This week's pod is a roundup episode featuring Blade Chimera, Midtris, and Death Stranding 2. In the roundup: Tron Catalyst, Tiny Garden, Preserve, Wheel World. I also talk about moving the podcast's hosting away from Spotify, given the unforgivable actions of the CEO, and discuss removing GITW from Spotify completely. For the record — Pocketcasts does it just as well; and YouTube Music has you covered if you have a YT Premium subscription. Links mentioned: My Grapevine cover story: https://grap...
Jul 12, 2025•36 min•Season 6Ep. 262
Hey folks! This week's pod gives some initial thoughts on Kojima's new joint Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, then runs through over 20 demos from the recent Steam Next Fest, including Ball X Pit, Herdling, MIO: Memories In Orbit, Hirogami, Death Howl, Gecko Gods, and more. Join the Patreon for extra stuff: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/ Video version of the Next Fest section: https:/...
Jun 29, 2025•42 min•Season 6Ep. 261
Post-Hades roguelikes are a dime a dozen, but Lost In Random: The Eternal Die stands head and shoulders above the pack. It matches the gold standard set by the Supergiant classic with its strong art style, tight combat, satisfying progression, and build variety. Unlike much of the genre, it also respects your time, and it takes luck, thought, and skill to craft a winning build, and earn a winning run. In the roundup: Next Fest, Gecko Gods, MIO: Memories In Orbit, The Drifter, and more. Support t...
Jun 17, 2025•33 min•Season 6Ep. 260
Hello folks! Here's a little bonus episode taken from a YouTube video I put out this week — it's a rundown of some of the most interesting games spotted at the summer showcases so far, including Summer Game Fest, Day of the Devs, State of Play, the Xbox Showcase, and the PC Gaming Showcase. If you're listening in Spotify, you can see game footage as you listen. If you're listening elsewhere and wanna see the games, have a look over here: https://youtu.be/JvxovKLmM9I Thanks for listening as alway...
Jun 10, 2025•25 min•Season 6Ep. 259
Switch 2 is here! This week's show reviews Nintendo's brand new hardware, and the launch lineup — and wonders whether Switch 2 can become another indie game powerhouse. There's also a review of Spilled, a lovely little eco-game about cleaning up waterways and making the world a better place. In the roundup: Symphonia, Star Overdrive, Tainted Grail, Pipistrello & The Cursed Yoyo, Fast Fusion, Mario Kart World. Support the show on Patreon: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild Check out my Pages ...
Jun 09, 2025•44 min•Season 6Ep. 258
This week's episode looks at the hot new deck builder sequel Monster Train 2, and does a deep dive into the muddled but enjoyable Dragon age: The Veilguard. In the roundup: Star Wars Outlaws 'A Pirate's Fortune' DLC. Join the Patreon for a suite of patron-only bonus podcasts: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild Get extra GITW over on Youtube: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild Follow the Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/ F...
May 23, 2025•53 min•Season 6Ep. 257
This week's show is a roguelike roundup, as I play some chilled out turn-based games as a Clair Obscur comedown. Reviewed: Star Vaders and Drop Duchy. In the roundup: To a T, Monster Train 2, Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon. If you'd like more GITW episodes, there are 16 patron bonus episodes you can unlock for a couple of bucks at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild . Watch the videos I make on YouTube: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild . Follow the podcast's Steam curator page to see if games yo...
May 18, 2025•33 min•Season 6Ep. 256
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a masterfully wrought FRPG (or J'RPG?) that combines a romantic high fantasy world with a bold, vivid, original big-swing story. The From-inspired combat veers between pulse-racing and frustrating — but for a game of this sky high quality, it's worth gritting your teeth and parrying your way to the remarkable finale. In the roundup: Star Vaders, Drop Duchy, Monster Train 2. Become a patron for extra episodes! http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild . I'm a BlueSky main ...
May 11, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 6Ep. 255
This is the final part of the KRZ community playthrough, looking at the excellent interlude Un Pueblo de Nada, the gorgeous sun-soaked village of Act V, and the optional epilogue, Death of the Hired Man. Thanks so much to everyone who has played along and sent in comments! This won't be the last time I play KRZ, but it might be the most special. Join the Patreon to support the show and get 15 bonus podcasts: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild . Find me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gaming...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 6Ep. 254
Promise Mascot Agency is a pocket-sized open world like no other. Playing a disgraced Yakuza consigned to a dying former mining town, it's part open-world collectathon, part management sim, and part visual novel. But none of that does justice to game's truly bizarre charm, or the unrestrained chaos and humour that make it ones of the best indie games of the year so far. In the roundup: Clair Obscur, South of Midnight, Blue Prince, Drop Duchy, and more. Join the Patreon: http://patreon.com/gaming...
Apr 24, 2025•40 min•Season 6Ep. 253
London Games Festival 2025 was a packed event this year, with events including New Game+, Now Play This, Good Game Dev Club, Darkfield At The Ditch, the BAFTA Awards, and more. I was in London for the festivities, and this episode is my report on the festival. Games covered: Herdling, Will: Follow The Light, Passant, Beyond The Board, Battle Suit Aces, Gunboat God, Button Man, Moroi, Henry Halfhead, Time Flies, Wheel World, Lushfoil Photography Sim, All Will Rise, Treeplanter, and Vapourwave Pin...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr•Season 6Ep. 252
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 bon...
Apr 04, 2025•57 min•Season 6Ep. 251
Act IV of KRZ takes the form of an epic river journey that feels like the centrepiece of the game. It's a voyage down the Echo River aboard the Mucky Mammoth, with the player no longer behind the wheel. We drift between the various members of our ragtag group, deepening our understanding of Ezra, Will, Junebug & Johnny, Shannon, and the ailing Conway, who seems to be losing his grip on the world. As per this play along series, the pod is sprinkled with comments from patrons, pals, and listen...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 6Ep. 250
This week we really do run the gamut of indie to AAA with reviews of tile-based solo dev strategy game Dawnfolk, and the latest Ubisoft blockbuster Assassin's Creed Shadows. Thanks to both developers for supplying review codes! In the roundup: Everhood 2, Monster Hunter Wilds, Promise Mascot Agency. Support this podcast for the price of a coffee each month, and get loads of perks and extras for your generosity! http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild Check out the YouTube for more GITW content: http:...
Mar 20, 2025•37 min•Season 6Ep. 249
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! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/gaming-in-the-wild-video-game-reviews/donations...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 6Ep. 148
This week's episode takes a little breather from the KRZ playthrough as people catch up with Acts II & III. There's a good reason for that: Steam Next Fest happened last week, and a lot of people dived right into the ocean of demos. In fact, the GITW patron community played over 150 demos collectively then voted on their favourites. So this episode we have some honourable mentions, the community's top five, and then my own top five best of the fest. (You can watch the video version of the ma...
Mar 11, 2025•31 min•Season 6Ep. 247
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 YouTub...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 6Ep. 246
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 h...
Feb 24, 2025•55 min•Season 6Ep. 245
Gaming in the Wild is five! And to celebrate, here's a special episode: a rundown of the 20 best indie games I've covered since the podcast began. Show your appreciation, support the show, and help me hit 100 patrons target! http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xbNKMtNKP8 Thanks for listening everyone! and extra-special thanks to everyone in the Discord community. Here's to five more years ! <3 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/gam...
Feb 19, 2025•44 min•Season 6Ep. 244
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...
Feb 14, 2025•38 min•Season 6Ep. 243
**Note: CS2 SPOILERS WITHIN!** I'm joined this week by Citizen Sleeper 2 creator Gareth Damian Martin, who dropped by on the eve of the game's release to talk about space kelp, slamhounds, farm stacks, and how they created one of the most compelling sci-fi worlds in all of video games. See a video version and sub to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtf6G9RAHJc Listen to my Citizen Sleeper 2 review: https://open.spotify.com/episode/49XofEg52vW0s8g0pijdGi?si=5d957facf19948cf Join the Pa...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 6Ep. 242
This week's episode is a review of Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector. It's an ambitious, intelligent, heartfelt sequel, and the first must-play indie game of 2025. Also: many thanks to the show's biggest supporter Magic Mind! Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle with with my link: https://www.magicmind.com/GAMINGLTJAN . Every order supports the podcast, and there's a no-questions-asked guaranteed refund if you don't like it! As always, thanks to all the show’s 92 patrons - you, too, can support ...
Jan 30, 2025•34 min•Season 6Ep. 241
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! *** 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 Sleep...
Jan 24, 2025•32 min•Season 6Ep. 240
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 *** 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,...
Jan 10, 2025•41 min•Season 5Ep. 239
Just under the wire on New Year's Eve — I bring you the Games of the Year Final Cut episode, aka my own top ten games of 2024. And not a Starfield in sight. Support the show on Patreon: http://patron.com/gaminginthewild Follow the show on YouTube: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild. Find the show on BlueSky, Insta, etc: http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild Thanks for listening everyone, and see you in 2025! (00:00) Intro (05:00) Shout outs & honorable mentions (21:15) Top Ten (41:12) Top Five (0...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 238
GOTY season continues! This bumper episode features returning special guest Blinkoom, who dropped by to talk about the Indie Game Awards, the podcast’s patron GOTY vote, and to share his own 2024 faves. It was a great conversation — enjoy! Find Blink on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Blinkoom And Twitch: https://m.twitch.tv/blinkoom/home And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/blinkoom.bsky.social Support this show on Patreon and join the Discord community: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild A...
Dec 21, 2024•2 hr 20 min•Season 5Ep. 237
The third episode in the 2024 games of the year season features special guest Ciarán Daly, a friend of the show, a journalist, and — as of 2024 — a gamedev-in-training. We had a great chat about his faves of the last twelve months including Animal Well, NanoApostle, The Legend of Zelda - Echoes of Wisdom, Lorelei & The Laser Eyes, Wilmot Works It Out, Balatro, Fountains, and 1000xRESIST. Support this pod: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild Check out the videos: http://youtube.com/gaminginthe...
Dec 14, 2024•1 hr 53 min•Season 5Ep. 236
This week’s episode welcomes first-time guest Erik, aka Dovetail — a friend of the pod, and host of the Pages of Play podcast. His show focuses on video game stories, and so do his GOTY picks for 2024. Discussed in this episode show: Arco, Flintlock, Minds Beneath Us, Two Falls, Caravan SandWitch, 1000xRESIST, and Ultros. Follow Pages of Play on Bluesky — https://bsky.app/profile/dovetail.bsky.social — and find the podcast wherever you like to listen. You can support this show on Patron to join ...
Dec 07, 2024•1 hr 49 min•Season 5Ep. 235
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 dir...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 52 min•Season 5Ep. 234
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 th...
Nov 23, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 233
