Gaming podcasts have exploded in popularity over the last decade, mirroring the growth of gaming itself into a $180 billion industry. With new games releasing every week across PC, consoles, and mobile, gaming podcasts help fans keep up with news, find new game recommendations, and connect with the gaming community.
But with so many great gaming shows out there, how do you choose where to start? That‘s where this guide comes in. I‘ve compiled the 10 best gaming podcasts across categories like news, comedy, retrospectives, and more. For each podcast, I‘ll summarize the concept, highlight standout episodes, and explain why it deserves a spot on your playlist.
Best Overall: Giant Bombcast
Dating back to 2008, Giant Bombcast from the Giant Bomb gaming site offers an unparalleled blend of humor, expertise, and big name guests. Long-time hosts Jeff Gerstmann and Brad Shoemaker anchor lively discussions around the weekly gaming news and new releases. Recent standouts include episode 726 featuring PS5 masterpiece Horizon Forbidden West and episode 746 analyzing surprise indie hit Vampire Survivors.
Best for Comedy: How Did This Get Played?
Hosted by comedians Nick Wiger, Heather Anne Campbell, and Matt Apodaca, How Did This Get Played? reviews notoriously bad games for maximum comedic effect. Part mystery, part roast, they tackle games like ET for Atari 2600 and recent flops like eFootball 2022. Their July 2022 episode dissecting the Uncharted movie captures their signature blend of quirky banter and incisive critique.
Best for Industry Insights: Triple Click
Featuring gaming journalists Kirk Hamilton, Maddy Myers, and Jason Schreier, Triple Click combines the latest headlines with keen insider analysis. Jason‘s May 2022 interview with an anonymous games industry source about pre-release leaks offers a rare look behind the scenes. For those interested in how the gaming sausage gets made, Triple Click is essential listening.
Best Retro Gaming: Retronauts
Nostalgia is the name of the game for Retronauts, hosted by Bob Mackey and Jeremy Parish. With nearly 500 episodes under their belt, they‘ve covered everything from Atari 2600 classics to 90s Sega Genesis favorites. Their March 2022 episode on Chrono Trigger exemplifies their talent for mixing personal memories, critical analysis, and interviews with game developers.
Best for Nintendo Fans: Nintendo Power Podcast
Produced by Nintendo themselves, the Nintendo Power Podcast predictably spotlights first-party Nintendo games across Switch and prior consoles. But longtime hosts Chris Slate and Casey DeFreitas also feature plenty of nostalgia, listener questions, and insights into Nintendo history. Their August 2021 episode celebrating 30 years of SNES exemplifies the warm, approachable tone that makes listeners feel part of the Nintendo family.
Best Gaming News: IGN‘s Game Scoop!
If you want a weekly one-stop shop for gaming announcements, releases, and impressions, tune into IGN‘s Game Scoop! Host Daemon Hatfield and a rotating panel of IGN editors cover all corners of the gaming world in under an hour. Segments like their recent 20 questions grilling Xbox boss Phil Spencer about upcoming products reveal their inside industry access.
Best for Diversity: What‘s Good Games
Founders Andrea Rene, Brittney Brombacher, and Kristine Steimer formed What’s Good Games to spotlight female voices within gaming culture. Alongside discussion of new games and news updates, they also tackle topics like representation that often get overlooked in mainstream gaming discourse. Recent standouts include their firsthand impressions on powerful new heroine action game Horizon Forbidden West.
Best Gaming Interviews: I Need My Space
I Need My Space host Petrana Radulovic draws on her decade of games writing experience to land insightful interviews with developers, streamers, and industry figures. Her one-on-one talks touch on everything from specific game design choices to broader issues like unionization and crunch culture. Whether a gaming newcomer or industry veteran, tuning into these intimate conversations always proves enlightening.
Best Video Game Music: Beats & Bytes
Hosted by composer Winifred Phillips and games journalist Stu Horvath, Beats & Bytes dives deep on the art of composing music for games. They analyze what works and doesn‘t for different game genres while interviewing composers about their creative process. Especially for aspiring game music makers, it offers an invaluable window into this underappreciated craft.
Best Gaming Culture Commentary: Triple Click
In addition to their news coverage and interviews, the critical trio of Kirk Hamilton, Maddy Myers, and Jason Schreier also provide some of the smartest commentary on gaming and internet culture. Segments like their "Is This Cultural Appropriation?" investigation of problematic game trends offer valuable perspective at the intersection of politics and play.
This selection shows the incredible variety across today‘s gaming podcasts. Whether wanting news updates, nuanced discussions, or just some laughs, shows like Giant Bombcast, Triple Click, and Retronauts showcase why gaming podcasts can be just as engaging as the games themselves.
