Turn-Based Besties

Leisure EN ↓ 59 episodes

Welcome to Turn-Based Besties, a podcast where two grown adults with no free time talk about their favorite RPGs! There's DJ, a lifelong, casual but often persnickety gaymer who loves retro RPGs and is trying to get into newer RPGs. A professional opera singer who loves to nerd out over the combination of music and video games! And Sam, a father of three who picked up gaming as an adult. A physician by day and gamer by night, his new eyes on old games warms DJ's heart! Theme music "Night Shade" by Adhesive Wombat.https://turnbasedbesties.my.canva.site

Author

Turn-Based Besties

Episodes

Episode 56: Interview with Tyler Mire from Quartet 10.07.2026 58:25

Today on a SUPER special episode, Sam and DJ get to interview the fabulous composer and producer of Something Classic Games hit RPG Quartet, the one and only: Tyler Mire!

Episode 55: Convince me to play Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection 12.06.2026 37:11

Today, Sam tries to convince you all to play MHS 3! Also, DJ is filming on location for this episode and forgot to bring his podcast equipment, so he sometimes sounds like he is under water - fun!

BONUS Episode 54: New Games?! 09.06.2026 33:32

We just couldn't wait, so we had to make an episode about some of the amazing new games announced at the Playstation State of Play, the Xbox Game Showcase, the Summer Games Fest, and Nintendo Direct!

Episode 53: These Are a Few of Our LEAST Favorite Things (in a JRPG) 29.05.2026 39:58

Today, the boys complain! Also follow us on stuff! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 52: JRPGrid! 01.05.2026 51:18

Today Sam and DJ talk about that JRPG Grid floating around Reddit! Also follow us on stuff! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 51: Things Are a Few of Our Favorite Things (in RPGs) 10.04.2026 35:08

Raindrops on roses and pizza with cheese, here's what we both love about RPGs.

Episode 50: Convince Me to Play Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition 20.03.2026 32:50

Longest title of a game ever, eh? Today, Sam tries to convince all y'all to play Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (also, the Switch 2 Upgrade version). Also follow us on stuff! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 49: Review of Parasite Mutant Demo! 06.03.2026 41:28

Today Sam and DJ discuss the demo for the upcoming survival horror sci-fi RPG: Parasite Mutant! Also follow us on stuff! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 48: Flirt, Marry, Faint with RPG Characters! 27.02.2026 33:53

Sam and DJ surprise each other with different groups of RPG characters, and they have to decide in real time whether or not they'd rather: marry the character, flirt with them, or bring their HP down to zero! Also follow us on stuff! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 47: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Remake Review 06.02.2026 37:01

What a wordy title! Especially since DJ thinks the title is "1000 Doors!" Anyway, listen to the boys chat about this classic RPG. Also follow us on stuff! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 46: Convince Me to Play Code Vein II 31.01.2026 34:01

BONUS EPISODE on Code Vein II! Also follow us on stuff! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 45: Gaming Hopes and Dreams for 2026! 16.01.2026 31:48

The boys talk about their gaming hopes and dreams! Also follow us on stuff! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 44: Games We Are Excited for in 2026! 09.01.2026 36:03

The boys are back! First episode of 2026, and today we are chatting about our most anticipated games for what looks to be an incredible year of gaming! Also follow us on stuff! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 43: Our Top Games of 2025! 19.12.2025 47:02

Sam and DJ talk about their most beloved games of 2025! Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 42: Convince Me to Play DemonSchool 12.12.2025 40:48

This week, DJ takes a swing at trying to convince folks to try out the new indie hit: DemonSchool! He also says the word "Giallo" at least 23 times. Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 41: Convince Me to Play Hades 2! 05.12.2025 41:37

Today Sam tries to convince YOU, the listener, to play the 2025 hit game: Hades 2! Will you play it?! Also follow us on stuff: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 40: Ranking Our Favorite Video Game Soundtracks 28.11.2025 46:25

This was a hard list to come up with, and we will probably do this episode again in the future with brand new rankings, but here you go: our favorite video game soundtracks!

Episode 39: Convince Me to Play Metal Slug Tactics 14.11.2025 40:25

Today, Sam tries to convince DJ to play Metal Slug Tactics. Also, he tells us the difference between a slug and a snail. Also follow us on stuff: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Bonus Episode 38: Turn-Based Besties in Japan! 12.11.2025 32:16

The boys went to Japan and discuss all of the nifty video game things they did there. Also, apologies for Sam's audio!

Episode 37: Spooky Spooky RPGs for Halloween 31.10.2025 48:47

Happy Halloween, besties! Today, the boys talk about some spooky RPGs that you can play during this scary Halloween season! Also follow us on stuff: Instagram : turnbasedbesties Reddit : turnbasedbestiespod YouTube : @turnbasedbesties

Episode 36: Convince Me to Play Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Demo 26.09.2025 41:59

Today, DJ tries his hand at convincing Sam to play the latest Falcom hit: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (Demo!) Also follow us on stuff: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 35: Convince Me to Play Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 05.09.2025 47:29

Sam convinces DJ to play Clair Obscur (spoiler: it wasn't hard, and he needed pretty much no convincing, but now he has no excuse not to play it). Also follow us on stuff: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 34: Favorite Animal Companions 22.08.2025 38:16

Today the boys talk about THE CUTEST LITTLE FUZZY ANIMAL FRIENDS THAT EVER DID EXIST. #cutevibes Also follow us on stuff: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Episode 33: Lunar Silver Star Story Review! 08.08.2025 52:47

The besties review Lunar, the game DJ has literally been begging Sam to play since the beginning of the podcast. How does he feel about it? Tune in to find out! Also follow us on stuff: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Bonus Episode: August 2025 Nintendo Direct Reaction 01.08.2025 14:51

What?! A bonus episode without DJ (sad)! Check out Sam's mini episode :)