Retronauts
Retronauts
The original classic gaming podcast continues its endless quest to explore the history of video games, one game at a time. Join hosts Jeremy Parish and Bob Mackey each week as they team up with a host of expert guests to chronicle the creations that have paved the way for today's hits. From forgotten black-and-white arcade machines to modern-day remakes, Retronauts spans more than four decades of vintage gaming greatness!
The original classic gaming podcast continues its endless quest to explore the history of video games, one game at a time. Join hosts Jeremy Parish and Bob Mackey each week as they team up with a host of expert guests to chronicle the creations that have paved the way for today's hits. From forgotten black-and-white arcade machines to modern-day remakes, Retronauts spans more than four decades of vintage gaming greatness!
804: The History of Video Game Draculas
Episodios
Dracula's about to celebrate his 130th birthday, and while he's certain had an impact on non-interactive media, his presence in video games looms large. Because Bram Stoker's chilling tale remains a cultural touchstone over a century later, gaming as a whole hasn't shied away from leaning into this character. And while the adaptations haven't exactly remained faithful to the text, the essential blood-sucking sprit of our favorite vampire remains. On this episode of Retronauts, listen in as Bob Mackey, Diamond Feit, Drew Mackie and Gary Butterfield discuss a series of digital Draculas that may or may not make you go "Bleh!" 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.
Diamond Feit, Jeremy Parish, and Chris Kohler return from Tokyo and TGS 2026 with tales of retro game shopping, how the city & show have changed, and what they played on the show floor. 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
20 years and over 1000 episodes ago, Retronauts kicked off with an episode about Final Fantasy III: a classic JRPG then on the brink of its first release for Western audiences. Now, that DS remake is itself retro, and we have yet another version of the game that was once denied to us for so long. But even with so many updates and upgrades to its classic formula, is this third, extremely influential Final Fantasy still worthwhile more than 35 years later? On this episode join Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, and Brian Clark (of One Million Power) as the team reassesses this sequel and promises to dish out opinions that will be sure to sustain you until 2046. 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.
20! 800! So many big, round numbers! Jeremy Parish, Bob Mackey, Diamond Feit, Stuart Gipp, Nadia Oxford, AND Kevin Bunch somehow crowd into the same space to contemplate the past and future of the show. 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
WHAT: Our "Retronauts is Officially Retro: 20 Years of Podcasting About the Past" panel, live at PRGE 2026 WHERE: Blue Auditorium (D137 & D140) at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo WHEN: Saturday, October 10th at 11:00am WHO: Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, Gary Butterfield, Kaye Ross Additionally, you can catch Jeremy's solo panel "In Defense of Bad Video Games" on Sunday, October 11th at 1:00pm in the Red Auditorium, and you can see Bob and Jeremy together on the Watch Out for Fireballs panel "Are the Most Expensive Games of All Time Worth Your Time?" on Saturday, October 10th at 5:00pm in the Red Auditorium. Please check out the official PRGE 2026 schedule for more information!
After 24 years of disappointment, it finally happened: they made a great Resident Evil movie—which also happens to be a great regular movie. Yes, thanks to abandoning any notion of lore and tapping into the creative talents of director Zach Cregger, this latest adaptation of Capcom's survival horror series manages to evoke the spirit of the games, even if it lacks the iconic characters and monsters. On this episode of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Stuart Gipp and Jess O'Brien (AKA Voidburger) as the crew searches the now-snowy streets of Raccoon City in search of survivors and fatherhood issues. 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.
Jeremy Parish, Diamond Feit, and Scott Sharkey link up with patron Jeff Peterson to escape the island early and bring you a discussion of indie game classic Cave Story (instead of surviving Hell). 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
Podcast Michael! Stuart Gipp chats with Eat Pant Games’ Mitch Duncan about their hilarious – and classic-inspired – new kiwi platform game, Teeto. 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
ＧＯ ＨＯＭＥ ＮＯＷ！！ＹＯＵ ＡＲＥ ＮＯ ＭＡＴＣＨ ＦＯＲ Diamond Feit, Kevin Bunch, Brian Clark, and Will Cuevas when it comes to discussing The King of Fighters '94. ＩＴ’Ｓ ＧＯＩＮＧ ＴＯ ＢＥ ＯＵＲ ＣＥＮＴＵＲＹ！ 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
The Goomba is a mushroom. We still don't know how Bowser got his name. Doki Doki Panic began its life as a Super Mario game. Is this sheer lunacy? No! These facts are the thoroughly researched findings of one Drew Mackie, who uncovered 101 Mario mind-blowers via his Mario 101 series on Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games. And on this episode, Drew is here to lead Jeremy, Bob, and Stuart through his collection of truth bombs that dispel conventional wisdom, pinpoint surprising origins, and speculate about the big questions that still don't have answers. Once you press play, reality as you know it will be changed forever. (And check out Drew's entire Mario 101 series RIGHT HERE!) 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.
Jeremy Parish, Diamond Feit, and Kate Willaert trek back to the starting point now that they're equipped with the skills and tool to unlock the second half of their discussion of Metroid's 40th anniversary. 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
You're listening to a free preview of Retronauts 790: Tomb Raider. 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.
Jeremy Parish, Kurt Kalata, and the internet's RndStranger converse with patron Ben Hamilton about the Famicom Disk System to dig up new perspectives on the influential add-on, on the (belated) occasion of its 40th anniversary.
Whoa! Journey into the darkest depths of the madcap marsupial Crash Bandicoot with host Stuart Gipp and guests Sean Seanson and Thomas Nickel! 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
Nadia and David Oxford talk about how dreams and dreamscapes shape stories in retro 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
Jeremy Parish, Stuart Gipp, and Patrick Kulikowski gird their loincloths to discuss some of Capcom's deeper historic cuts: games where burly men (and ladies) smash and bash baddies. 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
You're listening to a free preview of Retronauts 784: The Cave! 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.
Diamond Feit, Chris Sims, Benito Cerino, and Shane Bettenhausen have no problem podcasting about 2011's biblically-adjacent El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. 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
Watch out for VIPers! Kevin Bunch interviews gaming pioneer Joyce Weisbecker about her father Joe’s work on the 1802 microprocessor and its role in video gaming. 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
In the very early '80s, the world as a whole had come down with Pac-Man fever. But this condition wasn't formally diagnosed until budding musicians Buckner & Garcia released their hit album of the same name in 1982. Slapped together to address the then-recent fad known as "video games," this collection of songs took pop culture by storm—but the duo behind it failed to follow up on their tribute to arcade mania. This week on Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Henry Gilbert, and Drew Mackie (of Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games) as the crew digs into this novelty album and learns how to Do the Donkey Kong. 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.
Heaven or Hell! Kevin Bunch, Diamond Feit, Patrick Miller and Irene Koh talk Guilty Gear, a series known for rock references, anime aesthetics and aggressive action. 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
Jeremy Parish, Stuart Gipp, and Patrick Kulikowski drop another quarter into the machine to continue talking about the platform action games that Capcom developed, this time in the 1990s. Only some of them are Mega Mans! 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 the first part of this miniseries! Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts
Believe it or not, in nearly 20 years of Retronauts, we've never produced an episode dedicated to pinball. And the topic has barely been mentioned in passing! While pinball isn't necessarily a "video game," it shares the same spaces as arcade cabinets, and has incorporated screens with things happening on them for the past 35 years—so it's definitely within our wheelhouse. And, despite the supposed death of the silver ball, we're kind of in a mini-Renaissance right now? This week on Retronauts, listen in and prepare to nudge the nearest machine gently as Bob Mackey and guest Andreas Bernard (author of Same Player Shoots Again: A Biography of the Pinball Machine) discuss 100 years of knockout holes, drop targets, and trying desperately not to tilt. 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.
Punch Punch PUNCH: Senior Japan correspondent Diamond Feit talks to developers and reports on xer favorite sights from this year's largest-ever BitSummit indie gaming festival in Kyoto. 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
Jeremy Parish, Bob Mackey, and Diamond Feit grab some punch and cake as they celebrate the career of one of the most influential creators in gaming history: Nintendo's Takashi Tezuka, who retires this month after basically inventing entire genres. 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
You're listening to a free preview of Retronauts 772: Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie! 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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
