All Episode
MINIGAME: The Musical Advancements of the Metal Gear Series
Feb. 28, 2022
Over nearly 30 years, the Metal Gear series has changed how they use music to tell their stories.
MINIGAME: The Story of Licensed Music
Jan. 3, 2022
This season on Minigame, Michael is setting out to explore how music plays a central role in video game storytelling.
MINIGAME: Character Theme Music
Nov. 8, 2021
This season on Minigame, Michael is setting out to explore how music plays a central role in video game storytelling.
MINIGAME: Introducing the Minigame Jukebox
Oct. 11, 2021
This season on Minigame, Michael is setting out to explore how music plays a central role in video game storytelling.
MINIGAME: My 'Mass Effect' Story
June 7, 2021
With the release of Mass Effect Legendary Edition, many players are revisiting some of the greatest sci-fi RPGs in video game history.
MINIGAME: Is 'Cyberpunk 2077' Truly Cyberpunk?
May 3, 2021
A lot has been said about Cyberpunk 2077's technical shortcomings and overhyped release, but what about its merits as a cyberpunk game?
MINIGAME: The Politics of 'The Sims' and 'Rollercoaster Tycoon'
March 29, 2021
Every game is political. Simulation games like The Sims and Rollercoaster Tycoon are clear examples: there is no way to "win" these games, but there are definitely "right" and "wrong" ways to play. Michael explores how the p…
MINIGAME: Creating Your Brain in 'Disco Elysium'
March 1, 2021
What if there was a game in which you create a personality?
MINIGAME: How a Teen Developer Used TikTok To Make a Video Game
Jan. 25, 2021
Michael is joined by Conner Rush of Fyre Games to discuss being a solo game developer, leveraging a viral TikTok video to find voice actors, and his hit new game Summerland. Summerland is available for free on Steam and itch…
MINIGAME: Halo, Destiny, and the Role of Lore
Oct. 21, 2020
Having a complete understanding of the lore in Bungie's most popular franchises requires a heavy investment from the player. Michael explores how the universes of Halo and Destiny are vast, but just playing the games is not …
MINIGAME: The Vastness of a Small Open World in 'Hitman'
Sept. 21, 2020
It's easy to get burned out by the size of many open-world games, especially when those worlds feel empty. The Hitman series is a prime example of how smaller worlds can feel huge and present new opportunites for players to …
MINIGAME: Time Flies in 'The Last Express'
Aug. 31, 2020
The Last Express is a game all about racing against the clock during a period of history that feels like it's running out of time. Minigame is a short essay podcast produced and hosted by Michael Farris. Each bite-sized epi…
MINIGAME: Do You Own Your Humanity in 'The Outer Worlds'?
Aug. 3, 2020
In The Outer Worlds, everything has a cost. From womb to tomb, your life is dictated by the big business in town. In this episode, Michael explores how this dystopian sci-fi world actually has roots in reality. Minigame is a…
MINIGAME: Why Morrowind Is More Rewarding Than Skyrim
July 6, 2020
Skyrim is undoubtedly one of the most played games of all time. But in this episode, Michael revisits the third entry in the franchise and finds that his time spent in Morrowind was much more rewarding. Minigame is a short e…
MINIGAME: The Comfort of Gaming in Quarantine
May 20, 2020
A coronavirus-related health scare causes Michael to quarantine himself for two weeks. In his self-imposed isolation, he plays everything from DOOM to Coffee Talk and rediscovers the comfort that video games can provide. Min…