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/gaminginthewild

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xbNKMtNKP8

Thanks 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.uk

Kickstart the Ludocene app: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ludocene/ludocene-game-discovery-from-people-you-trust

Join the Patreon: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild

Follow the show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gaminginthewild.bsky.social

Follow 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!

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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

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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/gaminginthewild

Follow the show on YouTube: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild.

Find the show on BlueSky, Insta, etc: http://linktr.ee/gaminginthewild

Thanks 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

GOTY season continues! This bumper episode features returning special guest Blinkoom, who dropped by to talk about the Indie Game Awards, the podcast’s patron GOTY vote, and to share his own 2024 faves. It was a great conversation — enjoy!

Find Blink on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Blinkoom

And Twitch: https://m.twitch.tv/blinkoom/home

And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/blinkoom.bsky.social

Support this show on Patreon and join the Discord community: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild

And find the show on social media and elsewhere: http://gaminginthewild.com

Thanks for listening!

(00:00:00) Open

(00:03:24) Hello Blink!

(00:12:08) The Indie Game Awards

(00:32:00) Discord Vote - Honourable Mentions

(01:02:10) Discord Vote - Top Ten

(01:27:48) Discord Vote - Top Five

(02:04:35) Blink's Final Picks

(02:17:55) Outro