The Staying In Podcast - four pals talk video games, board games, and movies

It’s time to dredge up some painful memories of mid-tier Tom Clancy games with Predator: Badlands, then it’s onto cheerier topics, like a discussion on Marvel’s latest short run TV series Wonder Man and whether it might be the start of a new era for the MCU. Having already properly dated the show with a recent “holiday” we turn to Game Dev Story from Kairosoft, a fairly casual but very revealing management game, then it’s off to the Jazz Age with Gatsby from Catch Up Games via Hachette.

All that, and an incorrect use of butter, on Ep242.

00:00 - A Triple Whammy

06:42 - Game Dev Story

17:17 - Predator: Badlands

30:16 - Gatsby

41:56 - Wonder Man

On this episode were Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).

Our Spotify Playlist brings together lots of great thematic music inspired by the stuff we talk about, our Steam Curator page collects every video game we’ve ever reviewed available on the platform, and our BoardGameGeek page does the same for every boardgame. And if you’d like to see what we’re up to between podcasts, your best bet is our Instagram page.

Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com

Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.

It’s time to get a grip on mobile gaming, so we go hands-on with MCON from Ohsnap, a dedicated MagSafe controller attachment for your phone that’s perfect for Android and iPhone gaming, as well as emulation and game streaming. We also throw down with the latest from Big Potato Games, the old-timey-charity-donation-by-way-of-marbles-em-up, Whirly Derby. And then there’s Duel for Cardia from Hans im Glück, a lovely and super affordable simultaneous action card game that takes up no room at all - except for in our hearts.

All that, and the many forms of baths, on Ep241.

00:00 - To be fair, he does eat lasagna

06:47 - Whirly Derby

21:08 - MCON

44:53 - Duel for Cardia

On this episode were Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).

Our Spotify Playlist brings together lots of great thematic music inspired by the stuff we talk about, our Steam Curator page collects every video game we’ve ever reviewed available on the platform, and our BoardGameGeek page does the same for every boardgame. And if you’d like to see what we’re up to between podcasts, your best bet is our Instagram page.

Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com

Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.

We take a (one-eyed?) look at two weird (outsider art?) horror-adjacent video games from Critical Reflex on this episode, Mouthwashing from Wrong Organ and Arctic Eggs from The Water Museum, cockydoody, abmarnie, and Cameron Ginex. Then on the AAA side of the scale is the ridiculously slick open world assassin adventure Ghost of Yōtei from Sucker Punch. Meanwhile, on a more family-friendly board game theme, we think about how best to introduce board game mechanics to much younger minds while reviewing Minecraft Builder & Biomes Junior from Ravensburger.

All that, and confessing to a terrible lie, on Ep240.

00:00 - Elevenerife

04:57 - Minecraft Builder & Biomes Junior

23:02 - Arctic Eggs

32:05 - Mouthwashing

43:17 - Ghost of Yōtei

On this episode were Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).

Our Spotify Playlist brings together lots of great thematic music inspired by the stuff we talk about, our Steam Curator page collects every video game we’ve ever reviewed available on the platform, and our BoardGameGeek page does the same for every boardgame. And if you’d like to see what we’re up to between podcasts, your best bet is our Instagram page.

Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com

Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.

We take a deeper look at two extraordinary MachineGames titles, the adventure straight from the silver screen Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Wolfenstein: The New Order, which features simply some of the best writing in video games.

We also turn to two puzzle platformers, the classic time-bending of Number None’s Braid, and the co-op joy of LEGO Voyagers from Light Brick Studio, the only game that feels like playing with plastic bricks.

Over on the tabletop there’s a good amount of time spent on the bright and punchy Tag Team from Le Scorpion Masqué and I-cut-you-choose cosy set collection of Agent Avenue by NerdLab.

All that, and trending shakers, on Ep239.

00:00 - Amsterdam's best kept secret

07:56 - Braid

11:01 - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

16:00 - Wolfenstein: The New Order

30:14 - Agent Avenue

40:33 - Tag Team

48:16 - LEGO Voyagers

On this episode were Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).

Our Spotify Playlist brings together lots of great thematic music inspired by the stuff we talk about, our Steam Curator page collects every video game we’ve ever reviewed available on the platform, and our BoardGameGeek page does the same for every boardgame. And if you’d like to see what we’re up to between podcasts, your best bet is our Instagram page.

Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com

Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.

As we head into 2026, we take a look back at our favourite things from 2025.

00:00 - Auld Lang Syne

02:20 - The Murderbot Diaries

13:50 - Andor, Season 2

20:21 - Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy

21:19 - Department Q

25:18 - Common Side Effects

28:39 - Last One Laughing

32:16 - Wavelength App

33:47 - Weapons

34:09 - Slay the Spire

34:31 - Hell or High Rollers

35:55 - Einstein on the Beach

36:59 - skate.

37:09 - Drops of God

37:54 - Blue Prince

42:28 - The Roottrees are Dead

45:21 - Civilization

47:49 - Daybreak

55:13 - Gibberers

56:40 - Strike

All that, and a Happy New Year, on Ep238.

On this episode were Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).

Our Spotify Playlist brings together lots of great thematic music inspired by the stuff we talk about, our Steam Curator page collects every video game we’ve ever reviewed available on the platform, and our BoardGameGeek page does the same for every boardgame. And if you’d like to see what we’re up to between podcasts, your best bet is our Instagram page.

Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com

Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.