Girl Mode is a podcast (mostly) about video games by two trans women and gaming journalists where we talk about the latest news in the industry, our takes, weekly topics, and more about the Mets than you're probably expecting.
Episodes
Episode 192 - The Numbers Are Too Big
Listen to this week's episode to hear Robin and Willa learn about Patrick Stewart's death in real time. Also, we talk about the latest Indie World Showcase, Castlevania, and some Next Fest demos.Timestamps:(00:25) Welcome to AO4(01:35) Nintendo Indie World Showcase roundup(05:08) Shoutout to Maddy Makes Games removing Celeste and TowerFall from Xbox(8:36) Impromptu Patrick Stewart memorial
Episode 191 - Never Doubt a Butch With a Sledgehammer
This week, we played a game so good we had to release our episode about it early. After pouring one out for BioWare, we devote the rest of our time to Virtue and a Sledgehammer, a game about love and hate.Timestamps:(00:45) Bad news corner: BioWare edition(09:00) The Mass Effect 4 trailer and also the hit television show Once Upon a Time(16:10) Virtue and a Sledgehammer, god damn(41:15) Spoilers f
Episode 190 - That’s None of My (A Penguin’s) Business
This week it's all about Penguin Colony, a game that Willa and Robin like in concept and purpose more than execution. Also, Final Fantasy Resonance sure is Final Fantasy.Timestamps:(00:18) Robin's love of Soviet cartoons, House House being awesome(04:41) Penguin Colony talk (spoilers dispersed throughout, it's a short game, go play it)(39:40) Final Fantasy Resonance is fine I guess(45:
Episode 189 - You Will Never Make a Digital Tom Cruise
After a plaintive plea to support our good friend Tom Cruise, we once again dive into some great reporting by Rebekah Valentine. Then for this week’s games, Robin takes a look at two extremely idiosyncratic Early Access releases, and we briefly look forward to a couple of games about hot pixelated women by veteran indie studios.Timestamps:(00:30) Go see Digger or Willa WILL scream(08:05) People ne
Episode 188 - Stay Pure
Robin doesn't know who The Savannah Bananas are. Anyway, Willa doesn't find Scotland scary in Silent Hill and thinks Ace Combat 8 needs to be gayer. Meanwhile, Robin gets sewing in Dressmaker. Timestamps:(00:44) Talking recent bad news (CW: sexual violence)(08:06) Zoe goes to the Metaverse(10:29) Willa calming vacation simulator; or, Silent Hill: Townfall(15:00) Dressmaker(28:20) More like
Episode 187 - Mulholland Mega Drive
After a short news segment on layoffs we could have had basically any week this year, Willa continues to explain why Control Resonant failed to resonate. Then Robin relives the worst parts of her barista days in Roman Sands RE:BUILD, and Willa contends with vampires and the even more monstrous generative AI use in Blood of a Dawnwalker.Timestamps:(01:00) More Xbox layoffs pt. 10,000(05:11) Returni
Episode 186 - Hold for Joke Intro
This week, Willa and Robin talk about two big releases: Wolverine and Control Resonant. You will be shocked to hear which one they have more nice things to say about. Then it is on to vampires in Nighthawks, collected criticism, and Cold Stone Creamery.Timestamps:(00:45) Wolverine first impressions (19:10) Control Resonant corner(33:57) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. N
Episode 185 - My Wife The Amiibo
This week, Nintendo tests our patience with two Directs that should have been one email. Timestamps:(01:00) At least the music was good(12:46) Another fucking Direct (34:15) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. Furious, Isle of Reveries, the idea of Drakengard 3)Support us on Ko-fi!Check out the network at TheWorstGarbage.online!Join The Worst Garbage Discord!Follo
Episode 184 - Save Rooster
This week Robin and Willa play catch up with the many showcases that happened when we took a week off. That means GTA VI, Gamescom (but mostly the Witcher), and State of Play. Also, some Control talk and our usual antics.Timestamps:(00:30) And now, the weather(01:16) GTA VI lets you hold hands 10/10 (05:58) Gamescom Opening Night Live was pretty boring but the Witcher is awesome (15:55)
Episode 183 - Lesbian Escape Room Island
Tune in to hear two hot women with problems talk about two games with hot women and problems. Timestamps:(02:50) Plague Tale 3: Resonance: A Plague Tale Game: Legacy(28:10) Fields of Mistria(45:47) South of Midnight and making combat optional(48:55) A little more Fields of Mistria(51:00) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. Ghost in the Shell check-in, Spider-Man comma The A
Episode 182 - Gun Violence Isn't Fun Violence
This week, Robin isn't a fan of the nun with a gun in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. We also talk about the X-Men (typical), baseball (typical), Spider-Man, and Big Walk.Timestamps:(00:19) Direct from Netflix, it's Girl Mode(01:27) X-Men news(06:32 ) About the WPBL opening weekend(21:35) Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave direct(30:34) More demos from Robin(36:04) What else have Willa and Robin been up t
Episode 181 - Continuing Adventures in Problematic Women
What do baseball and D&D have in common? I don’t know but we’re playing games inspired by both. Listen in this week for lots of RPG and VN talk and let’s go Firebells!Timestamps:(01:50) Toxic Yuri VN Jam 2 redux(9:55) Esoteric Ebb(24:16) Original Sin 2 (33:10) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. WPBL, The Odyssey, Little Blue Encyclopedia again, Ghost in the Shell)
Episode 180 - A Good Gathering Place for Miserable Girls
It's Toxic Yuri VN Jam season! Willa and Robin talk about a handful of selections from the latest jam. Then it's on to the Incident at Galley House, which is like if TR-49 was a good game.Timestamps:(00:30) Toxic Yuri VN Jam 2(15:400) The Incident at Galley House (beware SPOILERS)(49:52) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian) by Hazel Jane
Episode 179 - Get On My Scales!
The present remains bleak for video games, so this week we're playing games from the past, which remain safe until executives find a way to lay people off via time travel. I'm sure it won't take long.Timestamps:(00:15) New monkey just dropped(03:50) Checking in on the game industry: It’s Still Bad(11:50) Y’all heard of Gravity Rush?(25:20) Dread Delusion(34:50) FFXIV Mobile (briefly)(36:40) What e
Episode 178 - Goldballs Was Right
This week has a lot of X-Men talk for a non X-Men episode. Beyond that Robin has played some Luna Abyss and Willa does a check in on Marvel Rivals, because of X-Men. It all comes back to X-Men.Timestamps:(00:54) Dazzler the musical(01:35) Checking in on Xbox… still bad(11:07) Jubilee the vampire and too much Marvel Rivals talk(20:51) Luna Abyss(29:20) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this
Episode 177 - I Am Not a Cawp
If you can get past the purposefully bad boston accents at the start of this episode you can hear Willa and Robin talk about Echoes of Aincrad's smooth brain demo, Xbox sucking, and PlayStation also sucking.Timestamps:(00:34) Labubu missile, Winnie the Pooh, Boston molasses flood. Now that is what I call the fourth of July(04:41) Echoes of Aincrad demo(13:24) Robin on Code RAPID, Entropy(16:36) Th
Episode 176 - Bobby, You're Gay
Happy Pryde!Catch up with the story so far in episodes 26, 38, 56, 72, 95, and 139.Follow along this week here.Support us on Ko-fi!Check out the network at TheWorstGarbage.online!Join The Worst Garbage Discord!Follow us and send us questions!Follow Robin!Follow Willa!Music Street Food by FASSoundsThings are bad right now, but you can help make them better. Please take some time to consider ho
Episode 175 - A Visit from Clippy
This week, Willa went to Tribeca to play some games and Robin stayed home to do the same.Timestamps:(00:20) A three-martini lunch(04:00) Tribeca Games(4:55) Bad Magpie(8:40) Demi and the Fractured Dream(15:00) Drifted(17:15) Forever Ago(23:00) Kidbash(24:25) Lofsöng(28:50) Rivage(32:55) Rebounder(36:05) Rockbeasts(38:30) Truck-kun is Supporting Me From Another World?!(42:20) There Are No Ghosts at
Episode 174 - Trend Alert: Vampires
It has been a busy Summer Game Fest and all the events from the State of Play to the Nintendo Direct. This week Willa and Robin dive into what announcements piqued their interest, namely all the ones with vampires (of which there were many). Timestamps:(00:20) Cryptid talk?(02:48) A whole lot of Summer Game Fest week announcements(54:08) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (f
Episode 173 - Lesbian Girlfailure Simulator 2026
This week Willa and Robin step out of their comfort zones by playing Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, a game about being a girlfailure who really wants to make out with mean women. Also: Mina the Hollower and 007 First Light.Timestamps:(00:24) What's the deal with ZA/UM?(09:30) Zero Parades! (we spoil the hell out of this thing throughout)(01:53:57) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week
Episode 172 - Two Apples Tall
This week, we’ve got it all: old games, boring games, games we don’t play, and even things that aren't games at all but rather raccoons.Timestamps:(00:20) Robin’s new roommate(03:00) Hello Kitty urban legends(07:30) Directive 8020(28:00) Marathon PvE(31:00) Uncharted 4: Game’s fun, game’s bad(38:45) A little game called Final Fantasy 11(55:30) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (
Episode 171 - Sayonara Wild Hearts for Straight People
Wasn’t being a teenager great? Isn’t music magical? Don’t you want to play a whole game that’s basically that sentiment repeated for three hours?Timestamps:(00:20) Spinning our wheels to avoid talking about Mixtape(04:20) We can no longer avoid talking about Mixtape(51:50) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. Call of the Elder Gods, The Dad Rock That Made Me A Woman) &n
Episode 170 - Bobo Bitcoin Betting (Say It Five Times Fast)
Willa and Robin go into the game grab bag this week. Robin has been gambling in Bobo Bay, wielding the elements in Elementallis, and totally not romancing a living statue in Sovereign Tower. Willa, meanwhile, is building civilizations in Amberspire.Timestamps:(00:26) Tune in next week for our thoughts on [Redacted](01:13) Bobo Bay and Elementallis(16:15) Amberspire(32:11) Sovereign Tower(37:47) Wh
Episode 169 - It’s Not That Complicated
This week, Willa and Robin confront their respective greatest enemies: theater kids and math. First, we go long on Titanium Court, and why neither of us found it as groundbreaking or as hard to explain as you may have heard. Then we talk about Sol Cesto, a game you’ve probably heard less about because the universe is as cold and uncaring as the probability that makes Sol Cesto great.Timestamps:(01
Episode 168 - What's Pragmata with You?
Artemis II might be back from the moon but Willa and Robin aren't. This week it's the Pragmata extravaganza, come along as we dive into Capcom's new action game that's pretty dang good!Timestamps:(00:13) Sponsored by Orbitz(00:48) Pragmata extravaganza(53:15) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. Moves of the Diamond Hand, Invincible) Mentioned this week:Nothing :
Episode 167 - Making the Dolls Kiss
This week, we’re only half paying attention to the show because we're thinking about the Moon. When we turn our attention briefly away from the Artemis II livestream, Willa talks about the bad new Life is Strange game and Robin played a smattering of new indies but she’s too tired to say much about them. Timestamps:(00:20) Shoutout to the Moon(02:45) A walk through Life is Strange Discourse H
Episode 166 - Bipedal Hotties to the Front
Zoe graces us all with her presence to regale us with tales of her time spent saving the galaxy and exploring the highs of Rapture and the lows of Columbia. Spoilers abound for the entire Mass Effect trilogy and Bioshock 1, 2, and Infinite.Timestamps:(00:19) Welcome to the Zo Rowe Show(02:17) The Mass Effect trilogy(57:25) The Bioshock trilogy(1:35:50) What else have Willa, Robin, and Zoe been up
Episode 165 - Video Games Have Not Come a Long Way Since Final Fantasy 13
This week, we've both been playing the hot new release that's taken the world by storm: the rhythm-based fishing game Sinker Sound. Then, Willa's adventures in the back catalog continue with Final Fantasy and Resident Evil, and Robin has played a pair of weird and wonderful indie sim games. Timestamps:(00:15) Donate to Robin’s truffle dog startup(03:45) Gone fishin’ in Sinker Sound(14:35) Games ha
Episode 164 - Episode 168
This week, we remember the halcyon days of when we cared about Final Fantasy 14, experience what it’s like to watch a gaming awards show that doesn’t make you want to claw your own eyes out, and discover that every once in a while a lesbian with a sword isn’t enough to make your game good.Timestamps:(00:15) It’s all great over here(01:45) Remember when we cared about Final Fantasy 14?(07:40) The I
Episode 163 - Tom Cruise Missiles
Just because we haven't played Resident Evil: Requiem doesn't mean we can' talk about the discourse surrounding it and the franchise's odd position of rewriting vs reckoning with its past. Also: Silksong and Willa educating Robin on the Tom Cruise cake.Timestamps:(00:26) Daylight saving time kicks our ass (and then a weird rabbit hole of tangents)(05:56) Resident Evil… Requiem… discourse (lightest
Episode 162 - The G(irl Mode) Virus
We talk about Marathon and the state of live-service titles in this one, and we could not have predicted Highguard would announce its shutdown between recording and release. Then it's to the Spencer Mansion for Willa and to Next Fest for Robin.Timestamps:(00:18) Resident… Evil?(01:24) Marathon(15:14) Resident… Evil!(25:40) Robin's selected Next Fest picks(36:07) What else have Willa and Robin been
Episode 161 - All News Is Bad News
This week, everything is bad in the world of AAA, and not just for the usual reasons. After running through the latest disasters at PlayStation and the sinking ship that is Xbox, Willa once again puts on clown makeup to await the next game from Yoko Taro, and Robin takes solace in games that are just okay.Timestamps:(00:30) The Olympics, etc.(08:50) Finally some gaming talk (it’s all bad)(17:15) R
Episode 160 - Chaser James Bond
This week, we do a quick Olympic check-in before running through the State of Play and its many (un)interesting announcements. Robin and Willa do, however, come up with a groundbreaking idea to fix 007. Then it's a pair of games, one new and one old.Timestamps:(00:38) More olympic talk(03:25) State of the State of Play(34:20) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. Love Eternal
Episode 159 - Hockey Is Where The Lesbians Are
This week, we talk almost as much about the Olympics as we do about video games. Timestamps:(00:35) Video games? More like Winter Games(16:20) Nintendo Direct happened this week(25:45) Close enough. Welcome back, Dauntless.(28:40) More Bioshock talk somehow(35:00) Elden Ring with Seamless Co-op rips(37:55) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. The Starving Saints, Nothin
Episode 158 - Big Daddy Energy
Somehow Willa and Robin eventually get through the many detours of this episode (hand injuries, bisexual Zohran, etc.) to talk about some games. There is a report on Zoe saving the galaxy and heading to Rapture as well as Robin going up in Valkyrie Saga and Cairn. Timestamps:(00:11) Willa’s housewife injury(03:06) Cursed blades RANKED(04:06) Talking about not talking about critical discourse&
Episode 157 - This One’s For The DO-11s
After taking a break for the longest week in human history (and the customary annual lay-off of one of our hosts), we’re back to talk about two interesting games: one we like and one we don’t. How novel. Timestamps:(00:10) The Gay Bachelor, etc.(04:50) TR-49 (mechanical and light story spoilers start)(23:30) TR-49 story spoilers start for real(26:30) TR-49 story spoilers start for real for re
Episode 156 - Surely We Will Get Better At Predictions One Of These Years?
It's prediction time! First we tally up the scores from 2025 to see who the winner of an undecided prize is. Then it's into the future as Robin, Willa, and Zoe (via Willa reading her notes because we won't let her back on the pod) tell you what 2026 will hold for gaming with 100% accuracy.Timestamps:(00:35) Robin's dogs, the Pitt, and some Mets talk(03:43) Our 2025 predictions, which did not go as
Episode 155 - Most Anticipated Games of 2026 (Unless They Get Delayed)
To ease into the new year Robin and Willa took it easy and are basically giving you the audio version of those lists every outlet puts out in January. We also talk about Zoe's exploits in Mass Effect and Robin's exploits in getting one over on her landlord.Timestamps:(00:12) It's raining cats and possibly ceiling debris(1:22) A lot of 2026 games getting namedropped(37:00) What else have Willa and
Episode 154 - The Fourth Annual Girl Mode Awards
It’s the Girlies! You know the drill. If you don’t, just listen and you’ll get it. It’s like an awards show but better.Thanks for listening this year!You can find a whole list of winners (with a couple of visual aids) here.Timestamps:(00:15) The Girlies!(51:30) Spoilers for Carimara and Old Skies(54:25) Spoilers end(1:22:00) Spoilers for Carimara and Silent Hill f(1:24:20) Spoilers end(1:37:2
Episode 153 - Finding Our Way Home in Wanderstop and Baby Steps
It’s the annual Girl Mode Game Exchange, the episode where we force each other to play one of our favorite games of the year, under penalty of death. This year, we chose Wanderstop and Baby Steps, two games about the struggle to find self-worth that take two very different paths to get there. Only one is obsessed with making you look at donkey dicks, for instance. This year, we were both pretty su
Episode 152 - Recession Indicator Lara Croft
This week Willa and Robin run through all the announcements at The Game Awards, including: Tomb Raider for the straights, DILF Leon, and Control with a man. Boooooo. Also, more Old Skies talk because it's just that good!Timestamps:(00:12) Zoe probably wants to stab Willa (medically)(02:05) A lot of time spent on Game Awards reveals (45:00) Less time on Day of the Devs and Wholesom
Episode 151 - The Finnish Independence Day Special
For what ended up being a shorter episode this week, Willa has returned to the land of chocobos and Robin has returned to the land of evil chocobos. Plus, skateboards, mechs, catgirl card games, and famous dead men.Timestamps:(00:15) Shoutout to Finland(01:45) Why are we not playing Final Fantasy 11 right now?(08:20) Skate Story(12:30) Outward 2: A game that hates you(18:40) Detective Instinct col
150 - Do You Think Samus Listens To Girl Mode While Riding Through That Big Desert?
This week we are talking gays in space (Metroid Prime 4) and gays in time (more Old Skies) and then Willa and Robin pick what games to exchange for the end of year season because the Girlies will be here before you know it!Timestamps:(02:00) Too much talk about Willa's Thanksgiving movie watching(07:10) Metroid Prime 4(31:04) HORSES not "Horses"(38:16) More Old Skies (also briefly Birdcage and Pos
Episode 149 - The Most Punchable Man in the World
This week, we start with hypothetically cool new hardware and Metroid Prime’s hot new feature: mansplaining. Then we move onto games we’ve played, focusing on anticipated talking-to-hot-women simulator Demonschool (unless it gets delayed again in the six hours before this episode posts).Timestamps:(01:45) The Girl Mode News Desk: Steam Machines(15:50) Note: Myles MacKenzie died on the way back to
Ep 148 - It's Terrible, I Could Not Recommend It More
Episode 148 - It's terrible, I could not recommend it moreThis one's got everything you love: Dunkalatte talk, Willa's neighbors doing construction in the middle of a recording, Robin playing a game where you are a little mouse, but the main event is – of course – Willa going on an extended rant about a game she hates that most people love.Timestamps:(00:14) Robin joins the Dunkalatte cult &n
Episode 147 - Girls' Night At Blake Manor
It’s the week after Halloween and we’re finally talking about horror games. After an extended bullshit session to start, we work our way around to mousegirl soulslikes, talking to ghosts with your crush, trick or treating, finding yourself on Bajor, and being the nosiest bitches at the seance.Timestamps:(00:15) A bunch of nonsense(04:10) Anti-recommendation for Hinako Note(07:30) Gamer news: Simog
Ep 146 - Reaching Another Level of Suck
This week it’s a lot of slop talk. Remakes are slop. Cozy games are slop. Law & Order Executive Producer Dick Wolf is slop. Everything is slop. We also check in on Hades 2 and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2.Timestamps:(00:25) It’s all downhill from here(02:27) More Hades 2(06:35) Halo on PlayStation and why remakes suck(18:52) Dick Wolf presents AI cop slop(21:20) Cozy games discourse(
Episode 145 - Destroy the WORLD-EGG.
Jesus, it’s Next Fest again? Guess it’s time to talk about some demos.Timestamps:(00:20) Disrespecting Baja Blast(2:20) Next Fest(3:40) Opus Prism Peak(8:15) Skate Story(12:00) Sleep Awake(16:15) Reanimal(22:00) Constance(25:00) Winter Burrow(28:20) Ambrosia Sky(32:40) Verho: Curse of Faces(35:20) The Legend of Khiimori(40:45) Mosaic of the Strange(42:50) Dungeon Bodega Simulator(46:30) Moonsigil
Episode 144 - The Soon To Be Mrs. Robin (Your Name Here)
Episode 144 - The Soon To Be Mrs. Robin (Your Name Here)Bad news, there is barely any beverage talk in this one. Good news, Robin is open to her hand in marriage being bought. Oh, we also spend a lot of time talking about the importance in having conviction in critical thinking and why Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is greatTimestamps:(01:06) Learning about our audience(3:36) Critic corner(22:00) Robi
Episode 143 - A Poo-Based Ecosystem
This week, we’re still talking a bit about Hades II, sandwiched between slime farms, psychic babies, Tetris-likes, and Willa’s beverage-based spinoff podcast.Timestamps:(00:40) More coffee talk(5:40) Slime Rancher 2(09:35) Hades 2 (mid-to-endgame spoilers start at 15:20)(18:30) Goodnight Universe (26:40) Falling Block Jam (31:40) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat
142 - Good Games About Having Bad Times
This week Willa and Robin are talking about suffering… but for fun! Consume Me and Baby Steps take up most of the episode but there is still time for brief thoughts on Blippo, Hades 2, and Willa’s coffee tips.Time stamps:(01:15) Willa’s Dunkalatte tips(04:55) Consume Me [Trigger Warning: discussion of eating disorders] (27:20) Baby Steps (44:27) Blippo+ (49:26) Willa’s early H
Episode 141 - Bug Horniness
This week we’re very tired and spend a long time talking about milk. I don’t know man. Then, Willa is apparently in the good part of Silksong and Robin talks about what she doesn’t like about Hades 2, a game that’s mostly good.Time stamps:(00:20) Coffee milk, Willa’s divorce, etc.(05:30) So Willa’s been playing some more Silksong [Light Act 2 boss spoilers from 8:00-9:30](11:00) We should play Thr
Episode 140 - The Penitent Bug Will Pass
Yes, we talk about Hollow Knight: Silksong in this episode, but first Robin and Willa have to salivate over the reveal that we are getting a new Fire Emblem game next year. Time stamps:(00:20) Willa’s a tradwife(02:54) Non-Fire Emblem Direct news(14:00) Us being crazy about new Fire Emblem(25:28) Shaw! (the Silksong segment)(53:00) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (f
Episode 139 - Messiah Complex (Not Ours)
It’s been a while.Follow along here.Catch up here, here, here, here, and here.Support us on Ko-fi!Check out the network at TheWorstGarbage.online!Join 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 targete
Ep 138 - Baby Died
Robin and Willa played some games this week, just not the same ones. First up is the detailed world of Artis Impact, followed by the sleek and simple mechanics of Öoo. They both rock! Timestamps:(01:35) Worst Girl Mode episodes, ranked(03:47) Artis Impact(25:00) Öoo (37:34) A short Peak update (it is still cool)(38:18) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. Alien: Ea
Episode 137 - Giving Heartworm An A For Effort (And Leg Tattoos)
This week, we watched Nintendo’s little showcase, which was fine. Then we both played Heartworm, a game that we like a lot, despite all the things we don’t like about it. Finally, Robin talks about some old lady shit and a new podcast, and Willa reads a good book.Timestamps:(01:06) A little Nintendo Direct(03:25) Too cool for Americans(04:45) Regarding mouth sounds(06:05) The rest of Nintendo Indi
Ep 136 - The Philabieldia Philbies
We’ve got a grab bag of things this week (that includes mini grab bags hidden within). Robin and Willa discuss the latest Nintendo Direct, including everyone’s love of Philabieldia, and then go over previews for Battlefield (boo) and Silent Hill f (boo, but in a scary way not a bad way) before checking up on what games they’ve been playing. Timestamps:(02:30) Nintendo Direct gives us the good
Episode 135 - Australian Puritans vs. Toxic Lesbians
Everything that was bad last week is even worse this week. Itch has followed Steam in delisting a ton of games for either including offensive sexual content or just gay people. Who can even tell the difference? We follow that exasperating conversation with what we’ve been playing this week, mostly consisting of games about a whole bunch of toxic lesbians.Timestamps:(01:00) Everything got worse(18:
Episode 134 - The Cultural Vandalism Corner
Episode 133 - The Cultural Vandalism CornerThis week Robin and Willa talk about the horrors of horse girl racing, the horrors of pulp point-and-click adventure The Drifter, the horrors of regulating games, and the beauty of the New York Mets baby, let's go Mets, it's all about the Mets!Timestamps:(00:13) Sponsored by TK water brand (04:24) Umamusume: and they were roomates(12:44) The Drifter:
Episode 133 - Train Your Horse, Girl
We took last week off from recording and, what do you know, we ended up playing a lot of games in the meantime. This time, we’re talking about girls who are horses, cats who are girls, and card games that are magic. This week also marks Press Start joining The Worst Garbage network so go check them out!!Timestamps:(00:25) We’ve gone to the audience(03:10) Peak - It’s still good(10:00) P5X - A Pers
Ep 132 - Some Games of the 21st Century
There has not been a lot of news for us to discourse about lately, so we are doing what every good content creator does for engagement: make a bad list. Come for Willa and Robin suffering through a task of their own making as they choose the best games of the 21st century, stay for updates on what Willa’s neighbor is doing with their backyard. Timestamps:(00:13) Judging our neighbors(04:09) T
Episode 131 - Big Fish Energy
We’re coming to you live from the heat dome this week, so assume anything wrong with this episode is due to our brains poaching in our skulls. In the meantime, we’ve been playing fishing games and porn games and old games and racing games and all kinds of other games and we’re here to talk about them in no particular order. Timestamps:(00:20) Welcome to the heat dome(02:50) Sinker Sound(17:10
Episode 130 - Next Fest Demos and Mission Impossible Facts
This week, we've played an unconscionable number of demos, so we run through a whole bunch of the ones we mostly liked at Steam Next Fest and the Tribeca Festival. Then, Willa interviews Tribeca Games vice president Casey Baltes with a tin can inside a submarine apparently and Robin tries her hardest to make it listenable.Timestamps:(00:20) Just a whole bunch of nothing(04:35) Dice Gambit(10:30) C
Episode 129 - Walking Through A Half-Empty Mall
The worst part of the year was even worse this year. We slogged through Summer Game Fest and a few showcases that didn’t suck and now we’re here to talk about what we saw there and why everyone’s so mad.CW: Discussions of disordered eating in Consume Me from 52:30 to 57:05Timestamps:(00:20) Our mortal enemy, summer(01:30) State of Play had a few good games(13:15) Ciri Showcase and Unearthed Treasu
Episode 128 - Harvestella Sickos Rise Up
We have a handful of games to talk about this week, including an excellent new farming game, a so-so story from the creator of Katamari Damacy, and a turn-based RPG about death (no, not that one).Timestamps:(00:30) Corndog update(04:10) Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is the second coming of Harvestella(24:50) To a T is cute I guess(40:55) Galactic Glitch is simple fun(44:10) Danchi Days is delig
Episode 127 - Adventures in Off-Brand Paris
This week, Robin and Willa have a conversation no one will disagree with about a game everyone is being reasonable about. We talk through why Clair Obscur, the FRPG of the year, didn’t live up to the hype for either of us, and inevitably detour into why criticism is good and cool and doesn’t have to make you a killjoy.Timestamps:(00:30) Setting le tableau (or, don’t yell at us about Clair Obscur)(
Episode 126 - A Beautiful Summer on Trash Island
CW: Brief reference to suicide between (01:05:00) and (01:05:45)This week, Robin and Willa dive into the work of Selkie Harbour, developer of the recent (and excellent) Many Nights a Whisper. We get into the interesting parallels and outliers among the studio’s catalog and come away more excited about ice skating than we ever thought possible. We also completely spoil all of these very short games
Episode 125 - A Concerning Lack of Defenestration with Emmi & Annie Talk Indie!
This week, Robin talks to the delightful hosts of the equally delightful Emmi & Annie Talk Indie podcast. We discuss a whole mess of games, with tangents on sexualizing playing cards, furry-friendly pizza restaurants, the games that taught us to type, and learning the name for a group of butterflies.Timestamps:(00:20) Introducing Emmi and Annie (who talk indie)!(14:30) Making dogs immortal in
Episode 124 - Trying Not To Be A Total Bummer About Games Media
Like everyone else, we’re still reeling from the destruction of Polygon and Giant Bomb, but trying to do more than curl up into the fetal position about it. After the most constructive takes on games media we can muster, we talk through a few great games Robin's played recently, put a pin in a not-great one, and check in with Willa’s three favorite things (the Mets, weird New York lore, and gay mu
Episode 123 - The Magical Queer Teens Cinematic Universe with Autumn Wright!
This week, critic and essayist Autumn Wright joins Robin to talk about Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, a game about growing up as a queer woman that’s just as messy as the real thing. We discuss how the game still works even when it’s fraying at the edges and wonder whether the mid-budget talky game can survive even if Don’t Nod doesn’t.Timestamps:(00:20) Welcome Autumn!(24:50) Tape 1 ending spoil
Episode 122 - Return of the Sphere Grid
This week, we played a bunch of different games and now we’re gonna talk about them. I don’t know what else you want.Timestamps:(01:25) News we don’t care about and jokes we do(03:00) Sunderfolk(21:10) Mandragora(29:30) Shadow of the Colossus(35:50) Metroid Prime(44:30) What have Willa and Robin been up to this week? (feat. Season of the Witch, The River Has Roots, Taco Bell Quarterly)Music:Street
BONUS - Harry Potter and the Complicity of Games Media rerun
The worst February of our lives continues with the release of Hogwarts Legacy. We discuss how the media failed to take its significance seriously, why our reactions are about more than just a game, and why, yes, supporting it does make you a bad person. We cap off this week’s fun-filled episode with a genuinely much cheerier segment recommending some great games by and about trans people that
Episode 121 - We’re Still Waiting for Harvestella 2
Since we’re sure you’re not sick of hearing about the Switch 2, we’re covering the Direct from a couple weeks ago before moving on to the Triple-i Initiative (featuring indie publisher Ubisoft) and a remake of The Talos Principle. Then, of course, Mets updates and baseball players who are “just roommates.”Timestamps(02:20) Switch 2 hardware(16:40) Switch 2 games(37:50) Triple-i Initiative(48:45) T
BONUS - TTRPGs for Trans Rights with Rue Dickey Rerun
While we take the week off, we’re re-airing a 2023 interview with Rue Dickey, who’s currently organizing the TTRPGs for Trans Right Ohio charity bundle on Itch.io. In the episode, Willa and Robin speak to Rue about a similar, very successful bundle they organized for trans charities in Florida two years ago.Listen in as we discuss the realities of fundraising, why tabletop games are so darn gay, w
Episode 120 - My Big Lady Sense Is Tingling
This week, Nintendo sends off the Switch with one of the weirdest Directs ever and we’re here to talk through the 30 percent of it that was actually interesting to us. Then, after a brainstorming session about Sabrina Carpenter and Xenoblade Chronicles, we half-heartedly predict what’s coming at the Switch 2 Direct that you probably just watched.Timestamps(00:20) All of our beautiful boys are back
Episode 119 - Non-Canonical Gay Stuff in Assassin's Creed Shadows
This week, Willa and Robin are playing the game everyone is playing for the first and maybe last time this year. Then, a game where you kill God, and an awards show that doesn't make you want to kill the concept of video games.Timestamps(00:20) Assassin’s Creed Shadows is pretty good for a AAA game(49:20) Light spoilers for one Assassin’s Creed Shadows quest(51:30) Attacking and dethroning God in
Episode 118 - Ceci N'est Pas Une Xenoblade Chronicles Game
This week, Willa and Robin have each played a big, anime-ass RPG, but only one turned out to be the right kind of boring.Timestamps(2:00) Atelier Yumia and the Bad Video Game Title(15:40) What does it mean to remake a game?(19:40) Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition(43:05) Reignbreaker, briefly(45:20) Itch wildfire relief bundle roundup(51:25) What else have Willa and Robin been up to this
Episode 117 - RETVRN to GameFAQs with Emily Price!
This week, certified Girl Mode Fave™ Emily Price joins Robin to talk about a few more Next Fest demos, 15th century Catholicism, playing soccer as a child, falling off mountains, what words to use to describe music, and why you should make a website. Check the links below for where to follow Emily!Timestamps(0:20) OMG it’s Emily Price!(02:15) Next Fest chat(5:20) Unpacking yourself from capitalism
Episode 116 - Steam Next Fest aka Gamer Christmas
After a brief but important look into the state of milfs in Pokémon, we dive into our favorite demos from this year’s quarter’s Steam Next Fest.Timestamps(1:15) Talking about not talking bout Pokemon(04:00) Next Fest (05:20) Skulker(08:35) Neo Junk City(12:20) Moves of the Diamond Hand(13:50) Robin’s roguelike corner (As We Descend, Shuffle Tactics, Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3, Kaamos)(
Episode 115 - Drinking Blood For Fun And Profit
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
Recommended
ESPN SportsCenter Update
Back to the 80s Radio
Heaven’s Gate Academy
Deadline: White House
The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas
TED Business
Ranger Bill | Old Time Radio Adventure & Family Drama
زن بودن
Christmas Old Time Radio
Booked, Blonde & Busy w/ Olivia Ponton
The Human-Animal Connection - Pet Life Radio Original
Medicine with Meaning
