Go Back and Play
A very silly self-guided tour through the history of videogames, from Advance Wars to Zork. Except chronologically. So it would be the other way around. Join Nate, Sebastian, and Ryan as they play a new game every other week and attempt to distill that game's essence.
Episodes
The end has come!
Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, David, and Ryan all convene to discuss the games that surprised them on their seven-year podcast journey, the games from our chronology that they MOST recommend everyone try, and some games which we didn't touch on but which we couldn't finish out our tour without at least mentioning. Along the way, we're joined by several previous guests and friends of the show who have recommendations of...
Nate, Ryan, Jordan, and David gather for the last game on our whirlwind tour of game history -- Supergiant Games' 2020 rogue-like HADES, about a young god just tryin' to get out from his father's shadow. We discuss synergy, sexy deities, incredible jams, and the magic trick of a persistent narrative doled out in pieces in a run-based structure. Nate gushes about Supergiant's other games, David turns up the heat, and Jordan gets in ...
Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and Jordan gather to discuss KENTUCKY ROUTE ZERO, Cardboard Computer's surreal trip through an America haunted by debt, loss, regret, and hope. The first episode released in 2013, but our timeline places it at the journey's conclusion, which only emerged in 2020. We talk theater, symmetry, literature, and whether it's worth it to try and make art in a world which seems to be precipitously falling apart -- and...
Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, Jordan, and David all convene to discuss DISCO ELYSIUM, ZA/UM's 2019 surreal detective adventure. We talk about evocative prose, political vision quests, and what kinds of cops we would be, if we were forced against our will to be cops. Nate fantasizes about being bench-pressed by China Mieville, Sebastian brings a cavalry saber to a gun fight, Jordan fails to make time for a crucial nap, and Ryan tells us al...
Nate, Sebastian, Jordan and Ryan all gather to discuss OUTER WILDS, Mobius Digital's triumphant space exploration game from 2019. We discuss escape rooms, campfires, and dying in the cold vacuum of space. Sebastian mishears Jordan's latest game investigations, Ryan is scared of Giant's Deep, and Nate watches Predator 2.
Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, and Brock gather to discuss PATHOLOGIC 2, the "open-world horror RPG" developed by Ice-Pick Lodge and released in 2019. We discuss brutality both thematic and mechanical, folk horror, and starving to death on the steppe. Nate becomes an evangelist for a game he wasn't sure he'd like, Brock gets to know his co-workers in the most awkward way, and Sebastian is stymied by the unforgiving hands of time.
Nate, Sebastian, and Jordan all gather to discuss RED DEAD REDEMPTION II, Rockstar Games' Western open-world epic from 2018. We talk the problematic circumstances of its production, the surprising subtlety of its storytelling, and the complexity of its systems and controls. Sebastian makes bold claims about Westerns, Nate gushes over the music, and Jordan loses a horse to an unfortunate accident.
Nate, Ryan, David and Max all gather to discuss FORTNITE BATTLE ROYALE, the 2017 smash sensation that enthralled teens the world over. We discuss the game's quick pivot away from a PvE mode to chase a trend, its nature as "pop culture as a service," and how maybe, just maybe, we owe teenagers everywhere an apology. Ryan gushes about being able to use a lightsaber, Nate ponies up some V-Bucks for Jill Valentine, and Max doesn't have...
Nate, Jordan, Max, and new guest Pamela gather to discuss THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD, Nintendo's 2017 reinvention of the open-world genre. We discuss systems that interact with each other, memory and reimagination, and joyful discovery. Nate likes being in the dark, Jordan embraces his inner Dark Souls sicko on Eventide Isle, and Pam extols the virtues of a maraca-wielding Korok.
Nate, Sebastian, David, and newcomer Dan all convene to discuss SID MEIER'S CIVILIZATION VI, Firaxis's strategy masterpiece from 2016. We discuss the complex, layered systems, our favorite ways to let the game challenge us, and the problematic nature of tossing all the world's cultures into the same expansionist melting pot. Sebastian survives the apocalypse, Nate absolutely dominates the 1984 Olympic Games, and David repeatedly th...
Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and David all gather to discuss NO MAN'S SKY, 2016's procedurally-generated space exploration and survival game from Hello Games. We discuss the game's awe-inspiring trailers, its turbulent launch and reception, and the incredible strides it's made in the years since. Nate points out the importance of having two moons in the sky, Ryan defaces a friend's stellar outpost by terraforming, and Sebastian isn't mad...
Nate, Ryan, and David are joined by newcomer Jenn to discuss POKEMON GO, Niantic's AR-enhanced monster-collection extravaganza from 2016. We discuss how a live service game can change and evolve over a seven-year lifespan, the intricacies of catching pocket monsters, and how Eevee is just the darn cutest. Jenn relates a nice dream about what happens to all those Pokemon you "transfer" to the professor, David tells a story about the...
Nate, Ryan, and David gather to discuss UNDERTALE, Toby Fox's RPG(?) from 2015 in which you do not have to destroy anyone. We discuss lo-fi aesthetics, the teenage desire to experience darkness in stories, and choices that matter. Nate keeps a Spider Donut for a convenient moment, Ryan commits some accidental murders, and David bristles at permanent consequences for embracing the dark side. Listening to this podcast episode... it f...
Nate, Sebastian, and Jordan gather to discuss UNTIL DAWN, Supermassive Games' 2015 horror adventure classic. We talk about branching narrative, the surfacing of information to the player (or the obscuration of it!), fiction which is genre-aware, and horny teens. Nate extols the virtues of 1999 cannibal thriller RAVENOUS, Sebastian marvels that a slasher story can hold his interest, and Jordan experiences the butterfly effect.
Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and David convene to discuss THE WITCHER III: WILD HUNT, a 2015 open-world RPG from CD Projekt Red which instantly became the benchmark against which other open-world RPGs were measured. We discuss renaissaince festivals, open-world bloat, and the difference between polish and Polish. Nate describes the game as "a Mass Effect the size of a Skyrim," Sebastian feels uncomfortable playing it with his wife in the...
Nate, Sebastian, Jordan and Ryan all gather to discuss HER STORY, Sam Barlow's "database thriller" from 2015. We discuss the untapped potential of real acting in games, the joys of discovery, and how difficult it is to make a player feel like a detective without them getting lost. Nate recommends a way NOT to play the game, Sebastian takes too many notes, and Ryan accidentally skips right to the final boss.
Nate, Ryan, Jordan, and Brock gather to discuss P.T., the "playable teaser" from 2014 which was delisted a few months after its release when the game it was a preview for was canceled before development really got underway. We discuss what a weird piece of ephemera this is in the story of videogames, jump scares, and hallways. Jordan admits to shrieking out loud, Brock reminds us that sometimes the spookiest games are the ones that...
Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, and David gather to discuss GONE HOME, Fullbright's first-person exploration game from 2013. We discuss the novelty of introducing new narrative genres to familiar mechanical interfaces, what the game inherits from its immersive sim predecessors, and spooky old houses. Jordan misremembers someone else's high school theater story as having happened to him, David uncovers new twists he missed the first time a...
Nate, Sebastian, and Ryan are joined by newcomer Chris Carr to discuss THE LAST OF US, Naughty Dog's grim tale from 2013 of a trip westward across the ruined United States amidst a fungal zombie plague. We discuss naturalistic dialogue, scrappy combat, and parallels to Children of Men. Sebastian praises the game's Western influences, Chris appreciates the game's complex character work, and Ryan tries to suspend his belief that a mi...
Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, and Max all gather to discuss SPELUNKY, or at least the HD remake of it, the procedurally-generated platformer from 2012. We discuss the perils and promises of proc-gen elements in games, how dangerous complexity can arise from beautiful simplicity, and whether it's okay to use a pug to trigger an arrow trap. Nate relates stories of horrible coincidence, Sebastian considers suing Rube Goldberg, and Jordan b...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.