Gaming The System - The Feminist Gaming Podcast

This week Jem, Alex, and Matt go hunting for the side quests that quietly steal the show — the optional detours where some of gaming's best writing and its most surprising characters tend to hide. Expect judgment calls in Dragon Age: Inquisition, an unexpectedly moving Ghost of Tsushima storyline, a Witcher 3 legend, lots of Split Fiction love and a very earnest defence of in-game fishing. Ep...

Alex hosts Jem and Matt on Gaming the System, promoting their Patreon and PayPal support, then launches into a discussion of awards and categories through the lens of Clair Obscur, which they describe as transcendent and unfairly dominant in contexts like “debut game,” especially compared with smaller-studio releases. They debate BAFTA/Game Awards vibes, the shift to a single “performer” category,...

Picking up from Family Game, Alex, Jem, and Matt work through Audio Achievement, Music, Narrative, New IP, and Debut Game — with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 casting a long shadow over most of the conversation. Matt has strong feelings about this game. The team has questions about nominations versus wins. Especially when Jem brings some eye-opening numbers about just how many games were in contenti...

PlayStation dropped the God of War: Laufey gameplay trailer at State of Play this month, and Matt and Alex were EXCITED. In this episode, they react live to the reveal before unpacking what they saw. From Faye's combat style and the weight behind her character design, to the introduction of antagonists Sekhmet and Begtse, the return of Bear McCreary, and the tantalising threads connecting bac...

Alex and Matt kick off GTS's two-part coverage of the 22nd BAFTA Games Awards, working their way through the first half of the night's categories and they have opinions . The pair run through Multiplayer, Artistic Achievement, Evolving Game, Performer in a Supporting Role, British Game, Animation, Game Design, and Technical Achievement. Along the way, they dig into whether BAFTA's c...

The second half of our examination of Girls Sport. 📢 Support the Podcast! Let us know on B lueSky (@gamingthesystem.bsky.social), Instagram (@gamingthesystempodcast) or in the comments on YouTube! If you love Gaming The System , consider supporting us: 🔹 Patreon: patreon.com/gamingthesystem – get exclusive content! 🔹 PayPal Donations: gamingthesystem@gmail.com 🔹 Subscribe & Review: Share t...

In this episode of Gaming the System, host Matt and guests Alex and Jem discuss girls’ experiences of sport in childhood and adolescence, focusing on how school PE can shape lifelong relationships with physical activity. Alex describes growing up with cerebral palsy in mainstream schools, feeling frustrated and ashamed by inaccessible activities, lack of funding for accommodations, and being shout...

Sometimes the things shaping how we feel about our hobby are the things we can't see. In Part 1, we dug into Oxford research showing that when it comes to gaming and mental health, the hours matter far less than whether the time felt worthwhile. This week, we pick the thread back up and follow it somewhere unexpected. Matt offers a striking metaphor borrowed from physics: dark matter made vis...

Is screen time the enemy, or is it the shame we attach to it? In this episode, GTS examine new research suggesting it's not how long you spend gaming that affects your mental health, but whether you feel that time was worthwhile .  Jem, Alex and Matt unpack Perceived Value of Video Games, but Not Hours Played, Predicts Mental Well-Being in Casual Adult Nintendo Players, a study led by Dr. Nic...

On Gaming the System, host Matt joins Alex and Jem to kick off a lighter episode building their “Mount Rushmore” of gaming icons. 📢 Support the Podcast! Let us know on B lueSky (@gamingthesystem.bsky.social), Instagram (@gamingthesystempodcast) or in the comments on YouTube! If you love Gaming The System , consider supporting us: 🔹 Patreon: patreon.com/gamingthesystem – get exclusive content! 🔹...

On Gaming the System, host Matt joins Alex and Jem to kick off a lighter episode building their “Mount Rushmore” of gaming icons. 📢 Support the Podcast! Let us know on B lueSky (@gamingthesystem.bsky.social), Instagram (@gamingthesystempodcast) or in the comments on YouTube! If you love Gaming The System , consider supporting us: 🔹 Patreon: patreon.com/gamingthesystem – get exclusive content! 🔹...

In this episode of Gaming the System, Gem, Alex, and Matt discuss a recent Sex Roles study showing that women gamers who identify as feminists or take action for gender equality are blamed more for the sexism they experience online, especially by people with stronger sexist attitudes. They outline two studies using a League of Legends scenario involving a gamer named Lucia, where participants assi...

This week Jem, Matt and Alex take a look at three stories from across the games industry. Alex kicks things off with Nvidia's DLSS 5 controversy. Their latest AI graphics feature has been accused of applying unwanted filters to game visuals, including some telling changes to female characters' faces. Matt brings the receipts on Fortnite's quiet currency devaluation, despite Epic Gam...

In part two of their “Skill Boosts from Gaming” series, Alex, Gem, and Matt discuss soft skills developed through games, focusing on resilience, teamwork, communication, empathy, and problem-solving/critical thinking. They use examples like Slay the Spire, Soulsborne games, Hades, Elden Ring, Overcooked, It Takes Two, Split Fiction, Fortnite, World of Warcraft raids, Operation: Tango, Journey, Kee...

Alex hosts gem and Matt on Gaming the System to discuss, tongue-in-cheek, how gaming can help build “hard skills” that could translate to a CV. They focus on campaign/project management through clear goals, planning, progress tracking, and decision-making, citing examples like Assassin’s Creed, Sniper Elite, Stardew Valley, and Pandemic Legacy, and referencing a University of Rochester study about...

In Part 1, Jem, Alex, and Matt explored the Women in Games Manifesto and the persistent gender gap in the games industry. In this follow-up episode, the conversation turns to artificial intelligence. Could it be the catalyst for change the industry needs, or is it making things worse? Jem shares her own experiment, asking Gemini to generate images of a "young video gamer," a "game d...

This week, Jem, Alex and Matt dig into the updated Women in Games (WIG) Manifesto, originally released in 2024 and refreshed in January 2026. With women making up at least 50% of gamers but only 24–30% of the games industry workforce, the imbalance is stark. But is a manifesto enough to move the needle? In this episode we cover: What the WIG Manifesto is actually saying and who to Why "preach...

The hosts discuss how visible identity affects prejudice and whether men are less likely to challenge toxic masculinity because they can “pass” as traditionally masculine through code switching. They explore the “crisis of masculinity,” arguing patriarchy harms everyone but disproportionately harms women, trans, and non-binary people, while wealth and power shape outcomes most. The conversation co...

This episode continues a multi-part conversation on masculinity and “positive masculinity,” focusing on who gets to define masculinity and how the concept has changed throughout history. The discussion is sparked by China’s media crackdown on “effeminate men,” framed as promoting “revolutionary culture” and official morality, and explores how gender norms can function as social and political contr...

Join us as we recount an incredible evening filled with live performances of iconic game soundtracks and encounters with talented composers. From the captivating music of 'Return' and 'Disco Elysium' to Gareth Coker’s breathtaking work for 'Ori and the Will of the Wisps,' this video takes you through the sheer brilliance of video game music live in concert. Plus, hear...

In this episode of Gaming the System, join us as we dive into the enchanting world of live video game music performances. Our host recounts their recent experience at a world premiere concert of BAFTA-winning and nominated video game music at the South Bank Center in London, featuring compositions conducted by the renowned Austin Wintory. We also hear Matt's experience attending an Elden Ring...

What does it take to turn a passion for gaming into a thriving high street fixture? In this episode, Alex and Jem sit down with Sarah and Katie, the founders of Wayfarer’s Rest in Godalming, Surrey, UK to discuss their journey from non-business backgrounds to creating a beloved community-led board game cafe. We dive into the "heart and soul" of the project. From the literal building of t...

In this episode, we delve into some pressing issues in the gaming industry as we kick off 2026. Alex discusses the allegations of union busting at Rockstar Games, where 30 employees were dismissed under controversial circumstances. We explore the implications of AI's growing demand for RAM and GPUs, potentially causing a 'RAM apocalypse' that could drive up hardware costs for gamers...

In our first session recording of the year, we dive into an exciting discussion about our gaming activities over the Christmas holidays and look ahead to the games we're anticipating in the coming year. Join us as Jim shares his experiences with Expedition 33, ENS Shrouded, and Cozy Grove, while Matt recounts his time with The Outer Worlds 2 and the Dishonored series. Alex brings us her joy o...

In this episode of Gaming the System, hosts Matt, Alex, and Gem dive deep into the impactful discussion of positive male role models in video games. They explore how characters like Spider-Man, Kratos from God of War, and Jin from Ghost of Tsushima portray evolving emotional intelligence and challenge traditional toxic masculinity. The conversation also touches upon how gaming can influence societ...