As a gamer, you only have a certain amount of time per day that you can actually play games. Assuming you have a life that involves school, work, hanging out with friends, going to the gym, or some combination thereof, you’re left with just a few hours per week to spend with a controller in hand.
But just because you can’t spend 18 hours a day slaying noobs in Call of Duty or taking your buddies on in FIFA friendlies, doesn’t mean you can’t get more enjoyment out of your hobby. If you spend any time at all in the car, exercising, sitting in a cubicle punching away at a keyboard, etc., you have time for gaming podcasts.
If you’ve yet to discover gaming podcasts, you’re in for a treat. There are dozens in the iTunes store, though some are notably superior. Finding one you like is like rescuing Princess Peach for the first time. It’s a sweet moment where all feels right in the world.
To help you in your quest for finding the best video game podcasts, here’s a look at ten awesome video game podcasts you can add to your playlist.
What’s Good Games
What’s Good Games is a relatively new podcast that has taken the industry by storm. What makes it particularly unique and refreshing is that its four co-hosts are all women. The gaming industry, dominated by males, has sorely needed a more visible female perspective, and this quartet of industry veterans delivers exactly what we needed. This podcast is funny, witty, and edgy, and touches on a variety of topics that every gamer can relate to. Plus, the ladies are extremely active on social media, really making listeners feel heard and appreciated.
Kinda Funny Gamescast
Hosted by Greg Miller and Tim Gettys, this gaming podcast drips with energy. Miller, an industry entertainment superstar, brings knowledge, experience, and humor to Kinda Funny Gamescast, which covers industry news, along with analysis and opinions. They frequently bring special guests on the show for interesting and unique perspectives, and all episodes are recorded as videos as well.
The Giant Bombcast
One of the better known video game podcasts, The Giant Bombcast is packed with great content, and runs longer than the rest of the podcasts on this list (which is either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the listener); each week, a three-hour episode is released. Those who don’t have the time to listen to that long of a podcast could be scared off. However, if you get the time, it’s worth checking out. The hosts are funny, and the quality is far superior to most podcasts.
8-4 Play
It’s impossible to create a list of video game podcasts and not include 8-4 Play. The podcast has been around in some form or fashion for more than a decade and is every bit as unique as its hosts, Mark MacDonald and Chris Ricciardi, who actually moved to Japan to start a company that translates Japanese games into English in order to bring them to the western world. This is the perfect podcast for gamers who are tired of listening to people talk about the same old games and would prefer to hear about something totally new.
The Patch
Hosted by The Rooster Teeth production company, The Patch is a unique podcast and video series that primarily focuses on gaming. And while the meat of every podcast is about video games, you’ll also get a lot of entertaining news stories and side discussions. But unlike some podcasts that have only been around for a few months, The Patch has been around for quite a while. As a result, there are more than 150 episodes available for download.
Gamers With Jobs
For adult gamers with careers and families, the gaming world can seem a bit immature at times. It’s largely comprised of kids and it’s easy to feel as if you’re an outsider. Enter the Gamers With Jobs podcast. Each week, the hosts take a look at different video games and issues affecting the industry – with an extremely mature tone made for an audience of seasoned gamers.
GoNintendo Podcast
It’s nice to find a reliable video game podcast. While the ones ranked on this list are all pretty dependable, it’s fairly common to see a podcast emerge and then disappear after just a few months. The GoNintendo podcast hasn’t missed a week in more than a decade, which means you’re guaranteed to get fresh content on a regular basis. Plus, the host, Kevin Cassidy is absolutely hilarious.
Idle Thumbs
For those more interested in the design and development side of gaming, Idle Thumbs is a great podcast. Hosted by Nick Breckon, Chris Remo, and Sean Vanaman, the show is refreshing in that it discusses a lot of indie games. When you tune in, you aren’t going to hear the same old gaming news that’s regurgitated on most internet message boards and amateur podcasts.
Three Moves Ahead
If you’re a strategy gamer, Three Moves Ahead is your gaming podcast. Founded in 2009, the podcast actually became part of the Idle Thumbs network a few years back. While there are three regular panelists, a number of high profile guests join in on different episodes to talk about both classic and modern strategy games. The conversation tends to be very analytical and often looks at design elements, strategy, and user interfaces.
The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast
The beauty of The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast is that it’s strikingly familiar. You’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a group of friends who are casually talking about board games, miniatures, card games, video games, and other geeky topics. It’s a round table type of discussion that’s funny, entertaining, and surprisingly enlightening.
You might not be able to play video games all day, but you can certainly find time to listen to a few of these gaming podcasts every week. Not only will you be entertained, but you may also learn a thing or two.