As 2025 draws to a close, join us in celebrating a year of some bangin' games. We look back on our personal favorites, and take a moment to appreciate them. Suggested talking points:

- Zachtronics Solitaire sweep

- Clair Obscur sweep

- You know how sometimes you read a word, but don't know how to pronounce it until like, wayyy way later so you just make up your own pronunciation and roll with it until you inevitably discover your error? That's not just me, right??

- Baroque sweep (Losers Bracket)

This is our last episode of the season, we will return in early 2026!

The furtive Bluesky, so easily forgotten: https://bsky.app/profile/laggingthoughts.bsky.social

Our opening and closing song is Faint One by Of Lanterns, you can find them on YouTube, Spotify and BandCamp! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3nHcgwsDVaAUvlm0YyzmuA https://oflanterns.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/61rXVUDvpjYO5qXwwWvZAT?si=WrPaHQRgQeau8I-rM7uD2Q\&nd=1\&dlsi=291b72c068824aba

For additional reviews from Nick, check out his Backloggd: https://backloggd.com/u/Popegator/

Be sure to check out Gordon's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jigglypope-kk5hw

Merry Chrysler Building (EX), and happy Parasite Eve to all! Get out your appropriately gaudy holiday baubles and gather round the fireplace to celebrate the end of one cycle, before another begins yet anew. Parasite Eve is the subject of our discussion today!

Some key talking points:

-Mitochondria

-So hot right now

-Run, don't walk

-Keys-ed to meet you

-Digi dome, digital monsters

This episode contains heavy spoilers for Parasite Eve. We strongly recommend playing the game before listening.

Find us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/laggingthoughts.bsky.social

Our opening and closing song is Faint One by Of Lanterns, you can find them on YouTube, Spotify and BandCamp! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3nHcgwsDVaAUvlm0YyzmuA https://oflanterns.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/61rXVUDvpjYO5qXwwWvZAT?si=WrPaHQRgQeau8I-rM7uD2Q\&nd=1\&dlsi=291b72c068824aba

For additional reviews from Nick, check out his Backloggd: https://backloggd.com/u/Popegator/

Be sure to check out Gordon's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jigglypope-kk5hw

we return to cover our game of the year: ZACHTRONICS SOLITAIRE COLLECTION, BAYBEEEEE

**This episode contains heavy spoilers for [CHUCKLE ME BONES]. We strongly recommend chucking your bones before listening.

Baroque Remake Cover Art: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_(video_game)#/media/File:Baroque_Coverart.png

The Nerve Tower: https://nervetower.neocities.org/main

Of Lanters new EP "Bear": https://oflanterns.bandcamp.com/album/bear

Find us on Bluesky:

We've freed ourselves from the confines of structure and expection; rather than talking about a single game, we talk about the other games we've been playing.

Discussion topics:

Nick's stuck in the Digital World

Goat

Buy and play Zachtronics Solitaire Collection

Hades 2

Foghorn

Find us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/laggingthoughts.bsky.social

Our opening and closing song is Faint One by Of Lanterns. You can find them on YouTube, Spotify and BandCamp!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3nHcgwsDVaAUvlm0YyzmuA

https://oflanterns.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/61rXVUDvpjYO5qXwwWvZAT

For additional reviews from Nick, check out his Backloggd: https://backloggd.com/u/Popegator/

Be sure to check out Gordon's Youtube channel:

Hi there, we're sorry it's been a while, the Lagging Thoughts team was lost at sea. We've finally found our way home and this episode we're discussing the indie survival-crafting hit Subnautica! Sea monsters, crashed ships, thalassophobia, inventory management heaven, wetness, and crippling debt. What an incredible journey, come hang out while we talk about it.

**This episode contains heavy spoilers for Subnautica. We strongly recommend playing the game before listening.

Find us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/laggingthoughts.bsky.social

Our opening and closing song is Faint One by Of Lanterns, you can find them on YouTube, Spotify and BandCamp! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3nHcgwsDVaAUvlm0YyzmuA https://oflanterns.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/61rXVUDvpjYO5qXwwWvZAT?si=WrPaHQRgQeau8I-rM7uD2Q&nd=1&dlsi=291b72c068824aba

For additional reviews from Nick, check out his Backloggd: https://backloggd.com/u/Popegator/

Be sure to check out Gordon's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jigglypope-kk5hw

Grab your hard hat and turn on your conveniently sized electric heater as we hop on board the Beira D and talk about Still Wakes the Deep. Experience struggles of life on board an Oil Rig, including but not limited to: yellow paint, OSHA violations, and perhaps most disturbingly: un-jiggleable door handles.

**This episode contains heavy spoilers for Still Wakes the Deep. We strongly recommend playing the game before listening.

Find us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/laggingthoughts.bsky.social

Our opening and closing song is Faint One by Of Lanterns, you can find them on YouTube, Spotify and BandCamp! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3nHcgwsDVaAUvlm0YyzmuA https://oflanterns.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/61rXVUDvpjYO5qXwwWvZAT?si=WrPaHQRgQeau8I-rM7uD2Q&nd=1&dlsi=291b72c068824aba

For additional reviews from Nick, check out his Backloggd: https://backloggd.com/u/Popegator/

Be sure to check out Gordon's Youtube channel! You can watch his full playthrough if you would like to experience the game. https://www.youtube.com/@Jigglypope-kk5hw

This episode, we visit the origins of widespread popularity for the RPG genre with Final Fantasy; discussing our experiences, nostalgia, and simplicity in craft yet surprisingly innovative and complex mechanics and story that were at work in this historic entry that inspired countless beloved games in the following decades.

**This episode contains heavy spoilers for Final Fantasy. We strongly recommend playing the game before listening.

Find Lagging Thoughts on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/laggingthoughts.bsky.social

Our opening and closing song is Faint One by Of Lanterns, you can find them on YouTube, Spotify and BandCamp! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3nHcgwsDVaAUvlm0YyzmuA https://oflanterns.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/61rXVUDvpjYO5qXwwWvZAT?si=WrPaHQRgQeau8I-rM7uD2Q&nd=1&dlsi=291b72c068824aba

For additional reviews from Nick, check out his Backloggd: https://backloggd.com/u/Popegator/

Be sure to check out Gordon's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jigglypope-kk5hw

Set sail for the north, and join us as we talk about our time with Prodigal, cesa! We talk about the world design, romance, puzzles, and overall vibe of the game. Prodigal is made by Colorgrave, who have since made many excellent games. We highly recommend checking them out on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/developer/colorgrave

**This episode contains heavy spoilers for Prodigal. We strongly recommend playing the game before listening.

Our opening and closing song is Faint One by Of Lanterns, you can find them on YouTube, Spotify and BandCamp! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3nHcgwsDVaAUvlm0YyzmuA https://oflanterns.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/61rXVUDvpjYO5qXwwWvZAT?si=WrPaHQRgQeau8I-rM7uD2Q&nd=1&dlsi=291b72c068824aba

Follow our Bluesky account: https://bsky.app/profile/laggingthoughts.bsky.social

For additional reviews from Nick, check out his Backloggd: https://backloggd.com/u/Popegator/

Be sure to check out Gordon's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jigglypope-kk5hw