This Week on Post Games:

• Act 1: The History of Wolverine in Comics
• Act 2: Wolverine’s Life as a Pop Culture Icon
• Patreon Bonus (Available to everyone): The History of X-Men Games

Guests:

• Connor Goldsmith: Comics writer, host of CEREBRO.

Bonus Episodes and Segments!

• Subscribe at Patreon.com/PostGames for only $5. Get bonus episodes, extra segments, and ad-free episodes. Works on every podcast app, so you can listen wherever you'd like!

Show Notes:

• Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.games

Sponsors:

• Factor Deal: Head to Factormeals.com/postgames50off and use code postgames50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with a new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details.)
• Quince Deal: Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com/POSTGAMES for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Art & Music:

• Logo and Show Art: James Bareham
• Theme: Mark Sparling
• Additional music: Epidemic Sound

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Week on Post Games:

• Act 1: The Rise of the Retro Handheld
• Act 2: Can Retro Handhelds Go Mainstream?
• Patreon Bonus: The Perfect Handhelds for Every Price Range
• Act 3: The Big Announcements from Gamescom

Guests:

• Russ Crandall: Host of Retro Game Corps
• Giovanni Colantonio: Editor-at-large, Polygon

Bonus Episodes and Segments!

• Subscribe at Patreon.com/PostGames for only $5. Get bonus episodes, extra segments, and ad-free episodes. Works on every podcast app, so you can listen wherever you'd like!

Show Notes:

• Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.games

Sponsors:

• Factor Deal: Head to Factormeals.com/postgames50off and use code postgames50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with a new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details.)
• Quince Deal: Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com/POSTGAMES for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Art & Music:

• Logo and Show Art: James Bareham
• Theme: Mark Sparling
• Additional music: Epidemic Sound

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Week on Post Games:

• Act 1: A Game Review Is the Possible Impossible
• Act 2: Written Reviews Aren’t Dead Just Yet
• Act 3: Better Living Through Game Reviews
• Patreon Bonus: How to Have Richer Conversations about Games

Guests:

• Chris Donlan: critic, essayist, and author

Bonus Episodes and Segments!

• Subscribe at Patreon.com/PostGames for only $5. Get bonus episodes, extra segments, and ad-free episodes. Works on every podcast app, so you can listen wherever you'd like!

Show Notes:

• Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.games

Sponsors:

• Incogni Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgames
• Factor Deal: Head to Factormeals.com/postgames50off and use code postgames50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with a new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details.)
• Quince Deal: Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com/POSTGAMES for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Art & Music:

• Logo and Show Art: James Bareham
• Theme: Mark Sparling
• Additional music: Epidemic Sound

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Week on Post Games:

• Act 1: A History of the Fighting Game Genre
• Act 2: How to Get into Fighting Games
• Act 3: Why Marvel Tokon Is Getting All the Hype
• Patreon Bonus: The 5 Ingredients of a Perfect Summer Game

Guests:

• Ash Parrish: Senior reporter, Kotaku

Bonus Episodes and Segments!

• Subscribe at Patreon.com/PostGames for only $5. Get bonus episodes, extra segments, and ad-free episodes. Works on every podcast app, so you can listen wherever you'd like!

Show Notes:

• Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.games

Sponsors:

• Incogni Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgames
• Factor Deal: Head to Factormeals.com/postgames50off and use code postgames50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with a new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details.)
• Quince Deal: Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com/POSTGAMES for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Art & Music:

• Logo and Show Art: James Bareham
• Theme: Mark Sparling
• Additional music: Epidemic Sound

All interviews are edited for concision and clarity.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Week on Post Games:

• Act 1: The Sexy Game That’s Taken Over the World
• Act 2: A Werewolf Man, Dung Deliveries, and the Chinese Government
• Act 3: Loving a Game That Will One Day Disappear
• Patreon Bonus: Just How Bad Is the EA Sale?

Guests:

• Ash Parrish: Senior reporter, Kotaku
• Natalie Checo: Community + social media manager and writer, Sunset Visitor
• Rebekah Valentine: Senior reporter, Kotaku
• Closing Song: “Band on the Run (16 Bit, SNES)” by spaceyorick

Bonus Episodes and Segments!

• Subscribe at Patreon.com/PostGames for only $5. Get bonus episodes, extra segments, and ad-free episodes. Works on every podcast app, so you can listen wherever you'd like!

Show Notes:

• Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.games

Sponsors:

• Incogni Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgames
• Factor Deal: Head to Factormeals.com/postgames50off and use code postgames50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with a new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details.)
• Quince Deal: Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com/POSTGAMES for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Art & Music:

• Logo and Show Art: James Bareham
• Theme: Mark Sparling
• Additional music: Epidemic Sound

All interviews are edited for concision and clarity.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Week on Post Games:

• Act 1: This One Game Is Two Games
• Act 2: Fighting for Attention in the Age of Endless Distraction
• Patreon Bonus: Making Games with Christian Faith

Guest:

• Xalavier Nelson Jr.: Studio head, designer, and writer, Strange Scaffold

Get 1 month of Post Games Patreon for $1!

• Every bonus episode!
• Every bonus segment!
• No ads!
• Subscribe at Patreon.com/PostGames. Sale ends Sunday, August 29th at 11:59 pm PT. Limited to first-time subscribers.

Show Notes:

• Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.games

Sponsors:

• Incogni Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgames
• Factor Deal: Head to Factormeals.com/postgames50off and use code postgames50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with a new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details.)
• Quince Deal: Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com/POSTGAMES for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Art & Music:

• Logo and Show Art: James Bareham
• Theme: Mark Sparling
• Additional music: Epidemic Sound

All interviews are edited for concision and clarity.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bonus Post Games?!

Support the show for $5 at Patreon.com/PostGames and get bonus episodes and segments!

This Week on Post Games:

• Act 1: Game Freak’s 30 Years of Brilliant False Starts
• Act 2: Beast of Reincarnation Won’t Be Ignored
• Patreon Bonus: Game Freak’s Top 5 Games (That Aren’t Pokémon)
• Act 3: A New Game Magazine? In This Economy?!

Show Notes:

• Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.games

Sponsors:

• Incogni Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgames
• Factor Deal: Head to Factormeals.com/postgames50off and use code postgames50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with a new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details.)
• Quince Deal: Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com/POSTGAMES for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Guests:

• Robert Sephazon: Game designer, producer, historian, and curator
• Ryan Rigney: Editor-in-chief, Chisel

Art & Music:

• Logo and Show Art: James Bareham
• Theme: Mark Sparling
• Additional music: Epidemic Sound

All interviews are edited for concision and clarity.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Week on Post Games:

• Act 1: A Life Making Sense of Games
• Act 2: The Pleasure in Noticing the Small Things
• Patreon Bonus: Behind-the-Scenes of Grand Theft Auto’s Press Events
• Bonus: An Excerpt from “The Small Stuff” Audiobook

Show Notes:

• Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.games

Sponsors:

• Incogni Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgames
• Factor Deal: Head to Factormeals.com/postgames50off and use code postgames50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with a new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details.)
• Quince Deal: Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com/POSTGAMES for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Guests:

• Ian Bogost: Game designer, essayist, professor, and author of “The Small Stuff”
• Closing Song: “The Path of the Wind (from My Neighbor Totoro)” performed by Gentle Love

Art & Music:

• Logo and Show Art: James Bareham
• Theme: Mark Sparling
• Additional music: Epidemic Sound

All interviews are edited for concision and clarity.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Post Games is an NPR-style podcast about video games.

Each week, games media veteran Chris Plante (co-founder of Polygon, co-host of The Besties) tackles a new topic with the help of guest experts. This episode is a tasting menu: four conversations with four very different experts.

YouTuber AnyAustin reflects on growing old as a gaming YouTuber. Author Keza MacDonald gives us a hint of Nintendo's future. Philosopher C. Thi Nguyen explains how metrics and optimization have infected our favorite games. And critic and game designer Tim Rogers recommends the perfect starting point for Dragon Quest.

This is the perfect entry point for newcomers and a taste of what's available for paid subscribers on the Patreon!

Love the show? Please consider supporting Post Games (and getting tons of bonus segments and episodes) at Patreon.com.postgames

This Week on Post Games:

• Act 1: Getting Old as a Professional Gaming YouTuber
• Act 2: Nintendo’s Future
•  Act 3: How Metrics Infected Video Games
•  Bonus Act: Tim Rogers Recommends You Play This Dragon Quest First

Show Notes:

• Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.games

Sponsors:

• Incogni Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgames
• Factor Deal: Head to Factormeals.com/postgames50off and use code postgames50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with a new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details.)
• Quince Deal: Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com/POSTGAMES for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Guests:

• Any Austin: Gaming YouTuber
• Keza MacDonald: Journalist and author of Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play
• C. Thi Nguyen: Philosopher, educator, and author. His latest book is The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else’s Game
• Tim Rogers: Critic and designer at Action Button

Art & Music:

• Logo and Show Art: James Bareham
• Theme: Mark Sparling
• Additional music: Epidemic Sound

All interviews are edited for concision and clarity.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Week on Post Games:

• Act 1: Why Game Criticism Is a Kindness
• Act 2: What a Game Review Can and Can’t Do
• Patreon Bonus: The Reason Review Scores Make People So Mad

Show Notes and Bonus Episodes:

• Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.games
• Get weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5

Sponsors:

• Incogni Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgames
• Factor Deal: Head to Factormeals.com/postgames50off and use code postgames50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with a new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details.)
• Quince Deal: Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com/POSTGAMES for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Guests:

• Harper Jay: Critic and Writer

Art & Music:

• Logo and Show Art: James Bareham
• Theme: Mark Sparling
• Additional music: Epidemic Sound

All interviews are edited for concision and clarity.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.