Red Barrels Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to the first episode of the Red Barrels Podcast! Listen in to a bunch of lefties chatting about games and the politics behind them. Starring Alex, Ed and Sofie, we discuss the games we've been playing recently - Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Black Ops 6, and Mass Effect 2 - and then dig into the news.

Since this is our first go at this, please excuse some rough edges - proper art and theme music coming soon!

For updates on our upcoming episodes, make sure to subscribe and follow us on Twitter or increasingly BlueSky:

@redbarrelspod

@redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social

Your hosts are:

Alex: @alexduin, @alexduin.bsky.social

Sofie: @sofreelymedia, @sofreely.bsky.social, streaming on https://twitch.tv/sofreely

Ed: @stillnotalemon, @notalemon.bsky.social

Recorded at MayDay Rooms - https://maydayrooms.org/

Welcome to the second episode of the Red Barrels Podcast! Listen in to a bunch of lefties chatting about games and the politics behind them. Starring Alex, Ed and Sofie, we announce the Red Barrels Podcast's First Annual Most Ideologically Correct Game of the Year award, and then discuss the capitalist behemoth that is the less ideologically correct Game Awards.

This is the last podcast of the year, but don't despair - we'll be back in January, hopefully with a more regular schedule!

For updates on our upcoming episodes, make sure to subscribe and follow us on Twitter or increasingly BlueSky:

⁠@redbarrelspod⁠

⁠@redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social⁠

Your hosts are:

Alex: ⁠@alexduin⁠, ⁠@alexduin.bsky.social⁠

Sofie: ⁠@sofreelymedia⁠, ⁠@sofreely.bsky.social⁠, streaming on ⁠https://twitch.tv/sofreely⁠

Ed: ⁠@stillnotalemon⁠, ⁠@notalemon.bsky.social⁠

Fantastic theme song from ⁠brilliantdrink⁠!

Recorded at MayDay Rooms - ⁠https://maydayrooms.org/

In defiance of reason and good taste, the Red Barrels Podcast has lurched to its fourth episode. Today, we discuss three games: Fallout 2, 1000X Resist and Pentiment, and wring the political content out of them like a wet rag.

Then we crash into the news, talking about fascist Fallout mod enthusiasts, the reliability of labour campaigning performed by Sonic the Hedgehog, and then force ourselves to talk about Trump and his tariffs.

Please consider reviewing us on iTunes and Spotify, and sharing us on social media!

For updates on our upcoming episodes, make sure to subscribe and follow us on Twitter or increasingly BlueSky:

⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspod⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠

Your hosts are:

Alex:⁠⁠⁠@alexduin⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠@alexduin.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠

Sofie:⁠⁠⁠@sofreelymedia⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠@sofreely.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠, streaming on⁠⁠⁠https://twitch.tv/sofreely⁠⁠⁠

Ed:⁠⁠⁠@stillnotalemon⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠@notalemon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠

Amazing art from Bella Harter - https://www.instagram.com/_.o.bella.o._

Fantastic theme song from⁠⁠⁠brilliantdrink⁠⁠⁠!

Recorded at MayDay Rooms -⁠⁠⁠https://maydayrooms.org/⁠

They said it couldn't happen - the third episode of Red Barrels is here! Alex, Sofie and Ed are back to talk about the games they've been playing, argue about the ideology within them, and then get into the news. Including! The start of a probably regular segment deep-diving into all the drama surrounding the Disco Elysium ZA/UM fallout. IN FACT! Much to our annoyance, merely one day after recording, ZA/UM splinter developers Longdue officially announced their new game (along with a crowdfunder): Hopetown.

You may also have seen our fabulous new branding! This is thanks to the incomparable Bella Harter, who you can find on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_.o.bella.o._

For updates on our upcoming episodes, make sure to subscribe and follow us on Twitter or increasingly BlueSky:

⁠⁠@redbarrelspod⁠⁠

⁠⁠@redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social⁠⁠

Your hosts are:

Alex: ⁠⁠@alexduin⁠⁠, ⁠⁠@alexduin.bsky.social⁠⁠

Sofie: ⁠⁠@sofreelymedia⁠⁠, ⁠⁠@sofreely.bsky.social⁠⁠, streaming on ⁠⁠https://twitch.tv/sofreely⁠⁠

Ed: ⁠⁠@stillnotalemon⁠⁠, ⁠⁠@notalemon.bsky.social⁠⁠

Fantastic theme song from ⁠⁠brilliantdrink⁠⁠!

Recorded at MayDay Rooms - ⁠⁠https://maydayrooms.org/⁠

Episode seven is upon us, and of course we're talking about the big reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 - oh and the collapse of the world economy too, can't forget about that.

But before that, we discuss Ed's Survival of Vampires, Sofie becomes a REPO-man, and Alex revives the discourse of 2013 with Bioshock Infinite.

COME for trenchant political and gaming critique! STAY for Alex's shocking interpretation of Metroid Prime 4!

Please consider reviewing us on iTunes and Spotify, and sharing us on social media!

For updates on our upcoming episodes, make sure to subscribe and follow us on Twitter or increasingly BlueSky:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Your hosts are:

Alex:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@alexduin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alexduin.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sofie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreelymedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreely.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, streaming on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitch.tv/sofreely⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stillnotalemon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@notalemon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazing art from Bella Harter - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/_.o.bella.o._⁠⁠⁠

Fantastic theme song from brilliantdrink! ⁠https://soundcloud.com/brilliantdrink⁠

Recorded at MayDay Rooms - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maydayrooms.org/⁠⁠

The episodes keep coming - welcome to number six! This time, Alex plumbs the depths of feudal Japanese history in Assassin's Creed, wedding bells are ringing for Ed in It Takes Two, and Sofie submits to the allures of colonialism in Monster Hunter Wilds.

In the news, we have worrying acquisitions, hopeful union developments, and Ed gives us an update in the eternal drama of the ZA/UMageddon!

Please consider reviewing us on iTunes and Spotify, and sharing us on social media!

For updates on our upcoming episodes, make sure to subscribe and follow us on Twitter or increasingly BlueSky:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Your hosts are:

Alex:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@alexduin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alexduin.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sofie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreelymedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreely.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, streaming on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitch.tv/sofreely⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stillnotalemon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@notalemon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazing art from Bella Harter - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/_.o.bella.o._⁠⁠

Fantastic theme song from brilliantdrink! https://soundcloud.com/brilliantdrink

Recorded at MayDay Rooms - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maydayrooms.org/⁠⁠

We're back! After a brief hiatus due to deep-state persecution, we've bounded back onto the internet, ready to astound and amaze in equal measure with our political and gaming takes.

After another riveting round of Who Would Marx Main??, Sofie finishes off Pentiment, Alex uncovers the shocking truth about Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (and the Yakuza series generally), and Ed enters the cyberverse with Death Horizon: Reloaded! After that we discuss the news, including an update on our French comrades' strike action.

BTW: Pentiment spoilers end at 00:28:23!

Please consider reviewing us on iTunes and Spotify, and sharing us on social media!

For updates on our upcoming episodes, make sure to subscribe and follow us on Twitter or increasingly BlueSky:

⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspod⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠

Your hosts are:

Alex:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@alexduin⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠@alexduin.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sofie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreelymedia⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreely.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠, streaming on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitch.tv/sofreely⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@stillnotalemon⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@notalemon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazing art from Bella Harter - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_.o.bella.o._⁠

Fantastic theme song from ⁠⁠⁠⁠brilliantdrink⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Recorded at MayDay Rooms - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maydayrooms.org/⁠⁠

Episode 12 is here, and it's a special one! This time all three of us have played - and finished! - the same game, 2024's indie hit, Mouthwashing. So we're going to go for a full dive into it, starting with our general opinions, but eventually going full spoiler to get into all the twists and turns of the story.

But if you've not played Mouthwashing (though it's only two hours long, so you may well consider it!), as well as the general discussion, afterwards we'll also have the news as always, as we discuss the Mindseye debacle and the Stop Killing Games campaign. So there's no excuse not to listen!

MOUTHWASHING SPOILERS END AT 1:01:25

Also, Games Transformed festival is coming in Bethnal Green, London on 11-12 July: ⁠⁠https://buytickets.at/gamestransformed/⁠⁠

Check out the announced lineup! ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/gamestransformed.bsky.social/post/3lrpwlpvvrs27⁠

Please consider reviewing us on iTunes and Spotify, and sharing us on social media!

For updates on our upcoming episodes, make sure to subscribe and follow us on Twitter or increasingly BlueSky:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Your hosts are:

Alex:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@alexduin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alexduin.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sofie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreelymedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreely.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, streaming on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitch.tv/sofreely⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stillnotalemon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@notalemon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazing art from Bella Harter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/_.o.bella.o._⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Fantastic theme song from brilliantdrink! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundcloud.com/brilliantdrink⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

NOT recorded at MayDay Rooms (but we still love them) - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maydayrooms.org⁠⁠

APOLOGY: Due to some technical issues, the sound quality and volume on Alex's feed was somewhat compromised - we've tried to alleviate it, but it's still noticeable. You'll still probably enjoy the podcast, but just letting you know! We'll try to resolve this by the next ep.

-

Episode 11 rears its distinguished head and it's new console time, baby! Alex has his hands on a Switch 2 and is ready to tell you all about that and Mario Kart World. Meanwhile, less fortunate peasants Ed and Sofie chat about Split Fiction and Kentucky Route Zero respectively. And in the news, it's a Summer Games Fest blowout - everything's happening in this episode!

Also, Games Transformed festival is coming in Bethnal Green, London on 11-12 July: ⁠https://buytickets.at/gamestransformed/⁠

Check out the announced lineup! https://bsky.app/profile/gamestransformed.bsky.social/post/3lrpwlpvvrs27

Please consider reviewing us on iTunes and Spotify, and sharing us on social media!

For updates on our upcoming episodes, make sure to subscribe and follow us on Twitter or increasingly BlueSky:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Your hosts are:

Alex:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@alexduin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alexduin.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sofie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreelymedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreely.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, streaming on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitch.tv/sofreely⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stillnotalemon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@notalemon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Amazing art from Bella Harter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/_.o.bella.o._⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Fantastic theme song from brilliantdrink! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundcloud.com/brilliantdrink⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

NOT recorded at MayDay Rooms (but we still love them) - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maydayrooms.org⁠

It's episode 10, and it's a big one! This time, we are joined by the bespectacled king of political YouTube (or at least the bit with actually decent politics) - it's only Tom Nicholas! That's right, YouTuber and Nebula maven (check out his original documentary Boomers on there too!) pops onto the podcast to say hello and prove his now undeniable gamer cred.

Because it's a special episode, we have a slightly different format - we're focusing on one game that we've all played: Citizen Sleeper from Jump Over The Age. After that we move onto the news to talk about Marathon plagiarism, the opposing fates of Giant Bomb and Polygon, and a story we're calling "The Gooners' Dilemma" - if you dare.

We're also plugging the upcoming (and guaranteed to be amazing) Games Transformed festival in Bethnal Green, London on 11-12 July: https://buytickets.at/gamestransformed/

Polygon (Ex) Staff Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-polygon-workers-and-the-vox-media-union

Please consider reviewing us on iTunes and Spotify, and sharing us on social media!

For updates on our upcoming episodes, make sure to subscribe and follow us on Twitter or increasingly BlueSky:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Your hosts are:

Alex:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@alexduin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alexduin.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sofie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreelymedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sofreely.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, streaming on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitch.tv/sofreely⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stillnotalemon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@notalemon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And featuring Tom Nicholas!: @Tom_Nicholas, @tomnicholas.bsky.social

Amazing art from Bella Harter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/_.o.bella.o._⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Fantastic theme song from brilliantdrink! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundcloud.com/brilliantdrink⁠⁠⁠⁠

NOT recorded at MayDay Rooms (but we still love them) - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maydayrooms.org