147: Donkey Kong Bananza
This week we’re talking about Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo Direct rumors, and I have a job interview!
14m Aug 28, 2025
14m
146: Gamescom 2025
This week’s episode is all about out the gaming news from the week!! Kirby’s Air Riders, Gamescom, LEGO Batman, Hollow Knight, and more!!
14m Aug 21, 2025
14m
145: Wheel World
On this week’s show I check out the indie cycling game Wheel World! Plus the latest gaming news and my internet goes out!
15m Aug 14, 2025
15m
144: and Roger
On today’s show I’m playing the fantastic indie game, and Roger! Plus Starfield on PS5 rumors and I take my kid on a *gulp* college tour!!
15m Aug 07, 2025
15m
143: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4
On today’s episode I’m reliving the glory days of the early 2000’s with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4!  Plus Sony vs. Tencent, and apparently I’m a senior citizen now??
14m Jul 31, 2025
14m
142: Mario Kart World
I’m back from vacation and talking about the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World! Plus PlayStation is going to let you reduce the performance of your games, and I try a culinary delicacy which you might think is kind of… nuts.
14m Jul 24, 2025
14m
141: Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping
This week I’m playing the silly puzzle game, Duck Detective! Plus more fallout from the Microsoft layoffs and dad jokes!
13m Jul 10, 2025
13m
140: Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest
In today’s episode, I’m playing the DLC from one of my favorite games of 2024, Still Wakes the Deep! Plus Microsoft has massive layoffs and it sure is a weird year to be celebrating July 4th!
14m Jul 03, 2025
14m
139: Rematch
This week I’m playing the new arcade soccer game, Rematch! And I’m having a blast despite the other players. Plus Xbox dips its toes into the VR game, and I THINK I know how old I am!
14m Jun 26, 2025
14m
138: To a T
One this week’s show I’m checking out the latest game from the creator of Katamari Damacy, To a T! Plus Sony delays Marathon indefinitely and Positive Vibes for Marcus Beer. Marcus and Shawna’s GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-shawna-marcus-rebuild-after-the-eaton-fire?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLAUaRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp1I8LYTT42chC26eIWzGuldfEeMQXl1piODwBTULYowv72kHAhwwpBd7976h_aem_fLWhvuml8NfoZQ...
14m Jun 19, 2025
14m
137: Summer Game Fest 2025
This week on the show I’m picking my five favorite games from the Summer Game Fest! Plus Father’s Day is this weekend and the Switch 2 is a hit!
15m Jun 12, 2025
15m
136: Switch 2 Launch Day
On today’s episode, the Nintendo Switch 2 is available NOW! I’ve got everything you need to know about what to buy. Plus news from Sony’s State of Play, and more! Take Steps Fundraising Link: https://takesteps.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/participants/81549?referrer=mf%3A81549%3Afundraise-share-you
16m Jun 05, 2025
16m
135: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
On this week’s episode I’m playing the critically acclaimed French RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! Oui oui! Plus the Switch 2 is in the wild, and more!
14m May 29, 2025
14m
134: South of Midnight
On this week’s episode, I’m playing the stunning SOUTH OF MIDNIGHT! Plus the Switch 2 prepares for launch, and I review a lawnmower!!
16m May 22, 2025
16m
133: Escape The City
This week I’m playing the outdoor escape room game, Escape The City! Will I escape the streets of Minneapolis? Spoiler alert: I do. Plus the latest news and dad jokes!
13m May 15, 2025
13m
132: Thunderbolts*
This week I’m checking out the latest MCU film Thunderbolts! Is this a return to glory for Marvel? Plus Xbox is the latest to hike prices and its Mental Health Awareness Month!
13m May 08, 2025
13m
131: Blue Prince
This week I’m checking out one of the hottest games of the year, Blue Prince! Plus Hollywood continues to go all in on gaming adaptations and this week is World AS Day!
14m May 01, 2025
14m
130: Lushfoil Photography Sim
On today’s episode I’m playing shutterbug with Lushfoil Photography Sim! Plus the Oblivion remake is real, and Sam plays Schedule 1!
15m Apr 24, 2025
15m
129: Politics and Gaming
On this episode of the show I’m talking about the recent collision of politics and video games! Plus A Minecraft Movie is a massive hit and the secret history of the high five.
15m Apr 17, 2025
15m
128: Katamari Damacy Rolling Live
This week on the show I’m playing an ALL NEW Katamari game available on Apple Arcade! Plus the gaming room gets a redo, the latest tariff drama, and positive vibes!
15m Apr 10, 2025
15m
127: Nintendo Switch 2 Revealed
On this week’s show I’m breaking down all of the news from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct! The release date, the prices, the games, the prices!! Plus Doom: The Dark Ages previews are out and Wisconsin doesn’t suck this week!
16m Apr 03, 2025
16m
126: Switch 2 Direct Predictions
This week I’m making some last minute guesses before next week’s big Nintendo Direct! Plus Game Informer returns and I play Stunt Race FX!!
17m Mar 27, 2025
17m
125: Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
On this week’s episode, I’m going hands on with the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows! After years of asking, the series is finally going to Japan. Plus Day of the Devs and AI Aloy!
15m Mar 18, 2025
15m
124: Avowed
On this week’s show I’m checking out the Xbox RPG Avowed! Plus the cozy farm sim Sugardew Island, and Ubisoft investors break out the pitchforks!
15m Mar 13, 2025
15m
123: PDP Riffmaster Wireless Guitar
This week I’m rocking your socks off with the new Riffmaster Wireless Guitar! Plus Acclaim rises from the dead, and another wonderful symptom of getting old.
13m Mar 06, 2025
13m
122: Captain America: Brave New World
This week I’m checking out the latest MCU film, Captain America: Brave New World starring Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford! Plus Xbox goes all in on AI with Muse, and Ludocene is a dating app for your games!
17m Feb 27, 2025
17m
121: Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip
This week I’m playing the charming and silly Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip! Plus Nintendo rolls back some cost saving programs, and a gross violation of public bathroom etiquette!
14m Feb 20, 2025
14m
120: Spirit Swap
This week is all about puzzle games! I’m checking out the cool new indie title Spirit Swap! Plus I’m jumping back in time to try out Dr. Mario! Plus highlights from the PlayStation State of Play.
16m Feb 13, 2025
16m
119: The Roottrees Are Dead
On this episode I’m talking about the mystery puzzler, The Roottrees Are Dead! Plus my internet goes out, but that doesn’t stop me from finding more dad jokes!
14m Feb 06, 2025
14m
118: The Japan of Assassin’s Creed Shadows
This week I’m thinking about all of the amazing places in Japan I wanna visit when Assassins Creed Shadows comes out! Plus more gaming news and positive vibes!
14m Jan 30, 2025
14m
117: Eternal Strands
This week I’m sharing my impressions of the action RPG Eternal Strands from Yellow Brick Games. Plus Gamertag Radio turns 20 and I’m baking bread!!
15m Jan 27, 2025
15m
116: Best Nintendo Launch Lineups
This week I’m deciding the greatest Nintendo launch lineups of ALL TIME!! Plus Marvel Snap gets snapped out of existence, and it’s time for Dad Jokes!
14m Jan 23, 2025
14m
115: If Found…
On the latest episode, I’m checking out the visual novel ‘If Found…’ from Dreamfeel and Annapurna Interactive, plus the Switch 2 is (almost) revealed and more positive vibes!
15m Jan 16, 2025
15m
114: The Exit 8
On this episode of Midlife SideQuest, I’m checking out the experimental indie game, The Exit 8. Plus in my first installment of Time Capsule I go back to 1995 to play Jumping Flash!
13m Jan 09, 2025
13m
113: Game of the Year 2024 Part Two
On this episode of the show I’m revealing my top 5 games of 2024! Oh the mystery! Plus I’m making my 2025 predictions and announcing a new segment of the show!
18m Jan 03, 2025
18m
112: Game of the Year 2024 Part One
On today’s special episode I’m sharing my picks for #10 through #6 on my Game of the Year list! Plus I check back on my predictions from last year to see what I got right! (and more often wrong)
17m Jan 02, 2025
17m
111: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
On the last episode of 2024 I’m playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from MachineGames! Plus the latest news and I say goodbye to a very difficult year.
15m Dec 19, 2024
15m
110: The Rise of the Golden Idol
On this week’s episode, I’m playing the brilliant puzzle game The Rise of the Golden Idol! Plus publishers are scared of GTA6, I test out the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 headset, and more!!
15m Dec 12, 2024
15m
109: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
On this episode of the show, I’m checking out Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 with the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight! Plus PlayStation’s 30th anniversary and more!
14m Dec 05, 2024
14m
108: Neva
On this episode I’m checking out the beautiful game Neva! Plus Sony wants to own FromSoftware, and I’m kicking off a new fundraiser! Lots to talk about!
14m Nov 21, 2024
14m
107: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
On this new episode, I’m checking out the latest in the long running Call of Duty series. Plus Nintendo sues a big dummy and I go to Twin Cities Con!
13m Nov 14, 2024
13m
106: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
On this episode of Midlife SideQuest, I grapple with the news of this week and try to find a way forward. I also play the new Zelda.  Cause games.
15m Nov 07, 2024
15m
105: The Haunting of the St. James Hotel
On this special Halloween episode of Midlife SideQuest, I recall the night I spent at the most haunted hotel in Minnesota, the St. James. I experienced plenty of weirdness during my stay, but did I witness a genuine haunting?
15m Oct 31, 2024
15m
104: Silent Hill 2
On this episode, I’m playing the new remake of the classic horror game Silent Hill 2! Plus bad news for Killzone fans, and Pikmin themed sushi!
14m Oct 24, 2024
14m
103: My Japanese Adventure
This week I’m talking about my recent trip to Japan, including great gaming shops and amazing food! Plus the Nintendo Dads hit 500 episodes and Xbox shuffles leadership.
15m Oct 17, 2024
15m
102: Cory Barlog 2018 Interview Pt.2
On part two of this bonus episode, we conclude the conversation with Santa Monica Studio’s Cory Barlog. Learn about the difficulties of managing a work like this balance while creating one of the most iconic games of the decade.
17m Sep 28, 2024
17m
101: Cory Barlog 2018 Interview Pt.1
On this BONUS episode, John is revisiting his 2018 conversation with God of War director Cory Barlog! It’s a great conversation about fatherhood and how it influenced the creative process.
18m Sep 27, 2024
18m
100: Astro Bot
On this very special episode, we’re celebrating 100 episodes of Midlife SideQuest and 10 years of content creation! We’re also playing the amazing Astro Bot, plus some announcements and outtakes from the one and only Justin Masson.
18m Sep 26, 2024
18m
99: The Plucky Squire
On this episode of the show, John is playing the amazingly creative The Plucky Squire! Plus his thoughts on new console announcements and more.
15m Sep 19, 2024
15m
98: Star Wars Outlaws
On today’s new episode, John is playing Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws! Plus Positive Vibes to Gary Whitta and more!
14m Sep 12, 2024
14m