Go Back and Play

A very silly self-guided tour through the history of videogames, from Advance Wars to Zork. Except chronologically. So it would be the other way around.

Episode 150 - Finale and Retrospective 12/28/2023

Episode 150 - Finale and Retrospective The end has come! Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, David, and Ryan all convene to discuss the games that surprised them on their seven-year podcast journey, the games from our chronology that they MOST recommend everyone try, and some games which we didn't touch on but which we couldn't finish out our tour without at least mentioning. Along the way, we're joined by several previous guests and friends of the show who have recommendations of their own -- come join us for one last chat about games and what we like about them. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/29260323

Episode 149 - Hades 10/23/2023

Episode 149 - Hades Nate, Ryan, Jordan, and David gather for the last game on our whirlwind tour of game history -- Supergiant Games' 2020 rogue-like HADES, about a young god just tryin' to get out from his father's shadow. We discuss synergy, sexy deities, incredible jams, and the magic trick of a persistent narrative doled out in pieces in a run-based structure. Nate gushes about Supergiant's other games, David turns up the heat, and Jordan gets in good with Sisyphus's good friend Bouldy. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/28388522

Episode 148 - Kentucky Route Zero 09/25/2023

Episode 148 - Kentucky Route Zero Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and Jordan gather to discuss KENTUCKY ROUTE ZERO, Cardboard Computer's surreal trip through an America haunted by debt, loss, regret, and hope. The first episode released in 2013, but our timeline places it at the journey's conclusion, which only emerged in 2020. We talk theater, symmetry, literature, and whether it's worth it to try and make art in a world which seems to be precipitously falling apart -- and, indeed, whether it's possible to do anything else. Ryan wants to know how we feel about horses, Sebastian encounters a burger too big for him to eat, and Nate maps out a phone tree. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/28126451

Episode 147 - Disco Elysium 08/28/2023

Episode 147 - Disco Elysium Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, Jordan, and David all convene to discuss DISCO ELYSIUM, ZA/UM's 2019 surreal detective adventure. We talk about evocative prose, political vision quests, and what kinds of cops we would be, if we were forced against our will to be cops. Nate fantasizes about being bench-pressed by China Mieville, Sebastian brings a cavalry saber to a gun fight, Jordan fails to make time for a crucial nap, and Ryan tells us all about "the only Kim K who matters." /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/27861771

Episode 146 - Outer Wilds 07/24/2023

Episode 146 - Outer Wilds Nate, Sebastian, Jordan and Ryan all gather to discuss OUTER WILDS, Mobius Digital's triumphant space exploration game from 2019. We discuss escape rooms, campfires, and dying in the cold vacuum of space. Sebastian mishears Jordan's latest game investigations, Ryan is scared of Giant's Deep, and Nate watches Predator 2. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/27544467

Episode 145 - Pathologic 2 07/03/2023

Episode 145 - Pathologic 2 Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, and Brock gather to discuss PATHOLOGIC 2, the "open-world horror RPG" developed by Ice-Pick Lodge and released in 2019. We discuss brutality both thematic and mechanical, folk horror, and starving to death on the steppe. Nate becomes an evangelist for a game he wasn't sure he'd like, Brock gets to know his co-workers in the most awkward way, and Sebastian is stymied by the unforgiving hands of time. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/27334002

Episode 144 - Red Dead Redemption II 06/12/2023

Episode 144 - Red Dead Redemption II Nate, Sebastian, and Jordan all gather to discuss RED DEAD REDEMPTION II, Rockstar Games' Western open-world epic from 2018. We talk the problematic circumstances of its production, the surprising subtlety of its storytelling, and the complexity of its systems and controls. Sebastian makes bold claims about Westerns, Nate gushes over the music, and Jordan loses a horse to an unfortunate accident. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/27109701

Episode 143 - Fortnite Battle Royale 05/22/2023

Episode 143 - Fortnite Battle Royale Nate, Ryan, David and Max all gather to discuss FORTNITE BATTLE ROYALE, the 2017 smash sensation that enthralled teens the world over. We discuss the game's quick pivot away from a PvE mode to chase a trend, its nature as "pop culture as a service," and how maybe, just maybe, we owe teenagers everywhere an apology. Ryan gushes about being able to use a lightsaber, Nate ponies up some V-Bucks for Jill Valentine, and Max doesn't have friends that play basketball. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/26892231

Episode 142 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 05/01/2023

Episode 142 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Nate, Jordan, Max, and new guest Pamela gather to discuss THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD, Nintendo's 2017 reinvention of the open-world genre. We discuss systems that interact with each other, memory and reimagination, and joyful discovery. Nate likes being in the dark, Jordan embraces his inner Dark Souls sicko on Eventide Isle, and Pam extols the virtues of a maraca-wielding Korok. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/26664540

Episode 141 - Sid Meier's Civilization VI 04/10/2023

Episode 141 - Sid Meier's Civilization VI Nate, Sebastian, David, and newcomer Dan all convene to discuss SID MEIER'S CIVILIZATION VI, Firaxis's strategy masterpiece from 2016. We discuss the complex, layered systems, our favorite ways to let the game challenge us, and the problematic nature of tossing all the world's cultures into the same expansionist melting pot. Sebastian survives the apocalypse, Nate absolutely dominates the 1984 Olympic Games, and David repeatedly threatens to reveal how many hours Dan has clocked in the game on his Steam profile. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/26451663

Episode 140 - No Man's Sky 03/20/2023

Episode 140 - No Man's Sky Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and David all gather to discuss NO MAN'S SKY, 2016's procedurally-generated space exploration and survival game from Hello Games. We discuss the game's awe-inspiring trailers, its turbulent launch and reception, and the incredible strides it's made in the years since. Nate points out the importance of having two moons in the sky, Ryan defaces a friend's stellar outpost by terraforming, and Sebastian isn't mad, just disappointed. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/26249130

Episode 139 - Pokémon Go 02/27/2023

Episode 139 - Pokémon Go Nate, Ryan, and David are joined by newcomer Jenn to discuss POKEMON GO, Niantic's AR-enhanced monster-collection extravaganza from 2016. We discuss how a live service game can change and evolve over a seven-year lifespan, the intricacies of catching pocket monsters, and how Eevee is just the darn cutest. Jenn relates a nice dream about what happens to all those Pokemon you "transfer" to the professor, David tells a story about the most awkward Magikarp in world history, and Ryan believes he knows who trained the Pokemon guarding the gym at the White House to defend America's honor. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/26033985

Episode 138 - Undertale 02/06/2023

Episode 138 - Undertale Nate, Ryan, and David gather to discuss UNDERTALE, Toby Fox's RPG(?) from 2015 in which you do not have to destroy anyone. We discuss lo-fi aesthetics, the teenage desire to experience darkness in stories, and choices that matter. Nate keeps a Spider Donut for a convenient moment, Ryan commits some accidental murders, and David bristles at permanent consequences for embracing the dark side. Listening to this podcast episode... it fills you with determination. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/25834383

Episode 137 - Until Dawn 12/05/2022

Episode 137 - Until Dawn Nate, Sebastian, and Jordan gather to discuss UNTIL DAWN, Supermassive Games' 2015 horror adventure classic. We talk about branching narrative, the surfacing of information to the player (or the obscuration of it!), fiction which is genre-aware, and horny teens. Nate extols the virtues of 1999 cannibal thriller RAVENOUS, Sebastian marvels that a slasher story can hold his interest, and Jordan experiences the butterfly effect. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/25217307

Episode 136 - The Witcher III: Wild Hunt 11/14/2022

Episode 136 - The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and David convene to discuss THE WITCHER III: WILD HUNT, a 2015 open-world RPG from CD Projekt Red which instantly became the benchmark against which other open-world RPGs were measured. We discuss renaissaince festivals, open-world bloat, and the difference between polish and Polish. Nate describes the game as "a Mass Effect the size of a Skyrim," Sebastian feels uncomfortable playing it with his wife in the room, and Ryan's medallion vibrates. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/24956187

Episode 135 - Her Story 10/24/2022

Episode 135 - Her Story Nate, Sebastian, Jordan and Ryan all gather to discuss HER STORY, Sam Barlow's "database thriller" from 2015. We discuss the untapped potential of real acting in games, the joys of discovery, and how difficult it is to make a player feel like a detective without them getting lost. Nate recommends a way NOT to play the game, Sebastian takes too many notes, and Ryan accidentally skips right to the final boss. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/24759321

Episode 134 - P.T. 10/03/2022

Episode 134 - P.T. Nate, Ryan, Jordan, and Brock gather to discuss P.T., the "playable teaser" from 2014 which was delisted a few months after its release when the game it was a preview for was canceled before development really got underway. We discuss what a weird piece of ephemera this is in the story of videogames, jump scares, and hallways. Jordan admits to shrieking out loud, Brock reminds us that sometimes the spookiest games are the ones that never get made, and Ryan has some questionable views on the Outlast series. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/24459030

Episode 133 - Gone Home 09/12/2022

Episode 133 - Gone Home Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, and David gather to discuss GONE HOME, Fullbright's first-person exploration game from 2013. We discuss the novelty of introducing new narrative genres to familiar mechanical interfaces, what the game inherits from its immersive sim predecessors, and spooky old houses. Jordan misremembers someone else's high school theater story as having happened to him, David uncovers new twists he missed the first time around, and Nate gets a chuckle out of UI-based humor. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/24226206

Episode 132 - The Last of Us 08/22/2022

Episode 132 - The Last of Us Nate, Sebastian, and Ryan are joined by newcomer Chris Carr to discuss THE LAST OF US, Naughty Dog's grim tale from 2013 of a trip westward across the ruined United States amidst a fungal zombie plague. We discuss naturalistic dialogue, scrappy combat, and parallels to Children of Men. Sebastian praises the game's Western influences, Chris appreciates the game's complex character work, and Ryan tries to suspend his belief that a middle-aged Texan man would willingly don a protective mask amidst a global pandemic. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/24106068

Episode 131 - Spelunky 08/01/2022

Episode 131 - Spelunky Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, and Max all gather to discuss SPELUNKY, or at least the HD remake of it, the procedurally-generated platformer from 2012. We discuss the perils and promises of proc-gen elements in games, how dangerous complexity can arise from beautiful simplicity, and whether it's okay to use a pug to trigger an arrow trap. Nate relates stories of horrible coincidence, Sebastian considers suing Rube Goldberg, and Jordan becomes compelled. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/23838194

Episode 130 - Spec Ops: The Line 07/11/2022

Episode 130 - Spec Ops: The Line Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and Brock gather to discuss SPEC OPS: THE LINE, Yager's 2012 deconstruction of the military shooter genre. We discuss unreliable narrators, war crimes, and slammin' your back into some cover to shoot some guys. Nate watches Ryan commit a real Geneva Convention no-no over livestream, Sebastian wonders if the game doesn't spread its satirical ambitions too thin, and Brock wonders if listeners are still having fun. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/23694050

Episode 129 - Telltale's The Walking Dead: Season One 06/20/2022

Episode 129 - Telltale's The Walking Dead: Season One Nate, Sebastian, and Jordan gather to discuss Telltale Games' THE WALKING DEAD, or at least the first season of it -- a resurgence of the adventure game genre and episodic storytelling. We discuss how episodic games mimic episodic TV, the difficulties with post-apocalyptic fiction, and the different ways in which player choice can affect the plot and/or texture of a game's story. Nate is disturbed to return to this story as a parent, Sebastian regrets the time he's spent on the wider Walking Dead franchise, and Jordan defends the honor of a humble Doug. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/23469710

Episode 128 - Journey 05/30/2022

Episode 128 - Journey Nate, Sebastian, and Andrew convene to discuss JOURNEY, thatgamecompany's stunning example of minimalism and symphonic splendor from 2012. We discuss anonymity and fleeting, digital human interaction, "art" games, and how videogames are, at heart, about a little guy goin' around. Nate and Andrew share parallel experiences of finding solace in art games during difficult times, and Sebastian doesn't stop believing. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/23260802

Episode 127 - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 05/09/2022

Episode 127 - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Nate, Sebastian, Ryan, and David all gather to discuss THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM, Bethesda's open-world RPG from 2011. We talk about big games, scrounging, and the mechanics of pickpocketing. Nate enjoys his first trip to Tamriel, Ryan calls people "milkdrinker," and Sebastian feels like maybe he's had enough Skyrim for one lifetime. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/23020136

Episode 126 - Dark Souls 04/18/2022

Episode 126 - Dark Souls Nate, Ryan, and Jordan are joined by new guest Andrew Elmore to discuss DARK SOULS, FromSoftware's 2011 cult classic action RPG. We discuss difficulty versus approachability, grim fantasy aesthetics, and what it means for something to be called "the Dark Souls of [X]." Jordan gets lost in the narrative weeds, Ryan and Andrew discover a mutual love of Chromehounds, and Nate tries holding with both hands. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/22807034

Episode 125 - Amnesia: The Dark Descent 03/28/2022

Episode 125 - Amnesia: The Dark Descent Nate, Jordan, Ryan, and Brock gather to discuss AMNESIA: THE DARK DESCENT, Frictional Games' adventure-horror game from 2010. We jaw about disempowerment in horror, physics objects in games, and whether invisible monsters are scarier or not as scary as visible monsters. Nate talks about the fragility of interactive horror, Ryan gushes about Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, and Brock holds many objects up to his webcam which cannot be communicated in an audio medium. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/22505744

Episode 124 - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves 03/07/2022

Episode 124 - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Nate, Sebastian, and Jordan gather to discuss UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES, the second in Naughty Dog's globetrotting pulp adventure serial. We talk shooting many men, blockbuster games' desire to imitate blockbuster films, and cracking wise. Nate is excited to play a game with a protagonist that shares his name, Jordan wishes the enemies weren't quite so spongy, and Sebastian appreciates a good in medias res opening. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/22323371

Episode 123 - Minecraft 02/14/2022

Episode 123 - Minecraft Nate, Ryan, and David are joined by new guest Kate Blue to discuss MINECRAFT, the global sensation. We discuss the incredible things folks have built in-game, the fastest ways to get to The End, and how the game is more than simple "virtual Lego." Nate feels like an old man, David explains why his Stardew Valley playthrough was cut short, and Kate relates UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENA encountered in the virtual world. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/22015574

Episode 122 - Far Cry 2 01/24/2022

Episode 122 - Far Cry 2 Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, and Ryan gather to discuss FAR CRY 2, Ubisoft's 2008 first-person shooter set in a mercenary playground somewhere in Africa. We discuss the game's emergent systems, how its politics compare to its contemporaries in the genre, and "engaging friction." Sebastian promises to get worse in the new year, Jordan nearly kills his PC, and Ryan extols the virtues of the Jeep Liberty. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/21755354

Episode 121 - Mass Effect 12/13/2021

Episode 121 - Mass Effect Nate, Sebastian, Jordan, Ryan, AND returning guest Andrea all congregate to discuss MASS EFFECT, BioWare's space opera RPG from 2007. We discuss pushing yourself to grow as a player of games, the incredible worldbuilding lift the game accomplishes, and how the Mass Effect trilogy is a special product of its time and isn't likely to be replicated any time soon. Nate asks which alien everyone is smooching, Sebastian explains why this podcast has ruined his life, Andrea tells of how she did a complete 180 on a particular Citadel sidequest, and Ryan compares Mickey Mouse to Omar from The Wire. /episode/index/show/gobackandplay/id/21457472

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