New listener to this long running podcast and after listening to episodes from across the catalog I can say that this podcast has always been the best video game podcast no contest! The hosts’ takes are spot on and they give excellent video game advice like “play on easy who has time for this” and I love that.

The following are snippets from a conversation I heard on this show: “Why are people so weird about bloodborne?” (Sounds of assent, agreement) “People think it’s a love craft game but it’s 100 percent not”. (Further agreement) none of the hosts felt the need to expound upon or elucidate these options. This kind of thing happens regularly.

also pay them a dollar and get the great gundam project

Keep it up y’all

I don’t play video games much anymore but Great Gundam Project and the yuri manga recommendations are deeply worth the 1 dollar. Than

Their FF16 episode was one of the most cathartic discussions I’ve listened to in a long time

Em and Jackson have been putting in work for a decade and it shows.I look forward to listening to this every month.

Best podcast! Both this and the Great Gundam Project are well worth listening to.

Em and Jackson are great podcast hosts and I love hearing their perspectives on games. I learn something new every episode. If you’re not listening to this what are you doing????

Great video game podcast, if you like games you should listen.

It’s really good! Listen to it! Happy Birthday, Em.

Em and Jackson are a great duo and have some of the most refreshing game criticism out there. Excellent selection of games and great discussion and humor. Cannot recommend them and their other projects enough.

Insightful, interesting and always fun! They’re the best game club for a reason.

Their video game podcasts are great, the Great Gundam Project rules and if you like Gundam you should check it out!

While so many podcasts try to keep up with the constant churn of new content (okay, a little less constant during this pandemic) and in doing so spend a lot of time talking about flashes in the pan that are gone as soon as the critical discourse turns its eye elsewhere, Abnormal Mapping is committed to looking at older games, and in doing so is better able to engage with the game as a whole and its place in gaming history. Not to be missed!

I love everything Em and Jackson do (subscribe to Abnormal Mapping on Patreon to get more podcasts from them), but Abnormal Mapping has become my go-to gaming show. The selections they make for their game club are really strong, and they’re refreshingly not limited to only playing the latest releases. I often discover new games I love through their choices, and when they cover a game I’ve already played, I enjoy listening to their thoughtful perspectives, even if they didn’t like KOTOR 2 (which personally hurt, but their points are fair). These two have a great dynamic together, and it only gets better when they add a third chair or bring in a guest.

Em and Jackson are doing the important work of bringing historical analysis to games crit. Through the Abnormal Mapping podcast, they have built a legacy of being willing to both interrogate games held up as classics and speak truth to the exploitative video game industry. And it’s a blast to listen to! Whether you are playing along or not, I guarantee you’ll have some games to add to your playlist after listening. The Abnormal Mapping Network of podcasts is also incredible if you want more - I highly recommend supporting them on Patreon for their show “VOIP Life”!

Great monthly book club covering both old classics and less well known games with an occasional new release tossed in to change things up.

They’re Em and Jackson! They play old games! It whips!

This is my favorite gaming podcast

The most informative games crit out there! You owe it to yourself to listen

Em and Jackson are a ton of fun to listen to, and their focus on older games is great, especially if you get sick of hearing the same talking points about the same four games on other games podcasts. Pick a game you like or wanted to check out from their episodes and enjoy! And their network has tons of other podcasts on games, movies, anime, books, and just hanging out with friends. I love them!!

One of the most consistent and thoughtful video game podcasts out there. Every time a new episode shows up on my feed it is an instant play.

Really insightful about video games and gaming history!

It's a Great Podcast!

A monthly "book-club" style roundtable on games from across the history of the medium , very chill and fun. Our gracious hosts have thought-provoking things to say and a sweet rapport. A breath of fresh air for the discerning gamer. Also appreciate the tone-setting soundtrack sections

an entertainingly opinionated show animated by a practical belief that what's old is about as likely to be good (or bad) as what's new. when the hosts discuss a game i've played or seen, they often give me new ways to think about things i took for granted or commonplace features of games discourse. and for that, i'm grateful.

the smugness became too offputting over time

You can listen to it with your ears, it’s so cool! The hosts are awesome! The guests are awesome! And the games? Well, you’ll see! (Or, hear, I guess I should say)

In need for a critical game podcast from two nonbinary, ace-related, freelance writers? Abnormal Mapping has your back. AM focuses on older games to disentangle themselves from the overwhelming feeds of on-demand response in order to to revaulate them and to side-step The Games Canon. Em and Jackson also do one million other podcasts, so the show is always produced well. They have fun.

You should listen to it

I reset my Itunes password to leave a review for this show. Thats how much I like this show. To you it may not seem like alot but to me it does. Give it a listen.

The folks on Abnormal Mapping do a good job of making thematic discussions of video games personal, engaging, and approachable.

AM is - without a doubt - one of the great up-and-comers of games crit. M and Jackson (and Destiny, when she appears) are really smart folks. I appreciate their deep dives into game guts, a la the monthly book club format. Not only does it let them speak to more substantial takeaways, it means I can play along if I have the time. Unfortunately, I'm not in a fiscal position to donate to their patreon (avacado toast, or something like that), but if I could, I would. If that's not a stamp of quality, then I don't know what it. Check 'em out, y'all.

Love listening while working on games, makes me excited for the medium even when it has me down.

I love Abnormal Mapping! The structure is super engaging and never gets boring, Jackson's whole Hugh Grant thing is very charming, and Matthew is a stupendous, very experienced host. Their guests have all been excellent, and I've discovered plenty of fascinating games from their Gameography episodes. More people should give Abnormal Mapping a shot.

A great, thoughtful, and funny podcast. Jackson makes me laugh my butt off while Matthew keeps things grounded enough to keep the conversation going. They’re a great pairing and the occasional guest is great too! It’s entertaining enough that I listen, even when they cover games I don’t think I’ll like. Great for long office hours!