

Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
Axe of the Blood God
Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen explore Final Fantasy, Skyrim, and all the best in the wonderful world of role-playing video games! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/bloodgodpod
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 24, 2025 • 1h 49min
Xenoblade Chronicles X Switch Review, GDC Recap, and a Persona 4 Remake Wishlist
Living here in New LA, fighting villains from afar. You got to find first gear in your giant robot car.The Xenoblade saga on Switch is now complete with the inclusion of Xenoblade Chronicles X (Xenoblade Cross if you're nasty). But it's been 10 years since the original release on WiiU; has it aged well? The very idea of video games "aging well" is a concept invented by tech-capitalists so don't ask me that. Instead ask "How much of the current open-world RPG landscape do we owe to it, do the gameplay elements designed for the WiiU transpose to the Switch well, and exactly how fantastic a game is it?"All these questions and more will be answered by Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Victor on this interstellar 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 by Nina Matsumoto at https://shop.bloodgodpod.comAlso in this episode:
Tuning the skill floor of the player vs the encounter
Kat's many adventures at GDC
Palworld's still at it
What we want out of a Persona 4 remake
Timestamps:
08:00 - Main Topic - Xenoblade Chronicles X
53:50 - Random Encounters
1:01:54 - Tavern - GDC
1:32:30 - Persona 4 Remake Wishes
1:40:40 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook
Music Used in this Episode:
Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Your Voice - [Xenoblade Chronicles X]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 17, 2025 • 1h 29min
Atelier Yumia Review and Series Primer w/ Lucas White
The only two good things to come out economic recession.Eric, Nadia, and special guest Lucas White are here to give the long-running, cult-classic Atelier series it's flowers. But can the latest entry, Yumia, hang with the Ryzas and the Maries and the Irises and the Eschas and the Logys? Listen up to find out!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpodAlso in this episode:
Should you play Final Fantasy XIV constantly?
The cultural importance of The Problems Clown
Wizardry Variants Daphne
Nadia rolls credits on Monster Hunter Wilds
New merch by Nina Matsumoto available now at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com
Timestamps:
08:00 - Main Topic - What is Atelier?
49:32 - Random Encounters
52:32 - Tavern
1:19:28 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook
Music Used in this Episode:
Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Reminiscent Hill - [Atelier Ayesha]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 10, 2025 • 1h 41min
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Review, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Preview, and More w/ Aidan Moher
Oscar season has passed but the stars are still out; all 108 of them!Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by a special guest who literally wrote the book on Suikoden; Aidan Moher! They discuss the ups and downs of the recently released remaster and whether they are the versions of Suikoden you should play!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpodAlso in this episode:
Other Suikoden news of varying quality!
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Adult Swim memories
Timestamps:
10:24 - Main Topic - Suikoden I&II HD Remaster
51:12 - Random Encounters
1:08:00 - The Tavern - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
1:32:16 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook
Music Used in this Episode:
Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
A Bustling Town - [Suikoden II]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 3, 2025 • 2h 9min
Axe of the Blood God 500: 10 Years of the Podcast, 10 Greatest RPGs
Wanna feel old? Well don't! You're only 10 years older than you were when Axe of the Blood God started and if you placed the entirety of your life so far in Carl Sagan's cosmic calendar you would exist as a mere blip in the final second of the final day. But there's never been a better blip to exist in than this one if you're really into RPGs! So join Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Victor as they discuss what they believe to be the finest RPGs the last 10 years had to offer.Whether you're a new listener or you've been with us since the beginning, thank you for your support. Here's to 10 more bloody years!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpodAlso in this episode:
Pokemon Direct update!
A very special appearance by Ben Starr
New merch by Nina Matsumoto available now at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com
Timestamps:
06:20 - Main Topic - Top 10 RPGs of the Past Ten Years
1:42:52 - Random Encounters
1:57:46 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook
Music Used in this Episode:
Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Matoya's Cave (Airship Cruise Beats Version) - [Square Enix Airship Cruise Beats]
*SPOILERS* THE FINAL LIST:10- Octopath Traveler II9- Xenoblade Chronicles 38- Persona 57- Fire Emblem: Three Houses6- NieR: Automata5- Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers4- Elden Ring3- Undertale 2- Baldur's Gate III1- Disco Elysium Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 24, 2025 • 1h 31min
Monster Hunter Wilds Review, Final Fantasy x MtG, and More!
It's just another MonHun Monday!Bring your Cool Drinks to survive the Hot Takes in our review of Monster Hunter Wilds. Will this be the entry that makes MonHun skeptics take the leap? Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss this Elder Dragon-sized game!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpodAlso in this episode:
Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering
Remembering 10 Years of Blood God
Why are we not excited about new Avatar?
NetEase layoffs
Lunchboxes!
Timestamps:
05:20 - Main Topic - Monster Hunter Wilds Review
40:52 - Random Encounters - 10 Years of Blood God
59:12 - The Tavern - Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering
1:17:52 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook
Music Used in this Episode:
Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
The Village of Wind and Meadow - [Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 2025 • 1h 26min
Avowed Review, State of Play, and More w/ John Carson
Obsidian's new covert entry in the Pillars of Eternity world is out now; but is it just a Skyrim-like? I don't mind telling you upfront; no. But what IS it, I hear you screaming? Kat, Nadia, Eric, and special guest John Carson are here to tell you!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpodAlso in this episode:
The February Cornucopia of RPGs
Pokemon TCG Pocket update!
The State of Magic: The Gathering
*hacker voice* I'm in
Timestamps:
05:04 - Main Topic - Avowed
43:02 - Random Encounters
1:00:48 - Magic: The Gathering
1:12:46 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook
Music Used in this Episode:
Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
South Town Guitarist ~ Summer - [Tokimeki Memorial 2]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 10, 2025 • 2h
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Review, Final Fantasy Live Letter, and More w/ Jason Fanelli and Leana Hafer
The only thing orthodox about this episode of Axe of the Blood God is the allusions the Catholicism! Eric is joined by special guest Leana Hafer to talk RPG news and they're both joined by other special-guest Jason Fanelli and other other special guest Nadia Oxford to dig into one of the biggest RPGs of 2025 so far; Kingdom Come: Deliverance IITune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpodAlso in this episode:
Mechabellum
Final Fantasy XIV Live Letter feat. Victor's Mini-Dropouts
Civilization VII
Eric's Final Fantasy XII update
Video games are water
Timestamps:
07:12 - Main Topic - Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
56:26 - Random Encounters
1:23:08 - The Tavern
1:44:28 - Leana's Nook
Music Used in this Episode:
Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
Pub - [Boktai DS]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Chaotic Bar - [Phantasy Star Online ]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 3, 2025 • 1h 56min
Shorter RPGs Without Sacrificing Story, Citizen Sleeper 2, and P3 Reload Final Thoughts
It is once again Letter Tiiiiiiime.Kat, Nadia, and Eric answer YOUR burning questions like: What are some big freaky guys?If you'd like a chance to have your letters read on a future episode join us over on the discord!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpodAlso in this episode:
The future of BioWare after layoffs
How to handle spoilers and learn to appreciate the journey
Final thoughts on Persona 3 Reload
Getting very bad grades
Timestamps:
04:22 - What Will Major Franchises Look Like When The Creators Are Gone?
12:48 - What Cybernetic Parts/Tattoos Do You Want?
19:36 - How Do You Pick A Game Back Up?
26:24 - Will We See A World With Shorter RPGs?
34:08 - Newsletter Wishlist
39:44 - Freaky Big Guys
44:28 - Should We Bring Back Fixed Camera Angles/Pre-rendered Backgrounds?
48:24 - What Folklore and Myth Would You Like To See Explored?
52:24 - Plans For More Audio Commentaries?
58:40 - Random Encounters
1:03:24 - The Tavern
1:20:16 - This Week In Gekkoukan
1:30:40 - Citizen Sleeper 2
1:27:44 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook
Music Used in this Episode:
Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
Pub - [Boktai DS]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Here She Comes - [Xenosaga Episode II]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 27, 2025 • 1h 40min
Are We In A Turn-Based Renaissance?
If it is then Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is looking like The Birth of Venus.Why did turn-based RPGs ever fall out of vogue? Did they ever? Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss the mainstream resurgence of the turn-based RPG and wether we might be seeing even more on the horizon. All that and more on this menu-based episode of Axe of the Blood God!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpodAlso in this episode:
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Post-Mortem
Dynasty Warriors: Origins
Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana
The Fast And The Furious is the Yakuza of movies
Timestamps:
05:50 - Main Topic - Are We In A Turn-Based Renaissance?
46:20 - Random Encounters
49:24 - The Tavern
1:27:44 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook
Music Used in this Episode:
Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
Pub - [Boktai DS]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Spumoni - Franca's Cafe - [Phantasy Star Online 2]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 21, 2025 • 1h 48min
Switch 2 Reactions, Remembering David Lynch, and More w/ Jon Cartwright
The Switch 2 is here!Well, it's THERE. Somewhere. But now we know that when it gets HERE it will look like that! And sometimes that's all you can ask for in this crazy world.Join Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Good Vibe's Gaming's Jon Cartwright as they discuss everything we know and everything we DON'T know about Nintendo's new console.Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpodAlso in this episode:
Remembering David Lynch's monumental influence on gaming
The dark side of Mario Paint
Kat's Final Fantasy XIV Progress report!
Timestamps:
04:16 - Main Topic - SWITCH 2 REVEALED
59:44 - Random Encounters
1:36:32 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook
Music Used in this Episode:
Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Audrey's Dance - [Twin Peaks]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices