Nate, Ryan, David and Max all gather to discuss FORTNITE BATTLE ROYALE, the 2017 smash sensation that enthralled teens the world over. We discuss the game's quick pivot away from a PvE mode to chase a trend, its nature as "pop culture as a service," and how maybe, just maybe, we owe teenagers everywhere an apology. Ryan gushes about being able to use a lightsaber, Nate ponies up some V-Bucks for Jill Valentine, and Max doesn't have friends that play basketball ..read more

Nate, Jordan, Max, and new guest Pamela gather to discuss THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD, Nintendo's 2017 reinvention of the open-world genre. We discuss systems that interact with each other, memory and reimagination, and joyful discovery. Nate likes being in the dark, Jordan embraces his inner Dark Souls sicko on Eventide Isle, and Pam extols the virtues of a maraca-wielding Korok ..read more

Nate, Sebastian, David, and newcomer Dan all convene to discuss SID MEIER'S CIVILIZATION VI, Firaxis's strategy masterpiece from 2016. We discuss the complex, layered systems, our favorite ways to let the game challenge us, and the problematic nature of tossing all the world's cultures into the same expansionist melting pot. Sebastian survives the apocalypse, Nate absolutely dominates the 1984 Olympic Games, and David repeatedly threatens to reveal how many hours Dan has clocked in the game on his Steam profile ..read more

Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and David all gather to discuss NO MAN'S SKY, 2016's procedurally-generated space exploration and survival game from Hello Games. We discuss the game's awe-inspiring trailers, its turbulent launch and reception, and the incredible strides it's made in the years since. Nate points out the importance of having two moons in the sky, Ryan defaces a friend's stellar outpost by terraforming, and Sebastian isn't mad, just disappointed ..read more

Nate, Ryan, and David are joined by newcomer Jenn to discuss POKEMON GO, Niantic's AR-enhanced monster-collection extravaganza from 2016. We discuss how a live service game can change and evolve over a seven-year lifespan, the intricacies of catching pocket monsters, and how Eevee is just the darn cutest. Jenn relates a nice dream about what happens to all those Pokemon you "transfer" to the professor, David tells a story about the most awkward Magikarp in world history, and Ryan believes he knows who trained the Pokemon guarding the gym at the White House to defend America's honor.  ..read more

Nate, Ryan, and David gather to discuss UNDERTALE, Toby Fox's RPG(?) from 2015 in which you do not have to destroy anyone. We discuss lo-fi aesthetics, the teenage desire to experience darkness in stories, and choices that matter. Nate keeps a Spider Donut for a convenient moment, Ryan commits some accidental murders, and David bristles at permanent consequences for embracing the dark side. Listening to this podcast episode... it fills you with determination ..read more

Nate, Sebastian, and Jordan gather to discuss UNTIL DAWN, Supermassive Games' 2015 horror adventure classic. We talk about branching narrative, the surfacing of information to the player (or the obscuration of it!), fiction which is genre-aware, and horny teens. Nate extols the virtues of 1999 cannibal thriller RAVENOUS, Sebastian marvels that a slasher story can hold his interest, and Jordan experiences the butterfly effect ..read more

Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and David convene to discuss THE WITCHER III: WILD HUNT, a 2015 open-world RPG from CD Projekt Red which instantly became the benchmark against which other open-world RPGs were measured. We discuss renaissaince festivals, open-world bloat, and the difference between polish and Polish. Nate describes the game as "a Mass Effect the size of a Skyrim," Sebastian feels uncomfortable playing it with his wife in the room, and Ryan's medallion vibrates ..read more

Nate, Sebastian, Jordan and Ryan all gather to discuss HER STORY, Sam Barlow's "database thriller" from 2015. We discuss the untapped potential of real acting in games, the joys of discovery, and how difficult it is to make a player feel like a detective without them getting lost. Nate recommends a way NOT to play the game, Sebastian takes too many notes, and Ryan accidentally skips right to the final boss ..read more

Nate, Ryan, Jordan, and Brock gather to discuss P.T., the "playable teaser" from 2014 which was delisted a few months after its release when the game it was a preview for was canceled before development really got underway. We discuss what a weird piece of ephemera this is in the story of videogames, jump scares, and hallways. Jordan admits to shrieking out loud, Brock reminds us that sometimes the spookiest games are the ones that never get made, and Ryan has some questionable views on the Outlast series.  ..read more