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JK! Games!

JK! Games!

181 episodes

1 week ago

2025 was an absolutely stacked year for indie games...so we brought friends. This week on JK! Games, we’re joined by Emily and Kate from No Small Games to break down our Top 3 Indie Games of 2025. Each of us brings three picks, we go around the horn from third to first, and talk about why these games stood out in 2025. 🔗 NoSmallGames Instagram 🔗 NoSmallGames Bluesky Support the show JK! Games! is the gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we care about. VGBC (Video Game Book...

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2025 was an absolutely stacked year for indie games...so we brought friends. This week on JK! Games, we’re joined by Emily and Kate from No Small Games to break down our Top 3 Indie Games of 2025. Each of us brings three picks, we go around the horn from third to first, and talk about why these games stood out in 2025. 🔗 NoSmallGames Instagram 🔗 NoSmallGames Bluesky Support the show JK! Games! is the gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we care about. VGBC (Video Game Book...

Show more...

Episodes (20/181)

JK! Games!

10 Games That Shaped Us | JK! Games!

In this episode of JKG, Jerica, Josh, and Kayla take turns counting down the 10 games that shaped them as gamers — from childhood favorites to the experiences that defined our tastes, habits, and gaming personalities. This isn’t a “best of all time” list — it’s a deeply personal draft covering the games that stuck with us and influenced our gaming tastes. Whether you grew up on consoles, PC, handhelds, or all of the above, this episode is about the games that leave a mark — and why we still ...

4 days ago

1 hour 47 minutes

JK! Games!

I’ve Never Played Metroid… So We Talked About It. - Jerica

Jerica played a Metroid game for the first time, so naturally she needed backup. Josh and Jordan (aka Cognitive Clips) join me to break down our first impressions of Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, with Jordan bringing longtime Metroid knowledge and Josh coming in already "in the know" about the series. We talk about: – How it feels to jump into Metroid as a total newcomer – What the game explains well vs. what it might expect from you – Movement, atmosphere, and that classic Metroid vibe – Whether ...

1 week ago

1 hour 18 minutes

JK! Games!

Dispatch Episodes 7 & 8 – The Finale Spoilercast

In this finale episode of our Dispatch Video Game Book Club, Jerica, Kayla, Josh, and Patrick dive into Episodes 7 & 8 with a full spoiler breakdown. We cover every major moment — the Invisigal confrontation, the emotional fallout, the Astral Pulse decision, the final showdown with Shroud, and how our endings differed. We also look back on all eight episodes to discuss the choices that mattered most. Oh and we talk about what we would want from a Season 2! Timecodes: 00:00:00 – Start 00:0...

1 month ago

2 hours 10 minutes

JK! Games!

Dispatch Episodes 5 & 6 – The Turning Point Before the Finale

We’re in the second-to-last stretch of Dispatch, and Episodes 5 & 6 shift everything. We discuss pacing, emotional build-up, gameplay tension, and then we break down the two major choices that define this part of the story — including how they changed how we see these characters going into the finale. Timecodes: 00:06 – Intro 03:05 – Housekeeping 08:05 – Game: Real or AI 19:19 – Introduction & Context 23:38 – First Impressions (Spoiler-Free) 25:32 – Gameplay & Interactivity (Spo...

1 month ago

1 hour 44 minutes

JK! Games!

Dispatch Episodes 3 & 4 – Why This Game Hit 1 Million Players So Fast

Jerica, Kayla, and Josh dive into Dispatch Episodes 3 & 4 to unpack how this narrative thriller hit 1 million players in 10 days—plus our thoughts on gameplay, choices, and what’s next. Timecodes: 0:00 – Start 6:45 – Introduction 12:48 – First Impressions 18:57 – Gameplay and Interactivity 35:45 – Spoiler Discussion 1:22:03 – Themes & Closing Thoughts Support the show JK! Games! is the gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we care about. VGBC (Video Game Book Club) is...

1 month ago

1 hour 30 minutes

JK! Games!

Dispatch Episodes 1 & 2 - Is The Story Good?

In this episode of JK! Games!, Jerica, Kayla, and Josh dive into the tension-filled world of Dispatch for our latest Video Game Book Club series. We’re breaking down Episodes 1 and 2—covering our first impressions, gameplay reactions, and the choices that might have consequences? We start with our initial thoughts on Dispatch’s presentation and tone before diving into how its interactive mechanics impact the experience. Then, we move into full spoiler territory to unpack the story beats...

1 month ago

1 hour 24 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC: Silent Hill f – Finale + Spoilercast | Full Review & Breakdown | JK! Games! Podcast

In this episode of JK! Games!, Jerica and Kayla are joined by Patrick for the grand finale of our Silent Hill f Video Game Book Club. We’ve reached the end of the nightmare and we’re unpacking it all — gameplay, atmosphere, and story — before diving into a full spoiler discussion and review. Silent Hill f left a lasting mark. We explore how the game captures the essence of the series while carving its own identity — and whether that ending truly landed. Timecodes: 00:00:00 – Start 00:04:54 –...

2 months ago

1 hour 34 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC: Silent Hill f – Part 2 | Mid-Game Impressions & Thematic Connections | JK! Games! Podcast

In this episode of JK! Games!, Jerica and Kayla return to the fog for Part 2 of our Silent Hill f Video Game Book Club series. We’re halfway through the nightmare and unpacking how the game’s story, pacing, and tone evolve as the world opens up. We start with a discussion on the use of flowers in video games—and how Silent Hill f turns beauty into dread—then dive into our first impressions of Ghost of Yotei, before checking in on our current progress through Silent Hill f. Finally, we close ...

2 months ago

1 hour 21 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC: Silent Hill f – Part 1 | What Makes Silent Hill… Silent Hill? | JK! Games! Podcast

In this episode of JK! Games!, Jerica, Kayla, and Josh dive into the haunted fog for Part 1 of our Silent Hill f Video Game Book Club series. Whether you're a longtime fan or a total newcomer to the franchise, this episode breaks down what actually makes a Silent Hill game feel like Silent Hill. We start with a cursed icebreaker game (Josh’s "Fact or Farse"), then unpack the themes, tone, and environments that define the series. We also share our first impressions of Silent Hill f’s mechanics...

2 months ago

1 hour 28 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC: Titanfall 2 – Part 2 | Review + Deep Dive | JK! Games! Podcast

In this episode of JK! Games!, we're falling with our titans. Jerica, Kayla, Koleman, and Josh (aka HighScoreWeekly) return to finish our Titanfall 2 Video Game Book Club playthrough and deliver a deep-dive review of the campaign. We start with a Titan loadout icebreaker game, reflect on what made this campaign hit hard in 2016 and now, and discuss traversal mechanics, boss fights and emotional beats. Timecodes: 00:00:00 – Start 00:03:57 – Icebreaker Game: Build Your Titan Loadout 00:28:15 –...

2 months ago

1 hour 36 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC: Titanfall 2 – Part 1 | First Impressions & A Brief History | JK! Games! Podcast

This week, we officially kick off our next Video Game Book Club title: Titanfall 2. Jerica, Kayla, and Koleman suit up for a deep dive into this critically beloved FPS — from its fast-paced movement and emotional storytelling to its unexpected ties to Apex Legends. We also rewind to the original Titanfall to explain why we're starting with the sequel, touch on Respawn’s development choices, and unpack how this world became one of the most celebrated sci-fi shooter settings of the last decade....

3 months ago

1 hour 41 minutes

JK! Games!

Can Cozy Games Be Dark? - JK! Games! Podcast

This week on JK! Games! Jerica is joined by guest host Josh aka HighScoreWeekly for a deep dive into Whisper of the House — a cozy-but-creepy pixel art game that raised questions about where the line is drawn in the cozy genre. We review the game’s atmosphere, story, and standout mechanics, then dive into a bigger conversation about "dark cozy" games: Can a game be cozy if it explores heavy topics like grief or death? Should content warnings be required? And does the genre need its own categ...

3 months ago

1 hour 38 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC: Tiny Bookshop – Our Official Review | JK! Games! Podcast

In this episode of JK! Games!, we’re wrapping up our playthrough of Tiny Bookshop with our official Video Game Book Club review. Jerica and Kayla break down the story, characters, shopkeeping systems, cozy atmosphere, and whether this indie delivers as a must-play for management game fans. We share our final verdicts, listener responses, and reveal our next Book Club pick. JK! Games! is a gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we care about — and with our Video Game Book Club ...

3 months ago

1 hour 32 minutes

JK! Games!

Tiny Bookshop Early Impressions and Backlog of Doom Update!

This week on JK! Games! we’re catching up on what we’ve been playing, talk about Gamescom, and diving into our very first impressions of Tiny Bookshop. Jerica and Kayla also talk about what games have been added to their backlogs of DOOM. Timecodes: 00:00:00 – Start 00:05:52 – Let’s Play a Game 00:30:39 – Backlog of Doom 00:41:54 – Normal Mode: Gamescom Predictions 00:52:24 – Expert Mode: Tiny Bookshop First Impressions Support the show JK! Games! is the gaming podcast where we bring you the ...

4 months ago

1 hour 15 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC: Tears of the Kingdom – Part 6: Let’s End This | JK! Games! Podcast

In Part 6 of our Tears of the Kingdom Video Game Book Club, we’ve reached the end of our Hyrule adventure — We got close. Kayla’s still on her journey, but that won’t stop us from talking about the game’s biggest moments, how the final stretch plays out, and whether it all lands as a satisfying payoff. We kick things off with our Emoji Game in Easy Mode before reading your answers to this week’s listener question: What’s a game that had the perfect payoff for you — whether it was a moment, a...

4 months ago

1 hour 28 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC: Tears of the Kingdom – Part 5: Is the Story Broken? – JK! Games! Podcast

In Part 5 of our Tears of the Kingdom Book Club, we’re deep enough into the game to start asking the tough questions… like, is this story actually working? Kayla and Jerica catch up on their progress and explore how the game’s environmental design shapes the way you play. Then, we dive into a thoughtful — and maybe spicy — conversation about how the narrative is structured, whether it lands, and how non-linear storytelling might be doing more harm than good. 00:00:00 Start 00:16:00 Last Wee...

4 months ago

1 hour 16 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC: Tears of the Kingdom – Part 4: Open World Burnout? – JK! Games! Podcast

In Part 4 of our Tears of the Kingdom Book Club, we wrapped up a second Regional Phenomena and brought another Sage into the squad. Kayla’s sharpening her combat skills, and Jerica dives deeper into what makes this open world experience truly stand out from the rest. Timecodes: 00:00 Start 08:40 Easy Mode 34:15 Normal Mode 58:00 Expert Mode Checkpoint Completed: – Another Sage companion – 4+ more shrines – Another Dragon Tear memory Next Checkpoint (Part 5): – A third Sage companion – 4+ ad...

4 months ago

1 hour 27 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC: Tears of the Kingdom – Part 3: our first Regional Phenomena - JK! Games! Podcast

In Part 3 of our Tears of the Kingdom Video Game Book Club, we reached our first Regional Phenomena, recruited a Sage companion, knocked out a handful of shrines, and uncovered our first Dragon Tear memory. This week we dig into what makes combat in TOTK actually feel good, the magic behind its environmental storytelling, and how the game keeps surprising us. Kayla got zapped by lightning. Jerica may or may not be preparing to slay a dragon. Spiritually. Maybe literally. Checkpoint Completed:...

5 months ago

1 hour 9 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC Tears of the Kingdom - Part 2 Lookout Landing Checkpoint - JK! Games! Podcast

We’ve landed. In this episode of JK! Games! Book Club, we’ve officially completed our first checkpoint in Tears of the Kingdom — and Hyrule is opening it's butthole wide for us. We discuss reaching Lookout Landing, unlocking the Skyview Tower, getting the Paraglider, and choosing our first steps in the open world. We also share our reactions to returning characters like Purah and Robbie, how this sequel builds on Breath of the Wild, and what new mechanics and mysteries have already hooked us...

5 months ago

1 hour 15 minutes

JK! Games!

VGBC Tears of the Kingdom - Part 1- JK! Games! Podcast

JK! Games! is back—and we’re kicking things off with a brand-new format. In this episode, we officially launch our video game book club with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. We catch up after our podcast hiatus (and time spent deep in The Last of Us coverage over on ClickerBait), and share what this new chapter of JK! Games! is all about. We reflect on our personal history with the Zelda franchise, break down our first impressions of TOTK’s gameplay, powers, and early worldbuildin...

5 months ago

1 hour 22 minutes