This month, one of my favorite Defense Force 6 video game podcasts released a trio of epic episodes totaling 24 hours—one of which was a detailed 6.5-hour discussion on the Nintendo GameCube library. I had resigned myself to never finishing this audio marathon due to the demands of adulthood.
Defense Force 6
Then, a savior appeared. And by savior, I mean a giant cyborg frog armed with a laser cannon from the far reaches of outer space.
Earth Defense Force 6 (EDF6 for the enthusiasts) is the latest installment in the beloved mid-budget series where you fend off colossal bugs, robots, UFOs, and, of course, giant cyborg frogs. You start with basic machine guns and rocket launchers, but soon you’ll be flying over factories, deploying drones, launching heat-seeking nukes, and piloting a mech suit as you dive deeper into the chaos.
EDF6 exemplifies the “podcast game” genre—games that thrive on repetitive, over-the-top action and can be enjoyed with the sound off. These games are less about intricate narratives and more about providing constant, simple rewards. They’re designed to be a background distraction, like fiddling with a stress toy during a meeting or doodling during a lecture.
Popular podcast games include Vampire Survivors and similar titles, as well as any free-to-play game that keeps you engaged with daily tasks, like Zenless Zone Zero.
Each level of EDF6 follows a podcast-friendly formula: choose a soldier, equip them with ridiculously powerful weapons, destroy waves of aliens (and probably some buildings), and collect weapons and upgrades from the debris. There’s no need to follow complex strategies or understand intricate plot details—just blow stuff up and survive until you see “Level Complete.”
Think of a “podcast game” as the gaming equivalent of a fidget spinner—a small but satisfying distraction that lets your mind wander while staying engaged. Ideally, the podcast and the game complement each other, making both more enjoyable.
Despite its many sequels, EDF’s gameplay isn’t designed to become an all-consuming obsession. Levels last around 20 minutes, and the game’s main draw is unlocking cooler weapons for more fun. There’s enough downtime—like traveling across a city or scavenging through ruins—to let your thoughts wander, maybe even back to those overlooked GameCube gems.
To be clear, I’m not disparaging either podcasts or podcast games. Like a classic grilled cheese and tomato soup, they’re both great on their own, but together, they reach a whole new level.
After a week of playing EDF6 and listening to 14 hours of game discussions, I’ve unlocked a powerful space cannon that wipes out robots with a single strike. If you have a podcast you’ve been meaning to catch up on, EDF6 comes highly recommended. And if you’re already in the midst of saving the planet from galactic threats, you might enjoy Into the Aether—their latest episode on the best games of the 2000s runs nearly 16 hours long.
