We Played Some New Indie Games! | Game and Geek Expo 2026 Recap

Eric and Michael went to Raleigh, NC to cover the Game and Geek Expo to cover the convention, do some interviews, and talk to the developers behind a few Indie Games that are coming soon!In this recap episode, we talk about everything we saw, everyone we met, everything we played, and Eric interviewing one of his personal gaming icons.Subscribe and leave a review — every rating/comment/thumbs up/follow helps more listeners discover the show.CHECK OUT EVERY GAME WE PLAYED:DRIFT BOOM BOOM:https://store.steampowered.com/app/2826510/DRIFT_BOOM_BOOM/Mira and the Legend of the Djinns:https://store.steampowered.com/app/1927360/Mira_and_the_Legend_of_the_Djinns/Midinous:https://store.steampowered.com/app/1727420/Midinous/#app_reviews_hashApocalypse Approaches:https://store.steampowered.com/app/3581870/Apocalypse_Approaches/Project Berserk:https://store.steampowered.com/app/3155390/Project_Berserk/https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/68615964/project-berserk-an-indie-fighting-game-projectLevel ReDesign (Toy Story 2: Reassembled):https://www.youtube.com/@Level_reDesign/videosComette:https://www.brendanhaugh.com/game-dev.htmlNano Raiders:https://sites.google.com/view/ctmgamesllc/nanoraidersHealer's Story:https://www.vientoverse.com/projectsDisclaimer: We received media badges for Game and Geek Expo in exchange for event coverage. While we don’t believe this affected our enjoyment or experience of the show, we feel it’s important to disclose this for full transparency.EPISODES COMING SOON:- THE FINALE OF RPG SUMMER- Resident Evil Movie Review- A 2-Part October Gameclub Series! (Spooky Game(s))Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]  Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠——————————————#gameandgeekexpo #convention #retrogaming #videogames #gge2026

State of the Save will be at the Game and Geek Expo in Raleigh, NC on September 5th and 6th! Get your tickets here: https://www.eventeny.com/events/ticket/?id=27975Follow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for our coverage of GGE 2026!It's time to run up the pillar for an explosive start before the calm sets in before the finale of RPG Summer.*Due to Eric traveling and life stuff, we are only covering until the START of Chapter 14 when you meet a character in Aerith's garden.PLUS: We discuss some GamesCom announcements, The Duskbloods Beta, and Gears of War E-Day!Subscribe and leave a review — every rating/comment/thumbs up/follow helps more listeners discover the show.Timecodes:0:00 - Housekeeping 1:31 - GamesCom13:30 - Gears of War E-Day14:52 - The Duskbloods25:18 - Game and Geek Expo 202626:55 - Final Fantasy VII Remake45:00 - Final Fantasy VII RemakeEPISODES COMING SOON:- Our recap of GGE 2026- THE FINALE OF RPG SUMMER- A special bonus Movie Review- A 2-Part October Gameclub Series! (Spooky Game(s))Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠⁠⁠Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]  Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠——————————————#finalfantasy #ffvii #finalfantasyvii #remake #rebirth #TheDuskbloods #duskbloods #GearsOfWar #EDay #GGE2026

Ya'll need anything from Wall Market?!FFVII talk starts at 45:00RPG Summer hits the town for a night at the Wall Market to don our best dresses and fight a house from hell! We cover everything from leaving sector 5 to arriving back in Sector 7 through the Train Graveyard.PLUS: Michael talks about beating Super Mario Bros. for the very first time, and Eric gives his thoughts on Halo: Campaign EvolvedFollow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates; catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review — every rating/comment/thumbs up/follow helps more listeners discover the show.Timecodes:0:00 - Housekeeping - We're going to Game and Geek Expo 20265:10- Super Mario Bros.17:15 - Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations20:50 Halo: Campaign Evolved45:00 - Final Fantasy VII RemakeNEXT SHOW: Play chapters 12-14Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠⁠Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]  Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠——————————————#finalfantasy #ffvii #finalfantasyvii #remake #rebirth #Halo #HaloCampaignEvolved

FFVII talk starts at 41:44RPG Summer continues with Part 2 of our massive Final Fantasy VII Remake gameclub, covering everything from the trek to Reactor 5 and beginning our journey back to Sector 7 with Aerith. Eric starts to have theories on the Ghosts, and Michael runs into a weird sequence coincidence during a side-quest.Plus, Eric gives his thoughts on the first half of the DOOM: The Dark Ages DLC, and Michael has finished his Ace Combat journey, preparing for Wings of Theve. Timecodes0:00 - Housekeeping5:00 - Michael finished Ace Combat 1-7. 22:55 - Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations41:44 - Final Fantasy VII RemakeNEXT SHOW: Play chapters 9-11Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]  Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠——————————————#finalfantasy #ffvii #finalfantasyvii #remake #rebirth

FFVII talk starts at 42:15WE TALK ABOUT ONE MAJOR SPOILER FROM THE ORIGINAL GAME (THE END OF DISC 1)RPG Summer is here! Join us as we play Final Fantasy VII: Remake. Michael returns to the game after playing the original, and Eric comes in to experience the Final Fantasy series for the first time.But, unfortunately, we have to talk about the turmoil in the gaming industry, including the Xbox layoffs and Sony moving away from physical media. Plus, Michael beat 007: First Light and is now #8 on a speedrun leaderboard for a very stupid game.Timecodes0:00 - Housekeeping/Nice Comments5:00 - 007 First Light9:40 - Speedrunning Dexter's Laboratory: Mandark's Laboratory?17:20 - PlayStation moving away from physical discs28:10 - Xbox Layoffs42:15 - Final Fantasy VII RemakeNEXT SHOW: Play chapters 6-8Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]  Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠Blue — Declan DP [Audio Library Release] Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: ⁠https://youtu.be/Tu63TwPG0RA ⁠Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/Blue——————————————#finalfantasy #ffvii #finalfantasyvii #remake #rebirth

CW: Child Death and SA-------------------------------------------------------It all comes down to this: It's the end of The Last of Us. Michael and Eric break down this legendary game's ending, debating its different sides, if Joel did the right thing, and if the final encounter was just a bit too difficult.We also announce the start of RPG SUMMER with FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, and Michael finally bought 007 First LightThanks to Goodnight and Good Game for the shoutout! Check them out on Spotify!--------------------------------------------------------Next Episode: Final Fantasy VII Remake - Chapters 1-5-----------------------------------------------------Follow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates; catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review — every rating helps more listeners discover the show.--------------------------------------------------------------------Timecodes:0:00 - Housekeeping1:35 - Our Next Game: Final Fantasy VII: Remake5:07- 007 First Light23:00 - The Last of Us-----------------------------------------------------------------Music:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-------------------------------------------------------------------#videogames #games #gaming #retrogaming #thelastofus #tlou

Summer Games Fest 2026 - All Announcements and Trailers:⁠https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GOaSEL1chVhc7_IyWvlYPhB3rO4hMwCJ4HkZ5hs7Z-E/edit?usp=sharing⁠NOTE: WE RECORDED THIS BEFORE THE XBOX LAYOFF AND STUDIO CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENTS!Summer Game Fest 2026 has come and gone. We cover all of the major shows from the past few weeks and break down our favorite reveals, trailers, and.....Tupac!?Do we think SGF is a worthy successor to E3? Find out!Psst......our RPG Summer announcement is in this episode, too!We talk about Resident Evil: Veronica, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, Crazy Taxi shooting itself in the foot, Spyro!, Persona 4, Ace Combat 8, and so many other games.Follow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates; catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review — every rating helps more listeners discover the show.Music:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-------------------------------------------------------------------#videogames #games #gaming #sgf #sgf2026

Summer Games Fest 2026 - All Announcements and Trailers:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GOaSEL1chVhc7_IyWvlYPhB3rO4hMwCJ4HkZ5hs7Z-E/edit?usp=sharingLAST CALL FOR RPG SUMMER REQUESTS: ⁠⁠https://forms.gle/EscNFfQSHfTR1eMy7⁠---------------------------------------------------CW: Discussions of Suicide and Child Death-------------------------------------------------------We continue our journey west to discuss the bulk of The Last of Us' story, as it takes us from a calm, relaxing journey through Pittsburgh, to a fun trip to school in the Autumn. Except, it isn't fun at all. Michael sits back as Eric processes playing this game for the very first time, as they break down every masterful piece of worldbuilding and character development.We also talk about James Bond movies due to the release of 007 First Light, Sayonara Wild Hearts, and, surprise, Resident Evil Requiem--------------------------------------------------------Next Episode: We finish the game.-----------------------------------------------------Follow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates; catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review — every rating helps more listeners discover the show.--------------------------------------------------------------------Timecodes:0:00 - Housekeeping: Summer Games Fest and RPG Summer13:14 - Resident Evil Requiem: Lon Must Die16:10 - Hitman: Freelancer18:30 - 007 First Light/2026 Games looking good/James Bond movies30:55 - The Last of Us-----------------------------------------------------------------Music:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠⁠⁠-------------------------------------------------------------------#videogames #games #gaming #retrogaming #thelastofus #tlou

SUBMIT YOUR REQUESTS FOR RPG SUMMER: ⁠https://forms.gle/EscNFfQSHfTR1eMy7⁠Leave it to The Last of Us to completely screw up the naming convention of this show. It's time for a game known for its levity, the legendary The Last of Us. Is it still deserving of its place among gaming's best 13 Years later, or are the cracks starting to show? Find out what we think! (Just kidding, we're hooked!).Michael also talks about getting Sayonara Wild Hearts for cheap, and eric talks about how Cyclops coming to Marvel Rival has him hopping back in.Next Episode: We cover until the START of Winter! Stop playing as soon as you have control after the "WINTER" title.Follow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates; catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review — every rating helps more listeners discover the show.Timecodes:0:00 - RPG Summer!9:48- Sayonara Wild Hearts20:35 - Marvel Rivals29:22 - The Last of UsMusic:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBMIT YOUR REQUESTS FOR RPG SUMMER: ⁠https://forms.gle/EscNFfQSHfTR1eMy7⁠It's a BONUS SHOW!GET OVER HERE as we talk about Mortal Kombat II! We were defenders of the first movie, so with everyone saying that this one was the better movie, we decided to add to the discourse.Speaking of discourse, Eric finished Mixtape, a game that has been the target of some weird online culture war. Is it really worth the debate? FIND OUT!Next Episode: We FINALLY play The Last of Us. Episode 1 will cover up to when you arrive in Pittsburgh.Follow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates; catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review — every rating helps more listeners discover the show.Timecodes:0:00 - Housekeeping/RPG Summer!3:30 - Kunistu-Gami: Path of the Goddess10:04 - Resident Evil Dating Profile12:20 - Mixtape and the exhausting discourse surrounding Mixtape.33:15 - Mortal Kombat IIMusic:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠⁠⁠