JK! Games!

Latest Episodes:

Why Do We Commit to Live Service Games? | JK! Games! Podcast Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Destiny 2 is ending active development, and it got us thinking: what makes someone stick with a live service game for years?
This week on JK! Games!, we discuss why some games become part of our daily lives while others never quite click. From Destiny 2 and Final Fantasy XIV to Fortnite, Apex Legends and more, we're breaking down the secret sauce that keeps players coming back.
We also discuss whether live service games have become too difficult for new players to jump into and what publishers owe players when these games eventually reach the end of their lives.
Timestamps
00:00:00 – Start
00:21:46 – Housekeeping
00:27:53 – Easy Mode: What We've Been Playing
00:39:29 – Normal Mode: News We Care About
00:49:49 – Expert Mode: What Makes Someone Commit to a Live Service Game?

Support the show

JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about.

Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver!

You can:
• Play at your own pace
• Stay spoiler-light
• Or dive deep with us

Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation.

Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week.

Want to show us some love? Click Me!

Mixtape Review — One More Game | JK! Games! May 26, 2026

Show notes

This is JK! Games! — the gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we care about.
Welcome back to One More Game, our monthly video game book club series where we break down games together at your pace and dive deep into the moments, themes, characters, and anything else that stuck with us after credits.
This month’s One More Game is Mixtape, the musical narrative adventure from Beethoven and Dinosaur and Annapurna Interactive. From skateboarding through dreamy suburban streets to awkward teen memories...Mixtape feels like looking through your yearbook.
Before our full review, we also build our own personal “Mixtapes” by picking songs that defined our high school experiences.
Timecodes:
00:00:00 - Start
00:08:18 - Our Mixtapes
00:26:40 - What did we expect?
00:37:40 - Best Character?
00:44:20 - What stood out first?
00:54:20 - Is it like Life is Strange?
01:02:20 - Depression and Great Story Telling
01:11:00 - Fourth Wall is broken
01:15:00 - Dino Park
01:18:20 - Cabin Stash
01:23:43 - Slater's Room
01:31:30 - Party Time!
01:38:35 - End Scenes and thoughts
01:48:44 - Final Review

Support the show

JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about.

You can:
• Play at your own pace
• Stay spoiler-light
• Or dive deep with us

Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation.

Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week.

Want to show us some love? Click Me!

What Makes a GREAT Shop Sim Game? | JK! Games! May 21, 2026

Show notes

This is JK! Games! — the gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we care about.
This week we’re diving into the world of shop sims and store management games. From cozy bookstores and pizza shops what actually makes these games so addictive?
We break down our favorite shop sim mechanics, the games we love, the features that instantly annoy us and what we want more of. Plus, we talk Marathon’s updates, LEGO Batman becoming the highest rated LEGO game ever, and celebrate a new Plants vs. Zombies partnership giveaway.
Timecodes
00:00 – Intro
07:00 – Housekeeping & Plants vs. Zombies Giveaway
13:47 – Easy Mode: What We’ve Been Playing
29:16 – Normal Mode: Marathon & LEGO Batman News
39:45 – Expert Mode: What Makes a Great Shop Sim?
52:30 – Shop Sim Pet Peeves & Bad Mechanics
01:03:20 – Our Dream Store Sim Games
01:14:10 – Community Write-Ins & Wrap Up

Support the show

JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about.

You can:
• Play at your own pace
• Stay spoiler-light
• Or dive deep with us

Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation.

Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week.

Want to show us some love? Click Me!

JK! Games! Podcast | Star Wars Games You Missed (Hidden Gems, Backlog & Favorites) May 05, 2026

Show notes

This is JK! Games! — the gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we care about.
And if you’ve been playing along with us in One More Game, you know we’re all about breaking down the games that actually stay with you.
May the Fourth be with you.
This week, we’re diving deep into Star Wars games — from the ones that made us fall in love with the galaxy, to the underrated gems you probably missed, and the games still sitting in our backlog.
We’re talking classics, surprises, and the Star Wars games that deserved way more love.
Whether you grew up with these or are just getting into them… you’re part of this conversation.
Timecodes
00:00 – Start
02:02 – Housekeeping
10:30 – Normal Mode: News We Care About
(Influencers shaping player opinions discussion)
25:13 – Expert Mode: Star Wars Games
Our History with Star Wars Games
43:00 – Standout Games & Franchises
(KOTOR, Battlefront, Jedi series, more)
59:30 – Underrated Star Wars Games
1:13:00 – Backlog Games We Need to Play

Support the show

JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about.

You can:
• Play at your own pace
• Stay spoiler-light
• Or dive deep with us

Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation.

Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week.

Want to show us some love? Click Me!

Why Sci-Fi Games Feel Different (Past, Present, Future) | JK! Games! Episode Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

This week on JK! Games!, we’re breaking down why sci-fi games feel different — from Mass Effect to retro sci-fi games you’ve probably never heard of.

We look at sci-fi games through the lens of our own experiences — where it started, when it clicked, and what we want next. From early memories to games like Mass Effect that completely changed how we see storytelling, we dive into why sci-fi continues to be one of the most exciting genres in gaming.

If you’ve ever played a game that made you stop and think “this is what games can be”… this episode is for you.

Timecodes
00:00 – Start
02:10 – Housekeeping
11:10 – Easy Mode: What We’ve Been Playing
17:39 – Josh played Myth Match
23:50 – Normal Mode: Mass Effect TV News
40:20 – Expert Mode: Sci-Fi Games (Past / Present / Future)

Support the show

JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about.

You can:
• Play at your own pace
• Stay spoiler-light
• Or dive deep with us

Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation.

Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week.

Want to show us some love? Click Me!

Life is Strange: Reunion – Official Review | One More Game (Part 3) Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

In this episode we give you our overall thoughts on Life is Strange reunion.. including our official review score!
0:00 Start / Housekeeping
3:10 Josh’s Birthday Celebration
9:37 Life is Strange Reunion finale begins

Support the show

JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about.

You can:
• Play at your own pace
• Stay spoiler-light
• Or dive deep with us

Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation.

Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week.

Want to show us some love? Click Me!

Life is Strange: Reunion – Abraxas Party Breakdown | One More Game (Part 2) Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

We're back with One More Game, breaking down Life is Strange: Reunion as we play through Max and Chloe’s reunion all the way through the Abraxas party.
This week, we dive into what’s working, what’s not, and why this game feels so close to something really special…but might fall short?
From emotional highs in Max and Chloe’s reunion to uneven pacing, unnecessary side characters, and a mystery that might not have Jerica sold...we break down the biggest talking points from the first 6 hours of the game.
There’s something really good here… we’re just not sure it fully comes together yet.
Play along with us every Monday night at 9:00PM EST: twitch.tv/jkgamespodcast
00:00 – Start
01:26 – What’s Our Super Power / Where We Left Off
17:41 – Rushed?
29:03 – Story Recap Starts
1:41:54 – Predictions

Support the show

JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about.

You can:
• Play at your own pace
• Stay spoiler-light
• Or dive deep with us

Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation.

Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week.

Want to show us some love? Click Me!

Life is Strange: Reunion – Our First 3 Hours | One More Game (Part 1) Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

We’re kicking off a brand new One More Game play-along with Life is Strange Reunion!
Things are already getting messy...
In Part 1, we break down our early choices, first impressions, and how the story is setting up emotionally and mechanically. From Max’s rewind powers to the tension building around Chloe, we’re diving into everything you need to know while playing along at your own pace. That lady in the park had us sorta scared...

Timecodes:
00:00 – Start
06:27 – Housekeeping
08:15 – Episode Start
14:05 – Starting Choices
32:24 – Story Breakdown

Join the Conversation LIVE
Every Monday at 9:00 PM EST on Twitch
twitch.tv/jkgamespodcast

Support the show

JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about.

You can:
• Play at your own pace
• Stay spoiler-light
• Or dive deep with us

Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation.

Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week.

Want to show us some love? Click Me!

Resident Evil 9: Requiem Part 4 – Did the Ending Change Our Minds? (Finale) | One More Game Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

We’ve reached the end.

This is Part 4 (Finale) of our Resident Evil 9: Requiem playthrough in One More Game, where we break down the full ending and answer the big question:

Did the ending change our minds?

After everything — Raccoon City, Elpis, Grace, and Leon’s condition — it all leads here. In this episode, we dive into the final act, unpack what actually happens, and share our honest thoughts on whether the game sticks the landing.

We talk about:
– The full ending and final confrontation
– Grace’s role and connection to Elpis
– Leon’s story and what it all means
– The final choice and how it plays out
– The scariest moment in the game
– Our final scores and verdict

If you’ve been playing along with us, this is where it all comes together.

Timecodes
00:00 – Start
06:20 – Housekeeping
09:45 – One More Game Announcement
12:25 – Episode Discussion Start
58:48 – The Ending Choice
1:30:15 – Review Scores

We’re kicking off our Life is Strange Reunion playthrough on March 30th, covering the first 1–5 hours. Play along with us and join the conversation.

Support the show

JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about.

You can:
• Play at your own pace
• Stay spoiler-light
• Or dive deep with us

Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation.

Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week.

Want to show us some love? Click Me!

Resident Evil 9: Requiem Part 3 – Raccoon City Changes Everything | One More Game Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

We’re back with Part 3 of our Resident Evil 9: Requiem playthrough in One More Game — and this is where everything starts to come together.

In this episode, we cover everything through Leon’s return to Raccoon City, breaking down the biggest story reveals, the emotional moments, and why this section completely changes how we view the Resident Evil timeline.

We talk about:
– Why returning to Raccoon City is so important
– Leon’s condition and what’s at stake
– The biggest gameplay and horror moments so far

Before diving into RE9, we also talk about what’s been taking over our lives this week — Marathon and Pokéopia — and how they’ve been hitting for us so far.

If you’re playing along with us, stop once you complete the Raccoon City section and come back next week for our final episode covering the ending.

🎮 One More Game is a video game book club where we break down games at your pace so you can stay caught up and be part of the conversation.

Support the show

JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about.

You can:
• Play at your own pace
• Stay spoiler-light
• Or dive deep with us

Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation.

Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week.

Want to show us some love? Click Me!