Mike and Ting talk about what they played in the first half of 2025.

Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or [email protected]

Multiplayer

• Split Fiction | Official Gameplay Reveal Trailer (YouTube)
• It Takes Two | “My Cutie” Toy Commercial (YouTube)
• BOKURA on Steam
• Return to Verdansk: Massive Intel Drop Ahead of Call of Duty: Warzone Season 03
• Call of Duty: Warzone’s streamlined loot is so much better than fiddling with backpacks | PC Gamer
• Fortnite Is the Biggest Competitor to Any New Game or Service; Top Live Games Sucking Nearly Half of the Playtime on Consoles Are a Bigger Threat to the Video Games Industry Than Subscription Services
• History of basketball - Wikipedia
• R.E.P.O. - Official Release Trailer (YouTube)
• PEAK Trailer: OUT NOW! (YouTube)
• Peak went from a canceled game that couldn’t get funding to selling millions on Steam

Singleplayer

• Monster Train 2 - Official Announcement Trailer (YouTube)
• Void War - Launch Trailer (YouTube)
• Nubby's Number Factory on Steam
• Gloomhaven | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
• Gloomhaven (video game) - Wikipedia
• Isles of Sea and Sky
• New Updates and Insight into Thekla/Jonathan Blow’s Upcoming Sokoban Game (Release, Development, Mission Statement) : r/TheWitness

Mario Kart World

• Mario Kart World – Announcement Trailer (Nintendo Switch 2) (YouTube)
• My Opinion on Intermissions VS Regular Tracks in Mario Kart World (YouTube)
• This Nintendo Update just Ruined Mario Kart World… (YouTube)
• 14 Ways To Dodge The Blue Shell Every Time in Mario Kart! (YouTube)
• How Nintendo locked down the Switch 2’s USB-C port and broke third-party docking | The Verge
• Singapore has the most expensive Nintendo Switch 2 price in the world at US$560, while Hong Kong offers the cheapest Switch 2 at US$440 | HardwareZone Forums
• Buying Switch 2 Secondhand? Beware Nintendo's Anti-Piracy Solution That Has 'Bricked' Some Consoles, Fans Warn - IGN
• Nintendo revealed the Super Mario Odyssey team made Donkey Kong Bananza | The Verge
• Donkey Kong Bananza Reviews - Metacritic

Mike and Ting talk about Anthropic's Project Vend and being a tryhard at Puzzmo.

NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for Now Playing 2025.

Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or [email protected]

Pre-Chat

• Project Vend: Can Claude run a small shop? (And why does that matter?) \ Anthropic
• Sam Altman says Meta offered $100 million bonuses to OpenAI employees | Reuters
• Why Anthropic’s Claude still hasn’t beaten Pokémon - Ars Technica
• ClaudePlaysPokemon - Twitch
• World fertility rates in 'unprecedented decline', UN says
• "Computer Says No..." | Little Britain | Lucas & Walliams (YouTube)
• Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025) - IMDb
• Today's Puzzmo
• GD Column 17: Water Finds a Crack | DESIGNER NOTES
• TED Tumblewords Mobile Game: Everything You Need To Know About - Netflix Tudum

Mike and Ting talk about Blue Prince.

Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or [email protected]

What is Blue Prince?

• ♫ Blue Prince - Full Extended Soundtrack (+ Unreleased Tracks) (YouTube)
• BLUE PRINCE: An Interview with Tonda Ros (YouTube)
• Gesamtkunstwerk - Wikipedia
• Maze: Solve the World's Most Challenging Puzzle - Wikipedia
• Betrayal at House on the Hill | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
• How my friend made a masterpiece (NO Spoilers) (YouTube)
• ANIMAL WELL Day of the Devs Preview (YouTube)
• Blue Prince patch will fix PS5 save bug | Polygon

Room 46

• Library - Blue Prince Guide - IGN
• All permanent additions in Blue Prince and how to unlock them | Polygon
• Parlor - Blue Prince Wiki
• Billiard Room - Blue Prince Wiki
• How to solve the Laboratory periodic table puzzle in Blue Prince | Polygon
• Blue Prince: Should You Make a Wish?
• Erajan - Blue Prince Wiki
• Classroom - Blue Prince Wiki
• Crown of the Blueprints - Blue Prince Wiki
• Gift Shop - Blue Prince Wiki
• Bookshop - Blue Prince Wiki
• A New Clue - Blue Prince Wiki
• Throne Room - Blue Prince Wiki

Summary

• Trigg & Gusset - Inneclipse (Blue Prince OST) (YouTube)
• Summarizing the great Blue Prince RNG debate: : BluePrince
• Outer Wilds - Mobius Digital

Post-Chat

• TotalBiscuit - Wikipedia
• REJECTED by DON HERTZFELDT (Blu-ray restoration) (YouTube)

Mike and Ting talk about Spaceballs 2.

NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for Blue Prince.

Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or [email protected]

Pre-Chat

• Spaceballs 2 | Announcement (YouTube)
• "Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money" (YouTube)
• Mel Brooks explains why George Lucas signed off on Spaceballs — with one giant caveat
• "Weird Al" Yankovic - Fat (HD Version) (YouTube)
• The A.I. Apocalypse - Beyond the Black Void (YouTube)
• Austin Powers - fook me and fook yu (YouTube)
• I Love Gold! (YouTube)
• When 900 years old you reach… (YouTube)
• Steve Martin - Wikipedia
• Martin Shaw - Wikipedia
• How to chat with Meta AI in an individual or group chat | WhatsApp Help Center
• "No, I’m Singaporean": TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi responds to US Senator’s questions about China ties (YouTube)
• Play A Mind Forever Voyaging Online - My Abandonware

Mike and Ting talk about Slay the Spire.

Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or [email protected]

What is Slay the Spire?

• Slay the Spire (YouTube)
• Slay the Spire Reviews - Metacritic
• Future of Giant Bomb website in doubt following prominent staff departures | VGC
• Giant Bomb Escapes Fandom, Goes Independent
• Game of the Year 2019: Day One Deliberations (YouTube)
• Slay the Spire - Northernlion Plays - Episode 1 (YouTube)
• Slay the Spire passes 1.5 million copies sold | VentureBeat

Mechanics

• Exordium (YouTube)
• Dominion (card game) - Wikipedia
• Dream Quest on Steam
• Prismatic Shard | Slay the Spire Wiki
• Ascension | Slay the Spire Wiki
• Act 4 | Slay the Spire Wiki
• Downfall - A Slay the Spire Fan Expansion on Steam
• The Packmaster - Steam Workshop

Experiences

• The City (YouTube)
• Burning Blood | Slay the Spire Wiki
• Body Slam | Slay the Spire Wiki
• Barricade | Slay the Spire Wiki
• Council of Ghosts | Slay the Spire Wiki
• Wraith Form | Slay the Spire Wiki | Fandom
• Vampires(?) | Slay the Spire Wiki
• Peace Pipe | Slay the Spire Wiki | Fandom
• Ah yes the classic bell curve meme : r/slaythespire
• How to win at Slay the Spire: The Basics | A0 Ironclad Ladder Run | Slay the Spire (YouTube)
• Fire Breathing | Slay the Spire Wiki
• Evolve | Slay the Spire Wiki
• Clash | Slay the Spire Wiki
• Anger | Slay the Spire Wiki

Summary

• The Beyond (YouTube)
• Slay the Spire: Metrics Driven Design and Balance (YouTube)
• Slay the Spire: Success through Marketability (YouTube)
• How Slay the Spire’s Original Interface Almost Killed the Game | War Stories | Ars Technica (YouTube)
• Monster Train
• Wildfrost
• Griftlands | Klei Entertainment
• LONESTAR - Thermite Games
• StarVaders
• Across the Obelisk - Paradox Interactive
• Slay the Spire 2 ditched Unity for open-source engine Godot after over 2 years of development | PC Gamer
• Slay the Spire 2 - Official Gameplay Trailer (YouTube)

Mike and Ting talk about being polite to AIs and Mike's latest holiday.

NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for Slay the Spire.

Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or [email protected]

Pre-Chat

• Sam Altman Admits That Saying "Please" and "Thank You" to ChatGPT Is Wasting Millions of Dollars in Computing Power
• Update that made ChatGPT 'dangerously' sycophantic pulled
• How to enjoy Japanese hot springs - Onsen
• Blue Prince
• What Time You Should Go to Bed by Wake-Up Time and Age
• Nintendo Is (Kinda) Returning To Region-Locking With A Cheaper Japanese Switch 2

Mike and Ting talk about the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal.

Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or [email protected]

Price, Hardware and Features

• Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 – 4.2.2025 (YouTube)
• Nintendo delays Switch 2 pre-orders in response to Trump tariffs | Polygon
• How Does Switch 2’s Price Compare to the Cost of Other Nintendo Consoles at Launch? Spoiler: It’s Not the Most Expensive - IGN
• Nintendo to launch Switch 2 on Jun 5 in the US, between July and September in Singapore - CNA Lifestyle
• "DROP THE PRICE": Nintendo's First Post-Direct Stream Is Flooded With Angry Fans Demanding Price Drops
• Select EU Retailers Are Abandoning Nintendo's Suggested Retail Price For Switch 2 Games
• It should be free, but Switch 2’s genius Welcome Tour is nevertheless going to be a must-have game | VG247
• Reggie Had To Fight For Wii Sports As A Pack-In, And Miyamoto Wasn't Happy | Nintendo Life
• I Love Gold! (YouTube)
• Xbox's 2025 gaming handheld teased in new trailer | Eurogamer.net
• Nintendo Explains Why Switch 2 Was Not Called Super Switch - Game Informer
• Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a camera, but you can also use your own
• Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 Accessory Compatibility | Nintendo Support
• Nintendo’s Switch 2 preorder process has strict requirements to thwart scalpers | The Verge

First Party Games

• Mario Kart World – Nintendo Direct | Nintendo Switch 2 (YouTube)
• Mario Kart World: Full Character Roster List - Every Racer Confirmed So Far | Nintendo Life
• Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will have achievements on Nintendo Switch 2 | VGC
• The Legend of Zelda games – Nintendo Switch 2 Editions & ZELDA NOTES – Overview Trailer (YouTube)
• Drag x Drive – Nintendo Direct | Nintendo Switch 2 (YouTube)
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Nintendo Switch 2 (YouTube)
• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment – Nintendo Direct | Nintendo Switch 2 (YouTube)
• Best Games on GameCube - Metacritic
• Kirby Air Riders – Nintendo Direct | Nintendo Switch 2 (YouTube)
• Donkey Kong Bananza – Exploration Gameplay – Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Nintendo Switch 2 (YouTube)
• I Played 100% of A Game About Digging a Hole (YouTube)

Third Party Games

• The Duskbloods デビュートレーラー【Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 - 2025.4.2 】(YouTube)
• ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition アナウンスメントトレーラー【Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 - 2025.4.2 】(YouTube)
• Hogwarts Legacy - Nintendo Switch 2 Trailer | Nintendo Direct (YouTube)
• DELTARUNE Nintendo Switch 2 Announce Trailer (YouTube)
• Borderlands 4 - Nintendo Switch 2 Trailer | Nintendo Switch 2 Direct (YouTube)
• Civilization 7 - Nintendo Switch 2 Trailer | Nintendo Direct (YouTube)
• Enter the Gungeon 2 | Teaser Trailer (YouTube)
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition — Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Trailer (YouTube)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch 2 (YouTube)
• SILKSONG 2025 CONFIRMED (Day 1538) (YouTube)
• Austin Powers in Goldmember - Godzilla Scene (YouTube)
• Creator’s Voice blog: Hidetaka Miyazaki on The Duskbloods (part 1) - News - Nintendo Official Site

Mike and Ting talk about lean forward vs lean back entertainment and Ghibli AI slop.

NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal.

Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or [email protected]

Pre-Chat

• Severance (TV Series 2022– ) - IMDb
• Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (TV Series 2023– ) - IMDb
• Dandadan (TV Series 2024– ) - IMDb
• The ChatGPT, AI-Generated Studio Ghibli Trend, Explained
• Hayao Miyazaki - Wikipedia
• AI bots strain Wikimedia as bandwidth surges 50% - Ars Technica

Mike and Ting talk about The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe.

Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or [email protected]

What is The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe?

• The New Full Intro Cutscene for Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe
• The Stanley Parable
• The Stanley Parable mod for Half-Life 2 - ModDB
• The Forgotten City
• The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe Reviews - Metacritic
• The Stanley Parable "Raphael Trailer" (YouTube)
• The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe – The Game Awards Trailer (YouTube)
• Achievements | The Stanley Parable Wiki

Highlights

• The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe – The Complete Soundtrack (YouTube)
• Museum Ending | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• Confusion Ending | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• Settings Person | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• Endings | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• Settings World Champion Room | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• New Content Ending | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• Skip Button Ending | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• Mostly Infinite Hole | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• Figurines Ending | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• Epilogue | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• Zending | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• Art Ending | The Stanley Parable Wiki

The Message

• The Stanley Parable Reassurance Bucket
• Gambhorra'ta | The Stanley Parable Wiki
• Apartment Ending | The Stanley Parable Wiki

Summary

• Bastion (video game) - Wikipedia
• Z (video game) - Wikipedia
• Davey Wreden - Wikipedia
• William Pugh (game designer) - Wikipedia

Mike and Ting aren't sure if they're less efficient, or the podcast is just longer.

NOTE: this is the pre-episode warm up chat for The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe.

Contact us: @lostlevelsclub or [email protected]

Pre-Chat

• Radiohead - Karma Police (YouTube)

I'm not sure if it's because I'm more efficient, or if I'm just not getting as much work. I'm not sure if I should be worried about it or not. I'm not sure if I should be looking for more work, or if I should just be happy with what I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get promoted, or if I should just be happy with where I am. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a raise, or if I should just be happy with what I'm making. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a bonus, or if I should just be happy with what I'm getting. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new job, or if I should just be happy with the one I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new career, or if I should just be happy with the one I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new life, or if I should just be happy with the one I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new house, or if I should just be happy with the one I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new car, or if I should just be happy with the one I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new phone, or if I should just be happy with the one I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new computer, or if I should just be happy with the one I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new tablet, or if I should just be happy with the one I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new watch, or if I should just be happy with the one I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new TV, or if I should just be happy with the one I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new stereo, or if I should just be happy with the one I have. I'm not sure if I should be trying to get a new camera, or if I should just be happy with the one I have.