Linelight is a minimalistic puzzle game from Brett Taylor and his one-man development studio My Dog Zorro. It’s an action puzzle game distilled down to an incredibly streamlined form. We discuss what makes this deceptively simple puzzle game so engaging and even emotional.

Linelight is $9.99 on Steam and Playstation 4. Expect it to take less than five hours to complete.

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2064: Read Only Memories is a cyberpunk visual novel adventure game from Midboss, the same diverse team behind the GaymerX convention and Gaming in Color, a documentary about LGBTQ people and themes in gaming. Originally released in 2015 as just “Read Only Memories” the new title indicates an updated version that adds all-star voice acting to this 8 hour dialogue-heavy experience. The art is stylish and the characters are cute and appealing, but how is the game?

2064: Read Only Memories is available on Steam (Mac and Windows) and PS4, with PS Vita and mobile versions coming later this year. It’s usually priced at $19.99 but as of this writing it’s also available in the Humble Freedom Bundle. Expect it to take roughly 8 hours to complete.

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• (37:13) - Spoiler Break

With the English language release of Puyo Puyo Tetris right around the corner (alongside the Nintendo Switch) we take the opportunity to nerd out about our shared love of Puyo popping, the history of the Puyo Puyo series, and the head-to-head puzzle game genre generally. We also talk a bit about our thoughts on the Nintendo Switch itself.

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The Room series is one of the best selling short game franchises on iOS, known for its beautiful animation and tactile mechanics. Each of the three entries expands on the physical puzzle theme, moving from single boxes in Room One to the multi-room Myst-like mansion of The Room Three.

Nate, Shane, and Laura talk about what it means to solve a physical puzzle on a touchscreen, and what we love and hate about the genre in general. We also talk a little bit about our experience with in-person “escape the room” games: one of us ran a bar and another destroyed Chicago.

The Room and its two sequels are available for iOS and Android. The Room and The Room Two are also available on Windows via Steam. Each title is usually priced at $4.99 and take about two to five hours to complete.

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• (00:00) - Intro

Pony Island is two-and-a-half hours of puzzles and surprises. Don’t be put off by its retro-glitch aesthetic or its apparent self-satisfied transgressiveness. Once you break through its shell you’ll find a rapid-fire series of clever ideas.

Pony Island is available on Steam for Windows and Mac for $4.99. Expect it to take about 2.5 hours to complete. A hidden ending is available for completionists. Expect that path to take about five hours.

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• (00:00) - Start