Last Save Lounge: Stories About Video Games – Details, episodes & analysis

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Last Save Lounge: Stories About Video Games

Aaron Amendola

Leisure

Society & Culture

Leisure

Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 28

Last Save Lounge is a weekly video game podcast where host Aaron “TurboHoodie” Amendola interviews gamers, game developers, streamers, writers, and content creators about their favorite video games of all time. Each episode explores the personal stories, nostalgia, memories, and emotional impact behind iconic games, indie games, retro classics, horror games, JRPGs, and modern favorites. From Final Fantasy to Silent Hill, Last Save Lounge dives into why certain games stay with us long after the credits roll. If you love thoughtful gaming conversations, video game storytelling, gaming nostalgia, and deep dives into the games that shape people’s lives, Last Save Lounge is your new favorite gaming podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Data updated on 10/09/2026

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🇬🇧 Great Britain - Games
10/09/2026
#71

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http://patreon.com/HoodieWeather
28 shares

https://www.instagram.com/chelseablossomgames
1 share

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mucksgames/frieda-is-changing
1 share

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Good

Score global : 79%

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Aaron got a new job! (A brief note on programming!)

Thursday, August 13, 2026 • Duration 03:08

Aaron got a new job, which means his recordings time are FUNKY. Here's a note on what to expect.

🎮 About Last Save Lounge

A show about the video games that saved our progress, and a little bit of us. Each week, host Aaron talks with a guest about the single video game that means the most to them.

💸 Becoming a Patreon member at Patreon.com/HoodieWeather - Get ad-free episodes, bonus segments, and free games!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Why Tears of the Kingdom Made Pea Cry Actual Tears at Midnight for HylianPeaPod

Episode 27

Tuesday, August 4, 2026 • Duration 40:51

What happens when the video game you've been waiting years for arrives during the hardest week of your life? This week on Last Save Lounge, the cozy gaming podcast about the games that saved our progress (and a little bit of us), I'm joined by Zelda content creator Pea of HylianPeaPod (Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube) to talk about her favorite game of all time: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for the Nintendo Switch.

Pea didn't fall for Breath of the Wild right away — her first reaction at the midnight launch was that it wasn't "a normal Zelda game." But by the time Tears of the Kingdom arrived, everything had changed: the release landed during a genuinely difficult week, right after her dog was diagnosed with two illnesses, and she describes opening the game at midnight and bursting into actual tears. We talk about how Tears became her comfort and her escape that weekend — and still is today — why she thinks it improves on Breath of the Wild in nearly every way, her Twitch community built almost entirely around 100%-ing the game on stream, and her advice for anyone looking to start their own Zelda journey.

In this cozy gaming podcast episode, we explore:

The emotional midnight launch that turned Tears of the Kingdom into more than just a game for Pea
Why she says "Breath of the Wild walks, but Tears of the Kingdom runs"
Building her Twitch community and content career around Zelda
Her favorite in-game builds, including the now-legendary "Korok Crusher 3000"
Where to start if you've never played a Zelda game before

If you love Zelda, cozy gaming podcasts, gaming memories, comfort games, games as escapism, Nintendo Switch games, or stories about the games that show up for us exactly when we need them, this episode is for you.

Last Save Lounge is my weekly hangout for people who still think about the games that shaped them. Come find me @lastsavelounge on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. If you'd like to buy me a metaphorical coffee (I run on good conversations and caffeine), you can do that at patreon.com/hoodieweather. And if times are tough, you are too — you can still become a free Patreon member and get exclusive benefits.

🎮 About Last Save Lounge

A show about the video games that saved our progress, and a little bit of us. Each week, host Aaron talks with a guest about the single video game that means the most to them.

💸 Becoming a Patreon member at Patreon.com/HoodieWeather - Get ad-free episodes, bonus segments, and free games!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Why Kevin Cortez Says Donkey Kong Country 2 Is the Pinnacle of 90s Platformers

Episode 25

Tuesday, July 21, 2026 • Duration 51:57

Is there a single greatest platformer of the 1990s? Kevin Cortez thinks so, and he's not shy about it. This week on Last Save Lounge, the cozy gaming podcast about the games that saved our progress (and a little bit of us), I'm joined by journalist and content creator Kevin Cortez — whose work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, HuffPost, and Mothership — to talk about his favorite game of all time: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest for the Super Nintendo. Kevin lays out exactly why — the tightened controls, the soundtrack, the level design that escalates from world to world, and a difficulty curve he calls "just right." We also dig into the distinction he draws between his favorite game and the most important one (that'd be Super Mario World), how DKC2 was the first game that taught him a sequel could actually surpass its predecessor, and what it was like revisiting the game as an adult to prep for this conversation.

In this cozy gaming podcast episode, we explore:

Why Kevin stands firmly behind Donkey Kong Country 2 as the best platformer of the 1990s
The soundtrack, controls, and level design choices that set it apart from its predecessor
Why Kevin draws a distinction between his "favorite" game and the "most important" game he's played
How DKC2 taught him what a great sequel could look like
His career writing for Popular Mechanics, HuffPost, Mothership, and more.

🎮 About Last Save Lounge

A show about the video games that saved our progress, and a little bit of us. Each week, host Aaron talks with a guest about the single video game that means the most to them.

💸 Becoming a Patreon member at - Get ad-free episodes, bonus segments, and free games!

How Ogre Battle 64 Became a Family Tradition for Baron Jones

Episode 24

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 • Duration 01:03:26

What do you do when your favorite game of all time is also a family tradition? This week on Last Save Lounge, the cozy gaming podcast about the games that saved our progress (and a little bit of us), I'm joined by Baron Jones — better known as BaronJ67, Communications Director at LV1 Gaming — to talk about his favorite game of all time: Ogre Battle 64.

Baron's history with the game started before he ever picked up a controller for it — watching his late uncle and cousin command chibi armies, cast spells, and navigate a branching, morality-driven story with multiple endings. That early exposure turned into a lifelong love once he played it himself, and it ended up shaping his entire taste in strategy RPGs from there. We talk about the game's surprisingly ahead-of-its-time chaos/alignment system, how it led him to XCOM, Mount & Blade: Bannerlord, and Final Fantasy Tactics, and whether it would still hit the same way if he discovered it for the first time today.

In this cozy gaming podcast episode, we explore:

How Ogre Battle 64 became a shared experience across Baron's family before it became personal
The branching story, chaos/alignment system, and RTS-style battles that made the game years ahead of its time
How the game shaped Baron's lifelong love of tactics RPGs
His path from streaming under the BaronJ67 name to becoming Communications Director at LV1 Gaming
Why some games become part of our family history, not just our personal one

If you love tactics RPGs, retro N64 games, strategy games, cozy gaming podcasts, gaming memories, or games that get passed down like family traditions, this episode is for you.

How Animal Crossing: New Horizons Helped Nellie Rebuild Her Sense of Self for NellieQuests

Episode 23

Tuesday, July 7, 2026 • Duration 38:44

This week on Last Save Lounge, the cozy gaming podcast about the games that saved our progress (and a little bit of us), we're joined by Nellie of NellieQuests (@nelliequests on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch) to talk about her favorite game of all time: Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Nellie opens up about picking the game back up during a major transitional period in her life, how it reignited a passion for gaming she hadn't touched since her DS days, and why the villagers of Animal Crossing became a source of stability for someone who moved around a lot growing up. We also dig into her creative process as a working actress, why cozy games like Animal Crossing, Paralives, and Palia scratch a similar itch to performing, and her ongoing (deeply ambitious) Bob's Burgers build in Paralives — including a 100 Baby Challenge starring Linda Belcher.

If you love cozy gaming podcasts, gaming memories, and conversations about how our favorite games shape who we are, this episode is for you.

Last Save Lounge is a weekly hangout for people who still think about the games that shaped them. Join us @lastsavelounge on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and if you'd like to buy us a metaphorical coffee (we run on nostalgia and caffeine), find us at patreon.com/hoodieweather.

🎮 About Last Save Lounge

A show about the video games that saved our progress, and a little bit of us. Each week, host Aaron talks with a guest about the single video game that means the most to them.

💸 Becoming a Patreon member at Patreon.com/HoodieWeather - Get ad-free episodes, bonus segments, and free games!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creature Kitchen, James Bond, and recovering from a major illness with Aaron Amendola

Episode 22

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 • Duration 18:40

This week's Last Save Lounge is gonna hit a little different. I'm recovering from a major stomach bug that lasted weeks, and a few guest rescheduled so I'm calling an audible and recording a brief solo episode this week! If you like this, lemme know and I'll try to do more in the future

🎮 About Last Save Lounge

A show about the video games that saved our progress, and a little bit of us. Each week, host Aaron talks with a guest about the single video game that means the most to them.

💸 Becoming a Patreon member at Patreon.com/HoodieWeather - Get ad-free episodes, bonus segments, and free games!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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How Psychonauts Helped David Mann Survive A Near-Death Collision

Episode 21

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 • Duration 51:45

What if the last thing you remember before a near-death accident was a video game — and the game somehow got you through it?

This week on Last Save Lounge, the cozy gaming podcast about the games that saved our progress (and a little bit of us), we're joined by David Mann, a 3D character artist who's spent his career designing and directing character art for major game and interactive projects, to talk about why Double Fine's Psychonauts is his favorite game of all time.

David tells the almost unbelievable story of getting hit by a truck while biking to class in San Francisco — and spending the entire ambulance ride and hospital stay convinced he was living inside Psychonauts, dreaming he had psychokinetic powers and was setting birds on fire with his mind, right up until he woke up on a gurney heading in for his fourth MRI of the night. We also dig into what drew him to character art in the first place, how Psychonauts' design and world-building shaped his own career, and the ten-plus-year friendship with host Aaron that started with a conversation about Mirror's Edge.

In this cozy gaming podcast episode, we explore:

Why Psychonauts remains one of the most formative games of David's life
The wild true story of surviving a bike accident while dreaming he was playing it
How character design and world-building in games like Psychonauts shaped David's career as a 3D artist
What it's like working as an outsource manager overseeing character art for major studios
Why some games become part of how we process real-life trauma

If you love Double Fine games, Psychonauts, indie platformers, cozy gaming podcasts, gaming memories, or stories about games that show up for us in unexpected ways, this episode is for you.

#Psychonauts #DoubleFine #cozygaming #gamingpodcast #gamingmemories #3Dcharacterart #indiegames

Game Dev Caris Baker Explains Why StarCraft II Is Perfect

Episode 20

Tuesday, June 16, 2026 • Duration 46:56

What happens when a game is so challenging that you simply refuse to quit? This week on Last Save Lounge, Aaron sits down with independent game developer and technical artist Caris Baker, co-creator of Throwback: Jai Alai Heroes, to talk about why StarCraft II is her favorite game of all time.

From growing up in a family obsessed with games, creativity, and play to becoming a professional game developer, Caris shares the winding path that led her to Blizzard's legendary real-time strategy game. We explore how StarCraft II became more than a hobby—it became a challenge that shaped the way she thinks, learns, and approaches her work as a creator.

In this episode, we discuss:

🎮 Why StarCraft II remains one of the greatest RTS games ever made

🎮 Growing up with Nintendo, PlayStation, PC gaming, and video rental stores

🎮 The surprising connection between StarCraft II, Warhammer 40K, and game development

🎮 How difficult games can inspire personal growth and mastery

🎮 ADHD, problem-solving, and the satisfaction of overcoming challenges

🎮 Building Throwback: Jai Alai Heroes and creating arcade games in the modern era

🎮 Why some games stay with us throughout multiple stages of our lives

Whether you're a lifelong StarCraft fan, a game developer, an RTS enthusiast, or someone who loves hearing the stories behind people's favorite games, this episode is packed with gaming memories, creative insights, and plenty of nostalgia.

About Last Save Lounge

Last Save Lounge is a weekly cozy gaming podcast where developers, streamers, creators, and gaming enthusiasts answer one simple question:

"What is your favorite game of all time?"

Keywords: StarCraft II, StarCraft 2, Blizzard Entertainment, RTS games, real-time strategy games, game development, indie game developer, Throwback Jai Alai Heroes, technical artist, gaming memories, cozy gaming podcast, PC gaming, Warhammer 40K, Blizzard games, video game design

Why Baba Is You Changed How Clara Deitmar Thinks About Game Design

Episode 19

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 • Duration 31:09

What makes a video game stick with you long after you've finished playing it? This week on Last Save Lounge, we're joined by Clara Deitmar of Mucks Games to talk about why Baba Is You is their favorite game of all time and what game developers can learn from its brilliant design. Check out the new Mucks Games Kickstarter for Frieda Is Changing at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mucksgames/frieda-is-changing

As a member of the team behind the upcoming game Frieda Is Changing, Clara brings a unique perspective on creating games that leave a lasting impression on players. We dive into the challenges of indie game development, designing memorable player experiences, and why some games continue to live in our heads long after the credits roll.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Baba Is You is one of the most innovative puzzle games ever made

• Designing games that stay with players emotionally and intellectually

• The realities of indie game development

• Building a social media presence without a dedicated marketing team

• How small studios connect with audiences in today's gaming landscape

• What makes players remember a game years later

Whether you're a fan of puzzle games, indie game development, game design, or simply love hearing passionate creators talk about the games that shaped them, this episode is for you.

🎮 About Last Save Lounge

A show about the video games that saved our progress, and a little bit of us. Each week, host Aaron talks with a guest about the single video game that means the most to them.

💸 Becoming a Patreon member at Patreon.com/HoodieWeather - Get ad-free episodes, bonus segments, and free games!

Hosted on Acast. See for more information.

Why The Binding of Isaac Still Feels Different With Tom Dyke

Episode 18

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 • Duration 42:57

What makes a game stay with you as you grow older? This week on Last Save Lounge, we’re joined by Tom Dyke—a livestream and video producer who has worked with companies like Cards Against Humanity, Direwolf Digital, and the McElroy Family—to talk about why The Binding of Isaac is his favorite game of all time.

In this cozy gaming podcast episode, we explore:

Why smaller, tightly authored games can feel more meaningful than sprawling open worlds
How games change as we grow older and our relationship to media evolves
The strange early-2000s internet energy that shaped games like The Binding of Isaac
Why the game’s art style evokes memories of Newgrounds and eBaum’s World

We also talk about:

Growing up with Pokémon
Internet culture and indie gaming aesthetics
The joy of replayable roguelike games
Why weird games leave such a lasting impression

If you love indie games, roguelikes, cozy gaming podcasts, gaming memories, or early internet nostalgia, this episode is for you.

🎙️ About Last Save Lounge

A weekly cozy gaming podcast where guests answer one question:

👉 What is your favorite game of all time?

🔑 Keywords:

The Binding of Isaac, Pokémon, indie games, roguelike games, cozy gaming podcast, gaming memories, Newgrounds nostalgia, eBaum’s World, indie gaming, retro internet culture

👍 Don’t forget to subscribe for more cozy gaming conversations every week!

#BindingOfIsaac #Pokemon #indiegames #cozygaming #gamingpodcast #gamingmemories #roguelike #Newgrounds

Last Save Lounge: Stories About Video Games – Details, episodes & analysis

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Last Save Lounge: Stories About Video Games – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Patreon1

Instagram1

Kickstarter1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Patreon1

Instagram1

Kickstarter1