I've been listening to Retronauts since its original incarnation at 1UP, more than a decade ago, and it's remained one of my favorite gaming podcasts. I like the deep dives that the show takes into classic games, both for the nostalgia factor and for how it both provides more historical context for the games I loved and shows how they influenced contemporary gaming. I also appreciate that as the show has progressed, it's started touching on some of the social and cultural aspects around games and gaming, acknowledging issues of representation both in the games and behind the scenes.

Retronauts was my second podcast ever! I'm not talking about the 1up days, I'm talking Ray, Bob and Jeremy throwing out their thanks to Kickstarter backers every episodes. I'm sad Ray left, but Bob and Jeremy have carried on just fine. These guys are super knowledgeable about their topic, and if not, they have knowledgeable guests. They consistently put out great content, and I've caught interest in things I didn't previously have interest in when they've covered it. Most episodes proceed in an orderly fashion, but occasionally you have guests trying to talk over each other (Final Fantasy I deep dive, anyone?). As they've moved forward, their editing skills (already good) have improved, and I look forward to relaxing with a couple of gaming nerds with soothing voices every show. The collaborative spirit of the show has lead me to enjoy other shows (Axe of the Blood God), and as a bisexual woman, I enjoy that the guys regularly have LGBTQ+ guests and broaden our representation in the industry. Overall, Retronauts has made me an even bigger game nerd, shaped my expectations for podcasts and set the bar high for other shows covering the same material. There's a reason Jeremy and Bob are literally professional podcasters. 😊

Best video game podcast