Best Gamedevelopment Podcasts (2025)

1
Conversation with the Composer of Death Stranding 2: Life, Career, and Working with Hideo Kojima 37:25

Play Pause

1d ago37:25

37:25

In this very special episode of Bonfire Conversations, I finally sit down with Ludvig Forssell—composer and audio director behind Metal Gear Solid V, Death Stranding, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.We talk about his journey from Sweden to Japan, how he landed his first gig at Konami, and what it’s really like collaborating with Hideo Kojima. L…

1
Ep 409 - Designing Emotionally-Driven Games with Nicholas O'Brien 58:04

1d ago58:04

58:04

Many games are fun, but few stay with us after the credits roll. So today, we’re going to dive into how indie devs can use game mechanics, narrative, and aesthetic choices to create emotional resonance and meaning in their titles. From narrative tools to methods that focus on player empathy, we unpack the secrets behind making games that create a l…

1
Ep 409 - Designing Emotionally-Driven Games with Nicholas O'Brien 58:04

1d ago58:04

58:04

Many games are fun, but few stay with us after the credits roll. So today, we’re going to dive into how indie devs can use game mechanics, narrative, and aesthetic choices to create emotional resonance and meaning in their titles. From narrative tools to methods that focus on player empathy, we unpack the secrets behind making games that create a l…

1
Creating the Music for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with Composer Lorien Testard 1:16:07

2d ago1:16:07

1:16:07

Austin Wintory chats with Lorien Testard, the composer for Sandfall Interactive's debut hit RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Together they discuss his background in music theory and how he connected with Sandfall; working with singer Alice Duport-Percier to create the vocal pieces; creating a soundtrack with diverse sounds that keeps a unified vis…

1
Pride Week Special: Actor Ashly Burch 43:18

5d ago43:18

43:18

Happy Pride Week 2025. As part of our week-long series of articles looking at queer culture and representation in games, we sit down with writer and director Ashly Burch, who came out as queer in 2022. She's known for portraying characters such as Aloy in the Horizon series of games, Chloe Price in Life is Strange, Tiny Tina in Borderlands, Mel in …

1
BrontoSource and Swiss Tables 51:46

6d ago51:46

51:46

Matt Kulukundis joins Timur and Phil. Matt talks to us about BrontoSource, his start-up focused on refactoring, updating or migrating large codebases, as well as his work on Swiss Tables. News Herb Sutter's WG21, Bulgaria, trip report End of active development on jemalloc "Amortized O(1) complexity" - Andreas Weiss' lightning talk Reddit discussion…

1
5 Principles Game Producers Need with 35-Year Industry Vet Steve Sargent 1:19:55

8d ago1:19:55

1:19:55

What does it truly take to deliver a great game consistently in an industry known for its challenges and complexities? Join us for a conversation with Steve Sargent, Head of Production at Blind Squirrel Games, a veteran with over 35 years of experience in the game industry, including work on iconic titles like BioShock: The Collection and Mass Effe…

1
Ep 408 - How Indies Will Save the Industry with Erik Reynolds 1:08:55

9d ago1:08:55

1:08:55

Mainstream game development is at a crossroads—bloated budgets, safe bets, and sequel fatigue are threatening innovation. But the indie scene might just be the industry’s best hope. In this episode, our guest unpacks how indies are not only surviving but reshaping the gaming landscape. We dig into what makes indie studios uniquely suited to lead th…

1
Ep 408 - How Indies Will Save the Industry with Erik Reynolds 1:08:55

9d ago1:08:55

1:08:55

Mainstream game development is at a crossroads—bloated budgets, safe bets, and sequel fatigue are threatening innovation. But the indie scene might just be the industry’s best hope. In this episode, our guest unpacks how indies are not only surviving but reshaping the gaming landscape. We dig into what makes indie studios uniquely suited to lead th…

1
Exploring Wartales with Shiro Games' CEO Nicolas Cannasse 2:06:39

9d ago2:06:39

2:06:39

Trent Kusters chats with CEO and Co-Founder of Shiro Games, Nicolas Cannasse. Together they discuss his career in games including co-founding two succesful indie studios with his prior work at Dead Cells developer Motion Twin; creating his own programming language called Haxe; his work as a game director on titles such as Evoland, Northgard, and Wa…

1
Laughs, Games & Career Turns: Mike Drucker’s Path from SNL, Nintendo to Tonight Show and New Memoir 1:01:45

12d ago1:01:45

1:01:45

In this episode of Game Dev Advice, writer and comedian Mike Drucker shares his journey across the worlds of television, video games, and comedy. Starting as an assistant and researcher at Saturday Night Live, Mike moved into game localization at Nintendo—where he even played basketball with Reggie Fils-Aimé—before joining The Tonight Show Starring…

1
Ep 407 - How Game Mechanics Can Transform How We Learn with Micah Greenleaf 56:39

16d ago56:39

56:39

Leveling up in real life takes more than just discipline, passion and trying to level up others, it takes smart design. In this episode, we explore how game design principles can help us, devs and creators, develop practical life skills, reframe personal challenges, and even learn more effectively from that process. To today, we’re going unpack how…

1
Ep 407 - How Game Mechanics Can Transform How We Learn with Micah Greenleaf 56:39

16d ago56:39

56:39

Leveling up in real life takes more than just discipline, passion and trying to level up others, it takes smart design. In this episode, we explore how game design principles can help us, devs and creators, develop practical life skills, reframe personal challenges, and even learn more effectively from that process. To today, we’re going unpack how…

1
XCOM Creator Julian Gollop Shares Game Design Tips, Dev Stories and More 1:34:15

16d ago1:34:15

1:34:15

Trent Kusters chats with Julian Gollop, founder and game designer at Snapshot Games. Together they discuss his legendary journey designing games from the creation of the original XCOM: UFO Defense to his studio's latest release, Chip 'n Clawz vs. the Brainioids; how to use constraint as a key design pillar; having the courage to remove features for…

1
E91: How to Stop Compromising and Make the Studio You Actually Want with Critical Path Games 1:42:10

22d ago1:42:10

1:42:10

Game production lives and dies on planning—but most teams are still building like it’s 2010. In this episode, Ben is joined by Jeanne-Marie Owens and Jesse Houston of Critical Path to reveal better ways a studio can function based on decades of experience. From the myth of the “critical path” to the illusion that things will magically come together…

1
Ep 406 - Building Games and Community with Purpose with Riad Djemili 58:48

23d ago58:48

58:48

Indie devs often wear too many hats, making it hard to give each area, like production, marketing, and community the attention it deserves. But what happens when you're stretched too thin? How does that affect your game, your message, and the trust you've built with players? In today’s discussion, we’ll look at the real-world challenges of running …

1
Ep 406 - Building Games and Community with Purpose with Riad Djemili 58:48

23d ago58:48

58:48

Indie devs often wear too many hats, making it hard to give each area, like production, marketing, and community the attention it deserves. But what happens when you're stretched too thin? How does that affect your game, your message, and the trust you've built with players? In today’s discussion, we’ll look at the real-world challenges of running …

1
How Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Epic Story was Crafted with Jennifer Svedberg-Yen 1:34:44

23d ago1:34:44

1:34:44

*This episode contains heavy spoilers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Alexa Ray Corriea chats with Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, the lead writer on Sandfall Interactive's debut hit, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Together they discuss how she went from a career in finance and investments to her first job in games; how the world and characters evolved throug…

1
Friends-and-Family Special 1:02:40

26d ago1:02:40

1:02:40

Phil and Timur are joined by Jason Turner, Matt Godbolt, Anastasia Kazakova and Guy Davidson to celebrate 400 episodes of CppCast and catch up with the co-hosts that have helped us keep up for the last 50 of them! News Boost.Bloom has been accepted into Boost "Three types of name lookups in C++" - Sandor Dargo "How Compiler Explorer Works in 2025" …

1
Ep 405 - How to Spot and Support Viral Games with Sam De Boeck 40:34

30d ago40:34

40:34

Many developers dream of going viral, but few understand what it actually takes to get there. While focusing on virality isn’t everything, it can help build momentum. So today, we’re going to talk about how to identify, shape, and publish games with viral potential, all without chasing trends or sacrificing originality, by learning what early signa…

1
Ep 405 - How to Spot and Support Viral Games with Sam De Boeck 40:34

30d ago40:34

40:34

Many developers dream of going viral, but few understand what it actually takes to get there. While focusing on virality isn’t everything, it can help build momentum. So today, we’re going to talk about how to identify, shape, and publish games with viral potential, all without chasing trends or sacrificing originality, by learning what early signa…

1
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II with Lead Designer Prokop Jirsa 1:53:00

1M ago1:53:00

1:53:00

Trent Kusters chats with Prokop Jirsa, Lead Designer on Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, the hit historical RPG by Warhorse Studios. Together they discuss the key pillars of the Kingdom Come series that influence the decisions they make around narrative and design; their focus on emergent gameplay and how that informs their philosophy on quest structu…

1
E90: The Engineering Talent Pipeline is Broken: Juniors, AI & the Future of Game Dev w/ Carly Taylor 1:18:25

1M ago1:18:25

1:18:25

Hiring only senior engineers might feel like a smart move, but is it breaking game development? In this episode, Ben sits down with Carly Taylor (an engineer and data scientist formerly on Call of Duty, now at Databricks) to tackle one of the most pressing and misunderstood issues in game development today: the crumbling pipeline of engineering tal…

1
Ep 404 - Redefining the Publishing Landscape with Ben Kvalo 1:05:26

1M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

The publishing model most indie devs face is outdated and often stacked against them. Rigid contracts, hidden expectations, and a lack of real partnership force devs to choose between full independence or giving up too much. But thankfully, a new approach is emerging. In this episode, we explore what a modern publishing model looks like, one that’s…

1
Ep 404 - Redefining the Publishing Landscape with Ben Kvalo 1:05:26

1M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

The publishing model most indie devs face is outdated and often stacked against them. Rigid contracts, hidden expectations, and a lack of real partnership force devs to choose between full independence or giving up too much. But thankfully, a new approach is emerging. In this episode, we explore what a modern publishing model looks like, one that’s…

1
Writing the Mythos of South of Midnight with Zaire Lanier and Dani Dee 1:17:03

1M ago1:17:03

1:17:03

Alexa Ray Corriea chats with writers Dani Dee and Zaire Lanier about their work on Compulsion Games latest action-adventure, South of Midnight. Together they discuss how they began their careers in writing and what led them to Compulsion Games; how the team stayed authentic to the folklore of the American Deep South; the process of writing the main…

1
From Refactoring to (physical) Relocation 51:24

1M ago51:24

51:24

Kristen Shaker joins Timur and Phil. Kristen talks to us about her C++ on Sea keynote about the C++ interview process, her previous work at Google, and why she has made a slightly unusual career change. News libc++ removed the base template for std::char_traits "how to break or continue from a lambda loop?" - Vittoria Romeo Results from the 2025 An…

1
Ep 403 - Winning at PR Without a Big Budget with Shanté Micah & Josh Moody 1:05:02

1M ago1:05:02

1:05:02

Many indie studios feel locked out of traditional PR, feeling like you need an agency and big budget just to get noticed. In this episode, we break down how to earn meaningful media coverage with a story worth telling and how to create a system to share it. Learn how a strategic approach to visibility can build credibility, attract players, and dri…

1
Ep 403 - Winning at PR Without a Big Budget with Shanté Micah & Josh Moody 1:05:02

1M ago1:05:02

1:05:02

Many indie studios feel locked out of traditional PR, feeling like you need an agency and big budget just to get noticed. In this episode, we break down how to earn meaningful media coverage with a story worth telling and how to create a system to share it. Learn how a strategic approach to visibility can build credibility, attract players, and dri…

1
Expedition 33 with Maelle Actor Jennifer English 59:29

1M ago59:29

59:29

Alexa Ray Corriea chats with actor Jennifer English, best known for her iconic roles in games like Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate III, and Sandfall Interactive's debut smash hit, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Together they discuss her prior career in classical theater as well as her previous work in games leading up to playing Maelle in Expedition 33; wo…

1
E89: The Cost of Power: Leadership, Burnout & Survival in Game Dev with Melissa Phillips 1:00:32

2M ago1:00:32

1:00:32

Building a game is hard. Leading the team to do it well without losing yourself along the way? That’s even harder. In this episode, Ben sits down with Melissa Phillips, founder of Games Leadership and a former Head of Studio, to talk about the messy, emotional, and deeply human side of game leadership. From BAFTA boardrooms to indie trenches, Melis…

1
Austin Wintory on Life, Childhood, Creativity and Towerborne 1:01:52

2M ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Join me by the fire for a soulful and deep conversation with Grammy-nominated composer Austin Wintory, whose work on Journey, Flow, The Banner Saga, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, and the new Towerborne has redefined what music can do in games.In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, we talk about childhood, creativity, meeting your heroes, memoirs, …

1
Ep 402 - Making Sense of Game Marketing Attribution with Matthias Mirlach 1:11:16

2M ago1:11:16

1:11:16

Attribution often feels like a black box for indie devs, but ignoring it can cost you time, money, and momentum. In this episode, we break down what attribution really is, why it matters, and how small teams can start tracking what counts while learning how to avoid misleading metrics, balance data with creative instincts, and make smarter marketin…

1
Ep 402 - Making Sense of Game Marketing Attribution with Matthias Mirlach 1:11:16

2M ago1:11:16

1:11:16

Attribution often feels like a black box for indie devs, but ignoring it can cost you time, money, and momentum. In this episode, we break down what attribution really is, why it matters, and how small teams can start tracking what counts while learning how to avoid misleading metrics, balance data with creative instincts, and make smarter marketin…

1
Navigating the Shifting Corridors of BLUE PRINCE with Creator Tonda Ros 1:59:59

2M ago1:59:59

1:59:59

Trent Kusters chats with Tonda Ros, the creator of the mind bending puzzle roguelike, Blue Prince. Together they discuss his prior career navigating the film industry and how he found himself creating his first game; the early tools and resources that helped him get started; brining in additional team members and what that meant for the project tim…

1
libstdc++ 1:02:11

2M ago1:02:11

1:02:11

Jonathan Wakely joins Phil and Timur. Jonathan talks to us about libstdc++ (GCC's standard library implementation), of which he is the lead maintainer, and tackles some tough questions like ABI compatibility - and how GCC and libstdc++ approach it. News GCC 15 released (release notes) Boost.OpenMethod review (finished) 2025 Annual C++ Developer Sur…

1
Ep 401 - How to Turn Jams into Plans and Opportunities with Juliana Brito 53:39

2M ago53:39

53:39

When it comes to game jams, too many projects get shelved before they reach their full potential. In this episode, we’re going to explore how jams and small projects can become launchpads for long-term opportunity with the right support. From mentorship and incubation to funding access and marketing guidance, learn how structured programs are helpi…

1
Ep 401 - How to Turn Jams into Plans and Opportunities with Juliana Brito 53:39

2M ago53:39

53:39

When it comes to game jams, too many projects get shelved before they reach their full potential. In this episode, we’re going to explore how jams and small projects can become launchpads for long-term opportunity with the right support. From mentorship and incubation to funding access and marketing guidance, learn how structured programs are helpi…

1
How 3 Brothers Started a Game Studio - Butterscotch Shenanigans 1:07:53

2M ago1:07:53

1:07:53

Trent Kusters chats with brothers Adam and Seth Coster of indie studio, Butterscotch Shenanigans, who recently released Crashlands 2, the sequel to their hit debut release. Together they discuss their story of 3 brothers working in different fields who came together to make games; the mistakes and lessons they learned while building the studio; how…

1
0363: Roundtable News | Marathon Already Gassing Out? 1:13:27

2M ago1:13:27

1:13:27

About this episode:Marathon is supposed to usher in a return of great AAA western gaming, but did it fall short? Tune in for our impressions and outlook. Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ [email protected]• 💰⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/…

1
Composer of Andor on Season 2, Working with Tony Gilroy, Star Wars Horror and Eli Roth 23:55

2M ago23:55

23:55

Dive deep into the sonic landscape of Andor Season 2 (Available on Disney Plus) with composer Brandon Roberts! In this exclusive Bonfire Conversations interview, Brandon shares the incredible journey of stepping into the Star Wars universe, following in the footsteps of John Williams and Nicholas Britell, to score one of the most critically acclaim…