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: Dispatch (AdHoc Studio)

1:10:06 Mark: Enter the Gungeon Mobile (Dodgeroll)

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)

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: The Ivalice Chronicles (Square Enix)

56:46 Mark: Pragmata (Capcom)

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)

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 Expanse: Osiris Reborn (Owlcat Games)

54:10 Mark: Elden Ring: NIGHTREIGN patch (From Software)

55:34 Mark: Kunitsu-Gami: Otherworldly Venture (Capcom)

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)

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 (From Software)

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)