It's the Year of Kong! Nintendo's first "proper" (don't @ me, Mario Kart fans) Switch 2 blockbuster is here, and it's one for the books. Donkey Kong is now a fully realised modern Nintendo mascot as he smashes, dances, and chomps his way through a series of wonderfully designed, multi-layered levels that are simply a joy to experience. A couple of minor-ish quibbles stop it from being an unreserved 10/10, for me at least — but that doesn’t detract from the headline: it truly is Donkey Kong’s time. 

In the roundup: Cipher Zero, Wildwood Down, Wheel World, Fretless: The Wrath of Riffson, The Drifter, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

Indie Quest guest appearance: https://indiequest.buzzsprout.com/1425403/episodes/17508234-episode-115-keep-on-questin-indie-people-with-john-of-gaming-in-the-wild

Support the show on Patreon to get a load of bonus episodes, a Discord invite, a thank you on the pod, and more: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

Get more Gaming In The Wild stuff on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GamingInTheWild.

Follow me on Bluesky, Insta, Steam, etc: http://gaminginthewild.com.

Thanks to boss tier patrons KingChamp and ShyGuy — and thanks for listening!

This week's pod is a roundup episode featuring Blade Chimera, Midtris, and Death Stranding 2. In the roundup: Tron Catalyst, Tiny Garden, Preserve, Wheel World.

I also talk about moving the podcast's hosting away from Spotify, given the unforgivable actions of the CEO, and discuss removing GITW from Spotify completely. For the record — Pocketcasts does it just as well; and YouTube Music has you covered if you have a YT Premium subscription.

Links mentioned:

My Grapevine cover story: https://grapevine.is/mag/feature/2025/07/04/the-summer-ring-road-around-iceland-in-12-days.

The latest Gaming In The Wild YouTube videos: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild.

Support me on Patreon for bonus episodes, Discord, blogs, and more: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

Find the BlueSky, Instagram, Steam curator page, etc: http://gaminginthewild.com.

Thanks for listening!

Hey folks! This week's pod gives some initial thoughts on Kojima's new joint Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, then runs through over 20 demos from the recent Steam Next Fest, including Ball X Pit, Herdling, MIO: Memories In Orbit, Hirogami, Death Howl, Gecko Gods, and more.

Join the Patreon for extra stuff: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild

Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/

Video version of the Next Fest section: https://youtu.be/zdqXD205SIk?si=y9ZZus1JclKr92K1

Death Stranding 1 episode: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gaminginthewild/episodes/62-Death-Stranding-with-special-guest-Ciaran-Daly-e13qrur/a-a61t7f8

Other stuff: http://gaminginthewild.com

Special thanks to boss tier patrons Shy Guy, King Champ and essywoods. And thanks for listening!

Post-Hades roguelikes are a dime a dozen, but Lost In Random: The Eternal Die stands head and shoulders above the pack. It matches the gold standard set by the Supergiant classic with its strong art style, tight combat, satisfying progression, and build variety. Unlike much of the genre, it also respects your time, and it takes luck, thought, and skill to craft a winning build, and earn a winning run.

In the roundup: Next Fest, Gecko Gods, MIO: Memories In Orbit, The Drifter, and more.

Support the show, get extra stuff, and help me to 150 patrons! http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild

Hear the original Lost In Random review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7lVYw1sOSM

See the June indie release video: https://youtu.be/dTxqYRvC7zc?si=rvcZ0AC6jWoq9mEf 

Follow me on Bluesky, Steam, and all the other places: http://gaminginthewild.com

Thanks for listening!

Hello folks! Here's a little bonus episode taken from a YouTube video I put out this week — it's a rundown of some of the most interesting games spotted at the summer showcases so far, including Summer Game Fest, Day of the Devs, State of Play, the Xbox Showcase, and the PC Gaming Showcase.

If you're listening in Spotify, you can see game footage as you listen. If you're listening elsewhere and wanna see the games, have a look over here: https://youtu.be/JvxovKLmM9I

Thanks for listening as always! Come be a patron if you'd like more bonus stuff: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. And you can find all kinds of useful pod and YouTube and Steam curator and social media links here: http://gaminginthewild.com.

Switch 2 is here! This week's show reviews Nintendo's brand new hardware, and the launch lineup — and wonders whether Switch 2 can become another indie game powerhouse. There's also a review of Spilled, a lovely little eco-game about cleaning up waterways and making the world a better place.

In the roundup: Symphonia, Star Overdrive, Tainted Grail, Pipistrello & The Cursed Yoyo, Fast Fusion, Mario Kart World.

Support the show on Patreon: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild

Check out my Pages of Play guest slot: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4anESwtFMWEUYwEbJlK1wa

Check out the Best Ever Switch Indies video: https://youtu.be/48f-zXDkuaU

And thanks for listening!

This week's episode looks at the hot new deck builder sequel Monster Train 2, and does a deep dive into the muddled but enjoyable Dragon age: The Veilguard.

In the roundup: Star Wars Outlaws 'A Pirate's Fortune' DLC.

Join the Patreon for a suite of patron-only bonus podcasts: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild

Get extra GITW over on Youtube: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild

Follow the Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/

Find me on Bluesky etc: http://gaminginthewild.com

Thanks for listening!

This week's show is a roguelike roundup, as I play some chilled out turn-based games as a Clair Obscur comedown.

Reviewed: Star Vaders and Drop Duchy. In the roundup: To a T, Monster Train 2, Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon.

If you'd like more GITW episodes, there are 16 patron bonus episodes you can unlock for a couple of bucks at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

Watch the videos I make on YouTube: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild.

Follow the podcast's Steam curator page to see if games you're browsing come pod-recommended: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/.

And thanks for listening, as always!

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a masterfully wrought FRPG (or J'RPG?) that combines a romantic high fantasy world with a bold, vivid, original big-swing story. The From-inspired combat veers between pulse-racing and frustrating — but for a game of this sky high quality, it's worth gritting your teeth and parrying your way to the remarkable finale.

In the roundup: Star Vaders, Drop Duchy, Monster Train 2.

Become a patron for extra episodes! http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

I'm a BlueSky main these days: https://bsky.app/profile/gaminginthewild.bsky.social.

Thanks folks!

This is the final part of the KRZ community playthrough, looking at the excellent interlude Un Pueblo de Nada, the gorgeous sun-soaked village of Act V, and the optional epilogue, Death of the Hired Man.

Thanks so much to everyone who has played along and sent in comments! This won't be the last time I play KRZ, but it might be the most special.

Join the Patreon to support the show and get 15 bonus podcasts: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.

Find me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gaminginthewild.bsky.social

Get more stuff on YouTube: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild.

Thanks everybody!