

Gaming In The Wild - Video Game Reviews
John Rogers
A chill video games podcast about interesting and creative games, from indie to AAA. Your host: Iceland-based games critic John Rogers. Follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch to stay in touch and keep up with new episodes - find links at http://gaminginthewild.com. Gaming In The Wild is a listener-supported. You can support the show at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild to join the listener community, and get bonus episodes and other fun perks.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 17, 2023 • 48min
148: Birth
Birth is short, heartfelt point ’n’ click game in which we navigate a strange line-drawn city, interacting with the bony creatures and odd situations we find there. The puzzles involve playful physics, hidden objects, and pattern-matching mechanics that raise a smile, and evoke the sadness, seriousness and silliness of our fleeting lives.
Also: Steam Next demo reviews, including Unmurk, Nine Sols, Full Void, Radio The Universe, Highwater, and more.
Check out the GITW Steam curator page here (thanks to Patreon supporter DovetailTrue for making it!): https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/
If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, music, the domain, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support!
If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.
Thanks for listening!

Feb 11, 2023 • 44min
147: Melatonin
This was a news-packed week, so first we whip through the big reveals of the Nintendo Direct, and flick through the demo pile at Steam Next Fest, including some new indie games to get excited about. Then, our featured review – a short and sweet rhythm game called Melatonin, that combines pastel colours, soft line art, and lo-fi beats into a dreamy vapourwave experience. You tap and combo your way through the mundane dreams of a sleep-deprived protagonist, and you’re left feeling relaxed, focussed, and optimistic. It slipped out in December, and went a little under the radar – but don't sleep on it!
Also: a big thank you to podcast DovetailTrue, who made an amazing Steam curator page with all the games ever recommended on the podcast, with GOTY sections for the best games of the last few years. Follow it here: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/
If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.
All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music, the domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support!
If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.
Thanks for listening!

Feb 3, 2023 • 54min
146: SEASON: A Letter To The Future
Season: A Letter To The Future is a wistful exploration game in which the player cycles through a picturesque, all-but abandoned valley before it’s washed away by an inevitable flood. We document the sights, sound, traditions, and lives of this odd place, recording the details for posterity in a memorable, freewheeling journey.
Also: a big thank you to podcast patron DovetailTrue17, who made an amazing Steam curator page featuring all the games ever recommended on the podcast, with GOTY sections for the best games of the last few years. Follow it here: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/
If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.
All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music, the domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support!
If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.
Thanks for listening!

Jan 28, 2023 • 48min
145: Lil Gator Game, Astro's Playroom, Lone Ruin
This year’s game reviews kick off with a pair of gorgeous, undemanding little games – the Short-Hike inspired Lil Gator Game and Sony’s PS5 pack-in, Astro’s Playroom.
In the roundup: Lone Ruin, Kirby & The Forgotten Land, Jack Move, A Space For The Unbound, Hi-Fi Rush, and more.
Here's the “what game were you most addicted to?” Twitter thread mentioned in the show: https://twitter.com/gaminginthewild/status/1618675499257176065
And a big thank you to shows latest patrons, Gordon and Zap! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.
All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music, the domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support!
If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.
Thanks for listening!

Jan 21, 2023 • 51min
144: Indie Game Preview - 24 Video Games To Look Out For In 2023
This episode is a look ahead to all the amazing indie games that we can look forward to in 2023. Sure, sure, there'll be postponements – but here at Gaming In The Wild, we stay optimistic!
On the list: Colossal Cave, Season: A Letter To The Future, Birth, Terra Nil, Tchia, Hyper Light Breaker, Nine Sols, Venba, Planet of Lana, Schim, Dredge, Lorelei & The Laser Eyes, Spirittea, Highwater, Naiad, Thirsty Suitors, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, Sea of Stars, Harold Halibut, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Open Roads, Animal Well, Complex Sky, Death Trash.
Shout out to Zap, Gordon and Lawal for joining the show's Patreon recently! Come join us in the cosy podcats supporter Discord, and get nine patron-only bonus episodes, and more fun stuff: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.
Also, feel free to say hi on social media and tell me what I should be playing! :) Find the links at: http://gaminginthewild.com.
And as always, thanks for listening!

Jan 14, 2023 • 2h 11min
143: Ciaran's Elden Lord Update, plus Silksong, Starfield, Zelda, & More
This week I'm joined by friend of the show Ciaran Daly (@cmg_daly, @radartreview). We talked about what we're playing, including High On Life, Citizen Sleeper, Pokémon Scarlet & Arceus, Tony Hawk, and more. Next up were Ciaran's two GsOTY – Stray and Elden Ring – before we finished with hopes and dreams for Hollow Knight: Silksong, Starfield, and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
I'd like to give a big thank you to the show's latest Patron, Gordon! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.
All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music, the domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support!
If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.
Thanks for listening!

Jan 7, 2023 • 1h 21min
142: Games Of The Year 2022 - The Final Cut - GOTY 22
This is it – welcome to the Gaming In The Wild GOTY final cut episode! In this show, I talk through my personal favourite games of 2022, from indie darlings, to AAA blockbusters, and maybe a couple of hidden gems too. This was a fantastic year in gaming, and I hope y'all enjoy the final list!
There's lots more GOTY content available too, so be sure to check out the guest episodes that went out around the same time as this one, featuring Bryan Sursha of Pixellated Playgrounds, Louis Brooks of Time Played 3hr, and Brad Gallaway of So Videogames. And GOTY series are available from 2021 and 2020, should you want even more!
If you'd like to supporting this podcast on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music, the domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support!
If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.
Thanks for listening!

Jan 2, 2023 • 2h 11min
141: Games Of The Year 2022 with Brad Gallaway (SoVideogames) - GOTY 2022
The third GOTY 2022 guest episode this year is a lovely, long, far-ranging chat with Brad Gallaway, friend of the show and co-host of the So Videogames podcast. We discussed some obscure gems and heavy hitters, including Marvel Snap, Atari 50, Elden Ring, Citzen Sleeper, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks Of Hope, Horizon Forbidden West, Paradise Marsh, and many more!
Hear my 2021 GOTY chat with Brad here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/9NkypvVRcwb
Hear me & Brad discussing The Longing here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/prMXjddScwb
Hear my guest spot on So Videogames here: https://gamecritics.com/brad-gallaway/so-videogames-ep-290-john-rogers/
And a big thank you to shows latest Patrons, Rachel and Lawal! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, music, the gaminginthewild.com domain, games to review, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support!
If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.
Thanks for listening!

Dec 30, 2022 • 1h 42min
140: Games Of The Year 2022 with Louis Brooks (Time Played 3hr) - GOTY 2022
It's time for the second episode in the 2022 games of the year series, this time with Louis Brooks, co-host of the excellent Time Played 3hr. Louis brought some super interesting games to the table, including Tunic, Sephonie, Strange Horticulture, Dyling Light 2, Gran Turismo 7, and more. A note: I completely borked by own side of the audio, so very sorry for my sound quality!
Find out more about Time Played 3hr here: https://louisthings.com/timeplayed3hr.
And a big thank you to Lawal, the show's latest Patron! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.
All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music, the domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support!
If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.
And s always, thanks for listening!

Dec 24, 2022 • 1h 41min
139: Games Of The Year 2022 with Bryan Skursha (Pixelated Playgrounds) - GOTY 2022
This Christmas Eve episode features Bryan Skursha of the wonderful Pixelated Playgrounds podcast, who hopped on to talk about his games of the year in 2022. We discussed Triangle Strategy, Stray, Pokémon Legends Arceus, POINPY, God of War: Ragnarök, Elden Ring, Citizen Sleeper, Tunic, and more.
Hear more of Bryan on Pixelated Playgrounds, via your podcast service of choice, or here: https://www.pixelatedplaygrounds.com/bookclub.
And a big thank you to Lawal, the show's latest Patron! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.
All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, buying the music, the domain name, and the other costs of producing the pod. I really appreciate the support!
If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com.
Thanks for listening!