FAQ
What is “Geeks & Grounds”?
A game-of-the-month club and content hub born of my love for games and the cozy, invigorating conversations I often have about them with friends (often in coffee shops and cafes).
Geeks & Grounds is founded on the pillars of curation and connection: I want to highlight games that excite, spark curiosity, bring joy, and make you think about the world we live in.
How does it work?
Each month, we’ll play a game together. Sometimes it’ll be newer, sometimes it’ll be older, and sometimes you may have even played it already! We’ll also have games voted on by the community the previous year. I will consider factors like cost, accessibility, how long to play, potential to provide discussion, the developers, and community interest.
Every week, you can participate through the:Podcast (bi-weekly aka 2x a month) - Each month, there’ll be a two episode arc. The first podcast of the month will always focus on general indie game news and highly anticipated releases for that month, to keep you in the loop of what’s going on in the space. It’ll also introduce the game that we’re focusing on, why we’re playing it, and some of the themes and questions that we hope to explore. The second episode of each month will be a deep dive into the game, not only going through how we feel about the elements of the game (mechanics, music, art, narrative) but also reflection and discussion on our major takeaways, feelings, and questions we were left with after playing. In this deep dive, I’d love to include your thoughts and reactions (sent in via email and our voicemail), so please do send them in! When possible, I’ll also do my best to schedule developer interviews - both from the games we play as well as devs of other notable and interesting games in the industry.
Newsletter (bi-weekly aka 2x a month)- The source for all announcements, episodes, and links to everything discussed. This is the one-stop shop and easiest way to stay connected to the club without having to deal with algorithms. This is a great way to interact on a more 1 on 1 basis (no social pressure) if you’re not Discord-inclined. If you miss a newsletter, check out the archive in Previous Newsletters.
Every newsletter will include:
- A reflection question for you to consider (and respond to if you’d like!)- Supplementary materials, media, and activities curated to help expand understanding
- Dates/times for the monthly community hangouts and any additional community news
- Curated indie game releases, so you can find more games to enjoy.
Once you receive the newsletter, skim it, read it, and save it for when you play!Discord (Anytime) - A dedicated section of the Kimchica’s Café server. You are encouraged to ask questions, share comments, and hang out as much (or as little) as you’d like. The server will also be the location for the monthly meet-up where we discuss final thoughts on the game together.
Pick and choose what works best for you!
Who is this for?
Anyone interested in learning more about themselves through what they play. Whether you’re familiar with games or are thinking about playing and don’t quite know where to start. Whether you feel comfy participating in discussions, or perhaps you’d like to start dipping your toes into articulating and sharing your thoughts about what you’ve played!
This is a primarily asynchronous club, meaning you can participate when the time works for you within the month, but we’ll also have a dedicated hangout each month to talk through our reaction to each game in the official Discord.
Where can I sign up?
Drop your email right here! You can also follow us on Bluesky and Instagram for updates, listen to the podcast on Spotify and YouTube, and join the Discord to participate in forum discussions and the monthly hangout.
I signed up, but didn’t receive a confirmation email!
Check your spam or promotions folder — it may have ended up there! If that happens, be sure to whitelist my email (jenny@geeksandgrounds.com) to be sure not to miss a future newsletter. Responding to the confirmation email also helps prevent future inbox misses!
How do I submit a game suggestion?
Send me an email at jenny@geeksandgrounds.com — you can also offer up suggestions in the dedicated channel on the Discord server. While the games are mostly selected at the end of the year by myself and the community, I do leave room for a bit of flexibility, just in case something awesome surprises us!
This is a continuously evolving project, and I adjust formatting based on personal bandwidth and community needs.
I appreciate your understanding, flexibility, and feedback in advance as we work together to create this community!