# The Angry Video Game Nerd (2004)

> A profane, furious host reviews forgotten and notoriously bad retro video games, venting at every unfair design choice.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/13216

## Facts

- Seasons: 20
- Episodes: 237
- Episode runtime: 7 min
- Status: Returning Series
- Genres: comedy, documentary
- Created by: James D. Rolfe
- Network: YouTube
- Cast: James D. Rolfe, Kyle Justin, Mike Matei, Steven J. Klaszky, Craig Skistimas, Pat Contri, Lloyd Kaufman, Nathan Barnatt
- TMDB rating: 8.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230180/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: irreverent, raucous, profane, nostalgic, self-deprecating

## What critics say

Fans broadly admire the Nerd's inventive, profane rage and his deep knowledge of retro games, though later seasons are seen as less consistent than the early run.

## Synopsis

The Angry Video Game Nerd (2004-present) is an American internet comedy video review series created by James D. Rolfe for YouTube, with a long run spanning twenty seasons and roughly 237 short episodes of about seven minutes each. Rolfe plays The Nerd, a short-tempered, foul-mouthed fanatic who dissects old, unsuccessful video games known for unfair difficulty and poor design. Each episode follows his engine of mounting fury: he picks a notorious cartridge, plays it with mounting exasperation, and unleashes inventive, profane rants while nursing drinks. Co-star Kyle Justin as The Guitar Guy and Mike Matei as Cowardly Lion, a regular in the sketches, round out the recurring cast of his fan-favorite comedic universe. The shape is episodic, with standalone reviews organized into loose seasons and occasional crossover specials that spin out sketches and guest appearances. The tone is raucous, self-deprecating and nostalgic, with a cult, affectionate edge for anyone who grew up with consoles. Fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Jackass and Cinemassacre's Monster Madness will find the same mix of irreverent riffing and lovingly brutal dissection of pop-culture failure.

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