Retronauts

Quaff from Getafix’s cauldron of magic potion one final time with Stuart Gipp, Audi Sorlie, John Linneman and Thomas Nickel. Unless you’re Obelix.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts

Transcribed - Published: 1 June 2026

Get your spell cards ready, as Kevin Bunch, Will Cuevas, and Lindsey Kurano discuss the vast world of the Touhou Project.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts

Transcribed - Published: 25 May 2026

For over a decade, its release seemed like an impossibility, but 20 years ago, Mother 3 entered our world—and then proceeded to never leave Japan. While it superficially resembles the earlier Mother games, this long-awaited sequel differs greatly in tone and structure, yet somehow delivers a satisfying (if surprising) final installment of Shigesato Itoi's beloved RPG series. On this episode, join Bob Mackey, Reid Young, Charlie Verdin, and Everdraed (all of Fangamer) as the crew turn off their Happy-Happy Boxes and sit down to discuss the Game Boy Advance game that gives new meaning to the term "tonda gossa."Retronauts is a completely fan-funded operation. To support the show, and get two full-length exclusive episodes every month, as well as access to 100+ previous bonus episodes, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 18 May 2026

With Ocarina of Time in the bag, it’s time for a belated British look at a toon-shaded titan. Stuart Gipp, Dave Bulmer and Seumidh MacDonald preside.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts

Transcribed - Published: 11 May 2026

Jeremy Parish, Nadia Oxford, Pat Contri, and Ryan Burger discuss their respective print projects about chronicling video game history—the good, the challenging, and the weird.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2026

The rumors are true: they made another Super Mario movie. And, as licensed podcasters, we're legally obligated to see it and report back. On this installment of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Henry Gilbert, Stuart Gipp, Drew Mackie (from Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games), and Jess O'Brien (AKA Voidburger) as the crew uses their most powerful analytical skills to fully deconstruct a movie made for preverbal audiences. Will Illumination survive?Retronauts is a completely fan-funded operation. To support the show, and get two full-length exclusive episodes every month, as well as access to 100+ previous bonus episodes, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 27 April 2026

Lights, camera, Pyramid Head! Diamond Feit, Jess O'Brien, and KC Green analyze Silent Hill's cinematic roots and breakdown all three Silent Hill movies—including the recent Return to Silent Hill.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts

Transcribed - Published: 20 April 2026

After making their mark on the world with the Earthworm Jim series, Shiny Entertainment set out to create bold, weird video games that weren't specifically engineered to sell action figures and Saturday morning cartoons. As the '90s rolled on, the developer released unique creations like MDK, Messiah, and Sacrifice, but the shift to the 21st century saw the studio transform into just another maker of movie tie-ins. And, as responsible, thoughtful podcasters, we can only ask "What the hell happened?" On this episode of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Stuart Gipp, and Digital Foundry's John Linneman as the crew digs into Shiny's eclectic catalog to discover the joys of playing as chubby angels and snipers with incredibly odd heads.Retronauts is a completely fan-funded operation. To support the show, and get two full-length exclusive episodes every month, as well as access to 100+ previous bonus episodes, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 13 April 2026

Nadia Oxford and David Oxford talk about how early '90s online game fandom brought them together 25 years ago.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts

Transcribed - Published: 6 April 2026

Is the castle Dark, or Spooky? In this episode—featuring Dark Castle creator Mark Pierce and Hamumu Games owner and operator Mike Hommel—it is both!Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts

Transcribed - Published: 30 March 2026

You're listening to a free preview of Retronauts 757 Preview: Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! To hear the rest, and get two exclusive extra episodes every month, access to our previous Patreon-exclusive episodes, and early access to ad-free podcasts, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2026

This time delving into the Sonic fangame > official game pipeline, Ryan Langley (Rlan), and Lewis Clark (SonicYoda) return to educate host Stuart Gipp!Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts

Transcribed - Published: 23 March 2026

Nadia Oxford, Jeremy Parish, Diamond Feit, and Victor Hunter talk up the Game Boy Advance's under-sung music hardware.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts

Transcribed - Published: 16 March 2026

The virtuous Diamond Feit, valiant Kevin Bunch, voluminous John Learned, and vindictive Brian Clark venture back 10 years to assess the value of (and possibly vindicate?) Capcom's Street Fighter V.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 9 March 2026

Spin you right round baby, right round baby! Kevin Bunch and Brian Clark talk about Sega’s gravity-defying R360 arcade hardware, followed by Kevin’s MAGfest panel about Star Trek fan games.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 2 March 2026

You're listening to a free preview of Retronauts 745: SimCity Spinoffs. To hear the rest, and get two exclusive extra episodes every month, access to our previous Patreon-exclusive episodes, and early access to ad-free podcasts, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2026

To celebrate The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary AND the Retronauts' 750th episode, we assemble the Triforce of Cool People Who Like Zelda Games [Jeremy Parish, Diamond Feit, and John Ricciardi] to discuss the OG Zelda's impact and legacy.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 23 February 2026

As the sun was setting on the 2.5D FPS, one game emerged to pull out all the stops: Duke Nukem 3D. While Duke 3D was mostly known for its brash main character and his many violent acts, those who actually sat down to play it realized that 3D Realms' creation actually contained some extremely clever level design and a variety of player interactions that just weren't seen in the mid-90s. Duke Nukem Forever might have left a stain on the legacy of Duke, but we're here to remind you that, even 30 years later, his initial 3D outing still kicks ass.This week on Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Stuart Gipp, Dominic Tarason, and John Linneman as the crew hails to the king and replenishes their supply of bubble gum.Retronauts is a completely fan-funded operation. To support the show, and get two full-length exclusive episodes every month, as well as access to 100+ previous bonus episodes, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 16 February 2026

Jeremy Parish, Kaye Ross, John Learned, and Greg Melo take to the battlefield again to go in-depth into the first chapter of Final Fantasy Tactics and explore its deft blend of narrative, systems, and gameplay.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content—including this full-length (nearly 3 hour!) episode. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2026

A belated return to a certain pair of violent Gauls, courtesy of Thomas Nickel, Audi Sorlie, John Linneman, and Stuart Gipp. Paf! By Toutatis!! etc.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 9 February 2026

Diamond Feit, Stuart Gipp, and Brian Clark look back at the game that transformed Capcom's survival horror series twice over: Resident Evil 2 (the 1998 version, and the 2019 version).Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 2 February 2026

You're listening to a free preview of Retronauts 745: Earthworm Jim. To hear the rest, and get two exclusive extra episodes every month, access to our previous Patreon-exclusive episodes, and early access to ad-free podcasts, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2026

This computer network speaks BASIC! Kevin Bunch, Dr. Joy Lisi Rankin, and Annette Vee talk about the Dartmouth Time Sharing System, the birth of BASIC, and how it brought computer games to the public.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 26 January 2026

Nadia Oxford, Victor Hunter, Stuart Gipp, and David Oxford talk about a rare definitive ending for a video game saga with Mega Man Zero 4 for the Game Boy Advance.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 19 January 2026

Tele-pod-tation, yeah! Stuart Gipp, Seumidh MacDonald and Dave Bulmer get the Sonic team back together to investigate Big S’ optimal, optical option. Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2026

Tele-pod-tation, yeah! Stuart Gipp, Seumidh MacDonald, and Dave Bulmer get the Sonic team back together to investigate Big S’ optimal, optical option.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2026

The end is nigh! The end of 2025, that is, and the kick-off to 2026 with our annual look back through the decades at the biggest gaming events of 40 and 50 years ago. Jeremy Parish, Kevin Bunch, Benj Edwards, & Jared Petty tag team to wrestle Father Time. Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 5 January 2026

You're listening to a free preview of Retronauts 739: Gaming in the Year 2006. To hear the rest, and get two exclusive extra episodes every month, access to our previous Patreon-exclusive episodes, and early access to ad-free podcasts, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 2 January 2026

Jeremy Parish, Diamond Feit, and Kevin Bunch take a moment to reflect on some of the most influential figures in video games who passed in 2025: how the work they created touched lives, and what their loss means for the medium. (This episode was recorded before Infinity Ward founder Vince Zampella's passing.) Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 29 December 2025

It's that time of the year again, so hang your stockings, haul home a coniferous tree, and pack the required survival gear for another harrowing trip to the Retronauts Holiday Cabin in Parts Unknown. And for this 15th outing, we'll be taking a long, mostly confused look at Video Power: the Captain N also-ran that assembled a team of C-list protagonists for some poorly animated, Acclaim-promoting fun. (Before being completely retooled into a game show the following year.) So listen in as Bob Mackey, Henry Gilbert, and Drew Mackie as the crew assembles and attempts to learn the true meaning of brand integration. Cover art by Nick Daniel. Retronauts is a completely fan-funded operation. To support the show, and get two full-length exclusive episodes every month, as well as access to 100+ previous bonus episodes, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 22 December 2025

It's the closest thing to the real thing! Kevin Bunch and expert guests Tom Boellstorff and Braxston Soderman talk about the Atari 2600’s chief rival, the Mattel Intellivision. Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2025

Diamond Feit and Christa Lee chow down on the recent Bandai Namco star-studded lore-laden Metroidvania Shadow Labyrinth (featuring Pac-Man). Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2025

You're listening to a free preview of Retronauts 733: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. To hear the rest, and get two exclusive extra episodes every month, access to our previous Patreon-exclusive episodes, and early access to ad-free podcasts, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025

WIIIILMAAAA! Don’t take Flintstones games for “granite”. Join Stuart Gipp, John Linneman, and Thomas Nickel as we talk the old-school Stone Age family. Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 30 November 2025

Nadia Oxford, Kevin Bunch, and Lucas White talk about the Mega Man-inspired rock band, The Protomen. Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2025

Video games: can you dig it? Yes, and you can also dig IN them—which is the point of this week's podcast. What started as one man's dream to bury aliens alive has remained a viable concept in video games to this very day; Donkey Kong Bananza, we're looking at you. But how has this simple concept evolved over the years, allowing us to safely simulate tunneling underground without getting our fingernails dirty? On this latest installment of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Diamond Feit, and Jeremy Parish as the crew assembles in a Portland hotel room and imagines a new life underground. Retronauts is a completely fan-funded operation. To support the show, and get two full-length exclusive episodes every month, as well as access to 100+ previous bonus episodes, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 17 November 2025

The clones attack, as Kevin Bunch, Diamond Feit, Meredith Rose, and Mollie Patterson discuss the history of court cases around cloning video games like Pac-Man and Street Fighter II. Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 10 November 2025

You're listening to a free preview of Retronauts 727: Klonoa. To hear the rest, and get two exclusive extra episodes every month, access to our previous Patreon-exclusive episodes, and early access to ad-free podcasts, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2025

Jeremy Parish, Kaye Ross, John Learned, and cover artist Greg Melo swear fealty to Lord Matsuno and return to the fray to revisit the isometric battlefields of Final Fantasy Tactics in light of its recent remake as well as [gestures expansively] Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 3 November 2025

Greetings, you rancid retro revenants! We're knee-deep in the spookiest of seasons, which means it's time once again to crack open the crypt and gaze in fright at a selection of horror games that tried their best to scare our pants off oh so many decades ago. In the past few years, we've covered NES and 16-bit games, so now it's time to move onto the world of multimedia: where pre-rended ghouls and washed up actors alike did their best to make horror thrive in an era beyond floppies. On this week's episode, join Bob Mackey, Kaye Ross (of Duckfeed.tv) and Michael Sawyer as the crew attempts to appreciate the art of fake blood and FMV. Retronauts is a completely fan-funded operation. To support the show, and get two full-length exclusive episodes every month, as well as access to 100+ previous bonus episodes, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts. Cover art by Nick Daniel.

Transcribed - Published: 27 October 2025

Diamond Feit reports from the largest Tokyo Game Show ever and interviews Hamster CEO Satoshi Hamada about the Arcade Archives series of classic game rereleases. Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 20 October 2025

Nadia Oxford, Kevin Bunch, and Victor Hunter talk about trains. Trains in retro video games! Game trains! (But maybe not train games?) Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 13 October 2025

WHAT: Our "The Best and Worst of Retro Game Horror" panel, live at PRGE 2025 WHERE: Blue Auditorium (E145 - 146) at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo WHEN: Saturday, October 18th at 1:15pm WHO: Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, Gary Butterfield, Kaye Ross Additionally, you can catch Jeremy's solo panel "Not the NES: 40 Years of Also-Rans" on Saturday, October 18th at 10:15am in the Blue Auditorium, and you can see Bob and Jeremy together on the Watch Out for Fireballs panel "The Best and Worst 7/10 Games of All Time" on Sunday, October 19th at 2:00pm in the Red Auditorium.  Please check out the official PRGE 2025 schedule for more information!

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2025

Inspired by the host's recent deep-dive into TurboGrafx-16 and a chance encounter at Retro World Expo, this episode sees Jeremy Parish, Kurt Kalata, John Andersen, and guest Jimmy Cooney recount the wild early days of former gaming powerhouse Hudson. Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2025

No, you're not still in a dream: Metal Gear Solid 3 is now over two decades old. Despite its age, the peak of Hideo Kojima's tactical espionage action series remains more relevant than ever thanks to a shiny, new remake released this year. But is Delta's faithfulness its fatal flaw? On this episode, join Bob Mackey, Maddie Copp, and Brendan James (of the Blowback podcast and Chapo Trap House's new MGS miniseries) as the crew decides if feeding on a tree frog in stunning 4K is truly worthwhile. Retronauts is a completely fan-funded operation. To support the show, and get two full-length exclusive episodes every month, as well as access to 100+ previous bonus episodes, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts. Cover art by Nick Daniel.

Transcribed - Published: 6 October 2025

Jeremy Parish, Kurt Kalata, John Andersen, and about a hundred of YOU definitively rank the 27 games that debuted with the NES 40 (!) years ago from worst to best. This is the final word on these games! Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 29 September 2025

You're listening to a free preview of Retronauts 718: Donkey King Bananza. To hear the rest, and get two exclusive extra episodes every month, access to our previous Patreon-exclusive episodes, and early access to ad-free podcasts, please visit the official Retronauts Patreon at patreon.com/retronauts.

Transcribed - Published: 26 September 2025

Jeremy Parish, Diamond Feit, Stuart Gipp, and Kevin Bunch try to bring a little light into the world as they talk about terrible video games—not by heaping scorn upon them, but by envisioning a better reality where they turned out to be pretty OK. Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 22 September 2025

Who's back? Diamond Feit, James Eldred, and Drew Mackie are back for a podcast about the 90s blockbuster and cultural touchstone Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 15 September 2025

Live from Long Island: Jeremy Parish, Diamond Feit, Stuart Gipp, and Kevin Bunch explore the delights of Sega's official VHS tapes from the ’80s and the myriad ways developers faked 3D in the pre-polygon days. Video versions at patreon.com/retronauts! Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts 

Transcribed - Published: 12 September 2025