We look back on our collected experiences together, dear digital friends, as we crown our Game of the Year before an unfortunate (and hopefully brief) pause. What We're Playing 01:39 Caitlin: Miscellaneous catchup 02:38 Caitlin: Dogpile (Studio Folly, Toot Games, & Foot, 2025) 11:17 Mark: Terminator 2D: No Fate (Bitmap Bureau, 2025) Season 1 in Review Special Categories 18:34 Thanks for Introducing Me 33:04 SHOUTS that Panned Out 37:48 "I Didn't Think I Liked that Genre" 42:28 Our New Backlo...
Dec 31, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 78
One of Mark's obscure arcade favorites is Change Air Blade, a bizarre little shooter/fighter hybrid. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is our latest narrative-focused diversion. Also, Caitlin has conquered Metaphor: ReFantazio! Let her achievement spur greater and greater successes. What We're Playing 00:53 Mark: Demonschool (Necrosoft Games, 2025) 13:34 Caitlin: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero, 2024) 16:48 Caitlin: Guild Wars Reforged (ArenaNet, 2025) 25:07 GOOF: Change Air Blade (Sammy, 1999) 3...
Dec 24, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 77
Who is a more grounded, realistic, fleshed-out character--Wario in WarioWare Gold, or any of the humans in Detroit: Become Human? What We're Playing 01:00 Caitlin: Fellowship (Chief Rebel, 2025) 12:58 Mark: Silent Hill 2 Remake (Bloober Team, 2025) 26:07 GOOF: WarioWare Gold (Intelligent Systems, 2018) 39:32 Feature Game: Detroit: Become Human (Quantic Dream, 2018) SHOUT 1:01:47 Caitlin: REPLACED (Sad Cat Studios) 1:02:47 Mark: Free Stars: Children of Infinity (Pistol Shrimp) Learn more about yo...
Dec 10, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Caitlin's love/hate relationship continues with Silent Hill, and we talk about all kinds of shameful love in Persona 5. What We're Playing 00:51 Mark: Skybolt Zack (DEVS MUST DIE, 2019) 13:39 Caitlin: No, I'm Not a Human (Trioskaz, 2025) 20:51 GOOF: Silent Hill (Team Silent, 1999) 39:12 Feature Game: Persona 5 Royal (P-Studio, 2019) SHOUT 57:49 Mark: Persona 4 Revival (P-Studio) 58:49 Caitlin: My Card Is Better than Your Card (Utu Studios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c...
Dec 03, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 75
Another horror game, namely Clock Tower, for someone who claims not to like horror games, namely Caitlin. Then, Mark finally tries the cultural juggernaut that is The Witcher 3. What We're Playing 01:04 Caitlin: Quantum Witch (NikkiJay, 2025) 09:53 Mark: Neon Inferno (Zenovia Interactive, 2025) 21:35 GOOF: Clock Tower (Human Entertainment, 1995) 34:39 Feature Game: The Witcher 3 (CD Projekt Red, 2015) SHOUT 58:14 Caitlin: Guild Wars Reforged (ArenaNet) 59:13 Mark: Terminator 2D: No Fate (Bitmap ...
Nov 26, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 74
We're not really doing the fighting this week, we're mostly telling other people to do violence and/or die--both in Ogre Battle from the SNES and Dispatch. What We're Playing 01:11 Mark: Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (Ubisoft, 2005) 13:25 Caitlin: My Little Puppy (Dreamotion Inc, 2025) 21:24 GOOF: Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen (Quest Corporation, 1993) 39:12 Feature Game: Dispatch (AdHoc Studio, 2025) SHOUT 59:02 Mark: Wolf Among Us 2 (Telltale) 1:01:38 Caitlin: Grimshire (Acute ...
Nov 19, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 73
We return to the Aliens franchise and the Nintendo DS with Infestation, where #squadgoals run smack into permadeath. Meanwhile, your power fantasies in The Outer Worlds 2 run smack into the reality of your character's incompetence. What We're Playing 00:52 Caitlin: R.E.P.O.: The Monster Update (semiwork, 2025) 09:32 Mark: BALL x PIT (Kenny Sun & Friends, 2025) 19:48 GOOF: Aliens: Infestation (Way Forward Technologies, 2011) 35:01 Feature Game: The Outer Worlds 2 (Obsidian Entertainment, 2025...
Nov 12, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 72
Mark remains in the iron grip of tactical RPGs, and so we revisit Vandal Hearts along with critical darling Keeper. What We're Playing 01:16 Mark: Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, 2025) 11:36 Caitlin: Sworn (Windwalk Games, 2025) 16:35 GOOF: Vagrant Story (Konami, 1996) 36:33 Feature Game: Keeper (Double Fine, 2025) SHOUT 48:14 Mark: MENACE (Overhype Studios) 49:12 Caitlin: Pokémon Pokopia (Omega Force) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoi...
Nov 05, 2025•54 min•Ep. 71
With Caitlin's guidance, Mark is slowly going through the generically-titled nineties SNES titles--this time it's Trials of Mana. Absolum is also a pretty weak name. Can the games overshadow their unilluminating titles? ALL WILL BE REVEALED What We're Playing 01:09 Caitlin: Hidden Folks (Adriaan de Jongh & Sylvain Tegroeg, 1998) 07:27 Mark: Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch (Ocean Drive Studio, 2025) 19:09 GOOF: Trials of Mana (Square, 1995) 40:57 Feature Game: Absolum (Guard Crush Games &...
Oct 29, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 70
The nineties are calling in a big way! Sonic, The Big Con, and Caitlin even manages to smuggle in an Evangelion reference. Radical. What We're Playing 00:53 Mark: Akane (Ludic Studios, 2018) 11:40 Caitlin: Phasmaphobia (Kinetic Games, 2020) 21:40 GOOF: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Sega Technical Institute, 1994) 40:14 Feature Game: The Big Con (Mighty Yell, 2021) SHOUT 1:01:21 Mark: MagicX One 35 (MagicX) 1:04:55 Caitlin: Final Sentence (Button Mash) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic...
Oct 15, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 69
We get dynastic AF here, with multi-generational dynamics galore. We breed dragon killers with Dragon Valor and look to rescue our dear, grim, chthonic papa in Hades II. What We're Playing 02:03 Caitlin: Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom, 2025) 11:12 Mark: Drift Survivor 2 (MEWSTURBO, 2025) 20:36 GOOF: Dragon Valor (Now Production, 1999) 36:20 Feature Game: Hades II (Supergiant, 2025) SHOUT 1:00:56 Caitlin: Dogpile (Studio Folly, Toot Games, & Foot) 1:02:10 Mark: AXERAS (Inverse Atelier) Learn mo...
Oct 08, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 68
It's a Game Boy-heavy episode, including the popular fan translation of Japanese-only RPG Mother 3. We follow up with the game if "improvisational chaos" I Am Your Beast. (We apologize for Caitlin's poor audio in this episode) What We're Playing 01:44 Mark: Fire Emblem: Vision Quest (Pandan [Fan Hack], 2022) 10:41 Caitlin: LEGO Game Boy (LEGO, 2025) 17:59 GOOF: Mother 3 (Brownie Brown/HAL Laboratory, 2006) 43:17 Feature Game: I Am Your Beast (Strange Scaffold, 2024) SHOUT 58:54 Mark: Possessor(s...
Oct 01, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 67
Growing up can be hard, so we explore some coping mechanisms--Road Trip to the End of the World suggests conjuring an adorable anthropomorphic fish, whereas Deception III endorses trap-based murder. Options! What We're Playing 01:06 Caitlin: Loop Hero (Four Quarters, 2021) 10:15 Mark: Lost Eidolons (Ocean Drive Studio, 2022) 24:29 GOOF: Deception III: Dark Delusion (Tecmo, 1999) 41:26 Feature Game: Road Trip to the End of the World (Alex Lee and Shark & Pelican Games, 2025) SHOUT 56:31 Caitl...
Sep 24, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 66
We, once again, have a shonen problem. Brave Fencer Musashi's abrasive overconfidence is in stark contrast to the cool professionalism of Aliens: Fireteam Elite. Stay frosty, people. What We're Playing 00:59 Mark: Metal Eden (Reikon Games, 2025) 12:06 Caitlin: Final Fantasy VI (Square, 1994) 21:59 GOOF: Brave Fencer Musashi (Square, 1998) 38:12 Feature Game: Aliens: Fireteam Elite (Cold Iron Studios, 2021) SHOUT 57:07 Mark: Hades II (Supergiant) 57:46 Caitlin: Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven (Massiv...
Sep 17, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 65
How six years can change an industry--from local deathmatch FPS being all the rage (Perfect Dark), to online co-op third-person cover-hugging (Gears of War: Reloaded). What We're Playing 00:52 Mark: Marfusha: Sentinel Girls (hinyari9, 2021) 10:16 Caitlin: PEAK (Team PEAK, 2025) 20:15 GOOF: Perfect Dark (Rare, 2000) 39:27 Feature Game: Gears of War: Reloaded (The Coalition, 2025) SHOUT 1:03:22 Mark: Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch (Ocean Drive Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc...
Sep 10, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 64
Metroidvania is a very popular formula. We see how much has it changed in the twenty years between its formalization in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and its indie apotheosis in Hollow Knight. What We're Playing 00:54 Caitlin: Coral Island (Stairway Games, 2023) 17:35 Mark: Mortal Sin (Nikita Todorovic, 2025) 27:05 GOOF: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Konami, 1997) 42:50 Feature Game: Hollow Knight (Team Cherry, 2017) SHOUT 1:00:49 Caitlin: Resident Evil: Requiem (Capcom) 1:02:04 Mark:...
Sep 03, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 63
Pocky & Rocky scoffs at so-called difficult games like Soulslikes, and Artis Impact scoffs at the limitations of RPG Maker. What We're Playing 01:03 Caitlin: Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Robot Entertainment, 2025) 08:15 Mark: The Rogue Prince of Persia (Evil Empire, 2025) 18:31 GOOF: Pocky and Rocky (Natsume, 1992) 28:36 Feature Game: Artis Impact (Mas, 2025) SHOUT 53:03 Caitlin: Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes (Alt Shift) 54:25 Mark: Valor Mortis (One More Level) Learn more about your ad...
Aug 27, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 62
Minigames abound in the WarioWare series (featuring a drive-by discussion of the Mario Party games), and then we ponder the corporate dystopia that is video gaming in Citizen Sleeper. What We're Playing 00:58 Mark: Deadzone: Rogue (Prophecy Games, 2025) 11:34 Caitlin: Hidden Capybaras with Orange (Whimsical Universes, 2023) 17:00 GOOF: WarioWare: Twisted! (Nintendo SPD, 2004) 34:04 Feature Game: Citizen Sleeper (Jump Over the Age, 2022) SHOUT 57:19 Mark: Drift Survivor (MEWSTURBO) 59:57 Caitlin:...
Aug 20, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 61
We check out a classic strategy RPG series with Shining Force II, then hurry up and die with Elden Ring: Nightreign. What We're Playing 01:03 Caitlin: Cryptmaster (Paul Hart, Lee Williams, and Akupara Games, 2024) 07:12 Mark: Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios, 2025) 19:38 GOOF: Shining Force II (Sonic! Software Planning, 1993) 36:02 Feature Game: Elden Ring: Nightreign (FromSoftware, 2025) SHOUT 55:16 Caitlin: Once Upon a Katamari (RENGAME) 57:12 Mark: Spine (Nekki) Learn more about your ad choic...
Aug 13, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 60
Vagrant Story is one of Mark's all-time favourite games, but is he ready to talk about Ashley Riot's butt? Can Caitlin cope with the madness that is JoJo? Or capybara feet? It's a whole lot. StarVaders allows us a break to focus entirely on the game of it. What We're Playing 01:29 Mark: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood (Anchor, Inc, 2006) 16:05 Caitlin: Capybara Spa (Cozy Bee Games, 2022) 22:31 GOOF: Vagrant Story (Square, 2000) 48:30 Feature Game: StarVaders (Pengonauts, 2025) SHOUT 1:05...
Aug 06, 2025•1 hr 16 min
The nineties were a rough place, as the writing of Parasite Eve reminds us. Is Jusant a corrective, given that it has no dialog at all? What We're Playing 01:07 Caitlin: The Ranch of Rivershine (Coze Bee Games, 2025) 11:39 Mark: Kunitsu-Gami: Otherworldly Ventures (Capcom, 2025) 21:28 GOOF: Parasite Eve (Square, 1998) 37:21 Feature Game: Jusant (Don't Nod, 2023) SHOUT 56:05 Caitlin: Artis Impact (Mas) 58:05 Mark: Terminator 2D: No Fate (Bitmap Bureau) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com...
Jul 23, 2025•1 hr 2 min
All action and no real story with Street Fighter II Turbo, and then all story and no real action with 1000xRESIST. Each successful in their own way! What We're Playing 01:11 Mark: Space Mercenary Defense Force (Tom Paradise, 2023) 10:53 Caitlin: Neva (Nomada Studio, 2025) 17:08 GOOF: Street Fighter II Turbo (Capcom, 1992) 35:04 Feature Game: 1000xRESIST (sunset visitor, 2024) SHOUT 52:01 Mark: Varlet (FURYU) 52:57 Caitlin: Kingmakers (Redemption Road) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com...
Jul 16, 2025•58 min
Why do we allow some games, even ones we enjoy, to drop off and go on the back burner? And why do some get picked up again and not others? It is mysterious, much like why designers continue to insert terrible "comic relief" characters in games like Okami. What We're Playing 01:03 Caitlin: Dead Letter Department (Belief Engine, 2025) 08:50 Mark: Suit for Hire (Godmode Interactive, 2025) 18:34 GOOF: Okami (Clover Studio, 2006) 44:13 Feature Topic: Dropping Off, Picking Up SHOUT 1:09:10 Caitlin: Di...
Jul 09, 2025•1 hr 13 min
King Arthur's World makes us long for Lemmings, and does Nier: Automata peak in the first hour? Our suplexes are German and our fashion sense is questionable this week. What We're Playing 01:03 Mark: God Hand (Clover, 2006) 15:13 Caitlin: Date Everything! (Sassy Chap Games, 2025) 24:13 GOOF: King Arthur's World (Argonaut Software, 1992) 36:11 Feature Game: Nier: Automata (PlatinumGames, 2017) SHOUT 55:31 Mark: Persona 4 Revival (Atlus) 57:16 Caitlin: Haunted Paws (LazyFlock) Advertising Inquirie...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 3 min
It's protagonist vs. protagonist week here at AMBFAD, and we repeatedly ask--why can't we all just get along? First it's Spy vs. Spy, and then Jan vs. Jan in The Alters. What We're Playing 01:41 Caitlin: A Building Full of Cats 2 (Devcats, 2025) 08:45 Mark: Star Trek: The Next Generation (NES/GB, Imagineering, 1993) 20:25 GOOF: Spy vs. Spy (GBC, Kemco, 1999) 32:50 Feature Game: The Alters (11 Bit Studios, 2025) 35:26 Spoilers Begin 36:52 Spoilers End SHOUT 55:03 Caitlin: Final Fantasy Tactics: T...
Jun 25, 2025•1 hr 2 min
We run, we gun, we laugh, and we cry with Azure Striker: Gunvolt, and then we overcome jank and feel the call to adventure with Oblivion: Remastered. What We're Playing 01:04 Mark: Bleed 2 (Ian Campbell, 2017) 10:33 Caitlin: Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD, 2025) 23:28 GOOF: Azure Striker Gunvolt (Inti Creates, 2014) 39:27 Feature Game: The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remastered (Bethesda, 2025) SHOUT 58:18 Caitlin: Beast of Reincarnation (GAME FREAK) 59:26 Mark: Blighted (DrinkBox Studios) Advertisi...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 5 min
We talk a bit about accessibility in gaming, which is sadly all too often left to modders rather than the developers themselves. The games on the agenda (super serious) are Metroid Prime and Monster Train 2. What We're Playing 01:19 Caitlin: R.E.P.O. (semiwork, 2025) 03:28 Caitlin: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (Square Enix, 2024) 07:00 Mark: Iron Meat (Retroware, 2024) 16:32 GOOF: Metroid Prime (Retro Studios, 2002) 35:12 Feature Game: Monster Train 2 (Shiny Shoe, 2025) SHOUT 53:18 Caitlin: The ...
Jun 11, 2025•58 min
We look back to the 3DS and Fire Emblem: Awakening, and question how weak the sauce is in Doom: The Dark Ages. What We're Playing 01:00 Mark: Death Road to Canada (Rocketcat Games, 2016) 12:59 Caitlin: Path of Exile 2 (Grinding Gear Games, 2024) 24:31 GOOF: Fire Emblem: Awakening (Intelligent Systems, 2012) 47:34 Feature Game: Doom: The Dark Ages (id, 2025) SHOUT 1:08:08 Caitlin: Gold Gold Adventure Gold (Can Can Can a Man) 1:09:38 Mark: Fallen Fates (Hibernian Workshop) Advertising Inquiries: h...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 16 min
We finish our spoiler-free discussion of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Caitlin expresses the view that she was tricked into playing Flashback: The Quest for Identity. What We're Playing 01:30 Caitlin: Do No Harm (Darts Games, 2025) 10:30 Mark: Void War (Tundra, 2025) 21:44 GOOF: Flashback: The Quest for Identity (Delphine Software, 1992) 35:39 Feature Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive, 2025) SHOUT 1:05:47 Caitlin: DELTARUNE (tobyfox) 1:06:56 Mark: Elden Ring NIGHTREIGN (...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 13 min
It's the end of the world in both the N64's Sin and Punishment and the new Clair Obscur, and there's lots of ennui to be had. What We're Playing 01:05 Mark: Power Stone 2 (Capcom, 2000) 12:27 Caitlin: Forever Skies (Far From Home, 2025) 17:36 GOOF: Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Earth (Treasure, 2000) 33:23 Feature Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive, 2025) SHOUT 1:05:06 Mark: Gears of War: Reloaded (The Coalition) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands P...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 9 min
