Avsnitt
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Renewable energy mixed with a DIY attitude!
Crafted in Germany by two developers dubbing themselves Cyberwave, this first-person sandbox survival game was brought to life through a Kickstarter campaign and has arrived on Xbox Game Pass just in time for our dynamic duo to check it out. Our trusty "Surprise Me" Button has previously selected its fair share of survival and crafting games, and our hosts have sampled plenty of Minecraft adjacent titles of their own volition, so the natural question is: how does this one stack up against all the rest? Will it have enough novelty to break free of the herd? Tom and Chris each played for the requisite hour and now have gathered to share their harvested wisdom with you. Let's hope it bears fruit!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Get thee to a nunnery!
We return to our regular method of game selection this episode with a random pick from our trusted friend the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button. Speaking of friendship, you'll find it is in short supply in this third person adventure developed by Odd Meter and published by 11 Bit Studios. As it begins, players step into the shoes of the titular character as she does her very best to fit in with her sisters at the convent, but this proves an uphill battle as a nagging voice keeps leading her astray. Will the plot thicken inside the first hour or will our hosts end up snoozing in the pews? Gather round cherished flock as Tom and Chris take to their pulpit and proselytize. You'll learn whether this title's a sinner or a saint!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Saknas det avsnitt?
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We're off to the races, again!
Move over Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button, as Chris thumbs the scales once again to accommodate a guest. For this episode our duo is joined by Gobotch to play and discuss the latest entry in the racing game franchise developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios. Over the years, many racing game franchises have come and gone, but this one clearly has legs, or perhaps wheels. As its name implies, it once started as a spinoff but blossomed into a beloved franchise of its own. We noted that our guest has specially requested this title, so it stands to reason that he has some expectations it will go far. But what about Tom and Chris, who have played plenty of racing titles for just this show alone? Will they be pleased that this one was cherry picked? Join our triumvirate as they decide if this is one race you shouldn't miss!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Watch Gobotch on the Youtubes:
https://youtube.com/@dadlvlunlocked
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Not to be confused with the sixth one.
If you disqualify retro collections, this must be the oldest individual game our hosts have ever played for the show. Tom and Chris have certainly played newer entries in the famous franchise, but neither lived in Japan in 1990, so they both missed this turn-based pixel-art role-playing game developed and published by Square when it debuted on the Family Computer. To be fair, it did receive a 3D remake on the Nintendo DS in 2006, but both of our hosts slept on that too, so a pixel remaster was still fair game for this episode. With some quality of life improvements included and a whole lot of old school charm, perhaps the deck is stacked a bit in this title's favor. Well, our hosts have now played it for an hour and must decide if they will keep on going with something so classic that it's probably older than you! Is time travel in your future too?
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
It's back on the menu, boys!
The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has selected an entry in a platforming series that has historically only existed in two dimensions. As this game's title suggests, this 2026 platforming game developed by Team Meat and Sluggerfly introduces the third. Our hosts have a cursory knowledge of the franchise, but admittedly have not spent much time, even collectively, with previous entries. This gives this title a relatively clean slate to work with, so let's see how messy that slate gets as little fleshy cube men are pierced, sliced, and smashed on their way the end of the stage. Will the recognized difficulty and repetition prove positive, or insanity inducing? Per the rules, Tom and Chris must abuse the poor chap for an hour and then report back if it felt more like sadism or masochism. Press play to see which it was, and if you should have a go at it too!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
It's the opposite of a perihelion.
For this episode, the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has chosen a fresh narrative-focused action-adventure game developed and published by Don't Nod. Set in a possible future where the Earth has become uninhabitable, our hosts don the spacesuits of intrepid explorers looking to find humanity a new home! With roots in films like The Martian and Interstellar and promised nods to more thrilling fiction like Alien, the plot should have something for the space nerd that lives inside us all. Will the parkour action segments complement the story well? Will the combination create a compelling experience? Tom and Chris have each dedicated an hour to discovering this for themselves and are now prepared to deliver their mission debrief. Let's learn if this difficult-to-pronounce title is worth the effort!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Kenji and Kumori deal death to demons!
How many games in this franchise will Tom and Chris review? When you leave game selection up to the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button, we suppose the whole franchise could be on the table. Fortunately for our hosts, this retro 2D side-scroller developed by The Game Kitchen and published by Dotemu has a distinctly different style than the past two they played for this podcast. With solid developer experience in the genre and with Team Ninja along to consult, the outlook here sure seems promising, but is this spin-off worth your time? As usual, our hosts have played for an hour and now they will decide if they recommend you do some ninjutsu-flavored demon-slaying too!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Just how easy will it be?
The XBOX Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is back in the driver's seat for this episode! It has fittingly chosen an indie delivery game that was developed by a single person (Sam Cameron). Okay, so he had some help from his brother with the dialogue, but otherwise it's entirely his creation. With a PS1 aesthetic and some obvious inspiration from the another game with anthropomorphic cats (Animal Crossing), this was definitely not on the radar for our hosts. Approaching with zero expectations, how will this package be received? Tom and Chris spent an hour playing and now they'll give you their detailed delivery report. Will it pass with flying colors or crash and burn in failure?
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
A cyberpunk story that's set in the past.
This selection's not random! Chris has been eager to try the two and a half dimension action platformer developed by Sad Cat Studios but, unfortunately for him, it was delayed several times. Fortunately for us all, the game ultimately arrived and thus could be added to the queue for this show. To make this episode even more tantalizing, Chris invited Todd as a special guest to help weigh in on whether it's been worth the wait. Will it exceed their expectations? And where will it rank for Tom, who remained completely oblivious prior to booting it up? Join our trio of hosts as they discuss and hear if they'll keep playing now that the required time is up!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
You can find Todd here:
https://thefandomfoundry.com
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-)
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The apostrophe isn't a typo!
The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has surprised our hosts with a top-down twin-stick shooter from the minds of SoulGame Studio! Comprised of two fresh cousins from Toulouse, this studio is incredibly indie. Perhaps that has allowed them to take a big swing here by taking the action of a bullet hell ship shooter like Ikaruga and combining it with the story and progression system of an adventure RPG like The Legend of Zelda. Our hosts have played for one hour and now they must decide if this strange pairing is actually a surprising delight. Let's learn if they prefer to play or pass.
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Time to brush up on your Latin!
Tom was sure that he had played the first entry in this series for a previous episode of the show, but just like this game, it turns out that memory was a work of fiction inspired by true events. This first person action RPG developed by Warhorse Studios and published by Deep Silver was recommended to Chris, and Tom did indeed play at least a few hours of the first game, so expectations are running a bit high for this sequel. In fairness, the success of the first one is well documented and led the developer to add over a hundred more employees while developing the sequel, so some of those elevated expectations are likely warranted. Will playing through this slice of late medieval history live up to all that hype? More importantly, will our hosts want to keep playing after the first hour is up? Let's listen as they discuss and decide!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Can they try 100+ games in an hour?
Spoiler alert: they can't! Even if they split the list down the middle and tried to tackle fifty each, the challenge of getting to everything included in this retro compilation from Antstream Arcade in the allotted hour is just impossible for our two hosts. That didn't stop Tom and Chris from testing out as much as humanly possible within those tight time constraints and ultimately coming to a decision whether or not they will keep this classic collection after the mandated hour is up. How did they each decide to spend their time? Were their experiences very different? Join our dynamic duo as they discuss to learn if these retro classics are worth your time!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
All aboard another loony locomotive!
The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button surprised our hosts by selecting a sequel to a title they have actually played! For this episode, Tom and Chris return to the world of roguelike deckbuilders crafted by the folks over at Shiny Shoe. The fundamental gameplay remains the same, but the premise this trip is that titans have taken over the tracks, so angels and demons need to team up to take down this new threat. With new clans, new cards, and new modes, fans of the original are sure to be pleased... but are there enough mechanical changes to make this experience unique for more casual players? Following the established rules, Tom and Chris have each spent an hour investigating this very question. Hop aboard to hear how it went, there's no ticket required for this ride!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
This will have you swearing!
If it's a rogue-like, you know that the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button is the one that picked it. Developed by Windwalk Games and published by Team17, this game takes a different approach to established Arthurian legends and asks "What if Arthur and his knights were the villains?" You'll step into the boots of a nameless hero and, with the help of blessings from a familiar cast of characters, you'll do your darnedest to liberate Camelot from their corrupt king's clutches. Now that you know the premise, you're probably wondering if it will be an entertaining thing to experience. Well, fortunately for you, we have two hosts that each spent an hour making a go at it and now they're here to share their stories. Let's learn if they've sworn to continue...
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
You just know this will be an odd one.
From slot machines to stolen potatoes, the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button maintains control of game selection and has our hosts playing this indie adventure title developed and published by StudioBando Inc. The player steps into the shoes of a child tasked with fetching some ingredients for his grandma's soup, but the pantry is a portal to another world, so adventure ends up on the menu instead. It's inspired by Spirited Away, The Little Prince, and Coco, so if you think you'd enjoy the blending of Pixar and Ghibli, this title may tantalize your taste buds. It smells appetizing to our hosts, so they'll each dedicate an hour to unraveling its puzzles and unlocking its songs and finally determine if this game is a recipe for disaster or one they'd recommend you try for yourself!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Simulating debt for fun?
Alright "Surprise Me" button, what are you trying to tell us with your selection of this rogue-lite gambling sim developed by Panik Arcade? Do you want Tom and Chris to literally fall into debt? Or is this perhaps a cautionary tale so that we all learn a painful lesson virtually in order to avoid experiencing that fate in the real world? Admittedly, we think it's highly unlikely either of our hosts, or even any of our listeners, will find themselves locked in a room with a slot machine suspended over a deadly pit. But, as a metaphor, perhaps it works. Will it be successful in teaching Tom and Chris about the pitfalls of gambling, or will they find themselves booking trips to the casino? Let's lean on this lever to learn!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Artifacts so nice they stole them twice!
Even the "Surprise Me" button is entitled to a few days off, so Chris has stepped in and selected this action-platformer developed and published by South African studio Nyamakop. Like the studio, the game is also set in South Africa, but not in the present or even the past, but the future... 2099, more specifically. In this future, precious pieces of African history and culture are being disappeared by the museums that possess them, so the player must conduct heists to liberate and preserve these artifacts for future generations to enjoy. It's certainly a novel setting and a novel premise, but is it an entertaining excursion for our players? Well, each of our hosts has been heisting for an hour and now they'll debrief and decide if you should join this crew!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Coulda called it cudgel cat.
The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has an indie title picked out for our hosts this episode. More specifically, we are talking about the third-person (or should we say third-cat) adventure game developed by Kyle Thompson and published by Top Hat Studios. As you may have guessed from the name of the developer, this is the product of a solo operation! Using GameEngine, this is the third concept Kyle's crafted and he's not showing signs of stopping soon. His previous works have granted him a following and we wonder if their time with this third title on Thompson's resume will turn Tom and Chris into true believers too. Our rules are simple, they play an hour and then they decide if the game warrants more. Let's learn how this spirited feline fares.
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Is it more than a well done pun?
We have another guest! This time it is Jake aka Zulgeek that joins Tom and Chris to review a randomly selected game and decide if it is worth your time. For this episode, the Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button has selected the puzzle adventure game developed by Dogubomb and published by Raw Fury. The plot follows the "protagonist inherits a mansion, but there are strings attached" trope, and that wrinkle is that the player must find the 46th room of the 45 room manor. It seems straightforward, but the mansion itself is randomly generated as you encounter each new door, and you explore until you're out of options or tuckered out, whichever comes first. It's certainly a novel premise, but will it be a fun game to play? Fear not, our trio has each invested an hour and they'll discuss their findings to help you decide if it's worth at least one of yours!
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
You can find Jake here:
https://bsky.app/profile/zulgeek.bsky.social
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) -
Are they better than big ones?
The Xbox Game Pass "Surprise Me" button takes control and doesn't surprise us at all by selecting the middle game of a trilogy. Developed by Tarsier Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, this title is chalked up as a puzzle-platform horror adventure game. What this means in practice is up to our hosts, who are joined by Adam from the "Spectre Approved" podcast, to learn by diving in and playing just the first hour. Will that be a rewarding use of their precious time? Will jumping into the second game in the series leave them utterly befuddled? Will they decide to keep playing when their time is up... and (most importantly) will they recommend you do the same? Let's find out, shall we?
What do you think? Let us know!
Check out all our links here:
https://linktr.ee/tc1h1d
You can find Adam's content here:
https://redcircle.com/shows/spectre-approved
https://x.com/RandEPod
https://www.instagram.com/spectre.approved/
Thanks for taking this ride with us :-) - Visa fler
