Wilk, Seth, and Matt give their thoughts on both Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the first turn-based entry in the long-running handsome crime man simulator series, as well as Yakuza as a whole.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - @crit_diversions

Seth Sturgill on Twitter - @twodollarhero

Matt Murray on Twitter - @shyguycity

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - @couchmochi

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The Critical Diversions intro theme was made by Mic Fox. Check out all of his projects at

It's the first normal one of these in weeks, so let's talk about stuff like Cobalt Core, Baldur's Gate 3, and The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest like normal humans.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - @crit_diversions

Matt Murray on Twitter - @shyguycity

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - @couchmochi

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

All the various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out his entire plate of projects over at

Seth, Boogs, Wilkins, and Matt get together to reveal and talk about their feelings on the community's top 10 games of 2023, as well as about half of all games that came out in 2023 seemingly, by the end of this three hour long double stuffed episode.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - @crit_diversions

Seth on Twitter - @twodollarhero

All N on Twitter - @allnpodcast

Checkout Seth's video essay on Tears of the Kingdom, as mentioned in the podcast!

Garrett Bugay on Twitter - @garrettbugay

Checkout Garrett's blog where he does all of his yearly media roundups!

Dunkin' Dynasty on Twitter - @dunkindynasty

Matt Murray on Twitter - @shyguycity

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - @couchmochi

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out his entire slate of projects over at

On the first episode of the new year, Matt's joined by his wife, Natascha, to talk about a whole bunch of stuff, including the new movie from Studio Ghibli, "The Boy and the Heron", an extensive breakdown on Coral Island, and why Baldur's Gate 3 is a cozy game, before giving a roundup of the games they're most excited for in 2024.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - @crit_diversions

Natascha Murray on Twitter - @couchmochi

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

Matt Murray on Twitter - @shyguycity

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Matt's game of the year list for 2023 (substack version)

Matt's game of the year list for 2023 (tumblr version)

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out his entire plate of projects over at

The break music this episode was Village Day 2, from Coral Island, composed by Yugo Pratomo

It's the between Christmas and New Year's episode, so there's not much to talk about this week. Naturally, Matt still talked for over an hour about games like Octopath Traveler 2, Baldur's Gate 3, and Raccoo Venture, before going off on rants about Pokemon and Monster Hunter.

Check out Matt's written review of Raccoo Venture, and check out the What's Wrong with Wolfie Podcast while you're there!

There may or may not be Weekly Diversion episodes the next two weeks. If there are, Matt's wife Natascha will be joining him on them! And if not..........................then we'll see you in a few weeks!

Critical Diversions on Twitter: @crit_diversions

Matt Murray on Twitter: @shyguycity

Matt Murray on Blue Sky: @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter: @couchmochi

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky: @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions themes were made by Mic Fox. Check out his entire plate of projects over at

Our break music this week was Tarrey Town (Night) from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, composed by

It's a goof off week at Critical Diversions; not much new to talk about in the gaming sphere, so let's go over German Christmas Markets and Pornhub's 2023 video game porn search roundup. And of course some Baldur's Gate 3 talk on the side.

Critical Diversions on Twitter: @crit_diversions

Matt Murray on Twitter: @shyguycity

Matt Murray on Blue Sky: @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter: @couchmochi

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky: @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out his entire slate of projects over at

Our break music this week was Fourside from Super Smash Bros. Melee, arranged by Hirokazu Ando and composed by Keiichi Suzuki.

Confused by the rebranding of the weekly podcast from Critical Diversions? Don't be, it's the same dumb stuff, only now with a lot more Ed Sheeran than usual. Also some Octopath Traveler 2, Potion Craft, and Lego Fortnite talk, as well as the reveal of the Tekken 2 t-shirt Matt will be buried in. It's all here, right now, in this Weekly Diversion.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - @crit_diversions

Matt Murray on Twitter - @shyguycity

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - @couchmochi

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were composed by Mic Fox. Check out his entire slate of projects over at

Wanna hear Matt's take on the endless game announcements from this week, like Visions of Mana, Kind Words 2: Lo-Fi City Pop, and Duck Detective: The Secret Salami? Then you've come to the right place, brother.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - @crit_diversions

Matt Murray on Twitter - @shyguycity

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - @couchmochi

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were composed by Mic Fox. Check out his entire plate of projects over at

Our break music this episode was "Try to Have Some Fun For Me!!" composed by Saori Yoshida and Mayumi Koizumi for Yakuza 0.

It's our special episode celebrating 1 year of Critical Diversions! Words give it no justice, just come on in; it's time to take a dive (WARNING: for big dawgs only).

This week Matt's talking about games such as Octopath Traveler 2, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and (of course) Baldur's Gate 3, but this week's also bursting at the seams with news, ranging from world premieres to Shadow the Hedgehog's feet. Let's get to it.

Critical Diversions on Twitter: @crit_diversions

Matt Murray on Twitter: @shyguycity

Matt Murray on Blue Sky: @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter: @couchmochi

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky: @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were composed by Mic Fox. Check out Mic's entire plate of projects over at

Our break music this episode is "A Sensational City (Night)" composed by Yasunori Nishiki for Octopath Traveler 2.

The Mario RPG Three Musketeers original design sketches referenced in the show can be found here: