Our last few longplay games have been a bit…dark? NORCO, Final Fantasy VI, Control, Alan Wake Remastered…so many great games, but also pretty weighty. It’s time to choose our next longplay game, and this time let’s choose something a little lighter. 🙂

Does this mean our next choices won’t be full of good discussion and Intellitime? Of course not! This is still an Intellistream!

Cast your vote by Saturday, October 21st at 11:59p Pacific! This stream’s candidates are: Later, Alligator, Lil’ Gator Game, Mr. Saitou, West of Loathing, and Wylde Flowers. You can find the ballot at the bottom of the page after some descriptions of the candidates.

How we vote

We use Ranked Choice voting for Intelligame! This means instead of choosing just one option, you rank them in order of preference. We use ranked choice here because it helps showcase a different system than what we use in most elections, and the more familiar we become with it, the more we can demand it in our elections in real life! (It’s also just…kinda fun?)

If you already know the games and want to cast your vote, click here to jump to the ballot! If you want more info though, here’s a quick breakdown of this vote’s options:

Later, Alligator

Description: Pat the alligator, a (mostly) harmless and (probably) innocent reptile is at the center of a conspiracy that could bring down the biggest, scariest family in Alligator New York City: his own! Explore the city, meet the Family, and try to save Pat before the clock runs out.

Josh’s Note: This game comes highly recommended by both Jas and Aenne of Stumpt Gamers, fantastic friends of Intelligame. Later, Alligator’s art style is absolutely charming, and it has an array of mini-games and cheesy jokes that’ll make this stream a good time. It’s even got multiple endings, so who knows where the adventure will lead!

Lil’ Gator Game

Description: Embark on an adorable adventure, discover new friends and uncover everything the island has to offer. Climb, Swim, Glide and slide your way into the hearts of the many different characters you meet on your travels!

Josh’s Note: I was absolutely blown away by the quality of just this game’s demo! It’s a fun riff on Zelda where we run around and play pretend with friends while exploring a gorgeous open-world. But what truly hooked me were the subtle narratives about growing up, dealing with change, and friendship.

Mr. Saitou

Description: A short game about an average white-collar worker who struggles to find meaning in a life full of constant overtime and isolation. After an accident lands him in the hospital, Mr. Saitou is spirited away to a strange fantasy world where an unexpected friend takes him on a life-changing adventure.

Josh’s Note: The fantastic Jenny Windom (aka Kimchica) first clued me in on Laura Shigihara’s games through Rakuen, an emotional journey about a boy in a hospital coming to terms with his own journey. When Shigihara released her next game, Jenny sung its praises as well! This game’s got some lighter themes compared to Rakuen, but still touches the heart and features an amazing soundtrack.

West of Loathing

Description: Talk your way out of trouble as a silver-tongued Snake Oiler, plumb the refried mysteries of the cosmos as a wise and subtle Beanslinger, or let your fists do the talking as a fierce Cow Puncher. Explore a vast open world and encounter a colorful cast of characters, some of whom are good, many of whom are bad, and a few of whom are ugly.

Josh’s Note: I played a bit of this on stream years ago, and I don’t know that I’ve laughed so hard at so many incredibly corny jokes. It’s the kind of humor that’s only possible when the writing is truly top-notch, and there are some good emotional beats to showcase their range too. It’s silly, it’s fun, and it’s worth revisiting.

Wylde Flowers

Description: Join Tara on a heartfelt journey to become a witch in Wylde Flowers. Farm by day, and cast spells by night as you craft your cottagecore life and bond with your coven. Come to know and love the fully voice acted characters of Fairhaven, as you unravel a local mystery.

Josh’s Note: This gem first popped on to my radar because of its debut on Apple Arcade! When my friend Cara raved to me about the game, I knew I had to put it on my list. It may have started on mobile, but this is a full console-level farming sim…and it sets itself apart with a truly diverse cast of characters, full voice-acting, and a narrative that’s not afraid to make its mark (and some romance too). Not to mention it’s got some nice Halloween vibes too!

All ready to cast your ballot? Fill it out below, or click this link if you’re having trouble loading the ballot. You’ve got until Saturday, October 21st at 11:59p Pacific! Our first stream will start Monday, October 23rd at 9a Pacific on the Intelligame Twitch channel.

And while you’re at it, get a friend to vote too. 🙂