Nick and Trevor regale Jonathan with the simple joys of zombie dismemberment in Dead Island 2, a worthy successor, if a bit delayed.

Nick and Trevor regale Jonathan with the simple joys of zombie dismemberment in Dead Island 2, a worthy successor, if a bit delayed.

Dead Island 2

Jonathan and Nick recount purging lots of heretics in Inquisitor: Martyr, a great action game with a few rough edges, but absolutely lives up to the standards of the Warhammer 40K franchise lore. If you're new to lore, don't miss Luetin's channel.https://www.youtube.com/@Luetin09

Jonathan and Nick recount purging lots of heretics in Inquisitor: Martyr, a great action game with a few rough edges, but absolutely lives up to the standards of the Warhammer 40K franchise lore. If you're new to lore, don't miss Luetin's channel. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Luetin09" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@Luetin09</a>

WH40K: Inquisitor: Martyr

Nick regales Jonathan with his experience of Forespoken, a decent enough action game, but the aspirations of open world and story evaporating in the sunlight.

Nick regales Jonathan with his experience of Forespoken, a decent enough action game, but the aspirations of open world and story evaporating in the sunlight.

Forespoken

Jonathan and Nick revisit the free new major content drop for Valheim "Mistlands".  New weapons, new enemies, new materials, lots of new geography, and magic!

Jonathan and Nick revisit the free new major content drop for Valheim "Mistlands". New weapons, new enemies, new materials, lots of new geography, and magic!

Valheim: Mistlands update

Sethatos returns to talk about Dwarf Fortress, now on Steam, thanks to KitFox games.  Still the best home for all of your war-rhinocerous needs.

Sethatos returns to talk about Dwarf Fortress, now on Steam, thanks to KitFox games. Still the best home for all of your war-rhinocerous needs.

Dwarf Fortress on Steam

Jonathan describes the inventory-optimizing Roge-Like "BackPack Hero".  Lots of fun if you're a huge nerd. :)

Jonathan describes the inventory-optimizing Roge-Like "BackPack Hero". Lots of fun if you're a huge nerd. :)

Short: BackPack Hero

Jonathan describes the wonders of the new Rogelike deckbuilder "Inscryption".  It's wonderfully atmospheric, and a remarkable blend of mechanics and narrative.

Jonathan describes the wonders of the new Rogelike deckbuilder "Inscryption". It's wonderfully atmospheric, and a remarkable blend of mechanics and narrative.

Short: Inscryption

Jonathan expounds on the state of the podcast, Sundered: Eldritch Edition comes to the Nintendo Switch, and Elden Ring final thoughts.

Jonathan expounds on the state of the podcast, Sundered: Eldritch Edition comes to the Nintendo Switch, and Elden Ring final thoughts.

Hiatus and Elden Ring final thoughts

Jonathan and Nick discuss Diablo Immortal, and dopamine machines generally, if they can be good, and the future of the industry.

Jonathan and Nick discuss Diablo Immortal, and dopamine machines generally, if they can be good, and the future of the industry.

Diablo Immortal and Dopamine Machines

Jonathan recounts the delightful and relaxing tile countryside builder 'DorfRomantik', on Steam now.

Jonathan recounts the delightful and relaxing tile countryside builder 'DorfRomantik', on Steam now.

Short: DorfRomantik

OctopusPark's Literate Gamer: a discussion of games, their meaning, and their impact on people and art.

Great podcast if you have an interest in video games!

Great podcast!

Humorous and informative, a great listen is you like video games even a little.

Literate Gamer

Jonathan and Nick discuss Zelda: Breath of the Wild, arguably the best Zelda game so far.  We're back to open world, action, and the best exploration experience for several years.    This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Jonathan and Nick discuss Zelda: Breath of the Wild, arguably the best Zelda game so far. We're back to open world, action, and the best exploration experience for several years. This podcast is powered by <a href="https://zencast.fm" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ZenCast.fm</a>

Zelda - Breath of the Wild

Jonathan and Nick discuss the first half of Sekiro, Shadows Die Twice.  It's a little bit of Tenchu, a little bit of Dark Souls, and a lot sword into your guts: fun, but very hard.

Jonathan and Nick discuss the first half of Sekiro, Shadows Die Twice. It's a little bit of Tenchu, a little bit of Dark Souls, and a lot sword into your guts: fun, but very hard.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Jonathan and Nick discuss Deep Rock Galactic, a first-person, instance-based, cooperative, traversal shooter.  It's a surprising amount of fun with a friend or three.

Jonathan and Nick discuss Deep Rock Galactic, a first-person, instance-based, cooperative, traversal shooter. It's a surprising amount of fun with a friend or three.

Deep Rock Galactic

Jonathan and Nick discuss GreedFall: proof that you don't need the highest budgets in the land to make a really awesome game.  It's like Mass Effect 2 except more hack-and-slash (and magic and muskets) instead of a shooter.  Definitely get it!

Jonathan and Nick discuss GreedFall: proof that you don't need the highest budgets in the land to make a really awesome game. It's like Mass Effect 2 except more hack-and-slash (and magic and muskets) instead of a shooter. Definitely get it!

GreedFall

Amir Rajan

Jonathan and Nick discuss Nier Automata with Amir Rajan, games, philosophy, and everything.  We ended up recording for two hours, of which this is the first.  We get really deep into this, and you won't regret listening.

Jonathan and Nick discuss Nier Automata with Amir Rajan, games, philosophy, and everything. We ended up recording for two hours, of which this is the first. We get really deep into this, and you won't regret listening.

Nier Automata with Amir Rajan

Trevor Zaple

Trevor Zaple, author of Prospero's Half-Life, joins Literate Gamer to discuss all the best ways to assassinate your family members for fun, profit, and empire expansion. In this week's episode Paradox's strategic narrative engine Crusader Kings 2 gets the GAMER treatment.

Trevor Zaple, author of Prospero's Half-Life, joins Literate Gamer to discuss all the best ways to assassinate your family members for fun, profit, and empire expansion. In this week's episode Paradox's strategic narrative engine Crusader Kings 2 gets the GAMER treatment.

Crusader Kings II - Trevor Zaple

Jonathan and Nick discuss Conan Exiles, a server-based multiplayer online game that's quite good, but with some troubling Atmospheric / Ethos elements.  Find our Conan Exiles server by searching for LiterateGamer in the game server list, or 172.107.16.135:29700

Jonathan and Nick discuss Conan Exiles, a server-based multiplayer online game that's quite good, but with some troubling Atmospheric / Ethos elements. Find our Conan Exiles server by searching for LiterateGamer in the game server list, or 172.107.16.135:29700

Conan Exiles

Tarn Adams

Engraved on this podcast is a masterfully designed conversation by Tarn Adams, creator of Dwarf Fortress. Tarn Adams describes the founding of Dwarf Fortress, the Myth and Magic updates coming, and the seemingly inescapable creative gravity that Dwarf Fortress exerts on his other endeavors. Tarn Adams is holding a Capybara-man skull totem aloft. The podcast relates to the great Were-lizard purge of the peaceful, ale infused, dwarf commune of The Homely Urist. Additional links and resources are available at www.LiterateGamer.com.

Engraved on this podcast is a masterfully designed conversation by Tarn Adams, creator of Dwarf Fortress. Tarn Adams describes the founding of Dwarf Fortress, the Myth and Magic updates coming, and the seemingly inescapable creative gravity that Dwarf Fortress exerts on his other endeavors. Tarn Adams is holding a Capybara-man skull totem aloft. The podcast relates to the great Were-lizard purge of the peaceful, ale infused, dwarf commune of The Homely Urist. Additional links and resources are available at <a href="http://www.LiterateGamer.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.LiterateGamer.com</a>.

Dwarf Fortress - Tarn Adams

Jonathan and Nick discuss the Division 2 base game (levels 1-30).  Mechanically better than the first, but a bit lighter on story.  Still very fun.

Jonathan and Nick discuss the Division 2 base game (levels 1-30). Mechanically better than the first, but a bit lighter on story. Still very fun.

The Division 2

Nick tells Jonathan about Kerbal Space Program, an incredible space simulation game, and apparently training tool for the next generation of NASA.

Nick tells Jonathan about Kerbal Space Program, an incredible space simulation game, and apparently training tool for the next generation of NASA.

Kerbal Space Program

Jonathan and Nick discuss Russian philosophical science fiction masterpiece STALKER, spawned from the book "Roadside Picnic", along with three games of quality and a surprisingly vibrant mod community.  The film is VERY GOOD. A video on the making of the film:https://youtu.be/lhK7hMBli4s Watch the movie on the Criterion Collection streaming service:https://www.criterionchannel.com/videos/stalker-1

Jonathan and Nick discuss Russian philosophical science fiction masterpiece STALKER, spawned from the book "Roadside Picnic", along with three games of quality and a surprisingly vibrant mod community. The film is VERY GOOD. A video on the making of the film: <a href="https://youtu.be/lhK7hMBli4s" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/lhK7hMBli4s</a> Watch the movie on the Criterion Collection streaming service: <a href="https://www.criterionchannel.com/videos/stalker-1" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://www.criterionchannel.com/videos/stalker-1</a>

STALKER

Kevin Mooseles

Nick and Jonathan are joined by returning guest Kevin Mooseles - author of The Resistance is Dead and contributor to the Escapist -to cover Bethesda's post-apocalyptic role-playing franchise, Fallout. They compare and contrast the different games in the franchise and evaluate the shifts and changes the franchise has experienced over the years. They also explore theories surrounding the origin of Fallout 4's protagonist.

Nick and Jonathan are joined by returning guest Kevin Mooseles - author of The Resistance is Dead and contributor to the Escapist -to cover Bethesda's post-apocalyptic role-playing franchise, Fallout. They compare and contrast the different games in the franchise and evaluate the shifts and changes the franchise has experienced over the years. They also explore theories surrounding the origin of Fallout 4's protagonist.

Fallout - Kevin Mooseles

Jonathan and Nick discuss the Metro franchise: Russian sensibilities and culture delivered through a first-person-shooter packaging.  Join an in-depth discussion of oppressive claustrophobia and darkness made remarkably compelling. The Miracle of Sound: “The Day the World Died”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvYi1MRvX_o

Jonathan and Nick discuss the Metro franchise: Russian sensibilities and culture delivered through a first-person-shooter packaging. Join an in-depth discussion of oppressive claustrophobia and darkness made remarkably compelling. The Miracle of Sound: “The Day the World Died” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvYi1MRvX_o" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvYi1MRvX_o</a>

Metro 2033 Redux

Jonathan and Nick discuss the last two decades of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games, from World of Warcraft to Star Wars: the Old Republic, to Destiny: the good, the bad, and where we go from here.

Jonathan and Nick discuss the last two decades of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games, from World of Warcraft to Star Wars: the Old Republic, to Destiny: the good, the bad, and where we go from here.

20 years of MMOs

Short episode: Jonathan goes on a fan-rant about how awesome the crafting mini-game is in Final Fantasy 14.  Honestly, it's the best part of the game.  I just tolerate the combat and story-line.  :)

Short episode: Jonathan goes on a fan-rant about how awesome the crafting mini-game is in Final Fantasy 14. Honestly, it's the best part of the game. I just tolerate the combat and story-line. :)

the Joy of Crafting in FF14

Jonathan extols the virtues of the masterpiece Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the mother of the “metroidvania” genre, and with good reason. It’s a must-play, even after two decades.

Jonathan extols the virtues of the masterpiece Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the mother of the “metroidvania” genre, and with good reason. It’s a must-play, even after two decades.

Platformer Short - CastleVania: Symphony of the Night

Jonathan and Nick discuss NorthGard, a real-time-strategy game with a completely different pace and feel.  Definitely check it out on Steam. This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Jonathan and Nick discuss NorthGard, a real-time-strategy game with a completely different pace and feel. Definitely check it out on Steam. This podcast is powered by <a href="https://zencast.fm" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ZenCast.fm</a>

NorthGard

Jonathan and Nick speak with Trevor about Remnant: from the Ashes, a third-person shooter with atmosphere and tendencies much like Dark Souls.  It’s a very solid experience, fun from start to finish.  We can’t wait for more content!

Jonathan and Nick speak with Trevor about Remnant: from the Ashes, a third-person shooter with atmosphere and tendencies much like Dark Souls. It’s a very solid experience, fun from start to finish. We can’t wait for more content!

Remnant: From the Ashes

Literate Gamer explores a pastoral, albeit post-apocalyptic, English village in "game" Everybody's Gone to the Rapture by The Chinese Room. When civil discourse between our two hosts breaks down, one host sets fire to the other and uses his ashes to make his beverages more powerful and more fulfilling. Afterward, the emboldened host realizes that no one ever reads the episode summaries after the first sentence and sets out on a narrative quest that rivals the wayfarers of antiquity, and strains the very notion of narrative credulity. Oh, and they also debate the definition of the term 'game' itself.

Literate Gamer explores a pastoral, albeit post-apocalyptic, English village in "game" Everybody's Gone to the Rapture by The Chinese Room. When civil discourse between our two hosts breaks down, one host sets fire to the other and uses his ashes to make his beverages more powerful and more fulfilling. Afterward, the emboldened host realizes that no one ever reads the episode summaries after the first sentence and sets out on a narrative quest that rivals the wayfarers of antiquity, and strains the very notion of narrative credulity. Oh, and they also debate the definition of the term 'game' itself.

Everybody's Gone to the Rapture

Jonathan describes the new innovations Castlevania takes in, of all places, the Game Boy Advance, with "Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow", and the follow-up "Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow".https://castlevania.fandom.com/wiki/Castlevania:_Aria_of_Sorrow

Jonathan describes the new innovations Castlevania takes in, of all places, the Game Boy Advance, with "Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow", and the follow-up "Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow". <a href="https://castlevania.fandom.com/wiki/Castlevania:_Aria_of_Sorrow" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://castlevania.fandom.com/wiki/Castlevania:_Aria_of_Sorrow</a>

Platformer Short - Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow

The best podcast episodes on non-current politics. Covering topics such as universal basic income, democracy, poverty & justice and more. For anyone interested in learning more about politics that affect that world, not just now, but in the longer term. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Non-Current Politics Podcasts

The best podcasts about ourselves as well as the world through the lense of Science. Specific topics include things about our brain, emotions to biology, physics and more!