Quick Play

bad news, good games ••• Mark receives a few transmissions from Trash Turkey, SPyKE, and Nate McKeever on the games they're playing this year, and how they feel about the industry at the halfway point of 2026. Let us know: How do you think 2026 is going? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Threads:...

"the vibes are bad, but the games are good" ••• An assignment for you: how has 2026 been so far?  Send a link to your 2-3 min video or voice memo to quickplaypod@gmail.com .  To think about: “The vibes are bad, but the games are good?” Do you agree? Is the bad news overblown? Are you even paying attention to this news at all? Does the news impact how you enjoy playing games?  Are you eve...

the games that made it to my wishlist ••• Mark talks about the games from summer game fest and assorted showcases that piqued his interest, how some showcases hit, and a lil bit on console exclusivity. Let us know: What games from Summer Game Fest made it on your wishlist? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.s...

switch 2, year 2 ••• (Special early release for some cultural relevancy before the Nintendo Direct on June 9th!) Mark and Parker Deal talk about what’s ahead for the Switch 2, what could be coming, what Nintendo needs to change, and a few high hopes. They also check-in on their 2-year Switch 2 bingo cards. Corrections: Monster Hunter Wilds is confirmed to be in development for Switch 2. Call of Du...

switch 2 (year 1) in review ••• Mark and Parker Deal talk about the first year of the Switch 2, what's worked, what hasn't, and if the rumors of Weird Nintendo's death have been greatly exaggerated. Let us know: How has Switch 2's first year been? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Thre...

a critical analysis ••• Mark and Landry Smith talk about what works and what doesn't in reviews lately, how the format has grown, and the place of reviews and critical analysis within the industry. Let us know: What is the future of game reviews? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Threads: @QuickPl...

brand management! <3 ••• Mark and Landry Smith talk about how the games industry coverage is dominated by sales numbers and stats, how consumers take the role of shareholders, and the true meaning of content. Let us know: is games media too obsessed with numbers? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social T...

equal parts wonder and frustration ••• Mark and Nick Porch talk about the games their kids like, the frustrations of letting your kids play badly, and letting them play how they want. Let us know: How have you enjoyed video games with your kids? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Threads: @QuickPlayPod...

the word/title association cohost challenge ••• Mark makes Josh Broccolo and Nate McKeever of The Backlog Breakdown read each other's minds and do a word/game title associate challenge, and talk a little about the common words found in game titles. Let us know: What word appears in too many game titles? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @Quic...

games of future past ••• Mark and Matthew Pilkington talk about the current emulation handheld market, the draw of retro games nowadays, and the ultimate role of emulation. Let us know: What is the future of emulation? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Threads: @QuickPlayPod Listen online: Quick Play...

video games' greatest hits ••• Mark and Matthew Pilkington talk about the best fightin' in video games, how approaches to combat differ between genres, and the single greatest combat maneuver in video games. Let us know: What is the best combat system? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Threads...

the biggest little games   •••   Mark talks about his highlights from the III Initiative Showcase, the varied backing behind indies, and the wild west of the indie scene. Let us know: What’s an indie game you’re looking forward to? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Threads: @QuickPlayPod Listen online...

And other underappreciated mechanics in games ••• Mark and Parker Deal talk about an aspect of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom that may have been missed and misinterpreted, as well as other mechanics in games that go missed by the general populace. NOTE: This episode centers around a late-game spoiler for Tears of the Kingdom (post four regional phenomena). And also full spoilers for Journey. Let us k...

brand synergy! ••• Mark and Parker Deal talk about Nintendo's own animation studio (Nintendo Pictures), Nintendo's ventures into feature films, and if it's marketing all the way down. Let us know: What is the future of Nintendo Pictures? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Threads: @QuickPla...

games media vs. the medium of games ••• Mark talks about his own experience consuming more media about games than playing games themselves, other reasons people are in a similar situation, and how this trajectory is more common than we think. Let us know: Why do you consume games media? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quick...

little games, big impacts ••• Mark and Jake Martin talk about what makes minigames special, how they're implemented into games, and where they've all gone. Let us know: Why do you like minigames? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Threads: @QuickPlayPod Listen online: Quick Play RSS: Quick Play...

ask your doctor if JRPG is right for you ••• Mark and Wesley Rea talk about why people love JRPGs, the ideal JRPGs for a newbie (like Mark) to try out, and what REALLY counts as a JRPG Let us know: What is the best gateway into JRPGs? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Threads: @QuickPlayPod Listen onl...

In this Big Discourse, Mark and Jordan Leithart and Landry Smith and Parker Deal and Nate McKeever determine the greatest video game genre of all time through the power of a sweet 16 bracket. Let us know: What is the greatest game genre? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Threads: @QuickPlayPod Listen...

Mark gives three announcements on what's coming up for Quick Play. Submit your Top 10 games: https://forms.gle/xcsnMuzzSXoEmLCC6 More info on the Play Well Network: https://playwellnetwork.com/ Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.bsky.social Threads: @QuickPlayPod Listen online: Quick Play RSS: Quick Play Email...

a game of the decade (so far) conversation ••• Mark and Nate McKeever talk about Hi-Fi Rush's unique mix of elements, the impact of its shadow-dropped release, and as the "game of the decade (so far)" series wraps up, they look back on the state of video games in the 2020s overall. Let us know: Is Hi-Fi Rush the game of the decade? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlay...

a game of the decade (so far) conversation ••• Mark and Jordan Leithart talk about the rise of friendslop this decade, how Lethal Company's imitators enhance the experience for everyone, and also a lil bit about Elden Ring. Let us know: Is Lethal Company the game of the decade? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplayp...

happy birthday, oracle of meles ••• Mark and Jordan Leithart talk about Jordan's year-old game, Oracle of Meles, it's life now, how Jordan thinks about it now, what goes into maintaining a Steam page, and just the satisfaction of having made something. Referenced links: Backlog Breakdown episode w/ Jordan Faros trailer Oracle of Meles (Steam) Let us know: What's something you made that...

harder, better, faster, stronger ••• Mark and Kurt Weisheit discuss the ongoing trend of sequels being improvements but failing to have the same impact of their predecessors, how expectations of sequels have evolved over the years, and if we're part of the problem. Let us know: What does a sequel need to do to be successful? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @Q...

a game of the decade (so far) conversation ••• Mark and Kurt Weisheit talk about the rich themes of Hollow Knight Silksong, the hurdle of its challenge, and how it lets the player feel a connection to the designers. Let us know: Is Hollow Knight Silksong the game of the decade? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky: @quickplaypod.b...

the only game-of-the-year list to include lonely mountains ••• Mark gives some stats on his video game consumption for the year, runs down the top 10 games he played this year, and gives some considerations for how we relate over video games. Let us know: What is your game of the year for 2025? Follow us on the proper socials: Twitter: @QuickPlayPod Instagram: @QuickPlayPod GG|: @QuickPlay Bluesky...