Overthinking Games
Episodes
Ep 90: DLSS 5
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
[email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright free and from: https://...
Ep 89: Community Support
04 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
[email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright free and from: https://...
Ep 88: Is Gaming a Waste of Time?
28 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
[email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright free and from: https://...
Catisode 87: Mewgenics
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
[email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright free and from: https://...
Ep 86: Techno-Nihilism
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
[email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright free and from: https://...
Ep 85: Literary Lenses for Video Games w/Jake from the Pre-Order Bonus Podcast
08 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to Jake from the Pre-Order Bonus Podcast for joining us! Find the Pre-Order Bonus Podcast where ever you get podcasts. Send us an email with ...
Ep 84: RogueLike vs RogueLite
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
RogueLike vs RogueLite CriteriaThe episode wherein Professor Seth gives us a primer on what ACTUALLY constitutes a roguelike, with the sole intention ...
Ep 83: Skate Story creator Sam Eng Interview
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Here is our interview with Skate Story creator Sam Eng. [email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagra...
Ep 82: Sequels
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
[email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright free and from: https://...
Ep 81: New Years (2026) yay!
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What are our plans for the new year? Yay 2026!!Email us at: [email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Insta...
Ep 80: AI in Games
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
[email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright free and from: https://...
Ep 79: 12 Games of Christmas
20 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
12 Games of Christmas Oh GOTY Games, Oh GOTY Games, how lovely are your pixels!Join the four of us as we discuss the GOTY awards- sure, the “real”...
Ep 78: Nature vs Nurture
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nature vs. NurtureThis episode evolved like a Pokemon. What started as “what makes for a game with mass appeal for kids and adults, or non gamers an...
Ep 77: Coping
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
[email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts SpotifyTik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright free and from: htt...
Ep 76: Limitation of Video Games
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What video games can't do. [email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is ...
Ep 75: Agency
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Email us at: [email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright free and f...
Ep 74: Adaptations
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AdaptationsWith more and more movie and TV show adaptations of video games, join us as we dig into what is lost or gained when games are adapted to th...
Ep 73: Quitting
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When do we quit? [email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright free ...
Ep 72: Morality Systems
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Morality SystemsThis week, we discuss morality systems in games: from the simplest, binary choices in Bioshock, to the non-linear, complex, and unpred...
Ep 71: Gambling
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Check out our YouTube!We’ve got more Shorts and content coming your way!Share your thoughts, or suggest a topic for our next episode by sending us a...
Ep 70: Empathy and Games
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Empathy and GamesMaybe it’s just because Seth and Katie teach teenagers, but it seems that there’s a bit of a crisis of empathy…”back in my da...
Ep 69: Sex and Relationships
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A very horny [email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright fre...
Ep 68: Solitude vs. Isolation
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
LonelinessJoin us as our loneliness diminishes because Brett, of Lore’d to Death, joins the whole gang for a regular episode of Overthinking Games!W...
Ep 67: Happy Silksong Day!!!
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Its Silksong Day!!! [email protected] us on: Youtube Apple Podcasts Spotify Tik Tok/Instagram BlueskyTheme music is copyright fr...
Ep 66: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (with @ranran.words)
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We finally talk about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Check out Ran's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ranran.words?_t=ZT-8zXGsP3jqY3&_r=1
Ep 65: Teleological Thinking
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Katie picked yet another topic she didn’t really understand well, and maybe we all will understand it a smidgeon better by the end. Maybe...
Ep 64: The Switch 2 and the idea of Value
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Dempsey and Katie play shoulder advocates on either side of Seth’s quandary: should he get a Nintendo Switch 2? This existential question...
Ep 63: Environment and Setting
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Dempsey’s real-life action adventure game called “being a documentarian” leads us into dark, claustrophobic caves, wide open worlds, ...
Ep 62: Mental Health
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do Celeste, The Binding of Isaac and Hellblade have in common? Interesting approaches to talking about mental health, of course!This week we get ...
Ep 61: Waiting
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Waiting sucks! Except for when it…doesn’t.Why can waiting for an upcoming, scheduled release feel like Advent (thank Seth for that one), but waiti...
Ep 60: The Last of Us (and Philosophy) with Nicholas Crawford
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, we miss Seth, and Dempsey and Katie are joined by Nicholas Crawford, philosopher and author of the upcoming book, "Where...
Ep 59: Gender
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Games and GenderThis week, we circle back round to a topic that continues to be a font of curiosity and conversation: games and gender! Are games gend...
Ep 58: (We still miss Katie) and Blue Prince
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We need Katie back :(
Ep 57: (We Miss Katie) and Tediousness
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Katie usually does this.
Ep 56: SideQuests
04 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Like games but on the side.
Ep 55: Switch 2 Direct
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nintendo Direct Welcome to Overthinking Games, a…current events podcast??? Nah, not really, but this week, we give it a shot because we needed to di...
Ep 54: Character Creation
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week's topic was suggested by Seth's girlfriend, thanks for your great idea! This week, we discuss character creation- do aesthetics ma...
Ep 53: How to Combat Winter Doldrum
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new episode. Kind of a filler episode bth.
Ep: 52 Bigger Number Better Person
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bigger Number, Better PersonThis week, we discuss our tried and true mantra of "bigger number, better person," its role in video games, and ...
Ep 51: Procedural Generation
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The One Where We Forgot the Topic Was Procedural GenerationWelcome to this week’s episode, where Katie brings a topic she doesn’t know much about,...
Ep 50: Life Lessons w/ @thegamingcaffe
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Katie wasn't here and show notes are hard. Theme music is copyright free and from: https://www.youtube.com/@Pixverses
Ep 49: Accessibility w/ Rob
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we are joined by special guest Rob Jonas, a vocational rehabilitation counselor, the original 3rd member of Overthinking Games and rehabili...
Ep 48: Simulation
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Record Dec 6th, 2024Simulation This week, we discuss simulation in games; when is it fun, when is it tiresome?Why do we love to simulate eating and ...
Ep 47: GOTY 2024 Happy New Year!
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's our favorite time of year when we recap the greatest (and a few of the least great) games we played this year! Our GOTY list runs the gamu...
Ep 46: Gaming with Non Gamers
29 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we discuss gaming with nongamers; the joys, the pitfalls, and perhaps a system of progression to help nongamers join our ranks…One of us!...
Ep 45: Games We Can’t Quit Playing
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode, we discuss what makes for a game you can’t quit playing. Whether it’s Warzone, RuneScape, or Slay the Spire, there are games we’ve...
Ep 44: Status and Gaming
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode, we discuss the Game Awards, social status, and how good it feels to be in the know.In our Honorable Mention section, Dempsey tells us al...
Ep 43: Inspiration and Video Games
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Inspiration and Video Games"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working,.." - PicassoThis episode, we talk about the intersection bet...
Ep 42: Inscryption (Full Spoilers)
16 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We talk about the game Inscryption. Email at [email protected] us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik TokTheme music is copy...
Ep 41: Halloween 2024
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spooky Season! [email protected] us on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram/Tik TokTheme music is copyright free and from: https://w...
Ep 40: Spoiled About Spoilers
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spoiled About Spoilers Can the fervent cry of “no spoilers!” go too far? Is it when our desire for novelty and discovery outweighs our desire for ...
Ep 39: Detroit: Become Human w/ The Gamers Drink
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Special guest Josh, @TheGamersDrink, joins the crew to deep dive into Detroit: Become Human!This episode is full of spoilers! If you haven’t played ...
Ep 38: A Year of Podcast
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hard to believe, but a year ago (at the time of recording…not the date of this episode’s release) Dempsey, Seth and Katie embarked on a podcast ad...
Ep 37: Time Well-Wasted?
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Time Well-Wasted?Have you ever sat down to play a game and been hit with a case of the “I shoulds”? I SHOULD spend my free time in a more “produ...
Ep 36: Mini Games
29 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Side Mechanics & Mini-GamesWhether it’s Gwent from “The Witcher,” the hacking game in “Bioshock,” or the myriad of fishing minigames acr...
Ep 35: Subversion
09 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Subversion If a souls-like is not dressed like a souls-like, is it even a souls-like? “Another Crab’s Treasure” begs that question and is the ju...
Ep 34: Tend and Befriend
02 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tend and Befriend vs. Fight or FlightIn this episode, we explore the topic of stress responses, framed in an article by Brie Code, previously a lead p...
Ep 33: Physical vs. Digital Games
12 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What can video games do that board games, tabletop games or other physical games can’t? What makes for a good video game and/or board game crossover...
Ep 32: Dev Interview with "Potions: A Curious Tale"'s creator Renee Gittins
05 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Potions: A Curious TaleRenee Gittins of Stumbling Cat Studio joins Seth and Katie to discuss her new game, Potions: A Curious Tale, global folklore, a...
Ep 31: The Long and Short of Game Length
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Long and Short of Game LengthHow do you decide what’s the best bang for your video game buck? Does the length of a game make a difference in you...
Ep 30: Video Game Clones
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Building on our recent discussions of both bad games and genre(iteration is everywhere!), we take a look at video game clones, and try to determine th...
Ep 29: Platformers (But Mainly Celeste) with @FierceAxolotl
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are joined by special guest @FierceAxolotl, the fiercely kind and incredibly insightful streamer, as we chat about the ways platformers can deliver...
Ep 28: Likes, Lites and Dislikes
17 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the gang’s back together to dig into video game genres. What the heck is the difference between a roguelike and roguelite? Nobody knows, ...
Ep 27: Indie vs. AAA Games with @cgdannyb
03 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Go follow Danny on Youtube and Tik Tok. A conversation about indie games. Send us an email at [email protected] us on: Apple Podc...
Ep 26: Bad Games
11 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are games bad? Does what i type here affect SEO? Dempsey is doing the notes for this episode. He is bad at summarizing stuff. overthinkinggamespodcast...
Ep 25: Data Driven Gaming
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Data Driven Gaming Ever had fun gaming even though your k/d was trash? Yeah, neither has Katie… This week we talk about how stats can make or bre...
Ep 24: (Un)healthy Gaming
28 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
(Un)Healthy Gaming This week, we do the episode we meant to do last week but got distracted from by listener mail.In this episode, we discuss the line...
Ep 23: Listener Letter
21 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Listener MailThis week, we pivoted from our originally planned topic, as we were way too delighted about responding to listener mail! If you’d like ...
Ep 22: Escapism and Video Games
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Escapism and Video GamesFear not! Dempsey is back this week as we tackle some -inescapable- questions: When is escapism an acceptable, or even benefic...
Ep 21: GOTY 2023 (But Make it Overthinking Games-Style)
07 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year! After a brief holiday hiatus (sorry, we should have mentioned we were taking a little break!), the gang is back for an on-air gift exc...
Ep 20: World Building with Brett from Lore’d to Death Podcast
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we’re down a Dempsey. To fill the void, we have a very special guest; Brett from the Lore’d to Death Podcast! We chat about Brett’s (...
Ep 19: Video Game Preservation
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Video Game Preservation The copyright duration for a video game is up to 120 years long…what does that mean for the preservation of video games?Are ...
Ep 18: Gaming News Media
05 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week the trio discusses the relationship between gamers and the gaming news cycle. How does hype impact how we respond to games? Does it matter i...
Ep: 17 God of War with @gamersdrink
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we explore God of War, masculinity, and fatherhood. We are joined by very special guest, Joshua, from The Gamers Drink, a Tik-Tok channel w...
Ep 16: Existential Horror
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing our spooky theme, Seth brings us into the fascinating realm of existential and cosmic horror, Katie learns what both of those things are, a...
Ep 15: Overthinking Horror w/ Nick from Smashing Game Time
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
TW: body horror, infant death (talking about fears) Spooky season is upon us! This week, Seth is out sick, and we’re joined by Nick from Smashing Ga...
Ep 14: Co-op Gaming
17 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we got listener mail asking us to keep making fun of Dempsey, which is, fortunately, one of our favorite segments on the show. Then join us...
Ep 13: Skill Checks
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Normally Katies writes these but this week I have to... soo... um... We talk about skill checks. It's a good episode. Got something to share? Hav...
Ep 12: Achievement Design With Smart Goals
03 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Designing Achievements With Smart Goals This week, Seth, our resident achievement hunter, leads the discussion on achievements! What’s the differe...
Ep. 11: Violence and Video Games
27 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Violence in Video Games On this week’s episode, we wade into some philosophical quandaries- Is violence portrayed in video games ever a question o...
Ep. 10: Interview with Josh GUITARofolo
13 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Dempsey talks with classical guitarist and video game enthusiast, Josh Garofolo, about music in video games, and his personal passion for c...
Ep. 9: The Master's Pupil Dev. Pat Naoum, Interview
06 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Interview with Pat Naoum This week, Dempsey has the chance to interview Pat Naoum, the solo developer of The Master’s Pupil. A puzzle platformer, Th...
Ep. 8 Break Week: Games on the Go
23 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we take a break from our more scholarly content to talk about what games we like to play on the go. To determine the best portable games,...
Ep 7: What Games Teach Us About Thinking
09 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the crew tackle what games can teach us about thinking. We deep dive into different kinds of thinking, and how they’re built into games. ...
Ep 6: The Beginner's Guide is Amazing
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Beginner’s Guide In this week’s episode, we seriously overthink The Beginner’s Guide, a masterpiece of video game narrative. Spoiler Warning...
Ep 5: Video Games and Literacy Standards
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into 5th grade literacy standards, and examples of games we think are great at meeting those standards. Dempsey talks about F...
Ep 4 Break Week: What Video Game Music Means To Us
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk about video game music and what it means to us.Dempsey loves some good space banjo in Outer Wilds, Katie hates nostalgia but ...
Ep 3: Different strengths in RPGs and the Classroom
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, we talk about personal strengths, Persona 5, and valuing differing abilities in the classroom. Dempsey loves project based learn...
Ep. 2: How Darkest Dungeon (and secretly Celeste) Teach Us About Failure
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Overthinking Games, we delve into Darkest Dungeon to discuss failure, and what we can learn from it. Also discussed: Fire Emblem: R...
Ep 1: Bloom's Taxonomy and Video Games
29 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Overthinking Games is a podcast about what video games can teach us. In our first episode, we introduce the premise of our podcast and talk about wha...