PODCAST · games
Playing Catch-up
by Tom Bailey, Paul Thomas
Two know-nothings with too many old, unplayed games. Each week we set each other gaming 'homework' in an attempt to slowly work through our piles of shame.
Episodes
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59: Looks a Bit Spicy, That One
In which your hosts mark the release of Saros by playing Housemarque's previous PS5 game, Returnal. Is it a certified five bagger? You better believe it is. After that, they round up a spiritual successor to the CD-i Zelda games, an audio-based mystery puzzle game with Her Story vibes, and an oft...
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58: Properly, Properly Odd
In which your hosts check out some more short games on the PlayStation Plus service because Paul's gone and snagged himself another trial. Games discussed: The Exit 8 by Kotake Create Indika by Odd Meter Somerville by Jumpship Check out our Twitch channel at www.twitch.tv/playingcatchup Get in...
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57: Most Anticipated Games of 2026
In which Paul and Tom rummage through the games likely to make it to their grubby little mitts in the coming year. They select three each that they're particularly looking forward to, before making a mockery of the format and namechecking a bunch more at the end. Games discussed in the main...
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56: Games of the Year 2025
In which your hosts each pick their top five favourite games of the past 12 months. Games discussed (in alphabetical, not ranked, order): Absolum by Dotemu, Guard Crush Games & Supamonks Blue Prince by Dogubomb Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive Promise Mascot Agency by Kaizen…
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55: Sonic's All Grown Up Now
In which the boys briefly cover the recent Nintendo Direct before Tom learns just what a Boost Era Sonic game is and Paul makes the most of a three-month Apple Arcade trial. Games discussed: Sonic Dream Team puffies. Katamri Damacy Rolling LIVE Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time Check out our…
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54: SINOGO vs Simogo
In which your hosts tackle creeping horror on a doomed oil rig, shed light on a sequel done right, and just about navigate talking about two games from VERY similar sounding developers. Games discussed: Still Wakes the Deep Everybody's Gone to the Rapture (a little bit) Anodyne 2: Return to Dust...
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53: Distinctive and squelchy
In which Tom plays through a couple of games Paul enjoyed experiencing back in 2024. But did he get on with them? Or will this be the recommendation-based betrayal that ends the podcast once and for all? Games discussed: Thank Goodness You're Here! Tinykin Check out our Twitch channel at...
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52: Playdate Season 2 Weeks 4 & 5
In which your hosts explore four more games from the Playdate's second season. There's one clear standout, but plenty more to enjoy along the way. Games discussed: Chance's Lucky Escape Shadowgate PD CatchaDiablos Tiny Turnip Check out our Twitch channel at www.twitch.tv/playingcatchup Get in…
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51: Playdate Season 2 Week 3
In which Paul and Tom continue to explore the latest season of games for Panic's quirky handheld console Playdate. They're delighted to find a couple of great new releases (and update on one from Week 2 that they're less enamoured with). Games discussed: The Whiteout Otto's Galactic Groove!! Long...
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50: Playdate Season 2 Weeks 1 & 2
In which your hosts celebrate the big five-oh by playing with Panic's tiny yellow handheld. Season 2 of the Playdate is here, so Paul and Tom dig through Week 1's games before turning their attention to (half of) Week 2. Games discussed: Blippo+ Fulcrum Defender Dig! Dig! Dino! Wheelsprung Check...
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49: Summer Game Showcases
In which we watched the PlayStation State of Play, Summer Geoff Fest, Day of the Devs and the Future Games Show so you don't have to (although you probably did). Also, it's not even summer yet, but let's not get bogged down in that. We each pick our personal top three games from across the shows...
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48: PlayStation Plus Round-Up
In which your hosts celebrate the launch of Nintendo's new console by talking about PlayStation Plus. Paul's been making the most of his two-week Premium trial, so let's dig in and find out what took his fancy, what was not so hot, and which Platinum trophy flex Tom has taken as a personal…
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47: Samurai Warriors 5 / Musou May
In which Paul explores the wonderful world of Musou games, with a particular focus on Samurai Warriors 5. Whether you're a newcomer to the series or a grizzled Musou veteran, there's plenty here to get your teeth into. Visit Chris Gildart's YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/@chrisgildart...
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46: Four-Game Trilogy
In which your hosts briefly discuss the latest news around little-known up-and-comer GTA VI, before getting into the meat of the episode with some Balatro chat. A year on from release, does the poker-themed deckbuilder live up to the hype it garnered at launch, or is it merely an excellent...
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45: Ribbit Ribbit and Whatnot
In which Paul returns to the DS to play a franchise sequel that wasn't released outside of Japan, before both hosts cast off their cardigans and get down with the kids to check out a hella cool videogame. Games discussed: Chibi Robo: Clean Sweep Life is Strange The Awesome Adventures of Captain...
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44: I'll Just Pummel You
In which Tom and Paul discuss Nintendo showing off (some) new details on Switch 2's flagship title, and the exciting new season of games coming to Panic's hipster handheld Playdate. Later, we circle back around to Blue Prince and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, before Paul tells us why Nintendo...
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43: Two Princes / Blue Prince & Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
In which Paul reveals which game convinced him to pick up PS5 a few years into its lifecycle, along with thoughts on a few of the titles he's been playing on Sony's behemoth. Next up, Tom ponders why the latest hotness is getting a lukewarm reception in some circles, before Paul plays us out with...
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42: Nintendo Direct Switch 2 Extravaganza
In which Tom and Paul return triumphantly to reflect on the latest Nintendo Direct which focused on the Switch 2. The show offered up an exciting twist on an old favourite, a head-scratching new way to control games, and a low-key confirmation of the impending arrival of one of the most…
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41: Playdate Special #2
In which Weeks 2 and 3 of Playdate's Season 1 are experienced and discussed. Games covered: Crankin's Time Travel Adventure Boogie Loops Lost Your Marbles Pick Pack Pup Check out the Twitch channel at www.twitch.tv/playingcatchup Get in touch with the show via Twitter (@catchuppod) or send us an...
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40: Playdate Special #1
In which Tom and Paul finally receive their Playdate consoles and immediately get to cranking. Check out the Twitch channel at www.twitch.tv/playingcatchup Get in touch with the show via Twitter (@catchuppod) or send us an email: [email protected] Learn more about the Playdate at the...
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39: The Molyneux Effect / Erica
In which Tom and Paul tackle an FMV game in the hope it can possibly live up to the heady heights of Night Trap. Check out the Twitch channel at www.twitch.tv/playingcatchup Get in touch with the show via Twitter (@catchuppod) or send us an email: [email protected] Intro / outro music by...
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38: Kids Aren’t Gonna Like This / New Super Lucky’s Tale & Death Come True
In which three games fail to fully impress your intrepid hosts. Is that not selling this episode to you? Hmm. You won't believe what happens next! (It's the end theme. The end theme happens next.) Games discussed Balan Wonderworld (00:20) New Super Lucky's Tale (00:54) Death Come True (09:52)…
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37: Do An Intro Later / Super Bomberman R Online & Astro's Playroom
In which Paul channels his inner ballerina and Tom just about fits his PS5 in his living room. Games discussed Super Bomberman R Online (Starts 00:38) Astro's Playroom (Starts 24:36) Check out the Twitch channel at www.twitch.tv/playingcatchup Get in touch with the show via Twitter (@catchuppod)…
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36 (v2): Bum Fully On Fire / Ring Fit Adventure, Strange Brigade, VA-11 Hall-A & Assassin’s Creed 4
In which Tom enjoys some traditional family activities like obliterating mummies, while Paul finds himself Planking Like The Best of Them. Games discussed Ring Fit Adventure (Starts 01:01) Strange Brigade (Starts 30:26) VA-11 Hall-A (Starts 49:50) Assassin’s Creed 4 / Liberation (Starts 59:20)...
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35: So Many Questions / Attack of the Friday Monsters, Wide Ocean Big Jacket & WWE SuperCard
In which audio recorded almost a year ago finally sees the light of day. That’s right, we’re back whether you like it or not. In this episode: the pros and cons of camping, plus the long and storied career of The Undertaker. Oh, and a bit of games talk. Games discussed: Attack of the Friday...
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34: Moonwalking NPCs / SOS: The Final Escape & Assassin’s Creed 3
In which we unleash an episode recorded well before we all got told to stay in and play games for the foreseeable future. That was the gist of the latest guidelines, right? Two flawed games give plenty to talk about but also plenty to enjoy. It’s almost as if we’re gluttons for punishment. Tom...
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33: Any particular reason? / Undertale & Syphon Filter
In which Paul gets to grips with a deeply flawed game from two decades ago which Tom remembered being much better than it was. Meanwhile, Tom gets to sample one of the most lauded games in recent memory. It almost doesn’t seem fair. Be sure to stick around to the end for perhaps the most eloquent...
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32: Those words in a different order / Stories Untold, lilt line, Zero Time Dilemma, Ridge Racer 7 & The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human
In which Paul is 100% sure he’s played the first game on Tom’s list, until Tom starts talking about it. There’s also Wii Ware weirdness, trilogy-ending twists, Ridge Racer reprises and H2O-based happenings. Oh, and we open on the Playdate, which was fresh news when we recorded this 12 years ago....
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31: I treated him badly / Metal Gear Solid & The Last Guardian
In which Paul gets a little less sneaky than he was expecting and Tom tackles his fear of disappointment head-on. Two huge games. Two wary podcast hosts. You won’t believe what happened next. Games discussed: Metal Gear Solid The Last Guardian Get in touch with the show via Twitter (@catchuppod)…
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30: Slash harder / PS Move, Tick Tock: A Tale For Two, Tetris 99, Cleopatra Fortune, Papers Please
In which Paul gets physical with some PlayStation Move ‘classics’ from the PS3 days and Tom gets social with a new type of co-operative puzzle game. Games discussed: PlayStation Move Heroes The Shoot Sports Champions Medieval Moves Time Crisis: Razing Storm Tick Tock: A Tale for Two Tetris 99...
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29: Not fun and not interesting / Chibi Robo! Zip Lash, The Division, Destiny 2, Resistance, Burly Men at Sea
In which Paul gets rightly annoyed at the lack of Yorkshire accents in PS3 launch games and Tom plays a couple of multiplayer-focused online shooters. On his own. Games discussed: Chibi Robo! Zip Lash The Division Destiny 2 Resistance: Fall of Man Burly Men at Sea Get in touch with the show via...
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28: Did you oversleeeeep? / Dead Space & Final Fantasy Type-0 HD
In which your hosts suffer two of the worst fates known to man: being trapped on a spaceship with homicidal aliens, and being trapped playing a game with atrocious voice acting. Paul takes on Dead Space and finds a game that holds up superbly more than 10 years on, while Tom really quite enjoys...
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27: Chips you plug into your testicles / Graham Goring interview
In which indie developer Graham Goring discusses making the leap from writing for huge licensed games in the LEGO universe for TT Fusion to the relative uncertainty that comes with working on his own dream project: Phantom Island. Please note, because Tom is lazy and good-for-nothing, this is an...
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26: Always the shotgun / DOOM (2016) & Yoku’s Island Express
In which two very similar games are discussed and dissected. After hearing an extensive list of things Tom doesn’t like about DOOM, learn why Paul feels that, for all its exciting gunplay, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as punching a demon in the face. Next up, after a very brief and...
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25: Lofty expectations / Dropmix, Pneuma: Breath of Life, Resident Evil, Samus Returns, The Playroom VR & 140
In which your hosts continue last week’s conversation about the games they’ve played through in recent weeks. You’ll hear how Harmonix fared with their foray into tabletop gaming, why taking ‘What Should I Play Next?’ advice from a stranger on the internet isn’t always advisable, how two old...
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24: Toady and Roadie / Day of the Tentacle, Headlander, The Final Station & Million Onion Hotel
In which your hosts belatedly kick off 2019 in the only way they know how: discussing old games everybody else played many moons ago. You’ll be served a Double Fine double header before it’s all aboard for a trip more grim than a book of fairy tales. And before you reach your final destination,...
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23: Simon Joslin of The Voxel Agents / The Gardens Between
In which the co-founder of indie developer The Voxel Agents talks to Tom about what went into the making of their unique puzzle adventure The Gardens Between. From revealing that the initial idea for what became The Gardens Between stemmed from a Tom Cruise film to tales of discovering the…
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22: Wubadubadub is that true? / Persona 4, Virtue’s Last Reward, Rhythm Paradise Megamix
In which your hosts continue to talk over the games they played during the show’s downtime. A highly regarded JRPG gets compared to Neighbours, there’s plenty of back-and-forth about the merits (or otherwise) of visual novels, and we hear why interviewing a wrestler backstage makes for a…
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21: Catching up / Sonic Mania, 140 & Kero Blaster
In which your hosts rise, Phoenix-like, to resume the very important business of talking about videogames. It’s been a while, so Tom and Paul talk over some of the more notable games they’ve played through since the last pod was launched. It was a long old chat, so the second half will be…
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20: The games of Christmas past / Sonic 2 & Shenmue
In which your hosts discuss a couple of games from yesteryear that brought both post-Christmas joy and frustration — featuring only one mention of sailors and, thanks to rare restraint, absolutely no talk of getting sweaty. Intro / outro music by 5of6 Artwork by @BigShimmeryWall...
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19: The third Tweedle brother / Beyond: Two Souls & Spec Ops: The Line
In which scores are literally settled in the opening moments before discussion turns to games with colons and disappointment rears its ugly head. Could colons and disappointment be linked somehow? Also: enjoy listening to one of us sniff and splutter a lot. You’re welcome. Intro / outro music by...
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18: PlayStation VR Special – Part 3
In which your hosts conclude their initial thoughts of Sony’s face-mounted thrill machine with a quick chat about how likely it is to catch on with the ‘mainstream’. http://playingcatchup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/PlayingCatchupShorts006.mp3 Intro / outro music by 5of6 Artwork by...
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17: PlayStation VR Special – Part 2
In which your hosts continue their ramble about the revolutionary new games sensation you wear on your head. (Hit us up Sony, you can have that one for a small fee.) http://playingcatchup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/PlayingCatchupShorts005.mp3 Intro / outro music by 5of6 Artwork by...
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16: The full keys experience / Virginia & VVVVVV
In which two very different games are united by equally memorable soundtracks as Variable State’s debut Virginia and Terry Cavanagh’s VVVVVV come under the spotlight. Witness true podcast drama as gaming credentials are questioned and one team member is called out publicly for failing to adopt…
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15: PlayStation VR special – Part 1
In which Tom and Paul, giddy with excitement from the PSVR launch, recount tales of shifting violently from VR indifference to steadfast support following game-changing debut experiences. Having both picked up the PlayStation VR headset on launch, they compare notes on the hardware itself and how...
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14: Interview – Jonathan Burroughs of Variable State
In which the co-director of lauded first-person thriller Virginia joins Tom for a chat about forming his studio Variable State, signing with publisher 505 Games and developing a debut game that has raised eyebrows across the board. Read more about Virginia (and sample the excellent soundtrack) at...
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13: Playing Catch-up Shorts – Resident Evil 7: Beginning Hour
In which your hosts discuss Resident Evil 7’s ‘teaser demo’ (by way of Project Zero, P.T. and Silent Hill 3) and the prospect of experiencing Capcom’s new direction for the series in the brave new world of VR. Or, you know, trying it for 30 seconds before flinging the sweat-soaked headset to the...
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12: Playing Catch-up Shorts – Broken Age coda & Earth Defense Force 4.1
In which your hosts start putting out some bite-size morsels in-between the main episodes to try and maintain some semblance of consistency. Having spoken about his experience playing through Broken Age in last week’s episode, a presumably sleep deprived Paul reports back having consumed 20...
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11: They all stink of fish / Broken Age & Gravity Rush
In which our heroes point and click and jump and kick; pay tribute to Schafer, make Hekseville safer. Dialogue is repeated, some foes are defeated; dodgy outfits acquired, cute robots rewired. No more rhymes now, I mean it. Anybody want a peanut? (With apologies to Fezzik.) Intro / outro music by...
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10: Sexy Trojan Horse / The Talos Principle & 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
In which the ever-revolving door of Playing Catch-up co-hosts thrusts Paul Thomas into the spotlight as he sets his sights high and pursues the impossible dream of a six-episode streak. Join your hosts on a rollercoaster journey as they run the gamut of emotions, experiencing fear and sadness…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Two know-nothings with too many old, unplayed games. Each week we set each other gaming 'homework' in an attempt to slowly work through our piles of shame.
HOSTED BY
Tom Bailey, Paul Thomas
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Playing Catch-up have?
Playing Catch-up currently has 59 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Playing Catch-up about?
Two know-nothings with too many old, unplayed games. Each week we set each other gaming 'homework' in an attempt to slowly work through our piles of shame.
How often does Playing Catch-up release new episodes?
Playing Catch-up has 59 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Playing Catch-up?
You can listen to Playing Catch-up 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 Playing Catch-up?
Playing Catch-up is created and hosted by Tom Bailey, Paul Thomas.
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