Turn-Based Besties

Today Sam and DJ talk about that JRPG Grid floating around Reddit! Also follow us on stuff!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Raindrops on roses and pizza with cheese, here's what we both love about RPGs.

Longest title of a game ever, eh? Today, Sam tries to convince all y'all to play Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (also, the Switch 2 Upgrade version). Also follow us on stuff!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Today Sam and DJ discuss the demo for the upcoming survival horror sci-fi RPG: Parasite Mutant! Also follow us on stuff!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Sam and DJ surprise each other with different groups of RPG characters, and they have to decide in real time whether or not they'd rather: marry the character, flirt with them, or bring their HP down to zero! Also follow us on stuff!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

What a wordy title! Especially since DJ thinks the title is "1000 Doors!" Anyway, listen to the boys chat about this classic RPG. Also follow us on stuff!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

BONUS EPISODE on Code Vein II! Also follow us on stuff!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

The boys talk about their gaming hopes and dreams! Also follow us on stuff!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

The boys are back! First episode of 2026, and today we are chatting about our most anticipated games for what looks to be an incredible year of gaming! Also follow us on stuff!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Sam and DJ talk about their most beloved games of 2025! Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

This week, DJ takes a swing at trying to convince folks to try out the new indie hit: DemonSchool! He also says the word "Giallo" at least 23 times. Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Today Sam tries to convince YOU, the listener, to play the 2025 hit game: Hades 2! Will you play it?! Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

This was a hard list to come up with, and we will probably do this episode again in the future with brand new rankings, but here you go: our favorite video game soundtracks!

Today, Sam tries to convince DJ to play Metal Slug Tactics. Also, he tells us the difference between a slug and a snail. Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

The boys went to Japan and discuss all of the nifty video game things they did there. Also, apologies for Sam's audio!

Happy Halloween, besties! Today, the boys talk about some spooky RPGs that you can play during this scary Halloween season! Also follow us on stuff:Instagram:  turnbasedbesties  Reddit:  turnbasedbestiespod  YouTube: @turnbasedbesties  

Today, DJ tries his hand at convincing Sam to play the latest Falcom hit: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (Demo!)Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Sam convinces DJ to play Clair Obscur (spoiler: it wasn't hard, and he needed pretty much no convincing, but now he has no excuse not to play it).Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Today the boys talk about THE CUTEST LITTLE FUZZY ANIMAL FRIENDS THAT EVER DID EXIST. #cutevibes Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

The besties review Lunar, the game DJ has literally been begging Sam to play since the beginning of the podcast. How does he feel about it? Tune in to find out! Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

What?! A bonus episode without DJ (sad)! Check out Sam's mini episode :)

Today the besties discuss some games that they feel deserve a sequel, or in some cases, another sequel!Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Yoooooo! The boys want to play some strategy/tactical RPGs, so today they talk about some of those games that have piqued their interest. Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbestiesAlso, here's the book DJ was talking about: https://www.bitmapbooks.com/products/a-guide-to-japanese-role-playing-games?srsltid=AfmBOoqkhC8iMtI5K7oZ5-R6SAzW1TGmouunXndkWzew4MQT468VDehW

Hey loser! Get in the car with Sam and DJ as they discuss this wonderful little gem: Get in the Car, Loser! Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

DJ tries his hand at convincing Sam to play a controversial classic: Final Fantasy VIII! Does he succeed? Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

The boys get down with the bad selves and talk about their favorite villains! Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

The boys are back and talk about the first game of the remastered Suikoden duology. Also, DJ tries ASMR.

Sam once again tries to convince DJ to play a game that doesn't really seem up his alley! Will he succeed? Maybe! Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Sam & Deej react to the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, but a day late because they are busy lol. Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

The boys talk about Phantasy Star IV today, and then Sam gives DJ a quiz about words that have "ph" in them. Fun for the whole family!

We are back with another RANKING episode! Can you guess our top 5 favorite healers?! Sam talks about how you can rub plants on yourself to cure wounds. Also follow us on stuff:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

We're back! Continuing our "Space Opera" RPG trend and reviewing the fantastic indie game: Beyond Galaxyland! Incredible music, gameplay, and characters! What more could you ask for?! Sam also tells us about guinea pigs.

Whoa! First interview on the pod, and it is with the most rad Sam Enright, the creator and developer of Beyond Galaxyland. After you listen to this episode, be sure you go and download Beyond Galaxyland and play it! Available on:  PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One! Also follow us on stuff: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Today we get unhinged and talk about games for 2025! Big fun! Also, follow us on things: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Sam & DJ deep dive into the Switch 2 rumors circling the internet! Also, we have a subreddit now. And many other social media things (OK, just Instagram and now also YouTube). Give us a follow! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turnbasedbesties/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TurnBasedBestiesPod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turnbasedbesties

Don’t Cthu-lose out and miss this gem! In the final episode of season 1 of Turn-Based Besties, Sam & DJ talk about the Christmas classic: Cthulhu Saves Christmas! Also, Sam talks about nutmeg poisoning. Bad, bad, bad! References: Nutmeg. Nutmeg - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (2024). https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/nutmeg

Whoa! Almost the end of season 1, and what way to (almost) end our first season than with a RANKING episode of our most favorite games we played in 2024!

PERIL! This week the Turn-Based Besties review the potential GOTY sensation: Metaphor ReFantazio! Sam also teaches us his Crawly Sprawly song. Also, learn about the "third eye" in our medical moment! References:  Clarinda N Sutanto, Wen Wei Loh, Jung Eun Kim, The impact of tryptophan supplementation on sleep quality: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression, Nutrition Reviews, Volume 80, Issue 2, February 2022, Pages 306–316, https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuab027 Patel S, Rahmani B, Gandhi J, Seyam O, Joshi G, Reid I, Smith NL, Waltzer WC, Khan SA. Revisiting the pineal gland: a review of calcification, masses, precocious puberty, and melatonin functions. Int J Neurosci. 2020 May;130(5):464-475. doi: 10.1080/00207454.2019.1692838. Epub 2020 Feb 25. PMID: 31714865.

Happy Halloween! This is the second of two spoooooky episodes this month! Sam and DJ discuss the RPG Costume Quest in this episode, and also talk about their own favorite costumes for Halloween. Peem Peem!

DJ and Sam are back for the first of two spoooooooky RPGs for October! In this episode DJ proclaims his love for Parasite Eve and Sam tells you why it isn't his favorite game. Sam also talks about the powerhouse of the cells: Welcome to the stage, Mitochondria!

Who has main character energy? Our top five list does! Check out these hot takes on our current favorite protagonists in an RPG!

Sam and DJ discuss a fan requested game: Fire Emblem the Blazing Blade on the GBA! Did the boys love this game (yes!). Would they play it again? (maybe!). Also, Sam talks about why it is bad to get stabbed with a sword.

WHOA! A bonus episode?! You danged right! Sam and DJ react to all of the RPGs revealed at the Nintendo Direct from August 27th!

In this episode, Sam tries to convince DJ to play the smash hit Unicorn Overlord! Does he succeed?! Listen to find out!

Happy Pride Month from Turn-Based Besties! In today's episode, the boys discuss queerness in video games, give you a sampling of RPGs that have queer or queer coded characters in them, and even give suggestions on how to improve your allyship as you game! Also, if you loved listening to us rattle off statistics, check out these fantastic articles for more in depth detail. Shaw, A., Durkee, B., Cook, A., & Marra, T. (2024). (rep.). GLAAD Gaming: The State of LGBTQ Inclusion in Gaming. GLAAD. Retrieved June 2024, from https://assets.glaad.org/m/5ab9a335d607edcd/original/2024-GLAAD-Gaming-Report.pdf Kline, K. (2024, February 29). A growing number of gamers are LGBTQ+, so why is representation still lacking?. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/02/29/1234590117/a-growing-number-of-gamers-are-lgbtq-so-why-is-representation-still-lacking#:~:text=Close%20to%201%20in%205%20American%20gamers%20identify,can%20join%20%E2%80%94%20common%20in%20multiplayer%2C%20team-based%20games.  NBCUniversal News Group. (2024, February 13). Less than 2% of console video games have LGBTQ Representation, GLAAD report finds. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/less-2-console-video-games-lgbtq-representation-glaad-report-finds-rcna138646  Mejeur, C., & Ho, X. (2023, October 19). Queer lives are not side quests. Public Books. https://www.publicbooks.org/queer-representation-videogames/  Shaw, A., Lauteria, E., Yang, H., Persaud, C., & Cole, A. (2019). Counting Queerness in Games: Trends in LGBTQ Digital Game Representation, 1985‒2005. International Journal Of Communication, 13, 26. Retrieved from https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/9754

Another ranking episode! The TBB crew discuss their top five favorite rogues and thieves. Sam continues the trend of liking redheaded women in video games. DJ swears that dancers are rogues. Also, follow us on IG @TurnBasedBesties

Grab those save frogs, work through that fever, pack your rope snake, and join us for an extended review of Mother 3! Sam talks about mushrooms. DJ stumbles over musical modes. Fun! Citations:  Więckiewicz, G., Stokłosa, I., Piegza, M., Gorczyca, P., & Pudlo, R. (2021). Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Psilocybin and Dimethyltryptamine in Depression Treatment: A Systematic Review. In Pharmaceuticals (Vol. 14, Issue 8, p. 793). MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14080793 "Psilocybine". PubChem, US National Library of Medicine. August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.

Surprise! We are starting a fun, new series in between video game reviews. RANKING! Listen as we each discuss our top 5 favorite RPG mages! Did we include your favorite? Or leave someone out? Let us know on Instagram @TurnBasedBesties

Folks, this is a LONG episode, but of course it is because we are talking about the Goliath game that is Persona 3 Reload! We chat in detail about the pros and the less than pros of this potential GOTY. Sam also talks about what happens when you experience the Dark Hour. Oh yeah: Follow us at @TurnBasedBesties on Instagram! Turn-based Besties, during our ‘medical moment’, is solely for fun and educational purposes. Anything discussed on the show is not meant to diagnose or treat medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always ask your medical providers about potential health concerns. We are a video game podcast. We are not a medical podcast. Now, enjoy the episode! References:  Cordani R, Lopez R, Barateau L, Chenini S, Nobili L, Dauvilliers Y. Somnambulism. Sleep Med Clin. 2024 Mar;19(1):43-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2023.10.001. Epub 2023 Nov 2. PMID: 38368068 Arnulf, Isabelle. Sleepwalking. 2018. Current Biology. Volume 28, Issue 22. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.062 

Welcome to our first ever "Frankenstein" episode, where we both review a different game, and then talk about why we didn't like and/or finish the game the other one reviewed. Sound confusing? Great! Also, professor Sam gets all Futurama on us when he talks about cryogenics! Double also: follow our buddies on Youtube over at Crunchy Cozy Games: https://www.youtube.com/@CrunchyCozyGames References:  Hillenbrink R, Wareham CSMourning the frozen: considering the relational implications of cryonicsJournal of Medical Ethics Published Online First: 14 July 2023. doi: 10.1136/jme-2023-109237 Laurent A, Scaletta C, Abdel-Sayed P, Raffoul W, Hirt-Burri N, Applegate LA. Industrial Biotechnology Conservation Processes: Similarities with Natural Long-Term Preservation of Biological Organisms. BioTech. 2023; 12(1):15. https://doi.org/10.3390/biotech12010015 Mohr, S. M., Bagriantsev, S. N., & Gracheva, E. O. (2020). Cellular, molecular, and physiological adaptations of hibernation: the solution to environmental challenges. Annual review of cell and developmental biology, 36, 315-338. Jiang C, Storey KB, Yang H, Sun L. Aestivation in Nature: Physiological Strategies and Evolutionary Adaptations in Hypometabolic States. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; 24(18):14093. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814093 David L. Denlinger; Insect diapause: from a rich history to an exciting future. J Exp Biol 15 February 2023; 226 (4): jeb245329. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.245329