Believe it or not, we just closed out our second year of No Small Games! This has truly been such a wild ride! From meeting in person for the first time at PAX, to helping to judge the Indie Game Awards, to launching our written reviews on the website, we've cherished every minute and every opportunity. And we can't thank you all enough for supporting us along the way! In addition to giving a recap of all of the games covered in the first four seasons of the show, in the No Small Games Yearbook Vol. 2 we reveal our picks for their Top 5 games from the 2024-2025 year, and the fan favorite episodes voted on by YOU! Featuring superlatives and thank you's to No Small Games supporters, this episode is a tribute to all of you and all of these impactful indie games and game developers highlighted in the second year of the show! We are so grateful to all of you who have tuned in this year, and can't wait to bring you more indie game content in the years to come!

Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:15 - Reflections on the Year 00:10:43 - Recap of Games Covered in 2024-2025 00:32:54 - Kate & Emily's Top 5 Favorites 01:13:23 - Superlatives 01:44:55 - Thank You's 01:53:55 - Spring Season Announcement

Keep in touch with us on social media:

Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social 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

Crypt Custodian, developed by Kyle Thompson, is a touching and adorable metroidvania. You play as Pluto, a little cat who has just arrived in the afterlife, after a tragic end cut short his cozy life with his human family. Some accidental shenanigans lead to him being banned to spend all of eternity cleaning up trash from the outskirts of the underworld by Kendra, the guardian of the afterlife. Now Pluto has to fight corrupted beings, sweep up trash and make friends in order to make it back into Kendra's palace. In Episode 40 of No Small Games, Kate and Emily welcome Matt Storm to the show! Matt hosts a couple of gaming podcasts, including the "Fun" and Games Podcast, and is a self-described metroidvania "sicko." Together, the three discuss their experiences with this heartwarming (and occasionally heartbreaking) game. You'll hear their thoughts on this impressively large metroidvania map, the combat mechanics, and of course their favorite characters.

Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:09:50 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:21:10 - Meet Our Guest - Matt Storm 00:36:50 - Crypt Custodian Discussion 02:05:00 - Crypt Custodian Spoilers 02:11:05 - Game Ratings 02:18:28 - One Small Thing 02:36:40 - Next Episode's Announcement

Meet our Guest Matt (they/them) @djstormageddon.com Matt Storm co-hosts and produces both the "Fun" and Games Podcast, covering all kinds of topics within gaming, and Reignite, a podcast by two friends who love storytelling, video games, and romance! They are also planning to return to streaming games on Twitch this year, and occasionally moonlight as a DJ. We're so grateful to them for joining us for this episode!

Check out Matt's content and podcasts on the following platforms: Bluesky "Fun" and Games Podcast Reignite Podcast Matt's Citizen Sleeper 2 Review

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 has been both the longest and shortest month in existence, but the good news is that we're back with a bunch of awesome indie games to talk about! This roundup features some brand new releases from the tail end of 2024, along with some indie classics popping in from our backlogs! Plus, we chat briefly about our most anticipated indies of the coming year, and some rad demos that we got to check out! Give your wishlists a pep talk before diving in, because they're about to grow! 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. You can find our full show notes, including links and shoutouts, on the No Small Games site: Indie Game Roundup - January 2025 Show Notes

Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:00 - Icebreaker Question 00:05:32 - Indie Game News 00:19:26 - Demos 00:42:43 - Pummel Party 00:45:29 - Arctic Eggs 00:52:24 - Margot 01:03:00 - On Your Tail 01:08:56 - If Found... 01:13:03 - Stacklands 01:20:54 - Downwell 01:27:33 - Bastion 01:34:02 - Monument Valley 01:40:48 - Cave Hikers

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

Another Crab's Treasure is a combat-oriented soulslike adventure set in an underwater world overrun by a few greedy creatures trying to get their grubby little claws, fins and tentacles on all the wealth of their community. You play as Kril, a tiny hermit crab whose shell was repossessed by a literal loan shark. Now, Kril has to fight his way through the shallows, reefs and open ocean to get his home back. You'll face formidable bosses and navigate through treacherous landscapes on your quest, but you'll also meet some new friends along the way. Just maybe, together, you can overthrow the capitalist system that has the sea in a chokehold. In Episode 39 of No Small Games, Kate and Emily welcome HamonCutta to the show! Hamon is a gaming content creator who currently focuses mainly on soulslike and FromSoft games, which made her an absolutely phenomenal guest to chat with about Another Crab's Treasure. The three discuss their experiences with the combat and boss design, accessibility options, and narrative. But most importantly: what was everyone's favorite shell to wear?

Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:07 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:09:43 - Meet Our Guest - HamonCutta 00:27:13 - Another Crab's Treasure Discussion 01:48:39 - Game Ratings 01:54:15 - One Small Thing 01:59:39 - Next Episode's Game Announcement

Meet our Guest Hamon (she/her) @HamonCutta HamonCutta is a variety streamer and retired speedrunner who currently streams soulslike and FromSoft games primarily. At the moment, she is specifically working on preparing for Sekiro challenge runs. She also does the occasional just chatting and crochet streams, and produces both gaming and lifestyle content for YouTube.

Follow Hamon on the following platforms: Twitch Gaming YouTube Lifestyle YouTube Bluesky

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

Selfloss, developed by Goodwin Games, is an emotional action adventure game where we play as Kazimir, an old man who has found himself caught in between life and the beyond. As he moves through the purgatory he finds himself in, you must help him clear an infectious miasma that threatens this world. You also encounter a cast of friendly (or at least non-threatening) characters who are in need of Kazimir's healing abilities. Kazimir has been tasked with performing the ritual of Selfloss for anyone who needs it: helping these characters pay respect to their lost loved ones, and helping them to move on into the beyond. This is a beautiful and somber exploration of how we process grief. In episode 38 of No Small Games, Kate and Emily discuss their experience playing the melancholy adventure game, Selfloss. First and foremost, you'll learn what whale they would both be if they were whales (it's relevant, we swear). The two also discuss their impression of the mechanics of Kazimir's all-in-one magical staff, and the combat in the game. You'll also hear their thoughts on the striking art and music that creates this world that Kazimir moves through. We hope you enjoy!

Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:06:38 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:10:49 - Selfloss Discussion 01:18:41 - Game Ratings 01:24:37 - 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

Welcome back to the NSG Indie Game Roundup, our monthly series featuring indie games news, plus game demos and new release discussions.

Even as the year closes out, 2024 does not slow down with fantastic indie game releases. In this latest roundup, we're recapping our participation in judging the Indie Game Awards, with a quick review of some of our highlights from the nominees. You'll also hear our take on the demo for Aikyam, which has quickly become a most anticipated game of 2025. And as always, we've got lots of new releases to talk about from this past month. From beautiful platformers celebrating classical music, to haunted cabins on conveyor belts, to having to pepper spray assailants while on the clock, December's games were truly a wild ride. 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. You can find our full show notes, including links and shoutouts, on the No Small Games site: Indie Game Roundup - December 2024 Show Notes

Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:30 - Icebreaker - Recap of Most Anticipated 2024 Releases 00:11:34 - Indie Game Awards 00:15:15 - Neva 00:18:42 - 1000xRESIST 00:26:58 - Mouthwashing 00:34:28 - Balatro 00:46:26 - Demo - Aikyam 00:51:59 - Completely Stretchy 00:58:33 - Naiad 01:04:51 - The Cabin Factory 01:10:43 - Symphonia 01:16:54 - Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island 01:20:53 - Supurr Cat Cafe: Sandwhich Rush 01:31:18 - Lost But Found 01:39:58 - Backlog Updates

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

The Lake: Season's Greetings DLC follows the holiday shenanigans of Thomas Weiss, and the other inhabitants of Providence Oaks, the setting of the base game story. Thomas is the father of Meredith Weiss, the protagonist of the original game, and in 1985 is the one and only mail carrier in town. This special holiday story gives players another cozy peek into life in this small town. We get a little more backstory for many iconic characters and get to know some new ones! Best of all, this slice of life narrative all takes place against the snow covered backdrop of this beautiful town. In Episode 37 of No Small Games, and our second ever holiday episode, Kate and Emily are joined by Jacob Price of The Pre-Order Bonus Podcast, one of our favorite gaming podcasts! The three discuss their favorite movies to watch around Christmastime, Jacob shines some light on the buzz around Hot Frosty (the newest holiday "instant classic" to hit the scene), and the group shares their gifting recommendations in our Holiday Game Gift Guide. Of course, they also discuss their experiences playing the Lake: Season's Greetings DLC. We hope you love this episode, and that you have a peaceful and happy holiday season! Spoiler Warning: listeners should note there are light spoilers for the games A Short Hike, Unpacking and Lake (the base game).

Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:57 - Holiday Ice Breaker 00:12:42 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:17:05 - Meet Our Guest - Jacob Price 00:32:48 - Holiday Game Gift Guide 01:06:35 - Lake: Season's Greetings Discussion 01:49:35 - Lake: Season's Greetings Spoilers 02:08:19 - Game Ratings 02:14:00 - One Small Thing 02:23:35 - Next Episode's Game Announcement

Meet our Guest Jacob Price (he/him) @chipdip

Jacob co-hosts The Pre-Order Bonus Podcast, along with his co-host Cameron. Together, they've been producing episodes where they thoughtfully talk about their favorite games for over five years now. He has covered over 100 indie games on his Indie Impressions series. We are honored to have had the Pixel Professor himself join us for our holiday episode this year! Check out The Pre-Order Bonus Podcast: Spotify Apple Podcasts Patreon Bluesky

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

UFO 50, developed by Mossmouth, is not just a single game. This is a retro-inspired pack of 50 games, that represent the full library of titles published by the fictitious game company UFO Soft. These games' fictitious release dates span from the years 1982-1989 and were playable on three made up consoles. As you can tell, the lore goes deep in this game. The developers were meticulous in how they designed the game from each date, making sure to constrain the game's technical requirements to reflect the technology of that era. However, developers Derek Yu and Jon Perry were also thoughtful in the genres that they represented, including borrowing from some more modern genres for their games' mechanics and systems. In episode 36 of No Small Games, Kate and Emily discuss their experience playing the retro-inspired UFO 50. This episode takes on a slightly different format, since talking in depth about 50 whole games would require a whole season on its own. The hosts go back and forth sharing some of their favorite titles from the pack (along with some of the games that didn't land for them). They also discuss a bit of the lore within the game, and their own histories of playing video games "back in the day."

Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:08:10 - Weekly Boss Battles 00:15:10 - UFO 50 Discussion 01:31:25 - Game Ratings 01:39:48 - 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