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From the team behind The Escapist, we're excited to introduce you to our new employee-owned and fully independent outlet, Second Wind.  Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

Second Wind


    • Jun 3, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 38m AVG DURATION
    • 77 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Windbreaker

    What Even Is a "Cozy" Game? | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 104:47


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty dig into the biggest sub-genre of the past few years, and try to figure out what separate as a good cozy game from a bland imitator.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    Game Advertising That Actually Worked on You | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 94:36


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty celebrate the start of "E3" season by chatting about the advertising -- trailers, print ads, features, interviews, demos, and more -- that actually worked on them in the past.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    What Makes a Great Video Game Weapon? | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 93:30


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about their favorite weapons in games, and what makes them memorable from a mechanical, visual, and audio perspective.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    Where Have All the GTA Clones Gone? | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 82:36


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about the new GTA 6 trailer, and use that to discuss the broader topic of GTA clones.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    The Best Musical Moments in Games | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 99:41


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about their favorite moments in games where the music takes the spotlight to help create something memorable.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    The Strange State of AA Games | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 91:54


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty use the massive success of Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 as a jumping off point to discuss the current state of AA games.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    The Joy of Solving Mysteries in Games | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 76:16


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty use Blue Prince as a jumping off point to discuss what makes a good video game mystery.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    The Double-Edged Sword of Roguelikes and Roguelites in 2025 | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 93:51


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee is feeling under the weather, so Nick steps in to chat about roguelikes and roguelites with, JM8 and Marty.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    Sometimes 'Good' Is Good Enough | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 75:36


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about the importance of "good graphics" in 2025, and whether they're enough to carry an entire game.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    Do ‘Good Graphics' Even Matter in 2025? | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 93:44


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about the importance of "good graphics" in 2025, and whether they're enough to carry an entire game.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    The Peaks of Every Genre | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 96:25


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about which games they personally think represent the "peak" of each of the major genres.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    Do 'One-Hit Wonders' Exist in Games? (ft. Jack Packard) | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 94:43


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, and Marty are joined by Jack to chat about the concept of "one-hit wonders" in music and movies, and whether that exists in games as well.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    The Four Mario Games We'd Save If All the Rest Had To Be Destroyed | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 90:35


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty celebrate March 10th, aka Mario Day, by choosing which four games featuring the iconic mascot that they'd choose over all others.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    The Worst Kinds of Levels in Games | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 94:17


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about their least-favorite kinds of levels in games, from forced stealth sections to FromSoft's beloved poison swamps.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    Why Are Pirate Games So Damn Good? | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 96:20


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about why pirate-themed games, no matter the genre, seem to resonate so strongly with them.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    How to NOT Do a Video Game Merchant | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 88:16


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about what separates a memorable video game merchant from a forgettable one.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup⁠

    Gaming Is the Most Complicated Hobby (ft. Jack Packard) | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 88:55


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Jack chat about the various ways that gaming is the most complicated hobby they have.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at⁠⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    The Five Games We'd Take With Us on a Desert Island | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 94:07


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty discuss which five games they'd pick as their personal desert island discs. Think of it as a kind of companion to last week's episode on the video game syllabus. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Building the Video Game Syllabus | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 102:13


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about the five games that each of them would pick to help represent the medium to someone who'd never even heard of video games before. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    There's Nothing Wrong With Cheating in Games | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 97:53


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about their history with cheat codes, unlockable cheats, exploits, modern QoL features, and all that jazz Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    At What Point Does It Become Stealing? | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 80:16


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty discuss how all great artists steal, but at what point does that become a genuine problem? Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Our 2025 Gaming Resolutions | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 94:46


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty kick off the new year with some gaming resolutions and predictions. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Digesting the Game Awards Results | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 120:06


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and KC share their thoughts on last weeks Game Awards winners, losers, and reveals. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/secondwindgroup/

    THIS Is How You Start Off a Game | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 92:08


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about notable video game openings, and what separates the good from the bad. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at https://www.patreon.com/secondwindgroup/https://www.patreon.com/secondwindgroup/

    A Tour Through Handheld History | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 95:18


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about their own personal histories with handheld gaming, from the Game Boy to the Steam Deck. Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    In Defense of Janky Games | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 84:43


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about the good kind of jank, the bad kind of jank, and every kind of jank in between.

    Breaking Down the Game Award Nominees | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 88:22


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about the nominees for 2024's Game Awards.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Are Games Better Than They Were A Decade Ago? | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 103:07


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about the games of 2014, and how the modern landscape compares to a decade ago.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    The Best, Worst, and Weirdest Video Game Leaders | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 89:51


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about the best, worst, and weirdest leaders in video games.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Horror Game Deep Cuts to Play For Halloween | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 103:10


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, JM8, and Marty chat about some of their favorite horror games from throughout the years that are bit off the beaten path.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    The Best Video Game Music (ft. Miracle of Sound) | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 122:52


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee and Marty are joined by Miracle of Sound (Gavin Dunne) to chat about the past, present, and future of video game music.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    The Joy of Simple Games | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 90:22


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 use UFO 50 as a bouncing off point to chat about the joy of simple games.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Yes, the Original Silent Hill 2 is the Best Horror Game Ever, Shut Up | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 104:18


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat why the original Silent Hill 2 remains such a classic, and some early thoughts on the new Remake.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Characters Who Deserve Their Own Game | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 95:33


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about characters who deserve the spotlight of their own video games.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    How to Ruin a Perfectly Good Franchise | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 105:05


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat the moments that our favorite franchises took a wrong turn.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Realism is Overrated | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 103:35


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about realism in games, and whether or not that goal is overrated.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    How to (Not) Do a 3D Platformer | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 109:45


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 use the release of Astro Bot on PS5 as a jumping off point to discuss the current state of 3D platformers across AAA and indies.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Making Failure Feel Good | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 100:35


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about how failure is used successfully (and unsuccessfully) in games, both narratively and mechanically.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Making Games Harder For Ourselves | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 90:24


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 chat about our favorite emergent and self-imposed challenges in gaming history.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    The Movies That Influenced Games the Most | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 92:57


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 take a look at some of the movies throughout history that've had the biggest influence on video games.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    An Alternate History of Video Game "What Ifs?" | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 107:12


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Marty, and JM8 go look back at some of the biggest "what ifs?" in video game history, including Silent Hills, Starcraft: Ghost, and the Nintendo PlayStation.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    The Gaming Magazines, Media, and Spaces That Defined Us | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024 112:40


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Marty, Jack, and JM8 go nostalgic on the gaming magazines, media, and spaces that defined us growing up.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    How to (Not) Do an Ending | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 102:18


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about what goes into a satisfying video game ending, and what causes some finales to stumble.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Our Favorite Game Devs and Studios | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 100:42


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and JM8 chat about the game developers that they would most like to meet.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Can't Get You Out of My Head | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 77:15


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about the slightly-obscure games and moments that they keep thinking about years later.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Games That Actually Make Us Laugh | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 97:34


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about the various ways that games can actually make us laugh.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Modern Media Has a Lore Problem | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 90:26


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about the growing popularity of lore-based media, and the increasing barrier to entry a lot of stories have.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    How Hard is Too Hard? | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 108:15


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat that old chestnut of difficulty in games, springboarding off the release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    AAA's Franchise Identity Problem | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 95:59


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty chat about AAA franchises, and whether or not their evolution lends to an inherent identity problem.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    Catching Yahtzee Up on Summer Game Fest | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 90:16


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Frost and Marty catch Yahtzee up on all the big announcements from this weekend's Summer Game Fest showcases.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

    The Line Between a Game and an Experience | Windbreaker Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024 86:15


    On this week's episode of Windbreaker, Yahtzee, Frost, and Marty discuss what delineates a game from an experience.Second Wind is fully independent, employee-owned and fan-funded. Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month at patreon.com/SecondWindGroup

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