The Pocket Gamer Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

What does a creepy cat and a creepy cafe have in common (hint: they're creepy), and why are we talking all things cursed in this episode?  The (New and Improved!) Pocket Gamer Podcast is a two-player back-and-forth this week as Will and I discuss everything from Cinderella's crops to a speedy hedgehog in a car.

Will dives straight into Play Together's Halloween update, where said cursed farms and spectral princesses abound, and as we talk about the oddities of monsters popping up all over Kaia Island, we also ponder the mysteries of just why Cinderella might be cursing an entire town with nightmare veggies.

Speaking of cursed critters, Escape Game: Cat and Cafe is, at first glance, supposed to be a relaxing puzzler where you cosy up with a cute cat and a lovely little cafe - but honestly, with the way the visuals are presented and the mystery of this odd "escape game", it looks more like there's some form of impending doom just lurking around the corner or bubbling beneath the surface here. It's entirely free to play though, so if you're curious, you can give it a go and see for yourself (or we might just be overthinking things and it really is just a puzzler about a cafe and a cat).

Moving on to more festive news, Bleach: Brave Souls is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a cool offline event where the OG voice cast will be doing live readings next month, as well as a bunch of freebies within the RPG itself. Everyone's favourite blue hedgehog is also a testament to long-running franchises, which is how we segue into Sonic Rumble and its release window next month. 

We talk a bit about how multiplayer Sonic games have never really taken off - mainly because there's one that actually put Sonic in a car - but with any luck, this new Stumble Guys-esque adventure will be just the thing to kick off the genre. 

And finally, we end the episode with a bang by announcing that nominations for the 12th Pocket Gamer Awards are now open! You can nominate your faves across a variety of categories, so if, like me, you love Shogun Showdown's roguelike card battles, or, like Will, you fancy Super Farming Boy's quirky anti-capitalism charm, then this is your chance to flaunt your fandom.

How can walking heal your soul, and how much time does Iwan have left on this week's episode? The (New and Improved!) Pocket Gamer Podcast tackles pay-to-win mechanics, stressful jobs, and free games this week.

With Iwan back from a death-defying sabbatical from the park, he kicks things off with Dragon Ball: Gekishin Squadra, which is making welcome balance tweaks to its 4v4 Team Battles to keep things spicy for its community of players. 

We then keep the "action" going with the launch of Blue Protocol: Star Resonance, which might just be the best action RPG on mobile, according to Shaun's very positive experience with it. Most notably, it's interesting how this one seems to be veering away from the typical pay-to-win gacha mechanics in favour of giving you the option to pay for cosmetics instead, which is something we might also see with upcoming projects like Ananta and Duet Night Abyss. 

On to even more exciting developments in the mobile space, Square Enix has surprise-dropped what they're calling a "New Dissidia Final Fantasy" project that's apparently going to be a Team Boss Battle Arena. Mum's the word at the moment though, but despite the developers breaking our hearts and trampling them to the ground with all of their previous mobile shutdowns, we're still pretty excited and willing to get burned yet again when the time comes.

But to help us wait it out until then, Iwan brings good tidings in the form of the Epic Games freebie of the week, which is the Double Dragon Trilogy. Interestingly enough, it also has a mobile-optimised difficulty option, which brings us to the topic of touchscreens, wonky controls, and a throwback to Iwan's review of the CRKD Atom.

Speaking of wonkiness, the spelling for 1f y0u're a gh0st ca11 me here might be all over the place simply because the calls you're answering here are similarly chaotic. The visual novel is out now if you want to stress yourself out as an Underworld call centre agent.

To de-stress before the episode ends (with a special shoutout to The Very Big Indie Pitch at Pocket Gamer Helsinki!), Will takes us through the path of Monster Walk, which is out now to help you keep up your fitness while healing the world and yourself. 

Or, you can always just fight other people with your monsters while you're out and about - that's totally fine too.

The (New and Improved!) Pocket Gamer Podcast dives into the intricacies of evil clowns and monsters as keychains in this week's lively discussion.

Iwan kicks off the conversation with some exciting news on the Pokemon Go stamp rally happening outside of Japan, because while stamp rallies have always been a massive thing in the country, it hasn't exactly taken off quite yet in other regions. We ponder upon the mysteries of why it could be so, because stamp rallies are very much the way to go - it's just that fun.

On the topic of collecting cool stuff, we move on to Mongil: Star Dive - Netmarble's new creature-collecting RPG that may not have the catchiest name, but definitely has plenty of fun vibes packed into it. Closed Beta Test sign-ups are currently underway - although there's a bit of an oddity when it comes to the actual "monster collecting" aspect here (have a listen to find out exactly what that is).

Meanwhile, Will eases us into the summer with Pikmin Bloom's new summer-themed Beach Resort Event, which brings us to look back on the success of these types of AR experiences, along with the ones that didn't quite make the cut (RIP, Witcher).

Garena Free Fire's collaboration event with Squid Game leads us into a conversation on the Mandela Effect and the implications of IRL events to bring mobile games to life. Squid Game's sense of conflict then segues into Chants of Sennaar, a narrative point-and-click puzzler that's making the leap to mobile (and rightly so!). You essentially try to decipher glyphs to bring different cultures together, and it does feel perfectly fit for mobile given its touch controls and cloud save feature.

Speaking of point-and-clicks, Will shares that Broken Sword: Reforged is currently running a 30% discount for the enhanced version of the classic, so if you missed out on it during its heyday - or you simply want to experience the adventure all over again - now's your chance.

This week sees the (New and Improved!) Pocket Gamer Podcast navigating the tricky terrain of childhood imagination and a-little-less-than-wholesome collabs.

I channel all my excitement on the upcoming mobile release of Is This Seat Taken?, a cosy puzzler where you match people's whims with the right seating arrangements without the pressure of a timer. Seems we're all in agreement when it comes to a general distaste for time pressure, before Iwan launches into a discussion on Apple's planned dedicated gaming app and its implications for developers and visibility.

We then talk about what it means to have these new launches and all the latest tech in the mobile space - can the hardware keep up with the software and vice versa?

All that aside, Will then announces the release of World 18 in GrandChase, where you get your login goodies and extra bonuses just for being around, which leads to a not-so-forced-but-still-kind-of segue into Lost in Play, an adorable point-and-click adventure that's recently made the leap to Apple Arcade. This means you can explore the unlimited bounds of a child's imagination for free as long as you're subscribed to the service, much like Netflix Games and Crunchyroll Game Vault. 

As we move from childhood to adulthood, Iwan announces the launch of the Goddess of Victory: Nikke x Stellar Blade collaboration, which has been highly anticipated by the community for plenty of reasons. Then there's something new over the horizon for Plants vs Zombies as well, which recently just celebrated its 16th (oh my goodness) anniversary - an amazing feat especially on mobile.

There's a lot of talk about snappy card games and crafting from mines this week with the (New and Improved!) Pocket Gamer Podcast, with me kicking things off with The King of Fighters AFK now in soft launch. 

Will gets the ball rolling with a new Carmen Sandiego update to celebrate Pride month, in which we shed light on the darkness that is VILE, who's up to no good as always. A healthy discussion on good and evil ensues, with a particular focus on evil British villains.

Then, Iwan steers the conversation to Sword of Justice that's now in global pre-registration, offering his thoughts on NetEase going on a roll with Sea of Remnants and Destiny: Rising. Topics hover over AI organic NPCs, Chinese fantasy MMORPG, and gorgeous graphics, before we move on to Sonic Blitz, which is currently blitzing away in the same vein as Marvel Snap and Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Meanwhile, Will shares the surge in Daily Active Users for Minecraft thanks to the recently released movie, with Iwan giving us a basic overview of the Minecraft modes and their monetised items. 

And finally, we round things up with the release of Crystal of Atlan, along with the implications of "magicpunk", cyberpunk, and all the other punks you can think of. Could there possibly be more punks in the cards for mobile in the future? We'll just have to wait and see.

The regular crew is back this week with the (New and Improved!) Pocket Gamer Podcast, with Catherine (me) making a (triumphant?) return to join Will and Iwan for another round of mobile mayhem.

As I'm eager to be back, I get the ball rolling with Mirren: Star Legends, now debuting a new Crunchyroll Login feature to switch up the monetisation for its library of games. We talk a little bit about the different gaming catalogues for these kinds of subscription services, before I gush on and on about Shogun Showdown and my glowing 5-star review.

Will steers the wheel and brings us to the official launch of King of Crabs: Invasion on iOS, while it's still currently in pre-registration for Android users. And in a not-so-surprising reveal, we all share our deep fear of the equally deep sea, mainly because of Subnautica's imminent launch on mobile. Keep Team Pocket Gamer far away from the ocean, is the key takeaway here.

Meanwhile, on other equally stressful things, we talk about the launch of Is This Yours?, a seemingly cosy puzzler about cute animals losing their things. In reality, it's actually incredibly stressful, especially since you'll be helping these careless customers with their stuff under a timer. 

We then talk about the perils of working in customer service, before Will turns it around with the adorable launch of I, Slime. Iwan counters with the report that the launch of  Final Outpost: Definitive Edition has been pushed back, with a healthy discussion on these types of post-apocalyptic genres and the inevitable zombie outbreak.

Finally, we discuss what it truly means to play an idle game in this busy world we live in today, with Summoners War: Rush launching as a mix of AFK elements and tower defence.

We're getting used to our new format now for the Pocket Gamer Podcast (New and Improved!), with Will and Iwan doing their dynamic duo thing once more this week. 

Iwan kicks off the discussion with Tribe Nine getting cancelled after only three months - that's pretty short, and a sad casualty of the saturated mobile market. In the same vein, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is being pulled off the App Store and Play Store too - so Will jumps in to give his two cents about all these shutdowns happening left and right.

There is SOME good news, though. Game of Thrones: Kingsroad has officially launched, welcoming you back to the world of Westeros - this time as a scion of noble House Tyre. Netmarble has never been one to shy away from epic franchises, so here's hoping this one does the IP justice.

And speaking of big franchises, Fortnite is back on the App Store in the US - if you're unfamiliar with the big drama between Epic and Apple, Iwan goes into detail on this episode to get you up to speed.

Meanwhile, Will shares his enthusiasm on Mythwalker's new Tethering update, and the pair go on to discuss community-building especially with Pokemon Go's Road Trip 2025. Shenanigans about the implications of trucks, safaris, and gyms ensue, before Will caps off the episode on the pre-registration sign-ups for Destiny: Rising. NetEase has been pretty busy as of late, with Sea of Remnants being teased and Once Human launching on mobile, so it's bound to be a big thing.

It's a special episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast this week as Cristina joins Will and Iwan on another deep dive into what's hot, what's not, and what's sort-of-sizzling-but-not-quite-yet in the wonderful world of mobile gaming.

This time around, with the short and sweet 30-minute format, Iwan kicks things off with Squad Busters' major overhaul. Aptly called the Hero update, this revamp now lets you rely more on your heroes rather than just your squaddies, making full use of their abilities to win. Will this fresh coat of paint work well with players? Cristina is a tad apprehensive, but I suppose we'll all just have to give it a go and see for ourselves.

Meanwhile, Will is pretty pumped about Chronomon's launch, especially since anything with a -mon attached is always appealing. It's supposedly Stardew Valley mixed in with Pokemon, as what seems to be the trend nowadays. 

It's always monster-taming combined with something else, but if it has plenty of cosy vibes, we're all for it - just like Dorfromantik, a new tile-matching puzzler that Cristina is a fan of. It's all very wholesome and is similar to Armello with a touch of Kingdomino - and we all need something to help us relax at the end of a busy day, don't we?

And speaking of busy bees, Iwan reports that Krafton's been busy rebranding Dark and Darker Mobile, now titled Abyss of Dungeons. What exactly brought about the name change? Tune in for all the tea - especially since Will caps off the episode with the interestingly titled In Their Shoes (coming in 2026 with slice-of-life feels). If you've always been curious about what mumblecore actually is, this might just be the day you finally find out.

Finally, there's the so-called relaunch of Dragonheir: Silent Gods - does this mean people will be more interested, or will there be a "medieval-style siege", as Iwan puts it?

It's time for episode 32 of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, and in keeping with the new super special podcast formula, Will and Iwan bring you six recent, big stories in a 30-minute digest.

Iwan kicked off the podcast by discussing the 16th anniversary of Plants vs Zombies, as well as a little bit of its history. The duo discuss everything from its journey from premium to free to play, it's card battle spin-off Plants vs Zombies Heroes and the continued failure to launch of its third iteration.

Next up is Will discussing PUBG's transition from 'realistic' toward a more Fortnite-style goofiness. With it's upcoming v3.8 update launches an Attack of Titan event which not only adds in the ability to become a titan, but also zip around the map using the patented Omni-directional mobility gear from the long-running series. 

They also discuss the upcoming Steampunk shift, which adds a Steam Train, Hot Air Balloons and a welding gun... as well as velociraptor... of course.

It's not just PUBG Mobile going through big changes, as Iwan then brings the topic of recent changes to EA Sports FC Mobile to the table. Those recent changes, in this case, are the ability to watch select MLS matches through the app, and to earn in-game rewards for doing so.

Now, I've got to tell you, watching what is a semi-obscure league to Europe might not be too interesting to a lot of the wider-world of football/soccer, but it is a really interesting way to start off something new and cool.

Next up, Will discusses recent release Gods vs Horrors, which is certainly a case of 'does what it says on the tin' with a string of deities from varying pantheons battling (via card combat) against 'ungodly' Lovecraftian nightmares.

From ancient gods to old timey assassins, the Duo next discuss the upcoming Reverse 1999 x Assassin's Creed content. It features AC#1 Protagonist Ezio Auditore back in rennaissance Italy and is a great example of how to make clever, branding-strong crossovers when it comes to games revolving around time travel.

Finally, it's time for a little nap: Will takes a moment to reflect on the most recent Pokemon Sleep event, which runs from 12th-15th of May and features a boost to Drowsee power, new sleeping styles and a whole bunch of other features.

It's time for episode 31 of the Pocket Gamer Podcast, and in keeping with the new super special podcast formula, Will and Iwan bring you six recent, big stories in a 30-minute digest.

First up, the duo discuss Iwan's first topic: Apple having to drop the 30% 'Outside AppStore links' charge, including the 'scare screens' that they've been employing to try and keep users within the Apple ecosystem. It's been a long battle, spearheaded by Epic Games, but this latest court victory feels like we're moving toward the closing stages now.

The next topic follows on from discussing Epic, with Will bringing up the return of Flappy Bird, which has recently reappeared on the freshly launched Epic Game Store. They briefly touch on the nature of Flappy Bird, as well as the topic of addiction in games.

Next up, it's all business as Iwan brings up the recently speculated deal between Blizzard and Nexon. It's supposedly specifically about Starcraft publishing and development, however, as we recently covered, there's also word of the Overwatch IP. This means there could be an Overwatch 3, mobile, on the horizon.

From games that could happen, to games that are happening, and soon. The two of them then discuss the upcoming release date of Game of Thrones Kingsroad, before discussing the recently released zombie survival game Darkest Days and the mobile ports of Indie Gems Lisa: The Painful and Lisa: The Joyful.