Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

Soup’s on! Nadia, Eric, and special guest Rebekah Valentine are cooking up an RPG Stew of games they’ve been playing lately. Plus, how prerelease parties at your local gaming store help build community, (the “G” in MTG stands for “gathering”).

Subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com

Also in this episode:


Nadia’s MAGfest Recap


Comments on genAI at Cygames


Final Fantasy VII Remake in “Streamlined Progression” Mode

Timestamps:

11:04 - Main Topic - RPG Stew

01:18:32 - Random Encounters

1:28:25 - Magic the Gathering Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]

A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]

Main Theme - [Octopath Traveler 0]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A New Year means new resolutions and for many of us that includes making a pledge to chip away at the ever-growing backlog. Are you going to tackle a new series? Revisit an old classic? Are some of last year's hits on sale for the right price? Or do you need something effervescent to pair with a white meat? Eric, Victor, and special guest John Carson discuss what drives them to check games of the list, and whether that's even something we should be beating ourselves up over.

Subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com

Also in this episode:


More comments on genAI at Larian


Final Fantasy XI updates for 2026!


Fire Emblem Path of Radiance on Nintendo Switch Online


Magic the Gathering Update

Note: Microsoft and the Xbox brand remain subjects of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement for their complicity in the ongoing apartheid and genocide of Palestine. Visit https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft for more information.

Timestamps:

12:04 - Main Topic - How To Handle One's Backlog

59:12 - Random Encounters

1:16:32 - The Tavern - Holiday Gaming Habits

1:30:26 - Magic the Gathering Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]

A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]

Shinjuku - [Shin Megami Tensei NINE]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If this wasn't an RPG podcast we could have talked about Ace Combat the entire time. But luckily for you it IS an RPG podcast so Eric, Nadia, Victor, and special guest Len Hafer discuss all their most-anticipated RPGs of 2026 (and possibly beyond)! From the newest Fire Emblem to re-releases of GBA cult-classics, from Inaba to Singapore, from tactics to action; it's all here, baby, on this very futuristic episode of Axe of the Blood God!

Subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com

Also in this episode:


First person to correctly guess what picture Victor put in chat during the Monster Hunter Stories 3 segment gets a shout-out on the next episode


But which part of the Divinity trailer is the grossest?


How to get into Ys


Anime Music Videos

Note: Microsoft and the Xbox brand remain subjects of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement for their complicity in the ongoing apartheid and genocide of Palestine. In the interest of journalism we've chosen to cover Microsoft but encourage you to visit https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft for more information.

Timestamps:

8:32 - Main Topic - Hidden Gems of 2025

1:29:26 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]

A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]

Welcome to VA-11 HALL-A - [VA-11 HALL-A]

Games Mentioned in this Episode:

Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy

.45 Parabellum Bloodhound

Monster Hunter Stories 3

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave

Persona 4 Revival

Final Fantasy XIV 8.0: Noonballoon

Dragon Quest VII ReImagined

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies

Divinity

Varsapura

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millenium Tales

Code Vein II

Blood of the Dawnwalker

Mina The Hollower

Sigma Star Saga DX

Pokopia

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter

Big Walk

Terra Invicta

Abyss X Zero

Duskbloods

Queen's Domain

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Been A Good Year For Games™ and Nadia, Eric, and Victor are ready to decide just how good. From the biggest smash hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to the pluckiest indie darlings like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, we're covering it all!So place some bets on your favourite RPGs of the year and warm up your vocal chords to yell at your phone; It's the 2025 Axe of the Blood God Awards!

Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com

Also in this episode:


Literally nothing else. See below for the categories and see below that for the lists of nominees.

Note: Microsoft and the Xbox brand remain subjects of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement for their complicity in the ongoing apartheid and genocide of Palestine. In the interest of journalism we've chosen to cover Microsoft but encourage you to visit https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft for more information.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Main Topic - The Blood God Awards!

3:28 - Favourite Blood God Moment

8:08 - Best Non-RPG

12:48 - Best Art Direction

19:12 - Best Innovation

28:40 - Best Revival

38:56 - Best Menu Screen

45:52 - Best Moment

56:08 - Coolest Move

1:02:56 - Best Combat System

1:15:44 - Best Music

1:21:08 - Best Party Member

1:29:20 - Best RPG of 2025

1:16:16 - Random Encounters

1:40:16 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Awards Nominees:

Favourite Blood God Moment:- Kat's Sendoff- Not Eric Playing Final Fantasy 6 lol- The Gonster- History of Sound Novels- Victor liking sexy ladies

Best Non-RPG:- Blue Prince- Donkey Kong Bananza- Shadow Labyrinth- Hollow Knight: Silksong

Best Art Direction:- Stray Children- Artis Impact- Hades 2- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Innovation:- The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy- Elden Ring: Nightreign- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Revival:- Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter- Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D- Raidou Remastered- Tokimeki Memorial: forever with you - emotional- Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles

Best Menu Screen:- Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition- Digimon Story: Time Stranger- Monster Hunter Wilds- Not Persona 3 Reload- Citizen Sleeper 2- Hollow Knight: Silksong- Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles

Best Moment:- Processing Grief - The Promise of Tomorrow - Patch 7.3 - Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail- End of Act 1 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33- End of Chapter 12 - Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition- Grinding for Advanced Classes - Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles- The Gommage - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Coolest Move:- Throw Rock - Final Fantasy Tactics- Elemental Genesis - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33- Giga Slash - Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D

Best Combat:- Raidou Remastered- Citizen Sleeper 2- Octopath Traveler 0- Demonschool- The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy- Elden Ring: Nightreign- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Best Music:- Octopath Traveler 0- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33- Hades 2- Into the Mist - Patch 7.4 - Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail- Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

Best Party Member:- Estelle Bright - Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter- Elma - Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition- Susie - Deltarune- Maelle - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

RPG of the Year:- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33- The Hundred Line Last Defense Academy- Hades 2- Quartet- Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter- Demonschool- The First Berserker: Khazan- Fantasy Life i: The Girls Who Steals Time- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma- Pokemon Legends Z-A- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II- Monster Hunter Wilds- Octopath Traveler II- Kingdom of the Dump- Shrine's Legacy- Citizen Sleeper 2- Elden Ring: Nightreign- Deltarune- Everhood 2- AvowedFurther Reading:2024 Sharlayan Dropouts Valentione's Day SpecialMusic in this Episode:Oasis in the 100 - The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like a cave behind a waterfall or a treasure chest just out of the camera's view, so to will these games make you feel special just by the nature of finding them. Some of 2025's best RPG experiences are tucked away in the corners of your local digital storefront but luckily Eric, Nadia, Victor, and special guest Lucas White are here to point you in the right direction. Whether you're looking for a mystery dungeon, a first-person dungeon crawl, or something with a bold art direction like you've never seen; this list will have something for you to cap off your year!

Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com

Also in this episode:


Don't support retro handhelds that perpetuate the military industrial complex


Larian under fire for use of genAI


Falcom under fire for use of genAI


Update on Horses


League of Legends 2?

Note: Microsoft and the Xbox brand remain subjects of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement for their complicity in the ongoing apartheid and genocide of Palestine. In the interest of journalism we've chosen to cover Microsoft but encourage you to visit https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft for more information.

Timestamps:

5:36 - Main Topic - Hidden Gems of 2025

1:16:16 - Random Encounters

1:40:16 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]

Pub - [Lunar Knights]

Adventurer's Guild - [Wizardry Variants: Daphne]

Games Mentioned in this Episode:

Shujinkou

Romancing SaGa Minstrel's Song Remastered International

Ys: The Oath in Felghana

Road to Empress

Crescent Tower

Angeline Era

Capcom Picross

Battle Suit Aces

House of Necrosis

Lunacid: Tears of the Moon

Suikoden I & II Remaster

Sunderfolk

Artis Impact

Look Outside

Wizardy Variants: Daphne

Baroque-ya

Quartet

OFF

He Is Coming

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

Wagotabi

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices