As the end of the year draws ever closer, we have a look whether we succeeded with our gaming goals for 2023, as well as setting new ones for 2024. Meanwhile, Paula has been on an emotional rollercoaster while laser focused on her latest Otome. In contrast, Josh has played a whole heap of different games, including some Itchmas in July titles and some fresh takes on alternate media. Then we wrap everything up with a lightning round of our guessing game, where Paula may once again show us why she’s the champ.

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

00:01:29 - Beaten

00:17:07 - Retired

00:23:20 - Playing

01:25:05 - New Year Gaming Resolutions

01:50:20 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Cocoon [PC], Cube Escape Collection (Birthday, Theatre) [PC], Under Leaves [PC]. Lookouts [PC], Coloring Game: Pixel [PC], Soundmarine (itchmas) [PC], Sandtrix (itchmas) [PC], Pigeon Ascent (itchmas) [PC], Gotham Knights [PC], Half-Life: Source [PC], Yoshi Goes to Tesco (itchmas) [PC],Robocop: Rogue City [PC], Assassin’s Creed: Mirage [PC], The Next World [PC],  Half-Life (GotM) [PC], Thirsty Suitors [PC], Disney Dreamlight Valley [XBOX SERIES S]

Paula: Virche Evermore: Error Salvation [Switch], Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations [DS]

This week Paula and Josh have completed the same cat-themed time-travelling hidden-object game, but not a lot else. Once again they’ve avoided retiring anything, but Paula has been playing with clones, while Josh skated his way through some sentimental adventures in growing up. Finally, with the end of the year closing in, we have a chat about the HLTB Fantasy Critic League before Josh attempts to even up the scores and chase some all new stakes in our guessing game.

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

00:01:33 - Beaten

00:07:15 - Playing

00:41:26 - HLTB Fantasy Critic League

01:05:15 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: An Arcade Full of Cats [PC], Thirsty Suitors [PC], The Next World [PC], Cocoon [PC]. Overcooked 2 [PS5]

Glory to Paula, as she deals with suspect documentation and terrorist cells at the border; while Josh hacks his way into some kid’s chat logs, and fights no good darn dirty soviet robots. Then they both get stuck into the undeniable impact Undertale has had on gaming…along with their own thoughts and hot takes on this Game of the Month. Finally, can Paula solve the conundrum that is perhaps the most popular game on HLTB? Have a listen and find out!.

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

00:00:58 - Beaten

00:24:15 - Playing

01:13:23 - Game of the Month: Undertale

01:33:55 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: The Tiny Bang Story [PC], ToriDori [PC], Sorry, James [PC], Baldur’s Gate 3 [PC]. Assassin’s Creed: Mirage [PS5], Atomic Heart [PC], The Next World [PC]

Paula: Papers, Please [PC], Pokemon Sapphire [GBA] (Nuzlocke Randomizer), Wargroove [PC] (Archipelago Custom Campaign), An Arcade Full of Cats [PC], Virche Evermore: Error Salvation [Switch]

As Josh fumbles around with PC hardware and cobbles together this edit, Paula has been expanding her horizons and trying new things in the world of gaming. Meanwhile Josh actually finished a few short adventures, a pretty bad racing game, and a brand new climb to the top of a very nice mountain. Back in the real world, Paula has been enjoying a symphony of video game classics, prompting a chat about favourite game soundtracks and recommendations. Finally, can Josh scrape together a little bit of a useful memory and gain some point in our guessing game? 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

00:00:58 - Beaten

00:22:06 - Retired

00:23:55 - Playing

01:02:05 - Game Music We Love

01:41:32 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Wallace & Gromit Episode 2: The Last Resort [PC], Wallace & Gromit Episode 3: Muzzled! [PC], NFS: The Run [PC], Looks Good [PC], Rusty Lake Hotel [PC], Jusant [PC], Sea of Stars [PS5], Assassin’s Creed: Mirage [PS5], Cocoon [PC]

Paula: Piofiore: Episodio 1926 [Switch], FIFA 23 [Switch], Jackbox Party Pack 6 [Browser], Project Zomboid [PC], Quarantine Circular [PC]

This week Paula’s been getting deeper in mafia business and repeatedly dying while trying to survive the apocalypse. Meanwhile Josh has been finishing off a co-op adventure and taking the time to tidy things up before falling further into the Rusty Lake universe. What really matters though, are the comfort games we hold dear to our heart, so we have a bit of a chat about some perhaps unexpected titles that always make us feel good.

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

00:01:05 - Beaten

00:15:29 - Playing

00:40:23 - Comfort Gaming

01:29:57 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: It Takes Two [PS5], Poems & Codes [PC], Looks Good [PC], Rusty Lake Hotel [PC], Tiny Bang Story, Doom/Quake, Journey, PowerWash Simulator, Glass Masquerade, Assassin’s Creed, Assault Android Cactus,kane & Lynch: Dead Men

Paula: Piofiore: Fated Memories [Switch], Project Zomboid [PC], Piofiore: Episodio 1926 [Switch], Code Realize: Guardian of Rebirth [plus the 2 fandisk], TLoZ: Majora’s Mask, The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince, Fire Emblem: Awakening, A Short Hike, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, Pokemon

After the onslaught of demos in the last episode, things have relaxed a little and we have a handful of titles to talk about. What happens though, when you get overwhelmed with choice and have to decide what to play, or maybe you just can’t put down that hot new game in spite of other interests?! Our discussion this week focuses on gaming droughts and gluts, and our own experiences. Finally, it’s Josh’s turn to attempt a bit of redemption and put some points on the board in our HLTB guessing game!

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 - Beaten

00:20:01 - Playing

01:00:38 - Gaming Droughts & Gluts

01:20:37 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Storm Boy [PC], Cube Escape Collection (The Mill) [PC], Poems & Codes [PC], Cities: Skylines II [PC], Baldur’s Gate 3 [PC], “Windows 11”

Paula: The Runemaster’s Diary [PC], A Tiny Sticker Tale [PC], Piofiore: Fated Memories [Switch], Diablo II: Lord of Destruction [PC], Detective Pikachu [3DS]

Get ready for a gauntlet of games to excite the senses! Josh got COVID and spent his time playing a lot of small games, while Paula polished off one she’s been working on for a while. Plus, the titles keep coming after Steam’s latest NEXTfest event provided a heap of interesting demos to try out, but were they really worth it?

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 - Beaten

00:23:38 - Retired

00:25:53 - Playing

00:49:55 - Steam NEXTFest Demos

01:47:58 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery [PC], F.E.A.R. [PC], Cube Escape Collection (Harvey’s Box, Case 23) [PC], Lords Of The Fallen (2014) [PC], The Adventures Of Bertram Fiddle: Episode 2 - A Bleaker Predicklement [PC], Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure [PC], Find All [PC], Find All 1, 2, 3, and 4 [PC], Project Cars 3 [PC], Lapin [Xbox Series S], Need For Speed: The Run [PC], Poems & Codes [PC], From Space [Xbox Series S], Tori Dori [PC], a shit-ton of demos

Paula: Winter’s Wish: Spirits of Edo [Switch], Golf Peaks [PC], Piofiore: Fated Memories [Switch]

In this special irregular episode, we discuss the wide range of things we've learned from playing video games. The stories and experiences we've encountered through gaming are often a conduit to life lessons and discovering the world around us. They enrich our lives and teach us in unique ways that have lasting effects.

Discord – https://discord.gg/v5F26Dk

Email - [email protected]

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

Graphic design – M4thew and Pokepaw

The Otome is strong with this one, as Paula stays hooked on threads and colours, while Josh has been coming to grips with pan-dimensional orbs and Tokyo-based hauntings with full mouse and keyboard support. Plus, this week we’re talking about some of those games that we love, but everyone else seems to hate, and why that could be. Followed by an unexpected result in this week’s guessing game!

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 - Beaten

00:08:41 - Playing

01:09:23 - Some Games We Love

01:48:00 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Cube Escape Collection (Seasons, The Lake, Arles) [PC], It Takes Two [PS5], Gotham Knights [PC], Cocoon [PC], F.E.A.R. [PC], Kena: Bridge Of Spirits [PS5], Ghostwire Tokyo [PC], 

Paula: Wargroove 2 [Switch], Winter’s Wish: Spirits of Edo [Switch], 

It’s October, which brings the HLTB Triple Creature Feature for Game of the Month! Josh and Paula have a chat about the games featured for the month, and what the community are saying. Meanwhile, Paula starts theorising about sticks and strings, while Josh struggles against a janky little 3D platformer. Of course, none of that matters in the end, as it’s Paula’s time to try and gain an even larger lead in our guessing game, but could she have met her match? Have a listen and 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

00:01:33 - Beaten

00:19:36 - Retired 

00:25:27 - Playing

01:07:27 - Topic

01:20:41 - Guess The Game

Games Mentioned:

Josh: Lies of P [PC], Adventures of Bertram Fiddle: Episode 1 - A Dreadly Business [PC], Toren [PC], Lords of the Fallen [PC], Kena: Bridge Of Spirits [PS5], Sea Of Stars [PS5], F.E.A.R. [PC], 

Paula: Café Enchanté [Switch], The Wandering Village [PC], Hamtaro: Rainbow Rescue [GBA], Golf Peaks [PC], Detective Pikachu [3DS], The Runemaster’s Diary [PC], Winter's Wish: Spirits of Edo [Switch],