We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).

Laura, Jey, and Doug tango with Episode 1 and share their Mole suspicions.

Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us.

Links:

Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol

TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel

TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by Chris Plante (Besties, Post Games), Hayden "Docky" Scott-Baron (Planet Coaster), and Rand Hall (voicemailer extraordinaire, Zaga-33 guide writer) for the fourth title in our year of All Systems Brough, a year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough: Zaga-33.

This episode: Zaga-33

Next Month: Corrypt (and Lost Levels)

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:

Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/04/zaga-33.html

868-BACK (Next Fest demo on February 23rd, 2026!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/

Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/

The Besties https://www.themcelroy.family/podcasts/besties/

Post Games https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/post-games/id1815131711

Rand's Zaga-33 Guide https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1442555333091262566/1475568523018371295

Drop7 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop7

Desert Golfing https://store.steampowered.com/app/757040/Desert_Golfing/

7 Day Roguelike (7DRL) version of Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/03/7drl-zaga-33.html

Assorted comments on Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/05/zaga-33-assorted-comments.html

Blog about scoring in games https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/05/score-comment-threads-dominant.html

Brick101 Review of all 36 combo powers in Zaga-33 https://brick101.com/reviewing-all-36-combo-powers-in-zaga-33/

Blog about iOS sale numbers https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/ios-sale-numbers.html

Follow-up blog on iOS sales numbers https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/because-we-may-results.html

Blog on zaga, score, expressivity, and personality https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/08/zaga-score-expressivity-personality.html

Blog on creating advancement in roguelikes https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/03/7drl-day-2.html

7 Day Roguelike website https://7drl.com/

PRACTICE 2013: Michael Brough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4iswqa8r-Q

https://secretlives.games/

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

Recorded live from the Game Developers Conference 2026! They gave us time in the Official Podcast Box, so we made the most of it discussing the process of writing for the IGF Awards, reflecting on the culture of GDC, and even having a couple surprise guests drop in. Let's get loose!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

Scripto

https://scripto.live/

Starfriends

https://shop.brainfruit.studio/products/starfriends-card-game

2026 Independent Games Festival Awards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoH4EmfB4Z4

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

https://store.steampowered.com/app/205730/Insanely_Twisted_Shadow_Planet/

Dustbiters

https://dustbiters.com/

Tooth and Tail

https://store.steampowered.com/app/286000/Tooth_and_Tail/

Brogue

https://sites.google.com/site/broguegame/

Caves of Qud

https://www.cavesofqud.com/

Monaco 2

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1063030/Monaco_2/

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

Doug and Rob are joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis) and Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis) chat with Ben Rausch (Team Lazerbeam) and Anja Venter (Free Lives) about the Playtopia Festival for Indie Games & Immersive Arts that they help organize. They discuss some of the Festival's origins, the logistics of producing in-person games events, the state of alt-control/arts-focused games events around the world, the relationship between South African culture and Playtopia's structure, the importance of showing the new generation how to create these spaces, the balance of growing and maintaining a festival community, and more!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

Playtopia Festival https://playtopiafestival.co.za/about/

Shroom and Gloom https://teamlazerbeam.itch.io/shroom-and-gloom

Jamming to map creative scenes and practices by Anya Venter https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02681102.2023.2281423

A MAZE Festival https://2026.amaze-berlin.de/

The future of public game arts festivals and non-commercial games culture by Robert Yang https://www.blog.radiator.debacle.us/2026/02/the-future-of-public-game-arts.html

Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant https://grants.draknek.org/

Don't Get Your Hopes Up https://store.steampowered.com/app/3795490/Dont_Get_Your_Hopes_Up/

boshi's place https://boshis.place/events/

Glitch City https://glitch.city/

Blood on the Clocktower https://bloodontheclocktower.com/?country=US

Pro Jank Footy https://store.steampowered.com/app/3621330/Pro_Jank_Footy/

Plum Road Tea Dream https://store.steampowered.com/app/3206340/Plum_Road_Tea_Dream/

Plum Road Tea Dream (Performance) https://plum-road-tea-dream.com/#performance

Dressmaker https://store.steampowered.com/app/4019220/Dressmaker/

Cozy Lives Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cozylivesgames/reels/

Free Lives Discord https://discord.com/invite/freelives

Sex with Friends https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/3407070/

Wee Boats https://store.steampowered.com/app/3578080/Wee_Boats/

Relooted https://store.steampowered.com/app/3255890/Relooted/

Cadence https://store.steampowered.com/app/362800/Cadence/

Starfriends https://starfriends.online

Playtopia 2025 Showcased Games https://playtopiafestival.co.za/games-2025/

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

Doug and Rob are joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis) and Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis) chat with Ben Rausch (Team Lazerbeam) and Anja Venter (Free Lives) about the Playtopia Festival for Indie Games & Immersive Arts that they help organize. They discuss some of the Festival's origins, the logistics of producing in-person games events, the state of alt-control/arts-focused games events around the world, the relationship between South African culture and Playtopia's structure, the importance of showing the new generation how to create these spaces, the balance of growing and maintaining a festival community, and more!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

Playtopia Festival https://playtopiafestival.co.za/about/

Shroom and Gloom https://teamlazerbeam.itch.io/shroom-and-gloom

Jamming to map creative scenes and practices by Anya Venter https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02681102.2023.2281423

A MAZE Festival https://2026.amaze-berlin.de/

The future of public game arts festivals and non-commercial games culture by Robert Yang https://www.blog.radiator.debacle.us/2026/02/the-future-of-public-game-arts.html

Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant https://grants.draknek.org/

Don't Get Your Hopes Up https://store.steampowered.com/app/3795490/Dont_Get_Your_Hopes_Up/

boshi's place https://boshis.place/events/

Glitch City https://glitch.city/

Blood on the Clocktower https://bloodontheclocktower.com/?country=US

Pro Jank Footy https://store.steampowered.com/app/3621330/Pro_Jank_Footy/

Plum Road Tea Dream https://store.steampowered.com/app/3206340/Plum_Road_Tea_Dream/

Plum Road Tea Dream (Performance) https://plum-road-tea-dream.com/#performance

Dressmaker https://store.steampowered.com/app/4019220/Dressmaker/

Cozy Lives Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cozylivesgames/reels/

Free Lives Discord https://discord.com/invite/freelives

Sex with Friends https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/3407070/

Wee Boats https://store.steampowered.com/app/3578080/Wee_Boats/

Relooted https://store.steampowered.com/app/3255890/Relooted/

Cadence https://store.steampowered.com/app/362800/Cadence/

Playtopia 2025 Showcased Games https://playtopiafestival.co.za/games-2025/

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

Rob and Zach chat with Joonas Turner (Downwell, Noita, Cult of the Lamb), Jukio Kallio (Fall Guys, Minit, Dave the Diver), and Jan Willem "JW" Nijman (Super Crate Box, Ridiculous Fishing, Minit) about their landmark twin-stick wasteland shooter, Nuclear Throne, and its recent blowout 10th anniversary update. They discuss reopening a project after a decade, balancing through play, the decision to not implement traditional invincibility frames, the shifting culture of what makes a design "engaging," and more!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

Nuclear Throne https://nuclearthrone.com/

Controls You Can Feel: Putting Tactility Back Into Touch Controls https://youtu.be/OIOitNx9RHI?si=vcV3GCcsiy1W4Efr

Spelunky https://www.spelunkyworld.com/

Shoot First https://www.indiedb.com/games/shoot-first

Crimsonland https://www.crimsonland.com/

Downwell https://downwellgame.com/

Tormentor x Punisher https://tormentorxpunisher.com/

PAPERHEAD https://store.steampowered.com/app/2680280/PAPERHEAD/

Jukio's Bandcamp https://jukiokallio.bandcamp.com/

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by droqen (The End of Gameplay, Starseed Pilgrim), Liz Ryerson (musician, writer, podcaster), and Harry Lee Shang Lun (Earthrise One) for the third title in our year of All Systems Brough, a year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough: Kompendium.

This episode: Kompendium

Next Month: Zaga-33

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:

Kompendium https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/kompendium.html

868-BACK (Next Fest demo on February 23rd, 2026!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/

Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/

Liz's talk at boshi's place (Brooklyn, NYC | February 19th, 2026) https://boshis.place/events/26-02-20-boshi-s-lecture-series-presents-liz-ryerson https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2702430653

Harry's work https://hellothisismy.website/work/

Kompendium IGF judge feedback https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/04/kompendium-igf-feedback.html

Mutual learning blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/04/mutual-learning-aesthetic-for.html

Metagaming: Playing, Competing, Spectating, Cheating, Trading, Making, and Breaking Videogames by Stephanie Boluk and Patrick LeMieux https://www.upress.umn.edu/9780816687169/metagaming/

Multicolor Alien Olympic https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/2970

Glitch Tank https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2011/12/glitch-tank.html

Being good at Glitch Tank blog post https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/05/being-good-at-glitch-tank.html

At a Distance by Terry Cavanagh https://distractionware.com/atadistance/

Brough on iOS sale numbers https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/ios-sale-numbers.html

Garbage In, Garbage Out https://jonathanwhiting.com/games/garbagein/press.html

Exuberant Struggle http://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2011/02/exuberant-struggle.html

Brough writing on zero sum nature of 1v1 games https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2011/10/two-player-lessons.html

TIGSource Versus Competition https://www.tigsource.com/versus-competition/

TIGSource Versus Competition Rules https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=17083.0

TIGSource Versus Competition 2011 Voting https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=18424.0

TIGSource Versus Competition 2011 Winner (0space by Beau) https://www.tigsource.com/2011/03/31/tigcompo-winner-0space/

0space itch download https://teknopants.itch.io/0space

Jesus vs Dinosaurs https://grapefrukt.itch.io/jesus-vs-dinosaurs

The Impossible Reversal by Peter McDonald https://www.upress.umn.edu/9781517916220/the-impossible-reversal/

Run and Jump: The Meaning of the 2D Platformer https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262547390/run-and-jump/

A Is To B As B Is To C https://bocpages.org/wiki/A_Is_To_B_As_B_Is_To_C

Chesh https://www.damiansgames.com/chesh

Brough's blog post about O https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/10/o.html

Brough on the new year (circa 2012) https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-year-cleansing.html

Side By Side S1 E3: Kompendium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWScEl_DbpM

Earthrise One https://www.earthrise.one/

Miscellaneous Two Player iPad Games https://eriksvedang.wordpress.com/shoot/ https://rustymoyher.com/press/bloop/

https://secretlives.games/

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

Rob, Doug, Andy, and Sarah chat with Gabe Cuzzillo (Ape Out, Despelote) and Bennett Foddy (Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, QWOP) about their (with Maxi Boch) latest game, the multi-IGF-nominated open-world hard-walking manchild simulator Baby Steps. We discuss the game's in-house approach to voice acting, balancing challenge with humor, creating (and hiding) a looping environment, telling an honest story about masculinity, including explicit content without getting banned from Steam, rock curation, secrets, and so much more!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Discussed in this episode:

Baby Steps https://www.babystepsgame.com/

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111942/

My Summer Car https://store.steampowered.com/app/516750/My_Summer_Car/

zk map (for stranger) https://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/11388

La belle noiseuse (1991) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101428/

Kelly Reichardt https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0716980/

Perfect Days (2023) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27503384/

The Taste of Things (2023) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19760052/

NYU Game Center Lecture Series Presents Jane Ng https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yWIoRuwpm0

DESPELOTE: FIFTH TRAILER (now on nintendo switch) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXKlgMZ3Jc

The Love That Remains (2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33381401/

Solo (Australian ad) 1983 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCkz0JsaU8k

Solo Man ad, Australia 1986 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T3RS78Tp58

Solo (Australian ad) 1984 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_1nZZrv8aU

Frog Detective 3 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1171320/Frog_Detective_3_Corruption_at_Cowboy_County/

https://secretlives.games

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by droqen (The End of Gameplay, Starseed Pilgrim), Darius Kazemi (Tiny Subversions, Harvard Applied Social Media Lab), and Tara Macalister (mathematician, composer) to discuss Vertex Dispenser, the second game in our year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough.

Next Month: Kompendium

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:

Vertex Dispenser https://store.steampowered.com/app/102400/Vertex_Dispenser/

Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/

Four color theorem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_color_theorem

Graph coloring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graph_coloring

Starcraft II https://starcraft2.blizzard.com/en-us/

Splatoon https://splatoon.nintendo.com/ Dota 2 https://www.dota2.com/home Droqen's rare color graph/explanation https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1442554518092120186/1465039921147412510

lots of michael brough games https://smestorp.itch.io/lots-of-michael-brough-games

The Sense of Connectedness https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=16151.0

Kompendium https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/kompendium.html

The End of Gameplay https://droqen.itch.io/the-end-of-gameplay

Utopia Clicker https://tinysubversions.com/game/utopia/

A Jackpot of Skulls https://brainfruit.studio/games/jackpot

_update() Jam https://adamatomic.itch.io/update-jam

https://secretlives.games/

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog

https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners. Happy new year!

Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

Our GOTY Picks (SPOILERS!):

~~~~~~~~~

Rob

5. Many Nights a Whisper - Deconstructeam, Selkie Harbour

4. Blue Prince - Dogubomb

3. Skat - German Trick Taking Game

2. UFO 50 - Mossmouth

1. Caves of Qud - Freehold Games

Zach

Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry

Pokemon Legends: Z-A - Game Freak

Dragon Warrior IV - Chunsoft

(Bonus: CorgiSpace - Adam Saltsman)

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (N64) - Lucasarts

1. Kirby and the Forgotten Land - HAL Laboratory

Doug

5. Don't Rank Cuomo - Robert Yang

4. Harold Holt Video Series (first episode) (YouTube uploads) - James Ward

3. Baby Steps - Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy

2. Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers - Kart Krew

1. Slice & Dice - Tann

Nick

Tall Trails - Brady Soglin

Magical Athlete - Takashi Ishida - updated design by Richard Garfield

The Attraction - Palace Games San Francisco

Hot Streak - Jon Perry

1. Öoo - NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus studio, Tsuyomi

Sarah

5. Consume Me - Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, et al.

4. Blue Prince - Dogubomb

3. Slice & Dice - Tann

2. Tiny Bookshop - neoludic games

1. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes - Simogo

Laura

The Roottrees are Dead - Evil Trout Inc.

Type Help - William Rous

Monkey Around: the Wiggle and Giggle Game - Peaceable Kingdom

despelote - Julián Cordero, Sebastian Valbuena

Death Wears White - Guillaume Montiage/Asmodee

Andy

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Nintendo

Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry

Hot Streak - Jon Perry

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach - Kojima Productions

The Old King's Crown - Pablo Clark

Other picks from guests and listeners:

UFO 50 - Mossmouth

Consume Me - Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, et al.

Öoo - NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus studio, Tsuyomi

Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry

Blue Prince - Dogubomb

Clues By Sam - Ad Artis Oy

Magical Athlete - Takashi Ishida - updated design by Richard Garfield

Complex 629 - Lillex Studios

Donkey Kong Bananza - Nintendo

Final Fantasy V - Square Enix

Baby Steps - Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy

Puzzmo Crosswords - Puzzmo Team & Collaborators

Numberblocks RPG (developed in Izzy Kestrels mind)

Lost Cities - Reiner Knizia

Deadlock - Valve

Hexadecipad NES Tetris Tournament - Patrick LeMieux and Stephanie Boluk

Star Waspir (from UFO 50) - Mossmouth

Lumines Arise - Enhance, Monstars

Outer Wilds - Mobius Digital

Zexion - Gallant Leaf

PEAK - Landfall

Writing essays

Elden Ring Nightreign - FromSoftware

Unfair Flips - HEATHER FLOWERS

DISCOPUP - Parry Mechanics

OVER/UNDER - Sam Sorenson

Type Help - William Rous

Rain World - Videocult

Snekburd - Werxzy

2025 Pico-8 Advent Calendar - organized by Kevin Thompson and bikibird

Mol Hunt for 2025 Season of De Mol - TSLOG Discord

Q-UP - Everybody House Games

Many Nights a Whisper - Deconstructeam, Selkie Harbour

Vantage - Stonemaier Games

The Old King's Crown - Pablo Clark

Hot Streak - Jon Perry

Cave Noire - Konami

Judo (martial art)

Retro handheld hobby

Clair Obscur | Expedition 33 - Sandfall Interactive

Skin Deep - Blendo Games

Peekaboo

The Séance of Blake Manor - Spooky Doorway

Minni & Max (from UFO 50) - Mossmouth

Patapon - Pyramid, Japan Studio

Promise Mascot Agency - Kaizen Game Works

10S Forever - owch

Miscellaneous Honorable Mentions:

Perfect Dark (N64) - Rare

ACTION BUTTON REVIEWS Cyberpunk 2077

Party House of the Day (mod of UFO 50) - Mossmouth

Cairn - The Game Bakers

Other topics discussed this episode:

Why We're Boycotting Xbox (and Maybe You Should Too) - People Make Games

Cosmic Encounter - Fantasy Flight Games

Upcoming games packed with hidden secrets! – FuryForged

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective - Space Cowboys

Klaverjas - Dutch Trick-taking Game

129: Reinforcing Worldbuilding through Gameplay with Spoils

despelote - Official Nintendo Switch Trailer

Immersipedia

https://eggplant.show/

https://discord.gg/tslog

https://www.patreon.com/tslog