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Artwork for Three Moves Ahead

Three Moves Ahead

Idle Thumbs
Against the Storm
Stormgate
Caves Of Qud
Europa Universalis 5
Victoria 3
City Building
Freehold Games
Civil War
Game Development
Whiskerwood
Endless Legend 2
Tactical Breach Wizards
Warhammer 40k
Total War
Timberborn
Dwarf Fortress
Frostpunk 2
Dawn Of War
Microprose
Total War Pharaoh

Three Moves Ahead is the leading strategy game themed podcast on the internet. Every week a panel of knowledgeable gamers with strong opinions meets to talk about the strategy and war games of the day, design issues and games in the wider world.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes656Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisure

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Artwork for Three Moves Ahead

Latest Episodes

Len and Nerium are joined once again by special guest Diana to discuss a lot of the smaller games we played this summer that didn't make it into a full episode, our varying levels of EU5 addiction, and mechsploitation. Games Discussed: Sovereign Towe... more

Len, Jon, and Fraser set sail with Corsair Cove, a pirate city-builder with a reckless disregard for building codes. We discuss our different buccaneer building styles, the card- and dice-based ship combat, and try to answer the eternal question: wha... more

Len sits down with Game Director Marv Gouw and Consulting Art Director (and Relic co-founder) J. Aaron Kambeitz to talk about ZeroSpace, a new RTS inspired by the greats of the genre with BioWare-style cutscenes and story decisions. We dig into the o... more

Len and DM are joined by the current Age of Empires II world champion, Hera, to discuss the state of the game in 2026. We try to explain its longevity, examine what it takes to be a top-level esports player, and discuss Hera's streamer invitational t... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Aaron Kambeitz
Consulting art director for ZeroSpace
ZeroSpace
Episode: Three Moves Ahead 652: ZeroSpace Early Access Interview
Marv Gouw
CEO of Starlance and game director
ZeroSpace
Episode: Three Moves Ahead 652: ZeroSpace Early Access Interview
Evan Lahti
PC Gamer's strategic director
PC Gamer
Episode: Three Moves Ahead 650: Slay the Spire 2
Luke Plunkett
Contributing writer and independent game enthusiast
aftermath.site
Episode: Three Moves Ahead 646: Whiskerwood
Kate Sánchez
Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho
But Why Tho
Episode: Three Moves Ahead 642: Anno 117: Pax Romana
Dayna Eileen
Executive Editor over at CGMagazine
CGMagazine
Episode: Three Moves Ahead 642: Anno 117: Pax Romana
Tim Campbell
Game Director on Stormgate
Frost Giant Studios
Episode: Three Moves Ahead 637: Stormgate: Ashes of Earth Interview
Tim Morten
CEO and Production Director on Stormgate
Frost Giant Studios
Episode: Three Moves Ahead 637: Stormgate: Ashes of Earth Interview
Casey Explosion
Streamer and indie game sommelier
Episode: Three Moves Ahead 631: Cataclismo

Hosts

Len
Longtime host with deep background across strategy games and related media.
Jon Bolding
Co-host and strategy games expert with a focus on mechanics and player experience.
Fraser Brown
PC Gamer staffer and regular co-host with industry perspective.
Rowan Kaiser
Host with expertise in strategy games and long-running collaboration.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 914 ratings
  • Feed bugged?

    Did something happen to the podcast feed? All the episodes are removed from apple podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GrafSpee715
    United States4 months ago
  • Older episodes are better

    Occasionally an okay one now and then, though last I seriously listened was some years ago and even then it had been some time since I enjoyed it. Any of the pre 2021 stuff is probably a safe bet.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hhhheeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
    United States7 months ago
  • Best podcast for the best kind of game ;D

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Montag
    9 months ago
  • Insightful

    I did not know people were thinking about strategy and tactics to this degree. I would never have gotten there on my own, and I appreciate it. The Midnight Suns episode was especially validating.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    whataboregrr
    United States10 months ago
  • Very nice dose of strategy game reviews in a discussion format. Much better than a single-perspective article.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    TheNunnceler
    10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Insightful long-form coverage appeals to serious strategy fans
Some episodes include politics or viewpoints that polarize listeners
Professional, well-informed guests & discussions

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Three Moves Ahead 650: Slay the Spire 2
Q: What makes Slay the Spire 2 feel more like a finished product compared to other early-access titles?
The episode notes that Slay the Spire 2 retains the core addictive deck-building loop while adding robust multiplayer, more content for each character, and clear progression paths, with ongoing post-launch support and a roadmap that reassures players it's polished enough for continued play.
Three Moves Ahead 634: 9 Kings
Q: Who might 9 Kings appeal to?
It's likely to appeal to those who enjoy lighter strategy experiences and prefer games they can pick up and play casually.
Three Moves Ahead 634: 9 Kings
Q: So what are you guys most looking forward to with regards to Nine Kings?
We're excited about its potential for deeper modes and a more structured campaign, along with the engagement strategies during auto-battles.
Three Moves Ahead 599: Cities: Skylines 2
Q: Would you recommend Cities: Skylines 2 and who would you recommend it to?
Justin suggests that while the game has issues, it has the potential to be the next city builder and would appeal to those willing to wait for bugs to be worked out. Jon expresses hesitance in recommending it to nitpicky players but acknowledges its fun factors. Sin feels it's worth playing in the future but not currently due to bugs and costs.
Three Moves Ahead 621: The Return of MicroProse
Q: What kind of influences go into your development approach?
It's about giving developers space to explore their creativity.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Three Moves Ahead

What is Three Moves Ahead about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-running strategy and war games show featuring a rotating panel of knowledgeable hosts who unpack design decisions, historical contexts, and tactical depth across a wide range of strategy titles. Episodes blend deep dives into specific games or subgenres with thoughtful banter, guest insights from players, designers, and media, and industry context around the RTS and grand-strategy scene. The format often emphasizes mechanics, balance, and narrative, with a strong focus on accessibility for newcomers and rigor for veterans, plus lively discussions about the state and future of strategy gaming. Noteworthy traits include high-level design critique, extensive back catalog deep-dives, and a collaborative, opinionated vibe from a stable gr... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Three Moves Ahead?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Three Moves Ahead:

1. A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast
2. Side Story
3. Remap Radio
4. Shelved By Genre
5. Single Malt Strategy

How many episodes of Three Moves Ahead are there?

Three Moves Ahead launched 18 years ago and published 656 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 Three Moves Ahead?

Recent guests on Three Moves Ahead include:

1. Aaron Kambeitz
2. Marv Gouw
3. Evan Lahti
4. Luke Plunkett
5. Kate Sánchez
6. Dayna Eileen
7. Tim Campbell
8. Tim Morten

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