The Secret Lives of Games

The Secret Lives of Games
  • 5.0 (4)
  • VIDEO GAMES
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

Candid conversations with game creators that dive deep into the art, craft, and process of making games.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    TSLOG TV Plays De Mol (2026 season) - Episode 3

    We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 3. Who is the Mole, and why was Yannis laughing so hysterically at some November rain? Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1hr 28min

  2. 10 APR

    TSLOG TV Plays De Mol (2026 season) - Episode 2

    We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 2. Who is the Mole, and should they receive an Oscar for their duplicitous performance? Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Four Wishes (independent Korean reality tv show) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLimMCLxaXz0Gj-2ueyEdshOaKK9mQzj_0 Every Game in this City podcast (S1, which includes Laura, Jey, Doug) https://soundcloud.com/idlethumbs/sets/every-game-in-this-city Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1hr 33min
  3. 156: Filling Buckets with Tonda Ros (Blue Prince)

    10 APR

    156: Filling Buckets with Tonda Ros (Blue Prince)

    We chat with Tonda Ros (Dogubomb) one year after the release of his genre-blending room-drafting puzzlebox sensation, Blue Prince. Our discussion covers Tonda's year as the game's representative in the world; his inspirations across digital, analog, and tabletop works; cultivating player appreciation for virtual spaces; managing player hunches through playtesting; balancing lore with puzzle mechanics; comparing game development with filmmaking; and so! much! more! Kind of like the game itself, we just keep going. Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Blue Prince https://www.blueprincegame.com/  Mythic Spoiler https://mythicspoiler.com/ My Perfect Console – Tonda Ros https://www.myperfectconsole.com/episode/129  realMyst https://cyan.com/realmyst/  Digital version of MAZE: Solve the World's Most Challenging Puzzle by Christopher Manson https://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/1l9urle/website_version_of_christopher_mansons_1985/  "It Seems I Have Found Myself In Another Mysterious House" by Rob Dubbin https://roblemsolving.com/games/2025/04/25/mysterious-house.html The Castles of Mad King Ludwig https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155426/castles-of-mad-king-ludwig Dominion https://www.riograndegames.com/games/dominion/  Ascension https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/69789/ascension-deckbuilding-game  Blue Prince Soundtrack by Trigg and Gusset https://triggandgusset.bandcamp.com/album/blue-prince-the-original-soundtrack  Jewels in the Attic https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16608/jewels-in-the-attic  Tales of the Crystals https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9755/tales-of-the-crystals The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029120/ The Graduate (1967) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061722/ MIO: Memories in Orbit https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672810/MIO_Memories_in_Orbit/ https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    2h 4m

  4. 3 APR

    TSLOG TV Plays De Mol (2026 season) - Episode 1

    We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).  Laura, Jey, and Doug tango with Episode 1 and share their Mole suspicions.  Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and to play a Mol guessing game with us. Links: Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://secretlives.games/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol TSLOG Interview with Wouter Verstichel https://secretlives.games/eggplant-tv-plays-de-mol-2025-season-interview-with-wouter-verstichel TSLOG (formerly "Eggplant") De Mol 2024 recap series https://www.patreon.com/tslog   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1hr 36min
  5. All Systems Brough - Zaga-33

    1 APR

    All Systems Brough - Zaga-33

    We're joined by Chris Plante (Besties, Post Games), Hayden "Docky" Scott-Baron (Planet Coaster), and Rand Hall (voicemailer extraordinaire, Zaga-33 guide writer) for the fourth title in our year of All Systems Brough, a year-long exploration of the work of Michael Brough: Zaga-33.  This episode: Zaga-33 Next Month: Corrypt (and Lost Levels) Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Discussed in this episode: Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/04/zaga-33.html  868-BACK (Next Fest demo on February 23rd, 2026!) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/  Michael Brough's Website https://www.smestorp.com/  The Besties https://www.themcelroy.family/podcasts/besties/  Post Games https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/post-games/id1815131711  Rand's Zaga-33 Guide https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1442555333091262566/1475568523018371295  Drop7 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop7  Desert Golfing https://store.steampowered.com/app/757040/Desert_Golfing/  7 Day Roguelike (7DRL) version of Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/03/7drl-zaga-33.html Assorted comments on Zaga-33 https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/05/zaga-33-assorted-comments.html Blog about scoring in games https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/05/score-comment-threads-dominant.html Brick101 Review of all 36 combo powers in Zaga-33 https://brick101.com/reviewing-all-36-combo-powers-in-zaga-33/ Blog about iOS sale numbers https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/ios-sale-numbers.html Follow-up blog on iOS sales numbers https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/06/because-we-may-results.html Blog on zaga, score, expressivity, and personality https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2012/08/zaga-score-expressivity-personality.html Blog on creating advancement in roguelikes https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2013/03/7drl-day-2.html 7 Day Roguelike website https://7drl.com/ PRACTICE 2013: Michael Brough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4iswqa8r-Q   https://secretlives.games/  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow

    1hr 35min

  6. 23 MAR

    GDC 2026 LIVE Special!

    Recorded live from the Game Developers Conference 2026! They gave us time in the Official Podcast Box, so we made the most of it discussing the process of writing for the IGF Awards, reflecting on the culture of GDC, and even having a couple surprise guests drop in. Let's get loose! Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Scripto https://scripto.live/ Starfriends https://shop.brainfruit.studio/products/starfriends-card-game  2026 Independent Games Festival Awards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoH4EmfB4Z4 Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet https://store.steampowered.com/app/205730/Insanely_Twisted_Shadow_Planet/  Dustbiters https://dustbiters.com/ Tooth and Tail https://store.steampowered.com/app/286000/Tooth_and_Tail/ Brogue https://sites.google.com/site/broguegame/  Caves of Qud https://www.cavesofqud.com/ Monaco 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1063030/Monaco_2/ https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1hr 30min

  7. 18 MAR

    154: Gathering Community with Ben Rausch and Anja Venter (Playtopia)

    Doug and Rob are joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis) and Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis) chat with Ben Rausch (Team Lazerbeam) and Anja Venter (Free Lives) about the Playtopia Festival for Indie Games & Immersive Arts that they help organize. They discuss some of the Festival's origins, the logistics of producing in-person games events, the state of alt-control/arts-focused games events around the world, the relationship between South African culture and Playtopia's structure, the importance of showing the new generation how to create these spaces, the balance of growing and maintaining a festival community, and more!   Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Playtopia Festival https://playtopiafestival.co.za/about/  Shroom and Gloom https://teamlazerbeam.itch.io/shroom-and-gloom Jamming to map creative scenes and practices by Anya Venter https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02681102.2023.2281423 A MAZE Festival https://2026.amaze-berlin.de/ The future of public game arts festivals and non-commercial games culture by Robert Yang https://www.blog.radiator.debacle.us/2026/02/the-future-of-public-game-arts.html Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant https://grants.draknek.org/  Don't Get Your Hopes Up https://store.steampowered.com/app/3795490/Dont_Get_Your_Hopes_Up/ boshi's place https://boshis.place/events/  Glitch City https://glitch.city/  Blood on the Clocktower https://bloodontheclocktower.com/?country=US  Pro Jank Footy https://store.steampowered.com/app/3621330/Pro_Jank_Footy/ Plum Road Tea Dream https://store.steampowered.com/app/3206340/Plum_Road_Tea_Dream/ Plum Road Tea Dream (Performance) https://plum-road-tea-dream.com/#performance  Dressmaker https://store.steampowered.com/app/4019220/Dressmaker/ Cozy Lives Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cozylivesgames/reels/ Free Lives Discord https://discord.com/invite/freelives Sex with Friends https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/3407070/ Wee Boats https://store.steampowered.com/app/3578080/Wee_Boats/ Relooted https://store.steampowered.com/app/3255890/Relooted/ Cadence https://store.steampowered.com/app/362800/Cadence/  Starfriends https://starfriends.online Playtopia 2025 Showcased Games https://playtopiafestival.co.za/games-2025/   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    2h 6m
  8. 153: Returning to the Wasteland with Jan Willem Nijman, Joonas Turner, and Jukio Kallio (Nuclear Throne)

    6 MAR

    153: Returning to the Wasteland with Jan Willem Nijman, Joonas Turner, and Jukio Kallio (Nuclear Throne)

    Rob and Zach chat with Joonas Turner (Downwell, Noita, Cult of the Lamb), Jukio Kallio (Fall Guys, Minit, Dave the Diver), and Jan Willem "JW" Nijman (Super Crate Box, Ridiculous Fishing, Minit) about their landmark twin-stick wasteland shooter, Nuclear Throne, and its recent blowout 10th anniversary update. They discuss reopening a project after a decade, balancing through play, the decision to not implement traditional invincibility frames, the shifting culture of what makes a design "engaging," and more! Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Nuclear Throne https://nuclearthrone.com/ Controls You Can Feel: Putting Tactility Back Into Touch Controls https://youtu.be/OIOitNx9RHI?si=vcV3GCcsiy1W4Efr Spelunky https://www.spelunkyworld.com/  Shoot First https://www.indiedb.com/games/shoot-first Crimsonland https://www.crimsonland.com/ Downwell https://downwellgame.com/  Tormentor x Punisher https://tormentorxpunisher.com/ PAPERHEAD https://store.steampowered.com/app/2680280/PAPERHEAD/  Jukio's Bandcamp https://jukiokallio.bandcamp.com/   https://secretlives.games  https://discord.gg/tslog https://www.patreon.com/tslog

    1hr 53min
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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Candid conversations with game creators that dive deep into the art, craft, and process of making games.

Information

  • Creator
    The Secret Lives of Games
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    266
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Secret Lives of Games 2018-2026
  • Show Website
    The Secret Lives of Games

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