In this year's Game Club Shortlist episode, Andy, Diego, and Wiedo each bring three brand-new games—built for old-school consoles—to the table. Only three will survive the nomination gauntlet and become the next picks for the July Game Club. Along the way, we get updates on sourdough laziness, shattered PCs, chaotic home renovations, and obsessive Quake map tinkering. Expect a mix of roguelikes, puzzle-platformers, sprawling adventures, and at least one game that pushes its retro hardware to the limit. Which new-old classics will make the cut? Join us for the debate and start planning your summer backlog.

69. Game club shortlist (June 2025)

In this episode, Andy, Wiedo, and Mark continue the tradition of the yearly shoot’em-up special. Andy kicks things off with Frontier Force for the Sega Master System, an intense fixed-screen shooter reminiscent of Space Invaders but elevated with dynamic weapon cycling and epic battles against waves of aliens and imposing bosses. Mark dives into Red Shift for the ZX Spectrum, spotlighting its accessible mechanics, unique shield regeneration system, and collectible ship parts that boost your capabilities, despite challenges posed by its monochrome visuals and tricky bullet visibility. Finally, Wiedo introduces Changeable Guardian Estique on the NES, an inventive horizontal shooter featuring a mech-transforming spaceship, strategic shield replenishments, and branching paths offering varied environmental challenges. Come shoot up some time with us!

68. Very almost spiritual Shm'ups #2

Andy and Wiedo return after a busy break to tackle Hero GP (Gameboy Color), an addictive racing experience reminiscent of Super Hang-On, with its vibrant visuals and simple yet engaging gameplay, and Crater Song (NES), a sci-fi puzzle adventure filled with rich lore, unique cooperative mechanics using two NES controllers simultaneously, and a compelling narrative set on a mysterious musical planet.

The crew also touches on recreating Quake maps purely from memory in the "Quake from Memory" project, the trials and tribulations of the never-ending TV repair, sourdough baking, the upcoming shmups episode, the MiSTer Multisystem2, and much more!

67. Original scanlines

Join Andy and Diego this week as they chat with the legendary Pierre Gilhodes, mastermind behind the quirky and much-loved Gobliiins series. Pierre takes us on a delightful trip down memory lane, from his painstaking pixel-by-pixel beginnings at Coktel Vision to the creative madness behind Gobliiins 5, with an exclusive sneak peek into Gobliiins 6. Discover the challenges and joys of transitioning from traditional pixel art to modern gaming tech, and find out why humor remains Pierre’s ultimate secret weapon.

66. Interview: Pierre Gilhodes

Join Andy, Diego, and Wiedo as they explore another batch of modern indie games crafted for classic retro hardware. This week, the crew investigates the humorous adventures of Frog Detective -1 (Gameboy), solving very important mysteries involving lost paper clips. Then it's off to navigate the food-filled maze of Hungry in the Dungeon (Gameboy), where survival depends on consuming your culinary foes. Andy faces face-huggers and xenomorphs into the sci-fi action of Alien Neoplasma (ZX Spectrum), battling aliens in a tense, atmospheric platformer.

Diego shares his experience with Tiny Pixel Adventure (Amiga), a jump-and-shoot platformer filled with hidden challenges and collectible items across colorful stages.

In the meantime, Andy samples mysterious basil seed beverages, Diego recounts a smoky fine-dining experience beneath a glass cloche, and Wiedo dreams up next year's elaborate April Fool’s prank.

65. Pokefork

This week, Andy, Diego, and Wiedo put on their spelunking hats and enter the cave of treasures to uncover forgotten modern games made for classic hardware. We flap through space in Spacegulls (NES), delicately bob through hazards as a vulnerable bubble in Böbl (NES), and navigate the mind-bending, multi-layered chaos of Endless Forms Most Beautiful (Commodore 64). We also puzzle our way through the stylish and retro-styled You Have to Win the Game(Commodore 64), while Diego rounds things out with atmospheric exploration in Knight’n Grail (Commodore 64) and battles against mythical foes in Pains’n Aches (Commodore 64).

Also this episode: Diego experiments with AI co-pilots for endless RPG adventures, using AI as a Game Master; Andy solves his CRT woes with a daring, transcontinental component pickup; and Wiedo grapples with the irresistible pull of addictive gameplay.

Join us as we unearth these modern indie retro gems hidden deep in the caverns of time!

64. Special: Forgotten gems #1

Today Andy and Diego spotlight Steel Legion for the NES from François Brodeur and published by Broke Studio. Join us as we navigate a dystopian 2004 filled with oppressive AI, run-and-gun exploration, and echoes of classic hits like Bionic Commando. We also head to the ZX Spectrum with The Blond, a uniquely challenging puzzle-action game inspired by the classic Western movie The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, guiding Tuco safely through each frantic level by strategically shooting targets to keep him alive.

We also share exciting news about Atari’s upcoming Jeff Minter-themed game jam and debate the mysterious boundaries of what truly counts as a sandwich. And yes, we promise to get to the bottom of whether a hot dog qualifies! Dust off your Commodore 64, power up that NES, and listen in!

63. Flexible bread

This month, we welcome Pascal Belisle, the mastermind behind The Trial of Kharzoid for the NES! Join Andy and Diego as they chat with Pascal about his journey from musician to indie developer, his love for classic consoles, and the joy (and torment) of coding for the NES. We break down his unique “Arkanoidvania” take—where brick-breaking meets Metroidvania-style exploration—and dive into the gothic, Eerie-infused world of Kharzoid. Along the way, we swap stories of childhood consoles, the magic of limitations in retro game design, and why Pascal sometimes curses his own power-downs. Grab a poutine (or some maple syrup) and tune in!

62. Special: The trial of Kharzoid

Join the crew in this chaotic February episode, where we swap stories of Wiedo suddenly turning twelve on Twitter, chuckle over Diego’s echo-laden mic setup that made him sound like he was calling from a phone booth, and marvel at the newest AI wonders popping up everywhere.

This week in games, we charge headfirst into an alien-infested station with Infeztation for Commodore 64, tiptoe through procedurally generated caverns in Cave Dave (Gameboy Color), and struggle to stay afloat in Death Flood: Dungeon of Doom once again for the Commodore 64.

We also keep an eager eye on the next wave of FPGA consoles, celebrate Rocksmith’s triumphant return on Steam, and dream of what else the retro scene has in store.

61. Viking nurse

Ring in the New Year with us as we wrap up 2024 in style! In this episode, the crew looks back on the year’s best games for old-school consoles and microcomputers. After sharing a few fun tales from our Christmas and New Year celebrations, each of us brings five favorite games to the table. From there, it’s a showdown to crown the ultimate Game of the Year for 2024!

We also reflect on how small moments—like spontaneous neighborhood dinners or rethinking holiday traditions—can make the season special in surprising ways. Plus, we reveal some unexpected personal resolutions and plans for the show.

60. Happy 2025!

In this day and age you'd expect old consoles and computers to be discontinued and forgotten, but contrary to any expectation they are alive and thriving with new exciting content from a new generation of developers! We intend to explore these new games for old platforms!

Andres Menegazzo

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