History of Food in Video Games w Joshua Noel

In this flavorful episode, we dig into the delicious history of food in video games—how pixelated meals became cultural icons and why they’ve always mattered more than just health points. From power-up mushrooms to pixel-perfect potions, we explore how food shapes storytelling and gameplay.

We also dive into the deeper meaning of symbols in art and games, unpacking how visual language communicates emotion, culture, and identity.

And for the grand finale: we roll up our sleeves and share a few real-life recipes inspired by our favorite in-game dishes—yes, we actually made them, and yes, we have opinions.

Whether you're a foodie, a gamer, or just hungry for insight, this episode serves up something special.

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Joshua Noel is a licensed minister, an aspiring Taoist Christian, an open theist (not process), taught hermeneutics & children's church for many years. He has been a podcaster for a long time with the Anazao podcast network. Under the umbrella of Anazao, you can find him as part of the Whole Church Pod, Systematic Geekology, and Dummy for Theology. He also has his own substack.