Vinny Caravella, Brad Shoemaker, and Alex Navarro


Time to make a controversial statement right out of the gate: there are a lot of video game podcasts in the world. If you are the sort of person who likes video games but has always found trying to sift through all the shows covering your favorite hobby too daunting, we’re here to help. This list does not comprise the totality of Great Video Game Podcasts, but it is a healthy selection of shows we think are pretty neat.

Founded in 2005, the 8-4 team is primarily focused on localization, specifically translating and localizing Japanese games to the English market and vice versa. But when they’re not hard at work making games accessible to new audiences, they host the 8-4 Play podcast, which covers games from around the world, albeit with a particular focus toward the Japanese scene.

If you’re a fan of RPGs, Axe of the Blood God is a podcast aimed squarely at your interests. Each week, hosts Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen cover a wide swath of titles from various subgenres, including classic computer games, JRPGS, MMOs, and whatever else falls under the banner of role-playing.

Previously known as the Super Best Friendscast, hosts Woolie and Pat cover the latest gaming news and chat about what they’re playing. This is one of those shows where the easy chemistry between the hosts goes a long way, making for an enjoyable mix of thoughtful commentary and goofing around.

If chaos is what you crave in your video game podcasts, then Fire Escape is probably just what you’re looking for. Every couple of weeks, co-hosts Dan Ryckert, Mary Kish, and Mike Mahardy get together to ostensibly talk about video games, but conversations have a tendency to devolve into stories of old debaucheries, food crimes, and bathroom nightmares. None of that is intended as a criticism. If anything, the divergences make for a lively and unpredictable show.

Noclip has been putting out detailed documentaries covering the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making your favorite video games since 2016, and the crew’s podcast is a mix of discussion of the latest games they’re playing and additional interviews with developers. If you’re into hearing how the video game sausages are made, this is one of the best options around.

If you don’t have the time for more 2-3 hour podcasts in your life, Kahlief Adams’ Spawn on Me might be more your speed. Though originally launched as a multi-host show, these days Kahlief hosts solo, mixing in hour-long discussions on what’s going on in the world of gaming and bite-sized interviews with developers and personalities from around the industry.

If your gaming interests lean toward the more strategic side of things, Three Moves Ahead is the show for you. Whether they’re talking about micromanaging Civil War battalions or building grand space empires, the hosts approach each game drawing from their years of collective critical experience, giving thoughtful takes on what each title brings to the table.

Waypoint Radio has been the flagship podcast of Vice’s gaming vertical since it launched in 2016, and the current cast of Rob Zacny, Patrick Klepek, Renata Price, Ricardo Contreras, and the recently returning Natalie Watson get together twice a week to talk about the week’s biggest games and news stories. The feed also includes some of the team’s side ventures, including a newly launched sports podcast and periodic deep dives into classic films, but the primary show, now over 500 episodes deep, remains one of the most engaging regular video game podcasts around.

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