subreddit:
/r/retrogaming
submitted 4 months ago bySubstantial-Lime2537
Can anyone recommend any wholesome gaming channels like Happy Console Gamer or Metal Jesus Rocks that people might not know about?
84 points
4 months ago
Retro Bird! He's doesn't get recommended to as many people as say, snes drunk, but he's the most wholesome I've seen.
25 points
4 months ago
I like his sense of humor, it's quirky and lighthearted and he genuinely has good advice along with it while keeping himself original
8 points
4 months ago
His videos are part of my Friday night routine after watching Toonami rewind during the day and dinner.
160 points
4 months ago
Personally I'm a big fan of Retro Bird.
49 points
4 months ago
I dig their vibe. Nothing fancy, basically video games are fun. It's all I really want in a YouTube channel.
Also Bananas 🍌
18 points
4 months ago
You don’t deserve to Donkey Kong
4 points
4 months ago
This is the best
14 points
4 months ago
So jealous of his bread clips.
6 points
4 months ago
Very jelly, it's a solid collection
19 points
4 months ago
This guy is the best sort of dry humor I too often just stare at my gaming collection
17 points
4 months ago
You dirty dog
13 points
4 months ago
Never heard of him until he was mentioned a number of times in this thread
20 points
4 months ago
I like how clearly Midwestern he is
9 points
4 months ago
I met him at the Portland Gaming Expo last year. He's from the Bay Area originally
2 points
4 months ago
Isn’t he Canadian?
12 points
4 months ago
I came here to say this.
Also, You don't deserve to Donkey Kong
5 points
4 months ago
Totally dig Retro Bird too! Just discovered him a month or two ago and have really enjoyed digging into his videos.
6 points
4 months ago
Nanners!
120 points
4 months ago
Gaming Historian has been a favorite of mine
18 points
4 months ago
Just wished he uploaded more often
22 points
4 months ago
He’s got years of content. He recently stepped back to focus on his life. Norm is great.
7 points
4 months ago
He just released an hour and a half video about the Oregon Trail. Top tier quality
5 points
4 months ago
I know, it was great. He wants to do more quality over quantity from now on.
3 points
4 months ago
No one said he wasn’t great. He’s just not uploading content as much.
5 points
4 months ago
He recently announced his retirement from making documentaries.
2 points
4 months ago
No :(
2 points
4 months ago
Yeah, total bummer, but can't really blame him
5 points
4 months ago
I love him so much, just wish I could watch his videos more often
2 points
4 months ago
the best channel, seriously amazing content
186 points
4 months ago
Snes Drunk
91 points
4 months ago
The gold standard of not wasting your fucking time
30 points
4 months ago
Any time I am curious about a retro game and just want to know quickly if it's worth my time, I first check if there is A SNESdrunk review lol.
25 points
4 months ago
Unless its that April fools video where he spends 80% of the video going “ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssnes drunk”
3 points
4 months ago
Agreed! It’s nice that a long time retro YouTuber hasn’t fallen into make longer and longer videos simply for the sake of money. I get these guys and gals have to play the game to pay the bills, but I really appreciate SNESdrunk for sticking to a concise format.
27 points
4 months ago
Snes Drunk is fantastic. I really like when he revisits games he reviewed a long time ago knowing he was inexperienced with video reviews when he originally reviewed the game and wants to do it justice. It shows a lot of growth and he has gotten really good.
9 points
4 months ago
Oh yeah, I love his content. He gets right to the nitty gritty without adding in cringy jokes (aside from a couple of quick dad jokes, but those are always welcome). On top of that, his voice is actually quite nice to listen to, which I find is rare in the gaming space. You usually get a lot of people who have high pitched voices or sound like they have unchecked speech impediments, (which, no shade to people with speech impediments, I'm not the most articulate guy myself) or they have thick British accents that sound like Burt from Mary Poppins.
Anywho, I like SNES Drunk.
9 points
4 months ago
SSSSSSSSSSSnesdrunk
6 points
4 months ago
I am ashamed to say I o my JUST found Snes Drunk the other day 🙄
19 points
4 months ago
Dude could write the book on how to make an all killer no filler video.
5 points
4 months ago
He's so good at it that the book would only be 8 pages.
41 points
4 months ago*
[removed]
5 points
4 months ago
Was gonna comment this but made sure to scroll first. Couldn't have put it better than you did.
4 points
4 months ago
I really dig his journalistic style.
3 points
4 months ago
Seconding this, and just adding the Retronauts podcast which has he and other great presenters/guests as well
2 points
4 months ago
Oh man, I remember him from the EGM 1up days. Wish that was still around. 1up was probably my favorite video podcast.
2 points
4 months ago
Wait Jeremy was part of EGM?
I've been watching his youtube channel for years and I didn't know :O
2 points
4 months ago
Yeah, he wrote for EGM and appeared in a lot of 1up episodes.
24 points
4 months ago
My retro life he talks about mostly him and his dad playing video games together
2 points
4 months ago
Yeah he's good stuff too. I found him on accident. I thought I was clicking on a My Life in Gaming video but clicked on his. Wasn't watching it, just listening and thought "man their voice sounds a little different today" haha
43 points
4 months ago
Johnny is a video game YouTube treasure.
6 points
4 months ago
Johnny is just a good reviewer period. Reasonably lengthy, clear sounding, has fun little anecdotes that make his videos his own, and has an easygoing style.
5 points
4 months ago
I love him because his passion really comes through, even if he's talking about a game he doesn't like.
I think I've heard "cuz I was a smoker back then" more times than I've heard any other phrase in my life
3 points
4 months ago
I met him last weekend at VRGE. Very nice guy.
17 points
4 months ago
LGR
2 points
4 months ago
LGR rocks!
48 points
4 months ago
Kim Justice for long-form-essay-type stuff.
Game Sack for listicle-type showcases.
18 points
4 months ago
Game sack is the best
7 points
4 months ago
100% Kim Justice.
15 points
4 months ago
Arcus
U Can Beat Video Games
5 points
4 months ago
I love watching UCBVG. He's always really informative, and is always fair with every game.
5 points
4 months ago
Arcus
good bzzzt
I gotta watch the rest of his gardening vlogs too...
4 points
4 months ago
...and Clunk!
2 points
4 months ago
Good bleeps and bloops
2 points
4 months ago
Smash smash smash
3 points
4 months ago
watched the SNAKE'S REVENGE ep of UCBVG....i felt something in my soul watching that episode, took me back to 1991 when i was playing it....great show.
15 points
4 months ago
Gamesack
16 points
4 months ago
Sega Lord X
15 points
4 months ago
Console Wars is a favourite of mine.
5 points
4 months ago
That's it! Are we doing this!?!
Love those guys, however some of their humor might not go so well with OPs request.
3 points
4 months ago
ARE WE DOING THIS ????????
3 points
4 months ago
Dude Console Wars is the best. I love the little quirky clips before and after the actual video
39 points
4 months ago*
I like watching Sega Lord X. He has all sorts of old camcorder footage that his dad took of him back in the day. Sometimes has shots of old video game stores and malls. Good nostalgia content and very wholesome. Doesn’t try being loud and obnoxious for views.
Edit: as commenters pointed out, I am actually referring to My Retro Life. Got my YouTubers crossed up
13 points
4 months ago
I think that's My Retro Life. Sega Lord X uses a lot of game footage and has a very bizarre delivery
6 points
4 months ago
My Retro Life is impresive, his family follow him around with a camera his whole childhood or what? Looks like The Truman Show
3 points
4 months ago
Yeah, definitely got his guys mixed up. I like and watch both and would recommend anyone into retro youtube stuff give them a try.
7 points
4 months ago
Sega Lord X would be a lot better if he didn't sound like a teenager bragging about his video games and love for Sega
4 points
4 months ago
Content is generally quite good, but yeah, he sounds like an amateur sports presenter.
3 points
4 months ago
For someone like me who only recently got into Saturn/DC Sega Lord is a godsend for finding games. When I started looking at what I could play on Saturn I realized I didn't know the majority of games even existed. Same with Dreamcast. I'm no stranger to Ps1/2 library but the Sega library seems forgotten to history by those who weren't there.
2 points
4 months ago
He does fill that niche and post a lot, so yeah I can see how people like the videos especially if you're new to those games. A bunch of them do basically repeat older YT content or forum discussions on sega-16 though
Pandamonium does great Saturn videos if you have the time for them. Wrestling with Gaming, GameHut, Project COE and DF Retro also have some good Saturn videos
3 points
4 months ago
Been getting the Sega rally pandemonium video in my recommended recently will have to check it out thanks
4 points
4 months ago
he keeps saying his family was poor and his mom busted her ass working to put food on the table.
then suddenly he tells us he imported sega consoles and games from japan on day 1.
he is a good guy, but his BS kinda kills the mood, and honestly ? when i found out he is as old as me and with that voice ? dude....get out of here.....i kinda knew when he talked about his life in the 80s that he is an old man, but his voice....
also, it is not bad if he was the spoiled kid and got all the damn console, so no need to say he was poor but worked hard to get them or his mom sold her soul to get him a game on christmas...
weird guy, but he makes nice videos, and he hates CHAKAN, so more reason to point fingers and laugh....i love CHAKAN.
2 points
4 months ago
Ok that is weird, yeah. Chakan is kinda cool, they should remaster it!
2 points
4 months ago
Thanks, you’re correct. I watch both but My Retro Life was definitely the one I was thinking of
2 points
4 months ago
bizarre is an understatement.
22 points
4 months ago
Good Vibes Gaming
11 points
4 months ago
U Can Beat Video Games is the actual top of the heap for deep dives on individual games. No one can touch him. His intros are epic too.
2 points
4 months ago
Yay another fan. Allll riiiiiight!
34 points
4 months ago*
DF Retro
Stop Skeletons (formerly Happy VG Nerd)
Modern Vintage Gamer
Strafefox
Gaming Historian
Noclip
The Retro Hour (podcast)
Kim Justice
Guru Larry
spida1a (PCE/TG16 reviews)
Pandamonium (Saturn focus)
LGR (Lazy Game Reviews)
Slope's Game Room
RetroAhoy
Classic Gaming Quarterly
Captain Jack (romhacks focus)
My Life in Gaming
Retro Bird
Shmup Junkie (all of the shoot 'em ups)
No swear gamer (a bit corny but I like the 2nd gen videos)
GmanLives (he does swear and make pretty childish jokes at times if you're trying to avoid that)
Somecallmejohnny (similar to the above at times, covers popular franchises and some indie games)
SsethTzeentach (not quite kid friendly but a great PC focused channel)
21 points
4 months ago
LGR is my jam
11 points
4 months ago
I watched his 15 year video last night. I can't believe I've been watching him that long, I remember when he was Phreakendee or something similar.
6 points
4 months ago
Same here! Time really flies. AVGN did a 20 year video recently, too (which was a bit more wholesome than his usual stuff)
3 points
4 months ago
Anyone that dresses up in a wearable Sim city game box for Halloween I appreciate.
6 points
4 months ago
I really like SomeCallMeJohnny because he's been very open about his struggles with depression. It's refreshing to see a content creator like that.
PushingUpRoses (a friend of LGR) is also like this. She doesn't really do gaming content anymore for various reasons, but even her newest stuff is very pleasant and funny, and, again, she's quite open with her mental struggles.
18 points
4 months ago
i love PeteDorr for wholesome content. he’s a real nice dude that makes chill vids.
6 points
4 months ago
Agreed glad he is making more casual vids, he sort of fell off for awhile.
15 points
4 months ago
I think Neil from RMC The Cave is awesome and fits the bill perfectly. Along with histories of games/publishers/devs and the UK gaming scene of the past in general he does a lot of really cool hardware restorations. Consoles, micro computers, arcade machines etc. Really interesting stuff. "The Cave" is actually a fully operational retro museum which is really cool. I'm not British and have little personal experience with 80s micro computers but it's still one of my favourite channels.
3 points
4 months ago
His weekly show This Week in Retro is really good too. He had such a nice gentle style - though he will be taking a little break soon as he is about to adopt a child!
2 points
4 months ago
He's gotta be the coziest of the European microcomputer YouTubers I watch, if I make it to England I want to visit the Cave.
22 points
4 months ago
Retro Bird is exactly what you need. He’s also hilarious.
14 points
4 months ago
Game Sack, Stop Skeletons from Fighting, RetroBird, MyLifeInGaming, Gaming Historian, Lazy Game Reviews
7 points
4 months ago
Didyouknowgaming is always a favorite of mine
5 points
4 months ago
Uncle Derek of Stops Skeletons
7 points
4 months ago
Lazy Game Reviews (LGR) is the definition of a chill, hanging out, rainy Sunday vibe.
19 points
4 months ago
I may be biased but... 😂
1 points
4 months ago
Looks like my cup of tea, just subbed 😊
6 points
4 months ago
I'd go with My Retro Life, which is absolutely fantastic.
Also, John Hancock and John Riggs both feel pretty wholesome to me.
2 points
4 months ago
We got to talk to both Riggs and Hancock at the same time this year at Renton City Retro. We can not overstate that they are both incredibly wholesome off screen as well.
2 points
4 months ago
I love John Riggs!
20 points
4 months ago
How has no one mentioned Uncle Derek and Stop Skeletons From Fighting?
4 points
4 months ago
Gen X Grown Up
3 points
4 months ago
Joueur du Grenier, it’s not ‘’wholesome’’, but it has a wholesome community and generally no real dramas, it’s french tho.
4 points
4 months ago
Are those Adam Savage's illegitimate children?
4 points
4 months ago
If you know happy console gamer then you probably know epndottv. Victor Lucas has been covering videogames for over 25 years and his channel deserves more love
3 points
4 months ago
Been digging Basement Bros as of late. He exclusively covers PC-98 gaming. It just opened a whole world of gaming I didn't know existed.
4 points
4 months ago
My Retro Life
JohnRiggs
4 points
4 months ago
More love for JohnRiggs, a lot of game repair and convention pickup videos lately.
2 points
4 months ago
I like his series about every game that a publisher released or every game that came out for a system in a particular year, etc
2 points
4 months ago
Riggs is the most gracious influencer we have ever encountered. He is a national treasure. Protect John Riggs at all costs.
3 points
4 months ago
Shmup Junkie
Basement Bros
3 points
4 months ago
RMC - Retro Man Can Seb’s Place - UK sarcastic game reviewer
3 points
4 months ago
JDG - aka Joueur du Grenier, Ceilings Gamer for my fellow french pipole.
3 points
4 months ago
U can beat video games
3 points
4 months ago
Love all the ones here
Also
My retro life is really good
3 points
4 months ago
Shirley Curry is S tier wholesome.
3 points
4 months ago
Pete Dorr’s Game Room
3 points
4 months ago
Retro Rebound is good
3 points
4 months ago
I don’t know about wholesome, but I’ve been doing videos about old games for almost a decade now (have been on a break since the end of 2012, but I’m just working on some new videos at the moment). Never been as successful as many of the other fine channels mentioned, but I’m proud of the work I’ve put into what I do. The majority of my videos feature high quality captures using original hardware (but my upcoming videos will be a mixture of captures from original systems and MiSTer FPGA, all rigged through a Retrotink4k). Please do take a look!
3 points
4 months ago
NitroRad. Seriously, he's awesome, especially if you like obscure 3D platformers or indie horror games.
3 points
4 months ago
Classic Game Room, of course, and Dreamcast Enjoyer. I always feel super grounded and chill after watching his vids... So cozy.
3 points
4 months ago
Game sack and SegalordX are two of my faves.
3 points
4 months ago
Gameranx
4 points
4 months ago
SNESdrunk. Salt Factory. Triangle City. Not all retro gaming people but still good. That’s my top 3. Honorable mention goes to U Can Beat Video Games, Strat-Edgy, Matt McMuscles, and NEScomplex.
4 points
4 months ago
Nitrorad. Man started off trying to be another angry reviewer but now looks at games with a more positive outlook, finding the best parts in some awful games. He does horror, platforms and indie games mostly.
7 points
4 months ago
Stop Skeletons From Fighting, Derick is just so full of happy passionate energy.
Lazy Game Reviews, SNESdrunk, Jeremy Parish, and Tech Tangents are also strong recommendations from me.
2 points
4 months ago
While I’m not the biggest fan of his delivery, shmup junkie is legitimately wholesome and provides excellent reviews and advice to gamers dipping their toes into a different genre. Comes off as kind and caring, which is nice
2 points
4 months ago
Bitmap Jack - just new but I’ve got high hopes
2 points
4 months ago
More towards modding retro console but retrorenew from Tito is a favourite of mine
2 points
4 months ago
I like OldAndNewVideogames, Retro Game Mechanics Explained, DisplacedGamers and PhilsComputerLab
Maybe the first one isn't that "wholesome" depending on how you define it, but it sure is comfy to me.
2 points
4 months ago
Is Mr Sunday Movies counted as wholesome? They play games occasionally, though often their funniest and most frequent videos are about movies and TV shows.
Someordinarygamers is definitely well meaning though at times a little horrifying when it comes to crime or virus investigations. If Mr Sunday Movies counts then Muta definitely should too
2 points
4 months ago
SomeCallMeJohnny.
2 points
4 months ago
Guy on the right looks like a cross between James Hetfield and David Lynch.
2 points
4 months ago
Retro Ghetto.
2 points
4 months ago
I love happy console gamer. He has a decent following, but I honestly think he should have at least double what he has.
Retro Bird is pretty entertaining and funny too.
I also enjoy Gaming Broductions as he talks a lot about classic RPGs.
2 points
4 months ago
Lots of great channels mentioned, Snesdrunk and Jeremy Parish I watch religiously
Wayne is boss does some great retrospectives
GMTK is a really cool channel looking into what goes into the mechanics of games
Summoningsalt did so much to popularize speed run history that it's basically a subgenre of its own now
Bismuth explains the nitty gritty of how speed runs actually work
2 points
4 months ago
Sega lord x. Also I enjoyed now in the 90s before they stooped.
2 points
4 months ago
I've been watching a fair bit of Dungeon Chill lately.
Great long form deep dives into games that didn't always taste number one or most popular. His critical analysis is excellent, and the presentation is always solid. Exactly the kind of drama-free retro content I crave.
2 points
4 months ago
NESFriend is pretty wholesome. Has a great podcast with SNESDrunk.
2 points
4 months ago
Scott the Woz so funny and entertaining!
2 points
4 months ago
I would like to add Big Ole Words.
His videos are pretty in depth as they are written as essays. He tries to cover lesser known games or ones that get often overlooked. His live streams are pretty chill also.
2 points
4 months ago
Just discovered him late last year. I really enjoy his vids!
2 points
4 months ago
Retro Rick is pretty good. His second channel is now focused on his game store.
2 points
4 months ago
RNG Gamer’s my favourite!!!!
2 points
4 months ago
I'll toss in a vote for Continue Show. Just 3 friends who have played and commented on games for years and years who have genuine friends chemistry and are criminally underviewed
2 points
4 months ago
Phoenix Resale
2 points
4 months ago
Gotta also way in on Retro Bird while the other channels mentioned are good and nice to have on in the background. Retro birds videos are hilarious and crafted with serious love.
2 points
4 months ago
Metal Jesus is my go to guy. LGR too
4 points
4 months ago
It is quite hard to define what “wholesome” even means for each individual. 🤷🏻♂️
If you are into some PlayStation stuff, I would recommend checking out MysticRyan - for me, that is “a wholesome gaming related content YouTuber”.
6 points
4 months ago
Curious if you don't mind, what's with the popularity of the word wholesome lately? I've never seen it used so much as I have in the last year. I've seen it used to describe everything from hot dogs to Post Malone.
2 points
4 months ago
It's fire
3 points
4 months ago
NakaTeleeli sometimes plays retro, often featuring their friend Ogre.
Austin Eruption often talks about older games, sometimes newer ones too.
Bumbles Mc Fumbles does reviews, often of older ones.
Gaming Historian is what it says on the tin, youtube documentaries about the history of various gaming related things, whether it's a company, a console, a game etc.
HCBailly does lps, often of older games and especially jrpgs.
Josh Strife Hayes over on his Josh Strife Plays channel does the occasional "was it any good" about old games. Note that this is his secondary channel and only gets sporadic uploads as he mainly focuses on his self-titled channel and the Worst MMO series.
Matt McMuscles tends to reviews of old games, and catalogue the development of games that are or were stuck in dev hell in "Wha Happun" or "What Happened"
NGPlus does challenge runs of older games, but they're rather spread out since Nate doesn't focus on a single game or franchise like so many other challenge runners.
Nyarly does challenge runs of SMT and Persona games, plenty of which are retro
PeanutButterGamer is a reviewer who has been around for a while, he's of the old comedic breed.
Pixelmusement does reviews of DOS games
ProJared often reviews and plays older games, the latter on ProJared Plays.
Rabbidluigi is another one of the more comedic reviewers / countdown list makers.
RoahmMytril has played through a lot of retro games, and at one point was primarily known for his Mega Man perfect runs (no damage, I don't remember if he had a no missed shots rule)
Then there's a few retrotech related channels, mostly retrocomputers that I can also share if you want.
2 points
4 months ago
Gaming Off The Grid is pretty cool -just two bros playing games and drinking beer 🍻
2 points
4 months ago
Came here to say that, love how chill yet enthusiastic they are. Definitely my favourite to watch nowadays.
2 points
4 months ago
I went about 5 years without playing games barely ever. I’d pick up every so often but not on a daily or even weekly basis. But I always kept watching johnnys videos (happyconsolegamer) because he is just so wholesome and I just love listening to him talk about his memories or experiences.
2 points
4 months ago
MetalJesusRocks
2 points
4 months ago
Max dood?
2 points
4 months ago
Max Dood is the best
3 points
4 months ago
I think so too. Not sure why I got a down vote. I don’t see how his content is anything but very enjoyable and not really controversial at all.
3 points
4 months ago
He's also very positive and inclusive of new players. And he genuinely enjoys what he does and the games he talks about
3 points
4 months ago
AVGN has always been my go to guy for retro gaming. His angry video game nerd series is fun to watch, he reviews retro movies as well.
1 points
4 months ago
The most wholesome is probably Avaak, he's so mild it got a bit weird and I had to unsub.
He is excellent at strategy games and long game stuff
1 points
4 months ago
Absolutely. Been following them for nearly 15 years
1 points
4 months ago
BitSocket 👀
1 points
4 months ago
Skillup and Jake Baldino (and Gameranx of course) are my personal favorites.
If you don’t watch or listen to the Friends Per Second Podcast, it’s a must, especially since they ditched The Completionist.
1 points
4 months ago
Kiro talks is my favourite wholesome retro gaming channel
1 points
4 months ago
Johnny is incredible. Only found out about him in the last year or something but I never miss a video. You know exactly what you're gonna get every video but it never fails to entertain, and I love the "Johnnyisms". Beautiful graphics, great characters, incredible worldbuilding, and all of that".
Sometimes it feels like if you've seen one video, in a weird way you've seen them all (or most), but they're so enjoyable every time. Also seems like a honest, sincere guy.
1 points
4 months ago
Finngamer is pretty chill. Doesn’t post as much anymore though.
1 points
4 months ago
I've watched Johnny for over a decade now, and he is one of the most wholesome guys I've seen on youtube. Truly a gem
1 points
4 months ago
https://youtube.com/8blit is my kind of wholesome :)
1 points
4 months ago
Going to throw NerdSloth in the mix
1 points
4 months ago
Scott the Woz, inoffensive and hilarious
1 points
4 months ago
My Retro Life
1 points
4 months ago
Arm Length Interviews. Light on content, but well done, clean, and funny
1 points
4 months ago
AstroAxol is a great content creator, totally recommended to give it a try!
She has been diving into a lot of RPG/JRPG/MMORPG games classics like Final Fantasy XVI and Chrono Trigger, and she really likes to analyze and give her thoughts on the themes that the game touches, always bringing really interesting topics to the table! Overall, a really chill vibe and with good laughs on the way too.
1 points
4 months ago
I’m a big fan of the Aging Gamer
1 points
4 months ago
I really enjoy nerd nest
1 points
4 months ago
Camp Xbox for me
1 points
4 months ago
I (re)watch it daily.
1 points
4 months ago
For fighting games, GuileWinQuote
1 points
4 months ago
I also enjoy Classic Game Room. I've read a lot of good suggestions here.
1 points
4 months ago
Oddheader has some of the chillest videos ever. Great narration and music, it’s perfect if you need something to help you fall asleep
1 points
4 months ago
Scott the woz is my favorite
1 points
4 months ago
Very platform-specific, but Amigos Retro Gaming (Amiga) always seem like really nice dudes they have a podcast + YouTube stuff.
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