Level up with the best podcasts for gamers

If you're looking for a solid weekly wrap-up of video game news, Game Scoop! is a must-listen. The hosts—Daemon Hatfield, Justin Davis, Mark Medina, and Colin Stevens, all avid gamers—provide analysis, recommendations, anecdotes, and more in a friendly, roundtable discussion. Episodes average about an hour, providing plenty of time for entertaining banter alongside the news. Each episode concludes with a fun round of "Video Game 20 Questions,” a segment that showcases this podcast’s ability to really bring the humor.

Have you ever wondered about how your favorite games came to be? If the answer is yes, Human Who Make Games is the podcast for you. Lifelong gamer and comedian Adam Conover hosts a series of conversations with the creators of dozens of games, including Assassin's Creed and Portal. Creators share their creative processes and inspirations, discuss the origins of some of their best ideas, and talk about what it's like designing video games for a living. This in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at what actually goes into game creation will appeal to video game lovers and tech nerds alike.

One of the most popular video game podcasts out there, Giant Bombcast offers a delightful blend of news, game reviews, and hilarious tangents that seem to somehow always come back around to gaming in the end. A rotating crew discusses everything from what they enjoyed playing over the weekend to video game history. The hosts are definitely not afraid to get a little silly, but they also provide thoughtful reviews of tons of new games. If you're not sure what to play next, Giant Bombcast will give you some great ideas of where to start.

Kinda Funny Games Daily is a podcast made by and for hardcore gamers. You'll never miss the latest news, new game reviews, and worldwide gaming events with this daily podcast chock-full of insight, information, and humor. The seemingly boundless knowledge that hosts Greg Miller, Tim Gettys, Blessing Adeoye, and Gary Whitta have on the industry is on full display in their energetic conversations. Every day, they discuss the day's news, interview guests (industry experts, veteran gamers, creators, and others), and, of course, chat about what they've been playing.

Fans of role-playing video games, rejoice: we've got a killer podcast for you! Hosts Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen know their way around an adventure. Every episode is packed with the latest RPG news, first impressions of new games, and a whole lot of entertaining conversation about dragons, monsters, and mermaids. Covering games from Final Fantasy and Skyrim to some lesser-known gems, Axe of the Blood God is your go-to, one-stop listen for everything RPG related.

Gaming has a reputation for being male-dominated, but there are lots of women out there creating, playing, and talking about games. What's Good Games is a fantastic all-around gaming news podcast hosted by three women. Between them, Andrea Rene, Brittney Brombacher, and Kristine Steimer have more than 30 years of experience in the video game industry. Tune in for fresh analysis of the week's video game news, reviews of upcoming releases, and answers to listener questions. Passionate about gaming, the hosts aren't afraid to get into thorny subjects and controversies, but they have a lot of fun doing it and never take themselves too seriously along the way.

Here's another podcast celebrating women who game. Not Your Mama's Gamer examines video games and video game culture through a feminist lens. Episodes feature interviews with women video game creators, business owners, scholars, artists, writers, and avid players. These energetic and insightful conversations cover everything from game design and inclusive gaming to video games in academia and the intersections of tech and gender. It's the perfect blend of thought-provoking analysis and lighthearted banter about the latest games the hosts are playing.

While a lot of gaming podcasts focus on the latest releases, updates, and new games, Retronauts celebrates the rich history of video games. Every week, hosts Jeremy Parish and Bob Mackey take a deep dive into the history of one particular game. How did it come to be? What kind of impact did it have on the industry? Featuring big-name classics like Pokémon and Super Mario Bros as well as short-lived video game flops, the show is full of fascinating stories about the secret—and not so secret—lives of your favorite games… plus, a few you've probably never heard of.

Spawn on Me is dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the work of gamers of color. Each week, host Kahlief Adams chats with people of color from all across the industry, from creators and designers to veteran players and game reviewers. Episodes are usually a mix of gaming news, reviews, and previews of upcoming releases, all with an eye to how the gaming world intersects with culture, art, and politics. With an archive of close to 400 episodes, Spawn on Me is a true treasure trove of opinions, analysis, reviews, and insight from a rich diversity of gaming professionals.

Listening to Girls on Games is like hanging out and chatting about gaming (among other stuff) with friends. Host Leah kicks off the weekly roundtable discussion, which features gaming news but also ventures out into wider geek culture, touching on movies, books, comics, food, and more. Leah is always joined by at least one girlfriend and usually their best guy friend, Matthew, and often welcomes gaming creators and critics to join in. Along with the casual, witty banter, you'll find plenty of in-depth reviews of games and up-to-date analysis of what's happening with all the biggest gaming platforms.

Gaming is for everyone. That's the philosophy of this engaging podcast dedicated to expanding the boundaries of the gaming community. Hosted by Ken Gagne, Polygamer highlights designers, researchers, educators, authors, community organizers, and non-profit leaders who are addressing racism and sexism in the video game industry, building community through gaming, and creating learning opportunities for children. It's an inspiring show that shines a light on some of the most creative and innovative people in the gaming world.

This podcast has a little bit of everything: news, interviews, game reviews, and meandering (but never boring!) conversations about whatever hosts Danny Peña, Peter Toledo, and Parris Lilly have on their minds that day. Gammertag Radio comes out twice a week, which gives the hosts plenty of time to hone in on their subjects. They have a rapport that's hard to resist, always keeping things interesting whether they're discussing the latest PlayStation rollout or answering questions from listeners.

There's a niche for everyone in the gaming world, whether you're into cozy fantasy stories, RPGs, or action games. And if you're a fan of PlayStation games, this podcast is for you. Hosted by gaming veteran Colin Moriarty, comedian Chris Maldonado, and Dustin Furman, the show delves into all things PlayStation, covering PS5, PS4, PS Vita, and PSVR. Delivering everything from the latest news and insider analysis of upcoming games to reviews of classics, Sacred Symbols is equal parts entertainment and information.

If your idea of a good time is spending an evening with friends talking about the games you're playing—the good, the okay, the terrible, and the truly spectacular—chances are you'll feel right at home listening to Get Played. Video game lovers Heather Anne Campbell, Nick Wiger, and Matt Apodaca get together to talk about what they're playing and what they're dreaming of playing. The array of different kinds of games they play is impressive, and their conversations are always entertaining as they wade into every detail of the games they’re playing.