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PODCAST

Epic Free Game Reviews

Two long-time friends and college professors embark on a journey to review the games Epic has given away for free in chronological order. Each episode focuses on a new game as the hosts bring different approaches and perspectives as gamers, educators, and people interested in pop culture.

leisure video games

All Episodes

62:44

Episode 34: Conarium - Click the mute button to make...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2026/03/27

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away from September 12 to September 19, 2019, the Lovecraft-inspired horror walking simulator from 2017, Conarium. This game allows us to consider Lovecraft's legacy, to think about race and xenophobia in games, what horror means as a concept, and the Unreal Engine

en

67:39

Episode 33: The End is Nigh - You have to know...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2026/03/20

In this episode, we discuss the game epic gave away from September 5 to September 12, 2019, the platformer from 2017 The End is Nigh. We discuss whether dark humor can be pulled off in games, the loneliness epidemic, the continued use of nostalgia (cartridges and floppy discs) in indie games, classic music, and games as dadaist experiences, among other things. Ray also asks an important question - Can't we just swim with turtles again?

en

67:11

Episode 32: Abzu - Back off Cthulhu, we have Shark Jesus

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2026/03/13

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away September 5 - September 12, 2019, the 2016 underwater adventure game Abzu. We discuss the use of mythology within video games as source material, why water levels are so hated, the idea of an "entry point game, and conservation themes within games, among other things. We especially focus on why a Hammerhead Man is a bad idea.

en

68:25

Episode 31: Celeste - Canadian sense and sensibility

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2026/03/06

In this episode we discuss the game Epic gave away from August 29 to September 5, 2019, the platformer and indie darling Celeste. We focus a lot on mental health in games and also the way that U.S. oriented games differ in their philosophies and epistemology from games made in other countries. We also talk about games that are made for speedrunning, accessibility features, psychoanalysis (Lacanian mirror stages!), and a wonderful term Ray offered, "gate-opening games."

en

71:55

Episode 30: Inside - Blob is beautiful

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2026/02/27

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away from August 29 to September 5, 2019, the 2016 puzzle platformer Inside. During the conversation, we consider whether indie studios should focus on what they do well or branch out, whether controller or keyboard is better for indie games, visual accessibility, whether resistance to systems is possible, and much more! Ray also admits that his brain can only handle WASD. Also, corn, phallus worms, and LinkedIn is a cult.

en

77:02

Episode 29: Fez - Legally distinct circular...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2026/02/20

In this episode we discuss the game that was given away from August 22 to August 29, 2019, the puzzle platformer from 2012, Fez. We discuss the impacts of the historical game transition from 2D to 3D, indie game development cycles, the innovative nature of indie games, our nostalgia for hidden objects and objectives in games, and more - including Virginia Woolf hats!

en

70:14

Episode 28: Hyper Light Drifter - American Horror...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2026/02/06

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away from August 15 to August 22, 2019, Hyper Light Drifter. This allows us to have conversations about the ideal gaming console (with a shout out to the Dreamcast!), the role of emotions and narrative in games, Platonic philosophy and the Great Chain of Being as a theme, and achievements. Kanye is also in the cast of characters that unfortunately makes an appearance in this discussion! The developers definitely dodged a bullet

en

64:38

Episode 27: Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden - Don't...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2026/01/30

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away from August 15 to August 22, 2019, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. We had conversations about how media deals with imagining the future, the genre of tactical strategy games (and their number crunchiness), Cold War politics, and what furry we would want to be if we were one. Also, if you hate Kpop, blame the Cold War

en

56:16

Episode 26: GNOG - Carnival of the joyful posthuman...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2026/01/23

In this episode, we discuss the 2017 puzzle game GNOG, which Epic gave away from August 8 to August 15, 2019. In this conversation we get into some practical conversations (around music, achievements, etc) and also philosophical conversations around ontology, how we value and rank things, postmodernism, and what defines a game (for the latter, I recommend Thi Ngyuen's wonderful book Games: Agency as Art).

en

66:21

Episode 25: For Honor - Your Permissions Ubisuck

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2026/01/16

In this episode, we discuss the second game Epic gave away from August 2 to August 9, 2019, the multiplayer online battle arena game, For Honor. This allows us to discuss the phenomenon of online games (battle passes, their popularity, etc.), Ubisoft's business practices, and cultural and historical stereotyping in games.

en

68:58

Episode 24: Alan Wake - Asians Don't Like Twin Peaks

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2026/01/02

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away from August 2 to August 9, 2019, the 2010 game Alan Wake. This allows us to cover topics like asking what makes something scary, to considering the use of Americana and tropes in games, elements like over the shoulder cameras, and the role of anger and masculinity in media

en

68:48

Special Episode 1: The Epic-est Games So Far (2025) -...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2025/12/26

In this special episode, we discuss what games - of the 23 games Epic gave away that we played in 2025 - were the top five games for each of us. We also discuss which we thought were the two worst games, and also mention non-Epic games we played this year that we thought were great (Felvidek, Venba, Octopath Traveller 2, and Terraria, among others). Audio Note: Daniel's wi-fi was having some issues because it was storming in California, a state unprepared for any weather. Apologies!

en

70:26

Episode 23: Moonlighter - In the Soviet Union, we...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2025/12/19

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away July 25 to August 2, 2019, the 2018 game Moonlighter, which we may describe as an Ebenezer Scrooge McDuck Simulator. The conversation allows us to consider music, nostalgia, capitalism, and the different ways that games are played now as opposed to the past. We also discuss some academic contexts, such as procedural rhetoric and persuasive play

en

62:04

Episode 22: This War of Mine - "Are the Children...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2025/12/12

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away from July 25 to August 2, 2019, This War of Mine. We cover what makes a good war film and game, the role of war as a theme, the ethics of using games to raise money, and food culture - what is acceptable and not acceptable to eat? (Spoiler alert - everything is fine, but not humans!).

en

60:33

Episode 21: Limbo - Even Hell is Better With Your...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2025/12/05

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away July 18 to July 25, 2019, the 2010 puzzle game Limbo. This allows us to revisit conversations like games as art and difficulty in games, as well as discuss games as tool for teaching writing, vulnerability in games, dystopia, and achievements (not to mention RFK's brain worm and the fact that Ray identifies with mole people). I also sadly had to cut many wonderful title possibilities, such as "There is a portal to Cricket Land in my bath tub"

en

59:31

Episode 20: Torchlight - Even My Cat Has Hegemonic...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2025/11/28

In this episode, we discuss the game that Epic gave away from July 11 to July 18, 2019, the 2009 dungeon crawler/Diablo-like Torchlight. In the conversation we cover the role of basic, non-offensive (but fun) games, the influence of Lord of the Rings on the fantasy tropes of games, and what we like about games that are like Diablo

en

52:25

Episode 19: Overcooked! - Clack Your Tongs,...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2025/11/14

In this episode, we explore the game that Epic gave away for free from July 4 to July 11, 2019, the 2016 cooking sim game Overcooked! We discuss real world cooking, being alone in a failed kitchen versus bothered in a successful one, multiplayer games, the evolution of gaming hardware, and how we feel about onions.

en

59:35

Episode 18: Last Day of June - No Eyes, So Creepy...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2025/11/07

In this episode, we discuss the game Epic gave away from June 27 to July 4, 2019, Last Day of June. We focus on the aesthetics and styles of games, life as a form of tragedy, and sound and music. The made up language used in the game also brings us to a tangent on the fact that...musicians like Katy Perry have recorded their songs in Simlish. Join us for this episode on a game that Ray calls the "Italian Final Destination"

en

65:27

Episode 17: Rebel Galxy - Tokyo Drifting in...

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2025/10/31

In this episode we discuss Rebel Galaxy, which Epic gave away from June 20 to 27, 2019. We cover topics that range from the scope of games to the use of music and voiced dialogue. We also, because of the development history of the game, talk about toxicity in gaming and the hatred of the Epic Games Store.

en

47:53

Episode 16: Enter the Gungeon - A Very American Game

Epic Free Game Reviews ·

2025/10/17

In this episode we discuss the 2016 game Ebter the Gungeon, which Epic gave for me free from June 13 to June 20, 2019. Through this game, we discuss repetition and progress in games, guns as symbolism, and what it means to be an "okay" game, among other topics. Also, circles and coughing skeletons, again!

en

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