My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin

Simon Parkin
  • 4.9 (69)
  • Video Games
  • Updated Weekly

In My Perfect Console, Simon Parkin, award-winning author video game critic for The Observer invites well-known guests from the worlds of gaming, film and television, music, comedy and more to pick the five video games they would like to immortalise on a fictional games machine. They discuss those five games in chronological order of release, interspersed with biographical chat about the guest’s life and career –– a lens that often leads to new and unexpected insights. "Thoroughly modern and ahead of its time...a gift." - NEW YORK'S VULTURE "Charming, insightful." -- THE GUARDIAN TIME OUT'S 50 Best Podcasts VULTURE's Best Podcast of the Year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1d ago

    Úna-Minh Kavanagh, writer, producer and Irish-language game localiser (Among Us, VVVVVV).

    My guest today is an Irish writer, producer, and multimedia creator whose work spans journalism, video games, language, and digital culture. Born in Vietnam, she was adopted at three days old by a primary school teacher from County Kerry, and brought to Ireland at six weeks of age. Irish became one of her spoken languages, and it would go on to shape both her education and her career: she later studied Irish and Journalism at Dublin City University, building a body of work that moves across reporting, video games, and digital culture. She has written books and essays on video games, migration, identity, and food, and has become a leading voice in Irish-language digital media through her localisation work on games including Among Us and VVVVVV. In 2026, she was recognised with the Emerging Talent award at the Irish Games Awards. NOTES Úna-Minh Kavanagh – website & socials Úna-Minh Kavanagh – Bluesky (@unaminh.bsky.social) Organic Matters – Úna-Minh's new Irish indie studio Organic Matters – itch.io CTRL: Essays on Video Games (the book featuring Úna-Minh's essay) CTRL: Essays on Video Games – Lilliput Press (Waterstones) Lilliput Press – publisher Among Us – Irish language localisation Among Us – official site (Innersloth) Among Us on Steam VVVVVV – Irish language localisation VVVVVV – Terry Cavanagh, official site VVVVVV – Steam Úna-Minh's Perfect Console Final Fantasy IX (2000) – Wikipedia Final Fantasy IX – Steam Nobuo Uematsu – composer, Wikipedia Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (Nintendo DS, 2007) – Wikipedia Persona 4 Golden (PS Vita, 2012) – Wikipedia Persona 4 Golden – Steam This War of Mine (2014) – official site This War of Mine – Steam Saltsea Chronicles (2023) – Die Gute Fabrik Saltsea Chronicles – Steam Also mentioned Die Gute Fabrik – studio behind Saltsea Chronicles Hannah Nicklin – studio lead and creative director, Die Gute Fabrik Citizen Sleeper – Gareth Damian Martin / Jump Over The Age Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – Steam Limit Break – mentorship programme for marginalised game developers IMIRT – Irish Game Makers association (Irish Games Awards) Global Game Jam itch.io – indie games platform Dublin City University – where Úna-Minh studied Irish and journalism Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Úna-Minh Kavanagh, writer, producer and Irish-language game localiser (Among Us, VVVVVV).

  2. Sep 29

    Paolo Pedercini, founder MolleIndustria (McDonald's Videogame, The New York Times Simulator, Future? No Thanks!)

    Paolo Pedercini is an Italian game designer, artist, educator, and activist whose work has spent more than two decades challenging assumptions about what video games are for, and what they are allowed to say. In 2003, he founded Molleindustria as a project dedicated to the "reappropriation of video games and the radicalisation of popular culture." Since then, he has created a remarkable body of short, provocative games about labour, capitalism, religion, technology, and political power, including McDonald’s Videogame, Oiligarchy, Every Day the Same Dream, Phone Story, and Democratic Socialism Simulator. His games have often been satirical, often controversial, and always interested in using play as a way of thinking through systems and ideology. Now he is working on his most ambitious project yet: Future? No Thanks!, an open-world comedy adventure about a grumpy old man completing his bucket list in a solarpunk future. NOTES: Paolo Pedercini / Molleindustria Molleindustria – official site (all Paolo's games) Paolo Pedercini – Wikipedia Paolo Pedercini – Bluesky (@molleindustria.org) Future? No Thanks! (out now) Future? No Thanks! – Steam Future? No Thanks! – official site Other Molleindustria games mentioned McDonald's Video Game – play free in browser Oiligarchy – play free in browser Every Day the Same Dream – play free in browser Phone Story – Wikipedia Democratic Socialism Simulator – itch.io Faith Fighter – play free in browser Sweatshop (as mentioned by Simon) Sweatshop – play in browser The New Yorker piece (as mentioned by Simon) The Division 2 and the Severing of Politics from Video Games – The New Yorker Paolo's Perfect Console Cannon Fodder (Sensible Software, 1993) – Wikipedia Sensible Software – Wikipedia Shadow of the Colossus (2005) – Wikipedia Grand Theft Auto V – Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – Wikipedia Push Me Pull You – House House (Steam) House House – developer of Untitled Goose Game and Big Walk Radiator Forever – Robert Yang (itch.io) Robert Yang – game designer Other games and references mentioned Theme Park – Bullfrog Productions (1994), Wikipedia Postal 2 – Wikipedia GTA San Andreas Hot Coffee mod – Wikipedia The Yes Men – activist/prankster duo Foxconn suicides – Wikipedia itch.io – indie games platform Aftermath – independent games journalism Tom Bissell – My Perfect Console episode Untitled Goose Game – House House Next week's guest Úna Míng Kavanagh – IMIRT emerging talent award 2026 Úna Míng Kavanagh – TikTok (@unamingkavanagh) Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Paolo Pedercini, founder MolleIndustria (McDonald's Videogame, The New York Times Simulator, Future? No Thanks!)

  3. Sep 22

    Anna Donlon, head of Valorant Studios (Valorant, League of Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops)

    My guest today is an American game producer and studio leader whose career has been shaped by a deep love of competitive shooters and more than two decades spent building some of the genre’s major titles. She began at Treyarch, where she worked as a senior producer on Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II, before joining Riot Games in 2015. There, she first helped lead League of Legends’ cosmetic content and in-game events. She later moved into leading a new tactical shooter project, becoming Executive Producer of VALORANT and guiding the game to its launch in 2020. Today, as Head of VALORANT Studios, she oversees the franchise’s wider creative and strategic direction, while also championing initiatives such as VCT Game Changers, Riot’s programme supporting women and marginalised genders in competitive play. LINKS Anna Donlon – Valorant & Riot Games Valorant – official site (free to play) VCT Game Changers – Riot's programme supporting women and marginalised genders in competitive play Riot Games – official site Anna's Perfect Console Silent Hill 2 (PS2, 2001) – Wikipedia Silent Hill 2 Remake (2024) – Steam Grand Theft Auto III (PS2, 2001) – Wikipedia Shadow of the Colossus (PS2, 2005) – Wikipedia Shadow of the Colossus Remake (2018) – PlayStation BioShock (2007) – Wikipedia Ghost of Tsushima – official site Ghost of Tsushima – PlayStation Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island – Wikipedia Also mentioned Kaboom! (Atari 2600) – Wikipedia ICO (PS2, 2001) – Wikipedia Red Dead Redemption 2 – Rockstar Games Arc Raiders – Steam Call of Duty: Black Ops – Wikipedia Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Wikipedia Treyarch – Wikipedia JumpStart – educational games series, Wikipedia University of California, Santa Cruz Next week's guest Paolo Pedercini / Molleindustria – official site Future? No Thanks! – Steam (out now) Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Anna Donlon, head of Valorant Studios (Valorant, League of Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops)

  4. Sep 17

    Correspondence Special #9: Which games should have been on the podcast by now (and much more)

    In this special correspondence edition, Simon reads out your letters and answers your questions. Is there a cut-off point for working in games journalism? Which video game does Simon think should surely have been picked by now but hasn't? Who decides how long guests talk about their game choices? How does Simon actually make the show — from bookings to post-production to those musical stingers? What is Simon's new book about, and how did he uncover the untold legal battle thxat changed the shape of the video game industry? And did you know the UK government has a Head of Video Games and Esports who listens to the show? Us neither! All this and much more. And congratulations to letter-writer Chris Law, who wins a signed copy of Blood Echoes: A Bloodborne Anthology. . Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Correspondence Special #9: Which games should have been on the podcast by now (and much more)

  5. Sep 15

    Chris Cantrill, comedian, writer Saturday Night Live UK.

    Chris Cantrill is a British comedian, writer, and actor from West Yorkshire whose work combines rapid-fire jokes with an off-kilter view of everyday life. He first came to prominence as one half of the acclaimed sketch duo The Delightful Sausage, alongside Amy Gledhill, earning Edinburgh Comedy Award nominations for Best Show in both 2019 and 2022. As a solo performer, he added another nomination in 2024, before returning to Edinburgh this summer and finally winning the Comedy Award for Best Show in 2026. Alongside stand-up, he has appeared in programmes including Alma’s Not Normal, Daddy Issues, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, and Avoidance, while his writing credits stretch across television and radio. Most recently, he joined the writing team of Saturday Night Live UK, which returns for its second season this week. LINKS Chris Cantrill Website Instagram The Delightful Sausage Saturday Night Live UK SNL UK on Sky Simon's Observer Features How Saturday Night Live Landed in the UK Jack Shep on That Princess Di Impression Chris's Perfect Console Duke Nukem: Time to Kill Final Fantasy VII Bloodborne Animal Well The Case of the Golden Idol Other games discussed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Dark Souls Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Resident Evil 2 Remake The Witcher 3 Elden Ring Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Chris Cantrill, comedian, writer Saturday Night Live UK.

  6. Sep 8

    Sarah Maria Griffin, poet, author (Eat the Ones You Love; Strange is the Light)

    My guest today is an Irish writer, poet, critic, and podcaster. Born and raised in Dublin, she began writing seriously as a teenager, studied English, Media and Cultural Studies at IADT, and later completed a Master’s in Creative Writing at NUI Galway. Her early work included the poetry collection Follies and Not Lost, a book of essays about emigration written after she moved to San Francisco in 2012. Since returning to Ireland, she has published a series of acclaimed novels, including Spare and Found Parts and Other Words for Smoke, which won Teen and Young Adult Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. Her 2025 horror novel Eat the Ones You Love was followed by a shortlist for Author of the Year, and she is now the 2026 Arts Council Writer Fellow at Trinity College Dublin. Alongside her fiction, she writes about games for The Guardian. Her new horror novel, Strange Is the Light, is out now, and she is currently working on another book, about video games, titled Everything Not Saved. LINKS Sarah Maria Griffin – books & socials Sarah Maria Griffin – official website Sarah Maria Griffin – Instagram (@sarahgriffski) Sarah Maria Griffin – Substack Sarah Maria Griffin – writing about games for The Guardian Strange as the Light (out 8 September 2026) Strange as the Light – Waterstones Strange as the Light – Titan Books Strange as the Light – Bookshop.org UK Earlier novels Eat the Ones You Love – Waterstones Other Words for Smoke – Waterstones Sarah's Perfect Console EarthBound (SNES, 1994) – Wikipedia EarthBound – Nintendo Switch Online The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask – Wikipedia Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door – Nintendo Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door – Wikipedia Night in the Woods – official site Night in the Woods – Steam Wandersong – official site Wandersong – Steam Other references mentioned Disco Elysium – Steam Chicory: A Colorful Tale – official site (Greg Lobanov, also made Wandersong) 826 Valencia – literacy non-profit, San Francisco Dublin Youth Theatre Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – Waterstones Rock, Paper, Shotgun – games journalism Glenn Moore – Button Boys podcast Next week's guest Chris Cantrill – Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Show winner 2026 (Rewilding) Chris Cantrill – Chortle profile Saturday Night Live UK – ITV Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Sarah Maria Griffin, poet, author (Eat the Ones You Love; Strange is the Light)

  7. Sep 1

    Mike Diver, journalist, author (Aliens: The Video Games)

    Mike Diver is a British journalist, editor, and author whose career has moved fluidly between music criticism and video games writing, always with an eye for subculture, history, and stories beyond the mainstream. He began at the music website Drowned in Sound, where he rose to become content editor, before going on to work with Clash and contribute to publications including Kerrang! and Rock Sound. Later, he turned increasingly to video games, writing for outlets including Edge and Kotaku - as well as heading up teams at VICE Gaming (later Waypoint) and GAMINGbible - and bringing the same curiosity and critical energy to games culture, retro hardware, and the history of the medium. Alongside his journalism, he has written six books on video games and edited several more, covering subjects from indie games and esports to Sonic the Hedgehog and Final Fantasy. His latest book, Aliens: The Video Games, continues that fascination with the way great pop-cultural worlds mutate and endure through interactive form. LINKS Mike Diver – website & book Mike Diver – Aliens: The Video Games: An Unofficial Guide (Waterstones, out 30 August 2026) Aliens: The Video Games – publisher White Owl / Pen and Sword Alien games discussed Alien: Isolation – Steam Aliens: Dark Descent – Steam Aliens: Colonial Marines – Wikipedia Aliens: Infestation (Nintendo DS) – Wikipedia Aliens vs. Predator (Capcom, 1994 arcade) – Wikipedia Alien: Rogue Incursion – Steam Alien: Isolation 2 – official announcement trailer Mike's Perfect Console Sensible Soccer (1992) – Wikipedia Sensible World of Soccer – Wikipedia Streets of Rage 2 – Wikipedia Streets of Rage 4 – official site Snatcher – Wikipedia 1944: The Loop Master – Wikipedia Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium (includes 1944) – Steam The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – official site The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Steam Other games and references mentioned Drowned in Sound – Wikipedia (music website where Mike began his career) Vice Gaming / Waypoint – Wikipedia Aftermath – independent games journalism site Respec – independent games journalism site Mina the Hollower – Yacht Club Games Yuzo Koshiro – composer of Streets of Rage 2 soundtrack, Wikipedia Hideo Kojima – Wikipedia Evercade – retro gaming handheld Next week's guest Sarah Maria Griffin – official website Eat the Ones You Love – Sarah Maria Griffin's latest novel (Waterstones) Sarah Maria Griffin – writing about video games for The Guardian Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Mike Diver, journalist, author (Aliens: The Video Games)

  8. Aug 25

    Soren Johnson, game designer (Civ III, Civ IV, Spore, Old World)

    Soren Johnson is an American programmer and game designer whose work has helped shape the modern strategy genre. After earning a master’s degree in Computer Science from Stanford University, he joined Firaxis Games, where he worked as both a programmer and designer on Civilization III before going on to lead the design of Civilization IV, one of the most celebrated strategy games yet made. Over the years he has contributed to a wide range of projects, including Spore, Dragon Age Legends, and Offworld Trading Company, bringing a distinctive blend of historical insight, systemic thinking, and player-driven design. Today he is the founder and design director of Mohawk Games, where he recently led the development of the acclaimed historical strategy game Old World. Alongside his development work, he continues to explore the craft of game design through his long-running blog and podcast, both of which are titled “Designer Notes”. Soren Johnson – website & podcast Soren Johnson – Designer Notes blog Designer Notes podcast – episode archive Designer Notes – Apple Podcasts Designer Notes – Spotify Mohawk Games & Old World Mohawk Games – official site Old World – official page Old World – Steam Old World – GOG Old World – Epic Games Store Old World: Empires of the Indus DLC – Mohawk Games Soren's Perfect Console Pinball Construction Set (1983) – Wikipedia M.U.L.E. (1983) – Wikipedia Seven Cities of Gold (1984) – Wikipedia Legacy of the Ancients (1987) – Wikipedia Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (1999) – Wikipedia Other games and references mentioned Civilization IV – Wikipedia Civilization III – Wikipedia Sid Meier's Pirates! (2004 remake) – Wikipedia Civilization Revolution – Wikipedia Offworld Trading Company – Steam Spore (2008) – Wikipedia Balatro – Steam Vampire Survivors – Steam Schedule I – Steam Lethal Company – Steam Bennett Foddy – personal site Danielle Bunten Berry – Wikipedia (designer of M.U.L.E.) Trip Hawkins – Wikipedia (founder of Electronic Arts) Jake Solomon – Wikipedia Game Developers Conference (GDC) – official site Simon's book Trial of the Space Invaders – pre-order (Bookshop.org UK) Trial of the Space Invaders – pre-order (Amazon UK) Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Soren Johnson, game designer (Civ III, Civ IV, Spore, Old World)
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In My Perfect Console, Simon Parkin, award-winning author video game critic for The Observer invites well-known guests from the worlds of gaming, film and television, music, comedy and more to pick the five video games they would like to immortalise on a fictional games machine. They discuss those five games in chronological order of release, interspersed with biographical chat about the guest’s life and career –– a lens that often leads to new and unexpected insights. "Thoroughly modern and ahead of its time...a gift." - NEW YORK'S VULTURE "Charming, insightful." -- THE GUARDIAN TIME OUT'S 50 Best Podcasts VULTURE's Best Podcast of the Year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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