What is Obscuriosities about?

Obscuriosities explores obscure video games, forgotten retro releases, Japanese-only titles, and unusual corners of game history.

Who hosts Obscuriosities?

Obscuriosities is hosted by Samuel Messner, also known as Obskyr, a Japanese translator and video game preservationist.

How long are Obscuriosities episodes?

Episodes run about 1 to 1.5 hours, based on the available catalog.

Where can I listen to Obscuriosities?

You can listen through podcast apps using its RSS feed or on the official website at podcast.obskyr.io.

How often does Obscuriosities release?

The available catalog has two episodes from 2020, so the show appears to be completed or inactive.

Obscuriosities: The Depths of Video Game History

Obskyr·Hosted by Samuel Messner·2 episodes

EducationLeisureGamesVideo GamesTechnologySolo narratorRetro game historyJapanese gamesStandalone episodes1-1.5 hrs/epInactive

The podcast about obscure video games. Journey to the farthest reaches of video game history – well-kept Japanese-only secrets, forgotten retro games, and everything in between – with Japanese translator and video game preservationist Samuel “Obskyr” Messner. Do you believe in the value of the unknown?

Why listen

Obscuriosities is for listeners who love the forgotten corners of video game history, especially Japanese games that never became household names. Samuel Messner brings a translator and preservationist's eye to each episode, turning obscure retro releases into approachable stories about design, context, and why these oddities matter. It is a strong fit for retro game fans who want discoveries beyond the usual classics.

Episodes

1 hr 15 min

Jun 12, 2020Episode 2

Mon Dieu, It's Jumping Flash 3! — Robbit Mon Dieu

Jumping Flash made a splash in 1995, when it was the first 3D platformer to hit consoles. But did you know there’s a third game in the series, released only in Japan? Today’s all about the Jumping Flash series, and more specifically, the personality-packed Robbit Mon Dieu for the PlayStation 1.Episode page: https://podcast.obskyr.io/episode-2-mon-dieu,-it%27s-jumping-flash-3%21/Tags: PlayStation 1 (PS1)

1 hr 1 min

May 11, 2020Episode 1

The Post-Pokémon Gold Rush

On this inaugural episode of Obscuriosities, we talk about mon games – games inspired to ride the coattails of Pokémon’s creature-collecting craze. But of course, unlike a Digimon or a Monster Rancher… these games didn’t make it big.Today, we explore Kotobattle: Tengai no Moribito (Game Boy Color), Kanzume Monsters (Game Boy), Kanzume Monsters: Parfait (Game Boy Color), Kaseki Sōsei Reborn (Game Boy), and Kaseki Sōsei Reborn II: Monster Digger (Game Boy Color).Episode page: https://podcast.obskyr.io/episode-1-the-post-pok%C3%A9mon-gold-rush/Tags: Game Boy (GB), Game Boy Color (GBC)