Join four lifelong friends on this award-nominated comedy podcast about board games, video games, comicbooks, movies, TV and more; uncovering the hidden indie gems you’ll wonder how you ever lived without, and diving deep into the franchises you already know and love.
Episodes
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
00:00 - A festive crop top and a weekend at Willington’s.
13:40 - Secret Santa, Part 1.
19:06 - Exit: The Mystery of the Ice Cave is an absolute treat: it has great puzzles and an excellent, slow burn narrative. It’s sold out this year, but fingers crossed for another one from Kosmos in 2022.
30:18 - Secret Santa, Part 2.
35:09 - Hawkeye often plays a supporting role in the MCU but in his new series - which is Planes, Trains and Automobiles by way of The Avengers - he’s put centre stage. It’s a lot of fun, with a good mix of humour and action.
47:24 - Secret Santa, Part 3.
56:26 - Twenty Twenty Twix.
All that, and a can of Ollie’s, with Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).
Interested in picking up Peter's Call of Cthulhu one-on-one scenario The Catcott Collection? You can find it via TitanMoth.com or get it direct from DriveThruRPG.
We have a lovely Spotify Playlist we’re constantly updating with music inspired by all the things we waffle on about.
Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com
Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.
Wednesday Dec 01, 2021
Wednesday Dec 01, 2021
00:00 - Leaving the pub with invincibility.
08:20 - Dire Wolf Digital’s Dune: Imperium is a highly thematic worker placement game that successfully captures the political intrigue the franchise is known for. Better yet, it avoids a lot of the pitfalls of similar games, by always offering you something truly beneficial to do, so you never feel like a turn is “wasted”.
15:23 - Magic darts.
17:20 - A reimplementation of Biblios, For the King (and Me) is from Coiledspring Games and Iello and features art that screams personality as the backdrop to a deeply satisfying auction game of continual push and pull.
27:44 - Marvel’s latest superhero movie is Eternals and we have not one, not three, but two claims to fame about its cast. The film itself is divisive, but what we can all agree on is that its core question is this: “is humanity actually worth saving?”
50:04 - Want to learn how to create and publish RPG content to the Miskatonic Repository, in just one month? Then you should definitely check out the Write Your First Adventure Call of Cthulhu Path from The Storytelling Collective. With insights from Ashley Warren and Paul Fricker, it’s a great experience, and not just because it gives you a deadline...
All that, and Bruce Willis with a space drill, with Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).
We have a lovely playlist set themed on the stuff we talk about, over on Spotify, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com
Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.
Monday Nov 15, 2021
Monday Nov 15, 2021
00:00 - Buying an apartment is boring. And very very expensive.
08:28 - The Call of Cthulhu Starter Set is one of the neatest pieces of introductory design; a great way to get into Chaosium’s legendary roleplaying game, which gets across the writings of Lovecraft really well, in an all-round excellent package.
29:32 - Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Scrawlers: Heroes of Undermountain is another great introduction to RPGs, but in this instance, to the world of Dungeons & Dragons itself, rather than the rules of D&D. A light, lovely experience.
42:20 - You can trust in Disco Elysium. ZA/UM’s hard-edged CRPG is challenging and dangerous in all the right ways, with fascinating choices, brilliant writing, and a wonderfully grim playground to explore.
55:36 - Hospitals and bananas.
All that, and a £3 meal deal, with Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).
Like nice music curated into lovely curated lists? Give our Spotify Playlist set a listen.
Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com
Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Monday Nov 01, 2021
00:00 - What to do with an extra hour.
07:27 - We went to watch Dune at the IMAX and realised that, for a film with the budget of a Hollywood blockbuster, it’s a surprisingly cerebral and mature adaptation of the novels, where the little things are what stand out most. This generation’s Lord of the Rings? Quite possibly...
29:17 - No Time to Die is the 25th Bond movie, and an appropriate send off for Daniel Craig’s take on James. A good movie, then, but who is the best Bond, and why is it Pierce Brosnan?
50:31 - Little Factory from Iello is a lighter touch resource management game perfect for families. Why? It’s easy to explain to a new player and, importantly, easy to understand the logic of the mechanics. It’s also very nice to look at... in some ways, it’s the board game equivalent of Everdale.
All that, and a Krisalis, with Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).
Still not sure what to do with your spare hour? Give our Spotify Playlist set a listen.
Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com
Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.
Friday Oct 15, 2021
Friday Oct 15, 2021
00:00 - Willington Day, our favourite seasons, and the number five.
03:46 - "You couldn't read it".
07:04 - Super Arcade Football is from OutOfTheBit - of Super Arcade Racing (as heard on Ep77) fame - and it’s a delightful “jumpers for goal posts” game that feels like a spin on Sensible Soccer, but given a modern fit and finish.
28:57 - WizKids’s latest is Greece Lightning, which is somewhat of a racing board game simulation of Wacky Races in that it requires deviousness, cunning, and a little bit of luck.
40:43 - We’ve been chomping through Midnight Mass, which has a Jamesian “pleasing terror” to it, and is, in many ways, more unsettling than Midsommar. Perfect for a bit of Hallowe’en spookin’.
All that, and some unacknowledged hiccups, with Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).
Oh and hey! Give our Spotify Playlist set a go if you’re after something else to listen to after this episode. Lots of good stuff in there.
Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com
Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.
Friday Oct 01, 2021
Friday Oct 01, 2021
00:00 - Butter spreading dangers.
02:07 - We hop on the Deathloop bandwagon and talk about why this cyclical murder sim from the folks at Arkane Studios is inspired by old school roleplaying games.
23:55 - Sam’s wild claims of popularising Pogs at his school, plus talk of Squid Game, which is a deadly version of Taskmaster directed by Lady Gaga.
36:51 - After aggressively competitive games with names like Boom Beach and Clash of Clans, Supercell’s latest is called Everdale, which is the nicest ever logistics simulator.
44:49 - Absolutely obscene tea drinking.
48:13 - How the Where’s Wally? trend is propelling the board game industry forward, as evidenced by whiteboard-based detective ‘em up Last Message from Coiledspring and Iello.
All that, and the other zeitgeists, with Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).
Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com
Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.
Wednesday Sep 15, 2021
Wednesday Sep 15, 2021
00:00 - Lightbulb moments.
03:20 - Dining out at the cinema and why Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a fantastic kung fu movie, with a more-grounded physicality in a universe where everyone has laser beams shooting out their eyes.
21:49 - What’s bigger than Kris's lunchbox? Being a VIP.
25:42 - We’ve been spending lunch breaks playing Mazescape Labyrinthos from Devir. The premise is very simple - just find your way through a maze - but that’s only the beginning, and the game builds and builds upon this idea to result in a satisfying solo experience.
33:44 - Imagine a crossword puzzle crossed with Scrabble; that’s Wordscapes from Peoplefun Games. It’s simple, light fun, testing and improving your vocabulary skills in a free-to-play mobile game where the hand of the monetiser is rarely felt (if you turn off the ads).
44:36 - A huge thank you to Mark (@lithiumproject) for sending us a question for this episode, which is: what are the best two player board/card games?
All that, and taking a cup of tea hostage, with Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).
Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com
Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.
Wednesday Sep 01, 2021
Wednesday Sep 01, 2021
00:00 - Play it slow or play it fast, SUPERHOT VR might just be the best way to experience the stylish first person shooter where times only moves when you do.
05:44 - A spice challenge at Seitan’s Corner.
09:13 - Anno 1800 is from Martin Wallace, via Kosmos Games and Ubisoft. It’s got a heck of a large footprint on the table and at first glance appears off-puttingly dense, but this board game adaptation of a classic video game series is actually highly thematic, and really quite approachable.
29:24 - We’ve talked about his recent mobile games before here on the podcast, but the Bart Bonte Collection is a compilation of 28 games, originally made in Flash, available now on Steam. This tapas-like selection of excellent little experiences is a great example of both video game preservation and, in a way, a kind of gaming archaeology.
41:00 - Look, we all know that Suicide Squad was awful. But The Suicide Squad? That’s a whole different kettle of sharks.
53:04 - Reviewing incinerators.
All that, and hoofing games, with Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).
Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com
Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.
Sunday Aug 15, 2021
Sunday Aug 15, 2021
00:00 - Using Lara Croft-esque flares for romantic photography.
03:30 - No matadors whatsoever.
05:04 - We had a fantastic time at the UK Games Expo this year, and the organisers did a brilliant job of making it feel as welcoming and safe as possible. Last year’s digital version - which we did a… unique?… video for was all well and dandy, but it’s wonderful to meet up in person and get hyped again for board games. Plus, we spill the tea on the attendees of The Festival of Quilts.
09:34 - Kris’s booty.
16:56 - We popped over to a booth run by Kingdom Gaming of Northampton at UKGE, as they were running Flesh and Blood, a TCG from Legend Story Studios that’s really starting to pick up a lot of plaudits, for one key reason: it’s real good. There’s a satisfying tension between playing cards and keeping them, a great back-and-forth between attack and defence, and a huge reduction in the amount of frustrating luck seen in similar games.
26:51 - Another great find at UKGE was Stop the Train! from Escape Plan Board Games. Fans of Werewolf will be right at home, but there’s more than enough here to set it apart from the classic social deduction games, with a train track providing a visual reminder of time running out, and individual conflicting goals casting suspicion left, right, and centre.
31:44 - Themeborne’s Escape the Dark Castle was at UKGE in a big way, so we took the opportunity to give it a go, and we’re super glad we did. It’s a mix of Choose Your Own Adventure and deck-based dungeon crawl, by way of the OSR; grim and perilous adventures, unique enemies and characters, and just the right combination of tactical nuance, ease of play, and some very flavourful writing.
37:51 - It’s always a pleasure to catch up with Bez at a show, someone who is perhaps one of the most prolific and consistent game designers with their ELL Deck (the new name for Wibbell++, which we’ve previously covered). We got to play a new game - possibly created at the show itself! - called Coupell, a “flip and write” that will put your vocabulary to the test.
42:14 - “You get a lot of game for your money” is a phrase we think is going to be synonymous with Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road, from Osprey Games. Pop on a spiced tea and take in the beautiful art, all while building an economic engine in an ancient city.
50:41 - The very deliberately named Masters of the Universe: Revelation TV series has an amazing cast, an incredible soundtrack, and a compelling storyline that successfully draws and builds upon 130 episodes of lore.
All that, and He-Man’s colleagues, with Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).
Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com
Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.
Sunday Aug 01, 2021
Sunday Aug 01, 2021
00:00 - The Calippo Shots generation.
04:38 - A bit of a saga.
07:21 - Black Widow is an action thriller in the MCU that explores some pretty dark and deep themes surrounding the character. It’s a good movie, with extremely visceral action scenes, but it doesn’t feel like a “phase 4” film.
19:40 - The solitaire Call of Cthulhu adventure Alone Against the Tide sits somewhere between Alone Against the Flames and Alone Against the Dark; it’s a solid challenge, but very approachable, with lots of cosy (?) psychological horror.
32:45 - Our pal Damien Faulkner asks the hardest question we’ve had to answer: just what are the must have Switch games?
45:43 - Genesis Noir is like an interactive art installation; a monochrome, film noir point and click theme, inspired by the works of Italo Calvino. It’s from Feral Cat Den and Fellow Traveller Games, and it’s wonderful.
55:07 - Getting Busy with the Knizy, and his latest games! Lost Cities: Roll & Write is from Kosmos, and it's a game that gives the Lost Cities feeling (obviously), but it's more approachable and, importantly, you can play it on a couch. AND we look at Royal Visit from Coiledspring Games and Iello, that has just enough edge and grit to its tug of war gameplay to make it super engaging.
All that, and The Kris Turn, with Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Kris (@DigitalStrider), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner).
Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com
Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.