We’re jumping into 2026 with our first new game of the year, both comparing our thoughts on 3D platformer Big Hops and how it mixes up the genre by tools and tongue. Plus reading recommendations of game blogs and more.

Topics Discussed

Board Game Beat, games media as marketing, Outer Wilds as anti-nihilism, Big Hops, Blame, The Works of Vermin

Timestamps

• Start: 0:00:00
• Appetizer 1: 0:01:45
• Appetizer 2: 0:10:03
• Appetizer 3: 0:11:51
• Main, Big Hops: 0:13:27
• Dessert 1, Blame (manga): 0:54:35
• Dessert 2, The Works of Vermin (novel): 1:01:09
• Outro: 1:04:19

Links

W. Eric Martin’s Board Game Beat

⁠https://www.wericmartin.com/

⁠Critical Distance

⁠https://www.critical-distance.com/

⁠If You Ask Nicely

⁠https://autumn-wright.com/if-you-ask-nicely/⁠

Rocket Science and Marshmallows

⁠https://lia-sae.net/articles/2026/01/rocket-science-and-marshmallows.html ⁠

Kimimi the Game-Eating She-Monster⁠

https://kimimithegameeatingshemonster.com/⁠

Daniel’s review of The Talos Principle 2

⁠https://backloggd.com/u/Seryn/review/4060182/⁠

Get updates on Bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/omnigamers.bsky.social

Follow Daniel

https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamefeast.bsky.social

Follow Mark

https://bsky.app/profile/markyuasa.bsky.social

Send your questions, feedback and comments to

omnigamersclub@gmail.com.

Watch the podcast on Youtube

Mark traces the tactical trickery of Fire Emblem back to its beginning; Daniel spends a winter night winding through Wyrm; Plus the latest in gaming news, music recommendations and more.

Topics Discussed

Call of Cthulhu Humble Bundle, Rascal Reading Club, Buried Giant Studios, Nintendo Switch repair, AAA vs indie games, Fire Emblem, Wyrm

Timestamps

• Start: 0:00:00
• Appetizer 1: 0:01:45
• Appetizer 2: 0:04:16
• Appetizer 3: 0:05:33
• Appetizer 4: 0:06:39
• Appetizer 5: 0:10:31
• Main 1, Fire Emblem: 0:13:42
• Main 2, Wyrm : 0:34:42
• Dessert 1, Mark’s Music Picks: 0:45:52
• Dessert 2, Daniel’s Music Dessert: 0:51:09
• Outro: 0:57:21

Links

Call of Cthulhu Humble Bundle

⁠https://www.humblebundle.com/books/so-you-wanna-try-out-call-cthulhu-chaosium-inc-books⁠

Rascal Reading Club

⁠https://www.rascal.news/we-just-launched-a-new-podcast/⁠

Buried Giant Studios

⁠https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2026/01/14/root-and-arcs-designer-cole-wehrle-style-defining-artist-kyle-ferrin-lead-staff-exodus-from-leder-games-to-form-new-board-game-studio/⁠

Wyrm

⁠https://gilarpgs.itch.io/wyrm⁠

Daniel’s review of Bionic Bay

⁠https://backloggd.com/games/bionic-bay/⁠

Watch the podcast on Youtubehttps://youtu.be/ky5odwyCTFA

Get updates on Bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/omnigamers.bsky.social

Follow Daniel

https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamefeast.bsky.social

Follow Mark

https://bsky.app/profile/markyuasa.bsky.social

Send your questions, feedback and comments to

omnigamersclub@gmail.com.

Description

Daniel explores the dusty digital castles of Metroid and Castlevania’s origins before they were Metroidvanias; Mark looks at a different breed of gothic vampire action in the remaster of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver; plus game blog recommendations, dedicated audio devices and more.

Topics Discussed

Layoffs at Inverse and The Verge, Mothership, Unwinnable, dedicated audio devices, Metroid, Metroid 2: Return of Samus, Castlevania, Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest, Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse, Castlevania: The Adventure, Castlevania 2: Belmont’s Revenge, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, A Magical Girl Retires, Royal Hotel

Timestamps

• Start: 0:00:00
• Appetizer 1: 0:00:53
• Appetizer 2: 0:05:38
• Main 1, Metroid Games: 0:14:56
• Main 2, Castlevania Games: 0:32:03
• Main 3, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver Remastered 1: 0:48:16
• Dessert 1, A Magical Girl Retires: 1:09:19
• Dessert 2, Royal Hotel: 1:15:19
• Outro: 1:17:26

Links

Mothership

https://www.mothership.blog/board-the-mothership/

Unwinnable

https://unwinnable.com/

Watch the podcast on Youtube

https://youtu.be/4yWuWTctYdI

Get updates on Bluesky

https://bsky.app/profile/omnigamers.bsky.social

Follow Daniel

https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamefeast.bsky.social

Follow Mark

https://bsky.app/profile/markyuasa.bsky.social

Send your questions, feedback and comments to

omnigamersclub@gmail.com.