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This week's game is the third polished gem in the Supergiant Games roster. After escaping from Hades last episode, this time I traverse the Downside in the high-fantasy visual novel–RPG–sports game Pyre. It's an inventive and aesthetically stunning one-off game that's  like nothing else I've played. (There's a spoiler break half way through, so you can hear about it safely if you wanna play it yourself, or hear some late-game thoughts if you've played it already.) You can come say hi and follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. You can also support the show on Patreon to get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community via http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. As always, thanks for listening!

This week’s show is about Hades, an all-action roguelike dungeon crawler set in the Greek underworld. It’s not my usual genre, but it's by the acclaimed Supergiant studio who made Transistor, Pyre and Bastion, which bodes well for any game. It took a bit of a journey to understand the mechanics, but it's a supremely entertaining game that earned my admiration by the end. It’s out now for Nintendo Switch, Windows and Mac. You can come say hi and follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild, and support the show on Patreon to get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations, and an invite to our Discord community: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

This week I played an extraordinary new action-adventure game called The Pathless by Giant Squid, the studio behind ABZU. With fluid gameplay, brilliant music and a fascinating game world, fans of Journey, Breath of the Wild, Shadow of the Colossus and Hyper Light Drifter will find something to love here. The game also touches interestingly on some contemporary themes, which are explored after the spoiler break. There’s a 2xVinyl version of the fantastic soundtrack by Austin Wintory available via I Am 8 Bit, along with a physical edition of the game. It’s also  available digitally for Playstation 4 & 5, Apple Arcade and PC.  You can also support the show on Patreon to get patron-exclusive episodes, game recommendations, and an invite to the show’s Discord community via http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Also, you can share your thoughts on the game and follow the show via Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.

This week's episode takes us to a far-flung Hebridean island to kick through the seaweed and hike over the hills of melancholic 'walking simulator' Dear Esther. Fans of more recent games like Gone Home and What Became of Edith Finch? will find something to enjoy here. Having finally finished one story strand of the mammoth Spartan saga Assassin's Creed Odyssey, it’s also time to revisit that game and dare to ask: can open world games be too big?  You can follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. You can also support the show on Patreon to get exclusive episodes, sale recommendations and an invite to the show’s Discord community via http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

The truth is out there... maybe? This episode I played two Halloweeny games: the bizarre fractured narrative of 45 minute indie-horror game Paratopic, and the surprisingly wholesome Speed Dating For Ghosts. Both are available for just a couple of units of your favourite currency on Steam, Itch and Nintendo Switch. You can follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. Also, whether you're a brand new arrival or a regular listener, you can support the show from just $1 a month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Thanks for listening, and happy halloween!

This week’s show covers one of the most acclaimed (and best-selling) games of all time – the stunning Western epic, Red Dead Redemption 2. Now 25 hours in, I’ve been breathing the mountain air, learning the dead-eye, and coming to grips with the radical freedom that this stunning outlaw simulation has to offer. I also chat a bit about Fallout 76, and about how I’m recording in the middle of an audible windstorm. Hope it doesn’t become distracting! You can say hi on social media, and follow the show for updates on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee.com/gaminginthewild.  Support the show on Patreon to get exclusive episodes and articles via http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

Is INSIDE a horror game? Find out this episode, when I delve into Playdead's LIMBO follow-up (and conduct a Twitter poll about whether this qualifies as a Halloween episode). Also featured: the oddities of playing as a child protagonist, the enjoyment of piecing together narratives from environmental cues and clues, the game's stunning sound design, and more. (Note: story spoilers are behind a well-demarcated break, so you can listen to most of it without fear if you're yet to play it yourself). If you enjoy the episode, you can support the show on Patreon to get patron-only episodes and other fun benefits at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.  You can follow the show on Twitch, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram via http://linktr.ee/gamingintehwild. And as always, thanks for listening!

This latest episode covers the fabulous, original, challenging sci-fi exploration game Outer Wilds. It's dizzyingly ambitious, and can be both glorious and maddening. It's a true original.  This spoiler-free episode covers the gameplay and the first passage of play, with a spoiler break to talk about some of the central concepts and late-game stuff, so you can listen safely if you're yet to play. And I stress that this is a game best experienced with as little advance info as possible. Don't even watch the trailer or read the Wiki!  If you enjoy the episode, you can support the show on Patreon for as little as $3 a month, and get access to Patron-exclusive episodes and more fun perks. I really appreciate it! http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild  You can also say hi on Twitter, or come join the party at Twitch, Instagram and YouTube via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. And as always, thanks for listening!

The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide are two deeply unusual games by US developer Davey Wreden. This week's show takes a dive into the alternately surprising, hilarious and disturbing waters of their bizarre metafictional stories. Also covered: the troubled release of Lost Ember, and some first thoughts on Ori & The Blind Forest and Ori & The Will Of The Wisps. You can join the Gaming In The Wild Discord community – and help fund the show – for as little as $3 per month via our new Patreon page. Find out more at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild.  I always love to hear from listeners - you can find the show on Twitter, Youtube, Instagram and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. The music on this episode is from the featured games, by Yiannis Ioannides (The Stanley Parable) and Ryan Roth (The Beginner's Guide). The outro music is from Night In The Woods. Thanks for listening!

Many games are described as cinematic, but few have gone as far in that direction as Virginia. A BAFTA-winning 2016 narrative 'walking simulator', it's a surreal and fascinating game that recalls Silence of the Lambs as much as Firewatch, and it's the featured game of this week's episode. Also covered: the launch of the Gaming In The Wild Patreon (which you can join at http://www.patreon.com/gaminginthewild if you so desire!), a northern lights sighting as Iceland's dark season arrives, a difficult experience playing Ori & The Blind Forest, the latest No Man's Sky update, and more. You can follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch and YouTube via http://linktre.ee/gaminginthewild.  And, as always, thanks for listening! Articles mentioned in the episode: MCVUK interview: https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/media-pr/variable-state-on-the-making-of-virginia/ One of Virginia's directors interviewed: http://playingcatchup.co.uk/interview-jonathan-burroughs-of-variable-state/

This week’s show has the novelty of being about actual new games! First, we dive into the forlorn underground of The Last Campfire, before engaging in some optical illusion trickery in the Portal-influenced Superliminal. Finally, there’s some chat about the PS5 and X-Box price reveals, and the ensuing Twitter flop-off from fans of each console. Find the show on Twitter, YouTube, Twitch and Instagram to let me know if you have any game suggestions, or dis/liked these games: http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. Hear The Last Campfire soundtrack by Paul Weir at: https://hellogames.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-campfire-soundtrack Find the lo-fi mix of the Superliminal soundtrack at: https://2mellomakes.bandcamp.com/album/superliminal-the-lo-fi-mix And thanks, as always, for listening!

This episode is about three games that all share a sense of wonder and fairytale mystery. First is The Unfinished Swan, a celebrated 2012 PS3 title that has just been released for iOS and Steam. Next up is Fujii, a mellow, nature-oriented VR journey. Then it's time for enigmatic dimension-shifting 2D puzzle game Gorogoa. We round things off with some chat about The Secret of Dank Mountain and Sky: Children of Light. Feel free to come say hi or find additional content relating to the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. Find The Unfinished Swan soundtrack at: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-NPUA30116_00-098202SNDTRACK01 Find the Fujii soundtrack at: https://normanbambi.bandcamp.com/album/fujii Find the Gorogoa soundtrack at https://store.steampowered.com/app/745160/Gorogoa__Original_Soundtrack/

This episode centres coincidentally on games featuring Chinese food: indie visual novel and family saga Road To Guangdong, and brawler-puzzler-anime-story Battle Chef Brigade. Also covered: surreal visual novel Far From Noise, and finally, easy going tactile puzzle game One Line Coloring. Follow the show on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube and Instagram via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. Thanks to Switch Indie Fix for providing a review copy of Road To Guangdong: look out for my review there soon. More thanks to Mythic Owl for providing a copy of One Line Coloring. And, as always, thanks to you, for listening.

This episode begins with two wonderful indie games: the BAFTA-winning minimalist platformer Thomas Was Alone, and jelly-legged capitalism dismantlement simulator Pikuniku. Then, it's a trip to Ancient Greece for big-budget blockbuster Assassin's Creed Odyssey, with a segment about how the game is being used as a communication tool by modern day historians. Finally, I run through some essential bargains in the current Nintendo Switch eShop sale.  You can also follow the show and see additional content on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.  And as always, thanks for listening.

As summer ends and night returns to Iceland, this episode is about three dark games. Fe (pronounced, roughly, Fay-uh, from the Swedish for "fairy") is a mysterious exploration game about animals singing to each other in a forest ecosystem. Bleak Sword is an Apple Arcade title by Spanish solo dev More 8 Bit that will thoroughly test your swiping skills. Finally, A Dark Room is a compelling and creative text adventure that begins with lighting a fire, and takes some pleasantly and unexpected narrative swerves.    Follow the show on Twitter, Twitch, Instagram and Youtube here. http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. The episode is soundtracked by the gorgeous Fe OST, by Joel Bille. Buy it here: https://joelbille.bandcamp.com/album/fe-original-game-soundtrack.

This week I visited the picturesque Pacific Northwestern town of Bright Falls for a psychologically horrorifying and thrilling vacay via 'Alan Wake.' It was like a step back in time, not only in the town's atmosphere, but in terms of the console itself, because I borrowed an Xbox 360 solely to play this game. Sure, it's a lot of effort for one game... but the thing is, 'Alan Wake' is the only other game set in the Remedy universe that also contains 'Control' (see episode 2 for more on that). Alan Wake is a spiritual prequel to that game, and it was a lot of fun to talk it over. Also, the second part of the show covers my non-review of 'Bleak Sword', a chat about the wider Xbox 360 catalogue, and the story of my puppy-sitting travails. You can follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. The outro music is 'Possum Springs' from Night In The Woods - but it at https://infiniteammo.bandcamp.com. And as always, thanks for listening!

It's been a quiet spell for new games lately, so this episode takes on a few indie classics. Firewatch was on sale recently, so it's doing the rounds once more – I take a spoiler-free stroll through the beautiful Wyoming forest with main characters Henry and Delilah. Next up, some first impressions of Supergiant's Bastion and the Japanese-mythology-inspired action-adventure Okami. Finally, I round up some some DS and 3DS titles I've been enjoying, and talk about A Mortician's Tale from the recent Itch Bundle for the BLM movement, and recommend some other games podcasts. You can come say hi, recommend games, and follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and Twitch at http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. Thanks for listening!

Action-RPG-adventure game Hyper Light Drifter is something of a legendary indie game. It's a gorgeous pixel-art world, drenched in neon and pastel colour and soundtracked by a haunting ambient synth score. It's also famously difficult, with intense wave-based combat arenas and some hard-as-nails bosses, leading to a lot of understandable bounces and ragequits. We talk about all this and more in a spoiler-free half-hour look at a contemporary indie classic. Find the game on Switch, Steam, iOS, PS4 and Xbox. Soundtrack by Disasterpeace. Follow the show on Twitch, Twitter, Instagram and elsewhere: http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.

This episode is about Fumito Ueda's The Last Guardian. Nine years in the making, it's the follow-up to Shadow of the Colossus – only this time, the colossus in question is Trico, a remarkable giant cat-dog-bird hybrid with a mind of its own. Playing as a young boy in a vast, abandoned, labyrinthine city, you must bond with this fascinating beast to solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and travel ever upwards towards the mysterious white tower at the city's peak. It's a game with glorious highs and regrettable lows, all of which are discussed in detail. There's a spoiler break around the 30 minute mark, after which some plot details are revealed. If you enjoy the show, feel free to come say hi on Twitter, Twitch, Youtube, Instagram and elsewhere via http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild. Music by Takeshi Furukawa and the London Symphony Orchestra.

The Last Of Us 2 is a game that's ignited discussion across the gaming community. It's an emotionally gruelling journey that takes some unexpected swerves in both narrative and game design. It's an emotional whirlwind that, much like the original, leaves the player blinking at the screen in disbelief. To try and untangle "what just happened", I invited Dani, aka gamer, Twitter personality, streamer and YouTuber Girl With Box, to sit down for an in-depth spoilercast that discusses the themes, characters, plot twists, scary moments and dizzying story decisions of this landmark PS4 title.  Follow Girl With Box on Twitter at http://twitter.com/girlwithbox. Follow the show on Twitter, Twitch, Instagram, YouTube and elsewhere at: http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild.