Post Games

Show Notes and Bonus EpisodesWant full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgamesThis week on Post Games:Act 1: Games Enter the Art WorldAct 2: How Games Help Us Through Tough ConversationsPatreon Bonus: A Personal History of Games in Art and Art in GamesGuests:Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley: artist, game designer, and archivistClosing Song: “It’s Raining Inside Alo’s Home” by Prateek Saxena (Fishbowl)Art & Music:Logo and show art by James BarehamTheme by Mark SparlingAll Post Games interviews are edited for concision and clarity.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Show Notes and Bonus EpisodesWant full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgamesThis week on Post Games:Act 1: Dissecting Disco Elysium, Organ by OrganAct 2: Converting Tabletop RPGs into Video Game NirvanaPatreon Bonus: All You Have to Do Is Write a Million WordsAct 3: The News of the WeekGuests:Christoffer Bodegård: writer and developer, Esoteric EbbNathan Grayson: co-founder and reporter, Aftermath.siteClosing Song: “Battle Beneath the Crust” by Marskye (Dosa Divas)Art & Music:Logo and show art by James BarehamTheme by Mark SparlingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Show Notes and Bonus EpisodesWant full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgamesThis Week on Post Games:Act 1: How Stern Survived the Pinball ApocalypseAct 2: What Makes a Pinball Table Special in 2026?Patreon Bonus: Adapting Pokémon into a Pinball TableAct 3: The News of the WeekGuests:Seth Davis: President and CEO, Stern PinballLewis Gordon: Reporter and CriticClosing Song: “A Musical Tale” by bermei.inazawa (Chicory: A Musical Tale)Art & Music:Logo and show art by James BarehamTheme by Mark SparlingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgamesThis week on Post Games:Act 1: Games Teach Us to Break Free from Life’s GrindAct 2: Metrics Suck the Joy Out of LifePatreon Bonus: Have Metrics Infested Video Games?Act 3: The News of the WeekGuests:C. Thi Nguyen: a philosopher, educator, and author. His latest book is The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else’s GameGita Jackson: critic, editor, and co-founder of AftermathClosing Song: “Ocarina of Time” by Sixth Station Trio (Zelda Classics album)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

[Editor’s note: This week, all subscribers will have access to the Patreon-exclusive bonus segment. If you enjoy this extra material, or would just like to support the long-term health of the show, please consider subscribing on Patreon or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts.]Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgamesThis week on Post Games:Act 1: The 17-Year Fight to Protect Games from the GovernmentAct 2: The ESA’s President on AI, Child Safety, and Calls for UnionizationPatreon Bonus: Three Big Takeaways from the Interview Guests:Stanley Pierre-Louis: President and CEO, ESAClosing Song: “Jumping Voices (Big Walk Theme)” by aksfx (Big Walk)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgamesThis week on Post Games:Act 1: What Is Fictophilia?Act 2: Fandom, Parasocial Relationships, and Big TechPatreon Bonus: Post Games Hits Two MilestonesAct 3: The News of the WeekGuests:Tanja Välisalo: Teacher, researcher, and project coordinator at the Department of Music, Art and Culture Studies at the University of Jyväskylä in FinlandNicole Carpenter: Reporter at publications like 404 Media, Vulture, Polygon, and moreClosing Song: “Character Selection Theme “ by Vibe Avenue (Tears of Metal)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgamesThis week on Post Games:Act 1: Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil, and the Birth of the Video Game MovieAct 2: Life of a Video Game Movie AuteurPatreon Bonus: How to Make a Hit Video Game MovieAct 3: The News of the WeekGuests:Paul W.S. Anderson: Director of Mortal Kombat, the Resident Evil film series, and moreKazuma Hashimoto: Video game critic, analyst, and consultantClosing Song: "Altar" by Jorge Flores (Desktop Explorer)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5This week on Post Games:Act 1: A Career Built on “A Cry for Help”Act 2: “This Is a Fuck You”Patreon Bonus: Tidepools, Pinball, and a Musical: The “Sunny Side” of Edmund McMillenGuests:Edmund McMillen: Co-creator of MewgenicsClosing Song: “Fleas and Parasites” by Matthias Bossi and John Evans (Mewgenics)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5This week on Post Games:Act 1: Stealing What's YoursAct 2: The Need for AfricanfuturismPatreon Bonus: What It's Actually Like Making Games in South AfricaAct 3: The News of the WeekGuests:Ben Myres, CEO, Co-Founder, and Creative Director of NyamakopMohale Mashigo, Narrative Director of RelootedNathan Grayson, Co-Founder of AftermathSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5This week on Post Games:Act 1: Dragon Quest’s Many False Starts in AmericaAct 2: How Dragon Quest Became InescapablePatreon Bonus: Tim Rogers on How to Savor a Dragon Quest GameAct 3: The News of the WeekGuests: Andrew Webster, The Verge & Tim Rogers, Action ButtonClosing Song: “Haven” by Nicolas Gueguen (MIO: Memories in Orbit)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5This week on Post Games:Act 1: How Nintendo Became a Game CompanyAct 2: Nintendo’s PresentPatreon Bonus: The Future of Nintendo After Its Icons DepartAct 3: News of the WeekGuest: Keza MacDonald, journalist and author of Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of PlayClosing Song: "Oubliette: from Ratcheteer DX (Matthew Grim)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5This week on Post Games:Act 1: Turning Your Life into a GameAct 2: Recreating a Place and a MomentPatreon Bonus: The History of Memoir Games in 5 TitlesAct 3: News of the WeekGuest: Meredith Gran, creator of Perfect Tides: Station to StationClosing Music: Perfect Tides: Station to StationUpcoming Mini-Episode: An extra special bonus for Patreon subscribers. On the launch day of Station to Station, January 22nd, I’ll release an additional mini-episode in which Meredith and I talk about the game’s themes, twists, and ending. It was incredible to chat with a game creator without the fear of spoilers, to actually dig deep into the work and their intentions. You’ll love it!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5This week on Post Games:Act 1: A History of Women in Games MediaAct 2: Mothership Lands on EarthPatreon Bonus: Imagining a Better Future for Video GamesAct 3: The News of the WeekPatreon Bonus Mini-Episode: A Century of Women’s Media in 15-MinutesGuests: Maddy Myers and Zoë Hannah, founders of Mothership.blogEditor's note: This episode went live at the same time as its Patreon version so everyone had access to news of Mothership.blog. The public Post Games feed will return to its Monday release time next week.Say hello to your next favorite website.Mothership is a site built at the intersection of gender and games. Today, I’ll be chatting with founders Maddy Myers and Zoë Hannah. They’ll provide a primer on the history of women in games media, dating back to the early 1980s. And they’ll share their months-long effort to make Mothership a reality.To set the stage, here’s part of Mothership.blog‘s mission statement:"Whenever we boot up an RPG character creator (or pick up a TTRPG character sheet), we can’t help but interrogate the choices that are available — and the ones that aren’t. We’ve noticed how many female video game characters, even our favorites, have hourglass figures and pale complexions. We can’t help but consider and interrogate the gender norms on display among male characters in games as well, whether we’re revving a Lancer as Marcus Fenix or swinging a sword as Link… or putting on a Gerudo disguise.At Mothership, you’ll read writing from a diverse roster of contributors. You’ll find reviews, criticism, and opinion stories about games’ depiction of gender, as well as stories about how these games are marketed. You’ll get investigative reporting on the people who make games in an era when “DEI” is on the wane. You’ll read historical deep dives on the games and creators that paved the way, especially those that didn’t get due credit way back then."This is a sprawling conversation about games, gender, media, and that deep urge we all share to connect and be seenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5Guest: Ash Parrish, reporter and critic at The VergeAct 1: The IndustryAct 2: The Games and TrendsPatreon Bonus: The Best and Worst Case Scenarios for 2026Act 3: The News of the Week2026 has only just begun, but already I’m certain it’ll be (at least for gaming culture) historic.Yes, it’s the year of GTA 6. It’s also the year of no fewer than ten thousand other games. Barring a cataclysmic event, more games will be released in 2026 than in any year prior.This avalanche of competition will continue to be bad news for game makers, who must not only will they battle for attention with their contemporaries, but also the tens of thousands of “new” and now steeply discounted games released since the pandemic, the free-to-play time drains, and the entirety of retro gaming playable on ever cheaper handheld emulators.Inversely, in 2026, this abundance will be a boon for most of you listening, at least in the short term. Where the glut of games that nearly killed the game industry in the 1980s was garbage, we are not wonting for high quality games serving nearly every imaginable niche.Before 2025 ended, I had already played a dozen or so solid games that will be released in 2026. And two 2026 games would have made my 2025 Game of the Year list had they been released.Add in some acquisitions, some closures, an uptick in unionization, a delinquent government oversight, and a nauseating economy, and you will be overwhelmed with existential questions about the medium.Will video game players return to buying new games after years of gorging on forever games? Will Take Two and Grand Theft Auto deal the final blow to the once-powerful video game publishers? Will developers find new ways to get their games to their intended audience, or will more and more great games be commercial failures, leading some of the great game makers of our time to change careers?The answers to those questions could alter the lives and fortunes of tens of thousands of game makers. And could influence what you do and don’t make time to play.We’ll untangle those knots in today’s episode. Our guest is The Verge’s Ash Parrish, who has a uniquely broad and deep understanding of modern gaming, both in the industry as a reporter and the games as a critic.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Editor's Note: Hey Post Games listeners. To give myself a lighter load this holiday, I’m posting one of the monthly Patreon-exclusive episodes. The patrons selected the origin story of Pokémon. They think you’ll enjoy it, and I do, too!If you like this episode and want access to a backlog of bonus episodes and future bonuses, subscribe to Patreon.com/PostGames for $5. Next Monday, I’ll be posting the latest exclusive, “1996: The Most Important Year in Games,” featuring the co-hosts of My Life in Gaming!Get full show notes for free at www.post.gamesBefore Game Freak created Pokémon, it was a hand-stapled video game zine written by a crew of arcade-loving teenagers.Welcome to the debut episode of Past Games, the new Patreon-exclusive series dedicated to revisiting the stories behind classic games and gaming moments. Over the next few months, we’ll be flipping through dusty periodicals and dog-eared history books to learn more about 2026’s big gaming anniversaries.For this episode, I invited my buddy Brendon Bigley (Wavelengths, Into the Aether) to talk pocket monsters. I share the history of the biggest children’s entertainment icon since Mickey Mouse, and Brendon shares his experience of growing up alongside the rise of Pokémania.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.