Video Game Book Club

A Gothic Tragedy - Mina the Hollower - Video Game Book Club June 2026

Video Game Book Club is back this month with another episode! Thank you to our community and listeners for playing Mina alongside us and sending us questions and discussion prompts! In this episode Ben and JP discuss the retro-style soulslike Mina the Hollower. This game game hits HARD with its difficulty curve and gothic tragedy themes. We dive in depth into the different mechanics of the game, how it differs from your traditional zelda-likes / soulslikes, and all the ins and outs of the plot. Ben had a lot to say about the platforming x flying monster sections of the game. JP could not stop yapping about the squares iykyk. Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us every month, and join us again in a month when we discuss the July 2026 game of the month, chosen by our community... and oh boy it's an interesting one: Hello Kitty Island Adventure!! Discord: https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS Twitch: https://twitch.tv/buenalegames Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buenale.games/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buenale.games YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuenaleGames #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #minathehollower #soulslike #zeldalike #shovelknight #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames (00:00) Intro (02:20) What is Mina the Hollower? (05:45) First Impressions and Early Game (36:20) Mid-Game (01:06:42) Late Game (01:30:15) Viewer Questions! (02:14:00) Final Thoughts and Letter Grades (02:19:53) July Game of the Month Announcement (02:24:30) Outro

Our Third JOURNEY Up a Mountain- The Checkpoint - June 2026

JP is finally settling in to his new life in Austin and we are so back with another episode of The Checkpoint: where we check in on our Video Game Book Club Progress. We begin the conversation with our belief in aliens? Then we quickly move to this month's game: Mina the Hollower. Regular viewers will be shocked that JP has actually played more of this game than Benny boy. Insane. Next we discuss the Short Story of the month: Journey. If we had a nickel for every game we have played that involves climbing a mountain in 2026, we would have 3 nickels! Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us! Join us again at the end of June for our full length discussion on this month's game: Mina the Hollower. Discord [https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS] Twitch [https://twitch.tv/buenalegames] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/buenale.games/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@buenale.games] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BuenaleGames] (0:00) Cold Open (01:50) Intro (03:30) Mina the Hollower Check-In (15:45) Short Story: Journey (38:30) Berry Bury Berry (41:20) Other games (48:00) Gaming Showcases (58:30) Outro #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames #journey #journeygame #indiegames #minathehollower

Rolling the Dice - Esoteric Ebb - Video Game Book Club May 2026

Video Game Book Club is back with another month episode! Thank you to our community and listeners for playing Esoteric Ebb alongside us and sending us questions and discussion prompts! In this episode Ben and JP discuss the ins and outs of Esoteric Ebb. This game has so much depth, so many secrets to discover, and so many interesting conversations. Ben gave us a very thoughtful answer on whether sacrifices have any meaning for our greatest purpose in life while JP interestingly gave his best version of an Esoteric Slogdog. Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us every month, and join us again in a month when we discuss the June game of the month, chosen by our own JP: Mina The Hallower. Discord: https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS Twitch: https://twitch.tv/buenalegames Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buenale.games/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buenale.games YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuenaleGames #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #esotericebb #discoelysium #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames (00:00) Intro (03:45) What is Esoteric Ebb? (13:52) Early Game (52:43) Mid Game (01:10:20) Late Game (01:53:10) Viewer Questions (02:46:40) June GotM Announcement (02:49:25) Outro

Vibe Gardening - The Checkpoint - May 2026

We are so back with another episode of The Checkpoint: where we check in on this month's Game of the Month! We begin by checking in on this month's game: Esoteric Ebb, an eclectic and chaotic Disco-Like. Regular viewers will be SHOCKED to learn that JP has hardly started the game yet. From there, we discuss this month's Short Story: Celeste! JP spent WAY more time with this game than most mini-VGBC games, and Ben chimes in with his experience with the game as well. From there, we discuss all things from counter strike to gardening, and we wrap up by touching on some recent news from the games industry. Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us! Join us again at the end of May for our full length discussion on this month's game: Esoteric Ebb. Discord: https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS Twitch: https://twitch.tv/buenalegames Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buenale.games/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buenale.games Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gfZQ8jttLntPF6dARadVa?si=7da802979ec749d5 (0:00) Cold Open (03:47) Intro and Special Announcement! (08:08) Esoteric Ebb Check-In (21:13) Short Story: Celeste (54:25) Counter Strike and Gardening (01:06:30) Gaming News (50:15) Gaming News (01:16:51) Outro #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames #esotericebb #celeste #indiegames #mixtape

Mystery in the Mundane - Control - Video Game Book Club Apr. 2026

Video Game Book Club is back baby! This episode, we're talking about the April Game of the Month: Control, which was chosen by our community. Control is a mind-bending game full of action and subterfuge where our protagonist, Jesse, infiltrates the Federal Bureau of Control, a shadowy government agency who seeks to research all things paranormal. Listen in as we share our experiences with the game, our overall thoughts, and answer questions submitted by our community. Join the club using the discord link below to stay up to date with Buenale Games and to play and discuss the game of the month alongside us every month. Join us again in two weeks when we check in on our progress on May's game of the month: Esoteric Ebb. Discord [https://discord.gg/P9aRB5wEBS] Twitch [https://twitch.tv/buenalegames] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/buenale.games/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@buenale.games] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BuenaleGames/videos] #videogamebookclub #gamingbookclub #controlgame #alanwake #alanwake2 #gamingpodcast #gaming #videogames (00:00) Intro (02:30) What is Control? (06:00) Early Game (30:35) Mid Game (01:17:10) Late Game (01:48:35) Viewer Questions (02:21:55) Final Thoughts and Letter Grades (02:29:09) May GOTM Announcement (02:32:50) Outro