Podcast Archives

Random Encounter 339 – 2025 Year in Review

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 19, 2026

In our first Random Encounter of 2026, we’re taking a look back at 2025! While many would describe 2025 as a mixed bag (at best), there is no disputing that it was a banner year for video games. Not only did we finally get two of the most anticipated sequels of all time in Hollow Knight: Silksong an… Read More »

Retro Encounter 477 – 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Part II

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 15, 2026

I love you, and that’s why I gotta listen to Retro Encounter. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we chat about the twisty, turny second half of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Do all the plot points land? Who was our favorite character? Is there actually a reason they’re naked in the Sentinels? Lis… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 174 – Music of the Year 2025

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 13, 2026

Well hello there, and yes, it is time for a super-sized episode of Rhythm Encounter to celebrate many of the excellent RPG soundtracks, arrangements, and more from 2025. That’s right, it’s Music of the Year 2025 time! With four panelists who each brought on three songs, this is certainly our longest… Read More »

Retro Encounter 476 – 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Part I

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 8, 2026

I don’t trust much in this post-war world, but if there’s one exception, it’s my Retro Encounter. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we’re jumping through time and getting inside our mechs in the first half of Vanillaware’s 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. We talk about our first impressions of the… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 173 – Investigating Fall Music

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 5, 2026

Given the monumental releases throughout most of 2025, it would be easy to think we saw the best of what last year had to offer by September. But nay! The last quarter of 2025 graced us with many excellent releases, and today we discuss a couple of arrangement albums worth your time, plus four brand… Read More »

Random Encounter 338 – RPGFan’s Most Anticipated Games of 2026

Posted by Jonathan Logan on December 29, 2025

In our final Random Encounter of 2025, it’s time to take a look ahead to the biggest games of 2026! With the holidays in the rear view mirror, RPGFan is now building our annual most anticipated for the coming year feature. And there is no better way to wrap up 2025 than having the Random panel give… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 172 – Happy Jólabókaflóðið!

Posted by Hilary Andreff on December 22, 2025

We’re getting festive today on Rhythm Encounter, but maybe not in the way you’d expect. It’s the end of year holiday season, and we are taking inspiration from a holiday that celebrates another thing I like as much as video game music: books! Jólabókaflóðið — which roughly translates to “Christmas b… Read More »

Retro Encounter 475 – 1995 Year in Review

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on December 18, 2025

I sure hope this episode isn’t BadBad. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we cover the most interesting RPGs of the year, but this time, we flash it back to 1995. We discuss design decisions, varying localization quality, and those insane encounter rates. Does someone bring on a really bad R… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 171 – Une Vie À Musique

Posted by Mike Salbato on December 10, 2025

Well we finally did it: An episode all about one of this generation’s most stunning soundtracks, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. We talk about the beauty, the melancholy, the cellos, the feelings, and really, the feelings that Lorien Testard and Alice Duport-Percier evoke every time we play the game or… Read More »

Random Encounter 337 – Merry Game Awards 2025!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on December 8, 2025

On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re chatting about gaming’s biggest night: The Game Awards 2025! But before we get to all the reveals (and actual awards, I guess), we want to talk to Zek about the new Octopath Traveler game that was just released, Octopath Traveler 0! This entry, adapted from the… Read More »

Retro Encounter 474 – Dragon Quest Tier List

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on December 4, 2025

I hope there is something really amazing on top. If we don’t find Dragon Quest V, it is all your fault. This week on Retro Encounter, we undertake a difficult endeavor yet again: making a tier list of one of the most popular RPG franchises. This time, it’s Dragon Quest! Do things get heated? Who rea… Read More »

Random Encounter 336 – Farewell, My Beloved Superheroes

Posted by Jonathan Logan on December 1, 2025

On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re taking a look at two very different narrative adventures! Back in the 2010s, Telltale Games reinvented the point-and-click adventure game with The Walking Dead, introducing new multiple paths and lasting choices. Unfortunately, they spread themselves a little t… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 170 – Elements of the Rhythm Nation

Posted by Mike Salbato on November 25, 2025

In the distant past of 2021, our panel on Rhythm Encounter 74 chose songs based around eight elements of their choosing. Today we follow up on this elemental idea, but focused on four core elements of water, earth, fire, and air. With each element represented by two people, we compare and contrast e… Read More »

Retro Encounter 473 – Obsidian Encounter

Posted by Aleks Franiczek on November 20, 2025

Who is the greatest Western RPG developer? [Intelligence] “Obsidian” [Lie] “Not Obsidian” This week on Retro Encounter, we’re discussing the legendary history and output of Obsidian Entertainment. Four Obsidian-heads form a party and break down the developer’s different eras, from their beginnings a… Read More »

Random Encounter 335 – To the “Manor” Born

Posted by Jonathan Logan on November 17, 2025

On this week’s Random Encounter, it’s time to uncover some mysteries in two adventure games! The Séance of Blake Manor has been making waves the last few weeks as one of the best mystery deductive games of the last few years. From the same devs that created the adventure game series, The Darkside De… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 169 – Electro-Bangers Galore!

Posted by Mike Salbato on November 10, 2025

Throughout the planning for this episode, we jokingly used the term “Electro-Bangers,” with credit to panelist Rob White, knowing full well we wouldn’t use it in the end. But then we figured… why not? This episode is full of excellent electronic music and they are all bangers, so there you have it… Read More »

Retro Encounter 472 – Final Fantasy Tactics Revisited

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on November 6, 2025

What we need is Retro Encounter and a way to listen. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we revisit one of the host’s favorites: Final Fantasy Tactics. Three veterans and one newcomer discuss the job system, combat, death sounds, and that excellent story. How does the new version stack up to… Read More »

Random Encounter 334 – A Swing and a Hit, A Swing and a Miss

Posted by Jonathan Logan on November 3, 2025

On this week’s Random Encounter, we are looking at sequels both past and present! First up, Zach is here with his thoughts about the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. While DQ I could have done with a few fewer “enhancements,” it sounds like the new expanded story and features have made DQ II in… Read More »

Retro Encounter 471 – Star Ocean: The Second Story Part II

Posted by Ben Love on October 23, 2025

The Second Story, the second time around. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we finish up the second half of Star Ocean: The Second Story. We become friends with an ancient psychic beast, gather up the last remaining party members, wast time in the aptly named Fun City, and finally take the… Read More »

Random Encounter 333 – Gotta Beat ‘Em All

Posted by Jonathan Logan on October 20, 2025

On this week’s Random Encounter, we are catching ’em all and beating ’em up! When Pokémon Legends: Arceus was released in 2022, it signalled a newer, more experimental type of Pokémon game. Now, Game Freak is back with Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the second entry in the Legends series. With a new real-tim… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 168 – Dear me, I was… Not Born Yet in 1995

Posted by Mike Salbato on October 13, 2025

With another quarter come and gone, we reflect on the games and music released in the last three months to showcase some of our favorite discoveries! From new takes on classics, to brand new music IN classics, alongside straight up new games, there have been several notable happenings in RPG music.… Read More »

Retro Encounter 470 – Star Ocean: The Second Story Part I

Posted by Ben Love on October 9, 2025

The Second Story, but first in our hearts! On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we got marooned on an underdeveloped planet called Expel and discussed Tri-Ace’s western debut title Star Ocean: The Second Story. We compared the finer points of the PSX original with Second Evolution and Second S… Read More »

Random Encounter 332 – Tactical Fantasies

Posted by Jonathan Logan on October 6, 2025

On this week’s Random Encounter, we have a remaster of one of the greatest strategy RPGs of all time! When Final Fantasy Tactics was released on the PSX in 1997, it marked the entry point for countless RPG fans into the world of SRPGs (aka TRPGs), and what an entry point it was. By piggybacking off… Read More »

Random Encounter 331 – Silksong Will Be Released When Hades Freezes Over!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on September 29, 2025

On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re chatting about one of the biggest indie releases of the year! Boy, between Silksong and Hades II, September has been quite a month for indie games. Everyone here at RPGFan has been eagerly awaiting the full release of Hades II since its Early Access release las… Read More »

Retro Encounter 469 – Yoko Taro Encounter

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on September 25, 2025

Women, children, the elderly…doesn’t matter. If you listen to Retro Encounter, you’re going to have a good time. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we dive into the wild and wacky world of Yoko Taro, best known for his work on the NieR and Drakengard franchises. We discuss game design, the… Read More »

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