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The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)
Retro Gaming
Amiga
Sega
Commodore 64
Nintendo
Indie Games
Commodore Amiga
Game Development
Nostalgia
Worms
Playstation
Retrogaming
Street Fighter
Dreamcast
Kickstarter
Amstrad CPC
Video Games
Atari
Bitmap Books
Demo Scene

Your weekly dose of retro gaming and technology news and interviews with industry veterans.

New episodes released every Friday!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes500Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisureTechnology

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Artwork for The Retro Hour

Latest Episodes

This week, we’re joined by legendary game designer Warren Spector to explore the stories behind Ultima, Deus Ex and Epic Mickey. From the Dungeons & Dragons session that changed his life to John Romero’s offer to make his dream game, Warren shares ho... more

Recorded live at Retromessa in Norway, we sit down with legendary video game composer Yuzo Koshiro for part one of our conversation, exploring his Nintendo years. From his earliest piano lessons to the orchestral sounds of ActRaiser, the infectious g... more

How do you turn a handful of pixels into one of gaming’s most recognisable characters? Recorded live at RetroMessa 2026, Dan and Joe meet illustrator Duncan Gutteridge, whose hand-painted artwork helped define Sonic’s European image during SEGA’s 16-... more

It's Ravi's final episode of the podcast, we give him a good send off! Plus, we bring you our Best of British panel from RetroMessa, featuring Mike Dailly (DMA Design), Glen O'Connell (Psygnosis), Duncan Gutteridge (Sega UK) and Brian Watson (DMA Des... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Yuzo Koshiro
Legendary game music composer
Nintendo (Nintendo-era titles); Streets of Rage series
Episode: 549: Yuzo Koshiro: From ActRaiser to Smash Bros.– The Retro Hour EP549
Duncan Gutteridge
Artist, Sega/Various studios
Sega; Duncan Gutteridge
Episode: 547: British Gaming Legends: Stories From an Iconic Era – The Retro Hour EP547
Mike Dailly
Programmer/designer, DMA Design
DMA Design
Episode: 547: British Gaming Legends: Stories From an Iconic Era – The Retro Hour EP547
Brian Watson
Marketing/artist at DMA Design; Psygnosis veteran
DMA Design; Psygnosis
Episode: 547: British Gaming Legends: Stories From an Iconic Era – The Retro Hour EP547
Glen O'Connell
Marketing/artist, Psygnosis
Psygnosis
Episode: 547: British Gaming Legends: Stories From an Iconic Era – The Retro Hour EP547
Richard Rouse III
Veteran game designer, writer and creative director
Formerly with Midway/Surreal, The Suffering series
Episode: 546: The Making of The Suffering: Horror, Morality and Games That Remember – The Retro Hour EP546
Michael Refalo
Region Locked team member
Region Locked
Episode: 545: Region Locked: The Untold Story of Australian Video Games – The Retro Hour EP545
John Passfield
Veteran Australian game developer
Region Locked
Episode: 545: Region Locked: The Untold Story of Australian Video Games – The Retro Hour EP545
Luke Earl
Campaign leader behind Lara Croft statue
Lara Croft Derby Campaign
Episode: 545: Region Locked: The Untold Story of Australian Video Games – The Retro Hour EP545

Hosts

Dan Wood
Host of The Retro Hour Podcast; long-standing figure in retro gaming coverage and industry history.
Ravi Abbott
Co-host and contributor with deep ties to retro gaming culture and discussion.
Joe Fox
Co-host and regular on show with longstanding involvement in retro gaming discourse.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Couldn’t disagree more with NOODLES

    Love this podcast. Yes some of the guests are unheard of to some people but I always learn something interesting and the dynamic between the 3 lads is great.

    Keep up the great work fellas.

    On a side note I used to work in a canteen and guess what I served up?

    Yep,….Noodles.

    Maybe I could get on the show 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TrunStrat
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Much fun nostalgia trip

    I love listening to this gang every week, really smart and knowledgeable and with great interviews.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gelondon
    Germany4 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Brilliant interviews from the industry and the latest retro news.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    0044512
    Ireland6 months ago
  • Boring

    Has become very boring. Loads of adverts,self promotion and E-BEGGING.

    It’s the same show every week. Also they are running out of guests, basically they would interview you if you worked in the canteen.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    =-Noodles=-
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Congratulations!

    5 stars for over 500 episodes! Congratulations!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    suspectmonkey
    United Kingdom8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show's nostalgia-filled, informative interviews with industry veterans.
Some criticism focuses on ad load and perceived repetition, with calls for higher guest variety.
High regard for the mix of retro news and interviews; fans say it's a dependable source for history and culture.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

549: Yuzo Koshiro: From ActRaiser to Smash Bros.– The Retro Hour EP549
Q: What was it like working on Super Smash Bros Brawl with so many musicians?
He recalls being approached by Nintendo to contribute music and expresses appreciation for the project, describing it as the start of a long-running series of involvement in the franchise.
549: Yuzo Koshiro: From ActRaiser to Smash Bros.– The Retro Hour EP549
Q: Why did you only make one track for Terranigma and not all of them?
He explains it was likely due to Quintet initially intending another composer to handle every track, with his involvement later as a guest/commemorative contributor, and notes uncertainty.
549: Yuzo Koshiro: From ActRaiser to Smash Bros.– The Retro Hour EP549
Q: Could you tell us about the mystery track The Stick Man is Back and what project it was intended for?
He recalls the track's creation but withholds details on its intended game, explaining that it was never used and that some information remains confidential.
549: Yuzo Koshiro: From ActRaiser to Smash Bros.– The Retro Hour EP549
Q: What is the game you like to play the most?
He names the Street Fighter series (up to Third Strike) as the games he plays most, while also acknowledging a wide variety of favorites across his career.
549: Yuzo Koshiro: From ActRaiser to Smash Bros.– The Retro Hour EP549
Q: Now when I go home and search for your music, what would you like me to hear first?
Koshiro suggests starting with Streets of Rage and Shinobi-era music, noting his broad range but highlighting his flagship Nintendo-era and action-game work as a good entry point.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Retro Hour

What is The Retro Hour about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on retro gaming, technology news, and deep-dive conversations with industry veterans and long-time developers. Episodes weave history with hands-on technical storytelling, from classic platforms like Amiga and Commodore 64 to modern preservation, indie publishing, and soundtrack licensing. A standout trait is the balance between nostalgic industry recollections and current retro-market updates, often featuring first-person accounts from creators, publishers, and engineers who shaped earlier eras. The format often blends expert interviews with news rundowns and community anecdotes, making it a solid pick for listeners who crave context, historical insight, and behind-the-scenes industry perspectives. A notable strength is t... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Retro Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Retro Hour:

1. This Week in Retro
2. Retro Asylum - The UK's No.1 Retro Gaming Podcast
3. Retro Gaming Discussion Show
4. Retronauts
5. The Cane and Rinse videogame podcast

How many episodes of The Retro Hour are there?

The Retro Hour launched 11 years ago and published 500 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 The Retro Hour?

Recent guests on The Retro Hour include:

1. Yuzo Koshiro
2. Duncan Gutteridge
3. Mike Dailly
4. Brian Watson
5. Glen O'Connell
6. Richard Rouse III
7. Michael Refalo
8. John Passfield

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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