The Short Game

A voice is saying your name. A WWII-era machine, long hidden in a church basement, whirs to life. Through a crackling speaker, a man asks you to find a stolen book. He only knows the title. Time is running out.
Inkle has made a Database Thriller. An Interface Game. Or are we just calling these SamBarlow-likes? And it's a taut 4 hours, and just $7, which is also five bucks.

(00:00) - TR-49

(45:34) - Spoiler Break

(01:09:37) - Wrap-up

This week we are talking about Absolum, a roguelike beat 'em up from Streets of Rage 4 developers Guard Crush Games and publisher Dotemu. This was one of those games that would probably have been near the top of our 2025 GOTY list if we'd managed to all play and discuss it before the end of the year. It combines the incredible beat 'em up mechanics from Streets of Rage 4 with Hades-style progression mechanics. It really kicks ass. There's also one of our classic slightly too long digressions about the Steam Deck and Linux about 33 minutes in. Sorry, and you're welcome.

(00:00) - Absolum

(26:21) - Digression about Steam Deck and Linux

(33:24) - Back to Absolum

(52:42) - Wrap up

We're continuing to shake the cobwebs out of the podcast, and this week we're bringing you our coverage of IFComp 2025. Normally we cover the whole competition with multiple episodes as its running, but this year we didn't quite manage that. We couldn't escape 2025 without talking about the comp some though. In this "lost" episode (recorded in late October 2025) we discuss some of the games we had time to check out this year, including a few of the top winners. 
We'll be releasing a patron exclusive "what's making us happy" episode next week (join us on Patreon!) followed by an episode on Absolum. See you in 2026!

(00:00) - Intro & Welcome

(00:52) - What Is IFComp?

(04:45) - How We’re Covering IFComp 2025

(06:12) - Detritus by Ben Jackson

(19:48) - Lady Thalia and the Case of Clephan by N. Cormier

(26:44) - The Wise-Woman's Dog by Daniel M. Stelzer

(34:59) - The Secrets of Sylvan Gardens by Lamp Post Projects

(48:43) - A Visit to the Human Resources Administration by Jesse

(53:08) - The Little Four by Allyson Gray

(59:11) - The Witch Girls by Amy Stevens

(01:03:24) - HEN AP PRAT GETS SMACKED IN THE TWAT by Coral Nulla

(01:08:44) - Wrap Up

It's been a weird year, but we're ready to round up the best Short Games of 2025! We're also awarding our other highly prized honors like Dirtbag of the Year and Most "Little Guy who Goes Around."
This might be the last episode of 2025, but it's also the first episode of The Short Game Season 2. We figured 444 episodes was enough for Season 1, and we are changing up our format slightly. We're looking forward to a great new year!

(00:00) - Short Game Game of the Year 2025

(10:08) - Dirtbag of the Year

(15:37) - Most Little Guy Who Goes Around

(22:54) - Best Galerius

(33:25) - Best Mario

(38:26) - Late to the Party

(44:35) - Best game that nearly killed the podcast

(48:37) - Gaming Moment of the Year

(58:04) - Best Rerelease

(01:01:22) - Shout out to games ineligible for GOTY

(01:02:40) - Game of the Year 2025

(01:08:31) - Wrap-up

After a somewhat unplanned summer break, the Short Game crew is returning to talk about the fourth chapter of Deltarune!

(00:00) - 444: Deltarune Chapter 4

(03:17) - Surprise! Structure is Different!

(10:32) - Picking up right after Chapter 3

(11:19) - Going to Church!

(19:29) - Noelle's House

(30:30) - You'll Never Make Me Play The Dark Route

(35:56) - Back to the Church

(49:23) - Climbing is Fun!

(53:20) - Now we're going to spoil Nate

(01:15:21) - Outro

(01:17:17) - Outro