Tabletop Game Design For Video Game Designers Review

Are you a game designer looking to gain some insider knowledge or ramp up your skills?

Or are you a gaming fanatic looking to dive deeper into your favorite kind of games and learn what the designers thought when they built your favorite games?

It's time to check out some podcasts that are all about game design and the ups and downs of this fast-moving industry.

No matter what your taste, we've rounded up our picks for the 15 best game design podcasts of 2021 that you need to add to your subscription list.

Team GFB Radio

Game designers Dave Lang and Darryl Wisner share their tales and perspectives from working on a wide variety of games and offer a unique insight into the latest industry developments.

If you like feeling like you have your finger on the pulse of everything happening in gaming, this is a great podcast to add to your list.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 239
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

The Game Design Round Table

If you're looking for in-depth discussions of not just video game design but all things gaming, from tabletop to role-playing, The Game Design Round Table has everything you're craving.

They discuss the fundamentals of what makes a good game, no matter what format, and are on a mission to inspire the next generation of game creators.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 126
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

Building The Game

This weekly documentary-style podcast features veteran game designer Jason Slingerland and his fellow game designers as they recount their personal experiences in game design and talk about the pros and cons of being a professional in this industry.

For anyone looking for first-hand accounts of what it's like to be a game designer, this is the perfect weekly listen.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 42
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

Design Doc

If your passion is analog and tabletop games, Design Doc is a podcast you can't miss.

Experienced game designers guide you through every step of analog game design from concept to launch in monthly episodes that deserve a spot on your subscription list.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 16
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

Game Dev Unchained

If you're looking for an unfiltered, no-holds-barred take on the video game industry, you need to check out Game Dev Unchained.

This interview-based podcast talks to studio and indie game developers and gets the good, bad, and the ugly about their journey in professional video game design.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 51
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

GameDev Breakdown

Another great "shop talk" podcast if you're looking for the insider scoop, GameDev Breakdown covers everything from the latest industry news to career advice for budding game developers.

It also notes up-and-coming indie games that hit the market, so you can try them before everyone else does.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 13
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

The Debug Log

The Debug Log blends industry discussions and in-depth interviews with a dash of dry humor and wit that makes it stand out among developer podcasts.

Hosts Andrew, Obinna, Zach, Ryan, and Eduardo share their experiences in professional game development as they provide insightful and humorous takes on the state of the industry and what's next in game development.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 95
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

Level Design Lobby

This podcast focuses largely on the art of game-level design and how levels work within the larger game.

A technical podcast for designers looking to improve their game theory, this podcast also includes reading recommendations for people wanting to further their skills even more.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 14
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developers Podcast

John Podlasek, a 30-year veteran of the game design industry, interviews nearly everyone that gaming touches in this fun and thought-provoking take on nearly every aspect of the gaming industry.

From arcade owners to studio CEOs and Founders, you'll find tons of insightful advice packed into each episode, especially if you're an aspiring designer.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 42
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

Indie Gaming Podcast

Focused exclusively on the world of indie games, this podcast looks at the latest happenings in the world of indie gaming and features interviews with some of the rising stars of indie game development.

If you're looking to go independent or just want to be in the know on what's coming down the pipe in indie gaming, this is a great podcast to check out.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 3
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

Coffee with Butterscotch: A Game Dev Comedy Podcast

Want a little comedy to shake off the game development crunch-time blues? This comedy show provides a hilarious take on the world of gaming, from the business of video games to insider development secrets.

Whether you're an industry professional or just someone passionate about gaming, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone that enjoys a little chuckle with their morning coffee.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 142
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

Dev Game Club

Touting itself as a "book club for gamers," the Dev Game Club podcast focuses on older games and plays through them as hosts Brett Douville and Tim Longo give their insider takes on the impact that these games had on the industry as a whole.

A great podcast if you like a dash of nostalgia combined with insider insight.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 190
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

Board Game Design Lab

Taking things back to the analog world, the Board Game Design Lab podcast takes a deep dive into the world of board game design and features guest interviews with top designers, publishers, and other gaming industry insiders.

Even if you're not a board game designer, this podcast contains great insights into what makes games fun and keeps people coming back for more.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 155
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

RPG Design Panelcast

This weekly podcast publishes panel recordings of discussions by the biggest experts in the RPG industry. A great weekly listen if you are looking for nuggets of insider expertise from all sides of the analog gaming industry.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 17
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 4.5
Link to Stream

Deep Listens

Rounding out this list is another "video game book club" that publishes bi-weekly episodes where they examine the literary elements, philosophical ideas, and other often overlooked elements that go into a great game design.

A great podcast to listen to if you want to dig a little deeper and see the hidden storytelling elements that are woven into some of the most popular video games.

Number of Reviews on Apple Podcasts: 12
Average Star Rating (out of 5): 5
Link to Stream

No matter where your passion for game design lies, there's tons of information to be found in these podcasts to help you work smarter and gain a greater understanding of the wild world of gaming.

If you're struggling to work closely with your game development team in the world of remote work, check out Evercast. Evercast allows you to stream your edit sessions in HD while video chatting and exchanging notes with your team, all under one platform. It works with any popular game design software and will allow your team to work together seamlessly through every step of the creative game design process, from concept to launch.

Evelyn Trainor-Fogleman

Evelyn Trainor-Fogleman is a writer based in New York City. After over half a decade in the film industry, she came back to her Journalism roots to write for a variety of media outlets about subjects including technology, business, marketing, and social and environmental justice.