PODCAST · leisure
Novel Gaming!
by Novel Gaming Podcast
Novel Gaming is a twice-monthly podcast where long-time friends Vicki, Doug, and Katie talk about video games, books, and pop culture with a spattering of current events or anything else they just can't get off their minds.
Episodes
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#147 — 'Mongrels' by Stephen Graham Jones
A werewolf story unlike those we've seen before! This month we read the 2016 novel 'Mongrels' by Stephen Graham Jones. But before we run on all fours into discussion, we talk about the things we've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing? Survivordle & other -ordles (web…
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#146 — We Played Pony Island!
This month we played the very normal and easy-to-describe 2016 game Pony Island! But before we start clicking on suspicious and perhaps demonic file shortcuts, we check in on some of the things we’ve been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading? 'Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost...
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#145 — 'Go-Man: Champion of Earth' by Hamish Steele
This month we read the 2025 graphic novel Go-Man: Champion of Earth by Hamish Steele! (Discussion begins at 28:00) But before we chomp on a glowing plant and grow to the size of a skyscraper, we check in on some of the things we’ve been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing?…
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#144 — Cooperative Video Games!
Lots of things are better with friends - video games included! Grab a controller and join us as we talk about cooperative video games! Before the conversation starts (32:55), we check in on what we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading? 90s Superman Comics (Death of…
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#143 — 'Murder by Memory' by Olivia Waite
Drunk spaceships, queer detectives, and death, oh my! All that and more can be found in the 2025 sci-fi cozy mystery novella, 'Murder by Memory' by Olivia Waite. Discussion starts at 27:35. Before we fully investigate, we check in on the stuff we've been playing and watching lately. Playing? Mina...
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#142 — 'Rosemary and Rue' by Seanan McGuire
We've just woken up from 14 years of being a fish, and what's the first thing we did? Book club! This month we read 2009's Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire, the first in the 19-book October Daye fae private eye series. But before we get into it, we check in on the stuff we've been reading,...
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#141 — Gaming Draft: Character in Drag & at the Pride Party!
Who would you want on your drag team? And who would you invite to a Pride party? Join us as we answer these questions through a gaming draft! We pick the video game characters for the ultimate GAYming celebration. Conversation starts around 35:50. Before all that, let’s check in on some of the...
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#140 — 'Sleep Like Death' by Kalynn Bayron
What if Snow White was a warrior princess who could make a sword out of lightning and a cloak out of the night sky? And what if moms were nice?? To explore these questions, we read 'Sleep Like Death' by Kalynn Bayron. Conversation starts around 31:50. Before we take a bite out of that apple…
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#139 — We Played Terror of Hemasaurus! (with Derek B. Gayle)
What happens when a giant rampaging monster is unleashed on the world by an apocalyptic cult? Well, it's pretty simple: lots of destruction. Derek B. Gayle joins us to talk about 2022's 'Terror of Hemasaurus', a smash 'em up homage to Rampage and expression of a solo game dev's frustration with…
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#138 — 'Nine Goblins' by T. Kingfisher
How many goblins does it take to solve a mystery during a fantasy war behind enemy lines? Turns out it's nine! Plus an veterinarian elf and some magical creatures and maybe even a wizard or two! This month we read 'Nine Goblins' by T. Kingfisher, a 2013 novella about goblin antics. (Discussion...
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#137 — Random Encounters: Earth Day!
Let's just spitball here: Earth Day. Elements. Earth. Wind. Fire. Water. Podcast. Video games. Random encounters! In honor or Earth Day, we're trying out a new Random Encounter format! What's that mean? We're not totally sure what's going to pop up! Listen in to see what element related gaming...
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#136 — 'The Sound of Stars' by Alechia Dow
Can you find love amid an electric alien invasion? Or find hope and refuge in art? The protagonists of 'The Sound of Stars' by Alecia Dow would certainly love to know. We talk about this young adult sci-fi romance book starting at 32:05. Before then, we check in on the stuff we've been playing…
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#135 — We're Playing Pokémon Pokopia!
There simply wasn't a world, apocalyptic or otherwise, that we weren't going to play and talk about the latest Pokémon spin-off title, the cozy sandbox builders game, Pokopia. But before we gather all our materials to build Onix the perfect dry home, we check in on the stuff we've been reading…
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#134 — 'How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days' by Jessie Sylva
We wanted something cute and cozy with a hearty helping of fantasy this month, so we read 'How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Day' by Jessie Sylva, a 2026 fantasy romance about a halfling and goblin forced to share a cottage... and a bed! But before we get into it, we check in on games we've been…
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#133 — Video Game Dating Profiles
Pixelated protagonist looking for a co-op partner. You interested? Well, swipe right and join us as we create video game character dating profiles and play a lovely game! The fun starts at 26:50. Before then, we chat about what we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading?...
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#132 — 'How High We Go in the Dark' by Sequoia Nagamatsu
How could climate change and a plague impact how humans love and grieve? Sequoia Nagamatsu's 'How High We Go in the Dark' explores this question through interconnected sci-fi short stories that really leave us thinking. Conversation starts around 29:15. Before we grapple with some existential...
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#131 — The Return of the Backlog Challenge! (with Tommy Proffitt)
We are joined this month by Tommy from Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast and Lee Carvallo's Podding Challenge: A Simpsons Gaming Podcast to kickoff the return of the Backlog Challenge! But before we dig through our respective bins of games purchased but not played, let’s check in on some of the...
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#130 — ‘Mirage City’ by Lev A. C. Rosen
We’re starting the new year off with an unprecedented book club: the fourth entry in a series! This month we read Mirage City, the latest Evander Mills novel by Lev A. C. Rosen… But before we ride our motorcycles into the dark depths of a new mystery, let’s check in on some of the things we’ve…
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#129 — Three Christmas Gaming Questions!
Merry Christmas! We got you 3 questions as a gift! And we even answered them! To unwrap your gift, go directly to 24:34 (where that convo starts). Before then, we check in on what we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading: ‘Song of Spider-Man’ by Glen Berger ‘Kiss Her Once...
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#128 — Our 2025 Year in Review!
We're almost at the end of 2025! That means it's time to look back on the year and talk about the video games, books, and other things that are making our favorites list. Conversation starts at 27:15. Before then, we talk about what we've been reading, watching, and playing these last couple…
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#127 — ‘Symbiosis’ by Nicky Drayden
More living ships, more forbidden love, and more tentacles! This month we read ‘Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis’ by Nicky Drayden, the sequel to last month's book, ‘Escaping Exodus’. Before talking about this 2021 sci-fi sequel, we check in on what we’re playing, watching, and thinking about lately....
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#126 — We Played The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap!
Honey, we shrunk the Hero of Hyrule! We played The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, a 2004 Game Boy Advance entry in the Zelda series where you get to shrink to the size of a mouse and make magical clones of yourself! Discussion starts ~31:00. But before we get into that, we check in on some…
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Glitterjaw Crossover: 'Star Wars: Ronin – A Visions Novel' by Emma Mieko Candon
It's a Glitterjaw crossover! We teamed up with our Distant Echoes friends to discuss the 2021 book 'Star Wars: Ronin – A Visions Novel" by Emma Mieko Candon. Discussion starts right away because the whole episode is about the book! Check out Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast and other...
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#125 — ‘Escaping Exodus’ by Nicky Drayden
Living ships, forbidden love, and tentacles! A winning combination found in our most recent book club pick ‘Escaping Exodus’ by Nicky Drayden. Before talking about this 2019 sci-f spacei book, we check in on what we’re playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing Donkey Kong Banaza...
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#124 — We Played Alan Wake Remastered!
Are you afraid of the dark?? We know a video game couple who is! And one of them looooves writing about it! Join us as we wade through the shadows and talk about our experience with Alan Wake Remastered, a 2021 psychological action thriller. But before that, we check in on what we’ve been…
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#123 — 'The Siren, the Song, and the Spy' by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Pirate and sirens and dragons, oh my! It's a sequel book club episode! This month we read Maggie Tokuda-Hall's 'The Siren, the Song, and the Spy'! Conversation begins around 27:50. Of course, before we do that, we check in on some stuff we've been playing, watching, and thinking about. Playing…
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#122 — We Played Tiny Bookshop!
You ever just wanna get in a car, attach a little trailer, decorate it, fill it with books, drive around town, and recommend picks to people who ask? Us too, so that's exactly what we did by playing and talking about 2025's Tiny Bookshop! Of course, before we get into it, we catch up on some…
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#121 — 'Dear Mothman: A Novel in Verse' by Robin Gow
Been a while since we've read some poetry and been a while since we've read something spooky, so why not both? This month we checked out Robin Gow's 2023 book 'Dear Mothman: A Novel in Verse'. Conversation begins around 41:48. Of course, before we do that, we check in on some stuff we've been...
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#120 — We Played Coral Island!
Do you love farming, getting to know characters, and clearing trash? Then you should play Coral Island! We did and we're talking about it! Conversation about this farming sim game starts around 33:50. Before then we talk about what we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading:...
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#119 — 'Play Nice' by Jason Schreier
Our first nonfiction book! We read the 2024 book 'Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment' by Jason Schreier. Conversation starts around 43:50. Before then, we talk about the things we've been playing and watching... but mostly we talk a looooooot about the Ultimatum…
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#118 — We Played Date Everything!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to date your dining room table? What about your coffee maker? Surely you've thought about dating your bed, right? Well, we played the game where you no longer have to wonder: Date Everything! But before we talk all about dating the objects in our home,...
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#117 — Book Club: Marvel's Voices - Pride (2021-2024)
We didn't read a book this month! Instead we read a whole lot of comics. For Pride Month, we decided to read the Marvel's Voices Pride anthology series from 2021 through 2024, which means dozens of stories about several dozens of characters! It's a lot to keep track of, but we highlight our...
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#116 — We Played Dream Daddy!
We played Dream Daddy, a 2017 dad dating game! You can click here to read the Kotaku article mentioned in our discussion. Before we discuss this sweet and punny visual novel (convo starts at 29:00) , we check in on what we're reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading…
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#115 — Book Club: 'The Teller of Small Fortunes' by Julie Leong
We've got a vision coming in about this episode! *~We're going to talk about 'The Teller of Small Fortunes' by Julie Leong~* Before we discuss the 2024 book (convo starts at 22:10) , we check in on what we're playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing The Witness (PS5) Moonstone…
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#114 — We Played Sayonara Wild Hearts!
This episode we played Sayonara Wild Hearts, a stylish 2019 rhythm action game featuring motorcycles, magical girl transformations, robot wolves, and of course, incredible music. But before we get into that, we check in on some stuff we've been reading, watching, and thinking about. Reading To...
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#113 — Book Club: 'Sunrise on the Reaping' by Suzanne Collins
We are very excited to discuss 'Sunrise on the Reaping' by Suzanne Collins, the fifth book in the Hunger Games series, taking place 24 years before the events of the original Hunger Games novel, and the original trilogy’s second prequel. (Discussion begins at 15:20, spoilers begin at 24:13.) But...
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#112 — Celebrating the Nintendo Switch!
The Nintendo Switch 2 is on the way so we thought it was only right to celebrate its predecessor - the Nintendo Switch! We talk the launch, features, games and memories of the beloved console. Conversation starts around 41:50. Before then we check in on what we've been reading, watching, and...
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#111 — Book Club: 'Redemption in Indigo' by Karen Lord
It's a book club! And we read 'Redemption in Indigo' by Karen Lord. Listen in as we discuss this 2010 retelling of a Senegalese folktale that is... complicated. Conversation begins around 24:40. Before that, we check in on what we've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing:...
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#110 — Three Video Game Music Questions!
What's the best music mechanic in video games? What are those songs from video games that stick with you? What musical artist would you mash-up with one of your favorite games? These are the questions we're answering this episode! A full list of songs played this episode are at the end of the…
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#109 — Book Club: 'The Full Moon Coffee Shop’ by Mai Mochizuki
For this month’s book club we read ‘The Full Moon Coffee Shop’, a 2020 magical realism cozy novel by Mai Mochizuki, translated into English in 2024 by Jesse Kirkwood. Spoiler-filled discussion begins at 25:20. But before we unfold our star charts and dig deep into our houses and planetary rulers,...
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#108 — We Played Oxenfree!
It's our first "game club" episode of 2025, and we played Oxenfree, a spooky narrative-choice game featuring a group of teens lost on an island with nothing but a radio and each other. Discussion begins at ~21:26. But before we get into our combined five playthroughs of Oxenfree, we catch up on...
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#107 — Book Club: 'This Is How You Lose the Time War’ by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
We're doing our first book club of 2025 and are ready for some love and flirty letters! We read 2019's 'This Is How You Lose the Time War’ by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. Conversation starts around 24:20. Before then, we check in on what we’ve been Playing, watching, and thinking about…
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#106 — Finishing the 2024 Backlog Challenge!
It’s 2025! And that means our 2024 Backlog Challenge is officially over. Listen in to hear what and how we did! Conversation starts around 25:50. Before then, we check in on what we’ve been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading: ‘My Best Friend’s Exorcism’ by Grady Hendrix ‘The...
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#105 — Book Club: 'Rough Pages' by Lev A. C. Rosen
It’s a book club episode! And this December, we’re picking up where we left off last December, because this month we read Rough Pages by Lev A. C. Rosen, the third book in Rosen’s Evander Mills mystery series. But before we return to 1950s San Francisco, we talk about what we’ve been playing,...
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#104 — Our 2024 Year in Review!
The end of 2024 is just around the corner, which means it's time to highlight some of our favorite books, video games, and other media from this past year. But of course, before we do that, we check in on some things we've been playing, reading, and thinking about. Reading: System Collapse by...
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#103 — Book Club: 'The Z Word' by Lindsay King-Miller
We read the queer zombie novel "The Z Word" by Lindsay King-Miller! Conversation around this campy, yet thought-provoking story starts around 31:50. Before all that we check in on what we've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately . Playing: Pokemon TCG Pocket (Mobile) Dragon Age: The...
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#102 — Three Culinary Gaming Questions!
Food is good we want to talk about it! To help us do that, we came up with three video-game-food-related questions. Main course starts around 24:00. Before then, we check in on some things we've been reading, watching, and thinking about! Reading: A little bit of 28 different book recommendations...
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#101 — Book Club: 'The Salt Grows Heavy' by Cassandra Khaw
Halloween is coming up, so Doug picked a novella he heard was scary... but it was mostly really gross! A flesh-eating mermaid, a gentle plague doctors, and a suspicious town with tons of children but only three adults. Discussion begins at ~19:00. Of course, before we get bloody, we check in on…
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#100 — Snatching Trophies & Completing Games!
It's our 100th episode, and Vicki's back to celebrate with us! And what better way to celebrate 100 episodes—and with Vicki specifically!—than to talk about Platinum trophies and achieving that deeply satisfying 100%. And of course, before we get into all that, we check in on some things we've…
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#99 — Book Club: 'Robopocalypse' by Daniel H. Wilson
Afraid of AI taking over? Maybe don't read this book? Or do to prepare! We read 'Robopocalypse' by Daniel H. Wilson. Discussion begins ~18:00. Before that, we check in on some things we've been playing and watching. Playing: Monster of the Week (Michael Sands) Hatoful Boyfriend (Vita) Watching…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Novel Gaming! have?
Novel Gaming! currently has 151 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Novel Gaming! about?
Novel Gaming is a twice-monthly podcast where long-time friends Vicki, Doug, and Katie talk about video games, books, and pop culture with a spattering of current events or anything else they just can't get off their minds.
How often does Novel Gaming! release new episodes?
Novel Gaming! publishes regularly with 151 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Novel Gaming!?
You can listen to Novel Gaming! 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 Novel Gaming!?
Novel Gaming! is created and hosted by Novel Gaming Podcast.
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