Latest episode
Season 1
S1E2 - Persona 5
Dungeon-crawling and life sim elements! Some stories can only be told with both.
This week we take a close look at dungeon-crawling life sim RPG Persona 5! Social links! Day by day time progression! Dungeon crawling the human psyche! We talk about how all of these elements play into the game's multi-faceted narrative.
The summary for this one got a bit long, so feel free to skip ahead to 1:17:00 if you
S1E3 - Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Part 1
We chat about how an open world format changes storytelling for the Zelda series
In this 2-part episode on Breath of the Wild, we break down how the game tells a familiar Zelda story using a fresh take on the series's game structure. And how does tracking a non-linear story across two timelines affect how we read a character's arc? We discuss all this and more!
S1E4 - Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Part 2
Part 2 of our look into this unconventional take on the beloved franchise!
This is part 2 of a 2-part series. Be sure to start with the first one!
We break down how Breath of the Wild's story tells a familiar Zelda story using a fresh take on the series's game structure. And how does tracking a non-linear story across two timelines affect how we read a character's arc? We discuss all this and more!
S1E5 - God of War (2018)
A god-hating, parricidal widower must climb a mountain. But will he climb the right one?! Also he has a son.
Join us as we follow the arcs of Kratos and Atreus in this semi-reboot of the god-killing action franchise! We talk about the use of RPG elements in a game involving children and veteran warriors, mentor and parental relationships in video games, and more.
Check back each week for a new discussion of a video game story!
S1E6 - Pokemon Gen 1
It turns out this game is about a whole lot more than just catching them all - who knew?
We take a deep dive into the world of Pokemon and find out there's more than we realized playing back in the 90's! In this episode, we look at what themes the game has and how its mechanics double down on its message. Plus we share some of our favorite crazy fan theories and wild Pokedex entries!
S1E7 - The Zelda Timeline
Continuity: does it really make everything better?
We discuss the Zelda timeline! How much does it add to a player's enjoyment of the story, and does it even need to exist?
Check back each week for a new discussion of a video game story! As always, catch us on Instagram and Twitter at @playervsplot, send your questions and comments to playervsplot
S1E8 - Doki Doki Literature Club
A club full of girls who are sugar, spice, and slowly going insane?
Content Warning: discussion of graphic violence and disturbing themes
We tackle the visual novel that decided to blend two genres: dating simulators and psychological horror. I guess opposites attract?!? Join us as we unpack the characters, the poetry, and, most importantly, the themes of this super kawaii literature club!
S1E9 - Romance in Video Games
Love takes many forms. Like giving someone you like a piece of dried meat every day.
This week we discuss the many ways video games tackle romance, both mechanically and thematically. Why do they use the mechanics that they do to represent love? Why is it so often successful to integrate dating simulation mechanics with other genres? And what is a game's mechanical representation of love saying about the role it plays in the story?
S1E10 - Lightning Round: Celeste, Mario, and Donkey Kong Country!
Are platformers about more than just being really good at moving right and jumping over things?
In our season one finale, we tackle three games in one episode: Super Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong Country, and Celeste. Each one has similar core mechanics but tells a completely different story! We discuss what those toads were doing in all those castles, whether King K Rool is a communist or just a regular pirate king, and how a new hair color can help