Last Save Lounge

Is there a single greatest platformer of the 1990s? Kevin Cortez thinks so, and he's not shy about it. This week on Last Save Lounge, the cozy gaming podcast about the games that saved our progress (and a little bit of us), I'm joined by journalist and content creator Kevin Cortez — whose work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, HuffPost, and Mothership — to talk about his favorite game of all time: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest for the Super Nintendo. Kevin lays out exactly why — the tightened controls, the soundtrack, the level design that escalates from world to world, and a difficulty curve he calls "just right." We also dig into the distinction he draws between his favorite game and the most important one (that'd be Super Mario World), how DKC2 was the first game that taught him a sequel could actually surpass its predecessor, and what it was like revisiting the game as an adult to prep for this conversation.In this cozy gaming podcast episode, we explore:Why Kevin stands firmly behind Donkey Kong Country 2 as the best platformer of the 1990sThe soundtrack, controls, and level design choices that set it apart from its predecessorWhy Kevin draws a distinction between his "favorite" game and the "most important" game he's playedHow DKC2 taught him what a great sequel could look likeHis career writing for Popular Mechanics, HuffPost, Mothership, and more.Last Save Lounge is my weekly hangout for people who still think about the games that shaped them. Come find me @lastsavelounge on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. If you'd like to buy me a metaphorical coffee (I run on good conversations and caffeine), you can do that at patreon.com/hoodieweather. And if times are tough, you are too — you can still become a free Patreon member and get exclusive benefits.

What do you do when your favorite game of all time is also a family tradition? This week on Last Save Lounge, the cozy gaming podcast about the games that saved our progress (and a little bit of us), I'm joined by Baron Jones — better known as BaronJ67, Communications Director at LV1 Gaming — to talk about his favorite game of all time: Ogre Battle 64.Baron's history with the game started before he ever picked up a controller for it — watching his late uncle and cousin command chibi armies, cast spells, and navigate a branching, morality-driven story with multiple endings. That early exposure turned into a lifelong love once he played it himself, and it ended up shaping his entire taste in strategy RPGs from there. We talk about the game's surprisingly ahead-of-its-time chaos/alignment system, how it led him to XCOM, Mount & Blade: Bannerlord, and Final Fantasy Tactics, and whether it would still hit the same way if he discovered it for the first time today.In this cozy gaming podcast episode, we explore:How Ogre Battle 64 became a shared experience across Baron's family before it became personalThe branching story, chaos/alignment system, and RTS-style battles that made the game years ahead of its timeHow the game shaped Baron's lifelong love of tactics RPGsHis path from streaming under the BaronJ67 name to becoming Communications Director at LV1 GamingWhy some games become part of our family history, not just our personal oneIf you love tactics RPGs, retro N64 games, strategy games, cozy gaming podcasts, gaming memories, or games that get passed down like family traditions, this episode is for you.Last Save Lounge is my weekly hangout for people who still think about the games that shaped them. Come find me @lastsavelounge on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. If you'd like to buy me a metaphorical coffee (I run on good conversations and caffeine), you can do that at patreon.com/hoodieweather. And if times are tough, you are too — you can still become a free Patreon member and get exclusive benefits.

This week on Last Save Lounge, the cozy gaming podcast about the games that saved our progress (and a little bit of us), we're joined by Nellie of NellieQuests (@nelliequests on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch) to talk about her favorite game of all time: Animal Crossing: New Horizons.Nellie opens up about picking the game back up during a major transitional period in her life, how it reignited a passion for gaming she hadn't touched since her DS days, and why the villagers of Animal Crossing became a source of stability for someone who moved around a lot growing up. We also dig into her creative process as a working actress, why cozy games like Animal Crossing, Paralives, and Palia scratch a similar itch to performing, and her ongoing (deeply ambitious) Bob's Burgers build in Paralives — including a 100 Baby Challenge starring Linda Belcher.If you love cozy gaming podcasts, gaming memories, and conversations about how our favorite games shape who we are, this episode is for you.Last Save Lounge is a weekly hangout for people who still think about the games that shaped them. Join us @lastsavelounge on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and if you'd like to buy us a metaphorical coffee (we run on nostalgia and caffeine), find us at patreon.com/hoodieweather.

What if the last thing you remember before a near-death accident was a video game — and the game somehow got you through it?This week on Last Save Lounge, the cozy gaming podcast about the games that saved our progress (and a little bit of us), we're joined by David Mann, a 3D character artist who's spent his career designing and directing character art for major game and interactive projects, to talk about why Double Fine's Psychonauts is his favorite game of all time.David tells the almost unbelievable story of getting hit by a truck while biking to class in San Francisco — and spending the entire ambulance ride and hospital stay convinced he was living inside Psychonauts, dreaming he had psychokinetic powers and was setting birds on fire with his mind, right up until he woke up on a gurney heading in for his fourth MRI of the night. We also dig into what drew him to character art in the first place, how Psychonauts' design and world-building shaped his own career, and the ten-plus-year friendship with host Aaron that started with a conversation about Mirror's Edge.In this cozy gaming podcast episode, we explore:Why Psychonauts remains one of the most formative games of David's lifeThe wild true story of surviving a bike accident while dreaming he was playing itHow character design and world-building in games like Psychonauts shaped David's career as a 3D artistWhat it's like working as an outsource manager overseeing character art for major studiosWhy some games become part of how we process real-life traumaIf you love Double Fine games, Psychonauts, indie platformers, cozy gaming podcasts, gaming memories, or stories about games that show up for us in unexpected ways, this episode is for you.#Psychonauts #DoubleFine #cozygaming #gamingpodcast #gamingmemories #3Dcharacterart #indiegamesLast Save Lounge is a weekly hangout for people who still think about the games that shaped them. Join us @lastsavelounge on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and if you'd like to buy us a metaphorical coffee (we run on nostalgia and caffeine), find us at patreon.com/hoodieweather.

What happens when a game is so challenging that you simply refuse to quit? This week on Last Save Lounge, Aaron sits down with independent game developer and technical artist Caris Baker, co-creator of Throwback: Jai Alai Heroes, to talk about why StarCraft II is her favorite game of all time.From growing up in a family obsessed with games, creativity, and play to becoming a professional game developer, Caris shares the winding path that led her to Blizzard's legendary real-time strategy game. We explore how StarCraft II became more than a hobby—it became a challenge that shaped the way she thinks, learns, and approaches her work as a creator.In this episode, we discuss:🎮 Why StarCraft II remains one of the greatest RTS games ever made🎮 Growing up with Nintendo, PlayStation, PC gaming, and video rental stores🎮 The surprising connection between StarCraft II, Warhammer 40K, and game development🎮 How difficult games can inspire personal growth and mastery🎮 ADHD, problem-solving, and the satisfaction of overcoming challenges🎮 Building Throwback: Jai Alai Heroes and creating arcade games in the modern era🎮 Why some games stay with us throughout multiple stages of our livesWhether you're a lifelong StarCraft fan, a game developer, an RTS enthusiast, or someone who loves hearing the stories behind people's favorite games, this episode is packed with gaming memories, creative insights, and plenty of nostalgia.About Last Save LoungeLast Save Lounge is a weekly cozy gaming podcast where developers, streamers, creators, and gaming enthusiasts answer one simple question:"What is your favorite game of all time?"Keywords: StarCraft II, StarCraft 2, Blizzard Entertainment, RTS games, real-time strategy games, game development, indie game developer, Throwback Jai Alai Heroes, technical artist, gaming memories, cozy gaming podcast, PC gaming, Warhammer 40K, Blizzard games, video game designSubscribe for new episodes every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.

What makes a video game stick with you long after you've finished playing it? This week on Last Save Lounge, we're joined by Clara Deitmar of Mucks Games to talk about why Baba Is You is their favorite game of all time and what game developers can learn from its brilliant design. Check out the new Mucks Games Kickstarter for Frieda Is Changing at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mucksgames/frieda-is-changingAs a member of the team behind the upcoming game Frieda Is Changing, Clara brings a unique perspective on creating games that leave a lasting impression on players. We dive into the challenges of indie game development, designing memorable player experiences, and why some games continue to live in our heads long after the credits roll.In this episode, we discuss:• Why Baba Is You is one of the most innovative puzzle games ever made• Designing games that stay with players emotionally and intellectually• The realities of indie game development• Building a social media presence without a dedicated marketing team• How small studios connect with audiences in today's gaming landscape• What makes players remember a game years laterWhether you're a fan of puzzle games, indie game development, game design, or simply love hearing passionate creators talk about the games that shaped them, this episode is for you.

What makes a game stay with you as you grow older? This week on Last Save Lounge, we’re joined by Tom Dyke—a livestream and video producer who has worked with companies like Cards Against Humanity, Direwolf Digital, and the McElroy Family—to talk about why The Binding of Isaac is his favorite game of all time.In this cozy gaming podcast episode, we explore:Why smaller, tightly authored games can feel more meaningful than sprawling open worldsHow games change as we grow older and our relationship to media evolvesThe strange early-2000s internet energy that shaped games like The Binding of IsaacWhy the game’s art style evokes memories of Newgrounds and eBaum’s WorldWe also talk about:Growing up with PokémonInternet culture and indie gaming aestheticsThe joy of replayable roguelike gamesWhy weird games leave such a lasting impressionIf you love indie games, roguelikes, cozy gaming podcasts, gaming memories, or early internet nostalgia, this episode is for you.🎙️ About Last Save Lounge A weekly cozy gaming podcast where guests answer one question: 👉 What is your favorite game of all time?🔑 Keywords: The Binding of Isaac, Pokémon, indie games, roguelike games, cozy gaming podcast, gaming memories, Newgrounds nostalgia, eBaum’s World, indie gaming, retro internet culture👍 Don’t forget to subscribe for more cozy gaming conversations every week!#BindingOfIsaac #Pokemon #indiegames #cozygaming #gamingpodcast #gamingmemories #roguelike #Newgrounds

What if the best games weren’t about leveling up… but about learning? This week on Last Save Lounge, we’re joined by Chelsea of Chelsea Blossom Games—a cozy creator known for mixing wholesome games with intense Soulsborne experiences—to talk about why Outer Wilds is her favorite game of all time.In this cozy gaming podcast episode, we explore:Why “knowledge games” are such a powerful genreHow Outer Wilds emotionally connects with playersWhy Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice “altered her brain chemistry”The joy of discovery, mystery, and self-driven storytelling in gamesWe also talk about:Soulsborne games and introspective RPG momentsCozy games versus challenging gamesWeird gaming experiences like Crime Scene CleanerWhy players connect so deeply to games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33If you love Outer Wilds, Soulsborne games, cozy gaming podcasts, gaming memories, or thoughtful game design discussions, this episode is for you. Check out Chelsea's work on her Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/chelseablossomgames and elsewhere at http://beacons.ai/chelseablossomgames!