JK! Games!

Hosted by JK! Games!

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Episodes

208

Latest episode

Aug 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

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 - Start3:37 - Housekeeping6:59 - Our Qualifications/Reading History25:19 - “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 showJK! 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 usWhether 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!DiscordTwitch YoutubeInstaBsky

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 - Start12:20 - Housekeeping15:08 - Recap: The Trial So Far17:17 - Housekeeping19:26 - Easy Mode: What We've Been Playing20:00 - Jerica Plays The Legend of Korra24:15 - Josh's Indie Game Roundup28:01 - Kayla Reviews The Quarry34:27 - Why Swan Song Is So Underrated36:56 - Court Is Back In Session38:55 - The Charges Against Super Mario Sunshine40:05 - The Defense's Opening Statement42:45 - New Evidence Presented47:30 - Andy Cortez Testifies Against Sunshine52:30 - Witness Testimonies55:05 - Crimes Against Mario's Fists1:01:30 - The GameCube Controller Debate1:04:00 - Closing Statements and Final Verdicts Catch us live every Monday at 9 PM ET on Twitch!Support the showJK! 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 usWhether 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!DiscordTwitch YoutubeInstaBsky

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.Timecodes00:00 - Start01:06 - Housekeeping04:52 - Court Is Now in Session10:56 - The Charges Against Super Mario Sunshine13:24 - Crime #1: Crimes Against the Player Experience18:20 - Exhibit A: Mario Doesn't Feel Like Mario22:00 - Camera Controls & Confusing Objectives32:02 - Nintendo Rushed Super Mario Sunshine?38:39 - Court Recess: Technical Difficulties39:29 - The Defense Takes the Stand42:42 - Community Witness Testimony44:58 - Defense Argument #1: The Vibes50:04 - Defense Argument #2: Innovation55:10 - Defense Argument #3: Mario's Community Service58:57 - Defense Argument #4: The Hideo Kojima DefenseSupport the showJK! 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 usWhether 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!DiscordTwitch YoutubeInstaBsky

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 - Intro03:42 - Housekeeping11:42 - Our History with Super Mario Sunshine30:00 - The History of Super Mario Sunshine40:18 - How FLUDD Was Created45:00 - Reception & Miyamoto’s Thoughts57:47 - Will Super Mario Sunshine Still Hold Up?Listen to JK! Games!* JKGamesPodcast.com* DropInDropOutPod.comJoin our Discord and let us know: Are you replaying Super Mario Sunshine with us this month?Support the showJK! 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 usWhether 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!DiscordTwitch YoutubeInstaBsky

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 Start01:29 Why We're Revisiting Dave the Diver04:08 Housekeeping06:24 First Impressions08:14 What Is Dave the Diver?16:26 Why the Characters Work So Well22:07 The Sea People & World Building28:14 Gameplay That Never Stops Evolving42:26 Restaurant Management & Building Your Staff52:02 Music & Sound Design57:52 Our Biggest Criticisms01:04:10 The Surprisingly Great Photo Mode01:08:32 Into the Jungle DLC Impressions01:21:57 Could This Become Dave the Diver 2?01:27:08 Final ScoresSupport the showJK! 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 usWhether 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!DiscordTwitch YoutubeInstaBsky

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.Timecodes00:00 – Episode Start07:20 – Easy Mode: Dave the Diver: In the Jungle DLC11:40 – Into the Jungle Review19:24 – Normal Mode: Steam Machine & The Cost of Consoles38:06 – 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 showJK! 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 usWhether 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!DiscordTwitch YoutubeInstaBsky

June 16, 20261 hr 23 min

What Makes a Great Summer Game? - JK! Games!

What makes a game feel like summer?This week on JK! Games!, we're diving into one of our favorite seasonal gaming discussions yet. From beach vacations, boating, and water levels, we're exploring the games that instantly transport us to summer.Before that, all three of us have been playing Dave the Diver, and we discuss why it's become one of the most beloved indie games of the last few years.Plus, we talk Mario Sunshine, Tony Hawk, fishing in games, Kioku, the best water levels ever made, and whether water levels actually deserve their bad reputation.What game instantly makes you think of summer?Timecodes00:00:00 – Start00:02:35 – Housekeeping00:05:50 – Easy Mode: Dave the Diver00:29:30 – Expert Mode: What Makes a Great Summer Game?00:37:46 – Kioku00:44:54 – Fishing in Games00:46:45 – Mario Sunshine01:00:49 – Tony Hawk01:04:19 – Water Levels01:04:30 – Echo the Dolphin01:23:41 – OutroSupport the showJK! 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 usWhether 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!DiscordTwitch YoutubeInstaBsky

June 9, 20261 hr 4 min

The Games You Missed During Summer Game Fest 2026 | JK! Games!

Summer Game Fest 2026 delivered hundreds of announcements across dozens of showcases, but which games actually stood out?This week on JK! Games!, we're skipping the giant recap and focusing on discoverability. Between Summer Game Fest, Xbox Showcase, State of Play, Future Games Show, Day of the Devs, and more, plenty of incredible games got buried beneath the biggest headlines.We discuss our favorite showcases, biggest surprises, biggest disappointments, whether SGF has a discoverability problem, and the games we think deserved far more attention.Timecodes00:00:00 – start00:07:00 – Easy Mode: What We've Been Playing00:15:27 – Normal Mode: Summer Game Fest 2026 Reactions00:26:52 – Expert Mode: The Games You MissedGames Featured in Expert ModeTenebris SomniaApple CrumbleThe Granny Detective SocietyAgni: Village of CalamityFroggy BrewsToko no Himitsu: Ocean of SecretsMr RecordsCommunity QuestionWhat game from Summer Game Fest week deserved way more attention, and why?Follow JK! Games!Website: jkgamespodcast.comNetwork: dropindropoutpod.comDiscord: Join through our website to participate in future episodes.Support the showJK! 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 usWhether 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!DiscordTwitch YoutubeInstaBsky

June 3, 20261 hr 4 min

Why Do We Commit to Live Service Games? | JK! Games! Podcast

Destiny 2 is ending active development, and it got us thinking: what makes someone stick with a live service game for years?This week on JK! Games!, we discuss why some games become part of our daily lives while others never quite click. From Destiny 2 and Final Fantasy XIV to Fortnite, Apex Legends and more, we're breaking down the secret sauce that keeps players coming back.We also discuss whether live service games have become too difficult for new players to jump into and what publishers owe players when these games eventually reach the end of their lives. Timestamps00:00:00 – Start00:21:46 – Housekeeping00:27:53 – Easy Mode: What We've Been Playing00:39:29 – Normal Mode: News We Care About00:49:49 – Expert Mode: What Makes Someone Commit to a Live Service Game?Support the showJK! 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 usWhether 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!DiscordTwitch YoutubeInstaBsky

May 27, 20261 hr 58 min

Mixtape Review — One More Game | JK! Games!

This is JK! Games! — the gaming podcast where we bring you the news and reviews we care about.Welcome back to One More Game, our monthly video game book club series where we break down games together at your pace and dive deep into the moments, themes, characters, and anything else that stuck with us after credits.This month’s One More Game is Mixtape, the musical narrative adventure from Beethoven and Dinosaur and Annapurna Interactive. From skateboarding through dreamy suburban streets to awkward teen memories...Mixtape feels like looking through your yearbook.Before our full review, we also build our own personal “Mixtapes” by picking songs that defined our high school experiences.Timecodes:00:00:00 - Start00:08:18 - Our Mixtapes00:26:40 - What did we expect?00:37:40 - Best Character?00:44:20 - What stood out first?00:54:20 - Is it like Life is Strange?01:02:20 - Depression and Great Story Telling01:11:00 - Fourth Wall is broken01:15:00 - Dino Park01:18:20 - Cabin Stash01:23:43 - Slater's Room01:31:30 - Party Time!01:38:35 - End Scenes and thoughts01:48:44 - Final ReviewSupport the showJK! 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 usWhether 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!DiscordTwitch YoutubeInstaBsky