The Experience Points Podcast

I have ventured into movie theater, with my family no less, and have lived to tell the tale. I couldn't escape The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's gravitational pull. How did my wallet and my psyche fare? You'll have to be the judge as we discuss both that movie and a couple other big transmedia happenings in the video game world.

We are back with our 800th (numbered) episode! This week on the show, we celebrate the only way we know how - talking about video games. This time we round out the Polaris List with debrief on Slay the Spire and Outer Wilds, then go for a ride with Donkey Kong Bonanza and Pragmata. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been listening to us over the years. We see you and we appreciate you! Show Notes:

• Music by Brad Sucks

We couldn't let March pass us by without doing our annual Journey debrief! We're well over a decade of debriefs on this game and it's very much become a symbol in my year. Forget about New Year's Eve; my year hasn't truly begun until I've made the trek up the mountain and talked about it with Jorge.

Won't someone think of the children!? This week on the EXP Podcast we open up a loot box and discover both misguided and righteous regulatory attention. And here I was hoping for a Switch 2.

Show notes:

- "PEGI Revises its age ratings," via Game Developer

- "Valve argues mystery boxes are 'widely used' in the tangible world," via Game Developer

- Music Brad Sucks

This week, we talk about Microsoft's rumblings about their next console and how Sony is rumored to be staying far away from those tremors. But what will it all mean in thousands of years? Perhaps some far-future technology will be able to piece together our console war in the way that we piece together Roman board games today.

We are back this week with two very different animal-themed video games: one about the trauma of war and dark magic inflicted on children... and the other about cats and butts! Join us for a debrief on two long-awaited games, neither of which you should play with your kids.

Show notes:

- Music Brad Sucks

Could it be that the reason this was so late in posting was because I got obsessed with Overwatch and finally launched by esports career? No; just boring life stuff getting in the way. If only I had another multiplayer live service game to motivate me, one with wacky robots and cartoonish characters. And I'm not talking about Fortnite, although Epic and Microsoft most certainly are. Yes it's another week of palace intrigue in the world of video games and we are here to further add to the whispers while we await some of 2026's large releases.

For the past four years Polaris, a non-profit group of game designers, have been polling luminaries in the field to create possibly the most important Top 10 list of video games - not of the best games, no, but the most inspiring. This week on the podcast, we walk through the 10 most influential games of all time!

Show notes:

- The Polaris List

- Music from Brad Sucks

As we slowly come out of our winter slumber (or perhaps stupor?) it's time to take stock of the year ahead of us. It still feels like everything is orbiting around the massive and erratic gravitational force that is GTA 6, but there are hints and whispers about what else may be in store for us. Stylish bullet hell, horror, and maybe even a wacky walking sim have all caught our eye, as has the ever-present potential pleasant surprise.

This week on the show we take one last look at the games of 2025 that wowed, surprised, and inspired us. While these great games didn't make our best games of 2025 list, we can't fully embrace the year ahead until we give each of these gems a proper shout-out.

Show Notes: - Music by Brad Sucks