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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
Metal Gear
Space Invaders
Sonic 3 and Knuckles
Resident Evil
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

Jeremy Parish, Diamond Feit, and Scott Sharkey link up with patron Jeff Peterson to escape the island early and bring you a discussion of indie game classic Cave Story (instead of surviving Hell).

Retronauts is made possible by listener support thro... more

Podcast Michael! Stuart Gipp chats with Eat Pant Games’ Mitch Duncan about their hilarious – and classic-inspired – new kiwi platform game, Teeto.

Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free ear... more

GO HOME NOW!!YOU ARE NO MATCH FOR Diamond Feit, Kevin Bunch, Brian Clark, and Will Cuevas when it comes to discussing The King of Fighters '94. IT’S GOING TO BE OUR CENTURY!

Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support th... more

The Goomba is a mushroom. We still don't know how Bowser got his name. Doki Doki Panic began its life as a Super Mario game. Is this sheer lunacy? No! These facts are the thoroughly researched findings of one Drew Mackie, who uncovered 101 Mario mind... more

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Recent Guests

Will Cuevas
Co-host/guest discussing Rugal and other KOF elements
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
David Mathis
Content creator focused on video game systems; online alias RndStranger
RndStranger
Episode: 789: Famicom Disk System, Redux
Sean Seanson
Guest, big Retronauts and Crash Bandicoot fan
Episode: 788: Crash Bandicoot: The Wilderness Years, Pt. 1
David Oxford
Guest on this episode, co-presenter with Nadia
Episode: 788: Retrogame Dreamscapes
Benito Cerino
Writer and podcaster, Apocapals co-host
Episode: 783: El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron
Shane Bettenhausen
Retronauts guest, industry professional
Episode: 783: El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron
Joyce Weisbecker
Pioneer of video game and indie development; daughter of Joe Weisbecker
Cosmac/RCA lineage
Episode: 782: RCA Home Computing
Henry Gilbert
Guest discussing Pac-Man Fever and ET songs
Episode: 780: Pac-Man Fever

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
  • 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 Kingdom8 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
  • Used to be good

    Not what it once was. Seems like every episode is a political diatribe. I recommend following Jeremy Parish YouTube.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Fledgl
    United Statesa year ago
  • 5-stars to offset morons

    Love the podcast, hosts and topics, great reference material. Haven’t even noticed any Spin…so, you can ignore the negative reviewers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JMalAnthony
    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.

Apple Podcasts
#17
United States/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#90
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#15
Canada/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#52
United Kingdom/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#65
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#236
United Kingdom/Leisure

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
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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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. Will Cuevas
2. Drew Mackey
3. David Mathis
4. Sean Seanson
5. David Oxford
6. Benito Cerino
7. Shane Bettenhausen
8. Joyce Weisbecker

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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