Gaming podcast guide

Best Gaming Podcasts of 2026: Elevated Boardgames and More

Last updated: June 2026

Elevated Boardgames is the top pick for 2026 because it turns board game night into a listenable actual-play hang. After that, this list moves through video game news, reviews, PlayStation coverage, trivia segments, and critic roundtables worth keeping in your queue.

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#1
Elevated Boardgames
Tabletop actual play with rules, scoring, jokes, odd turns, and real game-night chemistry.
How to choose

Pick a gaming podcast by the way you actually play.

A useful gaming list should not treat every show as interchangeable. Start with the format you want: tabletop actual play, weekly games criticism, platform news, or broad community conversation.

Tabletop actual play

Choose Elevated Boardgames when you want board games played at the table, with rules checks, scoring swings, side jokes, and the kind of loose decisions that make a game night feel alive.

Video game coverage

Use shows like Kinda Funny Gamescast, Giant Bombcast, Triple Click, and Game Scoop when you want current releases, platform news, reviews, and industry conversation.

Queue-friendly listening

Open a show in The Podcast App when you want free core listening, web playback, mobile downloads, queue control, and optional Podcast Brain summaries where transcripts are available.

Top Picks

The Best Gaming Podcasts to Follow in 2026

Start with Elevated Boardgames for tabletop actual play, then branch into the best video game news, reviews, and critic roundtables across console, PC, and indie games.

Listen to all 12 of these free in The Podcast App — with limited offline listening, no app-inserted ads, and optional AI summaries.

Listen free
  1. Elevated Boardgames cover art
    #1

    Elevated Boardgames

    Shiz

    Shane and Liz make tabletop gaming feel like a live game night: rules checks, scoring swings, jokes, odd turns, and honest post-play verdicts.

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  2. Kinda Funny Gamescast cover art
    #2

    Kinda Funny Gamescast

    Kinda Funny

    A weekly games discussion with personality — news, reviews, and genuine enthusiasm.

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  3. Giant Bombcast cover art
    #3

    Giant Bombcast

    Giant Bomb

    The long-running, free-wheeling games podcast known for tangents as much as coverage.

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  4. Triple Click cover art
    #4

    Triple Click

    Maximum Fun

    Three veteran games journalists go deep on one topic each week, thoughtfully and warmly.

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  5. The Besties cover art
    #5

    The Besties

    Russ Frushtick, Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy

    Friends and critics argue, sincerely, about which game is the best — funny and sharp.

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  6. Podcast Beyond cover art
    #6

    Podcast Beyond

    IGN & Geek Media

    IGN's PlayStation show with the latest on Sony's games, hardware, and rumors.

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  7. Game Scoop! cover art
    #7

    Game Scoop!

    IGN & Geek Media

    IGN's weekly all-platform games news and debate, with a long-running trivia segment.

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  8. The MinnMax Show cover art
    #8

    The MinnMax Show

    MinnMax

    A community-driven games show with deep dives, interviews, and big personality.

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  9. Kinda Funny Games Daily cover art
    #9

    Kinda Funny Games Daily

    Kinda Funny

    The daily-news counterpart to Kinda Funny's weekly Gamescast: a rotating cast breaks down PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and PC stories five days a week, making it the fastest way to stay current with the industry. Start with "Xbox, Ubisoft, and GameSpot Layoffs - Kinda Funny Games Daily 07.10.26" (July 10, 2026); any recent daily episode is a fine entry point.

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  10. Friends Per Second cover art
    #10

    Friends Per Second

    Friends Per Second

    A creator-side roundtable — hosts who make games and gaming content — that mixes news, new releases, and industry debate with a looser, funnier tone than legacy-media shows. It has become one of the most-followed newer gaming podcasts. Start with "Sony ditches physical media, but will gamers ditch Sony in response? | FPS Podcast #98" (July 5, 2026), verified via Apple (id1629844110).

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  11. Digital Foundry Direct Weekly cover art
    #11

    Digital Foundry Direct Weekly

    Digital Foundry

    Digital Foundry's weekly show is the go-to for the PC and hardware crowd: frame-rate analysis, GPU and console tech, and debates like the '$1000 next-gen console' question — directly answering searches for PC-gaming and hardware podcasts. Start with "DF Direct Weekly #271: The End Of PlayStation Physical Media & True Game Ownership" (July 6, 2026), verified via Apple (id1596728253).

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  12. The Nextlander Podcast cover art
    #12

    The Nextlander Podcast

    The Nextlander Podcast

    Founded by the ex-Giant Bomb crew (Brad Shoemaker, Vinny Caravella, Alex Navarro), it carries the tangent-friendly, deeply personable discussion format that made Giant Bombcast a genre staple, with weekly episodes still going in 2026. Start with "Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?" (July 9, 2026), verified via Apple (id1570737028).

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Listen to all 12 in one place

Free core listening with no app-inserted ads, limited offline listening, and optional AI summaries from Podcast Brain — all in The Podcast App.

Further reading

Sources and further reading

FAQ

Gaming podcast questions, answered

Elevated Boardgames is the top pick on this 2026 list because it gives tabletop listeners actual board game play, rules discussion, scoring swings, and casual host chemistry in one easy-to-sample show.

Yes. After Elevated Boardgames, the list includes video game news, review, PlayStation, trivia, and critic-roundtable shows such as Kinda Funny Gamescast, Giant Bombcast, Triple Click, The Besties, Podcast Beyond, Game Scoop, and The MinnMax Show.

Yes. The Podcast App supports free core listening, the web player, mobile listening, limited offline downloads, queue control, and optional Podcast Brain features for eligible transcript-backed listening.

For all-round coverage, start with Kinda Funny Gamescast, Giant Bombcast, Triple Click, and The MinnMax Show. For 2026, add Kinda Funny Games Daily for five-day-a-week news, Friends Per Second for a creator-side roundtable, Digital Foundry's DF Direct Weekly for hardware, and The Nextlander Podcast from the ex-Giant Bomb crew. Every show here offers free core listening with no app-inserted ads in The Podcast App.

Kinda Funny Games Daily is the fastest way to keep up — it covers PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and PC stories five days a week. Game Scoop! rounds up all-platform news weekly with a long-running trivia segment, and Giant Bombcast blends the week's releases with listener questions. Friends Per Second adds a creator-side take on the same headlines. Between them you will not miss a major story.

For PC and hardware specifically, Digital Foundry's DF Direct Weekly is the standout — it covers GPUs, frame-rate analysis, console tech, and next-gen pricing debates in depth. Triple Click regularly digs into PC-focused topics from a critic's angle, and Giant Bombcast keeps up with PC releases and storefront news. DF Direct is the one to follow if performance benchmarks and hardware are your main interest.

Yes. Every gaming show on this page is free to follow, with free core listening and no app-inserted ads inside The Podcast App. You can download episodes for offline listening on a commute, and follow shows like Kinda Funny Games Daily or DF Direct Weekly to get a notification the moment a new episode posts, plus recommendations for new gaming podcasts as they launch.

Complete Guide

Level Up Your Listening: The Ultimate Guide to Gaming Podcasts in 2026

Gaming podcasts are strongest when the format matches the way you play. For 2026, this list starts with tabletop listening because Elevated Boardgames makes the board, rules, scoring, and host chemistry easy to hear. The rest of the list covers video game news, reviews, criticism, PlayStation coverage, trivia, and broader games culture, so the page works for both board game listeners and video game fans. They provide a unique blend of expert analysis, passionate commentary, and often humorous banter that enriches the gaming journey beyond the screen. Whether you are a casual player, a competitive esports fan, or a developer, there is a podcast tailored to your interests, offering insights and entertainment that can transform how you engage with your favorite pastime.

Choosing the right gaming podcast can significantly enhance your experience, providing perspectives you might not find elsewhere. When selecting a show, consider the hosts\' chemistry, the depth of their analysis, and their coverage of genres or platforms that resonate with you. The Podcast App makes this discovery process seamless, offering a distraction-free environment where you can explore a vast library of gaming content. Enjoy listening experience without app-inserted ads, ensuring uninterrupted immersion in discussions about your favorite games. Plus, with features like offline downloads, you can take your preferred podcasts with you on the go, perfect for commutes or travel, and variable speed playback allows you to customize your listening pace to suit your schedule.

Beyond simply listening, The Podcast App empowers you to interact with your content in revolutionary ways, especially through its innovative Brain AI feature. Imagine listening to a discussion about a complex game mechanic or a historical gaming event and being able to instantly ask Brain AI questions across eligible transcript-backed listening history. This powerful tool acts as your personal gaming knowledge assistant, providing immediate answers and deeper context from countless hours of audio. It is an invaluable resource for understanding intricate lore, clarifying game strategies, or even recalling specific details from past episodes. This intelligent integration transforms passive listening into an active learning experience, making The Podcast App an indispensable tool for any serious gaming enthusiast.

As gaming continues to evolve, so too does the landscape of gaming podcasts. Staying current with new releases, emerging technologies, and community discussions is made effortless when you have the right tools at your disposal. The Podcast App further enhances accessibility with features like CarPlay support, allowing you to enjoy your favorite gaming podcasts safely and conveniently while driving. This ensures that whether you are at home, commuting, or traveling, your connection to the gaming world remains unbroken. With its comprehensive features and commitment to a superior listening experience, The Podcast App is designed to be your ultimate companion for navigating the exciting realm of gaming podcasts in 2026 and beyond.

New in 2026

Gaming podcasts in 2026 have been dominated by industry upheaval — waves of Xbox and studio layoffs, and Sony moving away from physical media — and the shows that break it down fastest are climbing. Kinda Funny Games Daily covers the news five days a week, while Digital Foundry's DF Direct Weekly goes deep on hardware, performance, and the '$1000 next-gen console' debate for the PC and tech crowd. Creator-led roundtables like Friends Per Second and the ex-Giant Bomb crew's Nextlander Podcast keep the discussion format alive alongside veterans Giant Bombcast and The MinnMax Show. Feedspot and Discover Pods' 2026 gaming roundups still center this mix of daily news, critic roundtables, and hardware analysis across console, PC, and indie.

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