PERIL! This week the Turn-Based Besties review the potential GOTY sensation: Metaphor ReFantazio! Sam also teaches us his Crawly Sprawly song. Also, learn about the "third eye" in our medical moment! References:  Clarinda N Sutanto, Wen Wei Loh, Jung Eun Kim, The impact of tryptophan supplementation on sleep quality: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression, Nutrition Reviews, Volume 80, Issue 2, February 2022, Pages 306–316, https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuab027 Patel S, Rahmani B, Gandhi J, Seyam O, Joshi G, Reid I, Smith NL, Waltzer WC, Khan SA. Revisiting the pineal gland: a review of calcification, masses, precocious puberty, and melatonin functions. Int J Neurosci. 2020 May;130(5):464-475. doi: 10.1080/00207454.2019.1692838. Epub 2020 Feb 25. PMID: 31714865.

Happy Halloween! This is the second of two spoooooky episodes this month! Sam and DJ discuss the RPG Costume Quest in this episode, and also talk about their own favorite costumes for Halloween. Peem Peem!

DJ and Sam are back for the first of two spoooooooky RPGs for October! In this episode DJ proclaims his love for Parasite Eve and Sam tells you why it isn't his favorite game. Sam also talks about the powerhouse of the cells: Welcome to the stage, Mitochondria!

Who has main character energy? Our top five list does! Check out these hot takes on our current favorite protagonists in an RPG!

Sam and DJ discuss a fan requested game: Fire Emblem the Blazing Blade on the GBA! Did the boys love this game (yes!). Would they play it again? (maybe!). Also, Sam talks about why it is bad to get stabbed with a sword.

WHOA! A bonus episode?! You danged right! Sam and DJ react to all of the RPGs revealed at the Nintendo Direct from August 27th!

In this episode, Sam tries to convince DJ to play the smash hit Unicorn Overlord! Does he succeed?! Listen to find out!

Happy Pride Month from Turn-Based Besties! In today's episode, the boys discuss queerness in video games, give you a sampling of RPGs that have queer or queer coded characters in them, and even give suggestions on how to improve your allyship as you game! Also, if you loved listening to us rattle off statistics, check out these fantastic articles for more in depth detail. Shaw, A., Durkee, B., Cook, A., & Marra, T. (2024). (rep.). GLAAD Gaming: The State of LGBTQ Inclusion in Gaming. GLAAD. Retrieved June 2024, from https://assets.glaad.org/m/5ab9a335d607edcd/original/2024-GLAAD-Gaming-Report.pdf Kline, K. (2024, February 29). A growing number of gamers are LGBTQ+, so why is representation still lacking?. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/02/29/1234590117/a-growing-number-of-gamers-are-lgbtq-so-why-is-representation-still-lacking#:~:text=Close%20to%201%20in%205%20American%20gamers%20identify,can%20join%20%E2%80%94%20common%20in%20multiplayer%2C%20team-based%20games.  NBCUniversal News Group. (2024, February 13). Less than 2% of console video games have LGBTQ Representation, GLAAD report finds. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/less-2-console-video-games-lgbtq-representation-glaad-report-finds-rcna138646  Mejeur, C., & Ho, X. (2023, October 19). Queer lives are not side quests. Public Books. https://www.publicbooks.org/queer-representation-videogames/  Shaw, A., Lauteria, E., Yang, H., Persaud, C., & Cole, A. (2019). Counting Queerness in Games: Trends in LGBTQ Digital Game Representation, 1985‒2005. International Journal Of Communication, 13, 26. Retrieved from https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/9754

Another ranking episode! The TBB crew discuss their top five favorite rogues and thieves. Sam continues the trend of liking redheaded women in video games. DJ swears that dancers are rogues. Also, follow us on IG @TurnBasedBesties

Grab those save frogs, work through that fever, pack your rope snake, and join us for an extended review of Mother 3! Sam talks about mushrooms. DJ stumbles over musical modes. Fun! Citations:  Więckiewicz, G., Stokłosa, I., Piegza, M., Gorczyca, P., & Pudlo, R. (2021). Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Psilocybin and Dimethyltryptamine in Depression Treatment: A Systematic Review. In Pharmaceuticals (Vol. 14, Issue 8, p. 793). MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14080793 "Psilocybine". PubChem, US National Library of Medicine. August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.