Sometimes it’s hard to find a way to make hobbies work well together.
It’s hard to watch movies while listening to music, read books while biking, or paint minis during laser tag. However, not all is lost, and some combinations work fine, actually.
One of them are video games and podcasts. Both tend to pile up in your backlog cabin, waiting for your attention.
Thankfully, in this case you can get the best of both worlds, as there are plenty of games which are perfect at engaging the parts of your brain not required by your podcasts.
What makes a good podcast game? For the purposes of this list, we chose games which won’t drag your attention away from the pod to spend five minutes fussing over a narrative or tactical choice.
They also won’t drop a ton of stories on you. This is why Hades (nor Hades II) make an appearance – they are amazing, but talk too much.
None of that here. These games can be played by instinct and muscle memory alone, leaving parts of your brain free to process whatever your chosen podcasts talk about. So… let’s get on with it, there are backlogs to chop!
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Animal Crossing New Horizons | 2020-03-20 | Simulation | Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 5 |
 | Sid Meiers Civilization VI Anthology | 2021-06-10 | Strategy | Firaxis Games |
 | Farming Simulator 22 | 2021-11-22 | Simulation | Giants Software |
 | Farming Simulator 25 | 2024-11-12 | Simulation | Giants Software |
 | Minecraft Java Bedrock Edition | 2011-11-18 | Sandbox | Mojang Studios |
 | Stardew Valley | 2016-02-26 | Adventure | ConcernedApe |
 | Vampire Survivors | 2021-12-17 | Indie | Poncle |
 | Euro Truck Simulator 2 | 2013-01-16 | Indie | SCS Software |
 | Powerwash Simulator | 2021-05-19 | Simulator | FuturLab |
 | Monster Hunter World Iceborne Master Edition Digital Deluxe | 2019-12 | Action | CAPCOM |
 | Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak | 30 czerwca 2022-06-30 | Action | Capcom |
Vampire Survivors
| Release date: | 2021-12-17 |
| Genre: | Indie |
| Developer: | Poncle |
Vampire Survivors’ incredible simplicity makes it a very easy recommendation for a podcast game.
Indeed, most of its functions are so purely mechanical, that they won’t distract you from your playlist. Your characters attack on their own, so your only job is keeping them away from enemies, picking up XP beans, and choosing upgrades which synergize well with your emergent build.
As each stage progresses, the hordes of enemies increase, your weapons evolve in range, power, and frequency, and you can fully commit all your braincells to the pod while keeping your lizard brain happy with a phenomenon known as “numbers go brr”. They truly do, with certain builds they might even eclipse the enemy hordes, while your heroes stand alone in the eye of the storm they create.
| Key features |
|---|
|
Euro Truck Simulator 2
| Release date: | 2013-01-16 |
| Genre: | Indie |
| Developer: | SCS Software |
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is already realistic, but if you want to get really immersed, add a podcast to the experience, filling the long hours on the road.
No worries except fuel and low bridges, just listen to your pods and deliver cargo on time. Isn’t that just the dream? With more than 60 European cities to visit, and a bunch of different trucks, there’s plenty of fun even without deeper engagement.
If just driving from point A to point B isn’t enough and you would like something more, well, there is this whole thing about building your own freight business with a fleet of trucks. Of course, it wouldn’t be a fully authentic experience without truck customization, so there’s that as well. It might not offer thrills, but does offer a chill, relaxing experience and lovely sights passing by when you’re driving.
| Key features |
|---|
|
PowerWash Simulator
| Release date: | 2021-05-19 |
| Genre: | Simulator |
| Developer: | FuturLab |
Did you think ETS was the only simulator on the list?
Fat chance, can’t talk about this kind of podcast background without mentioning PowerWash Simulator. It has it all. You can set your own pace, there are no stakes other than satisfaction and time, it’s almost as satisfying as these power-washing videos on the Internet, and, weirdly enough, it even has a plot that’s a little bit… weird, in a good way.
The premise is simple: you got a powerwashing machine and decided to make it a business. Over the course of the core “story” you’ll blast water and soap at anything from bikes and cars to mansions and even weirder things. Each stage has a detailed checklist of things which need cleaning, which is both satisfying to check off, and incredibly helpful in getting that sweet 100% completion. Some dirt is very stealthy.
| Key features |
|---|
|
Warframe
| Release date: | 2013-03-25 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | Digital Extremes |
Now we’re entering the more attention-hogging section of the list. The podcast potential of Warframe fluctuates.
While making builds you’re probably better off paying attention, and some missions might require focus as well, but if you’re just in in to play a few dozen rounds of Survival or Extermination to grind some easy resource, get your podcasts playing and start slashing.
Warframe is quite a power fantasy, enemies are happy to rush to your location like living piñatas. Certain mission types allow you to just let loose with your arsenal of powerful, and often spectacular, ranged and melee weapons. It does require active participation, however, it’s not a bullet heaven, so it will occupy a bit more attention than previous games here… but not as much as the next game.
| Key features |
|---|
|
Monster Hunter World/Rise
| Release date: | 2018-08-09 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | CAPCOM |
The Monster Hunter games typically do require a fair bit of attention committed to the hunt.
However, once you’ve got a solid build, a good handle on using your chosen weapon, and know your enemy, the hunts can be approached in a more relaxed manner. You know monsters’ tricks, you are well-armed and buffed. You can just go through the motions to farm for that gem or mantle you need.
Monster aren’t even the only things to farm, there are reasons to spend chill time mining minerals, or picking through bones to get additional resources for your crafting your ever-growing arsenal. Yes, MH can be somewhat hard; yes, it takes getting used to, but when it clicks, you’ll learn to do a lot of things almost by rote, leaving plenty of attention for your playlist.
| Key features |
|---|
|
Both hobbies in accord!
So there you have it, some of the best games you could turn to, if you want to both reduce your podcast backlog and get some game time in. With these games, you could easily do both, so if any of them strikes your fancy, head over to our marketplace and grab yourself a copy, and even if these aren’t to your liking, there are thousands more to browse!