Do You Love Hearing People Talk About Games? Us Too
For many of us, gaming is more than just a hobby; it's a lifestyle, and podcasts have become an essential part of it. They're our source for industry news, our virtual hangouts, and a gathering place for our community. With some being created by journalists while others are hosted by comedians, each podcast has its own unique flavor and format. Haven't found your perfect podcast yet? Here are 20 of our favorites.
1. Nextlander
Nextlander is a weekly podcast hosted by three friends who previously worked together at the gaming website Giant Bomb. They cover industry news, share their experiences with new games, and engage in humorous random banter.
2. The Jeff Gerstmann Show
The Jeff Gerstmann Show is a weekly podcast hosted by the namesake former video game journalist. His experience covering the gaming industry over the past 30 years gives his podcast depth and background.
3. MinnMax
The MinnMax Show is a weekly podcast affiliated with the community-funded company MinnMax, which emphasizes positive community building. Hosts and various contributors cover industry news, age reviews, reviews, and impressions, and community questions.
4. Get Played
Get Played was started by three comedians who played and reviewed weird or bad games for comedic effect. It has since rebranded to cover a broader range of games, but is still full of hilarious tangents.
Heather Anne Campbell on Wikimedia
5. Triple Click
Three video game journalists host the weekly podcast, Triple Click. They discuss gameplay, industry trends, and answer questions from listeners.
6. Retronauts
Retronauts is dedicated to the history of video games. A relative dinosaur itself, the podcast began all the way back in 2006 by two journalists who explore the cultural and social aspects of games, their legacy, and impact.
7. Cane and Rinse
Cane and Rinse is the podcast for thoughtful gamers. Each episode sees the host play an older or non-mainstream game and discuss it comprehensively, incorporating comments and feedback from the community, making it feel like a collective conversation.
8. Vidjagame Apocalypse
Vidjagame Apocalypse is hosted by a team of former video game industry professionals who hold weekly discussions about games. The podcast includes industry news, a "question of the week" segment, and the hosts and guests share "top five" lists for a specified theme.
9. Giant Bombcast
Giant Bombcast has been a staple of the gaming world since 2008. In a casual format, hosts discuss what they're playing, industry news, and listener questions.
10. Game Scoop!
Game Scoop! is one of the longest-running gaming podcasts. It's many gamers' go-to for industry news, gaming nostalgia, and professional analysis.
11. Kinda Funny Gamescast
Kinda Funny Gamescast is a podcast created by two former IGN editors. It's known as a weekly deep dive into the gaming world with in-depth reviews, community interaction, and humor.
12. What’s Good Games
What’s Good Games is an all-women-led podcast known for its upbeat tone. The hosts give their impressions and feedback on the biggest gaming news stories, review games, answer listener questions, and have random, off-topic conversations.
13. Friends Per Second
Friends Per Second is hosted by a group of friends and YouTubers who share their impressions of a variety of games, talk shop, answer listener questions, and conduct interviews. The strong chemistry between the friends and lighthearted banter make the podcast an easy and enjoyable listen.
14. Insert Credit
An unconventional podcast, Insert Credit is less of a news recap and more of a panel discussion between experts. The main segment is a mixture of on-topic and random questions, which often devolve into hilarity, followed by a lightning round of quick-fire questions that test the panel's knowledge.
15. Watch Out for Fireballs
Watch Out for Fireballs is the perfect podcast for gamers who enjoy detailed, long-form discussions about games. The hosts delve into game lore, narrative, historical context, and cultural significance of games.
16. Into the Aether
Into the Aether is unique for its calm, conversational style of discussion. The hosts take listeners on deep dives, analyzing games, discussing hacks, industry news, and the community.
17. My Perfect Console
My Perfect Console is hosted by an award-winning author and video game critic who has written for such publications as The New Yorker. Each episode, he conducts an insightful interview with a well-known guest from the gaming world, giving the podcast a unique and more refined spin.
18. Axe of the Blood God
Axe of the Blood God is dedicated to role-playing video games. It's hosted by a panel of game journalists and writers who delve deep into specific games, discuss history, industry news, and answer listener questions.
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19. The Glass Cannon Podcast
The Glass Cannon Podcast focuses on tabletop role-playing games. The hosts are all experienced comedians who sprinkle in a healthy dose of humor to their discussions, making it a highly entertaining as well as informative podcast.
20. Spawn On Me
Spawn On Me specifically spotlights gamers of color. The host, Kahlief Adams, covers the latest gaming news, conducts interviews with guests, and has thoughtful discussions, not only about gameplay but also about diversity and inclusion in gaming.