PODCAST · leisure
Critical Diversions
by Matt Murray
A games club podcast with a rotating cast that gets together semi-regularly to hang out and talk about games
Episodes
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Irregular Diversion: August and September 2026
With another hiatus between main episodes comes another massive batch of games to talk about. On this thrilling episode, Matt's going in-depth into these games: Splatoon Raiders Yakuza 5 CULTIC Metroid Dread Orbitals Blood Dungeon Fields of Mistria Well Dweller Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Trails...
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Irregular Diversion: Nintendo Directs for September 2026
Matt's here once again to talk about not one, but TWO Nintendo Directs. There are many surprised in store for the Kirby loving, Ocarina of Time hatin' host as he dives into the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct and the September 9th General Direct, so come on in. Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game...
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Irregular Diversion: June and July 2026
After a long hiatus, Matt's finally back to talk about a whole mess of games he's been playing this summer. Including but not limited to: Splatoon Raiders, UFO 50 Nonograms, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (again), Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and Denshattack! UFO 50 Nonograms by M3zik Check out Bit...
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Irregular Diversion: Summer Game Season Presentations 2026
On this quadruple stuf'd episode of the show, Matt's going in-depth into basically all announcements coming out of Summer Game Fest 2026, recent Playstation State of Play, and Nintendo Direct, See how long one man's voice can possibly last under this intensity. Matt's wife's new Youtube channel,...
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Irregular Diversion: May 2026
Matt's back with the regularly scheduled Irregular Diversion to talk about games he's played in May. Come hear what he has to say about Bubsy 4D, Sektori (again!), Mina the Hollower, and an investigative report into why people are glazing Mixtape so much. Plus more! Seth's video on Sektori Check...
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Irregular Diversion: April 2026
Matt's here to update you on games he's played in April. Come listen if you wanna hear about Resident Evil requiem, Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth, Persona 3 Portable, the Mario Wonder DLC, and lots more! Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music Podcast! Bit Harmony on Apple Bit Harmony on Spotify...
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Irregular Diversion: Q1 2026
Matt's back! And talking about a bunch of games over the last three months. Maybe this becomes a regular thing, maybe it doesn't; just enjoy this Critical Diversions revisit as we talk about Yakuza Kiwami 3, Pokémon Pokopia, Caves of Qud, Sektori, UFO 50, and much, much (much!) more. Check out…
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Irregular Diversion: Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2
At the request of Wilkins, Matt and his wife Natascha have done their best to summarize the plots of Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2 on the eve's eve's eve of the release of Kiwami 3, while also talking about what they love about the series so much. Get webby for an exploration on beast style, positive...
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Game of the Year 2025
Everyone (or at least Boogs, Seth, Jason, Hunter, Wilk, Jim, and Matt) is here to talk for way too long about the Critical Diversions group list for game of the year. Come for the glazing, stay for Animal Well being needlessly dragged through the mud repeatedly for absolutely no reason at all....
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Weekly Diversion 01/17/2026: Sorry This Podcast Is Closed
It's the end of the show as we know it, and Matt's closing it out in the only way he knows how: by talking about a bunch of different games he's been playing the past few weeks. Join us for one final foray, alongside games such as Animal Crossing New Horizons, Yakuza Kiwami 2, Sorry We're Closed,...
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Weekly Diversion 01/03/2026: Have Ya Heard About This Skyrim Thing?
Matt's back after an unplanned holiday break to talk about more Angeline Era and Fantasy Life i, Skyrim, and his most anticipated games of 2026 (so far). Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music Podcast! Bit Harmony on Apple Bit Harmony on Spotify Become a Patron of All N! Matt Murray on Blue…
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Weekly Diversion 12/20/2025: Scraping Joy
On this near-Christmas episode of the show, Matt's winding down the year by talking about Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Skate Story, Pokémon Lazarus, and the current dumpster fire that is Larian Studios and their use of generative AI, among other things! Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music...
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Weekly Diversion 12/13/2025: The Post-TGAs 2025 Episode
Matt's played a lot of different games in the past week, and you're the audience he's got to talk about them to. We've also got all of The Game Awards announcements to go over, and I do mean ALL of them, for some reason. Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music Podcast! Bit Harmony on Apple Bit...
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Weekly Diversion 12/05/2025: The Myles McKenzie Factor
Metroid Prime 4 is out, and Matt's gonna talk about it for a while. We've also gotta talk some Kirby Air Riders, Infinity Nikki 2.0, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, plus others, believe it or not! Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music Podcast! Bit Harmony on Apple Bit Harmony on Spotify Become a…
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Weekly Diversion 11/22/2025: Kirby Air Riders Was Robbed By The Game Awards
Kirby Air Riders is officially out in the world, and Matt's here to ramble about how good it is for an uncomfortable amount of time. He's also got a lot to say about Final Fantasy Tactics, Birdcage, and The Game Awards nominations, so get in here. Matt's review of Birdcage Check out Bit Harmony…
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Weekly Diversion 11/15/2025: Bury My Heart in Videoverse
Matt's back after a missed week, and there's plenty to talk about, such as the Kirby Air Riders demo, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and Videoverse. We'll also be tiptoeing a bit into GTA6's latest delay and the reasons for it, as well as talking about Pokopia and the Super Mario Galaxy...
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Weekly Diversion 10/30/2025: Another Halo 1 Remake
On top of talking about games he's been playing this week, such as Vampire Survivors and Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, Matt also got to experience breaking news in the middle of recording this podcast in the form of a Switch 2 edition of Animal Crossing, plus 3.0 update. It's a weirdly packed,...
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Weekly Diversion 10/24/2025: GUMMIES | Collection
Matt's finished Absolum and started playing Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar this week. But none of that matters, because we have the second Kirby Air Riders direct to talk about. Matt's review of Absolum Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music Podcast! Bit Harmony on Apple Bit Harmony on Spotify...
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Weekly Diversion 10/16/2025: Where'd I Get All These Roguelites I'm Playing
This week, Matt's still playing Hades 2. But also Ball x Pit and Absolum. It's the week of (very high quality) roguelites, baby. In the news, we've got release dates, surprise ports, delays, and data theft leaks, oh my. Matt's review of Ball x Pit Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music…
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Weekly Diversion 10/09/2025: We Did It. We Beat Hiatus Culture
Your Weekly Diversion is back, and it's dragging Matt with it. We've got a lot to talk about this time, including final thoughts on Hollow Knight Silksong, ongoing Hades 2 talk, and just how good Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is. And that's without even getting into the news, like Mario & Wario...
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Weekly Diversion 09/13/2025: The Hollow Knight Silksong and Nintendo Direct Rundown Spectacular
Matt's back for one last weekly diversion before a couple week break. And as the title would imply, he has only played Silksong this week, and yet still managed to put out a nearly two hour episode. Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music Podcast! Bit Harmony on Apple Bit Harmony on Spotify...
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Weekly Diversion 09/06/2025: Grooming the Chicken Gramophone
On this very sleepy edition of the Weekly Diversion, Matt's here to talk about Silksong, ranking some UFO 50 games, muse about why the cat is misbehaving so badly during a podcast recording, and talking about the latest Infinity Nikki update, including the Stardew Valley music hidden within.…
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Weekly Diversion 08/29/2025: Plus Star Crossed Worlds
We're back to a more reasonable runtime this week. Matt's talking about finishing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the new Kirby DLC (I'm not typing that whole thing out), and Chibi Robo. When it comes to news, it's a completely random hodgepodge of Mega Hawluchas and Memories of Oaths of Memoirs of...
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Weekly Diversion 08/23/2025: You Gotta Come On Up To the Party House
The carbonated water saga of the Weekly Diversion has ended....for now. It's time to get back to what really matters in life: talking about UFO 50 and going over Gamescom news, such as Indiana Jones coming to Switch 2, a 45 minute Kirby Air Riders direct, and hands down the biggest news of the...
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Weekly Diversion 08/16/2025: The 100th Episode Carbonated Water Spectacular
That's right, 100 episodes deep and we're just as tired and rambly as ever. On this special episode of the show, Matt's talking at length about carbonated water again, as well as his top 10 favorite games so far this year and what his most anticipated games are for the remainder. Check out Bit...
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Weekly Diversion 08/09/2025: Somehow UFO 50 Returned
This week on the show: UFO 50 is back with a vengeance. Matt's also finished Ninja Gaiden Ragebound and watched his wife play a lot more of Tales of the Shire. For news, we've got another Nintendo presentation to cover, as well as some stuff out of EVO. Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music...
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Weekly Diversion 08/01/2025: If I Give You the Chunk You're Gonna Take It
On the schedule this week: we have a Nintendo Direct to go over! Ninja Gaiden Ragebound and Tales of the Shire came out this week! Infinity Nikki had its biggest (and coolest) update yet! Mario Paint returns! Matt complains a lot about carbonated water! And much, much more. Check out Bit Harmony…
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Weekly Diversion 07/25/2025: Unlaunched
On this week's episode of the show, we've got even more interruptions and diversions than usual. In between all that, Matt's talking about finishing Donkey Kong Bananza, as well as a potential incoming Nintendo Direct, the "unlaunch" of Splitgate 2, and remembering Plants vs Zombies for what it...
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Weekly Diversion 07/19/2025: And Now His Donk Watch Is Ended
Donkey Kong Bananza is finally here. So naturally we're talking about a bunch of other stuff, like a potential Dragon Quest VII remake and the casting of Link and Zelda in the live action Legend of Zelda movie. Matt's also letting you know about how surprisingly good Misc.: A Tiny Tale was. And...
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Weekly Diversion 07/12/2025: Perilously Persnickety Parries
On the thrilling conclusion to Donk Watch 2k25, Matt's here to talk about a wide-ranging slew of games, including Bowser's Fury, Soul Calibur 2, and the demo for Wild Hearts S. Join him for all of this and so, so much more, including self checkout woes and hiding in toilet stalls at work. Check…
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Weekly Diversion 07/04/2025: The Great Donk Watch 2k25
On this tumultuous episode of the show, Matt's talking about his replay of Super Mario Odyssey, Bushido Ball and its Windjammers inspirations, and finding out how many espresso's worth of caffeine is in his drink live on air. In the news, we're waxing nostalgic about various entries of Mario…
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Weekly Diversion 06/25/2025: The Futility of Existence in This Mario Kart World
Have y'all heard of this Switch 2 thing? Wild. Matt's back from a stressful hiatus with Switch 2 in hand to talk about Mario Kart World, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, Fantasy Life i, and, most importantly, more UFO 50. There'll be some Donkey Kong Bananza talk in here somewhere as well, between all of...
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Weekly Diversion 05/31/2025: The Kindness of Infinity Nikki Strangers
On the last episode of the show for a few weeks, Matt ruminates on the upcoming Switch 2 launch, gives updates on Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, and declares UFO 50 to be "pretty neat". And in the news, we're talkings lots of guff about corporate layoffs and the current weird madeup...
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Weekly Diversion 05/23/2025: I Can't Believe Darth Vader Was Racist
We're back from a brief hiatus! Matt's catching yuns up on games he's been playing for the past few weeks, though in his heart, Fantasy Life i is the only one that matters. In the news, Randy Pitchford is dumb and Darth Vader is.....evil??? As well as talk about an Alex Garland directed Elden…
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Weekly Diversion 05/02/2025: Super Sonic Podcasting
Matt's in a race against the clock to finish ranting on a podcast before his wife gets home. Will he make it? Tune in to find out, dear listener. Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music Podcast! Bit Harmony on Apple Bit Harmony on Spotify Become a Patron of All N! Matt Murray on Blue Sky -...
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Weekly Diversion 04/25/2025: Sacred Stones
Matt's back after a week off, and we're continuing the Batman Arkham City piss talk, as well as some early glazing for the Lunar Remastered Collection. In the news, we're continuing to feed the bottomless Switch 2 discourse beast, as well as talk about The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remaster and...
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Weekly Diversion 04/11/2025: You're Either Eswat Or You're Not
On this extra tired edition of the Weekly Diversion, Matt finally gets to talk about Promise Mascot Agency after having played it to completion weeks ago. Turns out: it's pretty good. We're also talking more Monster Hunter Wilds, the Switch version of Batman Arkham City for some reason, and more...
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Weekly Diversion 04/04/2025: Infinity Natascha
On this special post-Switch 2 Direct edition of the Weekly Diversion, Matt's wife, Natascha, is joining him to break it all down, as well as also being the expert on call for games like Infinity Nikki and Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music…
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Weekly Diversion 03/28/2025: God is Dead and She Took Planet Robobot With Her
On this week's dramatic episode, witness true heartbreak and despair as a big dumb Kirby fan doesn't get what he wants out of a 35 minute commercial for Nintendo games. Also we're talking more about Monster Hunter Wilds, Ender Magnolia, Xenoblade Chronicles X, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Matt's…
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Weekly Diversion 03/21/2025: Long Momo
They made Infinity Nikki's Momo long now? They made Infinity Nikki's Momo long now. This, and other exciting updates on Star of Providence, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition await you in this episode of the Weekly Diversion. Plus more? Plus more. Check out Bit...
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Weekly Diversion 03/15/2025: The Diversion That Almost Wasn't
Against all the odds, we're still here, and back once again to talk about games. This week in particular, it's just more Star of Providence, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Monster Hunter Wilds, as well as some Chrono Trigger 30th anniversary non-game projects and a pervert clicking GameCube analog...
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Weekly Diversion 03/08/2025: This One's For All The Big Boys
On this week's show, Matt's putting on his big boy apology pants and kissing Capcom's ring, at last swearing loyalty to Monster Hunter once again. In other games, Star of Providence continues to be one of the best games ever made, Spelunky 2 got a native PS5 version, and Matt's playing dumb…
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Weekly Diversion 03/01/2025: Like a Passing Breeze
On this week's episode, Matt opens up the glaze factory for Star of Providence, boldly declaring it to be one of the best roguelites he's ever played. He's also doing the opposite of glazing for Pokémon Legends Z-A, the latest disappointment that Nintendo dorks will endlessly bemoan when it comes...
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Weekly Diversion 02/22/2025: Your My Nintendo Gold Points Are No Good Here
On this chaotic edition of the Weekly Diversion, Matt's regaling y'all with the harrowing journey of a cat that ate a bit of plastic, as well as his overall thoughts on Wario Land 4 and his wife's first few hours of getting her sea legs in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. In the news…
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Weekly Diversion 02/14/2025: You Will Believe a Cat Can Flush Toilets
On this dummy thick episode of the show, Matt's fighting a cat and trying to find time to talk about games, including Ultros, Echoes of the Plum Grove, Cuisineer, and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. And after the break, he's going over the recent Playstation State of Play, aka...
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Weekly Diversion 02/07/2025: A Trip to Your Local Cinema
This week on the show: Matt watched Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Castlevania Nocturne season 2, one of which continues the series tradition of being the best damn video game adaptation there's ever been, and the other is Sonic the Hedgehog 3. In terms of games, he's got some things to say about…
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Weekly Diversion 02/01/2025: Multiversus Leakers
This week on the show, Matt's not doing so hot either, both physically and existentially. Time to talk about some video games then, baby. Such as Super Mario 64, 2Synth, and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Check out Bit Harmony: A Video Game Music Podcast! Bit Harmony on Apple...
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Weekly Diversion 01/25/2025: True Brothership
This week on the show: Matt's finally finished Brothership. Shockingly, he has things to say. We're also talking about the massive 1.2 update for Infinity Nikki, a first-party SNES game from 1998 releasing outside of Japan for the first time, the cancellation of Earthblade, and the recent Xbox...
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Weekly Diversion 01/18/2025: New Year's Oath In Felghana
Matt's back with your normally scheduled, recorded at 6am bleary-eyed and sick programming! We're catching up on games from the past few weeks, including Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, Blade Chimera, and (as always) more Infinity Nikki talk. And I guess the Switch 2 reveal happened or…
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Infinity Nikki Presents: Critical Diversions Game of the Year 2024
You're invited! It's time for the second annual game of the year awards from your local internet facilitated games club, this time presented by Infinity Nikki (but not really). What took home the #1 spot? Which games were tragically left off the list? Who/what did/received the most glazing? It's...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Critical Diversions have?
Critical Diversions currently has 121 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Critical Diversions about?
A games club podcast with a rotating cast that gets together semi-regularly to hang out and talk about games
How often does Critical Diversions release new episodes?
Critical Diversions publishes regularly with 121 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Critical Diversions?
You can listen to Critical Diversions on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Critical Diversions?
Critical Diversions is created and hosted by Matt Murray.
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