In this episode of Pixelated Playgrounds, Bryan and Josh jack into the neon-drenched, yet utterly dismal world of Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red’s ambitious yet turbulent foray into dystopian sci-fi. Based on Mike Pondsmith’s classic tabletop RPG, the game places players in the boots of V, a mercenary struggling to survive in the megacity of Night City while sharing brain space with a digital ghost. From bugs to bikes, dialogue quirks to faction dynamics, Josh and Bryan dissect how Cyberpunk 2077 blends cyber-noir tropes, world-building, and RPG systems, even as it wrestles with its own lofty promises and troubled launch.

We’d be remiss to leave out the game’s deep character cast and the player-driven story arcs that branch through romances, alliances, and explosive conclusions. They also break down the nuts and bolts of gameplay, from combat builds and progression to stealth, hacking, and high-octane firefights. Along the way, they examine the design of Night City itself—its architectural storytelling, traversal options, and sense of place. Whether you're a Nomad, Corpo, or Street Kid, this spoiler-filled discussion digs into the chrome and circuitry of what makes Cyberpunk 2077 flawed, fascinating, and, at times, pretty preem.

Three Word Reviews:

Bryan - Necessary Human Element

Josh - The Spaces Between

In this episode Josh and Bryan have a relatively timely (for them) discussion of 2025’s surprise indie hit Blue Prince! Blue Prince puts you in the shoes of Simon P. Jones, a boy who recently willed the Mt. Holly Estate, a mansion owned by his deceased great uncle Herbert S. Sinclair. There’s one catch: Simon must locate a hidden 46th room within the mansion in order to secure his inheritance. In addition to this challenge the estate’s rooms continually reset and re-arrange each day. What starts as a card drafting puzzle asking the player to connect the right rooms to open the way to the 46th room evolves quickly into a nested and broad ranging puzzle to unravel the mysteries of the Mt. Holly Estate and the family that has occupied it.

Bryan and Josh very much enjoyed their time unravelling the game’s puzzles, but came away with differing opinions on how it made use of its intricate backstory, mind-bending puzzles, and random generation elements. Overall, both agree that this was a game worth experiencing for the novel ways it combined its gameplay focuses and storytelling methods. So grab your magnifying glass and get ready to investigate the Mt. Holly Hill Estate with Josh and Bryan as they discuss Blue Prince!

Three Word Reviews:

Bryan - Roguelike Epistemic Crisis

Josh - Puzzle Versus Roguelike

In this podcast Josh and Bryan hit the road! … And the road hits back! While crisscrossing the fictional countryside in YCJY Games’ Keep Driving both of our hosts recorded their fair share of stories and this podcast was the perfect opportunity to share them with each other, and with all of you! Borrowing inspiration from Oregon Trail and injecting a healthy dose of 2000’s era coming-of-age nostalgia, Keep Driving generates stories that will inevitably resonate players of a certain vintage.

Aside from being a potent ‘interesting-situation’ generator, Keep Driving is also a compelling resource management game as the player strives to keep all the needs of your driver and passengers topped up while battling against the trials and tribulations on the road. Flat Tires, Check Engine Lights, and Low Gas indicators come for us all, but Bryan and Josh did their best to keep moving down the road. So listen in as we recount our stories of life behind the wheel…

Three Word Reviews:

Bryan - Down Memory Lane

Josh - Farewell to Youth

Songs Used:

Westkust - Swirl

Crystal Boys - Gold

Crystal Boys - Nightlife

Zimmer Grandioso - Hometowns

Zimmer Grandioso - Cowboy Pills

Westkust - 0700

Fucking Werewolf Asso - The Tito Beltran Massacre

Westkust - Drown

Westkust - Weekends

Holy Now - Wake Up