“The unending paradox is that we do learn through pain.” - Madeleine L'Engle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Fanbyte

merritt welcomes new regular cast Lotus, Niki and Fūnk-é to discuss the latest squid/kid-based release from Nintendo, "lesbian Tetris," lo-fi pants, Metroid Prime pinball, dodging attacks because of friendship, the latest Steam releases, and a lot more. Segments: Splatoon 3 Check In, Gabe's New & Tasty, Get Rec'd Games discussed: Splatoon 3, Tres-B…

merritt and Jordan return from the back rooms just in time to prevent Nerium's hostile takeover of the podcast, while Fūnk-é looks on with mirthful bemusement. Also, video games! Segments: Spooky Games Season, Gabe's New & Tasty, Get Rec'd Games discussed: Gloomwood, Save Room - Organization Puzzle, Cult of the Lamb, Tinykin, The Imperial Gatekeepe…

This week on Fanbyte’s flagship podcast Fandwidth, Niki reports back from the perfectly-tutorialized Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Fūnk-é practices for their move with Subway Surfers, John takes the Midnight Fight Express, and Nerium checks out the new Final Fantasy XIV content. Más Fanbyte: Follow us on Twitter! Join our Fandwidth channel on Discord Ple…

merritt, Nerium, Mike, and Jordan casually chat about various modern video games. There seems to be an error in this episode but we can assure you that everything is fine. Thanks for listening, have a nice day and don't worry. Segments: British Strategy Syndrome, Gabe's New and Tasty Games discussed: Total War: Warhammer 3, Two Point Campus, Entrop…

In our most games-packed episode to date, merritt, Nerium, Fūnk-é and Jordan discuss the current state of their GOTY lists, what they want to make time for in the coming months, games from yesteryear that they've recently connected with, the latest titles on Gabe's big store, and of course, more recommendations for living your daily life. Segments:…

Danielle, Nerium and merritt assemble for another week of discussion and diatribes, this time involving Danielle's girlfriend's deadly Disco Elysium choices, playing games developed by alligators (such as Xenoblade Chronicles 2), the anti-gremlin murder instincts that all moms have, Mario Kart 8's new courses, the latest on Steam's New and Trending…

merritt, Nerium, Fūnk-é and special guest Lotus™ recount (mostly) pleasant experiences they had this week in games, the surprising latest collab in Lotus' gacha of choice, Frogun's contentious difficulty, the secret language used to discuss Xenoblade Chronicles spoilers, what's new and trending on Steam, and whether I like it or not, Homestuck. Seg…

We've modified the Channel F format to squeeze in more video games and the discussion thereof, but fear not, all the important bits are still here: the show is still hosted by merritt k, she's still trying to kill her guests (Nerium, Fūnk-é and Charles the Intern), and it's still an uproariously funny way to spend an hour and change. Segments: Surp…

Jordan, Nerium and Niki whip out their Digivices in a last-ditch effort to defeat merritt, whose Metal Podcastmon once again proves too much for our young heroes to handle. (Did that make sense? I don't know anything about Digimon.) Buckle up for what is somehow our most games-light and games-heavy episode to date, and remember to eat your Vegeta T…

To celebrate the third anniversary of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, merritt has concocted a rigorous (and somewhat biased) challenge for friends/cohosts LB, Nerium and Fūnk-é. Who lived? Who died? For whomst were smooch feelings strongest? And what characters did merritt forget about entirely? Meanwhile, the gang takes a quick trip to the skyscraper z…

The gang has this week off from our normal recording schedule due to a national holiday, so Producer Jordo (hey that's me!) cut together his favorite jokes and japes from the latest incarnation of Channel F, stretching from Episode 101 to Episode 159. Unless you're the O-est of OGs, you probably haven't heard a lot of the goofs in here! And if you'…

Special guest Eric Silver, host of Games & Feelings and Join the Party (and head of creative at Multitude Productions), joins Steven and Fūnk-é for more of merritt's maniacal machinations, and by "maniacal machinations" we mean fun games and friendly banter. Well, the Pokemon that come up aren't fun, they're terrifying, but the rest of this episode…

Look, by now y'all know this isn't an evil series of traps designed to teach people the true value of life. It's just merritt having some fun with her pals, who this week happen to Fūnk-é, Steven and Danielle, and I'm sorry for lying to you for so long. Today the games are about casting a Metal Gear Solid film adaptation and the history of Rare Lim…

After imbibing some secret ooze, Steven, Niki and John face off against the deadly quizmasters and trivia geeks of merritt's Foot Clan. Or something. We talk about Ninja Turtles, okay? Also we take a road trip to Pennsylvania and Pac-Man really fouls up the British isles. Segments: Bad Game Summaries, Speed Pitching (Wikipedia Edition), Double Jeop…

This week Fūnk-é, Niki and Steven have to "Catch 'Em All!", and by "catch" we mean "survive" and by "'em all!" we mean "merritt's longest and most upsetting quiz yet," wherein the darkest Pokemon lore is pulled from the shadows and forced into your brain (whether you want it there or not). Plus, what kind of gym leader would you be? Show your work.…

Youtube pioneer James Rolfe (aka the Angry Video Game Nerd) joins merritt for a special interview about his relationship with monsters, the early days of video on the internet, raising kids in the era of social media, his methods for time management and project prioritization, how consuming games has changed over the years, and a sad realization ab…

IGN Senior Editor Jonathon Dornbush joins Fūnk-é, merritt and Steven for a topsy-turvy episode where the tables have turned and the stakes are higher than ever! With Fūnk-é at the helm, can the crew survive long enough to win the Golden Cartridge, and thus, the right to change each other's lives forever?! Plus, the return of Staff Picks! Segments: …

This week, merritt forces Steven, LB and Fūnk-é to reminisce upon the legacy of Todd Howard et al. with a quiz about Morrowind 2, which is definitely real and an official video game, before making a few more (very expensive) calls to the Legally Distinct Video Game Power Hotline for a little assistance with some of yesteryear's equally extant games…

John, Fūnk-é and Imran endure yet another arbitrary set of tasks for merritt's amusement, this time testing their knowledge of mid-century Polish filmmaking and Barbie® video games, among other things. Segments: Before and After, Speed Pitching (Polish Cinema Edition), Barbie's Malibu Dream Quiz More from Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We do oth…

Comedian songwriter and former child actor(?!) Brent "Brentalfloss" Black hopes to survive three of merritt's most devious games yet. With the help of Steven and Niki, can Brent rhyme his way out of a bind? How good is the gang's knowledge of ADHD medication? How do you help someone beat a game that doesn't exist? Find out!! Segments: ADHD Med, Cry…

Rachel Reichenbach, aka Rainylune, aka Patreon's Saint of Frogs, joins Fūnk-é and John as the latest special guest to endure merritt's twisted challenges. What does the internet's foremost purveyor of frog ephemera know about one of history's most famous toads? How do you design an adventure/party game about The Defenestration of Prague? Is Staff P…

It's an unusually literary week on Channel F as Dillon, Danielle and D'Steven are put under the gun and/or crime novel by merritt, just before having their knowledge of 20th century French literature put to the test. Meanwhile, Dillon's quest to complete ancient video games continues, Danielle enjoys the retro-tinged spoils of modern game design, a…

Best-selling/award-winning/very tall author Ryan North joins Fūnk-é and Steven for an especially villainous (and Canadian) episode, wherein merritt challenges the panel to solve some of the problems facing today's evil masterminds, in addition to testing their knowledge of the public domain. As Ernest Hemingway once said, "wear sunscreen!" (Also ch…

A spoilercast for a Kirby game? Yes!! They done dang put a real-ass story in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, so LB, Fūnk-é and merritt are here to dive as deeply into it as mouthful mode will allow. It goes without saying that everything will be spoiled so listen accordingly! More from Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We do other podcasts too!) Foll…

VTuber librarian mouse/Twitch partner Maroony finds herself alongside Steven and Danielle, who must attempt to rehabilitate history's worst (gaming) offenders at merritt's behest. Later, after brief detours through the old west and Dream World, the gang dispenses another rapid-fire round of positively powerful protips. Segments: Spin Doctor Mario, …

There's a new Kirby on the block, and to celebrate merritt probes Fūnk-é, LB and Steven's collective knowledge of the little pink puffball's various transformations. Later, merritt's victims host their own Reddit AMAs, just without prior knowledge of who they are or what they're doing. Plus, the the gay cannibal king of Ireland is here! Segments: K…

If they hope to survive merritt's latest trials of life or death, Michael, Dillon and John must flex their extensive knowledge of all the different kinds of guys there are, in addition to their improvisational pitching proficiency. And speaking of guys, this week's games features some of our favorite bros from yesteryear and today. Segments: (Mega)…

merritt has Paul, Niki and Danielle put their voice acting skills to the test in celebration of Resident Evil 4's newly announced remake. Later, merritt steals a book from a child and forces the group to grapple with some truly challenging hypotheticals. Also we talk about games that aren't Elden Ring! Segments: RE4 Recast, Normal Human Staff Picks…

With several hundred hours of playtime between them, Steven, Fūnk-é, Danielle and Imran dive as deeply into the mysteries of Elden Ring as humanly possible. It goes without saying that this podcast is as spoiler-filled as can be! I can't even tell you what they talked about it's so damn spoilery! Listener beware! You're in for a scare!! (In this ca…

Steven, LB and Fūnk-é face an existential crisis as merritt forces them to determine what is and is not a dog as part of her latest experiment. Later, the group must confront horrors beyond imagination, which may or may not be contained within the Nintendo eShop. Beware!! Segments: Is It a Dog?, Normal Human Staff Picks, Did Nintendo Let Them Put T…

Having survived her terrifying encounter with The Jordsaw Killer, merritt returns to her life of crime with a renewed sense of purpose and understanding. Thus, this week's victims (Danielle, Michael and Imran) must test their knowledge of Mario and general life advice for a chance at freedom. Segments: Salute to Supper Mario Broth, Normal Human Sta…

At the mercy of a mysterious killer, merritt's only options are to live or die. But at what cost? More from Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We do other podcasts too!) Follow us on Twitter (Yell at us on Twitter in good ways.) Talk to us on Discord (Talk to us and our loving community. Also we have a pets channel that is very good.) Twitch Live St…

Dillon, John and Steven attempt to navigate two of merritt's most fiendish games yet, which involve two of the most terrifying things known to man: 90s video game ads, and the human heart. (Also hey, the voice audio is a little jank on this one but everything else is normal! Sorry about that!) Segments: Video Game Valentines, Normal Human Staff Pic…

Niki, Fūnk-é and Danielle must test their knowledge of sick flips and cool (productivity) tricks, before attempting to outwit their toughest opponent yet: an artificial intelligence. Segments: Tony Hawk's Productivity Skater, Normal Human Staff Picks, AI Storytime Games discussed: Pokemon Legends: Arceus, OlliOlli World, Pupperazzi, Grapple Dog Mor…

Resident Pokemon Masters Niki, Kenneth and Imran dive deep into the latest (and perhaps most experimental) Pokemon game to date, Pokemon Legends: Arceus. How unnecessary is the new lore? How's the new battle system compared to the main series? Will the next leap be the leap home? Find out!! Spoilers begin right after the ad break at around the 40 m…

Niki, Steven and Kenneth test their knowledge of Halo lore, Pokemon and their coworkers in a last-ditch effort to survive merritt's most perilous games yet. Plus, learn about survivoring your own low-res vampire roguelike and get a little glimpse into our upcoming Pokemon Legends: Arceus review podcast. Segments: You Had Me at Halo, Normal Human St…

Mike, Niki and John encounter a hellish stable of simulated terrors, each less coherent than the last, before devising games clever enough to appease their cruel captor. Segments: Name That Clip, Normal Human Staff Picks, Speed Pitching Games Discussed: Dying Light 2, Nobody Saves the World More from Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We do other po…

Michael, Danielle and Collin must apply their knowledge of English synonyms and critical decision making skills vis-à-vis Minecraft in order to survive merritt's latest series of dastardly challenges. This somehow involves kissing! Segments: Thesaurus Thunderdome, Normal Human Staff Picks, Choose and/or Die: Minecraft Edition Games discussed: Disho…

LB, Steven and Fūnk-é attempt to survive another pair of merritt's nefarious games by flexing their knowledge of the Warhammer series, as well as their co-worker's gaming habits. Segments: Warhammer? I Hardly Know Her!, Normal Human Staff Picks, Most-Played Masquerade Games discussed: Realms of Runeterra (technically a "book"), Rift Breaker, Great …

Jordo, Steven and LB are subjected to another series of painful experiments by local mad scientist merritt k, who needs more data for her ongoing world domination efforts. Who can invent the best video game starring Matt Berry? Did Dracula have a Texan grandchild? How big of a hassle can owning an arcade machine be, really? Stay tuned to find out!!…

Jordo and merritt inadvertently travel 30 years into the past after attempting to play a haunted copy of James Pond 2: Codename: RoboCod obtained from Goodwill. While stranded, the intrepid duo delay their attempts to fix the future (and return home) long enough to appreciate how good of a year 1991 was for video games. More from Fanbyte: Fanbyte P…

It’s finally here. Gaming’s biggest night: Part 4 of The Fancies. Join Jordan Mallory, Danielle Riendeau, Collin MacGregor, and Dillon Skiffington as they reveal their categories and winners from the past year. Happy holidays, y’all. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have other channels with equally incredible shows. We promise.) Follow us o…

Welcome to the third installment of The Fancies, our four-part Game of the Year-style award series wherein Fanbyte staff members create brand-new, never-before-seen awards and then announce the winners! John, merritt and Niki are here to present the winners of [REDACTED], [REDACTED] and [REDACTED], so buckle up! More from Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast N…

What’s that? You want MORE of The Fancies, our four-part Game of the Year-style award series? Join the illustrious Steven Strom as they’re joined by the one and only Michael “Pino” Higham, Mike Williams, and Imran Khan to discuss their awards and respective winners. Congratulations to all the winners. Más Fanbyte: Fanbyte Podcast Network (We have o…

Welcome to the first installment of The Fancies, our four-part Game of the Year-style award series wherein Fanbyte staff members create brand-new, never-before-seen awards and then announce the winners! Not even the other hosts know who's won what! It's a secret to everybody! This episode features Fūnk-é, Natalie, Kenneth and Elise presenting the w…

For Michael's Channel F debut, merritt presents two of the most fiendish (and embarrassing) challenges seen yet, and two opponents that won't hold back: Jordo and Danielle. Whose old username is "monkeymanhunter?" Just how humble is that burger farm? And how will anyone survive the nearby evil city? Find out!! Segments: Guess the Gamertag, Normal H…

Returning champion John faces off against plucky underdog LB Hunktears and the mysterious "Dillon" for a three-way battle that invokes ancient deities and an army of plumbers in the pacific northwest. Games discussed: Shin Megami Tensei V, Halo Infinite Multiplayer, Minecraft Segments: Devils and Demons, Normal Human Staff Picks, Speed Pitching Mor…

John, Imran and Kenneth attempt to navigate another labyrinthine pair of merritt's infernal machinations, which test not only their knowledge of early-2000s celebrities and Pokemon, but also their wills to live. Segments: Were They There?!, Normal Human Staff Picks, How Tall's That Pokemon! Games discussed: Fire Pro Wrestling World, Genshin Impact,…

Returning champion Danielle faces off against spunky upstart Steven in a no holds barred battle for the prize of a lifetime. Also, aliens seem chill and there's more to the cards than one might suspect. Have you ever wondered what classic SNES music would sound like inside of a robot's colon? Find out! Segments: 20 Questions (Switch Online Edition)…