It’s the start of a new month, so this week’s pod takes a look at the top games that are coming out in September. We also recap the Nintendo Direct news, and talk more about Star Wars Outlaws. 

And as always, thanks to all the show’s 75 patrons - including boss tier patrons Schei Guy and Mike Sampier. Support this pod and get extra bonus podcasts at  http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

You can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter Dovetail: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Music this week:

Grass Valley from Islets / Mushroom Forest from Hauntii / Star Wars Outlaws theme / Possum Springs from Night In The Woods.

Thanks for listening!

I've been quietly playing Star Wars Outlaws all week, and dying to share some thoughts about it! It's good guys, and if you love original Star Wars and a bit of comfort food open world Ubi-stuff, you might be in for a treat.

And as always, thanks to all the show’s 76 patrons - support this pod and get extra bonus podcasts at  http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

You can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter Dovetail: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Music this week:

Stowaway from Armored Core VI, various tracks from Eco One, Possum Springs from Night In The Woods

Thanks for listening!

Keighley’s summer circus is in town, so this episode we take a look at the news and highlights from Summer Game Fest and Day of the Devs, including: Cairn, Neva, Battle Suit Aces, Possessor(s), Wanderstop, Project C, Simpler Times, Koira, Arranger, Psychroma, Building Relationships, Afterlove EP, Phoenix Springs, Tenets, Anger Foot, and more.

In the roundup: Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip, Nine Sols.

Big thanks to Magic Mind, the episode's sponsor—it's a concentration shot that I really like: http://magicmind.com.

And thanks to all the show’s 72 patrons, including new patrons Che, Josh, Mala, Torfi, and boss-tier patron Mike Sampier. If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, and getting bonus patron episodes and a Discord invite, you can do so at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. Thanks, it all helps!

You can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Music this week:

Chase The Wind / Mystery of the Mushrooms from Terry’s Turbo Trip, Matsutake from Citizen Sleeper, Rattlebrook from The Wild At Heart, Celestial Fields from Paradise Marsh, Possum Springs from Night In The Woods.

Thanks for listening!

Deathloop is Arkane’s latest, and some say greatest game. Initially a Playstation console exclusive and 2021 GOTY contender, it’s now getting a second wave of attention as it arrives on Xbox Game Pass and PS+. I talk through the highs and lows in this episode, from the excellent audio-visual presentation, voice acting, movement, and level design—to its tangled, misfiring story and frustratingly didactic structure.

In the roundup: Blossom Tales 2: The Minotaur King, Metal: Hellsinger, Fuga: Melodies of Steel, Dorfromantik.

If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And as always, thanks for listening!

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was announced this week, amidst a slew of game announcements from all of the big guns. This episode takes a look at some of the highlights from the Nintendo Direct, Sony State of Play, and Ubisoft Forward, before reviewing a cute little Game Pass title: Beasts of Maravilla Island. In the roundup: Bear & Breakfast, Rogue Legacy 2, Harvestella, Foretales, Blossom Tales 2, Nobody Saves The World: Frozen Hearth DLC. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

Watch out Nintendo: Tinykin is coming for your gig! This Paper Mario meets Pikmin 3D platformer is all-but flawless: hear about why in this week's main review. I also talk about the opening section of crisp 2D roguelike action-platformer Rogue Legacy 2, and look ahead to some exciting upcoming indie console releases including Bear & Breakfast, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, Slime Rancher 2, and Dorfromantik.  If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

This episode was a strange one to make... how do you talk about a game that you're broadly enjoying, and playing daily – whilst also thinking every aspect of it is in some way strange, off, lacking, or flawed? That's the "gamefeel"-related terrain I attempt to navigate in this episode, all about the newest cutesy village-builder on the block: Ooblets.

In the roundup: Slime Rancher, Assassin's Creed Valhalla. In the outro: Rogue Legacy 2, Tinykin, Immortality, Cult of the Lamb v1.01.

If you'd like to support this podcast on Patreon, get bonus episodes, and join the show's kind and mellow Discord community, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild if that's your jam. And please do come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all those links and more at http://gaminginthewild.com.

As always, thanks for listening!

Dicey Dungeons is a brilliant roguelike deck builder by Terry Kavanagh that rolls sixes on slick presentation, ingenious mechanics, and game-show atmosphere. In the roundup: Ooblets, Midnight Fight Express, We Are OFK, Turnip Boy commits Tax Evasion. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

PRAISE THE LAMB! This week’s episode is a deep-dive into the bug-riddled but impressive indie hit, Cult of the Lamb. In the roundup: PowerWash Simulator, Steve Jackson’s Sorcery, We Are OFK, Cursed To Golf, Rollerdrome, and more. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

This week I've been tending my flock in freshly-minted indie darling Cult of the Lamb, and running around in open world fan-fave Ghost of Tsushima. Expect a full Cult of the Lamb review this time next week! Also, a big thanks to the show’s newest Patreon patron Blake McKean. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

This week I was derailed from my FFVIIR playthrough when my two "side games" just took over, and my poor old main game got kicked to the kerb for a bit. The games in question? Pocket-sized mech-tactics roguelike Into The Breach, and the most bizarre cult hit of the year: the chorecore dad-fest that is PowerWash Simulator.

Thanks to the show's newest patrons, Dave Jackson (of Tales From The Backlog podcast) and Jacob (of The Pre-Order Bonus Podcast). I was a guest on the Pre-Order Bonus Podcast's Indie Impresison series this week for a 1.5hr Stray deep-dive, so if you're still not sick of the sound of my voice after this episode, you find that bonus episode on Patreon (set to public) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/indie-episode-33-70053055.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week I opened a fairly random Games With Gold title just for a quick try — and ended up finishing the whole thing in just a couple of sittings! Yoke's Island Express in a 2018 game that combines beach holiday atmosphere, metroidvania structure and... bug pinball? Hear all about it in this week's featured review!

Also mentioned: Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade, Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels, Stray, Nobody Saves The World, Tales of Arise, Hot Spring Story, and more!

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

It's finally here! "The cat game" we've been waiting for since 2020 — and my most anticipated game of, um, 2021 — dropped on PS+ and Steam this week, and it's something special indeed. Exploring a mesmerisingly detailed, neon-lit cyberpunk city as a cat is something truly unique, and it was a lot of fun to talk it through in this spoiler-free review.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

And find any and all of these links at http://gaminginthewild.com!

As always, thanks for listening!

This week's show is a bit of a grab bag. We start off with a look at the month of indie releases ahead, then mini-reviews of Arctic Eggs, The Rogue Prince of Persia, Hauntii, and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2.

And as always, many thanks to all the show’s 68 patrons, and especially the very first Boss Tier patron, Mike Sampier. If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so starting from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. 

You can find me on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

I’m back from Covid, with lots of games to talk about, including It Takes Two, Xenoblade Chronicles, and this week’s featured game – an indie-game love letter to some Nintendo classics called The Wild At Heart.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

I've got the 'rona this week, so this episode is a compilation of some reviews plucked from old episodes. These picks are all on the new PS+ service: The Last Guardian, Rez Infinite, Bound, The Artful Escape, Miles Morales, and Concrete Genie. Hopefully normal service will be resumed next week!  If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.  If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that.  You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

This week's episode comes direct from sunny Margate, as I'm on my holidays in the UK! The featured game is Chorus (also sometimes typed CHORVS because they used a weird font for the logo) - a simple vehicular space shooter with fun dogfighting and exploration. It's an episode of two halves, in which I sing the praises of the combat, graphics, and the sense of open-galaxy freedom, then go ham on the straight-up awful voice acting and truly execrable story. Enjoy? Enjoy!

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

It’s a crazy time of year for game reveals, with over 100 announcements and updates being shown over the last week. So, it seemed like a fun time for a rare midweek episode. Here’s a rundown of ten indie games that particularly caught my eye, and a bit of chat about the biggies like Silksong and Starfield.

Watch the Wholesome Direct: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IRgvwWLpbA
Watch Day of the Devs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kHHqR3uSq0
Watch the MinnMax coverage of the Xbox/Bethesda showcase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOYHDhc34eE

Music used in this show (all from wonderful games I've covered in the past, please support these artists!):
Amos Roddy - In Other Waters: https://amosroddy.bandcamp.com/album/in-other-waters-original-soundtrack
Ratvader - The Gunk: https://ratvader.bandcamp.com/album/the-gunk-original-game-soundtrack
Disasterpeace - Hyper Light Drifter: https://music.disasterpeace.com/album/hyper-light-drifter
Alec Holowka - Night In The Woods: https://infiniteammo.bandcamp.com/album/night-in-the-woods-vol-1-at-the-end-of-everything

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

I’m joined this week by Yuts of Geography of Robots - the developer behind one of 2022’s best indie games, NORCO. We talked about how much of this mesmerising near-future world is based on current day events, local myths, and intertwined histories of Louisiana; about psychogeography, psychedelia, reality and unreality, and much more besides. 

Thanks to Yuts for the great conversation. Note: the episode contains spoilers for Norco. If you’re yet to play, I recommend listening to episode 109 - https://anchor.fm/gaminginthewild/episodes/109-NORCO-e1it6cb - for a review of the game, and coming back to this episode later. Follow Geography of Robots on Twitter at @roboticgeo - http://twitter.com/roboticgeo - and play NORCO on PC or Mac, including Game Pass (PC only). 

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

This week’s episode is a roundup that includes some chat about Sony’s State of Play, and especially Stray and Season, as well as a first impression of newly released Card Shark, mini-reviews of The Almost Gone and Behind The Frame, and a look at Super Mario 3D World and the future of Mario.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Citizen Sleeper is the featured game this week. It's the second game by Jump Over The Age aka Gareth Damian Martin, and it's a deep, fascinating sci-fi saga set on Erlin's Eye: a crumbling space station on the edge of the galaxy. It's a rare game that fuses a compelling scifi story with clever mechanics, poetic text, and far reaching themes from selfhood and sublimity, to AI ethics, and politics that are both speculative and close to home.

My special guest this week is Gianni of Sifter, an Australian podcast network and video games website. Find them at sifter.com.au. Sifter interviewed Gareth Damian Martin about Citizen Sleeper on their Lightmap podcast series - find that episode here: https://www.sifter.com.au/post/citizen-sleeper-is-pure-dystopian-science-fiction-with-a-hopeful-heart.

You can also find a GITW interview with Gareth Damian Martin about their excellent first game, In Other Waters, here: https://anchor.fm/gaminginthewild/episodes/41-Interview---In-Other-Waters-Creator-Gareth-Damian-Martin-eptdml/a-a4hn21f

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

NORCO is an intriguing new pixel-art point 'n' click adventure (wait, don't leave, trust me) published by Raw Fury. It tells the story of a strange family mystery occuring in a dystopian near-future Louisiana that's perhaps a little too close to comfort. It's an excellent indie game that wears influences such as Kentucky Route Zero and Disco Elysium on its sleeve, but manages to also be very much its own thing. A video of a Norco refinery that I mention in the show: https://youtu.be/OSYH8lOppsk If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

NieR: Automata is a 2017 sci-fi masterwork by Yoko Taro and Platinum Games that smashes together widescreen anime-style melodrama, elegant killing machines in Harijuku couture, a tangled post-apocalyptic plot, and some lofty existential pondering. It's... a lot. It's a long episode. The Super Bunnyhop analysis of the game mentioned in the show: https://youtu.be/ehM1m5-TG5g. Also mentioned: Norco, NieR: Replicant, Bayonetta, Astral Chain.  If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

This week’s episode is about Trek To Yomi. It’s a cinematic game that’s a tribute to great black and white samurai movies – and might just be a classic in its own right. Also mentioned: Cyberpunk 2077, the Tales Of… series, Norco, In Other Waters, Citizen Sleeper, Stray, Starfield, and more.

My guest this episode is Carlos Rodela, co-host of the So Videogames podcast. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://gamecritics.com/podcasts. Find Carlos on Twitter at https://twitter.com/onawa and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@carlosrodela.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week's episode is an interview with Remy Siu, the creative director of the recently released 1000xRESIST. It's a phenomenally good game that pushes video game storytelling forward in several interesting ways. Our discussion touched on games-as-art, diasporic narratives, working through Covid, the origins of "hekki", hooking up with Fellow Traveller, the incredible player and critical response, and lots more. Thanks to Remy for coming on, and enjoy the show!

Links & Stuff

Support this podcast on Patreon: ⁠http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild⁠

Say hi on on social media: http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild

Follow the show's YouTube channel for more: ⁠http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild⁠

Steam curator page maintained by pod patron Dovetail: ⁠⁠https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529

Articles mentioned in the show:

Natalie Flores for Paste: https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/1000xresist/insist-on-1000xresist-one-of-2024s-best-new-games

Cohost article by Kastelpls: https://cohost.org/highimpactsex/post/5960606-1000x-resist-is-a-gam

This week's episode takes a look at a moving single-sitting narrative indie game, 'Before I Forget'. Also mentioned: Norco, Absolute Drift, Cosmic Star Heroine, and the current massive Nintendo Switch eShop sale.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week I'm recording on the road during a trip to the UK, which was the perfect time to dip into the first of Josef Fares' trilogy of co-op games - Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons. And it's a great little game that has really stood the test of time as it approaches the tenth anniverssary of its orginal release. (P.S. Sorry if the audio is weird, I tried my best!) If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!  

Life Is Strange: True Colours has come to Game Pass, so this seemed like an opportune time to dip into the dreamy small-town world of Haven Springs. Light on gameplay but high on coming-of-age vibes, halcyon Americana and rich, interesting environments, it’s a worthy addition to the LiS series.

Also mentioned this episode: Brothers & Jotun.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week I tore myself away from Elden Ring long enough to finish the journey mode of Tetris Effect Connected, a dazzling reinvention of everyone's favourite hypnotic falling blocks game. But I do talk about Elden Ring for 15 minutes first, because, of course. In the roundup: Tempest 4000, Welcome To Elk, Dorfromantik. And a big thank you to the show's latest patron – thanks Brad! If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

This week's episode is a review of quirky haunted-Shibuya action game Ghostwire: Tokyo, which is more than the sum of its parts. 

Also reviewed: lacklustre indie offering A Memoir Blue. Other mentions: Kirby & The Forgotten Land, Weird West, Dorfromantik, and the People Make Games documentary about gamedev working conditions. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDPzZkx0cPs.

Come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find links at http://gaminginthewild.com. 

If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

After a huge, hyped, and somewhat disastrous 2020 launch, Cyberpunk 2077 reappeared recently with the next-gen v1.5 for PS5 , PC and Xbox. It’s been rebalanced, reworked, and patched to the gods – but is this ambitious sci-fi epic ready for primetime? Also mentioned this episode: Tunic, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Kirby & The Forgotten Land, Weird West, and West of Dead. And big thanks to the show’s latest patrons Nicholas and soccrchik! If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

It's episode 100! We made it! I celebrate by talking about Breath of the Wild, games as art, my gaming history from Acorn Electron to PS5, vikings, eating puffin, Iceland's nature, EldenRing, podcasting, and more. Thanks for all the questions, and to everyone who listens to and interacts with the podcast and surrounding community :) Love you all! If you enjoy the show, come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. Thanks for listening!

This week's episode starts off with a bit of chat about Elden Ring and Horizon: Forbidden West, before moving on to discuss the itch.io Bundle For Ukraine. This charity bundle features almost 1000 games, all playable on Windows and many also on Mac OS, with all profits going to charities supporting victims of the Russian invasion. At the time of writing, it's about to hit $5m dollars raised! You can support the effort and buy it here for $10 (or more): https://itch.io/b/1316/bundle-for-ukraine. I picked out some personal highlights of the bundle in the episode, including: Ynglet, Wandersong, A Short Hike, Cloud Gardens, Speed Dating For Ghosts, Old Man’s Journey, Celeste, Art Sqool & More. There are some good guides about where to get started with the bundle, too: Kotaku: https://kotaku.com/itch-bundle-for-ukraine-pc-gaming-russia-superhot-baba-1848640480 Rice: https://ricedigital.co.uk/10-best-games-bundle-for-ukraine Pocket Gamer: https://www.pocketgamer.com/itch-io-bundle/bundle-for-ukraine-that-you-can-play-portably/ If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Well, it looks like the Elden Ring hype has even managed to invade this gentle indie-game corner of the internet. To comb through the ins and outs of From Software's highly-rated, brutally difficult dark fantasy open-world game, I called in guest host Ciaran Daly for some podcasting co-op. He'd been to a crab museum, was hung over, and did very well. Thanks Ciaran. Note: this is the first From Software game either of us have played, so it's as much about the initial experience of navigating the reputation, systems, and foibles of the From universe as it is Elden Ring itself.

If you like, you can to skip the intro and go straight to:
00:15:15 Our histories playing tough games
00:24:35 Elden Ring review

Other links:
My guest appearance on Sifter's Mainstream podcast: https://pod.link/mainstream/episode/3283c92291b28562be9d8b573890e1ca
Miyazaki on difficulty: https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2022/02/28/elden-ring-difficulty-fromsoftware-identity-miyazaki/
Follow Ciaran: http://twitter.com/radartreview and http://twitter.com/facecuddle

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Finally! Horizon Forbidden West has arrived! 67 hours into my play through, it was fun to spend an hour on this extensive, spoiler-free deep-dive into the exciting new gameplay mechanics, all-time-high visuals, storytelling and characterisation changes, more rich and fully explored tribal cultures, traversal improvements... and, of course, the robotic elephant in the room, the climbing system.

Also discussed: Elden Ring, Cloudpunk, Bravely Default, Tunic.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Little City, Big City is a short, low-stakes adventure in which side-quests, baubles, and opportunities for mischief catch your eye at every turn. It's a welcome bout of easy-breezy escapism in a stacked month of more involved games.

In the roundup: Animal Well, Mullet Madjack, Dread Delusion, Turbo Kid, Dungeons of Hinterberg.

And as always, many thanks to all the show’s patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community.

You can also come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/  

Thanks for listening!

A couple of years ago, to the day, episode one of this podcast was published, about the quite amazing sci-fi epic Horizon Zero Dawn. It was a short episode, just ten minutes long. You can find it in the podcast history if you'd like to hear it it – a short, heartfelt review of what it felt like to play one of the best games ever made.  It seems fitting that, two years later, the podcast's birthday present is the sequel, Horizon Forbidden West (thanks, Guerilla!) As the release date drew closer, I found that I'd forgotten some elements of the complicated three-pronged plot of HZD. To reacquiant myself, I played the game on New Game+ mode over the last week. It was a very different playthrough to my first one, which was an 87-hour wonderstruck meander through this game world. This time, I beelined the plot, reading all the text files, listening to all the audio clips, and – for fun – making a timeline of The Great Die-Off, The Clawback, FARO Industries, and the Zero Dawn project. It occurred to me that if I needed this recap, maybe others do to. I hope you enjoy the episode. It's packed with spoilers for Zero Dawn! Just so you know. But I have no idea about Fobidden West, so you're safe there. Links: Gaming In The Wild 01 - Horizon Zero Dawn review: https://anchor.fm/gaminginthewild/episodes/01-Horizon-Zero-Dawn-eb47a6 Incredibly useful Horizon Fandom Wiki: http://horizon.fandom.com Noclip HZD Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9tLcD1r-6w Machine ecosystem concept art: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/AKbEo  If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Guacamelee is a fresh, bright, Mexico-inspired Metroidvania-brawler by Drinkbox. Originally released in 2014, it preempted the comeback of the Metroidvania genre by a few years, but a 2018 Switch port brought it to a new audience – including me.

Also discussed: Halo: Infinite and Nobody Saves The World.

See a talk by lead artist Augusto Quijano here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bZDe7cbfmc0.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week marks the podcast’s second birthday, so it begins with some fun listener questions, before moving on to the featured game of the episode: Wytchwood. In this gothic fairytale crafting game, you play as a mysterious bog witch. You'll pick up everything that isn't tied down through several beautifully illustrated biomes, crafting these ingredients into potions, spells and objects to capture a series of wayward souls. It's a relaxing game, if you can get into the collectathon spirit, with an episodic story that mixes fairytale weirdness with wry social commentary. 

Also discussed: Halo: Infinite, Dreamscaper, Fire & Ice, Super Lucky’s Tale, Breath of the WIld, Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds, Red Dead Redemption 2, and more.

Some links from the show:
Follow Just Werk: https://www.twitch.tv/justwerk.
Info on retro game Fire & Ice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_and_Ice_(video_game). 

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

This week features special guest Ciaran Daly, for a wide ranging chat about some huge games including Half Life Alyx, Halo: Infinite, Back 4 Blood, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Metroid Dread, and a little indie called Golf Club Wasteland. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Game Pass is the subscription that keeps on giving this week. The featured game is The Pedestrian - a highly original and immaculately designed 2D puzzle game that takes you on a journey through the signage, placards, pages and screens of a beautifully rendered 3D city.

Also this episode: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Nobody Saves The World, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, and Minute of Islands.

Find my full reviews of all of the games mentioned, and developer interviews with the creators of Sable and Signs of the Sojourner: http://anchor.fm/gaminginthewild.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Heaven’s Vault is a highly original adventure game by Inkle, ported to Switch in 2021. It allows you to explore the interlunar rivers of a far-flung nebula, translating an ancient language from found artefacts to reveal a hidden history. Also this episode: a preview of five Indies to look out for in 2022: Open Roads, FAR: Changing Tides, Citizen Sleeper, Terra Nil, and Weird West. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Beware THE GUNK! This episode looks at a short, cosy sci-fi adventure-platformer that came to Game Pass and won me over during the holiday season.

Also discussed: Ender Lilies, Heaven’s Vault, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and more.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

After three great special guest GOTY episodes, it’s time for the Gaming In The Wild **super official** top ten games of 2021. So I hope you enjoy this run through my top games of the year, including Cloud Gardens, Death’s Door, Signs of the Sojourner, Sable, Chicory, Inscryption, Resident Evil Village, Griftlands, Forza Horizon 5, and more! Find my full reviews of all of the games mentioned, and developer interviews with the creators of Sable and Signs of the Sojourner: http://anchor.fm/gaminginthewild. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

This week’s GOTY special episode is a return visit from Louis of Time Played 3hr. He dropped by to discuss building a PC, landing a PS5, and a wide range of games like Exo One, Mundaun, Forza Horizon 5, Last Call, Resident Evil Village, Metroid Dread, Shadow Man, Returnal, Before Your Eyes, No Longer Home, Guardians of the Galaxy, Sable, NieR Replicant, and more.

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Welcome to the second games of the year GOTY episode for 2021. My guest this week is Raygan Kelly, one of the co-hosts of The Short Game podcast, a show that looks at short video games. The games we discussed include: NieR Replicant, The Forgotten City, Death’s Door, Inscryption, Forza Horizon 5, World Flipper, Boomerang X, Carto, PGA Tour 2K21, Mario Golf: Super Rush, Golf Club Wasteland, and more. You can find The Short Game at http://theshortgame.net on your podcast platform of choice and follow Raygan on Twitter @raygank. If you enjoy the show, you're welcome to come and connect on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

1000xRESIST is ostensibly a sci-fi tale about a far future society, formed after a disastrous epidemic decimates humanity. But it's a game that never stops growing, weaving a complex tapestry of memorable characters, far-reaching subject matter, poetic dialogue, and unforgettable moments both intimate and shocking. It's a dizzyingly intelligent masterpiece that I'll be thinking about for years to come.

In the roundup: the class of May 9th - Animal Well, Little Kitty Big City, Crow Country, and Cryptmaster. 

And as always, many thanks to all the show’s patrons. If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community.  

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.

And finally, check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue to see if games you're browsing come pod-recommended: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529.

This week’s pod is the first in a series of year in review episodes to round off 2021. The first special guest sharing their games of the year is Brad Gallaway, co-host of the So Videogames podcast, and editor of gamecritics.com. We had a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from The Game Awards 2021, to under the radar indies, AAA hits and misses, our publishers and gaming news of the year, and more. Games discussed include: Sable, Steampunk Tower 2, Chicory, Kosmokrats, Signs Of The Sojourner, Black Book, Solar Ash, Death Crown, Mass Effect, Monster Hunter: Rise, Inscryption, Lake, Returnal, Buildings Have Feelings Too, Twelve Minutes, It Takes Two, Before Your Eyes, Death Stranding: Director's Cut, Unavowed, and many more. Find the Returnal interview mentioned in the show: https://interactive.libsyn.com/returnal-with-harry-krueger Find Ian Hamilton, the accessibility specialist mentioned in the show: https://twitter.com/ianhamilton_ Follow So Videogames on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-200756560 If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. Thanks to Brad for making time for this conversation, and as always, thanks for listening!

Solar Ash is a mesmerising journey into a black hole full of shattered worlds. It’s the story of Rei, a fast-moving voidrunner tasked with collapsing this "Ultravoid" to save her planet from destruction. It combines slick, satisfying movement, epic boss encounters, and a melancholy story into thrilling and resonant whole.

Also discussed: Genesis Noir, Paper Mario: The Origami King, Life Is Strange: True Colors.

Buy the Jingle Jam charity games package: https://www.jinglejam.co.uk
Buy the World Land Trust game package: https://itch.io/b/1164/world-land-trust-bundle

If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.

And as always, thanks for listening!

Exo One is a quite beautiful exoplanetary flying game that appeared out of nowhere on Game Pass last week. It's a mesmerising play, as you soar through the clouds and roll over alien topography using an ingenious gravity engine. Also mentioned: Guardians of the Galaxy, Haven Park and Ynglet.  Links: Game website: http://exo-one-game.com Download the soundtrack: http://rhyslindsay.bandcamp.com/releases Follow the developer: https://twitter.com/JayWeston If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. If you'd like to support the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month and get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community – go to http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild for that. You can also support the show via Ko-Fi if that’s your preferred creator platform: http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!