Hardcore Gaming 101

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank 2026's front-walker for Game of the Year. Then stick around for Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? - a brutally difficult action-platformer spinoff of Disgaea!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be THEME PARK! — a dastardly attempt at tricking people into playing a business sim! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a WayForward spinoff of a short-lived cartoon MMO. Then stick around for The Grinch (2000), a Konami platformer based on the live-action film!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be THE LEGENDARY AXE! — a very accurately-named TurboGrafx-16 launch title! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a Super Famicom sidescroller that lets you go demon mode. Then stick around for Zombieville, a Psygnosis game that would sooner shoot you than let you enjoy it!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be TINY TOON ADVENTURES: BUSTER BUSTS LOOSE! — a Super NES adaptation of the Looney Tunes spinoff that is faithful to a fault! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a "realistic" open-world medieval RPG. Then stick around for Project Firestart, an innovative survival horror game for the Commodore 64!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be JEFF WAYNE'S THE WAR OF THE WORLDS — a Playstation tank shooter based on a musical adaptation of H. G. Wells' science fiction novel! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

Join the HG101 gang plus returning special guest Ghaleon Unlimited/Chris Hatala as they discuss and rank the second Metal Gear Solid game, which is also the fourth Metal Gear game... don't think about it. Then stick around for Ghost in the Shell (1997), a riveting Playstation shooter from the developers who brought you Jumping Flash!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be DIRGE OF CERBERUS: FINAL FANTASY VII — the Final Fantasy VII third-person shooter for all you Vincent Valentine fans out there! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONCLUDES!! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a block puzzler in which you slide around the playfield, letting gravity takes its course. Then stick around for The Cave Cop, a prehistoric police platformer for DOS!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be A WHOLE WOLFRUSH — a whole roguelike space shooter! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES!! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a Capcom fighter that somehow managed to get a sequel. Then stick around as returning special guest Ghaleon Unlimited/Chris Hatala joins for Terranigma, Quintet's action-RPG which skipped a North American release!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be CONTRACT RUSH DX — a 2D action game inspired by classic flash animation! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES!! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a light-gun shooter in which you protect your fantasy adventuring buddies from an onslaught of ghoulish monstrosities. Then stick around for Quest for Camelot, a Warner Bros. movie tie-in published by... Nintendo?

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1992) — a whimsical CD-i remake of a Commodore 64 adventure game! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES!! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a Robotron-style twin-stick shooter with an espionage flair. Then stick around for The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici, the 1996 strategy classic from Blue Byte Software!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be EARTHION — a new Mega Drive shooter featuring music from the acclaimed Yuzo Koshiro! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES!! Join the HG101 gang plus returning special guest Katherine, as they discuss and rank a particularly spicy mahjong game. Then stick around for 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand - because what better way to follow up G-Taste than with the G-Unit?

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be TINHEAD — a North American-exclusive Genesis platformer, from the studio that would later bring you X-COM! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES!! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a Super Sentai-inspired boss-rush beat-em-up from Konami. Then stick around for Fighting Force, a beat-em-up that tried and failed to be Streets of Rage 4!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be DOWN LOAD — a surprisingly vulgar PC-Engine shooter from AlfaSystem! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES!! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Raw Thrills' Batmobile-based shooter. Then stick around for Starfighter 3000, a 3D aerial combat game for the Acorn Archimedes!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE — an Atari 2600 prototype based on a 1950s sci-fi film! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE CONTINUES!! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Midway's lightgun shooter about a carnival... that is evil. Then stick around for Rolling Gunner, an accessible bullet-hell shooter with DLC-added twin-stick controls!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be ELROY HITS THE PAVEMENT — Elroy's second edutainment adventure, about rescuing his pet dog from the mafia! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN OF ARCADE RETURNS FOR 2026!! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Sega's post-Crazy Taxi take on ambulance driving. Then stick around for Zombie Dinos from Planet Zeltoid, an edutainment game where you use dinosaur facts to kick some zombie brains!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be WHO PRESSED MUTE ON UNCLE MARCUS? — an FMV family drama murder mystery! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank the Kunio-kun game that introduced many gamers to the excitement and/or terror of dodgeball. Then stick around for The Longest Journey, a world-hopping adventure that lives up to its name!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be PO'ED — the most butt-kicking-est 3DO FPS ever! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

Join the HG101 gang plus special guest Robbo, as they discuss and rank-err, revisit, the groovy duo's funky roguelike for the Genesis/Mega Drive. Then stick around for ChainStaff, a violently quirky action-platformer about having an alien parasite attach itself to your head!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be ZACK & WIKI: QUEST FOR BARBAROS' TREASURE — Capcom's point-and-click pirate puzzler for the Wii! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Classic intro music by muteKi.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

JUNE-JULY OF JRPG CONCLUDES! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank the N64's infamous three-dimensional RPG. Then stick around for Queen's Blade: Spiral Chaos, an SRPG that features very distinctive, bouncy visuals!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be WACKY RACES (MAC) — an FMV betting game, based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

JUNE-JULY OF JRPG REVS UP SOME CHAINSAWS! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Square's first handheld RPG. Then stick around for Half-Life 2: Episode One and Half-Life 2: Episode Two, enduring proof that Valve can't count to three!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be THE BOUNCER — Square's early PS2 beat-em-up! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

JUNE-JULY OF JRPG SOARS TO THE SKIES! Join the HG101 gang, plus returning special guest Saralene, as they discuss and rank the second entry in Nihon Falcom's Trails series. Then stick around for Top Banana, an unrelenting onslaught of audiovisual cacophony!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be DOUBLE SWITCH — the twisting, mechanically-complex spiritual successor to Night Trap! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.

JUNE-JULY OF JRPG FRAMEDROPS ONWARD! Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank an open-world RPG with an arcade-style sensibility. Then stick around as returning special guest Phil Salvador joins for Marble Drop, a puzzle game about dropping all the correct marbles into all of the correct holes!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be PSEUDOREGALIA — a dreamlike 3D platformer that won first place in the Metroidvania Month 19 game jam! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

2026 © Hardcore Gaming 101, all rights reserved. No portion of this or any other Hardcore Gaming 101 ("HG101") content/data shall be included, referenced, or otherwise used in any model, resource, or collection of data.