Literate Gamer

Literate Gamer episodes:

• 05.26.2023

  Dead Island 2

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

  
• 04.19.2023

  WH40K: Inquisitor: Martyr

  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...

  
• 03.11.2023

  Forespoken

  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.

  
• 02.12.2023

  Valheim: Mistlands update

  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!

  
• 01.17.2023

  Dwarf Fortress on Steam

  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.

  
• 12.20.2022

  Short: BackPack Hero

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

  
• 08.02.2022

  Short: Inscryption

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

  
• 07.19.2022

  Hiatus 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.

  
• 07.13.2022

  Diablo Immortal and Dopamine Machines

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

  
• 07.13.2022

  Short: DorfRomantik

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

  
• 06.21.2022

  V Rising

  Jonathan and Nick discuss the pitch perfect vampire action/base-crafting game 'V Rising'. The name may be ridiculous, but the game is fun and flawlessly themed, aimed squarely at those seeking to wet their fangs playing a classic vampire.

  
• 06.15.2022

  Boyfriend Dungeon

  Jonathan gushes about the inclusive and delightful dating-action romp, Boyfriend Dungeon.

  
• 06.09.2022

  Tiny Tina's Wonderland

  Jonathan and Nick talk about Tiny Tina's Winderland, a goofy, first-person, looter-shooter: the first good successor to Borderlands 2 in quite some time.

  
• 05.29.2022

  Platformer Short: Kingdom: Two Crowns

  Jonathan recounts the joy of Kingdom: Two Crowns, a wonderful follow-up and enhancement to the original work. A pleasant and fruitful continuation of the series.

  
• 05.19.2022

  Horizon: Forbidden West

  Nick regails Jonathan of the joys and tribulations of Horizon: Forbidden west, highs lows, and lots of bows.

  
• 05.13.2022

  Platformer Short: comfort food games

  Jonathan expounds on comfort food games and electronic self-care.

  
• 05.06.2022

  Rune Factory 5

  Nick regales Jonathan with the latest Rune Factory, and the strange and surprising choices within this entry in the series.

  
• 04.29.2022

  Platformer Short: Vampire Survivors

  Jonathan recounts the tiny twinkling gem of Vampire Survivors, fun for anyone with a few bucks and a love for a CastleVania-feeling rogue-lite.

  
• 04.22.2022

  Humankind

  Jonathan and Nick discuss Humankind, the era-spanning, turn-based, empire-building game to truly rival the Civilization franchise. This one is legitimately good, and you should get it.

  
• 04.10.2022

  Platformer Short: Phoenotopia Awakening

  Jonathan recounts the wonderful experience of the wide-ranging techno-fantasy romp "Phoenotopia Awakening". It's a deep, well-written, and overall incredibly fun game for a very agreeable price.

  
• 04.03.2022

  Elden Ring, late game

  Jonathan and Nick discuss the late game of Elden Ring: hard learned lessons, giant birds, our troubles, and our joys. Wondrous lore: https://www.youtube.com/c/VaatiVidya A great Elden Ring Wiki: https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Elden+Ring+Wiki

  
• 03.29.2022

  Platformer Short: Dead Cells

  Jonathan expounds on the action sidescroller rogue-light "Dead Cells": lots of fun, especially as a snowman!

  
• 03.15.2022

  Elden Ring, early game

  Jonathan and Nick froth and gibber about the new and amazing Elden Ring, open world successor to the Dark Souls, and an absolute triumph. Not perfect, but absolutely worth it, even if you haven't ever played any of them...

  
• 03.12.2022

  Platformer Short: Mega Man X 4 and 5

  Jonathan discusses Mega Man X 4 and 5, fresh from the Mega Man X legacy collections on the switch, preserving fond memories and playing experiences of classic platformers: loyal to the franchise with more content and minor tweaks.

  
• 03.04.2022

  Sifu

  Jonathan recounts the joy of pummeling a hundred evildoers to Nick in the new game Sifu, a mechanical masterpiece that is 100% loyal to the kung-fu theme.

  
• 02.23.2022

  Crusader Kings 3

  Nick recounts his experiences with Crusader Kings 3, the Royal Court expansion, a bubbling pot of organic experiences in feudal mostly-Europe. Bring on the parade of wars, disinheritance, and assassin-nuns.

  
• 02.16.2022

  Book Club: ChapterHouse Dune

  The Literate Gamer book club finishes the last book in the Dune series written by Frank Herbert, ChapterHouse Dune. A lot of weird ideas, strangely assembled; who can say they're surprised?

  
• 02.09.2022

  Icarus

  Nick and Jonathan discuss Icarus, a novel take on survival crafting, introducing a mission system, with pleasing results, though a bit of balance at the top is needed. Quite fun, and content updates are forthcoming.

  
• 01.25.2022

  Platformer Short: Metroid Dread

  Jonathan recounts the magnificence of Metroid Dread for the Nintendo Switch, a glorious sequel to Metroid Fusion: everything you want from a Metroid game, completely loyal to the franchise and gobs of fun to play!

  
• 01.23.2022

  Book Club: Heretics of Dune

  The gang discusses Heretics of Dune, a welcome source of politics and action after God-Emperor, if unfocused, and full of more of the novel weirdness we've all come to expect from Frank Herbert.

  
• 01.12.2022

  League of Legends

  Jonathan and Nick discuss League of Legends and Wild Rift, the incredibly successful MOBA properties of Riot Games, and the wonders and flaws therein.

  
• 01.10.2022

  Book Club: God Emperor of Dune

  The gang discusses God Emperor of Dune, the philosophical conclusion to Frank Herbert's political thesis, though not the series. Meaning comes to the patient, or at least orgasms.

  
• 12.28.2021

  DeathLoop

  Nick regales Jonathan with the bizarre Arkane Studios shooter 'DeathLoop', and its novel narrative and mechanical devices.

  
• 12.22.2021

  Book Club: Children of Dune

  In this week's Dune book club, we discuss Children of Dune, a good book, though our sourness at what flaws do exist reach epic proportions, and once again Jonathan misses the orgy.

  
• 12.08.2021

  Elden Ring first impressions

  Nick recounts his experience to Jonathan of Elden Ring, the new FromSoft open world vehicle, and whether it's loyal to the franchise(s), and above all, if it's good.

  
• 11.30.2021

  RTS Short: WH40K Dawn of War

  Jonathan recounts the delicious ridiculous Warhammer 40K gem of Real-Time-Strategy 'Dawn of War'. That intro video gives me chills every time! https://store.steampowered.com/app/4570/Warhammer_40000_Dawn_of_War__Game_of_the_Year_Edition/ Dawn of War with all DLC: https://store.steampowered.com/sub/30560/

  
• 11.24.2021

  Kena: Bridge of Spirits

  Jonathan and Nick discuss Kena: Bridge of Spirits, a fun 3rd-person action puzzler with incredible art and some adorable little buddies.

  
• 11.17.2021

  Book Club: Dune Movie, part 1

  The Book Club gang discuss the 2021 Dune movie by Denis Villeneuve, a smashing success by all metrics, other than one wailing woman.

  
• 11.12.2021

  Asymmetric Multiplayer

  Jonathan and Nick discuss Asymmetric Multiplayer, a blooming young game type, often involving predators, aliens, zombies, and a wide assortment of famous murderers.

  
• 11.02.2021

  Book Club: Dune, part 3

  The book club discusses part 3 of Dune, containing the political climax, with lots of bizarre innovations: some breathtaking, others disappointing, but still a great and fantastic book, and once again Jonathan misses the orgies. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_9DDewKiZhpkrlXv2yGRbEKEI_Ma1JvH https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXGGVBzHLUeKJACdXs8zxQde31wpnqKv https://www.youtube.com/c/QuinnsIdeas

  
• 11.02.2021

  Demon's Souls PS5 Remake

  Literate Gamer revisits where it all began: Demon's Souls, specifically the Blue Point remake for the PS5. It is a faithful and beautiful recreation, loyal, with little extra in just the right places.

  
• 10.20.2021

  Book Club: Dune, part 2

  The Dune book club continues in part 2, where Paul and Jessica enter the desert, he has a family (theoretically?), and somehow Jonathan misses an orgy.

  
• 10.14.2021

  Aliens FireTeam Elite

  Nick regales Jonathan with the third-person multiplayer shooter Aliens FireTeam Elite, a fun game and faithful use of the IP.

  
• 10.06.2021

  Book Club: Dune, part 1

  The gang discusses the first part of the classic sci-fi novel Dune, the original text, how it was, how it is: ahead of its time, but also a product of it.

  
• 09.28.2021

  Returnal

  Jonathan and Nick speak with Justin from TheTallGuyGamer about Returnal, a haunting experience of platforming, bullet-hell, and don't forget despair, desperation, and madness. This game is a masterpiece, and incredibly strong early entry for the PS5. Check out...

  
• 09.22.2021

  Platformer Short: Kindom: New Lands

  Jonathan recounts the serene-yet-intense side-scrolling tower defense game Kingdom: New Lands, a delightful diversion for a few hours per run, at an extremely affordable price.

  
• 09.15.2021

  Ox-Eye Media & DeepWater Games

  Jonathan and Nick speak with El Whitcomb, Community Manager for Ox-Eye Media, which includes DeepWater Games, and their fantastically fun and accessible games, named FloorPlan and Welcome to your Perfect Home. Also Hot new games coming soon! DeepWaterGaming.com @DeepWaterGames

  
• 09.14.2021

  Platformer Short: Rogue Legacy

  Jonathan recounts and wonderful gameplay experience of Rogue Legacy: charming, fun, and a great rogue-lite all around.

  
• 09.01.2021

  Matt Forbeck

  Nick and Jonathan speak with Matt Forbeck, a truly phenomenal font of creativity, writer of dozens of books, contributor to scads of games, including BioMutant and the upcoming tabletop Marvel role-playing game, and of course his own Shotguns and Sorcery. Check...

  
• 08.24.2021

  Platformer Shorts: Castle Crashers

  Jonathan recounts the joy of Castle Crashers, a fun, brilliantly-animated beat-em-up, great for couch co-op, or as a solo experience.