Unlockables: The Story of Video Games

What Does The Future Hold For Destiny? 28.05.2026 40min

Destiny 2 is ending active development. What did Bungie achieve with their sci-fi follow up to Halo, and how will that legacy be remembered as the game enters a state of stasis? Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green Felt Like Home 21.05.2026 39min

I've played through Kanto and the original Pokémon adventure dozens of times. But this time, the playthrough felt different, and had me thinking a lot about how my relationship with the series has changed as I've grown up. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Pokémon Legends Z-A and Wanting Pokémon To Grow Up 10.04.2026 17min

Pokémon Legends Z-A asked a question that I was genuinely interested in. So of course this sent me into an existential crisis. What do you do when that happens? Podcast about it of course. This episode is my attempt to make sense of my feelings towards Legends Z-A, the series in general and the unstoppable passage of time. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

What's Next 04.02.2026 35min

A life update, and some news about 2026 and the future of the Unlockables. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Video Games, AI, and the Moving Goal Posts of Unethical Consumption 10.12.2025 43min

I have never witnessed in my life such a rush to integrate something into the very fabric of everyday life as I've seen with AI. Within a short time, tech companies are rolling out AI tools into every conceivable service and software they offer. AI has found its way to video games too, and with the threat to art, artists and people who make games reaching existential levels, is there anything we can do to stop the rising tide of AI? Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Blades That Blaze | Fire Emblem (GBA) 17.11.2025 1t 12min

The original Fire Emblem staring Marth would debut in 1990 for the Famicom and remain a Japan exclusive title for nearly a decade. But at the turn of the millenium, with the surprise success of Advance Wars and popularity of Marth and Roy in Smash Brothers Melee, Nintendo decided to bring its tactical JRPG series to an international audience for the first time. This is the story of Fire Emblem on the Game Boy Advance (also known as Fire Emblem 7 or Fire Emblem The Blazing Blade) and how it helped establish the series as a core franchise for Nintendo. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Strawberry Mountains Forever | Celeste 03.11.2025 1t 17min

Indie games have grown into an absolutely massive part of the video game industry over the years, and Celeste stands among them as one of the best. A story of self-doubt, mental health, and overcoming life's challenges is one of the best video game experiences you'll have, period. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Romancing the Kingdoms | Dynasty Warriors Origins 13.10.2025 1t 3min

As the Han Dynasty disintegrates and China's Golden Age collapses, heroes and villains rise up to unify the land under their ideals. It's a story that's been told in the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms and the Dynasty Warriors line of video games. After the sour reception of Dynasty Warriors 9, the series returned with a more modern and polished take on the musou formula, Dynasty Warriors Origins. Would this new entry get the series back on track? Or would it continue the trajectory into mediocrity? Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Guns, Demons, Hell, Oh My! | Doom (1993) 06.10.2025 1t 2min

Hell breaks loose on the Unlockables as today we're taking on hoards of demons in the landmark 1993 game, DOOM! What can Doom teach us about one of the most popular genres of video games? Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Time Is Egg Shaped | Chrono Trigger 15.09.2025 1t 28min

How do you even approach a game hailed as the greatest RPG ever made? How do you begin to talk about something that's had a bar set for it that's so high, nothing could possible live up to the expectations? Well, like this I guess. I played Chrono Trigger for the first time for its 30th anniversary and what I discovered still managed to surprise me. This is the story of my first playthrough of Chrono Trigger. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Sad Little Trees | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 01.09.2025 1t 26min

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is a phenomenal game that sparks some incredible reflection on the themes of grief, family, and perseverance. But these conversations quickly got drowned out by Game of the Year hype and AAA Industry bashing. What should the conversation be around this game, and how can we guide the course of the conversation to a better place that allows this game to stand on its own. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

What Does The Fox Say? | Star Fox (SNES) 18.08.2025 1t 5min

Compared to modern video games, Star Fox on the Super Nintendo looks rudimentary. One of the earliest examples of 3D on a Nintendo system, beneath this simplicity is a story of pushing against hardware limitations and fighting back against the advances of Sega. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! Thank you to everyone who recorded their thoughts and contributed to this episode! Check out Tales From The Backlog! Check out Main Quest Podcast! Check out Retro Hangover! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Born To Be Wild | Monster Hunter Wilds 04.08.2025 1t 15min

Any new entry in the Monster Hunter series is cause for celebration. With the smash hit Monster Hunter World, tons of new fans discovered the series for the first time. Now with a true successor to World, Capcom looks to continue Monster Hunter's momentum. But would the changes and concessions made in the pursuit of streamlining the experience cause Monster Hunter to lose a piece of its soul? Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! Thank you to everyone who recorded their thoughts and contributed to this episode! Check out Tales From The Backlog! Check out Main Quest Podcast! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

An Oath to Return | Guiding Keys: The Story of Kingdom Hearts 06.04.2025 34min

The Guiding Keys min-series and the story of Kingdom Hearts comes to a close. For now. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory | Guiding Keys: The Story of Kingdom Hearts 06.04.2025 1t 3min

The final game in the Kingdom Hearts series (for now) and the final episode of Guiding Keys is Melody of Memory, a rhythm game that celebrates the incredible music of Kingdom Hearts. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Kingdom Hearts Dark Road Part 2 | Guiding Keys: The Story of Kingdom Hearts 06.04.2025 1t 37min

Our analysis of Kingdom Hearts Dark Road continues. As the plot with the upper classmen thickens, Xehanort finds himself on a road that will ultimately see him become the antagonist of the Kingdom Hearts series. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Kingdom Hearts Dark Road Part 1 | Guiding Keys: The Story of Kingdom Hearts 06.04.2025 1t 24min

We've reached the next game in the Kingdom Hearts series and the penultimate game in our Guiding Keys adventures. Dark Road follows the story of a Young Xehanort training to be a Keyblade Master. What truths will be revealed to us about the Seeker of Darkness. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

2024 Round Up: Games Played, Game of the Year, and State of the Unlockables 06.04.2025 2t 3min

As 2024 comes to a close, I take some time to reflect on the games I played this year, as well as the State of the show going into 2025. Thank you all again for another incredible year! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus feat. Poppy the Masked Keaton 06.04.2025 1t 25min

After wanting to play the Sly Cooper series for ages, I finally got some time to dive into the first game on the PS2. Luckily I had Unlockables community member Poppy the Masked Keaton to join me for this discussion! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.

Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire Nuzlocke feat. Adam of The Good, The Bad and the Backlog 06.04.2025 1t 56min

Adam from The Good, the Bad and the Backlog joins the show to discuss our experience doing a Pokémon Nuzlocke run for the first time. The rules we used for this Nuzlocke run are the base rules: one encounter per route, if a Pokémon faints you can't use it for the rest of the run, and you must nickname all Pokémon you catch. Check out The Good, the Bad and the Backlog! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of solo essay episodes, guest interviews, and collaborative episodes on some of the games that shaped us.