The Secret Lives of Games

We're joined by Frank Lantz (Q-UP) and Mare Sheppard + Raigan Burns of Metanet (N++) for the first episode of All Systems Brough, a year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough. We share our thoughts on why Michael's oeuvre demands a deep dive, add some historical context, and share the plan for the year ahead. We also introduce a (final?) rebrand to the podcast! Next episode: 868-HACK (it'...

Rob, Sarah, and Doug chat with Jenny Jiao Hsia and AP Thomson about Consume Me, an award-winning autobiographical resource-management RPG about the pressure cooker of young adulthood. We discuss the game's ten-year development cycle, balancing dynamic difficulty in a game about overachievement, the complex dynamics of mining your own story, and more! Heads up: This episode includes discussion of d...

Laura, Rob, and Sarah chat with Adam Robinson-Yu about The Annual Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival, a communal and virtual festival experience hosted every ~October for the last six years. We discuss the logistics of running a seasonal multiplayer game, encouraging emergent interactions through limited tools, highlighting pumpkin artistry, expressing embodiment in digital space, building secrets over t...

Laura chats with Jeremy Johnston and Robin Ward about The Roottrees are Dead, their genealogy, murder-mystery, "static deduction" game. We discuss the development process of taking a jam prototype to full release, developing hints and systems that lead players to satisfying discoveries, and the taxonomy of games like The Roottrees are Dead and The Return of the Obra Dinn. Spoilers abound, so consi...

We're joined by (most of) the developers of UFO 50 - Derek Yu, Jon Perry, Eirik Suhrke, Tyriq Plummer, and Paul Hubans - to close out our series with a project-spanning discussion of their development process, how they're feeling a year out from launch, and so much more. Next week: Who knows?? Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: 868-HACK https://868-hack.neocities.org/   Eggpl...

Full audio from our epic live series finale, packed with previous series guests, tarot readings, mad libs, touching listener letters, and so much more. Come laugh and cry with us, say goodbye to UFO 50, and hear what's next for Eggplant! Next week: Final interview with the UFO 50 recovery team! Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games Presents: A...

We're joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis), and Steve Gillham (OzymandiasAV) to discuss [REDACTED] hidden within the UFO 50 collection. Massive spoilers ahead! Next week: Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games Presents: A Year of UFO 50 Finale Eggstravaganza - LIVE! (Airing live on Wednesday, September 17th, 2025 at 7:30pm CST at https://www.twitch.tv/eggplantshow ) Audio...

We're joined by Izzy Kestrel (Gexfeld, A Good Videogame), Shawn Alexander Allen (Treachery in Beatdown City), and the one and only Rand Hall (UFO 50 Voicemailer Extraordinaire) to discuss Cyber Owls, the 50th and final* game in the UFO 50 collection. "A superweapon threatens to destroy the world, and it's up to the Cyber Owls to save the day!" Next week: [REDACTED] Audio edited by Dylan Shumway  ...

We're joined by Liz Ryerson (musician, writer, podcaster), Adam Conover (Adam Ruins Everything), and Steve Gillham (OzymandiasAV) to discuss Campanella 3, the 49th game in the UFO 50 collection. "It's time for Pilot to return to what he does best -- flying the Campanella through deep space!" Next week: Cyber Owls Audio edited by Dylan Shumway   Discussed in this episode: Eggplant Merch! https://co...

We're joined by Daniel Mullins (Inscryption), Tonda Ros (Blue Prince), and Glove (UFO 50 Historian/ska podcaster) to discuss Seaside Drive, the 48th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Nothing's more relaxing than a nice long drive by the sea... Complete with plenty of gunfire!" Next week: Campanella 3 Audio edited by Dylan Shumway   Discussed in this episode: Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games Merch...

We're joined by Scott Anderson (Unity), Jackie Vecchitto (Trombone Champ), and Xalavier Nelson (Strange Scaffold) to discuss Quibble Race, the 47th game in the UFO 50 collection. "In the seedy world of Quibble racing, sometimes it takes shady tactics to get ahead." Next week: Seaside Drive Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Unity 6.2 Livestream https://www.youtube.com/live/P...

We're joined by Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games), Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), and Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis) to discuss Combatants, the 46th game in the UFO 50 collection. "The evil Red Ants have taken your land! Fight Back and defend your queen!" Next week: Quibble Race Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Starcraft: Remastered https://starcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/ Pikmin 1+2 Bun...

We're recapping the 2025 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 13).  In this very special bonus episode, Laura, Jey, Doug, and Melissa sit down with Wouter Verstichel (Director/Showrunner of De Mol) to discuss the experience of working on the show. Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and more. Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Links: Eggplant's D...

We're joined by Billy Basso (Animal Well), Ben Wilson (Saltsea Chronicles), Kayin (I Wanna Be The Guy), and Adam Conover (Adam Ruins Everything) to discuss Mini & Max, the 45th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Mini and her dog Max are locked in the storage room. Harness the magic of shrinking to escape!" Next week: Combatants Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Animal Well Trip...

We're joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis), and Eileen Hollinger (Capybara Games) to discuss Pilot Quest, the 44th game in the UFO 50 collection. "The Campanella has crashed! Fix it by harvesting resources and exploring the wild zone." Next week: Mini & Max Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Collection of Mana  https://mana.square-enix-games.com/e...

We're joined by Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games), Adam Dolin (God of War: Ragnarok), and Colin and Sarah Northway (Northway Games) to discuss Elfazar's Hat, the 43rd game in the UFO 50 collection. "Elfazar is hailed as a great magician, but his captive animals are ready to strike back!" Next week: Pilot Quest Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Pocky & Rocky Reshrined https://sto...

We're joined by Star St. Germain (Aconite), Madison Karrh (Birth), and Zach Aikman (Chuhai Labs) to discuss Night Manor, the 42nd game in the UFO 50 collection. "Trapped in a nightmare where you must use your wits to survive and escape!" Next week: Elfazar's Hat Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Into the Depths: Caves of Qud (Sidequests Special) https://eggplant.show/into-th...

In this bonus installment of our current Into the Depths series, we continue diving into Caves of Qud. This sprawling open-world roguelike has been in development since 2007 and Early Access since 2015. Doug and Rob - joined by special guest host Star St. Germain - chat about sidequests with one of the game's narrative designers, Caelyn Sandel. This episode we talk about the Servidian Meadow, the...

We're joined by Trent Kusters (League of Geeks), John Axon (Capybara Games), and Adam Dolin (God of War: Ragnarok) to discuss Lords of Diskonia, the 41st game in the UFO 50 collection. "War has come to Land of Disks, and the red and blue armies are on a collision course!" Next week: Night Manor Audio edited by Dylan Shumway   Discussed in this episode: I Tried Cycling the Length of Japan: 3,000km...

We're joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis), and Trent Kusters (League of Geeks) to discuss Grimstone, the 40th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Praise Biggan, the four of you survived the saloon fire. But somethin' tells me this story's just gettin' started..." Next week: Lords of Diskonia Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.   Discussed in this episode: Final Fantasy Pixel Re...

We're joined by Jay Ma (Into the Breach), Steve Gillham (OzymandiasAV), Adam Dolin (God of War: Ragnarok), and Zatoichi (Juggler/UFO 50 Enthusiast) to discuss Star Waspir, the 39th game in the UFO 50 collection. "You are an elite member of the Star Wasps. Pilot your ship and battle the incoming swarm!" Next week: Grimstone Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: ZeroRanger https:/...

We're joined by Tonda Ros (Blue Prince) and doseone (Enter the Gungeon) to discuss Rakshasa, the 38th game in the UFO 50 collection. "Even death won't stop Jangi from avenging the destruction of his village by demons!" Next week: Star Waspir Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: The Resurrection of Doseone https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/doseone-backwoodz-studioz-all-portrai...

We're joined by Scott Anderson (Unity), Carolyn Petit (Kotaku), Xanagear ( youtube.com/xanagear ), and Glove (UFO 50 Historian/ska podcaster) to discuss Valbrace, the 37th game in the UFO 50 collection. "No knight has ever survived the journey into Gnothrok Keep. What makes you think you'll be any different?" Next week: Rakshasa Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: My Perfect C...

We're joined by Scott Anderson (Unity), Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games), and Alex Jaffe (Riot Games) to discuss Hyper Contender, the 36th game in the UFO 50 collection. "The daring, desperate, and indebted fight for money in the pits of Phogon." Next week: Valbrace Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.   Discussed in this episode:   Towerfall https://store.steampowered.com/app/251470/TowerFall_Ascension/  ...

Rob, Nick, Doug, and Andy chat with Jeff Dubbin, a lawyer and (at the time of recording and publication) Board Game Arena's top-ranked international player of Reiner Knizia's Lost Cities. Lost Cities is a two-player card game about staking bets and unearthing archaeological treasures. We discuss the tactics behind high-level play, the ins and outs of Elo leaderboard systems, and the emotional impa...