Indie Game Roundup - July: Clickolding, Stray Gods DLC, Valley Peaks, and more

After suffering a great deal of damage from a huge earthquake, the town of Mistria needs your help! Luckily, there's a free farm, with lots of land in it for you, and lots of mysteries to discover in the area. Even better, there's a shocking number of very attractive singles inhabiting the town, as well! Fields of Mistria offers many of the classic experiences that farming sim fans know and love, with some unexpected twists that elevate the gameplay (no, really, have you talked to the dragon statue yet?). In Episode 33 of No Small Games, MintendoGaming joins Kate and Emily to talk about this year's Early Access farming sim that has swept the cozy gaming community like wildfire! The three discuss which of the mechanics hit for them, and which fell flat. Of course, they had to share their list of favorite local cuties to romance. And they ponder the future of Fields of Mistria in Early Access, what future updates may have in store, and more. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:05:20 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:13:00 - Meet Our Guest - MintendoGaming 00:24:50 - Fields of Mistria Discussion 01:57:27 - Game Ratings 02:02:40 - One Small Thing 02:12:49 - Next Episode's Game Announcement Meet our Guest Min (she/her) @MintendoGaming An absolutely iconic cozy gaming content creator, MintendoGaming is a YouTuber, Twitch streamer, and co-hosts Slow Burn: A Cozy Game Podcast, along with co-hosts Payton's Corner and NintenTalk. Min is passionate about farming sims and we're so glad she could join us to talk about Fields of Mistria. Follow Min on the following platforms: Twitch YouTube Twitter Slow Burn Pod Keep in touch with us on social media: Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossom Emily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEgg No Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames  No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames  Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Vampire Therapist is a narrative adventure where you play as a vampire-cowboy therapist-in-training, and is the debut title from Little Bat Games. You play as Sam Walls, American cowboy, traveling to Germany in search of your new mentor, Andromachos. Andromachos intends to teach Sam the ways of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and start him on his way to helping many other vampires on their mental health journeys. We laughed, we cried, and we learned a heck of a lot about ourselves and the funny ways vampires (and humans) think! In Episode 32 of No Small Games, Kate and Emily break down their experiences and takeaways from playing Vampire Therapist. Turns out, a game about therapy is a powerful concept, and both hosts had pretty profound experiences playing this very unique game. A special game requires a special episode, so stay tuned through the end for a special interview with Cyrus Nemati, the Creative Director of Little Bat Games, and the primary developer of Vampire Therapist! Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:05:40 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:14:55 - Vampire Therapist Discussion 01:35:30 - Game Ratings 01:41:00 - One Small Thing 01:50:25 - Next Episode's Game Announcement 01:52:00 - Interview with Cyrus Nemati, Creative Director of Little Bat Games Meet our Guest Cyrus Nemati (he/him) @ahoymehearties Cyrus Nemati is the Creative Director for Little Bat Games, he is a writer and voice actor with a background in marketing, PR, and advocacy. He is a self proclaimed “ridiculous voice actor” and is most known for his roles in Hades, by Supergiant Games. He was also the primary developer of Vampire Therapist, and we loved getting to learn more from him about the game and his creative process. Learn more about Little Bat Games: Website Steam Twitter Keep in touch with us on social media: Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossom Emily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEgg No Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames  No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames  Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Welcome back to the NSG Indie Game Roundup, our monthly series featuring indie games news, plus game demos and new release discussions. September was PACKED with wild indie game news stories. From Annapurna Interactive's entire team leaving en masse, to Nintendo and The Pokémon Company finally announcing a lawsuit against Palworld's developer Pocket Pair, we discuss our thoughts on these big moves and shakes in the indie game world. We also discuss the demos we've been playing, plus new releases like Wild Bastards, Tiny Glade, REKA and more! Also, huge thanks to our newest Patreon supporters! In addition to other fun perks, members on Patreon get early access to all of the Indie Game Roundup episodes. If you love No Small Games and would like to support us in growing the show, while also unlocking fun, exclusive content, you can check out our Patreon page. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:05:010 - Indie Game News 00:38:20 - Demos 00:48:55 - Full Releases Keep in touch with us on social media: Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossom Emily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEgg No Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames  No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames  Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Depart on a heartwarming and homey adventure with your bestie Bubba in Cozy Caravan. This chill management sim, developed by 5 Lives Studios, entered Early Access in May 2024. In this game, you'll travel around an adorable and picturesque countryside in a bee-drawn caravan, taking in the sights and helping out the local townsfolk. In Episode 31 of No Small Games, Esnueil (or Essy, for shot) joins Kate and Emily to talk about Cozy Caravan, the very first Early Access game covered int he podcast. They discuss their likes and dislikes among the unique and innovative features of this management sim game. A striking resemblance to a certain 2023 cozy life sim brings up some unpleasant memories for the three. You'll also get to hear the group share their thoughts on the premise of Early Access at a high level. We hope you love this season opener for Cozy Fall! Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:50 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:10:45 - Meet Our Guest - Esnueil 00:23:10 - Cozy Caravan Discussion 02:04:05 - Game Ratings 02:14:15 - One Small Thing 02:21:20 - Next Episode's Game Announcement Meet our Guest Esnueil (she/her) @Esnueil A storyteller, singer, & inclusive cozy creative. Esnueil (or Essy for short) is a variety streamer, who plays a wide range of cozy games and game demos, including many indie games. She is also a musician, and you will regularly find her singing and playing the guitar for her lovely community on Twitch. She has also been known to do co-working streams and read cozy bedtime stories to chat. We're honored to have her join us for this episode! Follow Essy on the following platforms: Twitch Twitter YouTube Keep in touch with us on social media: Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossom Emily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEgg No Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames  No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames  Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

If you love a good board game night, it might just be time to call up your friends, pop that popcorn and... fire up your PC! In this very special B-B-B-BONUS episode of No Small Games, Kate and Emily got to sit down with Chark (or alonechark, as she goes by online) to talk about digital adaptations of board games! Specifically, the NSG team got the hookup through Chark to try out the beta version of the upcoming game Cascadia digital, developed by Dire Wolf Digital. Cascadia is a much beloved board game about the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, made by Flatout Games, and is getting its own indie video game adaptation. We hope you love learning from Chark about the wide world of indie board games and their crossovers into the digital world! Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:50 - Meet Our Guest 00:24:23 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:35:15 - Cascadia & Board Game Digital Adaptation Discussion 01:28:45 - One Small Thing Meet our Guest Chark (she/her) @alonechark Chark is a fake redhead, board game enthusiast, community manager, Twitch streamer, and works as convention staff for Flatout games. She expertly demos and teaches board games of all kinds. In addition, she is a cat parent and freelancer and we highly recommend you go check her out on all the platforms below! Follow Chark on the following platforms: Twitch Twitter Keep in touch with us on social media: Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossom Emily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEgg No Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames  No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames  Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Welcome back to the NSG Indie Game Roundup, our monthly series featuring indie games news, plus game demos and new release discussions. August was a wild month for our co-hosts, but in the end, Emily and Kate played quite a few games and demos that they're excited to share with you! From the brand new horror title Dark and Deep, to the playful music-maker ODDADA, to the cute and colorful dungeon crawler Slash Quest, we've got a huge range of new titles to discuss this month. This month was also filled with exciting game demos, including the demo for Constance, from the creators of The Berlin Apartment, and the Tiny Garden demo from Spanish game studio Ao Norte. Also, huge thanks to our newest Patreon supporters! In addition to other fun perks, members on Patreon get early access to all of the Indie Game Roundup episodes. If you love No Small Games and would like to support us in growing the show, while also unlocking fun, exclusive content, you can check out our Patreon page. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:16:55 - Demos 00:34:40 - Backlog Games 00:43:25 - Full Release Games Keep in touch with us on social media: Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossom Emily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEgg No Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames  No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames  Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

In episode 30 of No Small Games, Kate and Emily get to the bottom of what is going on in Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. You'll get the perspectives of both puzzle-positive (Emily) and puzzle-averse (Kate) players, as we dig into the core question: did Simogo make this game TOO hard? The hosts get philosophical at the end as they dig into the messages and themes of the game's story. But the biggest mystery of all remains unanswered: what the heck was the tampon for?? Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:11:25 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:21:30 - Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Discussion 01:45:30 - Game Ratings 01:52:15 - One Small Thing Keep in touch with us on social media: Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossom Emily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEgg No Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames  No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames  Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

In Episode 29 of No Small Games, our hosts are joined in their review of INDIKA by special guest OrzulsPlace, who affectionately goes by Orzul, Orzu, or Zuzu. Before they dive into the game discussion, Emily and Kate get to know Orzul better, learning about their deep connection to music and the bands they plays in. During their discussion of INDIKA, Orzul and Kate discuss their personal connection to the themes of the game and the main character's internal journey. The three continue to uncover fascinating new observations about the game throughout the episode. This is a very special and heartfelt episode; we hope you enjoy! Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:50 - Meet Our Guest 00:23:40 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:30:30 - INDIKA Discussion 02:37:20 - Game Ratings 02:43:20 - One Small Thing 02:49:40 - Next Episode's Game Announcement Meet our Guest OrzulsPlace (she/they) @OrzulsPlace Orzul is a 30-something year-old Midwesterner who has loved games their entire life. New to the streaming world and excited to connect with others, she loves RPGs, horror, rogue-likes, and cozy games! Orzul is also a musician, who has been playing shows with both their bands. She currently plays guitar and will soon be picking up the banjo. Follow Orzul on the following platforms: Twitch TikTok Twitter Keep in touch with us on social media: Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossom Emily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEgg No Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames  No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames  Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Welcome back to the NSG Indie Game Roundup, our monthly series featuring indie games news, plus game demos and new release discussions. This summer continues to be hot and heavy with indie game releases, and we've got some big drops to discuss from July! Kate played Clickolding on its release day (and now will never look at a clicker counter the same way again). Emily got into the climbing mindset with early access to Valley Peaks. The two also discuss the epic new Stray Gods DLC, focused on Orpheus (voiced by Anthony Rapp), some very intriguing demos, and more new releases! Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:16:40 - Demos 00:28:20 - Full Release Games 00:28:45 - Witchy Life Story 00:32:15 - Stray Gods Orpheus DLC 00:41:30 - Super Crush K.O. 00:46:00 - #BLUD 00:51:15 - Clickolding 00:58:50 - Valley Peaks Keep in touch with us on social media: Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossom Emily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEgg No Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames  No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames  Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

In Episode 28 of No Small Games, special guest Jen (known online as JenIsOnline) joins Kate and Emily to review the horror puzzle game, Bendy and the Ink Machine. Jen sheds light on some of the intricate lore beneath the surface of Bendy, including Alice Angel's origins and the identity of some of the cursed creatures who stalk the studios. The three discuss which chapters they enjoyed most, which foiled them most, and when they encountered the biggest jumpscares. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:00 - Meet Our Guest 00:16:00 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:21:10 - Bendy and the Ink Machine Discussion 01:21:10 - Game Ratings 01:26:15 - One Small Thing Meet our Guest JenIsOnline (she/her) @JenIsOnline Jen is a High energy, comedy-forward; body-positive streamer! She streams indie & fantasy games with a side of horror! Jen is a proud member of the Twitch Women's Guild and has recently become a Twitch Partner! Jen also hosts the Overprepared DM podcast, where she discusses the ins and outs of being a Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons. Follow Jen on the following platforms: Twitch YouTube Twitter Keep in touch with us on social media: Kate's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/katerblossom Emily's Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/aSpecificEgg No Small Games Twitter ✦ https://twitter.com/NoSmallGames  No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames  Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com