Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

Is that a bespoke third-party retro handheld in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?Special guest Jake Steinberg joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric to discuss the rise of the boutique industry of retro handhelds that has emerged over the past decade. From playing vintage GBC carts to emulation machines that can give you a PS2 in your hands, the crew gives you everything you need to know to start your journey into the world or retro handhelds!For more of Jake check out his Youtube channel:https://youtube.com/@jakesteinberg?si=Z2kaNkSkH-qNwSQlTune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: The problems with the state of game preservation Why the Playdate rules Live Action Zelda casting news Eric's Final Fantasy IX Update The Best Games of the PSP Timestamps: 6:56 - Main Topic - Retro Handhelds 58:108 - Random Encounters 1:18:48 or so - The Tavern 1:47:32 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] A Little Friendship - [Golden Sun] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Letter Tiiiime, It's Letter Tiiiime!Kat, Nadia, and Eric answer your burning questions this week as well as discuss Naoki Yoshida's recent comments about the future of Final Fantasy and celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Final Fantasy IX. All that and quite a bit of talk about pizza on this week'sTune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: Fahrensius' origin story Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 Subnautica news Final Fantasy IX Retrospective Kat says "The MMOs don't count" and I'll never forgive her Gundam TCG The Tale of the Talking Finger Timestamps: 6:56 - Main Topic - Mailbag - What RPG would you speedrun? 14:56 - What ISN'T an RPG? 28:28 - What sharacter have we seen age the most? 37:20 - What's Nadia's favourite pizza place? 45:20 - What games use non-active party members the best? 55:44 - Where does Poe's name come from? 57:20 - Boardgame Sidequest? 1:02:16 - Random Encounters 1:24:40 - The Tavern 1:47:32 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Not Alone Jazz Arrangement - [Square Enix Jazz - Final Fantasy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note: Microsoft and the Xbox brand remain subjects of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement for their complicity in the ongoing apartheid and genocide of Palestine. In the interest of journalism we've chosen to cover Microsoft's recent layoffs but encourage you to visit https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft for more information.In the wake of an 80 billion dollar investment in AI and the layoff of over 9000 workers, Microsoft ain't lookin' so hot. What does this mean for the rest of the video game industry? Special guest Giovanni Colantonio joins Eric and Nadia to precisely that!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: The starfish part of Animorphs Who tanks the Uber driver? Persona 5: The Phantom X's Subway Slammer Summer Games Done Quick Battle Train Rematch Umamusume Timestamps: 6:56 - Main Topic - What Is Happening At Xbox? 1:02:16 - Random Encounters 1:04:00 - The Tavern 1:20:32 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Entry of the Gladiators - [Julius Fucik] Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Palma - [Phantasy Star] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To celebrate our 4th Annual Trans Lifeline Charity Livestream, Sena Bryer of Final Fantasy XIV fame is here to fight to the death! Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Sena will enter the ring with their favorite Final Fantasy but only one can emerge victorious. It's a debate for the ages with hot takes that would make a purposely-inflammatory youtube thumbnail blush. You'll pay for the whole seat but you'll only need the edge on this very special episode of Axe of the Blood God!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: Final Fantasy XVI for Switch 2 Monster Hunter Update Why Sakaguchi was the Boss The Front Mission 3 Disaster Timestamps: 14:52 - Main Topic - Defend Your Favorite Final Fantasy 1:29:08 - Random Encounters 1:38:38 - The Tavern - Kat's Attempt to Finish FF7 Rebirth, and FFXIV Update 1:20:32 - SENA'S NOSTALGIA NOOK Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] Filter Branch - [PlayOnline Viewer] Final Fantasy Main Theme - [Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're halfway through 2025 and if we were only judging years by the quality of their RPGs this would be a pretty good one! By every other metric; it sure is a year!This week Kat, Nadia, and Eric are recapping the RPG standouts of the year so far and predicting what hits we still have on the horizon!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: Clair Obscur 100 Line Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering Monster Hunter Wilds PC optimization Elden Ring: Nightreign's longevity Kingdom Come Deliverance II Fantasy Life i Deltarune 3 + 4 Pokemon Legends Z-A A lot of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Discourse Timestamps: 9:04 - Main Topic - 2025 So Far 46:56 - 2025 RPGs to Watch Out For 1:01:16 - Random Encounters I dunno, it just blends into Random Encounter lately - The Tavern 1:20:32 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Abandoned Ship - [Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to duel!The Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering set is here and the hosts have been ripping packs and building decks. Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by special guest Shivam Bhatt to dive into the deep cuts, the flavor, the art, and everything about this landmark moment in FF and MtG history.Also, it's me; I'm the FFXIII guy who knows what Fal'cie and L'cie are. It's honestly pretty straightforward.Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: Fantasy Life i How fish give birth The Zelda Movie Eric's journey to Summer Games Fest The Expanse RPG Critical Role's move to crush Dungeons & Dragons Eric's phrase of the day! Timestamps: 5:40 - Main Topic - Magic: the Gathering Primer 42:56 - How to Get Into Magic 1:06:16 - Random Encounters 1:35:12 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Mhaura Selbina Voyager - [Final Fantasy Tribute Thanks] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Editor's Note: While we opted to cover this showcase, we would be remiss if we didn't once again highlight the ongoing Xbox boycott A Persona 4 remake! An Xbox handheld! Some actual RPGs! But no Fable? Kat and Nadia react to the Xbox Showcase and speculate on what's in store in 2026. Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Timestamps: 0:10 - Xbox handheld reax 7:20 - Persona 4 Revival 10:39 - Clockwork Revolution 13:46 - Roundup: Animo, Fallout 76, and more 22:00 - Xbox's outlook in 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a Podcast Key Card™. To download the episode, an internet connection and enough free space in your Nintendo Switch 2 system memory or microSD Express card are required. Once the episode is downloaded, you’re ready to play!Kat and Nadia recap their Switch 2 experience so far, what RPGs to look forward to in the Switch 2's future, and what was announced at Sony's State of Play and Summer Games Fest.Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: Bravely Default HD Cyberpunk 2077 Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Link's Awakening Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering Pre-Release Timestamps: 7:12 - Main Topic - Switch 2 Impressions 40:16 - Random Encounters 43:44 - State of Play and Summer Games Fest Recap 1:04:48 - Nintendo Store 1:20:32 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Group (Meal) - [Yu-No] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FromSoftware's multiplayer Elden Ring experience is here and we're here to figure out exactly what it even is. Kat, Nadia, Eric, and special guest Mitchell Saltzman discuss this divisive new addition to Elden Ring and more on this week's Axe of the Blood God!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com In this episode: Persona 4 remake seemingly confirmed by the OG voice cast? Switch 2 game key cards woes EA abandoning RPGs Mario Kart FOMO Summer Games Fest predictions A power drill down the pants Timestamps: 6:50 - Main Topic - Elden Ring: Nightreign 47:16 - Random Encounters 1:13:36 - SGF Predictions 1:25:12 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Rememberance - [Vagrant Story] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Nintendo Switch™ Family of Video Gaming Entertainment Consoles is dead. Long live the Nintendo Switch 2™ Family of Video Gaming Entertainment Consoles.Kat, Nadia, and Eric deliver the final judgement on the Switch's contributions to the RPG landscape. From Pokemon's bumpy road to Fire Emblem's revival to Square's blunderbuss, it's all here in this satisfyingly clickable episode of Axe of the Blood God!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com In this episode: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Octopath Traveler/2 Pokemon's Switch Legacy Animal Crossing: New Horizons Xenoblade Chronicles X Timestamps: 5:50 - Main Topic - Switch RPG Quest: Definitive Edition 1:00:56 - Random Encounters 1:11:04 - The Tavern - Fantasy Life 1:22:16 - Xenoblade Chronicles X Final Thoughts 1:31:20 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Your Voice - [Xenoblade Chronicles X] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices