Rephonic
Artwork for 8-4 Play

8-4 Play

8-4, Ltd.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Elden Ring
Dragon's Dogma 2
Super Mario RPG
Crisis Core
Nintendo
Alan Wake 2
Yakuza
Shadow Of the Erd Tree
Animal Well
Tekken 8
Assassin's Creed
Control
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Japan
Yakuza Series
Final Fantasy VII
Cyberpunk 2077
Baldur's Gate
Pokemon Company

Every other week, tune into 8-4 Play for talk about Japan, video games, and Japanese video games, straight from the 8-4 offices in beautiful downtown Tokyo.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes408Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisureTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for 8-4 Play

Latest Episodes

With Metroid Prime 4 dropping mere hours before we recorded, we went for the next best thing: a bunch of games from the late 90s! Tune in for talk of Analogue 3D, Radiant Silvergun, Viewpoint 2064, 2D gaming on the PS1, and more—plus some current-cen... more

Lumines (loo-meh-nez) Arise, new Hyrule Warriors, Game Awards noms, Metroid Prime 4 hopes and fears, new Steam hardware (x3) and more!

00:45 – Nicknames 13:20 – Lumines: Arise 20:32 – Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment 33:11 – News: The Game Awar... more

Hear all about (deep breath) Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (exhale) and the A-Z of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with a side of Nintendo news and Halloween in Japan.

Time — Topic Discussed

00:47 – Nicknames 17:30 – DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake 25:... more

1UP Show memories, Hollow Knight 2, Little Nightmares 3, Ninja Gaiden 4, FIIIIIVE GOLD-EN! RINGS!! Plus more FFT, RIP Itagaki-san, and a buncha news.

Time — Topic Discussed

00:00 – Nicknames 09:32 – Hollow Knight: Silksong 17:21 – Final Fantasy T... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

John Lindemann
From Digital Foundry, discussing gaming technology and graphics
Digital Foundry
Episode: 8-4 Play 9/26/2025: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025
Rob Fox
Designer producer, working on horror games such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Gunn Interactive
Episode: 8-4 Play 9/26/2025: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025
Nick Accordion
Senior Producer at PlayStation, discussing Marvel Tokon
PlayStation
Episode: 8-4 Play 9/26/2025: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025
Shane Bettenhausen
Industry Veteran with knowledge of various video games
Episode: 8-4 Play 9/26/2025: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025
Thomas Nicol
Game journalist and lecturer from Germany
Episode: 8-4 Play 9/26/2025: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2025
Roy Blakely
Ghibli enthusiast and returning guest
Episode: 8-4 Play 7/25/2025: BANANZA REPUBLIC
Tina Love Review Carter
Episode: 8-4 Play 6/27/2025: SUMMER REVUE
Roy Road Warrior Blakely
Episode: 8-4 Play 6/27/2025: SUMMER REVUE
John Linneman
Anchor of Digital Foundry
Digital Foundry
Episode: 8-4 Play 5/30/2025: SWITCH 2 COMETH

Hosts

Mark McDonald
Host of the podcast, often engaging in lively discussions around video games and Japanese culture.
Gabriel De Leon
Host and a core member of the team, actively sharing humor and insights about gaming.
John Ricciardi
Co-host contributing a unique viewpoint on gaming topics and entertainment.
Dermot Cregan
Co-host discussing games with humor and insights, focusing particularly on trends and culture.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • 8-4 is a 10/10

    Quest 64 battle theme, my beloved

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fenrir Leonhart
    United States6 days ago
  • If you're gonna rush, why do it at all?

    Used to really enjoy this show but they just rush through everything while trying to cover all the major news so you end up with shallow discussion and everyone seems barely interested. When they started to move to a tight 1-hour show is when everything started to go downhill.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Lord Turkish
    United States5 months ago
  • Favorite

    This has been my favorite podcast since 2015. Great show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sir Bentok
    United States9 months ago
  • Politics talk is ruining this show

    I really enjoyed this show early on but the political talk is just too much. I come to be entertained and listen to life in Japan and video games. Instead every episode they go into politics, and how many times do I have to hear why you’re no longer on X aka Twitter and only on Blue Sky. Great, just tell me where you’re at to find your messages, I don’t care why you left one for another. If someone caught one episode in the past 2 years they would know why, it doesn’t need to be repeated. ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sinizar360
    United Statesa year ago
  • Be nice to Gabe.

    I have no idea what John’s problem is with Gabe, but it’s made the show unlistenable. Be nice to the dude or part ways, what are you guys doing?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SkullsMuldoon
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many praise the show's long-standing quality and entertaining dynamics among hosts, providing relatable content for gaming enthusiasts.
The balance between nostalgia and modern video gaming trends is considered a strong point, appealing to older and newer gamers alike.
Listeners appreciate the casual and humorous approach to gaming discussions, along with the personal anecdotes about life in Japan.
Some feedback expresses frustration over recent shifts in topic focus, particularly towards political discussions, which some find off-putting.
There are mixed opinions on the hosts' engaging banter, with some listeners calling for less rushing through topics, while others love the lively pace.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

8-4 Play 1/3/2025: NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' Q&A SPECIAL
Q: Would you like to work with any game series or publisher that you haven't yet?
Working on a project for The Legend of Dragoon 2 would be a dream.
8-4 Play 1/3/2025: NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' Q&A SPECIAL
Q: What are your top three months to visit Japan?
March, April, and November, considering the weather and cultural experiences.
8-4 Play 1/3/2025: NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' Q&A SPECIAL
Q: Is there any game which you feel you can't ever replay purely because your first experience with it was so memorable?
Nier Automata is one such game because the emotional journey is too significant to recreate.
8-4 Play 1/3/2025: NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' Q&A SPECIAL
Q: What continues to be your favorite thing about working in Japan?
The entire lifestyle and the creative opportunities provided by living in Japan.
8-4 Play 10/25/2024: RING THE ALARMO
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from the experience with 'Alarm-O'?
It has a motion sensor that detects if you return to bed after the alarm goes off, waking you up again if necessary.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About 8-4 Play

What is 8-4 Play about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content predominantly explores a broad spectrum of video game topics with a strong emphasis on Japanese gaming culture and technology. It features lively discussions among hosts who share personal anecdotes, insights into video game releases, and reflections on retro gaming. The vibrant mix of humor and nostalgia creates an engaging atmosphere as topics range from notable releases like 'Final Fantasy XIV' and 'Death Stranding 2' to discussions about retro experiences and cultural elements like the Tokyo Game Show. The team also extends conversations into the world of personal experiences, offering listeners a unique glimpse into life in Japan while linking these narratives to contemporary gaming trends and technology advancements. This ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for 8-4 Play?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for 8-4 Play. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to 8-4 Play and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does 8-4 Play get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for 8-4 Play, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for 8-4 Play?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for 8-4 Play, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does 8-4 Play have?

To see how many followers or subscribers 8-4 Play has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to 8-4 Play?

These podcasts share a similar audience with 8-4 Play:

1. The Jeff Gerstmann Show - A Podcast About Video Games
2. The Nextlander Podcast
3. Giant Bombcast
4. Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
5. Retronauts

How many episodes of 8-4 Play are there?

8-4 Play launched 15 years ago and published 408 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact 8-4 Play?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for 8-4 Play?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for 8-4 Play from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for 8-4 Play?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of 8-4 Play. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on 8-4 Play?

Recent guests on 8-4 Play include:

1. John Lindemann
2. Rob Fox
3. Nick Accordion
4. Shane Bettenhausen
5. Thomas Nicol
6. Roy Blakely
7. Tina Love Review Carter
8. Roy Road Warrior Blakely

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days