcast Underplayed. The four got together for a festive Secret Santa event where all the gifts were indie games! This event riffs on the Underplayed segment "Secret Games" in which the hosts each play a game in secret and reveal it along with their review of the game.
In the very first Secret Santa Games, each of the four co-hosts was paired up in secret with someone else in the group and gifted them an indie game of their choosing! In addition to this being the first holiday episode, this is also the first time No Small Games has featured four game reviews at once. We hope you enjoy this very special episode and have a happy holiday season!
Episode Timecodes
Meet our Guests - Bo_Po and DiscoCola from Underplayed ✦ 00:00:53
Holiday Questionals ✦ 00:14:01
Weekly Boss Battles ✦ 00:29:45
What is Secret Santa Games? ✦ 00:35:30
DiscoCola's Secret Santa Game ✦ 00:39:07
Kate's Secret Santa Game ✦ 01:03:09
Bo_Po's Secret Santa Game ✦ 01:33:19
Emily's Secret Santa Game ✦ 01:56:55
Plugs!! ✦ 02:37:26
Next Episode's Game Announcement ✦ 02:41:28
Meet our GuestsUnderplayed Podcast@underplayedpodOn Underplayed, Bo_Po and DiscoCola review indie games of all kinds—the games with small budgets but big hearts, the lesser-known experiences with imaginative ideas. A typical episode has two main segments: first, they each reveal and review a game they've been playing in secret; then, they have an in-depth discussion on a prestigious title within the indie landscape.Check out Underplayed on the following platforms:SpotifyApple PodcastsTwitch
Bo_Po@Bo_PoBo_Po loves games featuring platforming, puzzles, and inventive storytelling. You can catch him streaming games of all kinds on twitch at bo__po (two underscores!)Check out Bo_Po on the following platforms:TwitterTwitchGG App
DiscoCola@DiscoColaIn addition to indie games, DiscoCola is a huge fan of Digimon and Mega Man games. You can catch him streaming indie games for Underplayed on twitch at DiscoCola.Check out DiscoCola on the following platforms:TwitterTwitchGG App
Keep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossomEmily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEggNo Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames 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

Bonus - Wholesome Snack 2023

Did you think we were done with b-b-b-b-bonus episodes for 2023? Not quite!! On December 6, Wholesome Games held their Wholesome Snack: The Game Awards Edition 2023, a fun-sized 30 minute direct packed with indie game trailers and news. The showcase featured 20 new and upcoming game announcements, including many games that piqued Kate and Emily's interest!In this bonus episode, Kate and Emily count down their top 5 games that they're most excited for from this event (in no particular order). The co-hosts also brought in some guesses about each other's picks... let's see how many they got correct! We hope you enjoy this bite-sized bonus episode, covering the bite-sized 2023 Wholesome Snack!If you'd like to catch up on the entire Wholesome Snack, you can watch the entire showcase on YouTube.TimestampsLooking for a particular section of the episode? Check the timecodes below:00:00:00 - Episode Start00:00:30 - First Impressions of Wholesome Snack00:03:40 - Kate & Emily's Top 500:27:50 - Runner-ups and Other News
Keep in touch with us on social media:Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossomEmily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEggNo Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames 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. 16 - Goodbye Volcano High

If the end of the world was right around the corner what would you do? Who or what would matter most to you?Fang and their friends are entering their senior year of high school with big ambitions and some big changes. Biggest of all, they're facing the looming threat of an asteroid hurtling towards Earth, threatening all life as they know it. Goodbye Volcano High, developed by indie game studio KO_OP, is part cinematic narrative adventure, part musical rhythm game, and touches on topics of love, friendship and change.Join Kate and Emily for episode 16 of No Small Games, in which Kate and Emily review their experiences playing Goodbye Volcano High. The co-hosts reflect on their high school experiences and compare them to the ups and downs that Fang's friend group goes through in the game. They discuss their favorite gameplay mechanics, favorite characters, and the most shocking moments from their playthroughs.
Episode Timecodes
Winter Season Game Announcements ✦ 00:05:00
Weekly Boss Battles ✦ 00:08:50
Goodbye Volcano High Game Discussion ✦ 00:13:45
Goodbye Volcano High Spoilers ✦ 01:13:00
Game Ratings ✦ 01:23:45
Kate & Emily's One More Thing ✦ 01:26:30
Next Episode's Game Announcement ✦ 01:29:50
Keep in touch with us on social media:Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossomEmily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEggNo Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames 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

Game Dev Chat - Bear in the Snow with The Spookfish

"When I first moved into the old farm house after living in the city, I was surprised at how dark it got at night..."This is how the instruction manual for the game Bear in the Snow begins. This game, along with the album it accompanies, was created by Dan Goldberg, who performs and publishes his music under the name The Spookfish. Each of the ten levels of the game is played along to the music of one of the songs from the album of the same name, and draws on Dan's experiences living in a cabin in rural Northeastern United States. There are many haunting and beautiful moments, as well as many secrets to be uncovered, in Bear in the Snow.In the very first episode of No Small Games featuring a game developer, Kate and Emily chat in depth with Dan about his journey creating the game and learn how he went from zero game dev experience to publishing a ten-level game of his own design. Dan shares the heartfelt backstory behind his love of indie games and provides some insight into which games inspired him the most as he was creating Bear in the Snow. We hope you love this episode as much as we loved chatting with The Spookfish!Meet the Game DevDan Goldberg aka The Spookfish (he/him)@the_spookfishDan is a musician and game developer who created Bear in the Snow, the album and accompanying indie game. You can read more about Dan's music in this feature from the New York Times.Play Bear in the Snow on Itch.io
Find The Spookfish's music on the following platforms:Bandcamp Spotify Apple Music
Keep in touch with us on social media:Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossomEmily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEggNo Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames 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

Bonus - Indie World Showcase, Nov. 2023

It's time for yet another b-b-b-b-bonus episode!! Nintendo held their second Indie World Showcase of 2023 on November 14, featuring over a dozen announcements about new and upcoming indie games coming to the Switch. In this bonus episode, Kate and Emily discuss these updates, comparing which of the Switch releases they are most looking forward to and which trailers they found the most captivating. Did Emily correctly guess the games that Kate was most looking forward to? Did Kate identify the "Emily games" among the list of featured titles? Were there any immediate must haves that the two absolutely HAD to buy? Find out in this special bonus episode of No Small Games!TimecodesLooking for the hosts' reaction to a certain game announcement? Check the timecodes below:
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution - 00:05:20
Core Keeper - 00:08:10
On Your Tail - 00:09:45
Howl - 00:12:35
The Star Named EOS - 00:14:25
Backpack Hero - 00:17:00
Blade Chimera - 00:18:45
A Highland Song - 00:20:20
Moonstone Island  - 00:23:10
Death Trick: Double Blind - 00:25:50
Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition - 00:28:20
Enjoy the Diner - 00:34:50
Heavenly Bodies - 00:37:31
The Gecko Gods - 00:37:50
Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist - 00:38:50
Urban Myth Dissolution Center - 00:40:35
Braid: Anniversary Edition - 00:41:50
Keep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossomEmily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEggNo Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames 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. 15 - Mineko’s Night Market

Will you take on the challenge of discovering the truth about the legendary Nikko, revitalize the Night Market an petting all of the cats?When Mineko and her dad move to a small island town in search of a new life and new opportunities, she has no idea how this town, her new friends, and a giant cat named Nikko will turn her life upside down. It's your task, as Mineko, to help revitalize the town's Night Market as you gain the resources and the knowledge to discovery the mystery of the legendary Nikko.Join Kate and Emily for episode 15 of No Small Games, in which Kate and Emily review their experiences playing the narrative-driven social sim game, Mineko's Night Market. In their review, the two compare and contrast their favorite farming and life sims, reminisce about their childhood rivals, and discuss the characters they were most tickled by in this cute and quirky game.Episode Timecodes
Weekly Boss Battles ✦ 00:10:50
Mineko's Night Market Game Discussion ✦ 00:15:00
Game Ratings ✦ 01:05:00
Next Episode's Game Announcement ✦ 01:10:10
Keep in touch with us on social media:
Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossomEmily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEggNo Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames 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