Geek out with these 12 video game podcasts

Are you an OG gamer, passionate about releases from the ’80s and ’90s? Did you start humming the iconic Super Mario Bros. theme song after reading the previous sentence? If you’re just getting into games for newer consoles like the Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, and Playstation 5, that’s cool, too. From all-star gamers to casual players, we’ve selected some podcasts for you by hosts whose fiery enthusiasm for video games is contagious. They’ll explore ridiculously popular video games and more niche picks.

We’ll hear about classic games, the magic of video game soundtracks, and the latest video game news. Also, hosts and their guests will share how video games maintain their relevancy in our modern era.

How Did This Get Played?

Have you ever played a terrible video game and wondered why it was made? Earwolf’s “How Did This Get Played” sits down with hosts Anne Campbell and Nick Wiger to rediscover weird games and critically share why they think some of them are downright absurd. They’ll have you laughing with their comedic bits and hilarious banter in weekly episodes.

Retronauts

“Retronauts” is devoted to classic gaming and the history behind your vintage faves. With the help of expert guests, hosts Bob Mackey and Jeremy Parish look back at over four decades worth of awesome games. Recent episodes delved into Silent Hill 3, The Atari 8-Bit Legacy, and Godzilla.

Video Game History Hour

“Video Game History Hour” is another podcast devoted to video game history. Hosted by the founders of the Video Game History Foundation, Frank Cifaldi and Kelsey Lewin interview a series of guests like video game historians, game developers, and content creators. Each episode hopes to expand your knowledge on video game culture and provides insight into how your favorite games are made.

Triple Click

Hosted by video game experts Jason Schreier, Kirk Hamilton, and Maddy Myers, this panel gets into the latest video game news. They replay classic video games, too. The hosts love to share their opinions on new game releases. Listeners are invited to submit questions to be answered in a future episode. Recent episodes answered fan mail questions like, “What makes Someone ‘Good’ At Games?’ New episodes are posted weekly.

Sound of Gaming

BBC presents “Sound of Gaming” a guide to video game music. Music game composer Jessica Curry walks us through some of her favorite soundtracks and speaks with fellow composers. She shares that video games might be one of the more exciting places to hear new music today. Previous guests have included composer Ilan Eshkeri (Sims 4), Winifred Phillips (Assassin’s Creed: Liberation to God of War, Little Big Planet, etc.), Takeshi Furukawa (The Last Guardian), and composing duo The Flight.

Classic Gaming Podcast

Rediscover some of your favorite vintage video games with HP Video Game Podcast Network’s “Classic Gaming Podcast.” The hosts, Robert and Jay, speak about classic games and how important they were in the world of video game development. They’ll share lists, such as their top 10 favorite games of 1996.

Videogame BANG! Podcast

Hosts Curtis Fisher, Cory Vincent, David Webb, and Emma Skies discuss more than video game news and geek culture on their show with a healthy dose of humor. This VGB Studios production enables the hosts to share their love of video games, movies, comics, cosplay, and television. Episodes are released twice weekly.

The Secret History of Video Game Music

Episode 12 of “The Get Wired Podcast” discusses legendary video game soundtracks of the ’80s and ’90s. Did you know that many of these soundtracks were composed by young, Japanese women? Host Lauren Goode speaks with writer and video game music expert Dia Lacina to unpack her research on this bunch of influential composers. Conductor Eímear Noone is interviewed about translating 8-bit video game music to a symphony.

Cane and Rinse Videogame Podcast

Cane and Rinse are passionate about video gaming. Since 2011, they’ve hosted their weekly podcast to chat about gamer culture, creating games, and more. Each episode centers on one game or series. Recent episodes discussed SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog, Duke Nukem Forever, and Star Trek: Bridge Crew. Special guests appear on the show, such as members of the gaming community, game developers, and super-fans.

Sound Only

The Ringer’s Spotify Original, “Sound Only” speaks about all kinds of media. While many of the episodes discuss movies, TV shows, music, and YouTube, hosts Justin Charity and Micah Peters frequently incorporate video games in their conversations. They recently discussed Playstation 5’s Returnal.

Kinda Funny Games Daily: A Video Games News Podcast

On this daily podcast, listeners can catch up on the latest video game news updates. Hosted by Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Tim Gettys, Blessing Adeoye, and Star Wars Rogue One writer Gary Whitta. Viewers can tune into Kinda Funny’s YouTube channel for video versions of each episode.

Multiplayer Gaming Podcast

The Multiplayer Gaming Podcast is hosted by friends Josh, Paul, and Todd who love sharing tips on the world of games. They rank their favorites, review new games, and dive into listener questions.