No Small Games

The No Small Games girlies got their first taste of Summer Game Fest Play Days this year, and the lineup of indies did not disappoint!
We are officially back from Summer Game Fest in sunny Los Angeles, and boy do we have a lot of games to tell you about! We got hands on with a huge number of indie games, some that we've been anxiously awaiting and some that were just announced this week. Whether you were there on the ground with us or watching the showcases from home, this was a great SGF for indie games!
Also, huge thanks to our Patreon supporters who helped us get to Summer Game Fest this year! In addition to other fun perks, members on Patreon get early access to all of the Indie Game Roundup episodes. If you love No Small Games and would like to support us in growing the show, while also unlocking fun, exclusive content, you can check out our Patreon page.
You can find our full show notes, including links and shoutouts, on the No Small Games site: Summer Game Fest Recap Show Notes

Timestamps
00:00:00 - Intro
00:04:33 - Icebreaker Question
00:07:52 - High Level Takeaways on SGF
00:18:40 - The MIX
00:37:07 - Day of the Devs
01:10:23 - Nintendo
01:14:53 - PM Studios
01:25:43 - Out of Words
01:34:38 - My Arms Are Longer Now
01:39:19 - Tenebris Somnia

Keep in touch with us on social media:

Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social 
Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social 
No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social 
No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 

Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Promise Mascot Agency, developed and published by Kaizen Game Works, offers a special blend of open world adventuring and management sim. You play as Michi, aka The Janitor, an exiled Yakuza fixer who finds himself stuck in the cursed town of Kaso Machi where he must successfully manage a mascot talent agency in order to save his Yakuza family's matriarch. Along with Pinky, your partner in crime (figuratively) and mascot wrangling (literally), you'll need to recruit mascots, match them up with the right jobs, and uncover the dark secrets of Kaso Machi's past before time runs out.
In episode 65 of No Small Games, Kate and Emily wrap up the spring season with a deep dive into the many systems and mechanics of Promise Mascot Agency. There is a lot going on in this game, and not just narratively! You'll hear all about their money-making strategies and favorite mascots. We hope you enjoy this very special game discussion!

Timestamps
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:25 - Boss Battles
00:13:36 - Promise Mascot Agency Discussion
01:39:00 - Game Ratings
01:42:00 - One Small Thing
01:51:25 - Next Season Teaser

Keep in touch with us on social media:

Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social 
Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social 
No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social 
No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 

Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Welcome back to the NSG Indie Game Roundup, our monthly series featuring indie games news, plus game demos and new release discussions.
BUT FIRST... want to help us get to Summer Game Fest this June? Check out our pay-what-you can fundraise on Patreon, where you'll unlock our Indie Game Smash or Pass video as a thank you for your support! Check out the fundraiser here - https://www.patreon.com/collection/2159593
We are quickly ramping up to Summer Game Fest and all the madness of summer showcases and announcements. This month we got a delightful amuse-bouche to the upcoming showcase season with the Six One Indie Showcase! With 61 indie game announcements in 93 minutes, the event was absolutely stacked with highly wishlistable games. You might even see a little shoutout to No Small Games, which is a nod to the fact that we had the honor of writing up previews for two of the featured games. You can head over to the Six One Indie website to read our previews of RollerGirl and Treetopians.
Also, huge thanks to our newest Patreon supporters! In addition to other fun perks, members on Patreon get early access to all of the Indie Game Roundup episodes. If you love No Small Games and would like to support us in growing the show, while also unlocking fun, exclusive content, you can check out our Patreon page.
You can find our full show notes, including links and shoutouts, on the No Small Games site: Indie Game Roundup - May 2026 Show Notes

Timestamps
00:00:00 - Intro
00:05:11 - Icebreaker Question
00:16:46 - Indie Game News
00:22:50 - Demos
01:12:10 - The Last Gas Station
01:18:02 - TetherGeist
01:20:52 - STICKER/BALL
01:35:30 - UNBEATABLE
01:38:26 - Sledding Game

Keep in touch with us on social media:

Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social 
Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social 
No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social 
No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 

Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Follow the escapades of two unlikely heroes and community builders in Hermit and Pig, a charmingly odd turn-based RPG. Hermit has grown comfortable in his life of solitude and foraging alongside his best friend, Pig. But the pair feel uncharacteristically called to act when they hear that a local factory has been taken over by a corporation that is firing its workers and destroying the local environment. You must help Hermit and Pig overcome numerous challenges and grow as people... er, yeah, people. 
We were so glad to get to chat with our friends at JK! Games! about this singularly quirky and hilarious title. Jerica and Kayla join Kate and Emily to discuss the fast-paced and engaging turn-based combat and unique dialogue mechanics. You'll hear where Hermit and Pig hit its mark, where it fell a little flat, and where it was just so outside the box that it's hard to qualify. We hope you enjoy this episode!

Timestamps
00:00:00 - Intro
00:05:17 - Weekly Boss Battles
00:16:37 - Meet our Guests - Jerica and Kayla, JK! Games!
00:38:46 - Hermit and Pig Discussion
01:30:57 - Hermit and Pig Spoilers
01:40:25 - Game Ratings
01:46:52 - One Small Thing

Meet our Guests
JK! Games!
@jkgames.bsky.social
Jerica and Kayla are two of the hosts of JK! Games!, a gaming and nerd-centric podcasts where the hosts discuss gaming news, debates on video game culture and technology, as well as their passion for gaming. The two are also part of the ensemble cast of hosts of Drop-In Drop-Out podcast.
Check out JK! Games! on:
Bluesky 
Instagram 
YouTube 
JK! Games! Website

Keep in touch with us on social media:

Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social 
Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social 
No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social 
No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 

Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com

Cairn, developed by The Game Bakers, is a 2026 survival climbing game that follows world-renowned alpinist Aava as she attempts to single-handedly (well, figuratively, at least) climb one of the highest and most treacherous mountains in the world. Players must familiarize themselves with a unique control schema for climbing and choose their path to ascent wisely as they guide Aava up this formidable peak. In addition to the climbing itself, players need to monitor the supplies she's carrying in her backpack wisely, to make sure Aava never runs out of food or water on her journey. The adventure is harrowing, but so are the emotions that get stirred up on the way to the top.
It was an absolute pleasure to get to talk about this powerful and extremely challenging game with Adam Gumbert, of The Tier List and Respawn Aim Fire podcasts. In this discussion we share our thoughts on the climbing mechanics and whether the survival elements supported or detracted from our experience of the game. We also take a close look at Aava's personal journey and ask ourselves which is the "good" ending and which is the "true" ending of this game.

Timestamps
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:50 - Weekly Boss Battles
00:09:42 - Meet our Guest - Adam Gumbert, The Tier List
00:21:52 - Cairn Discussion
01:23:05 - Game Ratings
01:28:02 - One Small Thing

Meet our Guests
Adam (he/him)
@adamgumby.bsky.social
You may have read his words on Game Sandwich or heard him on shows like Respawn Aim Fire or his newest podcast The Tier List. Or maybe you’ve attended (or participated in) his live gaming events like this year’s Game-pardy panel at PAX East. We were delighted to have Adam come join us for this episode!
Check out Adam's work on:
Bluesky 
The Tier List 
Respawn Aim Fire 
Game Sandwich

Keep in touch with us on social media:

Kate's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social 
Emily's Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social 
No Small Games Bluesky ✦ https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social 
No Small Games Instagram ✦ https://www.instagram.com/nosmallgames 

Want to learn more and weigh in on what games we should play in future episodes? Check us out and leave a game suggestion at nosmallgames.com