The Thirsty Mage RPG Podcast

The Thirsty Mage celebrates the beginning of Spring by talking about the Game Boy Advance classic, Mario Golf: Advance Tour.

The pub reviews the GameCube titles that have been announced for Switch 2, along with a deeper dive into Path of Radiance.

Our preview coverage continues, as Casey and David discuss games that they’d love to see on Switch 2 but haven’t been announced yet.

David and Paige travel back 22 years to enjoy the first Fire Emblem game to be localized in the West: The Blazing Blade.

Our first RPG Club game has come to an end, and we have a chat about our experience with the Dragon Quest III: 2DHD Remake and discuss why we hope this is the first of many from Square Enix.

A Quarter Century of Quests: Reliving the Magic with Our Top 25 RPGs

Remember those late nights, long after we should have gone to bed, controller in hand, exploring fantastical worlds, forging lifelong relationships (even if they were just with pixels on a screen), and saving the world from destruction? That feeling, that immersion, that pure escapism – that's the magic of a great RPG. And for the past 25 years, we've been blessed with an incredible bounty of them.

Join us on the latest episode of The Thirsty Mage as we embark on a nostalgic journey through the very best that the world of role-playing games has offered. We're counting down our definitive Top 25 RPGs of the last 25 years, a celebration of the titles that defined a generation and shaped the landscape of interactive storytelling.

From sprawling open worlds to tightly-knit narratives, from turn-based tactical combat to action-packed real-time battles, we've explored every corner of the RPG genre to bring you this carefully curated list. This isn't just a list; it's a conversation. It's a chance to reminisce about the games that stole our hearts, the characters we grew to love (and sometimes hate), and the moments that are etched into our gaming memories.

Think back to the first time you cast Firaga, the thrill of leveling up, the agonizing choice between two equally powerful pieces of loot. These are the experiences that bind RPG fans together, a shared history of adventure and imagination. Our Top 25 RPGs list reflects that shared history, highlighting the games that pushed boundaries, innovated gameplay mechanics, and crafted stories that resonated with millions.

This episode isn't just about nostalgia, though. It's also about rediscovering classics. Perhaps you missed a few gems along the way, or maybe you're looking for a new (old) obsession. Our countdown is the perfect guide for anyone looking to delve into the rich history of RPGs. We discuss what made each game special, its impact on the genre, and why it deserves a spot on our prestigious list of the Top RPGs of the last 25 years.

Did your favorites make the cut? Prepare for some tough choices, passionate debates, and maybe even a few surprises. We've done our best to represent the diverse landscape of role-playing games, So, settle in, and join us as we celebrate a quarter century of incredible role-playing experiences. This is more than just a podcast episode; it's a time machine, a portal back to the worlds that shaped us. Tune in now to The Thirsty Mage and relive the magic of the Top 25 RPGs of the last 25 years.

(3:30) First 16 RPGs of the Top 25 Games of the past 25 Years

The Thirsty Mage community meets up for part 1 of a multi-part spoiler-cast of Dragon Quest III HD2D. This episode covers the beginning of the game and includes the first five hours leading up to the arrival in Asham.

David and Jordan discuss Ys: Memoire, the remaster of The Oath in Felghana, which also happens to be a remake of Ys III. Jordan also shares his impressions on playing DragonAge Origins via Xbox GamePass.

(:22) RPG Club Introduction

(8:23) Ys Memoire - The Oath in Felghana

(23:22) Octopath Traveler Update

(31:36) Dragon Age Origins

Our backlogs each have one less game after playing Octopath Traveler, Silent Hill 2, and Chrono Trigger.

(9:17) Reevaluating Octopath Traveler

(17:45) Silent Hill 2 Remake

(46:12) GamePass Rundown and Chrono Trigger

Paige shares the details of her recent trip to Japan. From the halls of the Nintendo Museum to the wilds of Dragon Quest Island, she provides the scoop on spending 10 days in the dreamland of video games.

(4:45) Exploring Osaka

(17:05) Nintendo Museum Impressions

(40:25) Universal Japan Studios

(59:30) Visiting Dragon Quest Island

The podcast ends 2024 with a quick look back on some of the recommended episodes from our almost 300 episode catalogue.

https://discord.gg/5EY4xPd4Jb

The discussion at the pub this episode includes our biggest surprises, disappointments, and best Games of the Year for 2024.

The pub shares their thoughts on what to add, or not add, to their Christmas Wishlist.

Jordan shares his impressions on a pair of games with Dragon in the title: Dragon Quest III HD2D and Dragon Age: The Veilguard

In this episode, David and Casey discuss the new Pokemon mobile game and the upgraded Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.

Game, Games, and more Games. Jordan shares a spoiler-free review of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven and early impressions of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. David shares his experience of playing Slay the Princess on Halloween.

David and Paige talk about their experience on the first third of Metaphor: Refantazio, from the opening until the party reaches Brilehaven.

David and Casey share which games they feel would get a newcomer to RPGs hooked on the genre.

David and Paige share impressions of two of the biggest game released this year: Echoes of Wisdom and Metaphor Re:Fantazio.

On the cusp of a possible announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2, Paige and David chat about what Nintendo has been up to lately.

We’re in the thick of review season, with Jordan and David sharing their experiences with the Castlevania Dominus Collection and Reynatis.

David shares his thoughts about the first little bit of Sword of Mana, and Jordan gives us the inside scoop of what he saw at PAX West.

We’re back with a spoiler-free review of the latest game to come from our favourite developer Square Enix, Visions of Mana.

Paige and Jordan talk about the Cat Quest games, Castaway, and muse about the Nintendo Online Service.

The pub has a discussion about the first few hours of Final Fantasy XV and what it’s like playing the long developed game in 2024.

Casey and David provide impressions on how the game runs on a Steam Deck and PlayStation 5, and make recommendations on the best platform to use.

David and Jordan review two highly anticipated indie RPGs for both on Steam and the Nintendo Switch: Darkest Dungeon 2 and Gestalt: Steam and Cinder.

With all of the improvements to the OS, and the addition of an OLED screen option, is Steam Deck currently the best device to play RPGs?

The pub has a discussion about the technical prowess of the OLED Steam Deck, and which RPGs are best suited to play on perhaps the best handheld to date.

The latest Legend of Heroes game is finally here!

David and Jordan provide a spoiler-free review of first game in the brand new story arc of the Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak. This podcast discusses the evolution of the long running franchise, including whether this is the best Trails game for a newbie to start with.

Everyone talks about Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door being one of the best Nintendo RPGs ever made, but is it really even the best Paper Mario game?

Paige and David discuss the recently released remake and compare it to the original Nintendo 64 game.