dotzip

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Art by Tara Crawford

Theme music by _amaranthine

Additional sounds by Boqeh

Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:

(00:00) - Pugoween
(01:11) - Become a member for the jumpscare-cut
(02:08) - What is The Dark Queen of Mortholme?
(06:38) - Commentary on the commentary
(10:44) - The mechanics
(13:24) - Very minor spoiler
(14:16) - Bonding with the hero
(16:27) - Where do Ornstein and Smough eat lunch?
(18:29) - The mentorship arc
(22:17) - The personality of the Queen
(25:14) - NOT Chase's Big Takeaway
(27:45) - Big-Sized Takeaways
(28:39) - Hello
(31:50) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(36:35) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(41:54) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(51:30) - We've perservered to the end of the episode!

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Being Alone in Without a Dawn Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

Sometimes the game makes you feel so bad that you can't make a joke about it.

Today we're talking about Without a Dawn by Jesse Makkonen! A game about being alone and looking out the window.

Get Without a Dawn on Steam.

🚨CONTENT WARNING: HALLUCINATIONS, PARANOID DELUSIONS, OBSESSIVE THINKING, SELF-HARM, DISTURBING IMAGERY🚨

Discussed in the episode:

Interview with Jesse Makkonen by Wayne Goodchild for Eneba

Additional links:

Without a Dawn is a haunting campfire story by Phil Bothun for 70 Percent Complete

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Support us on Kofi!

Visit our website!

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Art by Tara Crawford

Theme music by _amaranthine

Additional sounds by Boqeh

Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:

(00:00) - dot.hang out
(00:39) - Chase is BACK
(03:36) - You don't have to play all the games we do!!!!
(05:41) - It's still Octoadber, baby
(06:12) - What is Without a Dawn
(07:03) - BIG CONTENT WARNINGS!!!! CHECK THE SHOW NOTES!!!!!
(08:22) - ASCII art!!
(10:56) - How this game handles delusions
(16:22) - Ringo is in this game
(16:37) - What's the PJ situation
(17:19) - The blinds
(18:22) - What is happening and is it important?
(21:22) - The ending
(30:07) - Why not a vampire?
(33:11) - Big Takeaways
(33:13) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(35:37) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(37:02) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(45:03) - Wa-hoo!

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Making Sure Nothing is Moving in The Cabin Factory Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

It just dawned on me that all of the spooky games this year are about having a job.

Today we're talking about The Cabin Factory by International Cat Studios! A game about walking around scary BUT NOT HAUNTED cabins and also haunted cabins.

Get The Cabin Factory on Steam.

CONTENT WARNING: CHILD ABUSE.
Nothing is shown, but it is addressed repeatedly throughout the narrative of the game.

Discussed in the episode:

AJ and Tara's 'The Cabin Factory' stream on Youtube

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Support us on Kofi!

Visit our website!

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Art by Tara Crawford

Theme music by _amaranthine

Additional sounds by Boqeh

Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:

(00:00) - Become a member for the 'SCLUZIES
(01:39) - Kim has squashed the beef wellington
(04:11) - dot.wine
(06:16) - What is The Cabin Factory
(09:07) - This is a haunted house
(15:37) - There's a story! And a littel dance!
(17:18) - Some of the setups
(19:39) - Specific story spoilies
(20:51) - The second ending
(25:26) - More cabin setups
(28:40) - Big Takeaways
(28:50) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(30:26) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(31:25) - Shoutout to Octoadber

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The October 2025 Next Fest Episode Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

Help...

Today we're talking about The October 2025 Next Fest!

The demos:

CiniCross - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3933120/CiniCross/
Bladesong - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2305640/Bladesong/
Slots & Daggers - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3631290/Slots__Daggers/
Relooted - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3255890/Relooted/
The Cave Diver - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3004390/The_Cave_Diver/
Don't Stop, Girlypop! - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2610650/Dont_Stop_Girlypop/
Effulgence RPG - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3302080/Effulgence_RPG/
Skate Story - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1263240/Skate_Story/
Key Fairy - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2878580/Key_Fairy/
The Séance of Blake Manor - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1395520/The_Sance_of_Blake_Manor/
Mosaic of the Strange - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3444650/Mosaic_of_the_Strange/
No Players Online - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2701800/No_Players_Online/
LOVE ETERNAL - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3010610/LOVE_ETERNAL/
The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2809660/The_Remake_of_the_End_of_the_Greatest_RPG_of_All_Time/
Q-Up - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3730790/QUP/
Palm Simulator 2 - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3887240/Palm_Simulator_2/
Truckful - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3090810/Truckful/
Bus Bound - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2095420/Bus_Bound/
Shroom and Gloom - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3271280/Shroom_and_Gloom/

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Support us on Kofi!
Visit our website!

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Art by Tara Crawford

Theme music by _amaranthine

Additional sounds by Boqeh

Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:

(00:00) - dot.bev
(03:04) - Video games?
(07:44) - We got demos!
(08:08) - Cinicross
(13:18) - Bladesong
(16:45) - Slots & Daggers
(21:09) - Relooted
(25:33) - The Cave Diver
(29:31) - Don't Stop, Girlypop!
(34:15) - Effulgence RPG
(38:19) - Skate Story
(44:10) - Key Fairy
(47:57) - The Seance of Blake Manor
(53:46) - Mosaic of the Strange
(56:58) - No Players Online
(01:00:39) - Love Eternal
(01:03:15) - The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time
(01:06:37) - Q-Up
(01:13:54) - Palm Simulator 2
(01:16:11) - Truckful
(01:17:15) - Bus Bound
(01:19:51) - Shroom and Gloom
(01:22:56) - Another Next Fest down!
(01:24:32) - Thank you for listening!

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Doing Your Job in Last Report Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

Hello, if you are reading the show notes I want you to know that I (AJ) had to rerecord my entire side of the podcast because of an audio issue. It was one of the most out-of-body experiences I've ever had and I hope you can't tell. Thank you for being here<3

Today we're talking about Last Report by Monopixel Games! A game about working at a national park and drinking from your big coffee mug.

Get Last Report on Steam. Keep up with Monopixel Games on their Steam page!

Content warning at the top of the game:

This game features scenes with flashing lights and intense violence, including blood, murder, and hanging, strong language, and occasional references to alcohol.

Discussed in the episode:

Do not click this before AJ's burden is revealed. Actually, if you do I am certain it will not make any sense.

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Visit our website!

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Art by Tara Crawford

Theme music by _amaranthine

Additional sounds by Boqeh

Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:

(00:00) - dot.Asynchronous??
(05:07) - THE ENERGY!!!!!!!!!!!!
(06:05) - What is Last Report
(08:24) - Deak-Job-likes
(12:21) - This genre of horror
(18:42) - Happy OcTOADber!
(18:58) - Playing a game about being a nice dude
(20:49) - So much work went into this game!!!
(24:59) - Douglas isn't back yet...
(27:01) - Your computer changes
(31:58) - Seeeeecrets
(33:17) - Why you have to keep doing the reports
(33:56) - The Last Report
(37:38) - The Void
(41:48) - Kim's epiphany
(42:57) - AJ's great burden, lifted
(50:20) - AJ's Big Takeaway jumpscare
(56:34) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(01:04:11) - The Last Chapter Marker

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Finding Work-Life Balance in DEAD LETTER DEPT. Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

No YOU forgot that we call it Octoadber.

Today we're talking about DEAD LETTER DEPT. by Mike Monroe and Belief Engine! A game about typing and having a super normal dayjob.

Get DEAD LETTER DEPT. on Steam! Check out Belief Engine's other work on their website!

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Art by Tara Crawford

Theme music by _amaranthine

Additional sounds by Boqeh

Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:

(00:00) - dot.pitch
(03:37) - Send us your letters. You have to guess the address
(05:05) - What is Dead Letter Department?
(08:04) - Getting something out of the way
(09:48) - How do you know this is Fresno?
(11:00) - The mail looks SO REAL????
(13:19) - Spooky rating
(14:28) - A message from later in the episode
(14:34) - Possibly spoilers depending on your tolerance!
(15:23) - Giving up the STATS
(16:19) - Bing bong: Spoilers
(18:21) - Do the metrics effect the story?
(20:06) - When stuff starts getting... worse
(25:51) - The Sin Eater
(28:15) - Some specific moments
(29:54) - The ending
(34:56) - The text
(44:11) - Big Takeaways
(44:13) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(46:08) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(52:22) - Dead Letter Department!
(53:14) - Happy Octoadber!

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Considering Kindness in shutdown. Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

This week is our first SUPER-ZIPPY. Submit super-zippies on our website below :)

Today we're talking about shutdown. by kalechips! A game about making choices when you have none. This game was suggested by Bluzo! If you'd like to suggest a game you can do so on our website!

Play shutdown. for FREE on itch.io! Check out kalechips' other work on their itch page!

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Art by Tara Crawford

Theme music by _amaranthine

Additional sounds by Boqeh

Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:

(00:00) - Subscribe to the Kofi to hear AJ talk about public radio!
(00:42) - The vibes today are W I L D
(01:31) - What is shutdown.?
(02:13) - Spoiler warning for the qualia episode lol
(02:59) - Thank you bluzo for recommending!!!!!!
(04:08) - Enter: Super Zippies
(06:03) - This game is interesting!
(08:38) - The endings
(10:21) - BIG QUALIA SPOILER ALERT
(10:54) - The game is so dark man
(13:42) - SURPRISE it's AJ's Big Takeaway
(15:06) - Kim's Big Takeaway
(17:33) - Shutting down the episode

★ Support this podcast ★

Granting Wishes (or Not) in Many Nights a Whisper w/ Robin Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

I can't believe I wasted my one wish on THIS podcast... should've at least wished for TWO podcasts......

Today we're talking about Many Nights a Whisper by Selkie Harbour and Deconstructeam! A game about practicing until you say "Fuck it. Pepperoni pizza".

Get Many Nights a Whisper on Steam or itch.io! Check out Selkie Harbour's other work on their itch page! Check out Deconstructeam's other work on their itch page!

Check out all of Robin's link on her website!

Listen to Girl Mode Episode 126 - A Beautiful Summer on Trash Island to hear about Selkie Harbours other games!

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Art by Tara Crawford

Theme music by _amaranthine

Additional sounds by Boqeh

Produced and edited by AJ Fillari
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Timecodes:

(00:00) - dot.Steve
(01:08) - Robin is back again!
(02:03) - What is Many Nights a Whisper?
(03:36) - AJ didn't know what this game looked like
(06:11) - The mix of time periods
(10:21) - The gamefeel (tm)
(21:52) - How did we feel about the ritual?
(30:21) - The order of the wishes
(33:53) - The power of the sillier wishes
(36:33) - How to go back
(38:34) - The excrutiating weight of granting wishes
(41:37) - *That* wish and autonomy
(51:27) - What is the sibling of death?
(56:37) - The final wish
(01:00:09) - The day of the ritual
(01:03:44) - Now what?
(01:08:35) - Big Takeaways
(01:09:16) - Chase's Big Takeaway
(01:14:21) - AJ's Big Takeaway
(01:18:42) - Robin's Big Takeaway
(01:22:55) - Check out more Selkie Harbour games!
(01:23:41) - Thanks Robin!!!!
(01:24:09) - Tell your friends! Join the discord! Send us some money!

★ Support this podcast ★

Remembering What's Real in Leila Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

Imagine if your child gave you a box that made you look back on every tough thing you've ever done. Kinda messed up tbh...

Today we're talking about Leila by Ubik Studios! A game about drifting through the shores of your life and doing little puzzles.

Get Leila on Steam, Switch, or Playstation! Check out Ubik Studios' other work on their website!

Quote from the dev about the possibly triggering imagery in one part of the game:

One chapter in the game contains self-harm gore, but the player is given the option to skip the chapter with a trigger warning before entering the chapter. Don't worry, we will give you a non-violent summary of the chapter you skipped, so you won't miss the story.

Discussed in the episode:

Ophelia (painting) by John Everett Millais on Wikipedia

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