Episodes

13h ago

Get weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5 Want full show notes? Visit www.post.games This week on Post Games: the final listener mailbag of 2025! Act 1: Questions about video games Act 2: Questions about the industry and the culture Patreon bonus: Questions about the nitty-gritty of gaming Act 3: The news of the week This week, I emptied the Post Games mailbag and tried to answer as many questions as I could muster. The result is one of the longest episodes to date, with the AMA spanning three acts and over 60 minutes! Plus, a very special extended news of the week: I chatted with Phil Salvador from the Video Game History Foundation. The VGHF has preserved the Sega Channel, the 1990s predecessor to PlayStation Now and Xbox Game Pass. How the hell do archivists preserve such a thing? Listen to find out! Now, I’d say this is the final episode of 2025, but that’s not entirely true. Next week, I’ll be sharing a special Patreon-exclusive mini-episode, reflecting on my personal favorite games of the year, along with a few small surprises. But I’m getting ahead of myself! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Dec 15

Visit patreon.com/postgames to get bonus segments, early access, and exclusive monthly episodes like "The birth of Pokémon: 30 years ago, a young game critic imagined the biggest franchise on the planet" for $5 Visit post.games to get full episodes for free, including links to all games and stories referenced in today's show This week on Post Games: How video games and anime took over pop culture together. Act 1: Anime in your video games Act 2: Video games in your anime Patreon bonus: The anime every gamer should watch Act 3: News of the Week Last year, I helped oversee the first major national survey of anime consumption in the United States. Before the survey, I knew anime had achieved pop culture status, with characters from Dragon Ball appearing in Fortnite and musicians like Megan Thee Stallion wearing over a dozen anime cosplays. Even still, the numbers surprised me. Nearly half of Gen Z watches anime once a week. And a quarter of millennials. 44% of anime viewers have had a crush on an anime character. And 65% of anime viewers find the form more emotionally compelling than other forms of media. Anime fans claimed to watch for escape and comfort. But also for strength, a tool to prepare them for a big test or a challenging day at work. We ran this survey at Polygon, a site broadly focused on video games, because while games and anime are two different mediums, they have for decades influenced and elevated one another. And the line between the two is blurrier and blurrier, with shows inspiring games that inspire more shows. How did we get here? To find out, I reached out to Geoff Thew, the founder and host of the hit anime YouTube channel, Mother’s Basement . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Dec 8

Visit patreon.com/postgames to get bonus segments, early access, and exclusive monthly episodes like "The birth of Pokémon: 30 years ago, a young game critic imagined the biggest franchise on the planet" for $5 Visit post.games to get full episodes for free, including links to all games and stories referenced in today's show UPDATES Before we get to this week’s episode, I have two important updates! Post Games mailbag returns: I’m collecting listener voice notes for my final mailbag episode of 2025. I’d love questions reflecting on 2025 or looking forward to 2026. But you’re welcome to ask anything related to games! Here’s how to email me audio using a smartphone and any voice notes app. The First Official Post Games Movie Screening : This Friday, I’ll be hosting a screening of Mortal Kombat (1995) at The Frida in Santa Ana, CA. I’ll have some rare Post Games shirts and hats on sale. I’d love to see you there, so if you come, please say hello! THIS WEEK ON POST GAMES The Game Awards isn’t the Oscars. It’s not the Tonys. If we’re being generous, it shares the same pop cultural status as the modern MTV Music Video Awards. But even if the show is a bit embarrassing and largely serves as an advertisement for future games, it matters. It matters to big game publishers and tiny developers alike. All nominees stand to not only get a healthy dose of public praise, but a burst of press and a spike in sales. Especially if they win. With more games released in 2025 than in any other year, awareness is invaluable. The Game Awards claimed a 2024 audience of 154 million streams, which would mean more people watched it than the Super Bowl. Even if the audience is actually half that number, then The Game Awards remains one of the most widely seen annual broadcasts in the world. So this week on Post Games, we take The Game Awards seriously. My guest is the only year-round Game Awards beat reporter and analyst, Polyon’s Oli Welsh. Act 1: The history of The Game Awards Act 2: How The Game Awards actually work Patreon bonus: What The Game Awards got right… and very wrong Act 3: The news of the week See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Dec 1

Get video versions of every episode, bonus segments, and monthly exclusives for $5 at patreon.com/postgames Get free show notes at post.games This week on Post Games, “Life Before and After Releasing Blue Prince”: Act 1: The Days Before Blue Prince Patreon bonus: The Magic site that made Blue Prince possible Act 2: The Days Before The Game Awards Patreon bonus: Blue Prince: The Movie? Blue Prince 2? Act 3: News of the Week See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Nov 24

Get full show notes for free at post.games Get bonus and video episodes, extra segments, and more for $5 at patreon.com/postgames Welcome to The Inaugural Post Games Thanksgiving Special! I’ve invited 19 people from across video games to share what they’re thankful for. They could celebrate a game, a person, a place, a trend, an idea, or whatever else inspires them. Our guests come from across the entertainment and media industries, including award-winning indie game designers, a former executive from a AAA publisher, brilliant text-based critics, beloved audio-only hosts, a contract-securing union leader, and a good ol' fashioned movie star. Here's the party's guest list! Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon Kirk Hamilton Christian Donlan Jenny Jiao-Hsia Lucy James Austin Walker Chris Novak Tina Sanchez O’Hara Blessing Adeoye Jr. Sarah Elmahleh Giovanni Colantonio Najay Greenidge Chris Bratt Nina Freeman Frank Lantz Kitty Calis and Jan Willem Nijman Evan Narcisse Because this episode is a holiday special, and because we have so many guests, there are no acts and no news of the week. Instead, what follows are nearly twenty notes of gratitude from our brilliant guests. And Patreon subscribers get an extra-long personal note from me, in which I talk about what I’m grateful for this year: the games, the movies, the books, the music, the people, and most importantly, the opportunity to do this show. We have so many delicious dishes to plop on your plate, so let’s work our way around the buffet! This week on Post Games: The Thanksgiving Special 19 guests share what part of video game culture they’re thankful for Why I’m grateful for change and how you can create your own On the Patreon - Only $5!!! Bonus segment: Why I’m thankful for change (and how you can create your own) Plus, the films, movies, books, ideas, and other things I’m thankful for Early access to ad-free episodes Video versions of new episodes! Five hour-long episodes of Video Game Journalism 101, including the new episode on storytelling Free game of the week This week in video game links What else I’m enjoying All of that and more for only $5 a month! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Nov 17

Get extra segments, video episodes, bonus episodes, and early access at patreon.com/postgames Get full episode notes for free at post.games I was stunned when I first saw Cave Crave, a VR game in which the player squeezes through dark tunnels, the gaps so tight that the character must hold their breath, causing red light to pulse. As your virtual lungs empty, you see the blood vessels in your eyes To my surprise, the dark, suffocating caves of Cave Crave were just the beginning of both its terror and its depth. This week on Post Games: A trip into a real cave that became a tomb Act 1: The game that traps you in a dark, tight hole Act 2: Recreating the infamous Nutty Putty Cave Patreon Bonus: A history of the Steam Machine and the “living room” PC Act 3: News of the week See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Nov 10

Post Games for $1!! - The Early Bird, Not-Quite-Black Friday Sale Rather than compete with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I’m running my holiday deal early. Subscribe to the Patreon before 11/14 and get your first month for $1. Yes, you read that right. A buck gets you... Video episodes! Weekly bonus segments! 5 deep dives on storytelling, reviews, and media! 1 oral history of Street Fighter: The Movie! 25 incredible interviews with the most fascinating people in video games! Expanded newsletters: Free game of the week The best video game stories of the week What else I’m enjoying Access to community group chats! This episode is a bit unusual. I’m chatting with a talented game developer who also happens to be a friend. I’ve known Joel Burgess for many years, dating back to his time helping to design open-world RPGs for AAA studios. He currently serves as the Studio Head of the indie studio Soft Rains, which has been busy preparing the debut of its first game. Ambrosia Sky is a sci-fi immersive sim in which you play as a death cleaner. Picture Powerwash Simulator spliced with BioShock, and then add the NYTimes obituaries, and you’re not far off. This week, Ambrosia Sky: Act 1 hits Steam. What does it feel like to launch a video game, particularly as the head of a studio, responsible for not just the success of the game but the business? The stress. The joy. The mixed sense of finishing one race, and in the current age of DLC, updates, and additional acts, starting another marathon. This week on Post Games: what it’s actually like to release a video game in 2025. Act 1: The chaos of making a video game in the 2020s Act 2: The moments before pressing publish Patreon bonus: How Joel’s dog inspired the look and soul of Dogmeat in Fallout 4 Act 3: News of the week See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Nov 3

Get extra segments, video episodes, bonus episodes, and early access at patreon.com/postgames Get full episode notes for free at post.games Sure, spooky season is over. But listeners, the scary season has just begun at Post Games. To prepare you, I have invited one of my favorite horror critics, Ashley Bardhan, to explain the appeal of playing horror games – and how they might make your life less scary. This is one of my favorite (and most surprising) conversations yet! Act 1: The case for playing more horror games Act 2: Horror as therapy Patreon bonus: 5 horror games for the holiday season Act 3: The news of the week See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Oct 27

Get video episodes, extra segments, bonus episodes, and early access at www.patreon.com/postgames Get full show notes free at post.games Few video games achieve mainstream cultural relevance. Fewer still get labeled as "art." And only a handful of games that get through the culling manage to retain their relevance across decades. Shadow of the Colossus is the exception to the rules of video games. What makes it so unique? How has its place in gaming culture evolved? And why does it play a special part in the life of today's guest, video essayist and author Jacob Geller? Act 1: Why Shadow of the Colossus never lost its relevance Act 2: How Shadow of the Colossus launched a critic’s career Patreon bonus: The future of video essays about video games Act 3: News of the Week Art by James Bareham Theme by Mark Sparling See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Oct 20

Get weekly bonus segments, Patreon exclusive episodes, and early access at patreon.com/postgames Get the full show notes for free at www.post.games Last week, Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier explained how the too many games problem came to be. This week, we hear how game creators are adapting to make sure the best games reach you – rather than get lost at the bottom of an ever-growing pile. Today’s guest, Simon Carless, is an expert in helping game creators strike this balance between the artist’s vision and the audience's interests. Carless is a pioneer in the exponentially important research of “game discoverability." Act 1: The art of Game Discovery Act 2: Do endless sales help or hurt gaming? Patreon bonus: The strangest tricks and “hacks” to get a game seen Act 3: The news of the week Art by James Bareham - Happicamp.com Theme by Mark Sparling See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Oct 13

Get bonus segments and episodes, plus early access, at Patreon.com/postgames Get full show notes for free at www.post.games At an unknowable point in the past five years, gamers were granted three wishes: I want more games to play than I could ever have time for. I want them to be cheap, if not free. And I want to be able to play them whenever and however I want. The result has been great for fans of the hobby, but a radiating headache for game creators. Over the next two episodes, we’ll learn why we’re suddenly drowning in video games (more than we could play in a lifetime) and what both players and game creators are doing to adapt. Today, we'll focus on how "too many games" became gaming's unusual dilemma. Bloomberg reporter and Triple Click host Jason Schreier joins me to explain how the video game business is battling with its own abundance. Act 1: Heaven for gamers Act 2: Hell for game makers Patreon bonus: A big chat about mainstream media and gaming Act 3: News of the week See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Oct 6

Get video episodes, weekly bonus content, and early access at Patreon.com/postgames Get the full episode notes for free at www.post.games This week, you get two podcasts for the price of one. First: the Nintendo mailbag. Listeners sent in a U-Haul's worth of questions about Nintendo. What's up with the unusually "usual" approach to the Switch 2 release? Why can the publisher do whatever it likes without the fandom going into revolt? Second: I complete our NSFW video game interviews. In previous episodes, we spoke with an NSFW game designer and an NSFW game academic. Today, you’ll meet Annie, the host of Sex Positive Gaming, an NSFW gaming YouTube channel. How does a YouTube channel dedicated to games that break the YouTube terms of service exist? You’ll get the answer to that question and many more! This week on Post Games, a double-episode I'm dubbing "Mario's Nipples." Act 1: Making sense of modern Nintendo Patreon bonus: Why Nintendo ignores some of its biggest franchises Act 2: Life as an NSFW game YouTuber Act 3: News of the Week See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Sep 29

Subscribe to the Patreon for bonus content at patreon.com/postgames Subscribe to the free newsletter for full show notes at www.post.games A few months ago, NSFW games appeared to be thriving. Then came the censorship campaign. To help us understand what shifted in the culture over the summer, and where NSFW games go from here, I needed an expert on media censorship, video games, pornography, feminism, and the history of sex labor activism. Today’s guest is that unicorn. Jean Ketterling is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Studies – Women’s and Gender Studies Program at the University of Saskatchewan. Act 1: The summer sexy games got banned Act 2: The future fight against game censorship Patreon Bonus: The gooner contingency and NSFW game recs Act 3: News of the week Patreon Bonus: What I saw at SEGA See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Sep 22

Get bonus segments and episodes for $5 at Patreon.com/postgames Get full show notes in the free newsletter at post.games This week on Post Games: How did Xbox get here? Former VP of Xbox Game Studios Shannon Loftis takes us on a guided tour of Microsoft's gaming ambitions, from the days before Windows 95 to Xbox's ambitious bet on the future of entertainment. Patreon bonus prologue: The case for having fun Act 1: Microsoft’s first tiny team of game makers Act 2: Xbox before the acquisitions Act 3: News of the week Art by James Bareham Theme by Mark Sparling See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Sep 15

Get bonus content in every episode at patreon.com/postgames Get full show notes in the free newsletter at www.post.games What's it like to pursue a degree in video games? And what's life like as a video game professor? This week, my guest is Aaron Trammell, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, who teaches undergraduate and graduate students about games, ranging from video games to tabletop games, the craft of design to the critique of play. Act 1: Life as a video game student Act 2: Life as a video game professor Patreon bonus: 5 new video game books to read this fall Act 3: The news of the week ( Audio note: There's a little bit of audio level imbalance with my guest's recording in this episode. I was able to fix most of the issues, but it sounds just a little strange, that's why. This should be a one-off issue. Thanks for your patience!) Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Sep 8

Get full episode notes at post.games Get bonus segments and episodes for $5 at patreon.com/postgames This week on Post Games: Act 1: The story of a video game studio in 2025 Act 2: Behind-the-scenes of A Life Well Wasted Patreon Bonus: Games and perverts Act 3: The news of the Week Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Sep 5

Listen to the full audiobook at patreon.com/postgames. Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Sep 1

Subscribe for $5 to get bonus segments and episodes at Patreon.com/postgames Get the newsletter with full show notes and links for free at www.post.games This September, following a successful run on the experimental gaming handheld Playdate, Blippo+ will release on Nintendo Switch and Steam. The game, created in collaboration with an iconic indie band, attempts to reproduce the feeling of channel surfing in the early days of cable television. Its graphics aren’t graphics at all, but full-motion video . Actors bounced around shows that resemble episodes of Pee-wee Herman, the concerts of Klaus Nomi, and the “I can’t believe they made this for kids” programming of early Nickelodeon and MTV. As I played Blippo+ , flipping through the channels, I felt a deep nostalgia for something I'd nearly forgotten. And then I wondered: what inspires artists to try to recreate not just a show or a TV channel’s slate, but the entire TV experience. To find out, I spoke with rockstar, journalist, and Blippo+ writer Claire Evans! This week on Post Games: Act 1: From Rockstar to Game Maker Act 2: The Birth of Blippo Patreon Bonus: A Guide to Metal Gear Solid: Delta Act 3: News of the Week Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Aug 25

Get full episode notes at www.patreon.com/postgames and www.post.games Video game adaptations threaten to replace superhero movies as Hollywood's favorite fad. How did Mario and friends evolve from box office poison into some of the most valuable IPS in movie history? Today on Post Games: an extended interview with filmmaker and video essayist Patrick H. Willems, in which we make sense of 30 years and five distinct eras of video game adaptations. Act 1: The Doomed Decades Act 2: The Hollywood Hits A Patreon bonus: The Future of Video Game Movies. Patrick sticks around to speculate on the future of video game adaptations – including no fewer than 46 movies in active development Act 3: The News of the Week You can now watch Post Games shorts on Instagram , YouTube , and TikTok . Like the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ! Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Aug 18

Get full show notes at www.post.games Subscribe for bonus segments and episodes, plus everything is ad-free! www.patreon.com/postgames Heads up! You can now watch Post Games shorts on Instagram , YouTube , and TikTok . Today's guest is musical composer, orchestrator, lyricist, conductor, and musician Mike Pettry, who climbed the rungs of the theater world and now performs in the orchestras of award-winning Broadway shows. His performances have accompanied artists like Ben Platt and Idina Menzel. But as his Broadway career blossomed, Pettry began to fantasize about something else entirely: making a musical… video game. A murder mystery musical video game, to be precise. Murder at the Birch Tree Theater is a deduction game, in the style of Return of the Obra Dinn and The Case of the Golden Idol . Set across many years at a small community theater, it tells a story of intrigue, small-time fame, and, as the title promises, murder. I talk with Pettry about juggling his two dreams on the world's biggest stage. Or under it. He plays in the orchestra after all. Act 1: A gamer in the Broadway pit Act 2: Fine-tuning a musical murder mystery game Patreon-bonus: Three original songs based on retro gaming classics, created by Mike Pettry and his longtime collaborator Eli Bolin The two previously wrote and orchestrated songs for John Mulaney’s Sack Lunch Bunch and Documentary Now! Act 3: The news of the week Like the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ! Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Aug 11

Get full episode notes for free at www.post.games Get bonus content, early episodes, and extended episode notes for $5 a month at www.patreon.com/postgames This week on Post Games, I'm answering your questions about the future of games. Plus, an extended conversation with video game podcaster, YouTuber, and content creator Brendon Bigley about his long-running series Into the Aether and his new gaming news publication, Wavelengths. Act 1: A Q&A about the future of video games Bonus for Patreon: The nitty-gritty bits of gaming’s future, from AI to Act 2: How to launch a new video games media brand w/ Brendon Bigley Bonus for Patreon: The trick to creating a successful podcast Act 3: The news of the week You can now watch Post Games shorts on Instagram , YouTube , and TikTok . Like the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ! Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Aug 4

Two options for full show notes, including links to stories, games, and related topics! Subscribe to the Patreon at www.patreon.com/postgames Subscribe to the free newsletter at www.post.games Next week: For the mailbag, send voice notes to postgamesmailbag (at) gmail. Please keep them under 90 seconds and include your name and pronouns. This week on Post Games Countless video games depict death, but few ask us to contemplate our mortality. Thank goodness. Mario wouldn’t be nearly as fun if we had to attend every goomba’s funeral. And yet, as I approach 40 and my death anxieties find new ways to keep me awake, I wonder if video games could be uniquely equipped to help us emotionally grapple with the big question that has no answer: what comes next? So, I called an expert. Video game writer and narrative director Kaitlin Tremblay has written three games exploring the many sides of death: A Mortician’s Tale, Seasonala Cemetery, and the upcoming Ambrosia Sky. Don't let the topic fool you. This is an uplifting conversation. And hey, if you're listening to this episode, then I can guarantee one thing: you're alive. Act 1 : A life of making games about death Act 2: How death in games can help us Patreon Bonus: Why I keep playing this tiny game about dying Act 3: News of the Week Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jul 28

Get the full episode notes at www.post.games Subscribe to the Patreon for bonus content and early releases at www.patreon.com/postgames Gaming historian Jeremy Parish joins me for the entire episode to tell the story of gaming’s most famous primate. Act 1: How Donkey Kong saved Nintendo Act 2: Donkey Kong’s long journey back to the top Patreon Bonus: The Top 5 Donkey Kong games – and the #1 strangest Act 3: The news of the week Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jul 21

Get the full episode notes with links at www.post.games Subscribe to the Patreon for early access, bonus segments, and a monthly video series at patreon.com/postgames This week on Post Game: Late-night comedy writer Mike Drucker and Tactical Breach Wizards director Tom Francis explain how they make video games funny and find the humor in loving video games. Patreon bonus prologue: What it's like to write jokes for Nintendo Act 1: Adapting a life of video games into a comedic memoir Act 2: The cheats to make your video game funny Act 3: The news of the week Bonus book excerpt: Good Game, No Rematch - "The StarCraft Conspiracy" Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jul 14

Get full show notes for free at https://postgame.substack.com/ Get bonus segments, early and ad-free episodes, and a monthly video series at https://www.patreon.com/c/PostGames This week on Post Games, Atari CEO Wade Rosen joins me to discuss gaming’s ship of Theseus. While everyone remembers Atari at its height, most folks ignored the company's struggles following the games industry crash of 1983. Understandably! For forty years, Atari has been a brand in search of a purpose. Rosen is determined to change that, making Atari relevant for the first time in forty years. And he wants to do so while having a sense of humor and respect for the brand's long, long journey. Who doesn't love a comeback story? Patreon bonus prologue: A history of Atari and its lost decades Act 1: Why Atari can’t die, an extended conversation with Atari CEO Wade Rosen Act 2: What is a “modern” Atari game Act 3: The news of the week Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jul 7

Get full episode notes, links, and related materials for free at www.post.games Get extra-long episodes, bonus content, monthly videos, and more (plus, no ads!) at patreon.com/postgames Welcome to Post Game’s first annual physical, in which a special guest joins me to assess the health and stability of gaming, from the creators to the players, the industry to the culture. I’ve invited one of the smartest, analytical, and forward-thinking minds in video – writer, developer, publisher, critic, analyst, and occasional voice actor Xalavier Nelson Jr. – to give video games a thorough workup Bonus Patreon Prologue: The state of games 10, 20, and 30 years ago Act 1: The best of times - Why 2025 could be the golden age of video games Act 2: The worst of times - Why video games feel doomed Bonus Patreon interview segment: Xalavier on gaming’s past, present, and future Act 3: The news of the week, including the ghoulish mass layoffs at Xbox Today's episode's act-interstitials feature music from the games of Strange Scaffold! Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jun 30

Get full episode notes at www.post.games and subscribe on Patreon at patreon.com/postgames. Before we get started... If you have a moment and don't mind, please leave a review of Post Games on Apple Podcasts . I know, it's silly, but it's also a humongous help in these early days. This week on Post Games Act 1: Dunkey on his love/hate relationship with Death Stranding, life as YouTube game critic, and the power of changing your mind A bonus act for Patreon subscribers: Dunkey on video game critics and criticism Act 2: A "guide" to Death Stranding 2’s big, weird ideas Act 3: The news of the week Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jun 23

Editor’s note: This week, I’m making all acts available to all listeners. The Patreon edition of the episode, however, is still early and ad-free. For context: My two guests participated on tight timelines and under special circumstances. And my essay was the conclusion of last week’s episode. As I finished the edit, I felt bad putting any of the acts behind the paywall. This won’t be the norm – frankly, I’ll need more paid subscribers before the end of the year if I want to keep this my full-time focus – but for this week, it felt like the right decision. For those who subscribe on Patreon, thank you so much for your support. I don’t take it for granted. Hope you enjoy this behemoth! This week on Post Games Act 1: The five-year AI timeline that blew up my plans for the future Act 2: What if AI is dumb, but we’re dumber Bonus act: The year-long strike to protect video game voice actors from AI An interview with Sarah Elmaleh, the chair of the SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee Act 3: The news of the week And another bonus act: An excerpt from the audiobook of Everything Must Go , Dorian Lynskey's non-fiction history of apocalyptic storytelling. The chapter: apocalyptic AI! Get full episode notes at www.post.games Subscribe to Post Games on Patreon. For $5, subscribers get bonus segments in every episode — and none of the ads! They also have access to a monthly video series, receive new episodes days before the ad-supported feed, and ensure the show stays alive! Now available: the first video in the Video Game Journalism 101 series! Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jun 16

This week on Post Games, “What we have in common with world-ending AI.” Act 1: Why every AI superfan and skeptic should play Universal Paperclips. A review conversation with AJ Fillari, co-host of dotzip and producer of Into the Aether For Patreon subscribers, an intermission : 5 "clicker" games to play after Universal Paperclips Act 2: An extended interview with Frank Lantz, the creator of Universal Paperclips about designing a game from the AI's POV Act 3: The news of the week, including cool game art for a good cause Also for Patreon subscribers : a recording of Frank Lantz’s famous speech about the trouble with modern video games This episode is part one of a two-part series on what we can learn about AI and ourselves through video games. Next week, we'll continue with "How I AI-proofed my career after imagining the apocalypse." (Image: Chris Plante via Team Asobi/SIE) FATHER’S DAY DEAL!! Click this link to try a free month of Post Games on Patreon. Offer expires Tuesday night! If you enjoy the free month, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or recommending the show to your favorite gaming Discord or other group chats Or, if you want to support the show A.S.A.P. and keep the Post Games ship afloat…. Subscribe to Post Games on Patreon. Subscribers get bonus segments in every episode — and none of the ads! They also have access to a monthly video series, receive new episodes days before the ad-supported feed, and ensure the show stays alive! Now available: the first video in the Video Game Journalism 101 series ! Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jun 9

Get full episode notes, links, and bonus materials for free at www.Post.Games. This week on Post Games, “What is a video game console launch in 2025?” Act 1: What’s it like to run a video game shop when a console launches? An interview with Kelsey Lewin, the co-owner of Pink Gorilla Games Act 2: Nintendo’s history of console launches. An interview with Chris Kohler, Editorial Director of Digital Eclipse Act 3: The news of the week, including big announcements leading into Summer Game Fest And for Patreon subscribers, a bonus act: What it was like to be parents scrambling for new consoles and games in the 1990s. An interview with my parents. Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jun 2

Find all links and referenced materials at www.post.games This week on Post Games, “Why you can’t escape porn, sex, and lewd games.” Act 1: How NSFW games went from the backrooms to the front page Act 2: An interview with Hot Pink, a successful lewd game developer Act 3: The news of the week, including the definitive answer to the most important question in America in this troubling moment: Is parrying in games good or bad? For Patreon subscribers: The long, successful history of sex games in Japan. Want to know how the Western market went from decades of porn game prohibition to the modern lewd game free-for-all? The answer can be found in the decades of Japanese “eroge.” Plus, a reading from The Joy of Cybersex. Like the show? Consider subscribing to Post Games on Patreon! Subscribers keep the show alive, get tons of cool stuff, and can listen to new episodes early! This Monday, I’m publishing the first video in the Video Game Journalism 101 series! Next Friday: the Switch 2 launch special with Nintendo historians Kelsey Lewin and Chris Kohler! Logo by James Bareham Theme by Mark Sparling Special thanks to guest Hot Pink Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

May 26

See the full episode notes and links at www.post.games This week on Post Games, “You won the biggest award in indie games. Now what?” Act 1: The history of indie games and its biggest award, The Independent Games Festival’s Seamus McNally Grand Prize Act 2: An interview with Jenny Jiao Hsia and AP Thomson, the latest IGF Grand Prize winners, about how post-award life changes – and stays the same Act 3: The news of the week, including incredible and rare games you can now play in English Plus: For Patreon subscribers, a bonus interview: The story of the high school kids who won the first-ever IGF Grand Prize in 1999 for Fire and Darkness. One of the game’s creators actually hopped on a call and shared what became of the team and their lost game Subscribe to Post Games on Patreon . Keep the show alive, get tons of cool stuff, and listen to new episodes early! Next Friday: why you can't escape porn/sex/lewd games! And on Monday, June 2, the first video in the Video Game Journalism 101 series! Logo by James Bareham Theme by Mark Sparling Special thanks to guests Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, and Mark Feghali Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

May 25

Want to know more about what’s happening behind the scenes at Post Games? Curious where the show is heading in its first year? Post Games: Episode 0 serves as an audio FAQ. Structured like a traditional episode, this prequel features an interview with Platformer founder and Hard Fork co-host Casey Newton about independent journalism's history, function, and value. Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

May 18

Post Games will be available to everyone on May 26. Patreon subscribers will get early access to Episode 1 (and Episode 0) on Friday, May 23. Here’s a link . Find episode notes and more at www.post.games. Subscribe to the Patreon for early access to episodes, additional segments, and bonus materials at patreon.com/postgames. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .