this week's brew 🎧
​what we played this week + supplementary materials to help you dig deeper.

My cheeks hurt from playing and then talking about this game! Butterfly Soup is our first game discussion for the month of June, and I can't think of a better way to kick off Pride.

Yes, this game has representation on a variety of levels.
Yes, this game deftly handles challenging relationship issues between friends and family.
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But also?
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This is one of the funniest and most joyful games that I've ever had the pleasure to play. The jokes, the references, and the pranks all feel real - like conversations I've had with my friends - and I hope that as you listen to the discussion, you get to relieve that delight (because we sure did!)

Listen to the episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts!

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next week's brew ✨
​what we're playing for the month of June + supplementary materials to help you dig deeper.

As a reminder, for the month of June, we'll be doing something a bit different, just to keep things light and breezy during the summertime as folks are more out and about.

We're doing one game a week, each week focusing on a short title -- about 3-4 hours or less -- celebrating queer characters and teams!

Our second game is also FREE.99 (of course, you can also contribute to the developer when downloading via Itch, if you have the means). And yes, like last week's title, please note, it's only available via Itch.io!

Below is the playthrough guide for the game, which includes the full month's schedule of titles, links to find each game, some kick off reflection questions, and more ~

This leads me to the reflection question for the week ~

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Reflection Question

Share your response by writing back to this message, submit a voice recording to be included in next week's episode, share in the community Discord, or simply ponder as you play. Of course, if you have other thoughts on the game you'd like to share not related to the question, please do so!

• When did you feel like you left "the soup" -- that period of chaos and change in your identity? Or do you think you're still there?
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Pour Over

Supplementary recs to expand on what we're playing this week~

• Treat Yourself! Diya loves "blue flavor", and in the name of summertime treats (and the shaved ice dish that Diya and Min share), this week, take some time to snag yourself an icy treat!
• Complex characters, complex stories: Butterfly Soup 2 continues in the tradition of Butterfly Soup where it interweaves heavy and challenging topics, like anti-Black racism as well as Taiwanese/Chinese relations among daily life for the teens. The developer, Brianna Lei, has included a comprehensive content warning guide here, including some explainers on specific scenes within the game and her thinking.

the pastry case 🥐
​our grab-bag of topics related to the industry and other media we've engaged with.

It's summer showcase time! I figured it'd maybe be helpful to have a list to what's happening, when, and where, in case you'd like to have a peek at some of the upcoming indie showcases. All times are PT.

• If you’re listening to this on June 3rd at the time of posting, The MIX will have just kicked it off with their Summer Showcase via YouTube.​
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• Thursday, June 5th
  • ​Summer Game Fest at 2 pm
  • ​Day of the Devs at 4 pm
  • ​Devolver Digital at 5 pm
• Saturday, June 7th
  • ​Wholesome Games: 9 am
    • I’ll be going live on Twitch, Saturday June 7th after the Wholesome Games showcase (around 10 am PT) if you wanted to watch along for most of the remaining Saturday shows!
  • ​Women-Led Games: 10 am
  • ​Latin American Games Showcase: 11 am
  • ​Southeast Asian Games Showcase: noon
  • ​Green Games Showcase: 1 pm
  • ​Frosty Games Fest: 4 pm
• Sunday, June 8th
  • ​Xbox Showcase / Outer Worlds 2 Direct at 10 am
  • ​PC Gaming Show at noon
• Monday, June 9th
  • ​Black Voices in Gaming at 9 pm

Next week: Steam Next Fest
​If you hop into the Discord, we've got a thread for demo recommendations ready -- hope to see you in there!

Play/Watch/Listen/Read

Jenny -

• Play: Powerwash Sim, Consume Me Demo (Watch my gameplay)

Joel -

• Read: Mistborn: Secret History​

This Weeks' Game Releases

Two titles that I'm keeping an eye on, and that may be worth picking up if you'd like something new to enjoy!

​Deltarune Ch 3+4 | June 4​ Story Rich Great OST Pixel Art Dive into the parallel story to UNDERTALE! Fight or spare your way through action-packed battles as you explore a mysterious world alongside an endearing cast of new and familiar characters. Chapters 1-4 will be available on launch, with more planned as free updates! *This will be our July 2025 Brew!

​Parallel Experiment | June 5​ Puzzle Co-op Crime Two detectives, one deadly experiment, a race against time. Each player only has one half of the puzzle. In this 2-player co-op puzzle game you can survive the parallel experiment only by working together.

Stay in the loop -- listen to the weekly podcast on Spotify and Apple, hang with the community in Discord, and find us on Instagram!

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Thanks for joining our digital café this week -- talk soon!

Jenny