We explore our gaming experiences from 2024 with guests Alyxa and Matthew Bliss. Part one of the conversation centres on our top three games of the year, with Alyxa reminiscing about the nostalgia of Persona 3 Portable, while Matthew highlights narrative-driven games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and The Last of Us Part 1. We discuss the joy of revisiting older games, contrasting their accessibility with the frustrations of modern titles.

• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Metal Gear
• Metal Gear Solid
• Powerwash Simulator
• Resident Evil

Outrageous DLC ideas (including iconic character crossovers), discussing the thrill of repetitive tasks, and the ideal soundscapes for gaming. That can mean only one thing: we’re returning to Powerwash Simulator with Matt Bliss.

• Powerwash Simulator
• Final Fantasy VII
• Warhammer 40,000
• Dynasty Warriors (Series)
• Warriors Orochi (Series)

Underpants, posters in lockers, bands, a surprise Mei Ling, and an excessive number of Easter Eggs. That can mean only one thing: Alyxa is back (with a brand new invention?) to continue her chat about Metal Gear Solid 2.

• Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
• Resident Evil (series)
• Metal Gear Solid
• Metal Gear Solid 2
• Metal Gear Solid HD Collection

Host Squidge and Anthony (of Capes on the Couch) take you on a wild and hilarious journey focusing on the beloved Mega Man series. With their infectious humour, insightful discussions, and imaginative spin-offs, this episode hits all the right buttons. From diving deep into classic games like Mega Man 2 to imagining dance-offs between robot masters.

• Mega Man 2
• Mortal Kombat
• Mega Man
• Mega Man 3
• Mega Man X7

Matthew (the host of The Dead Drop podcast) is back to talk about Hi-Fi Rush and Squidge’s intense GoldenEye sessions on the Nintendo Switch, the group dives deep into their recently played games. We also explore the potential for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to play the next Doctor Who and the frustrating slow text speed in games. And Hi-Fi Rush. Did we mention Hi-Fi Rush?

• Asemblance
• Inscryption
• Doki Doki Literature Club!
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
• Resident Evil 2

Jay delves into the dark and twisted world of the 1998 video game Shadow Man, exploring its creepy atmosphere, challenging controls, and deeply unsettling themes. With humour and insight, he takes listeners on a journey through Deadside, the afterlife realm that players must navigate, discussing the game’s eerie music, non-linear progression, and disturbing lore.

• Shadow Man
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to The Past
• Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
• Metroid
• Castlevania

This episode sees Anthony of the Capes on the Couch podcast join us. We talk about his show (which you should definitely listen to), ‘previously on’ mode, RPGs and forgetting what to do, the recent TMNT releases, reaching level 99 too soon, airborne controllers, and profanity generators.

• Super Mario Odyssey
• Super Mario 3D World
• Super Mario Party
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection

The Cupboard of Shame returns and Andrew Dickinson makes his 4,364th podcast episode appearance whilst. Andrew Joined Squidge to talk about generic shooter games which can also be fun, nuns in latex, cheesing their way through video games, and games which are fun to watch.

• Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
• Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
• Borderlands
• Hitman
• Blue Stinger

Ginger of the Grand Rapidians Play Video Games podcast joined Squidge to discuss the Cupboard of Shame, the Bechdel Test, some passive-aggressive comments for GameStop, and strategy guides.

• Final Fantasy X-2
• Final Fantasy X
• Final Fantasy VII
• Final Fantasy IX
• Cyberpunk 2077

Sean "Rackham" O’Dell of the Dungeons and Pop podcast swung by Waffling Taylors HQ to talk about the title he’d love to throw into the Cupboard of Shame. Sean and Squidge talk about tanking and cheesing, shooting everything apart from the monsters in Doom 3, and the roguelikes.

• Enter the Gungeon
• Nuclear Throne
• Risk of Rain 2
• Dark Souls
• Final Fantasy (series)

Lulu discusses a title that she may or may not have been fooled into buying. Was it really just gothic, steampunk Devil May Cry? Or was that a marketing ploy? Either way, it’s going in the cupboard. Listen in, to find out what it was.

• Chaos Legion
• Devil May Cry
• Dynasty Warriors (series)
• Bujingai
• Final Fantasy XIV

Squidge and Chief sit down to talk about some of the games that they both would like to store in The Cupboard of Shame, never to see the light of day again. They also discuss why they chose those games for hiding away. Chief also asks what’s with the obsession with the Legend of Zelda.

• Iron Man
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
• Final Fantasy (series)

We celebrated the 25th anniversary of Tomb Raider with The B. We discussed the legacy of Lara Croft’s game series, her impact on popular culture, and our favourite titles across the many different canons of Tomb Raider.

• Tomb Raider
• Tomb Raider: Anniversary
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• Tomb Raider II
• Tomb Raider III

Our first episode back since our break (and my recent vacation to Japan). It marks the start of season 2, we talk about what we’ve been playing, and I drop some Japan knowledge.

• Bloodborne
• Borderlands (series)
• Command & Conquer (series)
• Dark Souls
• Dead Souls

Part three of B’s 2018 debut – he was on our final episodes of 2017, but hasn’t been on the show since. B takes us through his unpopular opinion in gaming, which sparks a long discussion on folks such as Hideo Kojima, Cliffy B and Peter Molyneux

• Age of Empires (series)
• Black & White
• Bubble Bobble
• Columns
• Dark Souls

Part one of three of B’s 2018 debut – he was on our final episodes of 2017, but hasn’t been on the show since. We talk about E3, the Nintendo Switch (there’s a surprise), and how this summer has been re-assuringly quite for AAA titles (so far) which helps us to get through our collective backlog of games

• Age of Empires
• Age of Mythology
• Battle Arena Toshinden
• Battlefield (series)
• Bayonetta

Recently we had a friend request that we play through Rygar and share our thoughts. Jay has done just that. What did he think of Rygar? Did he finish the game? Was it as frustrating as he initially thought?

• Dark Souls
• Rygar