Advertise on podcast: Tokyo Game Life

Tokyo Game Life reaches its explosive finale as I check out the Final Fantasy X exhibit in Shinjuku, share some thoughts on Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave, and break down the megaton Directs! (0:00) - Saying sayonara to the podcast Feature (12:54) - Final Fantasy X Museum Games (23:11) - Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave News (29:37) - Nintendo Directs breakdown Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Culdcept Central founder Andyman returns to chat about Culdcept Begins! We dive into this revival of the cult classic Japanese card/board game and how it’s bringing the franchise to new fans. And I take you inside Dragon Quest Dive, the 40th anniversary exhibit for the series in Tokyo! Follow our guest! Culdcept Central: https://culdceptcentral.com/ (0:00) - Intro Games (0:52) - Culdcept Begins w/ Andyman Feature (24:51) - Dragon Quest Dive News (33:09) - Switch upgrades, new merch, important announcement Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Author Mike Diver joins to chat about Japanese Alien games! From Square to Capcom to Sega, we explore how this American film franchise left its mark on the Japanese gaming scene. Plus I check out two once-canceled Virtual Boy titles, Zero Racers and D-Hopper! Follow our guest! Aliens: The Video Games: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Aliens-The-Video-Games-Hardback/p/58218 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mikediver.bsky.social (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:51) - Japanese Alien games w/ Mike Diver Games (47:29) - Zero Racers and D-Hopper News (54:57) - New gaming merch Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

YouTuber Tantacles joins to chat about Square Enix Cafe & Shop in both Tokyo and Los Angeles! Edible slimes, the aesthetics, the merch, we get into everything about this new nerdy eatery! And I look at the first wave of Pokopia DLC, Bubbly Basin! Follow our guest! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tantacles Square Enix Cafe & Shop video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEvNvpjJy48 Need more podcasts? Check out Remember 64: https://linktr.ee/Remember64 (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:44) - Square Enix Cafe & Shop w/ Tantacles Games (40:22) - Pokopia DLC News (48:45) - Fire Emblem Direct, new Nintendo merch Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Rhythm gamer and YouTuber DaftHusky joins as we chat about the entire Rhythm Heaven series! We delve into its origins as a Japan-only title, the arcade game, Tsunku’s legacy, and more as we look at every game in the series including Rhythm Heaven Groove! And I beat the heat by staying inside to play Splatoon Raiders and Denshattack! Follow our guest! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DaftHusky Need more podcasts? Check out Remember 64: https://linktr.ee/Remember64 (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:51) - Rhythm Heaven series w/ DaftHusky Games (36:47) - Splatoon Raiders (51:19) - Denshattack! News (1:00:36) - Tokyo exhibits, Switch 2 game news Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

David from Project Goemon is back to chat about Ganbare Goemon Daishugo, the newest Goemon collection of over a dozen games! We chat about the long-awaited return of the series, what games in the collection to check out, and theorize about the future. In the feature, I run down all the tasty collabs Baskin Robbins has had with Nintendo in Japan! Follow our guest! Website: https://projectgoemon.wordpress.com/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/projectgoemon.bsky.social (0:00) - Intro Games (0:54) - Ganbare Goemon Daishugo w/ Project Goemon Feature (31:37) - Baskin Robbins X Nintendo News (45:49) - PlayStation to stop printing discs, Splatoon and Mario Kart updates Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Writer and podcaster Drew Mackie is here to chat about the unknown origins of Mario! We explore everything you THINK you know about Mario, why lore is inconsistent between Japan and the west, and if they should bring back Mr. Video. Plus, I tell you if Star Fox is a perfect remake or not! Follow our guest! Mario 101: For Super Players: https://www.thrillingtalesofoldvideogames.com/blog/mario-101-history Gayest Episode Ever Podcast: https://www.gayestepisodeever.com/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/drewgmackie.bsky.social Need more podcasts? Check out Nintendo Dads: https://www.nintendodads.org/ (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:52) - The Unknown Origins of Mario w/ Drew Mackie Games (28:03) - Star Fox News (42:26) - Animal Crossing x Baskin Robbins Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Hard Off ambassador Alex Kraus returns as we chat about Hard Off Shinjuku, a new major retro games hotspot in Tokyo! We delve into why Hard Off opened up a shop in one of Tokyo’s biggest shopping districts, if it lives up to expectations, and ponder about the future of the company. In the games, I take a look at the Zelda-inspired Mina the Hollower! Plus, all the stuff you should care about from the Nintendo Direct! Follow our guest! BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/alexfkraus.bsky.social Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/retrodreamgames/ Need more podcasts? Check out Nintendo Dads: https://www.nintendodads.org/ (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:56) - Hard Off Shinjuku w/ Alex Kraus Games (23:31) - Mina the Hollower News (34:48) - Nintendo Direct June 2026 analysis Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Podcaster JT from Nintendo Maniacs and The House of Mario returns as we look at the Switch 2, one year later. From launch to now, we touch on the weird and wonderful first twelve months of the Switch 2’s life. And I also take you inside a cool retro game shop in Akihabara, Rare Item Studio! Follow our guest! The House of Mario: https://thehouseofmario.captivate.fm/listen (0:00) - Intro Games (0:49) - Switch 2, one year later w/ JT from The House of Mario Feature (1:33:53) - Rare Item Studio News (1:42:55) - Pictonico!, Dragon Quest XII, new Tokyo collabs Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Type designer and YouTuber Kaihatsu returns as we chat about Ainu in video games! We discuss how northern Japan’s indigenous people have been portrayed in games like Ghost of Yotei, Samurai Shodown, Pokemon Legends Arceus, and how their culture may have influenced countless games. Plus I give some final thoughts on Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and Monster Hunter Stories 3! And I dig deep into a lot of Nintendo news including the newest Star Fox game and analyze the financial report! Follow our guest! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Kaihatsu Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kaihat.su Twitter: https://x.com/KaihatsuYT (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:55) - Ainu in Video Games w/ Kaihatsu Games (52:34) - Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream final thoughts (1:02:30) - Monster Hunter Stories 3 final thoughts News (1:09:47) - Star Fox, Nintendo FY26 analysis, Tokyo events Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Indie developer Chris from KaniPro Games returns to chat about his newest title: Hong Kong 2097, the sequel to one of Japan’s worst doujin games. We get into how he secured rights to the sequel, how to make a follow-up to an infamously bad game, and the rocky road to actually getting it released! In the feature, I highlight all the exciting collabs and the movie going experience of watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in Japan! Follow our guest! KaniPro Games: https://x.com/KaniProGames Hong Kong 2097: https://kanipro.itch.io/hong-kong-2097 (0:00) - Intro Games (0:55) - Hong Kong 2097 w/ KaniPro Games Feature (21:26) - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in Japan News (35:46) - New merch, pop ups, and Splatoon Raiders Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Media historian Rex from Beyond Electric Sheep is here to chat about Evangelion video games! From visual novels to fighting games to mahjong, we (magma) dive into how one of Japan’s most important anime is also emblematic of a special time in Japanese gaming history. Plus, I look at the wacky Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and the deathly serious Pokemon Champions. Follow our guest! Website: https://www.beyondelectricsheep.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BEYONDELECTRICSHEEP Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rnaboursiii.bsky.social And check out this week’s special ad: Kirby Conversations Podcast! https://www.soundstone.network/kirby-conversations (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:55) - Evangelion Video Games w/ Beyond Electric Sheep Games (37:44) - Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (47:14) - Pokemon Champions News (56:22) - Rhythm Heaven Groove, new Nintendo merch Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Author John Szczepaniak is here to chat about his anthology of dev interviews: The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers! We chat about the lesser known corners of Japan’s gaming scene, the people who built it, and general sake consumption. In the games section, I look at some short and sweet games like Balloon Kid and Öoo! Follow our guest! Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Untold-History-Japanese-Game-Developers-ebook/dp/B00Q93N29I (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:52) - The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers w/ John Szczepaniak Games (44:35) - Balloon Kid (50:29) - Öoo News (56:53) - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie news, Tokyo updates Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

YouTuber Oceaniz flies into the podcast to chat about Monster Hunter Stories 3! We examine all the ambitious additions to this underrated spinoff JRPG series and nail down which franchise rep will be in Smash Bros. Plus I gush even more about Pokemon Pokopia, and pop inside the newly opened Capcom Store Ikebukuro! Follow our guest! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Oceaniz BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/oceaniz.bsky.social (0:00) - Intro Games (0:57) - Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection w/ Oceaniz (35:17) - More Pokemon Pokopia Feature (45:00) - Capcom Store Ikebukuro News (54:23) - Pokopia sales, Mario Day Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Returning guest and Japan explorer Daan Koopman is back to bring us to PokePark Kanto, the newest Pokemon theme park in Japan! We explore every nook of this amazing new section of YomiuriLand, and what you should say if you meet Junichi Masuda! And I take a look at Pokemon Pokopia, one of the biggest Switch 2 surprises! Plus, the news including a peek at Pokemon Winds and Waves! Follow our guest! Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nintendaan.com Twitter: https://x.com/NintenDaan Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/nintendaan (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:53) - PokePark Kanto w/ Daan Koopman Games (39:30) - Pokemon Pokopia News (52:16) - Pokemon Winds and Waves, Indie World Social media: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!