Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Almost Gamers Podcast, where two lifelong gaming friends crack open some gin, sit down with mics, and dive headfirst into the games they love—and love to complain about.
My name is Hayley, and I’m technically the podcast producer, but I’m also a biased fan of the Almost Gamers podcast. I’m also married to one of the hosts. Which one? You will have to listen to find out. 😊
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A rundown of the inaugural episode of the Almost Gamers podcast, Episode One: Title Screen, and an introduction into the hosts' nerdy world, as told by producer Hayley Wilds (wife to one of the hosts).
Episode One: Title Screen
Welcome to the Title Screen podcast. Allow me to take this moment to regale you with the story of the Almost Gamers, share more about our hosts, and hit the highlights of the wild ride that is Episode One: Title Screen.
Meet Your Hosts
It is my great honor to introduce you to the hosts of the Almost Gamers podcast:
🎤 Matt (a.k.a. Dr. Fire K, a.k.a. Matty Flames)
🎤 Andrew Wilds (a.k.a. The Andman)
Together, they form the not-so-pro, mostly unscripted duo that brings you deep-dive discussion on the latest in gaming, old favorites, and the endless quirks of being adult gamers.
Long time buddies and ultimate gaming geeks, Matt and Andy have been talking about video games since they were old enough to hold a controller. From a young age, they both developed a love for gaming, realizing the intoxicating power that moving pixels of light can have over after school boredom.
They’ve come a long way since those early days of Chrono Trigger and NES. And through it all, they’ve always been able to talk at length together about their favorite games.
In fact, since I joined the mix, I’ve endured countless evenings standing around our kitchen, subjected to hours of analysis about the new Borderlands or that one quest in the latest Bethesda release. One might assume that listening to all of those gaming convos would bore me, But it was actually the opposite. As a gamer girl myself, I loved it.
And let me tell you, they know their stuff. While they humbly refer to themselves as “almost gamers”, they are truly anything but when it comes to their ability to discuss the ins and outs of the gaming industry. All while making you laugh.
Like every other millennial you’ve ever met, we’ve always said that Andy and Matt should do a podcast. Now that they are finally doing the thing, I’m honestly so excited share their conversations with you.
Now on to my breakdown of Episode One: Title Screen and all of it’s quirky awesomeness.
Games N’at: What Yinz Playing?
Matt and Andy are here to talk all things gaming and they do it in a Pittsburgh accent. If you aren’t familiar with terms like “n’at” and “yinz”, you will be soon, thanks to the delightful dose of Pittsburghese threaded throughout their in depth gaming analyses.
In Episode One, they embark on their quest by doling out their hack and slash hot takes on these fantastic video games:
Read on for more gems from these brilliant gaming minds in their debut episode of the Almost Gamers podcast.
🎮 Baldur’s Gate 3: Chaos, Choices & Accidental Murder
The episode kicks off with a passionate (and hilarious) discussion about Baldur’s Gate 3—a game they both waited a year to play. Why? Time, mostly. And because this isn’t the kind of RPG you just “dabble in.” Once you’re in, you’re in.
Matt reflects on how the overwhelming freedom of the game was initially disorienting—”You can do anything, but what should I do?”—and Andrew agrees that the commitment is real. They praise the insane depth and the quality of the writing, likening the game to a digital D&D sandbox with just enough chaos to keep you guessing.
Best moment? Andrew reveals he accidentally killed off one of the main characters—Lae’zel of Crèche K’liir—during a dice roll conflict at camp. And yes, it was over a D20-looking MacGuffin.
“I thought we could work it out,” Andrew laughs. “Instead, she hit me, and then I had to kill her.”
They also touch on the romantic chaos of Baldur’s Gate. Matt shares how he fumbled into a romantic encounter with male wizard companion, Gale Dekarios, thinking he was about to learn a spell. “I reloaded so fast,” he says.
⚔️ The D&D Connection
As late-blooming tabletop D&D players, both Matt and Andrew point out how Baldur’s Gate 3 has made them better players at the table—and vice versa. Playing a Bard in BG3 gave Matt new appreciation for dialogue-based characters, especially with his ability to talk his way out of nearly anything.
They compare this to their real-life D&D campaign, which just wrapped up (mostly). Andrew, the forever DM, laments how his players always seem to fight instead of explore, despite all this cool dialogue he had ready. “I had all these dialogue ideas…and you just more or less wanted to kill [the villain],” he jokes.
🎮 God of War: Ragnarok – Cinematic Brilliance and Emotional Gut-Punches
Switching gears, Matt dives into God of War: Ragnarok. He praises its seamless camera direction, emotionally resonant story, and powerful performances—especially Christopher Judge as Kratos.
The standout? How the game keeps surprising players with new gameplay mechanics and heartfelt moments that hit hard. Even better? The sequel maintains the no-cut camera technique from the 2018 reboot.
“It’s like playing an epic movie with boss fights,” Matt says. “And yes, I cried.”
🎮 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – Medieval Job Sim?
Andrew talks about Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and both he and Matt jokingly refer to it as “Peasant Simulator 2”—and that’s not a bad thing. Andrew talks about his obsession with the blacksmithing and alchemy systems and admits he hasn’t progressed the main story much because he’s too busy crafting.
Though it’s not a AAA title, he praises the detailed forest environments and immersive mechanics, saying it’s the most grounded medieval game he’s ever played. And yes, the controversial save system still exists (thanks, Savior Schnapps).
🎮 Cyberpunk 2077 – The Second Time’s the Charm
Cyberpunk 2.0? It’s real. Matt decided to give Cyberpunk 2077 a second chance thanks to the huge 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty DLC.
Playing on PC with ray tracing turned on via GeForce Now, he’s blown away by the visuals and city design. This time, he’s avoiding fast travel, riding the metro, and immersing himself in the world. “It completely changed the game for me,” he says.
The lesson? Sometimes a fresh start makes all the difference.
Gaming News: Ubisoft’s Troubles & The Assassin’s Creed Delay
Wrapping up, they hit on recent gaming headlines—including Ubisoft’s struggles. Between lackluster releases (Skull and Bones, Star Wars: Outlaws) and delays to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the publisher is facing internal pressure and public skepticism.
Matt’s hopeful but nervous: “I’ll play it no matter what, but this better not be the end of AC.”
Controllers, Console Wars & Sentimental Gaming
They close out by geeking out over controllers (yes, they both own matching red Xbox controllers), reminiscing about the great Witcher 2 trailer, and discussing the random moment when Matt switched from Xbox to PlayStation—for a single copy of Borderlands.
Final Thoughts: Not PG, But Definitely Passionate
Is the Almost Gamers Podcast PG? Hell no. Do they care? Also no.
Whether they’re swearing at dice rolls, getting emotional over Kratos’ parenting, or spending 30 minutes tweaking menu builds, Matt and Andrew are here to share their love of games—messy, unfiltered, and full of laughs.
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