Geeks & Grounds is an asynchronous, monthly game club where we play video games and brew good conversation, together! β Each week, receive a newsletter with a reflection question and curated materials meant to help you thoughtfully connect with the games we play.
June Indiescovery + Introducing Sayonara Wild Hearts [Geeks & Grounds #110]
this week's brew π§
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We've got nearly 20 summer game showcases happening over the span of this week: that's a LOT of shows! You can check out the full list here (via SGF), and I'm joined by this month's co-host -- friend of the show, Josh Boykin (of Intelligame) to talk about what it means for the industry to have this many shows happening within the span of one week! We also introduce our June brew, the game we're percolating over this month: Sayonara Wild Hearts!
Listen to the episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts! β
βThe Pastry Case:
βOur grab-bag of media we're engaging with outside of our game of the month.
What we're excited about:
Jenny:
- Finished Hacks on HBO -- thanks to Kate (No Small Games) for the recommendation. This has become a current comfort watch for me!
- While I've finished my time with Titanium Court, I still can't stop thinking about it (IYKYK). Definitely up there as a personal fave of 2026.
- I also tried the Littlelands demo recently! What a delightful, nostalgic adventure -- the combat plays a bit like Zelda, there's farming elements, AND it's got the polymer clay visuals that I love oh-so-much.
Josh:
- Currently playing Mina the Hollower, Saros, and Vampire Crawlersβ
Indiescovery - SGF Showcase Edition!
There are too many showcases to list, so in addition to these upcoming broadcasts, be sure to visit the Summer Game Fest website for a comprehensive list.
Introducing Sayonara Wild Hearts
βTime to mend a broken heart
We also introduce our game for June -- a title that means a lot to both of us: Sayonara Wild Hearts!
This playable, dreamy pop album about heartbreak and love takes only about an hour to play, but every second is jam-packed with meaningful visuals, audio, and storytelling that we hope you enjoy. In today's episode, we discuss some of our personal history with the game, provide a bit of context on the development (and it's pop culture inspirations), and provide some tips and recommendations for ways to hop in. The number one, most repeated advice we give? If you can, please try to carve out time to play this one at least twice! It's short enough that it's not too much of a time sink, and -- like a good album -- you'll start to notice more details once you've familiarized yourself with the tracks on a base level.
Hope you enjoy our June brew ~
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Reflection Question:
If you find more you'd like to share, or want to join the conversation about the game, please feel free to hop into the Discord: we've got a thread dedicated to Sayonara Wild Hearts where you can share your thoughts!
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Finally, save the date: we'll have our community hangout (in Discord) to discuss our thoughts on this game on June 27th at 3 pm PT!
Pour Over β
Here's a list to get you going with additional resources to expand your experience with Chicory: A Colorful Tale
- As you play, try to pay attention to which track do you connect with the most. What about it's visuals, mechanics, and lyrics (if any) resonate?
- Listen to the OST on YouTube and be sure to check out the lyrics (via Genius)
- Absorb some of the inspirations of the game! Read up on the Teddygirl fashion subculture. Watch Sailor Moon (this is the 90βs US dub via Hulu). Listen to Carly Rae Jepsen. Think about different cultural elements that inspire you -- whether they're from pop culture or not!
- Celebrate Pride! Itβs Pride Month (yay!) and this is a very queer game β find a local event and celebrate Pride with your community.
- Read up about each Tarot cardβs meaning β a good starting point? Check out The Fool.
Hope you're staying cool this summer ~ it's been a hot one already!
π» Jenny
Jenny | Geeks & Grounds
Geeks & Grounds is an asynchronous, monthly game club where we play video games and brew good conversation, together! β Each week, receive a newsletter with a reflection question and curated materials meant to help you thoughtfully connect with the games we play.
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