JK! Games!

Hosted by JK! Games!

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Episodes

213

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Introducing JK! Games!, a gaming and nerd-centric podcast where cohosts Kayla and Jerica give it to you: gaming news, debates on video game culture and technology, and most importantly, their passion for gaming across all platforms. Get social with JK Games! on Facebook. @JKGamesPodcast on Twitter & Instagram, @JKGamescast on Twitch. Tell us what games you want us to play and talk about (!!!): JKGamesPodcast@gmail.com.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 4, 20261 hr 37 min

The Retro Games That Inspired Your Favorite Indie Games

Your favorite indie games wouldn't exist without the classics that came before the...so how did games like Harvest Moon, Chrono Trigger, EarthBound, and Zelda inspire a new generation of developers? Josh and Kayla explore the retro games that helped shape some of today's most beloved indie games. They discuss the actual developer inspirations behind Stardew Valley, Sea of Stars, Hermit and Pig, and Tunic. What did these indie developers use from the classics? Did they do better? TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Start 03:12 – Housekeeping & Upcoming Streams 07:53 – What We've Been Playing 17:13 – The Retro Games That Inspired Indies 21:15 – Harvest Moon → Stardew Valley 35:30 – Chrono Trigger → Sea of Stars 52:27 – EarthBound → Hermit and Pig 1:09:13 – The Legend of Zelda → Tunic 1:16:32 – Indies of the Future Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver ! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch Youtube Insta Bsky

September 30, 20261 hr 28 min

Brand New Indie Horror Must Plays | JK! Games!

In this week's episode, Josh and Kayla discuss the indie horror/spooky games they recommend from this year and what they are looking forward to! 00:00 - Start 3:01 - Housekeeping 7:37 - Easy Mode | What We’ve Been Playing 33:35 - Main Topic | Recs Catch us live every Monday at 9 PM ET on Twitch! JK! Games! Website: https://jkgamespodcast.com Drop-In Drop-Out: https://dropindropoutpod.com #DropInDropOut #DIDO #indiegames #indies #horror #horrorgames #GamingPodcast #OneMoreGame #JKGames #gaming Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver ! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch Youtube Insta Bsky

August 25, 20261 hr 14 min

Some Video Games We Are Enjoying Right Now | JK! Games!

Jerica and Kayla are catching up on the gaming news they actually care about and video games they are playing right now. fyi Jerica has fallen hard for Splatoon Raiders and its dangerous...while Kayla shares her thoughts on Fishbowl, Beast of Reincarnation, and Leafy Corner! TIMECODES 00:00 – Start 10:45 – Housekeeping 15:17 – Normal Mode: Gaming News 15:32 – Hideo Kojima Turns 63 22:54 – Is PlayStation 6 Going Handheld? 34:24 – Can the PlayStation Handheld Run GTA 6? 39:20 – Double Fine Is Independent Again 41:13 – Amnesia Fortnight Returns 47:53 – Expert Mode: What We’ve Been Playing 48:00 – Splatoon Raiders 57:10 – Fishbowl 1:02:27 – Beast of Reincarnation 1:06:13 – Leafy Corner 1:10:40 – Getting Ready for Control Resonant Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver ! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch Youtube Insta Bsky

August 18, 20261 hr 44 min

The Best Disney Games Ever Made | JK! Games!

We break down the biggest gaming news from D23, including Kingdom Hearts IV, the new Kingdom Hearts animated series, and Disney is making a Fortnite ride. Then we discuss what are the best Disney video games of all time? Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments! Timecodes: 00:00 – Start 09:52 – Easy Mode: What We’ve Been Playing 10:40 – Spiritstead & Slots and Diapers 13:20 – Dimhaven 18:00 – Big Walk 26:43 – D23 Gaming News 29:30 – Star Wars: Smugglers Run Comes to Fortnite 35:00 – Kingdom Hearts 55:21 – Expert Mode: Our Favorite Disney Games Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver ! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch Youtube Insta Bsky

August 13, 20261 hr 44 min

Storytelling in Games vs. Books

In this week's episode, Josh and Kayla discuss how narratives are portrayed in books vs games and their love for both. They also take you through a journey of a bit of their gaming history, their reading history, and Kayla gives you a few recommendations of "if you like this game, read this book". Timecodes: 00:00 - Start 3:37 - Housekeeping 6:59 - Our Qualifications/Reading History 25:19 - “This or That pt.1” 41:50 - Our Favorite Narratives 1:08:55 - "This or That pt.2" 1:15:35 - Agency (Books vs. Games) 1:23:19 - Worldbuilding (Books vs. Games) Catch us live every Monday at 9 PM ET on Twitch! Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver ! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch Youtube Insta Bsky

August 5, 20261 hr 13 min

The Super Mario Sunshine Trial Finale Verdict | Guilty or Innocent?

The trial comes to an end. Last week, the prosecution brought the first wave of evidence against Super Mario Sunshine , arguing that one of Nintendo's most beloved GameCube games is guilty of crimes against the player experience. This week, court is back in session as the prosecution presents new exhibits, surprise witness testimony, and one final argument before the jury reaches a verdict. Can the defense convince the court that Sunshine deserves its place among Nintendo's classics, or will it be found guilty once and for all? Along the way, we also talk about what we've been playing, including The Legend of Korra, The Quarry, Keyboard Warrior, Swan Song, and more. Timecodes: 00:00 - Start 12:20 - Housekeeping 15:08 - Recap: The Trial So Far 17:17 - Housekeeping 19:26 - Easy Mode: What We've Been Playing 20:00 - Jerica Plays The Legend of Korra 24:15 - Josh's Indie Game Roundup 28:01 - Kayla Reviews The Quarry 34:27 - Why Swan Song Is So Underrated 36:56 - Court Is Back In Session 38:55 - The Charges Against Super Mario Sunshine 40:05 - The Defense's Opening Statement 42:45 - New Evidence Presented 47:30 - Andy Cortez Testifies Against Sunshine 52:30 - Witness Testimonies 55:05 - Crimes Against Mario's Fists 1:01:30 - The GameCube Controller Debate 1:04:00 - Closing Statements and Final Verdicts Catch us live every Monday at 9 PM ET on Twitch! Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver ! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch Youtube Insta Bsky

July 28, 20261 hr 14 min

Super Mario Sunshine Is on Trial | Part 1 | One More Game

Super Mario Sunshine is officially on trial. In Part 1, Jerica steps in as the prosecution, Kayla defends one of her favorite childhood games, and Josh serves as judge as we begin the case against one of Nintendo's most divisive Mario games. The prosecution brings multiple charges against Super Mario Sunshine, including frustrating controls, questionable design decisions, and Nintendo's rushed development timeline. The defense argues that nostalgia isn't the only reason this game deserves its place as one of the best Mario games. Will Sunshine be found guilty? We'll deliver the final verdict in Part 2. Timecodes 00:00 - Start 01:06 - Housekeeping 04:52 - Court Is Now in Session 10:56 - The Charges Against Super Mario Sunshine 13:24 - Crime #1: Crimes Against the Player Experience 18:20 - Exhibit A: Mario Doesn't Feel Like Mario 22:00 - Camera Controls & Confusing Objectives 32:02 - Nintendo Rushed Super Mario Sunshine? 38:39 - Court Recess: Technical Difficulties 39:29 - The Defense Takes the Stand 42:42 - Community Witness Testimony 44:58 - Defense Argument #1: The Vibes 50:04 - Defense Argument #2: Innovation 55:10 - Defense Argument #3: Mario's Community Service 58:57 - Defense Argument #4: The Hideo Kojima Defense Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver ! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch Youtube Insta Bsky

July 14, 20261 hr 12 min

Super Mario Sunshine Nintendo's Most Divisive Mario Game? | One More Game Pt. 1

This month on One More Game, we're revisiting Super Mario Sunshine to find out if one of our favorite Mario games still holds up over 20 years later. Before diving back into Isle Delfino, we're looking back at our personal history with the GameCube classic, discussing its rushed 18-month development, the creation of FLUDD, and why Nintendo almost gave Mario a water gun. We also talk about the 2020 Super Mario 3D All-Stars release and whether nostalgia has clouded our memories of one of Nintendo's most divisive mainline Mario games. Is Super Mario Sunshine still a masterpiece, or are we blinded by nostalgia? Join us as we kick off our July One More Game series. 00:00 - Intro 03:42 - Housekeeping 11:42 - Our History with Super Mario Sunshine 30:00 - The History of Super Mario Sunshine 40:18 - How FLUDD Was Created 45:00 - Reception & Miyamoto’s Thoughts 57:47 - Will Super Mario Sunshine Still Hold Up? Listen to JK! Games! * JKGamesPodcast.com * DropInDropOutPod.com Join our Discord and let us know: Are you replaying Super Mario Sunshine with us this month? Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver ! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch Youtube Insta Bsky

June 30, 20261 hr 35 min

Dave the Diver Is a Modern Masterpiece | One More Game

This week on One More Game, Jerica finally rolls credits on Dave the Diver, while Josh experiences the game for the very first time—and neither of us can stop talking about it. We break down what makes Dave the Diver one of the most surprising games we've ever played, why its progression constantly keeps you hooked, our favorite characters, gameplay systems, music, and the few criticisms we have after spending dozens of hours with it. We also share our early impressions of Into the Jungle, discussing why it already feels like one of the best examples of meaningful DLC and why it might be the perfect reason to jump back into one of the best indie games ever made. If you've been waiting for an excuse to play Dave the Diver... this is it. 00:00 Start 01:29 Why We're Revisiting Dave the Diver 04:08 Housekeeping 06:24 First Impressions 08:14 What Is Dave the Diver? 16:26 Why the Characters Work So Well 22:07 The Sea People & World Building 28:14 Gameplay That Never Stops Evolving 42:26 Restaurant Management & Building Your Staff 52:02 Music & Sound Design 57:52 Our Biggest Criticisms 01:04:10 The Surprisingly Great Photo Mode 01:08:32 Into the Jungle DLC Impressions 01:21:57 Could This Become Dave the Diver 2? 01:27:08 Final Scores Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver ! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch Youtube Insta Bsky

June 26, 20261 hr 17 min

Do Consoles Still Matter & Steam Machine is how much?! | JK! Games

This week on JK! Games!, Kayla shares her impressions of the new Dave the Diver: In the Jungle DLC before we dive into one of gaming's biggest conversations. With the recently announced Steam Machine price, rumors about future hardware, rising console costs, and more games becoming available across multiple platforms, are console exclusives still worth it? We discuss whether we're reaching our limit on hardware prices, if graphical fidelity still matters, and what it would actually take for us to buy a PS6 or Steam machine. Timecodes 00:00 – Episode Start 07:20 – Easy Mode: Dave the Diver: In the Jungle DLC 11:40 – Into the Jungle Review 19:24 – Normal Mode: Steam Machine & The Cost of Consoles 38:06 – Has Your Relationship with Consoles Changed? 40:39 – Are We Ready for the PS6? 43:37 – Are We Chasing Visual Fidelity Too Much? 48:14 – Do Console Exclusives Still Matter? 1:03:30 – If Every Console Had Every Game... Support the show JK! Games! is a weekly gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we actually care about. Our recurring play-along series — One More Game — is our version of a video game book club. We choose one title, set checkpoints, and break it down over multiple episodes. Currently Dave the Diver ! You can: • Play at your own pace • Stay spoiler-light • Or dive deep with us Whether you’re Easy Mode or Expert, you belong in the conversation. Join our Discord to play along and share your theories each week. Want to show us some love? Click Me! Discord Twitch Youtube Insta Bsky