The Secret Lives of Games

We're joined by John Axon (Capybara Games), Raigan Burns (N++, N PLUS INFINITY TIMES TWO), and Tonda Ros (Blue Prince) to discuss Cinco Paus, a wand-slinging, grid-based roguelike described as "NetHack meets poker" and "the scientific method." It's the tenth installment in our yearlong special series exploring the work of Michael Brough: All Systems Brough.
Next episode: P1 Select
Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.


Discussed in this episode:
Cinco Paus
https://smestorp.itch.io/cinco-paus 
868-BACK (Out now!! Go buy it!!)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/ 
https://finji.itch.io/868-back 
Michael Brough's Website
https://www.smestorp.com/ 
Michael Brough's Blog
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/
Vivafringe Cinco Paus Strategy Guide blog post
https://vivafringe.wordpress.com/2018/06/08/cinco-paus-strategy-guide/
Sheeps
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4460610/Sheeps/
Battle Vision
https://www.capybaragames.com/games/battle-vision
N PLUS INFINITY TIMES TWO
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3040020/N_PLUS_INFINITY_TIMES_TWO/ 
Blue Prince
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1569580/Blue_Prince/

https://secretlives.games/ 
https://discord.gg/tslog
https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by Nicole He (The Crush House, Kinlo Labs), Eddy Boxerman (Osmos, Karmaka, Broken Rules), and Noah Sasso (Sportsfriends, Iron Galaxy Studios) to discuss Imbroglio, a deck-building, grid-based, genre-defining brough-like. It's the ninth installment in our yearlong special series exploring the work of Michael Brough: All Systems Brough.
Next episode: Cinco Paus
Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.

Discussed in this episode:
Imbroglio
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/imbroglio/id969264934 
868-BACK (Out now!! Go buy it!!)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/ 
https://finji.itch.io/868-back 
Michael Brough's Website
https://www.smestorp.com/ 
Michael Brough's Blog
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/
September 9th, 2026 Imbroglio Notes 14 blog post
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2020/06/imbroglio-notes-14-mizzenmast.html 
Imbroglio release blog post
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/05/imbroglio.html
Imbroglio Notes 6 blog post
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/08/imbroglio-notes-6-meditation.html
Guxt
https://www.cavestory.one/pixels-works/guxt.php 
Igbo Calendar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_calendar
Everyday Shooter
https://store.steampowered.com/app/16300/Everyday_Shooter/ 
Imbroglio Notes 8 blog post
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/08/imbroglio-notes-8-score-o.html
Vivafringe Guide to Imbroglio Boardbuilding
https://vivafringe.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/a-guide-to-imbroglio-boardbuilding/
Vivafringe Izu Mode blog post 
https://vivafringe.wordpress.com/2017/02/21/imbroglios-izu-mode-is-the-way-forward-for-deckbuilding/
Vivafringe Izu Mode YouTube videos
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVkyA1oDHBa_PGysiUQ_kGaCorynP21O9
Noah's Bandcamp
https://octopusinc.bandcamp.com/album/also-the-remixes
Kinlo Labs (join their waitlist!)
https://playkinlo.com/ 
I'm So Happy You're Here – I Can't Meditate!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ9ZwePF3_ms&si=jALBpOdXrprPI8Z_
Baba Is You: The Board Game & Party House: The Deckbuilding Game Kickstarter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bitewinggamesnick/baba-is-you-the-board-game 
Imbroglio in-progress blog post
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/03/still-working-on-imbroglio-this-is.html
Imbroglio Notes 1 blog post
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/05/imbroglio-notes-1-inventory-management.htm
Imbroglio Notes 3 blog post
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2016/06/imbroglio-notes-3-monsters.html
 
https://secretlives.games/ 
https://discord.gg/tslog
https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We chat with Mark Essen (Nidhogg, Wheel World) about his "feverish bullet heaven platformer" Blood Dungeon. We discuss making a small game in the shadow of a bigger project, the constraints it takes to do it sanely, and building on the foundations of a nascent genre.


Discussed in this episode:
Messhof
https://messhof.com
Blood Dungeon
https://messhof.com/blooddungeon

exp. zine - Vampire Survivors
https://expzine.com/2026/07/21/vampire-survivors-poncle-2022/
Death to the Self-Playing Game
https://www.jank.cool/death-to-the-self-playing-game/?ref=aftermath.site
Messhof Marchive
https://messhof.com/freeware
 
https://secretlives.games 
https://discord.gg/tslog
https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We're joined by v buckenham (Downpour, Beasts of Balance), Izzy Kestrel (Electrifying Incident, A Little Game Called Mario), and Bennett Foddy (Baby Steps, QWOP, Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy) to discuss Helix, a spiral-action shmuplike about staying alive. It's the eighth installment in our yearlong special series exploring the work of Michael Brough: All Systems Brough.
Next episode: Imbroglio
Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.
Discussed in this episode:
Helix
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/helix/id562550427
868-BACK (Out now!! Go buy it!!)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3304110/868BACK/ 
https://finji.itch.io/868-back 
Michael Brough's Website
https://www.smestorp.com/ 
Maypole
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole
Game Design Deep Dive: The unique touchscreen action game controls of Helix
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/game-design-deep-dive-the-unique-touchscreen-action-game-controls-of-i-helix-i-
Bit Pilot
http://www.bitpilotgame.com/
Tilt to Live
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tilt-to-live-hd/id391837930
Super Hexagon
https://superhexagon.com/
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved remake
https://store.steampowered.com/app/8400/Geometry_Wars_Retro_Evolved/
Endings (Michael's 2015 blog)
https://mightyvision.blogspot.com/2015/01/endings.html
Playdate
https://play.date/
Nex Playground
https://www.nexplayground.com/
Hylics
https://mason-lindroth.itch.io/hylics
Vangers
https://www.gog.com/en/game/vangers
Tools for Creativity class (virtual) with v buckenham
https://sfpc.study/sessions/fall-26/tools-for-creativity
School for Poetic Computation
https://sfpc.study/
bimbo static site generator
https://iznaut.itch.io/bimbo
 
https://secretlives.games/ 
https://discord.gg/tslog
https://www.patreon.com/tslog

We chat with Brooke Husic (Puzzmo, New Yorker, A24) about creating, stewarding, and showrunning a daily crossword for the web-based puzzle phenomenon, Puzzmo. Our discussion covers Puzzmo's first 1,000 days, Brooke's prolific career as a constructor, the impact of cultural biases on crosswords, the early-2020s indie-puzzle development boom, the need to care for both solvers and setters during revisions, the interconnectedness of difficulty and context, the relationship between constructor and venue, and so! much! more! Also: Don't forget to check out today's Puzzmo midi crossword, its 1,001th, a special collaboration between two names that will be familiar to listeners of this episode.
Audio edited by Dylan Shumway
Discussed in this episode:
Puzzmo
https://www.puzzmo.com/today/ 
Today's Brooke and Rob collab puzzle, "Time to get up!"
https://www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2026-07-12/crossword

Puzzmo Data Initiative 
https://data.puzzmo.com/ 
Brooke's 30-day Crossword Tutorial Mini-series
https://www.brookehusic.com/puzzminis/ 
Brooke's puzzle blog
https://xwordsbyaladee.blogspot.com/
Rob's Puzzmo crossword debut, "Baker's Corner"
https://www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2024-05-10/crossword
Lollapuzzoola
https://bemoresmarter.com/
American Values Club (AVCX)
https://avxwords.com/about-us/ 
Ingrid
https://ingrid.cx/ 
Brooke on Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/xws.bsky.social
 
https://secretlives.games 
https://discord.gg/tslog
https://www.patreon.com/tslog