Revisiting The Last of Us Part II (The Beginning)

On this special limited run series, hosts Luke and Claire revisit The Last of Us Part II in this retrospective discussion leading into season 2 of the HBO series adaption. This first episode covers the opening hours of the game through Seattle Day 1. Spoiler warnings ahead and stay tuned for more coverage of The Last of Us Part II with weekly episode breakdowns of the HBO series upon release.Games Discussed During Today’s Episode:Grounded: Making The Last of Us Part II DocumentaryFind us on Bluesky for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgames.bsky.socialLuke Lewis: @lukewarmlewis.bsky.socialClaire Helmberger: @clairebearrose.bsky.social

This week your favorite co-op couple Luke Lewis and Claire Helmberger discuss their time playing Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, Afterlove EP, The Quilts and Cats of Calico and Avowed! Topics also include a news breakdown of the Last of Us Season 2 release date announcement! Thank you to Sandbox Strategies, Fellow Traveller and Monster Couch for providing us with review codes for this episode. New episodes of the LukeWarmGames Podcast launch every other week!Games Discussed During Today’s Episode:Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - DON’T NOD Afterlove EP - Pikselnesia The Quilts and Cats of Calico - Monster CouchAvowed - Obsidian EntertainmentWe've Got The News Articles Discussed During Today's Episode:The Last of Us Season 2 Release Date Confirmed - Matt Kim, IGNFind us on Bluesky for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgames.bsky.socialLuke Lewis: @lukewarmlewis.bsky.socialClaire Helmberger: @clairebearrose.bsky.social

This week your favorite co-op couple Luke Lewis and Claire Helmberger discuss their time playing Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To, developed and published by Soft Not Weak! Thank you to the Soft Not Weak Team for providing us with review code. Topics also include impressions of Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, Switch 2 patent news and more! New episodes of the LukeWarmGames Podcast launch every other week!Games Discussed During Today’s Episode:Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 ToLonely Mountains: Snow RidersWe've Got The News Articles Discussed During Today's Episode:Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Has Already Sold 1 Million Copies, Dev Calls It a ‘Triumph’ By Wesley Yin-Poole (IGN)Nintendo patent confirms Joy-Con mouse functionality rumored for Switch 2 By Zoë Hannah (Polygon)Find us on Bluesky for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgames.bsky.socialLuke Lewis: @lukewarmlewis.bsky.socialClaire Helmberger: @clairebearrose.bsky.social

This week your favorite co-op couple Luke Lewis and Claire Helmberger discuss their most anticipated games of 2025! Topics also include the recent reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2! New episodes of the LukeWarmGames Podcast launch every other week!Games Discussed During Today’s Episode:Wanderstop - Ivy RoadCairn - The Game BakersMixtape - Beethoven and DinosaurTears of Metal - Paper CultCoffee Talk Tokyo - Chorus Worldwide Games, Toge ProductionsSplit Fiction - Hazelight Studios Doom: The Dark Ages - id SoftwareClair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Sandfall InteractiveGhost of Yotei - Sucker PunchGrand Theft Auto VI - RockstarAfter Love EP - PikselnesiaWinter Burrow - Pine Creek GamesTales of the Shire - Wētā WorkshopBokura: planet - ところにょり             Revenge of the Savage Planet - Raccoon Logic Studios Inc.The Alters - 11 bit StudiosUsual June - FinjiLost Records: Bloom & Rage - DON’T NODDune: Awakening - FuncomSouth of Midnight - Compulsion GamesFind us on Bluesky for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgames.bsky.socialLuke Lewis: @lukewarmlewis.bsky.socialClaire Helmberger: @clairebearrose.bsky.social

This week your favorite co-op couple Luke Lewis and Claire Helmberger discuss the best indie games of 2024! Topics also include recent announcements from the Game Awards! New episodes of the LukeWarmGames Podcast launch every other week!Indies Discussed During Today’s Episode:Arco - Arco TeamFear the Spotlight -  Cozy Game Pals1000xResist - sunset visitor 斜陽過客Minishoot Adventures - SoulGame StudioRusty’s Retirement - Mister Morris GamesKind Words 2 - PopcannibalMouthwashing - Wrong OrganBalatro - LocalThunkLittle Kitty Big City - Double Dagger StudioBotany Manor - Balloon StudiosThank Goodness You're Here - Coal SupperPacific Drive - Ironwood StudiosTiny Glade - Ponce LightLightyear Frontier - FRAME BREAK, Amplifier StudiosThank you to popagenda, fortyseven communications, sunset visitor 斜陽過客, Playstack, Sandbox Strategies, Kepler Interactive and Ironwood Studios for providing review codes for this episode!Find us on Bluesky for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgames.bsky.socialLuke Lewis: @lukewarmlewis.bsky.socialClaire Helmberger: @clairebearrose.bsky.socialFind us on twitter for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgamesLuke Lewis:@lukewarmlewisClaire Helmberger:@ClaireHelmberg1

Hosts Luke Lewis and Claire Helmberger predict the winners of the 2024 Game Awards. New episodes of the LukeWarmGames Podcast launch every other Monday.Find us on twitter for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgamesLuke Lewis:@lukewarmlewisClaire Helmberger:@ClaireHelmberg1

This week your favorite co-op couple Luke Lewis and Claire Helmberger discuss video game related Reddit stories! From broken PS5s to beans and Baldur's Gate, settle in for quite a ride. Topics also include recent indie game releases and the upcoming Indie Game Awards. New episodes of the LukeWarmGames Podcast launch every other week!Find us on Bluesky for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgames.bsky.socialLuke Lewis: @lukewarmlewis.bsky.socialClaire Helmberger: @clairebearrose.bsky.socialFind us on twitter for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgamesLuke Lewis:@lukewarmlewisClaire Helmberger:@ClaireHelmberg1

This week your favorite co-op couple Luke Lewis and Claire Helmberger discuss their favorite titles from the October 2024 Steam Next Fest! Topics also include discussion of the the recent release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the closure of Firewalk Studios. New episodes of the LukeWarmGames Podcast launch every other Monday at 9am PST.Games discussed during today’s episode: Wishlist to support the devs!Spilled! - LenteSymphonia - Sunny PeakUndead West - Deathless GamesWindblown - Motion TwinKeep Driving- YCJY GamesBallionaire - newobjectScarlet Deer Inn - Attu GamesTwo Falls (Nishu Takuatshina) - Unreliable NarratorsJin & Jan - Reference GamesStunt Granny - teledevFind us on twitter for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgamesLuke Lewis:@lukewarmlewisClaire Helmberger:@ClaireHelmberg1

This week your favorite co-op couple Luke Lewis and Claire Helmberger discuss their most anticipated games of the holiday season and how they plan to tackle their backlog! Topics also include discussion of the recent Halo news and the formation of new development studio Day 4 Night. New episodes of the LukeWarmGames Podcast launch every other Monday at 9am PST.Episode Resources:Black Tabby Games InterviewFind us on twitter for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgamesLuke Lewis:@lukewarmlewisClaire Helmberger:@ClaireHelmberg1

This week your favorite co-op couple Luke Lewis and Claire Helmberger discuss their favorite indie games of this generation! Topics also include discussion of the recent reveal of the PS5 Pro. New episodes of the LukeWarmGames Podcast launch every other Monday at 9am PST.Games Discussed in this Episode:Balatro - LocalThunkImmortality - Sam BarlowDredge - Black Salt GamesNeon White - Angel MatrixHades - Super Giant GamesJusant- Don’t NodChicory: A Colorful Tale - Greg Lobanov, Alexis Dean-Jones and Wishes UltdCult of the Lamb - Massive MonsterStray - BlueTwelve StudioBefore Your Eyes - Goodbye World GamesVenba - Visai GamesVampire Survivors -  Poncile GamesTinykin - SplashteamInscryption - Daniel Mullens GamesFind us on twitter for show updates and more:Podcast: @lukewarmgamesLuke Lewis:@lukewarmlewisClaire Helmberger:@ClaireHelmberg1