We round off the month with @ipiercebrown.bsky.social, author of the internationally bestselling Red Rising series. Tune in for a discussion on worldbuilding, choice, morality, Mass Effect, StarCraft, and, of course, Sophocles: bit.ly/4h1tdsy

For sci-fi novelist and creator of Red Rising, @ipiercebrown.bsky.social, the game Morrowind led to a ceasefire with his school rival, then a secret friendship. Don't want to wait until Tuesday to listen? Join us on Patreon to gain early, ad-free access to Pierce's perfect console: bit.ly/3HPvNSM

Five titles. One perfect console. But which of @robbotron.bsky.social's picks is your favourite? Let us know. 1. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 2. Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo 3. Wii Sports Resort 4. Sid Meier’s Civilization V 5. Hitman: World of Assassination Enjoy the full episode: bit.ly/3Rqwas7

Welcome the incomparable @robbotron.bsky.social to the pod. John has spent years creating one of the most original live shows anywhere in comedy. Join us for a chat about text adventures, player agency, comedy, and the strange joy of shouting "GO NORTH" at a man in a leather jacket bit.ly/3Rqwas7

For comic @robbotron.bsky.social, Sonic 2 is the perfect couch co-op game, provided your partner agrees to the division of labour. Next week, listen to John discuss growing up in Australia, coming up with the concept that became A Dark Room, and his perfect console: bit.ly/3HPvNSM

It’s no surprise to see GOALS on @bds.bsky.social's perfect console! 1. Phantasy Star — Master System, 1987 2. Counter-Strike — 2000 3. World of Warcraft — 2004 4. FIFA 17 — 2016 5. GOALS — 2026 Catch up with this week’s episode: bit.ly/450M8fI

Today’s guest is a former Counter-Strike world champion whose career charts the evolution of competitive gaming. @bds.bsky.social talks about the birth of esports, what made Counter-Strike special, and why a studio with no experience has decided to take on EA Sports: bit.ly/450M8fI

Did football games peak in 2017? For @bds.bsky.social , former Counter-Strike champion and creator of the new free-to-play soccer game GOALS, FIFA 17 is the pinnacle of 2010s football game design. Listen to why Andreas wants to bring success to eSports in next week’s episode: bit.ly/3HPvNSM

Abigoliah’s selection of games brings together titles from five very different consoles. Super Mario Land — Game Boy Mortal Kombat — Arcade Mario Kart 8 — Wii U Gardenscapes: New Acres — iOS, Android Beat Saber — PC VR Want to know the reasoning behind her choices? Listen here: bit.ly/3R2P0We

Our next guest is American comedian, writer, actor and podcaster, Abigoliah Schamaun. Abigoliah’s open-hearted style has made her one of the most distinctive voices on the UK stand-up circuit. She’s also spoken with warmth and candour about ADHD and neurodivergence. Listen here: bit.ly/3R2P0We

That formative childhood moment when your neighbour invites you over to play Mortal Kombat and leaves you with a lifelong distrust of fighting games. Next week, comedian Abigoliah Schamaun share her Mortal Kombat trauma, and much more. Get it early on Patreon: bit.ly/3HPvNSM

If you could only play one of these games, which would you choose? North & South (1989) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure (1989) Sega Rally Championship (1994) Arcade Version ICO (2001) Firewatch (2016) Hear why Luke Whittaker chose these titles: bit.ly/44cA5f4

Few game designers have done more to expand our idea of what a video game can look like than Luke Whittaker. From the handcrafted streets of Lumino City to the papercraft minimalism of KAMI, his work has consistently pushed visual creativity in unexpected directions. Listen now: buff.ly/Sl7M2MQ

Out today: bonus episode in which Simon and Glenn discuss the game we've been playing throughout June, Half-Life 2. Become a supporter today for access to this, and dozens more previous bonuses: www.patreon.com/myperfectcon...

If there's a theme running through @RobDubbin.bsky.social's perfect console, it's freedom. Five games that prioritise experimentation and expression: ZZT Star Control II Master of Magic Slice & Dice Caves of Qud Find out more in this week’s episode, available now: bit.ly/4eLTh8u

Welcome to the pod, Emmy-winning comedy writer and game designer, @Robdubbin.bsky.social. Rob’s work spans late-night television, journalism, and interactive storytelling. He's become a thoughtful advocate for clarity and economy in writing, particularly in games. Available now: bit.ly/4eLTh8u

What did writing jokes for Stephen Colbert teach @Robdubbin.bsky.social about game design? Find out in next week's episode, featuring game designer and Emmy-winning writer for The Late Show. Available on Monday for Patreon subscribers and Tuesday wherever you listen to your podcasts: bit.ly/3HPvNSM

Two Nintendo classics earned their place on @georgeosborn.bsky.social's perfect console: 1. GoldenEye 007 — (N64) 2. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask — (N64) 3. Championship Manager 01/02 — (PC, UK) 4. Mass Effect 2 — (Xbox 360) 5. Balatro — (PC/console launch) Listen here: bit.ly/4avnqHC

Today’s guest explores the increasingly fraught intersection of video games, business, and politics. @georgeosborn.bsky.social is a journalist, strategist, and analyst whose new book, Power Play: Video Games, Politics, & the Battle for Global Influence, is out Thursday. Listen now: bit.ly/4avnqHC

Which life lesson did the classic N64 game The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask teach @georgeosborn.bsky.social? Hear more from the author of Power Play: Video Games, Politics and the Battle for Global Influence in our upcoming episode: bit.ly/3HPvNSM

Five genre-defining titles make up Gabríel Ólafs perfect console. 1. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 2. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade 3. God of War (2018) 4. Death Stranding 5. Baldur’s Gate 3 Listen to the stories behind Gabríel’s choices in our latest episode: bit.ly/4g9npg5

"I want to make the first classical album that you could buy on Steam” Icelandic composer Gabríel Ólafs shares why he thinks his two worlds, classical music and video games, are a weird combo. Enjoy the full conversation, available now: bit.ly/4g9npg5

Polar has been praised for its vast, glacial beauty — but did you know the orchestral album was inspired by open-world video games? In this week’s episode, the Icelandic composer Gabriel Olafs joins host @simonparkin.bsky.social. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts: bit.ly/4g9npg5

Elsie Kova’s perfect console spans 17 years, 4 developers, and some of the most influential RPGs and action games. Which is your favourite? The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Final Fantasy X Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Persona 3 Bloodborne Hear the stories behind her choices: bit.ly/4wXV965

Today, we’re joined by one of the defining voices in modern fantasy. Elise Kova wrote her first novella in sixth grade and has now sold millions of copies of her beloved series worldwide. Find out how she went from a hobby novelist to a full-time author within a year: bit.ly/4wXV965

What does it take to go from self-published author to New York Times bestseller? For romantic fantasy author Elise Kova, the answer involves talent, business acumen, and 1 other ingredient that’s harder to define. Hear Elise’s extraordinary story on My Perfect Console, out next week: bit.ly/3HPvNSM

It’s no surprise that Brendan Greene’s perfect console is packed with camouflage and combat. 1. MUD — 1978 2. Delta Force: Black Hawk Down — 2003 3. America’s Army 2 - 2003 4. ARMA — 2006 5. Battlefield 1 — 2016. Listen to our new episode with the creator of PUBG: bit.ly/4vjtTh0

At its peak, PUBGMobile was making about the same income as a Batman movie every quarter. And yet, as the game’s creator, Brendan Green acknowledges, its name remains strangely anonymous outside games. Listen to Brendan's episode, out Tuesday: bit.ly/3HPvNSM

A first for the show: not one but *two* WarioWare titles on one perfect console... 1. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 2. WarioWare: Twisted! 3. Red Dead Redemption 2 4. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla 5. WarioWare: Move It! Listen to this week's episode with @StephenTotilo.bsky.social: bit.ly/4djXGjt

Our next guest helped redefine how games are reported and understood. From MTV News to Kotaku, to Axios, and now his Substack Game File, @StephenTotilo.bsky.social has consistently pushed for deeper, more thoughtful coverage of the medium. Available now: bit.ly/4djXGjt