It’s all about games, games, and more games this episode as Paula and Josh have been playing, retiring, and completing a bunch of different titles. For some reason though, there seems to have been a lot of cats involved… which has to be a good thing, right?

Plus, it’s Steam sale time, so they both reveal the bargains they picked up and perhaps a few random additions along the way. The budgets are real, but there are some deep discounts that are worth taking a look at either way.

Just don’t think about the backlog…

HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum

Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk

Email - [email protected]

Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro) and Abatage (incidental)

Graphic design – M4thew and Pokepaw

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:52 - Beaten

00:29:54 - Retired

00:32:10 - Playing

01:04:51 - Steam Sale Pickups

Games Mentioned:

Josh: WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship [PC], Cats Organised Neatly [PC], Dogs Organised Neatly [PC], Glass Masquerade 3: Honeylines [PC], Rinse And Repeat HD [PC], Sword and Fairy: Together Forever [XSX], WRC 6 [PC], Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy [PC], The Procession To Calvary [PC], Helldivers 2 [PC]

Paula: LEGO Builder’s Journey [PC], A Tower Full of Cats [PC], PokeRogue [Browser], Sudocats [PC]

This week Josh has been spending most of his time scavenging parts from derelict ships, laughing at renaissance absurdity, and sticking his nose into a new criminal case. While Paula returned to the conflict of world domination, continued to catch them all, solved puzzles with bricks, and went rogue at the start of an epic adventure. 

If that wasn’t enough, the pair dive into a discussion about different video game business models and whether that subscription is really worth it, or if that DLC should have been part of the game in the first place. Can micro-transactions ever be okay?

Tune in to find out!

HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum

Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk

Email - [email protected]

Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro) and Abatage (incidental)

Graphic design – M4thew and Pokepaw

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:40 - Playing (Josh)

00:30:46 - Playing (Paula)

01:11:02 - Subscriptions VS Free VS Purchase

02:18:43 - Outro

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Ship Graveyard Simulator [PC], The Procession To Calvary [PC], Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney [PC]

Paula: Civilization V [PC] (multiplayer - Hot Seat), PokeRogue [Browser], LEGO Builder’s Journey [PC], Baldur’s Gate III [PC]

After a little break Josh and Paula are back and they’ve been playing a bunch of games since the last mainline episode. Josh has finally defeated the big boss at the end of his epic adventure, made friends with underwater aliens, and lost his way in the 40K universe. Meanwhile Paula has been chasing cats through time, stuffing dogs into boxes, and delving into a seriously old school dungeon crawler.

Then they have a chat about this month’s HLTB Game of the Month, before finishing off this round of their guessing game and crowning a winner! The outcome will definitely not surprise anyone, but the game that gets picked just might.

HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum

Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk

Email - [email protected]

Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro) and Abatage (incidental)

Graphic design – M4thew and Pokepaw

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:55 - Beaten

00:50:49 - Playing

01:57:35 - GotM: The World Ends With You

02:07:16 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Baldur’s Gate 3 [PC], Harold Halibut [XSX], Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun [PC], PowerWash Simulator: Back To The Future DLC [PC], PowerWash Simulator: Warhammer DLC [PC], Mini Airways DEMO [PC], Old School Rally DEMO [PC], Morn DEMO [PC], Once Human DEMO [PC], I Am Your Beast DEMO [PC], Railroad Corporation 2 DEMO [PC], Heaven Will Be Mine [PC], WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship [PC]

Paula: An Arcade Full of Cats: Timewarp Trouble [PC], Tengoku Struggle: Strayside [Switch], Dogs Organized Neatly [PC], Let’s School [PC], Eye of the Beholder [MS-DOS vga version], Pokemon HeartGold [DS], PokeRogue [Browser]

This week it gets personal with a special bonus episode within which Josh and Paula get to talk about one of their favourite games of all time. Except these games are perhaps not the most celebrated titles for various reasons, but they love them all the same. Maybe they can pique your interest as well?

HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum

Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk

Email - [email protected]

Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro) and Abatage (incidental)

Graphic design – M4thew and Pokepaw

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:00 - Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

00:35:15 - Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

00:59:35 - Final Thoughts

Sometimes a game can be so compelling that you can’t help but fire up the passion and go ham on everything you have to say. So it is with Paula’s current otome obsession, bringing an exclusive rant in today’s episode. There’s no discussion topic, there’s no time! Not when there are things that need to be said and stories that need to be told.

Meanwhile Josh has completed a few titles this week, retired a few more, and been playing some other stuff that’s nowhere near as compelling. That and it’s now clear who will be crowned the winner of our guessing game after next week’s edition… and it will surprise nobody!

HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum

Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk

Email - [email protected]

Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro) and Abatage (incidental)

Graphic design – M4thew and Pokepaw

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:55 - Beaten

00:17:33 - Retired

00:28:31 - Playing (Paula)

01:29:25 - Playing (Josh)

01:40:16 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Returnal [PC], Railbound [PC], Ghosts N Ghouls [PC], Animal Well [PS5], Dragon Quest Builders [PS5], Who Did It? [PC], Harold Halibut [XSX], Planet Crafter [PC]

Paula: Let’s School [PC], Project Zomboid [PC], Tengoku Struggle: Strayside [Switch]

This week Josh and Paula are making connections, building relationships, and hopefully growing into better human beings all round. As Paula continues to adventure in the kitchens of hell, Josh has been reconciling with relatives, bridging cultures, and bringing justice to paper cut-out animals.

Never fret though, as the weird and wonderful keeps on going as they discuss what the term “indie” might mean in 2024. How has it changed since its original use, and is that even a good thing? These questions and more will be raised and possibly answered, but you’ll have to listen to find out.

Then it’s time for Josh’s brain to be on the spot once again as Paula quizzes him on a game he really should know. Will it be the redeeming round that puts him ahead? Or will he continue to trail behind as he forgets everything he ever knew?!

HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum

Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk

Email - [email protected]

Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro) and Abatage (incidental)

Graphic design – M4thew and Pokepaw

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:42 - Beaten

00:34:41 - Playing

01:20:17 - What Does “Indie” Mean In 2024?

01:58:55 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Chants of Sennaar [XSX], Duck Detective: The Secret Salami [PC], Lil Gator Game [XSX], Harold Halibut [XSX]

Paula: Mini Metro [Android], Tengoku Struggle: Strayside [Switch]

Nothing beaten, nothing retired, this week has been all about progress. Paula continues to work her way through the layers and kitchens of hell, while Josh figures out strange languages, explores an underwater city, fights vampires, and rolls race cars.

Then the discussion turns to those pieces of plastic that promise a new world of gaming and an extension to the immersive promise of interactivity. That’s right, we’re talking video game peripherals; the good, the bad, and the strange.

Finally, Paula shows just how easy it is to play our weekly guessing game, but can she nail it yet again? Tune in to find out!

HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum

Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk

Email - [email protected]

Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro) and Abatage (incidental)

Graphic design – M4thew and Pokepaw

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:36 - Playing

00:54:36 - Video Game Peripherals

01:53:26 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Baldur’s Gate 3 [PC], WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship [PC], Returnal [PC], Harold Halibut [XSX], Chants of Senaar [XSX]

Paula: Tengoku Struggle: Strayside [Switch]

The theme and topic this week is what makes a game worth the time and money it takes to experience whatever it has to offer. Is it as simple as a dollar-per-hour equation? Or are there other factors that come into play? Spoiler: of course there are!

Meanwhile Josh has been fighting the jank of large late-game instability, while Paula gets into the groove of a new reality. Plus, could this be the redemption arc of Josh’s less than stellar guessing game record? The answer may surprise you.

HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum

Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk

Email - [email protected]

Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro) and Abatage (incidental)

Graphic design – M4thew and Pokepaw

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:08 - Beaten

00:23:16 - Playing

01:17:50 - When Is A Game Worth It?

01:43:53 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Mortal Kombat 11 [PC], Baldur’s Gate 3 [PC], Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game [PC], Returnal [PC]

Paula: Norn9: Var Commons [Switch], Let’s School [PC], Beat Saber [Quest 2], Tengoku Struggle: Strayside [Switch]

This week Paula and Josh are having some fun and have put together a little game-soundtrack-themed quiz to play. Will they be able to identify the game based on a short clip of music? Or will Josh fail to remember anything at all and maintain his idiocy?!

Oh, and there’s the usual games they’ve been playing and the weekly guessing game as well… enjoy!

HowLongToBeat forums - https://howlongtobeat.com/forum

Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk

Email - [email protected]

Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro) and Abatage (incidental)

Graphic design – M4thew and Pokepaw

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:38 - Beaten

00:20:10 - Retired

00:23:18 - Playing

01:11:55 - Music Quiz Time Fun Time

01:39:45 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Horizon Chase Turbo [PC], Beasts of Maravilla Island [XSX], Berry People [PC], The Last Case Of Benedict Fox [XSX], Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game [PC],Mortal Kombat 11 [PC], WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship [PC]

Paula: Norn9: Var Commons [Switch], Let’s School [PC]

Every week Josh and Paula talk about the games they’ve been playing and what’s new in their gaming world, but in this special bonus episode, they get to talk about their favourite games of all time. 

Strap in for some spicy picks and discover some pure gems!

HowLongToBeat forums - ⁠https://howlongtobeat.com/forum⁠

Discord – ⁠https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk

⁠Email - ⁠[email protected]

⁠Music – Ian Edward (intro/outro) and Abatage (incidental)

Graphic design – M4thew and Pokepaw

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:24 - Number 10

00:10:02 - Number 9

00:23:32 - Number 8

00:37:13 - Number 7

00:47:27 - Number 6

00:57:04 - Number 5

01:11:02 - Number 4

01:23:23 - Number 3

01:32:04 - Number 2

01:45:43 - Number 1

02:00:27 - The End