This week, Daniel embraces the joy of touching alien goo in video game Returnal and Mark reads through the dexterously slim new TTRPG Nimble. Plus Silk-posting, gaming vs gambling, friction vs escapism, D&D compatibility and more.

Topics Discussed

Silksong release date, Addiction by Design, Returnal, Nimble, Alien Earth, Steel of the Celestial Shadows

Timestamps

• Start: 0:00:00
• Appetizer: 0:01:12
• Appetizer: 0:06:11
• Main 1: 0:19:09
• Main 2: 0:37:52
• Dessert 1: 1:04:43
• Dessert 2: 1:09:31

Links

Vancouver Game Garden

https://vangamegarden.com/

Game Studies Study Buddies - Addiction by Design

https://rangedtouch.com/2022/01/31/43-schull-addiction-by-design/

Watch on Youtube

https://youtu.be/FYtB2qvRa70

Get updates on Bluesky

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Daniel squares up the Wilmot trilogy of games and how they bring order to chaos. Mark explores the challenges of digital noise in Clank! Digital. Plus Die The Roleplaying Game, 3DS hacks and more!

Topics Discussed

Die The Roleplaying Game, hacking/emulating dual screen consoles, Wilmots Warehouse (video game and board game), Wilmot Works it Out, Clank! Digital, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (novel), Rental Person Who Does Nothing (memoir)

Timestamps

• Start: 0:00:00
• Appetizer 1: 0:01:38
• Appetizer 2: 0:16:40
• Main 1: 0:29:03
• Main 2: 0:45:55
• Dessert 1: 1:06:06
• Dessert 2: 1:12:32
• Outro: 1:19:20

Links

Watch on Youtubehttps://youtu.be/VeqlpO9oDac

Get updates on Bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/omnigamers.bsky.social

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We’re back in the hotseat and sizzling up some summer treats. Daniel grills fresh takes on Nintendo Switch 2’s debut with Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza while Mark cools off with the refreshing retro charm of Breath of Fire. We also discuss some recent controversy around representation in games and the broader role of cultural consultancy.

Topics Discussed

CGE apology re: Harry Potter Codenames, Devir apology re: Ace of Spades, ‘Ghibli inspired’ games, Breath of Fire, Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Donkey Kong Country, Gokurakugai (manga), Legend (1985 film)

Timestamps

• Start: 0:00:00
• Appetizer:  0:01:29
• Breath of Fire:  0:21:33
• Switch 2 Impressions, Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza:  0:37:59
• Dessert 1, Gokurakugai (manga):  1:04:19
• Dessert 2, Legend (1985 film):  1:12:30
• Outro:  1:17:06

Links

Block Collective⁠https://bsky.app/profile/blockcollectives.bsky.social⁠

CGE statement

https://www.wargamer.com/codenames/harry-potter-charity

Ace of Spades recall

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/08/08/devir-to-recall-all-copies-of-new-release-ace-of-spades-after-backlash-over-slavery-depictions-in-artwork-apologises-for-causing-harm/

Tabletop Game Designers Association

https://www.ttgda.org/

‘Why "Ghibli-ness" is not an excuse for Orientalist appropriation of Japanese culture’

https://kashi-info.carrd.co/

Watch on Youtube⁠https://youtu.be/wc6PHmD7v5o⁠

Get updates on Bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/omnigamers.bsky.social

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We're back from summer vacation, and we have stories to tell. Daniel recounts his experiences in Australia, even attending a con, while Mark visits Japan mostly for retro game hunting with a little (Nintendo) museum going in the mix.

Topics Discussed

The Danes, Thunder Road: Vendetta campaign, Unmatched Hellboy, Sword World English translation, Let’s Go! To France, BDS Microsoft boycott, CGE boycott, visiting Japan, visiting Sydney, hunting for retro games, Play Con, Ahoy, Harvest, Hot Streak, Nana, Goro Majima body pillows, Nintendo Museum, playtesting, Tokyo Vice (book), The Spire (comic)

Timestamps

• Start: 0:00:00
• Appetizer: 0:01:07
• Japan - Ikebukuro: 0:16:05
• Australia - Sydney: 0:27:05
• Japan - Retro Game Hunting: 0:30:40
• Australia - Indie Games: 1:02:59
• Japan - Nintendo Museum: 0:54:25
• Dessert 1 - Tokyo Vice (A Memoir): 1:06:56
• Dessert 2 - The Spire (Comic Book): 1:12:48

Links

So, How’s The BDS Xbox Boycott Going?

https://www.endlessmode.com/article/so-hows-the-bds-xbox-boycott-going

CGE boycott

https://www.rascal.news/saying-nothing-is-free/

Akihabara: Death and Rebirth

https://youtu.be/o4y_j329Y_Y?si=0Ncovyy7LSUSPGFc

ProtoCON BC

https://www.protoconbc.ca/

Watch on Youtube

https://youtu.be/EXP-Ud9xGGA

Get updates on Bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/omnigamers.bsky.social

Follow Daniel

https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamefeast.bsky.social

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https://bsky.app/profile/markyuasa.bsky.social

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[email protected]. 

We’re closing off this season of the podcast with a pot luck of tasty game news and reviews: We discuss the state of video game consoles and a selection of Steam Next Fest Demos; Daniel reminisces with a retro game roundup of Jurassic Park and Phantasy Star; Mark surveys the remaster of Xenoblade Chronicles X

Topics Discussed

Are video game consoles dead?, Is Game Pass Devaluing games?, Video games demos (Morsels, Mina the Hollower, Ball x Pit, Flick Shot Rogues), Xenoblade Chronicles X Remaster, Jurassic Park (SNES), Garygoyle Quest, Phantasy Star, Fight Magic Items (novel), DanDaDan (manga)Timestamps

Start: 0:00:00

Appetizer:  0:01:59

Xenoblade Chronicles X:  0:25:27

Jurassic Park and Phantasy Star:  0:40:21

Dessert:  0:58:07

Outro:  1:16:45

Links

Video Game Consoles Are Dead (pay-walled) 

https://aftermath.site/switch-2-xbox-playstation-exclusivity

Game Pass devaluing games?

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dev-who-launched-game-into-game-pass-warns-against-launching-games-into-game-pass/1100-6532306/

FunFactor Podcast

https://funfactorpod.com/

Meeple and the Moose Final Fantasy Challenge

https://meepleandthemoose.com/2025/04/23/final-fantasy-challenge/

Watch on Youtube

https://youtu.be/E_3J3TTY2Jw

Get updates on Bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/omnigamers.bsky.social

Follow Daniel

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[email protected]. 

We welcome omni-streamer Amanda Panda (aka Panda8ngel) to the club, to discuss the state of board game conventions, why there’s an aversion to co-operative games and why libraries are so awesome. With reviews of Darwin’s Journey, Dungeon Kart and My Shelfie The Dice Game.

Topics Discussed

Why won’t my friends play Co-operative Games, Not talking about Summer Game Fest, The state of games conventions, Sword World English Translation, Hunting for games in Japan, Darwin’s Journey, Dungeon Kart, What You Are Looking For is in the Library (novel), Cozy genre reads, Libraries are awesome, Murderbot Diaries (novel), Delicious in Dungeon (manga)

Timestamps

Start: 0:00:00

Appetizer:  0:04:14

Darwin’s Journey:  0:32:17

Dungeon Kart:  0:43:42

My Shelfie The Dice Game:  0:56:03

Dessert:  1:00:03

Links

Watch on Youtube

https://youtu.be/LZQqyO-mz2M

Follow Amanda

https://bsky.app/profile/panda8ngel.bsky.social

https://www.twitch.tv/panda8ngel

www.youtube.com/@Panda8ngel

https://lnk.bio/Panda8ngel

Our Family Plays Games

https://www.youtube.com/@OurFamilyPlaysGames

BGG Game night https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBIiHc7zsjdwGbJN78PkxCCC9xJkUV1Ic

UKGE surpasses GenCon 

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/06/03/uk-games-expo-now-fully-on-the-world-sta ge-of-mega-cons-as-record-breaking-event-surpasses-gen-con-for-trade-hall-size/

Sword World in English

http://sw25.wikidot.com/

Get updates on Bluesky

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This episode, we’re joined by Graham Gentz from Mythworks to discuss his experience designing TTRPGs and running Mega Games. Graham recalls a wealth of experience playing A Penny for My Thoughts, and Daniel delivers a report of visiting Koriko: A Magical Year.

Topics Discussed

CBR+PNK, Under the Autumn Strangely, Mega Games, A Penny For My Thoughts, Koriko: A Magical Year, horror recommendations

Timestamps

• Start: 0:00:00
• Appetizer - CBR PNK: 0:02:04
• Appetizer - Under the Autumn Strangely: 0:06:56
• Appetizer - Mega Games: 0:16:00
• A Penny for My Thoughts: 0:37:51
• Koriko: A Magical Year: 0:50:56
• Dessert: 1:07:59

Links

CBR+PNK: Overload

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mythworks/cbr-pnk-overload

Slugblaster: Slime, Warp and Solder

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/mythworks/slugblaster-book-of-warp-slime-solder

Under the Autumn Strangely

https://grahamgentz.itch.io/under-the-autumn-strangely

Shut Up & Sit Down: Watch the Skies

https://youtu.be/hN71v9H_gg8

People Make Games: Wargaming

https://youtu.be/lYaDXZ2MI-k   

Watch on Youtube

https://youtu.be/sKRjXWR0N_c

Get updates on Bluesky

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This week we ponder the conundrum of classifying puzzles as games, as Daniel reviews Gravitrax The Game Pro: Splitter. Meanwhile Mark plunders the retro archives to review Gargoyle’s Quest.

Topics Discussed

Puzzles as Games, Gravitrax The Game, Gargoyles Quest, Fargo (TV series), Star Wars: Convergence (Novel)

Timestamps

• Start: 0:00:00
• Appetizer: 0:01:30
• Gravitrax: 0:12:15
• Gargoyle’s Quest: 0:28:19
• Desert: 0:47:47
• Outro: 1:01:21

Links

Board Games As Puzzles: Problem Design & Player Agency

https://youtu.be/f697KVbaeyk

Watch on Youtube

https://youtu.be/Uu5-hSV8aE4

Get updates on Bluesky

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[email protected]. 

This week we’re both illustrating our thoughts on turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. We discuss its surrealist high-stakes storytelling and resonance with card-game mechanics to see how this exquisite corpse of design fits together.

Topics Discussed

Molly House Print and Play, Bungie plagiarises artwork, ProtoCon BC, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, A Canticle for Leibowitz, Overlord (manga/anime)

Timestamps

Start: 00:00

Appetizer: 01:47

Clair Obscur Expedition 33: 10:09

Desert: 1:07:22

Outro: 1:19:41

Links

Molly House Print and Play

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3510978/final-print-and-play-released

Bungie plagiarized artist N2 for upcoming Marathon game

https://www.vice.com/en/article/bungie-accused-of-plagiarizing-yet-again-marathon-seemingly-lifts-assets-from-an-artists-original-work-without-their-knowledge/

ProtoCon BC

https://www.protoconbc.ca/

Watch on Youtube

https://youtu.be/5afx_t8qC4Q

Get updates on Bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/omnigamers.bsky.social

Follow Daniel

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[email protected]. 

This week we’re taking a magnifying glass to Blue Prince and both comparing our thoughts on this innovative blend of card drafting, puzzle solving and rogue-like RNG. Is the resulting Winchester house of game design worthy of the crown?

Topics Discussed

Reforest: Old Growth, Seas of Havoc, Goodman Games collaborating with Judges Guild, Spindlejack, Citizen Sleeper, Nintendo virtual game cards, Blue Prince, Black Mirror, The Invisible Man and His Soon to be Wife

Timestamps

• Start: 00:00
• Appetizer: 01:18
• Blue Prince: 14:48
• Desert: 56:56
• Outro: 1:11:44
• Blue Prince Spoilers: 1:12:59

Links

Reforest: Old Growth

http://kck.st/4jA9BtY

Seas of Havoc Reprint & First Mates Expansion

http://kck.st/3Z6yNjs

Spindlejack

https://jump-over-the-age.itch.io/citizen-sleeper-spindlejack

Quinns Quest Citizen Sleeper Actual Play

https://youtu.be/SCP7Pf12xcU 

Watch on Youtube⁠https://youtu.be/QOM4N7XM67I⁠

Get updates on Bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/omnigamers.bsky.social

Follow Daniel

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