Video Game Book Club

Buenale Games

5.0 (5)
Games
Updated Semimonthly

Welcome to Video Game Book Club! The show where we pick, play and complete a video game each and every month. Join the VGBC community and play video games alongside us throughout the year. We will take care of explaining video game mechanics, recap the full plot, answer questions that listeners send to us on our discord, and more! Join the club! Discord: https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS

Aug 18

Closing a Chapter - Video Game Book Club

In this episode, we share some difficult news that we've decided to end the Video Game Book Club podcast. We have done our best to record our thoughts on this final episode of Video Game Book Club that we published today. In it we talk a bit about the history of Video Game Book Club, Ben and I's friendship, our content creation journey, and what our relationship with videogames has become. We are both so sorry that this is what we're sharing today instead of our usual Checkpoint episode, but we hope that y'all know how much we have loved making VGBC and how much gratitude we have for all of you. You have been with us every step of the way, talking about the games, discussing the plot, engaging with the streams, giving us tips and tricks for the tricky games, and most importantly giving us your friendship and being vulnerable with us. Some of you have been with us through all 27 games of VGBC, others are more recent members, yet all of you hold a very special place in our hearts. Thank you for giving us so much of your time. We would certainly have never been able to sustain this club for 2+ years without your support and your love.
Aug 3

It Finally Happened - Hello Kitty Island Adventure - Video Game Book Club July 2026

Video Game Book Club is back with another episode! Thank you to our community and listeners for playing Hello Kitty Island Adventure alongside us and sending us questions and discussion prompts! After more than a year of HKIA becoming a meme in the video game book club community, it has finally happened; we played Hello Kitty Island Adventure... and we liked it???? In this episode Ben and JP discuss the life-sim / cozy Sanrio-filled game. HKIA has Ben min-maxing his time spent on the island to ensure that all of his islanders are steadily increasing their affection for Ben. With a very specific time-limit, Ben was able to systematically finish the main story of the game as efficiently as possible. JP, on the other hand, had a bit of a free-spirited approach to the game. Until one day he realized he would not be able to finish this game on time unless he started min-maxing as well. But like always, he finished it in the nick of time. Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us every month, and join us again in a month when we discuss the August 2026 game of the month, chosen by our own Benjamin: Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater!! Discord: https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS Twitch: https://twitch.tv/buenalegames Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buenale.games/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buenale.games #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #hellokitty #sanrio #hkia #hellokittyislandadventure #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames (00:00) Intro (01:55) The Sanrio Universe (06:50) What is HKIA? (11:42) Early Game (35:55) Mid Game (01:01:15) Late Game (01:13:10) Viewer Questions (01:56:15) August GOTM Announcement (01:58:50) Outro
Jul 15

Incrementally Going Insane - The Checkpoint - July 2026

We are BACK with another mid-month Check-In on The Checkpoint! This month, JP is fighting a losing battle with the sun, and Ben is neck deep in European train schedules. We also check in on our progress on this month's game: Hello Kitty Island Adventure, talking about our experiences on the island so far and comparing it to other games. Next, we talk about our short story of this past month: Berry Bury Berry, recapping all of its incremental and psychological horror elements. Finally, we talk about other "games" we've been playing, and finish talking about the shuttering of physical media and how it affects the gaming landscape. Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us! Join us again at the end of June for our full length discussion on this month's game: Mina the Hollower. Discord: https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS Twitch: https://twitch.tv/buenalegames Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buenale.games/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buenale.games Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuenaleGames (00:00) Cold Open (03:00) Intro (9:20) HKIA Check-In (24:10) Short Story: Berry Bury Berry (46:19) Train Simulator & LoL (49:30) Physical Media in Gaming (01:05:15) Outro #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames #hellokitty #indiegames
Jul 1

A Gothic Tragedy - Mina the Hollower - Video Game Book Club June 2026

Video Game Book Club is back this month with another episode! Thank you to our community and listeners for playing Mina alongside us and sending us questions and discussion prompts! In this episode Ben and JP discuss the retro-style soulslike Mina the Hollower. This game game hits HARD with its difficulty curve and gothic tragedy themes. We dive in depth into the different mechanics of the game, how it differs from your traditional zelda-likes / soulslikes, and all the ins and outs of the plot. Ben had a lot to say about the platforming x flying monster sections of the game. JP could not stop yapping about the squares iykyk. Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us every month, and join us again in a month when we discuss the July 2026 game of the month, chosen by our community... and oh boy it's an interesting one: Hello Kitty Island Adventure!! Discord: https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS Twitch: https://twitch.tv/buenalegames Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buenale.games/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buenale.games YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuenaleGames #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #minathehollower #soulslike #zeldalike #shovelknight #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames (00:00) Intro (02:20) What is Mina the Hollower? (05:45) First Impressions and Early Game (36:20) Mid-Game (01:06:42) Late Game (01:30:15) Viewer Questions! (02:14:00) Final Thoughts and Letter Grades (02:19:53) July Game of the Month Announcement (02:24:30) Outro
Jun 15

Our Third JOURNEY Up a Mountain- The Checkpoint - June 2026

JP is finally settling in to his new life in Austin and we are so back with another episode of The Checkpoint: where we check in on our Video Game Book Club Progress. We begin the conversation with our belief in aliens? Then we quickly move to this month's game: Mina the Hollower. Regular viewers will be shocked that JP has actually played more of this game than Benny boy. Insane. Next we discuss the Short Story of the month: Journey. If we had a nickel for every game we have played that involves climbing a mountain in 2026, we would have 3 nickels! Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us! Join us again at the end of June for our full length discussion on this month's game: Mina the Hollower. Discord Twitch Instagram TikTok YouTube (0:00) Cold Open (01:50) Intro (03:30) Mina the Hollower Check-In (15:45) Short Story: Journey (38:30) Berry Bury Berry (41:20) Other games (48:00) Gaming Showcases (58:30) Outro #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames #journey #journeygame #indiegames #minathehollower
Jun 2

Rolling the Dice - Esoteric Ebb - Video Game Book Club May 2026

Video Game Book Club is back with another month episode! Thank you to our community and listeners for playing Esoteric Ebb alongside us and sending us questions and discussion prompts! In this episode Ben and JP discuss the ins and outs of Esoteric Ebb. This game has so much depth, so many secrets to discover, and so many interesting conversations. Ben gave us a very thoughtful answer on whether sacrifices have any meaning for our greatest purpose in life while JP interestingly gave his best version of an Esoteric Slogdog. Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us every month, and join us again in a month when we discuss the June game of the month, chosen by our own JP: Mina The Hallower. Discord: https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS Twitch: https://twitch.tv/buenalegames Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buenale.games/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buenale.games YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuenaleGames #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #esotericebb #discoelysium #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames (00:00) Intro (03:45) What is Esoteric Ebb? (13:52) Early Game (52:43) Mid Game (01:10:20) Late Game (01:53:10) Viewer Questions (02:46:40) June GotM Announcement (02:49:25) Outro
May 18

Vibe Gardening - The Checkpoint - May 2026

We are so back with another episode of The Checkpoint: where we check in on this month's Game of the Month! We begin by checking in on this month's game: Esoteric Ebb, an eclectic and chaotic Disco-Like. Regular viewers will be SHOCKED to learn that JP has hardly started the game yet. From there, we discuss this month's Short Story: Celeste! JP spent WAY more time with this game than most mini-VGBC games, and Ben chimes in with his experience with the game as well. From there, we discuss all things from counter strike to gardening, and we wrap up by touching on some recent news from the games industry. Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us! Join us again at the end of May for our full length discussion on this month's game: Esoteric Ebb. Discord: https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS Twitch: https://twitch.tv/buenalegames Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buenale.games/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buenale.games Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gfZQ8jttLntPF6dARadVa?si=7da802979ec749d5 (0:00) Cold Open (03:47) Intro and Special Announcement! (08:08) Esoteric Ebb Check-In (21:13) Short Story: Celeste (54:25) Counter Strike and Gardening (01:06:30) Gaming News (50:15) Gaming News (01:16:51) Outro #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames #esotericebb #celeste #indiegames #mixtape
May 4

Mystery in the Mundane - Control - Video Game Book Club Apr. 2026

Video Game Book Club is back baby! This episode, we're talking about the April Game of the Month: Control, which was chosen by our community. Control is a mind-bending game full of action and subterfuge where our protagonist, Jesse, infiltrates the Federal Bureau of Control, a shadowy government agency who seeks to research all things paranormal. Listen in as we share our experiences with the game, our overall thoughts, and answer questions submitted by our community. Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us every month. Join us again in two weeks when we check in on our progress on May's game of the month: Esoteric Ebb. Discord Twitch Instagram TikTok YouTube #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #controlgame #alanwake #alanwake2 #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames (00:00) Intro (02:30) What is Control? (06:00) Early Game (30:35) Mid Game (01:17:10) Late Game (01:48:35) Viewer Questions (02:21:55) Final Thoughts and Letter Grades (02:29:09) May GOTM Announcement (02:32:50) Outro

5

out of 5

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Welcome to Video Game Book Club! The show where we pick, play and complete a video game each and every month. Join the VGBC community and play video games alongside us throughout the year. We will take care of explaining video game mechanics, recap the full plot, answer questions that listeners send to us on our discord, and more! Join the club! Discord: https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS

Creator

Buenale Games
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

43
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Buenale Games
Show Website

Video Game Book Club