244: The Best Indie Games of the 2020s

This week's episode takes a little breather from the KRZ playthrough as people catch up with Acts II & III. There's a good reason for that: Steam Next Fest happened last week, and a lot of people dived right into the ocean of demos. In fact, the GITW patron community played over 150 demos collectively then voted on their favourites. So this episode we have some honourable mentions, the community's top five, and then my own top five best of the fest. (You can watch the video version of the main segment here: https://youtu.be/nVfZDZIbq3A.)I also discuss the channel's recent little patron influx, and talk about trying to make podcasting and video-making into a part time job. If you're up for supporting me on that road, thank you so much — head here: https://www.patreon.com/gaminginthewild. And big thanks to boss tier patrons Shy Guy and Hollow, and new patrons Paolo, Rob, Gerudo, Bayleafu, Noah, Ethan, Dom, Brandon, Jeremy, and Toph. And all the veteran patrons too!In the roundup: AC Shadows, Everhood 2, Wanderstop, Monster Hunter Wilds.Follow the show on Bluesky here: https://tinyurl.com/gitw-blueskyAnd elsewhere on social media: http://gaminginthewild.carrd.coAnd as always, thanks for listening, enjoy the show!

This is second episode of the KRZ deep dive series and community playthrough. We cover Act II of the game — the Bureau of Reclaimed Spaces, The Zero, Random Access Self Storage, The Museum of Dwellings, and the Forest — and the second interlude, an interactive play entitled 'The Entertainment'.Thanks to everyone in the patron Discord who submitted comments and questions! Join them in supporting the show, and play along with us: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.Hop over and sub to the YouTube for more GITW stuff, including the Next Fest roundup coming later this week: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild.And thanks for listening!

The Kentucky Route Zero deep-dive begins! To mark five years of GITW, we're going back to the game that started it all. The first episode looks at Act I of the game, and the first interlude 'Limits And Demonstrations'. This game is a breakthrough, a landmark, and a high water mark for video games as art. Its acts and interludes contain multitudes: digital art exhibits, interactive poetry, a fully staged play complete with audience, and a tangled web of scenes, characters, and histories. At its heart lies a story about people falling through the cracks of America – but it contains so much more than that.It's also a GITW community playthrough, with patrons of the podcast playing along and offering insights and questions that become part of the pod. Feel free to play along, or to join the Patreon and add your own input for the next episodes at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.Thanks for listening!

Gaming in the Wild is five! And to celebrate, here's a special episode: a rundown of the 20 best indie games I've covered since the podcast began.Show your appreciation, support the show, and help me hit 100 patrons target! http://patreon.com/gaminginthewildYouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xbNKMtNKP8Thanks for listening everyone! and extra-special thanks to everyone in the Discord community. Here's to five more years ! <3

This week's podcast features an interview with Andy Robertson, the veteran game critic who's launching Ludocene, a new kind of game discovery app. We also reflect on the launch of the Ultros: Design Works book and the podcast's forthcoming fifth birthday, including our community Kentucky Route Zero playthrough!Pre-Order the Ultros book: http://lostincult.co.ukKickstart the Ludocene app: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ludocene/ludocene-game-discovery-from-people-you-trustJoin the Patreon: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewildFollow the show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gaminginthewild.bsky.socialFollow the Steam curator page (thanks to Dovetail for maintaining it!): https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/Thanks for listening everybody! Onwards!(00:00) Musical intro(00:30) Pod begins(01:34) Ultros: Design Works is Go!(05:45) Podcast 5th Birthday & Patreon Drive(09:30) Andy Robertson on the Ludocene App

**Note: CS2 SPOILERS WITHIN!** I'm joined this week by Citizen Sleeper 2 creator Gareth Damian Martin, who dropped by on the eve of the game's release to talk about space kelp, slamhounds, farm stacks, and how they created one of the most compelling sci-fi worlds in all of video games. See a video version and sub to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtf6G9RAHJc Listen to my Citizen Sleeper 2 review: https://open.spotify.com/episode/49XofEg52vW0s8g0pijdGi?si=5d957facf19948cf Join the Patreon: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild Thanks for listening!

This week's episode is a review of Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector. It's an ambitious, intelligent, heartfelt sequel, and the first must-play indie game of 2025. Also: many thanks to the show's biggest supporter Magic Mind! Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle with with my link: ⁠https://www.magicmind.com/GAMINGLTJAN⁠. Every order supports the podcast, and there's a no-questions-asked guaranteed refund if you don't like it! As always, thanks to all the show’s 92 patrons - you, too, can support this podcast and get patron-exclusive bonus episodes at  http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Find the podcast on social media via http://gaminginthewild.com. I'd like to hear from you! And finally, follow this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter Dovetail if you'd like to see when games your browsing come pod-recommended: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

Thanks to #MagicMind for supporting the podcast. Get 45% off your first order with my GITW-exclusive discount link at http://magicmind.com/gamingLTjan. Every sale helps the pod, and there a no-questions-asked 100% refund available. It's a really good product, all shilling aside! *** This week's episode is a newsy roundup featuring the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct (Ninja Gaiden 4, South of Midnight, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Doom: The Dark Ages), plus a preview of the imminent Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, and some thoughts on the PC release of Final Fantasy FVII: Rebirth. In the roundup: Afterlife EP, Eternal Strands, Hangry. Join the pattern: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild Find me on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gaminginthewild.bsky.social Follow the Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463/ Thanks for listening!

Big thanks to podcast supporter Magic Mind, who are offering listeners 45% off their concentration shots. A genuine endorsement from me: I take one every morning, and I love them. There's a no-questions-asked refund policy, so you've nothing to lose — give it a shot (pun absolutely intended) at ⁠https://www.magicmind.com/GAMINGLTJAN⁠ *** This week's episode is a look ahead at all the intriguing indie games coming out this year. In the roundup: Dragon Age - The Veilguard, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and Balatro. See the video version of the main segment here to check out the games in action: https://youtu.be/Wjfc7bKO50I?si=wkT9jMHrGjkQLNgz. If you like this podcast, you can support it on Patreon. You get instant access to 15 bonus podcast episodes, and an invite to join the awesome patron community: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Thanks to new supporters Michael, Glenn, Meisuko, and Garrick. Also thanks to loyal patrons and tier upgraders Juzzy, Zanem, and Andre, and boss tier patrons Hollow, Mike Sampier, and Shy Guy. And finally, thanks Dovetail for helping me organise the 2025 game release spreadsheet. Dovetail also maintains this Steam curator page, so you can see if games you're browsing come pod-recommended: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/ Thanks for listening everybody!

Just under the wire on New Year's Eve — I bring you the Games of the Year Final Cut episode, aka my own top ten games of 2024. And not a Starfield in sight.Support the show on Patreon: http://patron.com/gaminginthewildFollow the show on YouTube: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild.Find the show on BlueSky, Insta, etc: http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewildThanks for listening everyone, and see you in 2025!(00:00) Intro(05:00) Shout outs & honorable mentions(21:15) Top Ten(41:12) Top Five(01:03:48) Thanks & outro