Gaming In The Wild - Video Game Reviews (John Rogers)

Gaming In The Wild podcast is four years old and 200 episodes deep this week! To celebrate the landmark, the show's patrons and listeners suggested a Q&A episode. So I opened up the floor, and had over 50 questions submitted from Discord and social media, about video games, film, travel, books, Iceland, and life generally. Which video game smells worst? What games would I take into space to introduce aliens to humanity? Have a listen to find out. Thanks to everyone who submitted a question! Normal service will be resumed next week with the Ultros episode. Here's the Spotify playlist of my fave video game music that I mention in the show: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1EOxsTyEwIbVK7qyRGSPXG?si=63f7bc62f24f480b And thanks to the show's 60 patrons! Support the show at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild, and find me on social media via http://gaminginthewild.com. Thanks for listening everybody, and here's to another hundred!

The Forest Quartet is a lyrical puzzle game about the death of a young singer, and the effect it has on her forest-dwelling bandmates. It's a short game that does a lot with a little, offering glimpses into the lives and minds of each member of the Forest Quartet, as we solve easygoing puzzles to help sooth their varying woes.

In the roundup: Wild Hearts, A Little To The Left, and a March indie games preview, including Dredge, Tchia, Project Dew, Terra Nil, Storyteller, The Forest Cathedral, ONI: Road To Being The Mightiest Oni, and more.

Also: a big thank you to podcast patrons Soccr, who recently organised the Single Sitting Social play-along channel on the Discord, and DovetailTrue, who made a Steam curator page with all the games ever recommended on the show. Follow it here: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/

If you'd like to join them in supporting the show, head to Patreon, where you can do so from $1 per month: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to join the Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music, the domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support!

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

Thanks for listening!

This week I'm recording on the road during a trip to the UK, which was the perfect time to dip into the first of Josef Fares' trilogy of co-op games - Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons. And it's a great little game that has really stood the test of time as it approaches the tenth anniverssary of its orginal release. (P.S. Sorry if the audio is weird, I tried my best!) If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!  

This week's episode is about one of the most cerebral, detailed gameworlds I've ever inhabited: it’s the award-winning Disco Elysium, by Estonian studio ZA/UM. It's a game that mixes a dense, layered, politically rich game world with a fear & loathing-style protagonist, an innovative "consciousness simulator", and an intriguing murder mystery. Also mentioned: Sea of Solitude and (yes, again) Fallout 4. You can come say hi and follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. You can also support the show on Patreon to get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community via http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. You can also support the show at Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

This week's episode is a mix and match. It covers Annapurna-published narrative adventure Last Stop, Inkle's "youdunnit" murder game Overboard!, and the new mobile edition of absolutely bananas balletic blast-em-up My Friend Pedro.

Also mentioned: Griftlands, The Falconeer - Warrior Edition, Glyph.

If you enjoy the show, please do come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. If you'd to support the show on Patreon, I'm very grateful – you’ll get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community in return. Go to patreon.com/gaminginthewild to join up! You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Big thanks to podcast supporter Magic Mind, who are offering listeners 45% off their concentration shots. A genuine endorsement from me: I take one every morning, and I love them. There's a no-questions-asked refund policy, so you've nothing to lose — give it a shot (pun absolutely intended) at ⁠https://www.magicmind.com/GAMINGLTJAN⁠

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This week's episode is a look ahead at all the intriguing indie games coming out this year. In the roundup: Dragon Age - The Veilguard, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and Balatro. See the video version of the main segment here to check out the games in action: https://youtu.be/Wjfc7bKO50I?si=wkT9jMHrGjkQLNgz.

If you like this podcast, you can support it on Patreon. You get instant access to 15 bonus podcast episodes, and an invite to join the awesome patron community: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

Thanks to new supporters Michael, Glenn, Meisuko, and Garrick. Also thanks to loyal patrons and tier upgraders Juzzy, Zanem, and Andre, and boss tier patrons Hollow, Mike Sampier, and Shy Guy.

And finally, thanks Dovetail for helping me organise the 2025 game release spreadsheet. Dovetail also maintains this Steam curator page, so you can see if games you're browsing come pod-recommended: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/

Thanks for listening everybody!

Tchia is a charming, sun-drenched open-world adventure in which a child protagonist sails, runs, floats, and flies through a beautiful mountainous archipelago. The engrossing world casts a spell that’s occasionally broken by unexpected bouts of combat, but it’s recommended nonetheless.

In the roundup: Terra Nil.

If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, music, apps, the domain, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

Also, come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue to see what pod-recommended games are on sale: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

Action-RPG-adventure game Hyper Light Drifter is something of a legendary indie game. It's a gorgeous pixel-art world, drenched in neon and pastel colour and soundtracked by a haunting ambient synth score. It's also famously difficult, with intense wave-based combat arenas and some hard-as-nails bosses, leading to a lot of understandable bounces and ragequits. We talk about all this and more in a spoiler-free half-hour look at a contemporary indie classic.

Find the game on Switch, Steam, iOS, PS4 and Xbox. Soundtrack by Disasterpeace.

Follow the show on Twitch, Twitter, Instagram and elsewhere: http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.

Tears Of The Kingdom is Nintendo’s impossible sequel. How do you follow up the best game of all time? Their answer was to expand it in all directions. Tears of the Kingdom uses the miraculous Breath of the Wild as its foundations, soaring high and plunging deep to create an astounding adventure in which the possibilities stretch as far as the horizon. 

Note: this show covers the intro, opening sky island area, and landfall sections of the game. I tried to be sensitive about spoilers, and note in advance if I'm touching on anything I feel it might be nice for players to discover for themselves. There are no story spoilers However, this is based on my own interpretation of what could be considered spoiler material, so listener discretion is advised. I'd say this show is probably most suited to players who have played for 10-15 hours, generally speaking.

And many thanks to this month's new patrons, Julia and Simon! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This week’s show covers a whole bunch a games, including current Game Pass indie darling Unpacking, hard-as-nails card game Ring of Pain, and gothic dice 'n' deck adventure Lost In Random. Also discussed: Chicory & Lost Words. Links to some media that's mentioned: NoClip interview about Death’s Door: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdWHi6t5p8Q SIFTER interview about Ring of Pain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D576xC5QdqE Time Played 3hr's Inscryption episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0oxF5GqdND36RVGp3U5NX9?si=28563bc2499f4b70 If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

This week I've been tending my flock in freshly-minted indie darling Cult of the Lamb, and running around in open world fan-fave Ghost of Tsushima. Expect a full Cult of the Lamb review this time next week! Also, a big thanks to the show’s newest Patreon patron Blake McKean. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

These week I leaf through the pages of The Collage Atlas – a wonderfully delicate, aesthetic hand-drawn game that came out in 2020 for Apple Arcade. Also: an earthquake update, more praise for Fallout 4, and some news about the great games that are lined up for future episodes.

You can come say hi and follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. You can also support the show on Patreon to get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community via http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. You can also support the show at Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

As always, thanks for listening!

The third act of Kentucky Route Zero is a chunky one, featuring some new and recurring characters, pivotal story moments, and arguably the most iconic scene in the game.

Join this playthrough, get bonus episodes, join the Discord, and support this podcast at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

See the videos and find me on social media: http://gaminginthewild.com.

Thanks for listening!

This episode's featured game is Europa: a lighter than air 3D platformer that's inspired by Studio Ghibli and Journey. It has a fresh look, satisfying flying and gliding, and a concise sci-fi story.

In the roundup — Metaphor: Refantazio, Eastward, Beastieball, Interstate 35, and more.

The month-ahead video for November: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k67NDK3nnmo

Support the show on Patreon to get 14 bonus episodes and join the show's lovely Discord community: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild

Follow the show's Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/

Big thanks to my 84 patrons, and especially boss tier patrons Hollow & Mike Sampier.

Thanks for listening!

GOTY season is go!

As December approaches, my favourite season of the podcasting year is here. Every December, I rope in some guests, friends, and follow podcasters to discuss their favourite games of the year, with a particular emphasis on little cool Indies that may have fallen through the cracks.

The first guest is Brad Gallaway, a veteran game critic and host of the 'So... Videogames!' podcast. Brad had some wonderful picks as always, including a couple of lesser-spotted indies that went directly onto my wishlist.

Find So... Videogames!: https://gamecritics.com/category/podcasts/so-videogames/

Find Brad on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bradgallaway.bsky.social

Find GITW on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gaminginthewild.bsky.social

Follow the podcast Steam curator list: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/

Support Gaming In The Wild podcast on Patreon to join the listener community, and get a whole load of super secret bonus episodes: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild

Heartfelt thanks to my 84 patrons for helping the show to run. Thanks everybody! ✌️

This episode centres coincidentally on games featuring Chinese food: indie visual novel and family saga Road To Guangdong, and brawler-puzzler-anime-story Battle Chef Brigade. Also covered: surreal visual novel Far From Noise, and finally, easy going tactile puzzle game One Line Coloring.

Follow the show on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube and Instagram via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. Thanks to Switch Indie Fix for providing a review copy of Road To Guangdong: look out for my review there soon. More thanks to Mythic Owl for providing a copy of One Line Coloring. And, as always, thanks to you, for listening.

Welcome to the first episode of Gaming In The Wild (In honour of our featured game, we're calling it episode zero). This episode is about the surreal and brilliant Kentucky Route Zero, which was recently released by Annapurna Interactive on Steam, Switch and PS4. In this ten minute review, we talk over the weirdness and wonders that have made it an instant classic. John's review of the game at Switch Indie Fix: http://switchindiefix.com/kentucky-route-zero-tv-edition-switch-review/ Say hello, and offer feedback or game suggestions on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gaminginthewild

Wild Hearts is an idiosyncratic monster hunting RPG set in a fantasy-samurai world where humanity is beset by wild, aggressive megafauna. You track down these huge, spectacular "kemono" through fun open-world areas, engaging in multi-phase battles using dynamic, mid-battle building. The game's performance is supremely janky, but the addictive combat makes for a thrilling ride. 

In the roundup: Dredge, Storyteller, The Forest Cathedral, Sea of Stars.

If you'd like to support this show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

Come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

Check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/

Thanks for listening! 

Game Pass is the subscription that keeps on giving this week. The featured game is The Pedestrian - a highly original and immaculately designed 2D puzzle game that takes you on a journey through the signage, placards, pages and screens of a beautifully rendered 3D city.

Also this episode: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Nobody Saves The World, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, and Minute of Islands.

Find my full reviews of all of the games mentioned, and developer interviews with the creators of Sable and Signs of the Sojourner: http://anchor.fm/gaminginthewild.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Is INSIDE a horror game? Find out this episode, when I delve into Playdead's LIMBO follow-up (and conduct a Twitter poll about whether this qualifies as a Halloween episode). Also featured: the oddities of playing as a child protagonist, the enjoyment of piecing together narratives from environmental cues and clues, the game's stunning sound design, and more. (Note: story spoilers are behind a well-demarcated break, so you can listen to most of it without fear if you're yet to play it yourself).

If you enjoy the episode, you can support the show on Patreon to get patron-only episodes and other fun benefits at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. 

You can follow the show on Twitch, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram via http://linktr.ee/gamingintehwild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Haiku, the Robot is an indie game in the truest sense of the term—a solo developer project that was successfully Kickstarted all the way to a Steam and Switch release. It’s a delightful, atmospheric exploration adventure that wears its Hollow Knight and Metroid influences on sleeve—and deserves to carry that torch.

In the roundup: Paradise Marsh, Lego: Bricktales, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, Scourgebringer, Rollerdrome, and more.

And a big thank you to show's latest supporter, bsushi! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast—equipment, music, the domain name, and all other costs of producing the pod. 

I'd love to hear from you on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week's show is an interview with Hugo Bille from Hadoque, the developers of Ultros. We talked about video game ecosystems, Metroidvania design tricks, audacious gardening mechanics, and lots more. And a big thank you to the show’s latest patrons, ScheiGuy and NikolaiAtKnight, If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s Discord community. You can also say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. Check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue to see if Steam games you're browsing come pod-approved! https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

Beware THE GUNK! This episode looks at a short, cosy sci-fi adventure-platformer that came to Game Pass and won me over during the holiday season.

Also discussed: Ender Lilies, Heaven’s Vault, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and more.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Gerda: A Flame in Winter is an excellent choice-based story game set in Nazi-occupied Denmark towards the end of WWII. The compelling story is packed with ethical quandaries that have real impact on the story, and the stakes are high as your moment-to-moment decisions can have life or death consequences.

In the roundup: Annapurna Showcase – Lorelei & The Laser Eyes, Cocoon, To a T, Lushfoil Photography Sim , Thirsty Suitors, Flock, Ghostbike, Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth.

And many thanks to the show’s latest patron, Matthew! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

Your host is off galavanting at the London Games Festival this week, so this episode a little inbetweener. It's a look back at the Nintendo Switch — which was *the* place to play indie games on console, for a while — and the great indies it'll be remembered for.

In the roundup: Lushfoil Photography Sim, Promise Mascot Agency, Koira.

This episode's audio is from a YouTube video you can watch here: https://youtu.be/48f-zXDkuaU

Please consider supporting the pod by becoming a patron! You get 15 bonus podcasts, a patron Discord invite, and more: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild

Follow the Steam curator page here to see recommendations while you browse games: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/

And thanks for listening!

Deathloop is Arkane’s latest, and some say greatest game. Initially a Playstation console exclusive and 2021 GOTY contender, it’s now getting a second wave of attention as it arrives on Xbox Game Pass and PS+. I talk through the highs and lows in this episode, from the excellent audio-visual presentation, voice acting, movement, and level design—to its tangled, misfiring story and frustratingly didactic structure.

In the roundup: Blossom Tales 2: The Minotaur King, Metal: Hellsinger, Fuga: Melodies of Steel, Dorfromantik.

If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Watch out Nintendo: Tinykin is coming for your gig! This Paper Mario meets Pikmin 3D platformer is all-but flawless: hear about why in this week's main review. I also talk about the opening section of crisp 2D roguelike action-platformer Rogue Legacy 2, and look ahead to some exciting upcoming indie console releases including Bear & Breakfast, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, Slime Rancher 2, and Dorfromantik.  If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

This is it – welcome to the Gaming In The Wild GOTY final cut episode! In this show, I talk through my personal favourite games of 2022, from indie darlings, to AAA blockbusters, and maybe a couple of hidden gems too. This was a fantastic year in gaming, and I hope y'all enjoy the final list! There's lots more GOTY content available too, so be sure to check out the guest episodes that went out around the same time as this one, featuring Bryan Sursha of Pixellated Playgrounds, Louis Brooks of Time Played 3hr, and Brad Gallaway of So Videogames. And GOTY series are available from 2021 and 2020, should you want even more! If you'd like to supporting this podcast on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music, the domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support! If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. Thanks for listening!

This week features special guest Ciaran Daly, for a wide ranging chat about some huge games including Half Life Alyx, Halo: Infinite, Back 4 Blood, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Metroid Dread, and a little indie called Golf Club Wasteland. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

The third GOTY 2022 guest episode this year is a lovely, long, far-ranging chat with Brad Gallaway, friend of the show and co-host of the So Videogames podcast. We discussed some obscure gems and heavy hitters, including Marvel Snap, Atari 50, Elden Ring, Citzen Sleeper, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks Of Hope, Horizon Forbidden West, Paradise Marsh, and many more! Hear my 2021 GOTY chat with Brad here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/9NkypvVRcwb Hear me & Brad discussing The Longing here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/prMXjddScwb Hear my guest spot on So Videogames here: https://gamecritics.com/brad-gallaway/so-videogames-ep-290-john-rogers/ And a big thank you to shows latest Patrons, Rachel and Lawal! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, music, the gaminginthewild.com domain, games to review, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support! If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. Thanks for listening!

After a huge, hyped, and somewhat disastrous 2020 launch, Cyberpunk 2077 reappeared recently with the next-gen v1.5 for PS5 , PC and Xbox. It’s been rebalanced, reworked, and patched to the gods – but is this ambitious sci-fi epic ready for primetime? Also mentioned this episode: Tunic, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Kirby & The Forgotten Land, Weird West, and West of Dead. And big thanks to the show’s latest patrons Nicholas and soccrchik! If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Well, it looks like the Elden Ring hype has even managed to invade this gentle indie-game corner of the internet. To comb through the ins and outs of From Software's highly-rated, brutally difficult dark fantasy open-world game, I called in guest host Ciaran Daly for some podcasting co-op. He'd been to a crab museum, was hung over, and did very well. Thanks Ciaran. Note: this is the first From Software game either of us have played, so it's as much about the initial experience of navigating the reputation, systems, and foibles of the From universe as it is Elden Ring itself.

If you like, you can to skip the intro and go straight to:
00:15:15 Our histories playing tough games
00:24:35 Elden Ring review

Other links:
My guest appearance on Sifter's Mainstream podcast: https://pod.link/mainstream/episode/3283c92291b28562be9d8b573890e1ca
Miyazaki on difficulty: https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2022/02/28/elden-ring-difficulty-fromsoftware-identity-miyazaki/
Follow Ciaran: http://twitter.com/radartreview and http://twitter.com/facecuddle

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week’s show looks at Lake: a subtle, unusual, "aggressively mundane" small-town story game about delivering mail and making life choices. Links to the VR festival discussed in the show: RIFF XR: http://riff.is/riff-xr Notes on Blindness: http://notesonblindness.co.uk/vr Hana Hana http://hanahana.world The Under Presents http://tenderclaws.com/theunderpresents Also mentioned: The Medium, Mundaun, Black Book. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

This week's bumper episode runs through the big winners at The Game Awards 2024, with a rundown of my top 10 new game announcements, including Pony Island 2, Big Walk, Lost Records, and more.

I also give in-progress reviews of three games I've been playing: Inkle's A Highland Song, Ubisoft's Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and a viral Kickstarter hit called Backpack Hero.

And many thanks to all the show’s patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This week I'm joined by Adam from Switch Indie Fix to discuss the psychedelic wonderland of Psychonauts 2, and the vast sandbox of top-tier open world driving extravaganza Forza Horizon 5. We also talk about Game Pass generally, and how it's changing our game-buying habits.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

PRAISE THE LAMB! This week’s episode is a deep-dive into the bug-riddled but impressive indie hit, Cult of the Lamb. In the roundup: PowerWash Simulator, Steve Jackson’s Sorcery, We Are OFK, Cursed To Golf, Rollerdrome, and more. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

Seven years in the making, Lost Signals is Night School's difficult second album. It starts strong by playing the hits, and shines in its atmosphere and dialogue system, but fades where it should crescendo.

In the roundup: ASUS ROG Ally, Dead Space 2023, FFXIII, Venba, Dave The Diver.

And many thanks to the show’s latest patron, Arti! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so for $1, $3 or $5 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, and it helps make the show better!

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This week's episode is a deep dive into the divisive but critically acclaimed Death Stranding, with special guest Ciaran Daly. We have a spoiler break half way through, so if you're yet to play the game, you're safe until then; if you've finished it and want some dissection of the plot and late game, it comes in the second half. Also mentioned this episode: Returnal, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Carrion. Very special thanks to Patreon supporter Hoppel for sending me his old Xbox One S to play Gamepass! Follow Ciaran as Facecuddle on Twitter and Twitch, and via @radartreview. You can find the BBC documentary on Death Stranding that's mentioned in the episode here. You can come say hi and follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. If you'd to support the show on Patreon, I'm very grateful – in return, you get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for more info. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Little City, Big City is a short, low-stakes adventure in which side-quests, baubles, and opportunities for mischief catch your eye at every turn. It's a welcome bout of easy-breezy escapism in a stacked month of more involved games.

In the roundup: Animal Well, Mullet Madjack, Dread Delusion, Turbo Kid, Dungeons of Hinterberg.

And as always, many thanks to all the show’s patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community.

You can also come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This blockbuster game was a release title for the PS4, but it looks as good and plays as well now as it did upon its 2017 release. It has since sold over 10 million copies, and as I experienced it for the first time, it was easy to see why. It takes place in a stunningly beautiful wilderness, and tells a brilliant post-apocalyptic story that's as compulsive and bingeworthy as Game of Thrones. Note: HZD is currently available as part of the PSNow "Netflix for games" service, until April 7th 2020. So if you're a member, get on it - the clock is ticking!

Follow the show at: http://twitter.com/gaminginthewild. And thanks for listening.

This is second episode of the KRZ deep dive series and community playthrough. We cover Act II of the game — the Bureau of Reclaimed Spaces, The Zero, Random Access Self Storage, The Museum of Dwellings, and the Forest — and the second interlude, an interactive play entitled 'The Entertainment'.

Thanks to everyone in the patron Discord who submitted comments and questions! Join them in supporting the show, and play along with us: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

Hop over and sub to the YouTube for more GITW stuff, including the Next Fest roundup coming later this week: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild.

And thanks for listening!

This week I dived into Steam Next Fest, covering demos for: Ultros, Flock, Beastieball, Hauntii, Albatros, Arco, Summerhosue, Pacific Drive, Pepper Grinder, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, ZAU, and more. 

And as always, many thanks to the show’s 56 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This’s week's episode gives a recap of the podcast's recent downtime, and then covers some hecking video games. British gross-out comedy “slapformer” Thank Goodness You’re Here is the featured game, and Crypt Custodian, Star Wars Outlaws, and Nobody Wants To Die are in the roundup.

Links mentioned:

August game releases video: https://youtu.be/a82B6mwdCww?si=fVw7WxRESzAtJiYq

Grapevine author page: https://grapevine.is/author/john-rogers/ 

Icelandic gamedev scene coverage: https://grapevine.is/tag/gaming/ 

Grapevine game scene cover story: https://grapevine.is/mag/feature/2024/07/26/playing-the-game-inside-icelands-game-development-scene/  

And as always, thanks to all the show’s patrons, including new patrons Reuben, Shaun, Adam, Ant, and Madeleine. If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, and getting bonus patron episodes and a Discord invite, you can do so at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. Thanks, it all helps!

You can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Music this week:

Stroll by Syouki Takahashi via Pixabay/Creative Commons, Canal Jam from Thank Goodness You’re Here, Possum Springs from Night In The Woods

Thanks for listening!

Starfield is a huge game! Now 70 hours in, this week's show goes into more of the game's systems: ship combat, ship building, base building, quest types, crew members and NPCs, and some fun story-stuff spoiler chat after a big ol’ spoiler warning.

In the roundup: Mythforce, Chants of Senaar, Nour: Play With Your Food, The Pale Beyond, Solar Ash, and all the September releases: Cocoon, Cyberpunk 2077 2.0, Gunbrella, Fae Farm, Mineko’s Night Market, and more. 

And many thanks to the show’s 50 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter Dovetail: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

Happy Zelda day everyone! This episode includes some spoiler-free impressions of the game we've all been waiting for, The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kindgom, followed a deep dive into the ambnitious and impressive Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. In the roundup: Harmony: Fall of Reverie, Planet of Lana, 1000xResist, The Pale Beyond, Stray Gods & Ludonarracon 2023. Links mentioned in the show - http://theshortgame.net & https://www.ludonarracon.com. And many thanks to the show’s latest patron, Simon! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.  All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

This week's episode features two fascinating games. First it's a recommendation for the experiential origami nature odyssey Paper Beast – released in 2020 for Oculus and PSVR – followed by a critique of the bafflingly designed Cultist Simulator, which was recently ported to Switch. You can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild and support the show on Patreon to get exclusive episodes and more via http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild — or via Ko-Fi, if that’s your preferred creator platform, via http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Coffee Golf is an improbably compelling and addictive daily phone game. Each day, you get a new five-hole golf course. It takes luck, skill, and strategy to get around the course, and whittle down your stroke count to get the best possible score. Also, for bonus fun – listen out for a 4.2 earthquake that happened while I was recording!

Also in this episode: a July indie game roundup, including Synapse, GYLT, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, Venba, Viewfinder, The Wandering Village, Immortals of Avium, Crime O'Clock, and more.

And many thanks to all the show's 46 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

Also, please do come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - and some of the new ones like Bluesky and Threads, if you want – find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This week's episode is a roundup of demos you can try right now: Stellar Blade, Minishoot' Adventures, Dystopika, Indika, and Valley Peaks.

In the roundup: this month's Game Pass, PS+, and Epic freebies, including The Outer Worlds, Kona, Ghostrunner, Immortals of Aveum, and more.

Check out the YouTube for some fresh videos at: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild.

And many thanks to the show’s newest patrons Zibby, Daniel and Fergus! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

Finally! Horizon Forbidden West has arrived! 67 hours into my play through, it was fun to spend an hour on this extensive, spoiler-free deep-dive into the exciting new gameplay mechanics, all-time-high visuals, storytelling and characterisation changes, more rich and fully explored tribal cultures, traversal improvements... and, of course, the robotic elephant in the room, the climbing system.

Also discussed: Elden Ring, Cloudpunk, Bravely Default, Tunic.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week I opened a fairly random Games With Gold title just for a quick try — and ended up finishing the whole thing in just a couple of sittings! Yoke's Island Express in a 2018 game that combines beach holiday atmosphere, metroidvania structure and... bug pinball? Hear all about it in this week's featured review!

Also mentioned: Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade, Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels, Stray, Nobody Saves The World, Tales of Arise, Hot Spring Story, and more!

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week’s episode is about brand new indie darling Death’s Door, the first game by two-person studio Acid Nerve, published by Devolver. It’s a lovingly crafted game about a very bird day on the office for young fledgling crow tasked with reaping a giant soul.

Also mentioned this episode: Winds & Leaves, Slay The Spire.

If you enjoy the show, please do come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://gaminginthewild.carrd.com.

If you'd to support the show on Patreon, I'm very grateful – you’ll get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community in return. Go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild to join up!

You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week’s episode has some chat about Astro Bot, Arco and Star Wars Outlaws, before settling into a super fun listener Q&A about games, food, spoiler levels and preferences, travel destinations, and more. 

Thanks to all the show's patrons, and shout out to boss tier patrons Mike Sampier and Schei Guy! Join the Patreon at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for an invite to the patron-only discord, and to gain access to the bonus episode back catalogue.

Music this week: There Is A Then from 1000xRESIST, Silent Grove from Hauntii, and Possum Springs from Night In The Woods.

This week's episode is about Meg's Monster, a patron recommendation that turned out to be delightful. It's a simple, short & sweet pixel art adventure, that distinguishes itself from the pack with some enjoyable writing, and an emotional story that'll tug at your heartstrings.

There's also a book review in this episode. "Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin is an engrossing piece of literary fiction located in the world of game development, that might be of some interest to gamers.

In the roundup: Killsquad, Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, Adore, Kentucky Route Zero.

And many thanks to the show’s 46 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This week's podcast features an interview with Andy Robertson, the veteran game critic who's launching Ludocene, a new kind of game discovery app. We also reflect on the launch of the Ultros: Design Works book and the podcast's forthcoming fifth birthday, including our community Kentucky Route Zero playthrough!

Pre-Order the Ultros book: http://lostincult.co.uk

Kickstart the Ludocene app: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ludocene/ludocene-game-discovery-from-people-you-trust

Join the Patreon: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild

Follow the show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gaminginthewild.bsky.social

Follow the Steam curator page (thanks to Dovetail for maintaining it!): https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/

Thanks for listening everybody! Onwards!

(00:00) Musical intro

(00:30) Pod begins

(01:34) Ultros: Design Works is Go!

(05:45) Podcast 5th Birthday & Patreon Drive

(09:30) Andy Robertson on the Ludocene App

This week's episode is a spoiler-free deep dive into epic JRPG Metaphor: ReFantazio, after 40 hours of play.

In the roundup: Stray comes to Switch — but how much of the game made it? Plus Empire of the Ants, The Game Awards '24 nominees, and the arrival of the fantastic and much needed Indie Game Awards: check them out at http://indiegameawards.gg and help amplify what they're doing!

As always, thanks to the shows 84 patrons: join us yourself from the teeny tiny price of $1 a month to support this show — http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. You get a patron-only Discord invite, and a catalogue of 14 bonus podcasts!

Also, feel free to say hi to me on social media — links via http://gaminginthewild.com.

Thanks for listening!

The pod's back with a review of lovely French indie game Caravan SandWitch. It's a mellow, low-key open world exploration game set on a dusty, post-industrial sci-fi planet. The game’s story and dialogue have problems, but driving your trusty yellow van around this gorgeous little world makes up for it.

Also mentioned: Astro Bot, Ghost of Yotei, The Midnight Walk, Fear The Spotlight, Lego Horizon, Horizon Zero Dawn, Soul Reaver: Legacy of Kain, Switch 2, Annapurna Interactive.

Support the pod and join the community: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

Find me on all social media: @gaminginthewild.

Thanks to all the patrons, and especially boss tier patrons Schei Guy and Mike Sampier. Thanks for listening!

Lies of P is a deeply impressive Soulslike with tight combat, beautiful environments, and a nightmarish gothic-horror world. It makes some welcome player-friendly tweaks to FromSoft's punishing formula, but is held back when it adheres to the genre's dogma.

In the roundup: Sephonie, Suica Game, En Garde.

And many thanks to the show’s 58 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This week I chat about Islets and RKGK, and answer some listener questions about open world games, the best ever consoles, underrated indies, '80s movies, pineapple on pizza, and lots more besides.

And as always, thanks to all the show’s patrons, including new patrons Shaun, Adam, Ant, and Madeleine. If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, and getting bonus patron episodes and a Discord invite, you can do so at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. Thanks, it all helps!

You can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Music this week:

‘Grass Valley’ and ‘Iridescent Creatures’ from Islets, and ‘Possum Springs’ from Night in the Woods.

Thanks for listening!

Roadwarden is a quite brilliant indie game about a 40-day journey in which you and your humble steed explore the wild northern peninsula of a high-fantasy realm. With meaningful choices, branching paths, plural solutions, and leeway to roleplay as you wish, it's addictive, absorbing, and inspired.

In the spooky-game roundup: Scorn, Little Nightmares, ECHO, and Dead Space.

And a big thank you to all the show's patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music and domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And as always, thanks for listening.

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is an ambitious and substantial visual novel that plays with a broad spectrum of ideas about hope, chaos, capitalism, community, mysticism, and the power of collective belief. However, the story succeeds despite the game's structure, as I'll go into in the episode.

In the roundup: FFXVI and Viewfinder demos, Tales of Arise, and my picks from Tribeca Games Fest, Xbox Showcase, Wholesome Direct, PC Gaming Show, and all the others. Including: A Highland Song, Nightcape, Despelote, Station To Station, Jusant, Grimoire Groves, Botany Manor, Starfield, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, Harold Halibut, Dread Pilot, Exo Rally Championship, Star Wars Outlaws, and a few strays and extras.

Thanks to the show's 46 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

Birth is short, heartfelt point ’n’ click game in which we navigate a strange line-drawn city, interacting with the bony creatures and odd situations we find there. The puzzles involve playful physics, hidden objects, and pattern-matching mechanics that raise a smile, and evoke the sadness, seriousness and silliness of our fleeting lives. Also: Steam Next demo reviews, including Unmurk, Nine Sols, Full Void, Radio The Universe, Highwater, and more. Check out the GITW Steam curator page here (thanks to Patreon supporter DovetailTrue for making it!): https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/ If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, music, the domain, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support! If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. Thanks for listening!

This week's episode is a review of quirky haunted-Shibuya action game Ghostwire: Tokyo, which is more than the sum of its parts. 

Also reviewed: lacklustre indie offering A Memoir Blue. Other mentions: Kirby & The Forgotten Land, Weird West, Dorfromantik, and the People Make Games documentary about gamedev working conditions. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDPzZkx0cPs.

Come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find links at http://gaminginthewild.com. 

If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This episode is about three games that all share a sense of wonder and fairytale mystery. First is The Unfinished Swan, a celebrated 2012 PS3 title that has just been released for iOS and Steam. Next up is Fujii, a mellow, nature-oriented VR journey. Then it's time for enigmatic dimension-shifting 2D puzzle game Gorogoa. We round things off with some chat about The Secret of Dank Mountain and Sky: Children of Light.

Feel free to come say hi or find additional content relating to the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.

Find The Unfinished Swan soundtrack at: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-NPUA30116_00-098202SNDTRACK01
Find the Fujii soundtrack at: https://normanbambi.bandcamp.com/album/fujii
Find the Gorogoa soundtrack at https://store.steampowered.com/app/745160/Gorogoa__Original_Soundtrack/

This week's show rounds up arcade shooter One Btn Bosses, pixel RPG Arco, an early glimpse at Mika & The Witch's Mountain, sci-fi racer Phantom Spark, and the Star Wars: Bounty Hunter remaster.

As always, thanks to all the show’s 74 patrons - support this pod and get extra bonus podcasts at  http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Extra special thanks to boss tier patrons Schei Guy and Mike.

You can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter Dovetail: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Music this week:

Syouki Takahashi - Cinematic Atmosphere / Arco - Credits / Night In The Woods - Possum Springs

(0:00) Intro Music

(00:21) Start

(04:38) Arco

(06:12) One Btn Bosses

(12:55) Mika & The Witch's Mountain

(22:14) Star Wars: Bounty Hunter

(25:09) Phantom Spark

(30:30) Outro

Thanks for listening!

FAR: Changing Tides is a welcome sequel to a minor indie classic in which the player pilots a huge, hulking vehicle through a ravaged post-climate-change world. The sense of scale and motion can feel nothing short of miraculous, but the puzzles don’t always make for plain sailing. In the roundup: High On Life, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, and Sword Ship. We also kick of GOTY season by revealing the results of the Patreon GOTY vote, as voted on by the show's patrons! This resulted in a great list that includes games like Stray, Tinykin, Horizon Forbidden West, Tunic, and more. Thanks for voting, folks! And a big thank you to shows latest Patron, Rachel! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music, the domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support! Find the Inscryption episode I guested on recently here: https://talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/articles/inscryption If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. Thanks for listening!

Thanks to #MagicMind for supporting the podcast. Get 45% off your first order with my GITW-exclusive discount link at http://magicmind.com/gamingLTjan. Every sale helps the pod, and there a no-questions-asked 100% refund available. It's a really good product, all shilling aside!

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This week's episode is a newsy roundup featuring the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct (Ninja Gaiden 4, South of Midnight, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Doom: The Dark Ages), plus a preview of the imminent Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, and some thoughts on the PC release of Final Fantasy FVII: Rebirth.

In the roundup: Afterlife EP, Eternal Strands, Hangry.

Join the pattern: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild

Find me on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gaminginthewild.bsky.social

Follow the Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463/

Thanks for listening!

It's time for the second episode in the 2022 games of the year series, this time with Louis Brooks, co-host of the excellent Time Played 3hr. Louis brought some super interesting games to the table, including Tunic, Sephonie, Strange Horticulture, Dyling Light 2, Gran Turismo 7, and more. A note: I completely borked by own side of the audio, so very sorry for my sound quality!

Find out more about Time Played 3hr here: https://louisthings.com/timeplayed3hr.

And a big thank you to Lawal, the show's latest Patron! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music, the domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support!

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And s always, thanks for listening!

This week's episode is a little roundup. We start with the Nintendo Indie World Direct, including previews of Lorelai & The Laser Eyes, Yars Rising, Bzzzt, Sticky Business, and some other show highlights, before moving onto a 1000xResist preview, and a featured game review of Lucas Pope's Playdate offering Mars After Midnight. There's also a little preview of WASD Live at the end, which I'll be attending in London next week.

Some links mentioned in the show:

1000xResist demo review show: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaminginthewild/episodes/188-1000xRESIST--Teardown--Worldless--Coral-Island-e2cehan

YouTube: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild

WASD Live: http://wasdlive.com

And as always, many thanks to the show’s 62 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529

Thanks for listening!

This week I tore myself away from Elden Ring long enough to finish the journey mode of Tetris Effect Connected, a dazzling reinvention of everyone's favourite hypnotic falling blocks game. But I do talk about Elden Ring for 15 minutes first, because, of course. In the roundup: Tempest 4000, Welcome To Elk, Dorfromantik. And a big thank you to the show's latest patron – thanks Brad! If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

This week's episode is about existential point 'n' click adventure The Longing. To untangle the mysteries of this deeply eccentric and uniquely challenging game, I called in some expert reinforcements in gamecritics.com editor, So Videogames podcast host and all-round great guy Brad Gallaway.  Also mentioned this episode: Omno, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. You can hear the So... Videogames! podcast on your favourite podcast service, or here: https://gamecritics.com/category/podcasts/so-videogames. If you enjoy the show, please do come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://gaminginthewild.carrd.com. If you'd to support the show on Patreon, I'm very grateful – you’ll get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community in return. Go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild to join up! You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Venba is a striking visual novel that sensitively explores the experience of an young Indian couple emigrating to Canada, and the life events that follow. It has excellent audio-visual presentation and rich subject matter, but the compressed narrative seems to skip key events, before an abrupt ending.

In the roundup: Pikmin 4, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and Stray's arrival on Xbox.

And many thanks to the show’s 46 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This week's show looks at FFVIIR Intermission and the newly released Rebirth, a cute cabin builder called Summerhouse, and a bullet heaven called Geometry Survivor.

In the roundup: WASD Live, Enshrouded, Solium Infernum, Snufkin; Melody of Moominvalley, Pepper Grinder, and Floramancer: Seeds & Spirits.

I also talk about the fun of making YouTube videos about games. See some recent videos about things like video game stories, the lasting appeal of Horizon Zero Dawn, and indie games with pocket-sized open worlds here: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, many thanks to the show’s 69 patrons, including the latest patrons Lissa, Ciara, and Stu! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This week's music by Alex-Productions, Musictown, Syouki Takahashi, and Yevhenii Kovalenko and provided by Pixabay and http://www.free-stock-music.com. Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0).

This week’s episode is a roundup that includes some chat about Sony’s State of Play, and especially Stray and Season, as well as a first impression of newly released Card Shark, mini-reviews of The Almost Gone and Behind The Frame, and a look at Super Mario 3D World and the future of Mario.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week’s show has the novelty of being about actual new games! First, we dive into the forlorn underground of The Last Campfire, before engaging in some optical illusion trickery in the Portal-influenced Superliminal.

Finally, there’s some chat about the PS5 and X-Box price reveals, and the ensuing Twitter flop-off from fans of each console.

Find the show on Twitter, YouTube, Twitch and Instagram to let me know if you have any game suggestions, or dis/liked these games: http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.

Hear The Last Campfire soundtrack by Paul Weir at: https://hellogames.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-campfire-soundtrack
Find the lo-fi mix of the Superliminal soundtrack at: https://2mellomakes.bandcamp.com/album/superliminal-the-lo-fi-mix

And thanks, as always, for listening!

Goodbye Volcano High is a lushly produced visual novel about a high-school band at the end of the world. Playing as a hot goth dino called Fang, we navigate crushes, fallouts, band practice, and roleplaying sessions, all via dialogue choices & light rhythm gameplay. It’s an absorbing story game lit up by sparkling writing, sensuous art, and a dreamy guitar-pop soundtrack. 

Also: The Game Awards nominees – Starfield SNUBBED! :')

And many thanks to the show’s 56 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the second games of the year GOTY episode for 2021. My guest this week is Raygan Kelly, one of the co-hosts of The Short Game podcast, a show that looks at short video games. The games we discussed include: NieR Replicant, The Forgotten City, Death’s Door, Inscryption, Forza Horizon 5, World Flipper, Boomerang X, Carto, PGA Tour 2K21, Mario Golf: Super Rush, Golf Club Wasteland, and more. You can find The Short Game at http://theshortgame.net on your podcast platform of choice and follow Raygan on Twitter @raygank. If you enjoy the show, you're welcome to come and connect on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Guacamelee is a fresh, bright, Mexico-inspired Metroidvania-brawler by Drinkbox. Originally released in 2014, it preempted the comeback of the Metroidvania genre by a few years, but a 2018 Switch port brought it to a new audience – including me.

Also discussed: Halo: Infinite and Nobody Saves The World.

See a talk by lead artist Augusto Quijano here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bZDe7cbfmc0.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week I played an extraordinary new action-adventure game called The Pathless by Giant Squid, the studio behind ABZU. With fluid gameplay, brilliant music and a fascinating game world, fans of Journey, Breath of the Wild, Shadow of the Colossus and Hyper Light Drifter will find something to love here. The game also touches interestingly on some contemporary themes, which are explored after the spoiler break. There’s a 2xVinyl version of the fantastic soundtrack by Austin Wintory available via I Am 8 Bit, along with a physical edition of the game. It’s also  available digitally for Playstation 4 & 5, Apple Arcade and PC.  You can also support the show on Patreon to get patron-exclusive episodes, game recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community via http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Also, you can share your thoughts on the game and follow the show via Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.

New show notes 

This week’s episode is about the WASD video game festival that happened in London last weekend. It was super fun to go a showcase like this for the first time – I met up with some developers, games industry folks, and podcasting pals, and got to play tonnes of exciting unreleased games on the show floor, including: NanoApostle, Pine Hearts, Gestalt: Steam & Cinder, Paper Trail, Zephon, Data Garden, Echo of the Waves, Wax Heads, and Crackernuts.

And as always, many thanks to all the show’s patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the podcast on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community.

If you enjoy the show, you can also come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And finally, check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This week's episode takes us to a far-flung Hebridean island to kick through the seaweed and hike over the hills of melancholic 'walking simulator' Dear Esther. Fans of more recent games like Gone Home and What Became of Edith Finch? will find something to enjoy here. Having finally finished one story strand of the mammoth Spartan saga Assassin's Creed Odyssey, it’s also time to revisit that game and dare to ask: can open world games be too big?  You can follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. You can also support the show on Patreon to get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations and an invite to the show’s Discord community via http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Immortality is an ambitious new interactive film game from Sam Barlow, in which the player turns detective to untangle the mystery of a missing young actress called Marissa Marcel. With an ingenious “match cut” mechanic and some very extra twists (hidden behind a spoiler break!) this is an absolutely unforgettable game. In the roundup: Moonscars, Dorfromantik, Foretales. Big thanks to The Short Game podcast for their two excellent episodes on Immortality—they helped me to form my thoughts on this game’s elusive story: Spoiler free: https://www.theshortgame.net/333-immortality-part-1-no-spoilers/ Spoilerful: https://www.theshortgame.net/334-immortality-part-2-spoilers-analysis/ If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

Final Fantasy XVI is a dark fantasy action adventure that tells its epic story via impressively cinematic cut-scenes, sleek, kinetic combat, and spectacular set pieces. Some poor quest design made the story drag, but the characters and combat never got old.

In the roundup: Final Fantasy XIII, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Dave The Diver.

The Digital Foundry FFXVI review I mention in the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oyjldkh5kE  

And the Kyle Bosman video I mention: https://youtu.be/C74y9Uu5QyQ 

And many thanks to the show’s latest patron, Rscar! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

Nour: Play With Your Food is a bizarre physics-driven rhythm game that's all about... well, playing with food. The player rains food items into a scene, hitting buttons in time to responsive music, and… seeing if anything happens? As it all devolves into a chaotic spectacle, sometimes it seems like there's a game structure trying to emerge. Ultimately, not much is clear – except that it’s fun.

In the roundup: some first impressions of sensible racer Forza Motorsport, and a quick look at the rune-translating indie game Chants of Senaar.

Music: Oxenfree II, Night In The Woods.

And many thanks to the show’s 52 patrons! If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month (or more, if you like!) at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. (You can also send a one-off tip via ⁠Ko-Fi⁠ at ⁠http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild⁠.) 

Follow the show's social media - Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - and find all the relevant links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

It's time for the big indie game preview for 2024!

Ganes featured (24, funnily enough): The Cub, Ultros, Pacific Drive, Open Roads, Mina The Hollower, 1000xResist, Harold Halibut, Still Wakes The Deep, Nine Sols, No Rest For The Wicked, Nivalis, Earthblade, Animal Well, The Plucky Squire, Hyper Light Breaker, Summerhouse, Neva, Pepper Grinder, Sword of the Sea, Henry Halfhead, Schim, Naiad, Death Trash, Hollow Knight: Silksong.

And many thanks to the show’s 58 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

2023 was a great year for games, and after three great guest episodes covering the big swings, hits, and misses of the year, it's time to share my own favourite games of 2023. The list has been laboured over, and feels a bit less critically tidy and a bit more personal than previous years. I hope you enjoy it – I truly loved all of these games. And as always — many thanks to the show’s 57 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

This week's reviews are of Somerville, a new Game Pass game by one half of the Playdead studio, and Foretales, a story-focused card game with meaningful choices and branching paths. In the roundup: The Game Awards nominations, The Entropy Centre, God of War: Ragnarök. This is a patron supported show! Join the gang on Discord by becoming a member at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Follow the show on social media via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. Thanks for listening!

NieR: Automata is a 2017 sci-fi masterwork by Yoko Taro and Platinum Games that smashes together widescreen anime-style melodrama, elegant killing machines in Harijuku couture, a tangled post-apocalyptic plot, and some lofty existential pondering. It's... a lot. It's a long episode. The Super Bunnyhop analysis of the game mentioned in the show: https://youtu.be/ehM1m5-TG5g. Also mentioned: Norco, NieR: Replicant, Bayonetta, Astral Chain.  If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Paradise Killer is a truly odd detective game, mixing a Miami Vice 1980s aesthetic with brutalist architecture, Lovecraftian gods, demonic possession, murder, class commentary, and sexy synth pop. We stay spoiler-free on the details of The Crime To End All Crimes in this 20-minute review. Also mentioned: Narita Boy, The Longing, Art Squool, Immortals: Fenyx Rising; thanks go to Patreon patron Broken Pixel - http://twitter.com/brokenpixelchat - for recommending The Longing, and game streamer Kerlsburgers - https://twitter.com/kerlsburgers - for being the show's newest patron! If you'd to join Kerls by supporting the show on Patreon, I'm very grateful – in return, you get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community. Go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for more info. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. You can also say hi and follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.  And as always, thanks for listening!

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was announced this week, amidst a slew of game announcements from all of the big guns. This episode takes a look at some of the highlights from the Nintendo Direct, Sony State of Play, and Ubisoft Forward, before reviewing a cute little Game Pass title: Beasts of Maravilla Island. In the roundup: Bear & Breakfast, Rogue Legacy 2, Harvestella, Foretales, Blossom Tales 2, Nobody Saves The World: Frozen Hearth DLC. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

The Kentucky Route Zero deep-dive begins! To mark five years of GITW, we're going back to the game that started it all. The first episode looks at Act I of the game, and the first interlude 'Limits And Demonstrations'.

This game is a breakthrough, a landmark, and a high water mark for video games as art. Its acts and interludes contain multitudes: digital art exhibits, interactive poetry, a fully staged play complete with audience, and a tangled web of scenes, characters, and histories. At its heart lies a story about people falling through the cracks of America – but it contains so much more than that.

It's also a GITW community playthrough, with patrons of the podcast playing along and offering insights and questions that become part of the pod. Feel free to play along, or to join the Patreon and add your own input for the next episodes at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

Thanks for listening!

As God of War Ragnarök releases, it's time for a deep dive into the 2018 series reboot. It's a father-son story set in a mythic Viking world of truly epic scope and scale, mixing singularly spectacular battles with exploration, dungeons, and RPG progression. The somewhat scripted gameplay drags at times, but overall, it's a god-tier game from SIE. In the roundup: Ghost Song, The Entropy Centre, Somerville, Owlboy, The Ascent. This show is Patreon supported. You can become a member from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild amd get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to our lovely Discord community, or send a tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, music to use in the show, the domain name, etc. I really appreciate the support! You can also say hi and recommend games on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

Betrayal At Club Low is an oddball point ’n’ click adventure game that melds weird storytelling, retro visuals, a loopy nightclub infiltration scenario, and compelling dice-based skill checks into a contemporary refresh for the genre. It's super fun, and feels like an instant cult classic.

In the roundup: Jedi: Fallen Order, Storyteller, Minabo: A Walk Through Life, The Last Case of Benedict Fox.

And many thanks to the show’s latest patron, Julia! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/

Thanks for listening!

Life Is Strange: True Colours has come to Game Pass, so this seemed like an opportune time to dip into the dreamy small-town world of Haven Springs. Light on gameplay but high on coming-of-age vibes, halcyon Americana and rich, interesting environments, it’s a worthy addition to the LiS series.

Also mentioned this episode: Brothers & Jotun.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide are two deeply unusual games by US developer Davey Wreden. This week's show takes a dive into the alternately surprising, hilarious and disturbing waters of their bizarre metafictional stories.

Also covered: the troubled release of Lost Ember, and some first thoughts on Ori & The Blind Forest and Ori & The Will Of The Wisps.

You can join the Gaming In The Wild Discord community – and help fund the show – for as little as $3 per month via our new Patreon page. Find out more at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. 

I always love to hear from listeners - you can find the show on Twitter, Youtube, Instagram and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.

The music on this episode is from the featured games, by Yiannis Ioannides (The Stanley Parable) and Ryan Roth (The Beginner's Guide). The outro music is from Night In The Woods.

Thanks for listening!

I’m back from Covid, with lots of games to talk about, including It Takes Two, Xenoblade Chronicles, and this week’s featured game – an indie-game love letter to some Nintendo classics called The Wild At Heart.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This episode is about Fumito Ueda's The Last Guardian. Nine years in the making, it's the follow-up to Shadow of the Colossus – only this time, the colossus in question is Trico, a remarkable giant cat-dog-bird hybrid with a mind of its own. Playing as a young boy in a vast, abandoned, labyrinthine city, you must bond with this fascinating beast to solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and travel ever upwards towards the mysterious white tower at the city's peak. It's a game with glorious highs and regrettable lows, all of which are discussed in detail. There's a spoiler break around the 30 minute mark, after which some plot details are revealed.

If you enjoy the show, feel free to come say hi on Twitter, Twitch, Youtube, Instagram and elsewhere via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.

Music by Takeshi Furukawa and the London Symphony Orchestra.

This week's podcast covers the June '24 Steam Next Fest, with a roundup of over 30 exciting forthcoming indie games. We also have some Best Of The Fest picks from myself, and the podcast Discord community vote.

In the roundup: Still Wakes The Deep, Surmount, Star Stuff, and the Nintendo Direct news.

You can support this show and join the community at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild, and find social links and so forth at http://gaminginthwild.com.

Thanks to patron Dovetail for organising the Patreon vote. Check out their new podcast Pages of Play: https://open.spotify.com/show/3yHrOPlMwAvWhl2Tq153GZ?si=j40dky-VQ4mSWNgY-zEsfg

Music: Syouki Takahashi - Stroll (via Pixabay under Creative Commons), various tracks by Rhys Lindsay from Exo One, Possum Springs from Night In The Woods 

This week we look at "the feel-bad game of the year", the grim and compelling magic bullet snipe-fest: Children of the Sun.

In the roundup: Botany Manor, Pepper Grinder, Broken Roads, Dragon's Dogma 2, and a look at the Triple-i Initiative's first showcase.

If you enjoy the show, find more like it on the YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild.

You can support the show on Patreon from $1 a month, to get extra podcasts, a patron Discord invite, and other fun perks: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Big thanks to the newest patrons Fergus, JD, Steve, Liz, Libby and Daniel.

Finally, find the show on all social media as @gaminginthewild, and follow the show's Steam curator page here to see if what you're browsing comes pod-recommended! https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

This week's episode comes direct from sunny Margate, as I'm on my holidays in the UK! The featured game is Chorus (also sometimes typed CHORVS because they used a weird font for the logo) - a simple vehicular space shooter with fun dogfighting and exploration. It's an episode of two halves, in which I sing the praises of the combat, graphics, and the sense of open-galaxy freedom, then go ham on the straight-up awful voice acting and truly execrable story. Enjoy? Enjoy!

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Hey hey! In this week’s episode, I serve up an eccentric-game sandwich, with Katamari Damacy: Reroll and The Good Time Garden as the very weird and possibly-poisonous bread, and Coffee Talk as the… tasty mocha visual-novel filling. Because this metaphor is going so well….for dessert? A 20-minute spoiler-laden tableside monologue on my *complex feelings* about the finale of The Last Of Us: Remastered. You’re welcome. Free hand sanitiser on the way out. Tips accepted. 

Timestamps:
4:36 - Katamari Damacy
13:23 - Coffee Talk
17:25  - The Good Time Garden
22:11 - The Last Of US: Remastered *SPOILER WARNING*

Come say hi on Twitter, Twitch and Insta: http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.

Get Katamari Damacy: Reroll and Coffee Talk in the Nintendo Switch eShop.
Play The Good Time Garden: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1200860/The_Good_Time_Garden/
Play The Last of Us: Remastered on PS4.

Outro music from Mutazione. Buy the soundtrack here.
https://akuparagames.bandcamp.com/album/mutazione-original-game-soundtrack

And as always, thanks for listening!