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Artwork for Retronauts

Retronauts

Retronauts
Nintendo
Video Games
Sega
Capcom
Retro Gaming
Atari
Sonic the Hedgehog
Bowser
Final Fantasy VI
Game Boy
Rpgs
Indie Games
Konami
Digital Foundry
Mortal Kombat
Resident Evil
Metal Gear
Space Invaders
Sonic 3 and Knuckles
Earthbound

The original classic gaming podcast continues its endless quest to explore the history of video games, one game at a time. Join hosts Jeremy Parish and Bob Mackey each week as they team up with a host of expert guests to chronicle the creations that have paved the way for today's hits. From forgotten black-and-white arcade machines to modern-day remakes, Retronauts spans more than four decades of ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes700Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisureTechnology

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Artwork for Retronauts

Latest Episodes

20 years and over 1000 episodes ago, Retronauts kicked off with an episode about Final Fantasy III: a classic JRPG then on the brink of its first release for Western audiences. Now, that DS remake is itself retro, and we have yet another version of t... more

20! 800! So many big, round numbers! Jeremy Parish, Bob Mackey, Diamond Feit, Stuart Gipp, Nadia Oxford, AND Kevin Bunch somehow crowd into the same space to contemplate the past and future of the show.

Retronauts is made possible by listener suppor... more

WHAT: Our "Retronauts is Officially Retro: 20 Years of Podcasting About the Past" panel, live at PRGE 2026

WHERE: Blue Auditorium (D137 & D140) at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo

WHEN: Saturday, October 10th at 11:00am

WHO: Bob Mackey, Jeremy Paris... more

After 24 years of disappointment, it finally happened: they made a great Resident Evil movie—which also happens to be a great regular movie. Yes, thanks to abandoning any notion of lore and tapping into the creative talents of director Zach Cregger, ... more

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Recent Guests

Jess Voidberger O'Brien
Guest, Finland-based video game writer/creator
Retronauts contributor
Episode: 798: Resident Evil (2026)
Stuart Gipp
Guest, UK-based commentator on games and film
Retronauts contributor
Episode: 798: Resident Evil (2026)
Scott Sharkey
Guest who helped popularize Cave Story and introduced the author to it
Episode: 797: Episode 797: Cave Story
Jeff Peterson
Guest who requested the episode and discusses Cave Story, its discovery and impact
Episode: 797: Episode 797: Cave Story
Diamond Feit
Guest contributor providing literature and commentary on the game's legacy
Episode: 797: Episode 797: Cave Story
Will Cuevas
Co-host/guest discussing Rugal and other KOF elements
Episode: 794: The King of Fighters ’94
Brian Clark
From 1 Million Power, KOF historian guest on the episode
1 Million Power
Episode: 794: The King of Fighters ’94
Kevin Bunch
SNK historian and co-host contributor
Episode: 794: The King of Fighters ’94
Drew Mackey
Author of 101 Mario facts on Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games
Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games
Episode: 792: Mario 101 - Part 1

Hosts

Jeremy Parish
Host of Retronauts; longtime gaming historian and writer
Bob Mackey
Host of Retronauts; musician-turned-game historian with deep retro knowledge
Diamond Feit
Host/guest contributor with strong ties to the community and historical analysis
Patrick Kulikowski
Former Capcom USA employee; guest expert on Capcom platformers
Irene Koh
Artist and community member; author/illustrator with industry context

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 2.9k ratings
  • Another struggle session

    Another struggle session of people living in a self-oppressed bubble. Shame, wasn’t always this way.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jadiction
    United States10 days ago
  • Good Job!

    I find all your episodes, extremely interesting and very much admire that you will speak about all types of genres and timelines from 70s to present day which I just find very wonderful. all of these people who are trying to write reviews where they use large ChatGPT words to criticize you for bringing up politics or real world references are just sad conservatives that their only way to get people to listen to them is to use ChatGPT in a Apple podcast comment section. That is sad. if you are in... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Quest_for_Identity
    United Statesa month ago
  • Annoyed

    I find these guys intolerably annoying. They argue about the most mundane things in their quest to out nerd each other. There are more fun lighthearted retro video game podcasts out there.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Supershizen
    Canada7 months ago
  • It gets better and better!

    The Sonic CD episode is perhaps the funniest podcast I've heard. Stuart Gipp and his guests have amazing banter. 10/10!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stoootube
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Best Classic Gaming Historian Podcast Ever

    I have been a loyal listener for years, and have enjoyed the thousand or so hours of listening so much! This is my go-to podcast, and I’ve tried other ones, but this one is the one I always come back to. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this podcast to anyone who wants to learn the history of gaming.

    (can there be more console/ computer-focused episodes?)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EnderSage576
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some reviews flag political discussions as off-putting or distracting.
Listeners praise the depth and rigor of historical analysis and guest diversity.
Many fans appreciate long-running consistency and insider anecdotes, with high regard for nostalgia balanced with research.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

795: Modern Retro: Teeto
Q: How did you get to the point of making Teeto and what were the origins of the project?
The idea started as a small, casual game built by a duo in Wellington who were previously doing game-adjacent work; they kept iterating from a basic prototype to a richer, humor-filled platformer, learning and expanding along the way.
792: Mario 101 - Part 1
Q: What is the most credible origin story for Mario's name according to Drew's research?
Drew leans toward Mario Sagale as the most plausible origin, arguing that multiple later stories, including Miyamoto's, diverged over time and that the Sagale tale best fits the early US-Nintendo naming context, despite conflicting later claims.
765: Retrogaming in Print
Q: What can't you do in other mediums that print allows you to do?
Print enables a curated, layout-driven experience where typography, image placement, and page flow create a more immersive, anchored understanding of a game's history, which is harder to reproduce in digital formats.
759: Love and Fandom in the Time of Dial-Up
Q: So let's just kind of start at the start. How did you first get online?
David explains his high school start, discovering the internet through a class and a local internet cafe, and how Netscape and Webcrawler opened his world to online communities; Nadia recalls her own path from school BBS to the wider web.
726: Final Fantasy Tactics Revisited
Q: What makes Final Fantasy Tactics different from Tactics Ogre?
The podcast discusses the different storytelling approaches, ethical complexities, and game mechanics, emphasizing that Final Fantasy Tactics offers a more straightforward narrative.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Retronauts

What is Retronauts about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show dives deep into video game history, pairing seasoned hosts with a rotating roster of expert guests to explore classic titles, development eras, and the broader culture around vintage games. Episodes cover everything from arcade legacies and platform shifts to preservation, fan communities, and the intersection of games with music, film, and design. The tone is infectious enthusiasm and rigor, with detailed anecdotes, design observations, and historically grounded context that appeal to hardcore historians and long-time fans alike while staying accessible to curious newcomers. A standout strength is the breadth of guests—from former developers and publishers to curators and independent creators—creating a rich, multi-perspective ch... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Retronauts?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Retronauts:

1. Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
2. The Cane and Rinse videogame podcast
3. Watch Out for Fireballs!
4. Remember The Game? Retro Gaming Podcast
5. 8-4 Play

How many episodes of Retronauts are there?

Retronauts launched 13 years ago and published 700 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Retronauts?

Recent guests on Retronauts include:

1. Jess Voidberger O'Brien
2. Stuart Gipp
3. Scott Sharkey
4. Jeff Peterson
5. Diamond Feit
6. Will Cuevas
7. Brian Clark
8. Kevin Bunch

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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