Reviews and Press
The Magnus Archives Reviews
6 Podcasts for the Spooky Season
An immensely satisfying serialised narrative… [and a] genuinely spine-tingling plot.
- Emma Dibdin
- The New York Times
- Oct 3, 2023
7 podcasts with enormous and entertaining back catalogs
The Magnus Archives is a horror fiction podcast with a whopping 167 episodes as of writing. In The Magnus Archives, a man’s new job requires him to record himself reading the text archives of strange stories. The stories don’t seem intertwined, until suddenly, they do. The narrator becomes a full-fledged protagonist, and his co-workers become fascinating characters.
- Wil Williams
- Polygon
- May 19, 2020
10 Spooky Stories to Listen to in October
The Magnus Archives Season One by Jonathan Sims
The genius here is in how this is slowly revealed. Often it’s the listener who will understand the connection, whilst the fallibility of Sims’ memory means he misses things – at least in this first season… Several of these stories made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and, whilst that has a lot to do with the brilliant writing, the mood created by the music plays a massive part in the overall listening experience.
- Tim Hardie
- Page Chewing
- Aug 22, 2025
The Magnus Archives Season Two by Jonathan Sims
Jonathan Sims really is a fantastic voice actor, taking each statement and delivering them with such nuance, creating a variety of voices that make you forget you’re listening to the Head Archivist until his thoughts break the spell at the end of each recording… Sims and his producer, director and fellow actor, Alexander J Newell, have created something truly marvellous in The Magnus Archives, which is an absolute must for horror fans.
- Tim Hardie
- Page Chewing
- Sep 26, 2025
The Magnus Archives Season Three by Jonathan Sims
The challenge with a complex multi-layered series like this is balancing the pace at which certain facts are revealed with maintaining a level of mystery to keep the listener intrigued. Sims is such a good writer and he gets this balance perfectly right, and the result is the best season so far.
- Tim Hardie
- Page Chewing
- Dec 19, 2025
Best Horrror Podcasts
A horror anthology podcast with a classical sense of tone, the cadence of the narration weighs heavily upon the mood that is delivered–there is something soothing, but utterly petrifying. Something that we find wonderful about the Magnus Archives is the nature in which it tackles each of the episodes–the eerie ability to pull you into a story.
- Puzzle Box Horror
- DigitalTrends
- May 13, 2022
The Magnus Archives Review
I could hardly recommend a podcast any higher than this one. It’s among the cream of the crop. It’s not only horror podcasting at its finest. It’s contemporary horror writing at it’s finest.
- Eric Mertz
- EricMertzAuthor.com
Creepy Scary Podcasts
You only need to listen to one episode to become hooked, waiting every week for a new episode to draw you further in to the depths of the
archive.
- Catriona Harvey-Jenner
- Cosmopolitan
14 Best Fiction Podcasts You'll Want to Binge in a Day
Most installments involve Sims dictating one of the Institute’s many collected statements from those who’ve experienced unexplained esoteric events, and the sound editing makes it feel as if you’ve stumbled upon a secret treasure trove of recordings.
- Samantha Vincenty
- The Oprah Magazine
- Jul 16, 2020
Celebrating 10 Years of The Magnus Archives
Even more than the show’s detailed writing or charismatic voice acting, it is [the] therapeutic process of exploring real human fears that turned so many listeners of TMA into diehard fans.
- Ian Afflerbach
- Podcast Review
- Mar 16, 2026
10 Long-Running SFF/Horror Fiction Podcasts
If your podcast tastes lean more horror, then enjoy getting lost in the Magnus Institute’s collection of eerie statements concerning potential paranormal happenings. Each week, newly-appointed Head Archivist Jonathan Sims sorts through the disorganized backlog to investigate stories with names like “Arachnophobia,” “The Boneturner’s Tale,” “Killing Floor,” and only getting more ominous as time goes on. Four seasons in and still going strong, the story expands beyond the scope of just the Institute and may provide a welcome distraction from other present terrors.
- Natalie Zutter
- Reactor
- May 8, 2020
Inside the Cult of Fear: Finding Humanity in Horror Fiction
This parade of unsettling events appears, at first, to be a collection of unrelated phenomena, rather like creepypasta-meets-M.R. James in the form of an episodic audio drama. The head archivist is quick to state—in scathingly dismissive terms—that the vast majority of so-called supernatural phenomena are absolutely nonsense, most likely the product of unwell or intoxicated minds, or overactive imaginations, or too much credulity from people who really ought to know better. One might be forgiven for thinking, during the early episodes, that this is the full breadth of the story: skeptical academics, unfortunate eyewitnesses, and disparate horrors that can never be explained.
But appearances, like everything else, can be very deceiving.
The unveiling of the central story in The Magnus Archives is gradual, but it doesn’t take all that many episodes for it to become obvious that everything is connected in some awful, hidden way. And, to be absolutely clear, by “everything is connected,” I don’t mean “mostly monster-of-the-week with occasional arc episodes.” I mean everything.
- Kali Wallace - Reactor - Aug 12, 2020
The Evolution of Horror in The Magnus Archives
There are so many things to love about Magnus.
- Andrew King
- Reactor
- Nov 9, 2020
What We’re Reading: 5 Reasons to Listen to Rusty Quill’s The Magnus Archives
In summary, there exists every reason that you should listen to The Magnus Archives. It’s a fantastic show both to listen and re-listen to—and yeah, I’ll attest—re-listen to again. I hope you find the same enjoyment in the show as I did, and I’m confident you will. And gosh, I’ve always wanted to say this:
Statement ends.
- Andrew King - Tor/Forge Blog - Nov 10, 2020
Ten Stories Featuring Haunted Corridors and Sinister Spaces
Truly creative corridor horror… though for the best listening experience, I recommend diving into the podcast as a whole.
- Holly Kybett Smith
- Reactor
- Mar 1, 2023
A round-up of horror podcasts
Implicit in its form, this podcast, the substance of which brings to mind the best episodes of The Fourth Dimension, is curiously effective, in particular thanks to the audio format which highlights the muffled atmospheres and the “confident” tone.
- Le Monde [French]
The Magnus Archives is the Scariest Lovecraftian Horror Ever
The horrors [in the Magnus Archives], while they are ineffable, while they are cosmic nightmares, they all touch upon fears that we feel, like the fear of a spider or the fear of being watched or the fear of a dark alley or the fear of being alone. All of those things are just touched upon and expanded upon uniquely within this show… That’s why I think the Magnus Archives is the best version of Eldritch Horror I have ever ever seen in my entire life.
- Jessie Gender
- Feb 1, 2021
Overly Sarcastic Productions: Trope Talk - Urban Fantasy
If you’re looking for this specific brand of horror I recommend the fiction podcast The Magnus Archives because it does a really good job integrating these really really creepy cosmic horror elements into very very realistic grounded lives
- Overly Sarcastic Productions
- Apr 3, 2020
The 15 best fiction podcasts
Genuinely terrific.
- Andrzej Lukowski
- Time Out
- Jan 9, 2023
9 of the best fiction podcasts from the UK and Ireland
The Magnus Archives is a horror/paranormal extravaganza.
- Philip Catherwood
- PodBible
- Jul 5, 2023
The 10 Best Horror Podcasts To Scare Yourself Silly
A rich, captivating series.
- Siobhan Ball
- The Mary Sue
- Jun 9, 2023
Mihret’s Podcast Picks: Horror audio dramas for the month of love
Arguably my favourite podcast of all time… The voice acting and editing in this show are phenomenal.
- Mihret Yirgeta
- The Gauntlet
- Feb 17, 2023
The “Magnus Archives” a must-listen nail biter this summer
The best narrative podcast I have listened to.
- Carson Holland
- The Daily Evergreen
- Jun 23, 2022
Archives in Podcasts: The Magnus Archives
As an archivist listening to the podcast, Sims and company get it pretty spot on when it comes to the more mundane duties of working in the archives… From an archival point of view, we can all relate to trying to decipher a system that makes little sense. Especially when the person responsible for creating that system isn’t around to explain themselves and didn’t think to document their decisions. Sims also states that he wants to digitize the archive’s holdings, though later on he comes to realize how much time and effort such a project requires. Another daunting task we can all sympathize with. There’s also the supernatural element of eldritch beings and dimensional shifts that make working with anything newer than a cassette tape an absolute nightmare, but I’m sure other archives have the same problems.
- Samantha Cross
- POP Archives - Archives and Archivists in Pop Culture
- Jul 26, 2019
POP Archives Deep Thoughts: The Magnus Archives Series & Finale
It’s a fitting and ultimately satisfying conclusion to a show that gave form and shape to fear, subverted expectations and some tropes common to horror, though not all, and made an archives and archivist the focal points of world-changing events.
- Samantha Cross
- POP Archives - Archives and Archivists in Pop Culture
- Mar 29, 2021
The 10 best horror podcasts that are legit nightmare fuel
The Institute has been active for centuries and as Sims, whose charmingly grumpy mic presence is a highlight, digs deeper he finds out they’ve stumbled on something awful.
- Rachel Weber
- GamesRadar
- Aug 5, 2022
Best Podcasts for Horror Movie Fanatics
The 10 Best (& Most Terrifying) Horror Podcasts Of All Time
It’s hard not to love The Magnus Archives.
- Kirstie Landry
- ScreenRant
- Sep 26, 2019
5 offerings (that aren’t horror films) to get you in the October Spirit
With its vast catalog of horrors and excellent production values, The Magnus Archives has something for everyone.
- Caitlin PenzeyMoog, Clayton Purdom, Baraka Kaseko, and Emily L. Stephens
- AV Club
- Oct 5, 2018
Podmass
From its first episode… the podcast has deftly juggled the monster of the week and overarching mythology elements of the horror anthology more satisfyingly than The X-Files ever managed.
- Dennis Perkins
- AV Club
- Feb 12, 2018
Podmass
The [2020] premiere of the fifth and final season of this superlative horror fiction series comes with an unexpected content warning. Not because of the horrors that Jonathan Sims and his team at Rusty Quill have conjured—eldritch, unspeakable, and reliably skin-crawling—but because the entire episode takes place huddled inside a single location while unseen doom looms outside the door.
- Dennis Perkins
- AV Club
- Apr 13, 2020
The Magnus Archives: A Beginner’s Guide to the Popular Horror Podcast
If the stories weren’t scary enough on their own, having the narrator provide additional audio evidence can add one final shiver.
- E.L. Meszaros
- CBR
- Sep 23, 2020
Top 10 Terrifying Horror Podcast to Binge
The Magnus Archives is as addictive as it is horrifying.
- Mason Downey
- Gamespot
- Oct 26, 2020
11 Fiction Podcasts From 2020 That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat
10 scary podcasts to listen to in the dark
Sim’s crisp voice, and the largely minimalist production, lend the stories an eerie, creeping dread that speaks to just how powerful a well-acted tale can truly be.
- Bryan Bishop and Andrew Liptak
- The Verge
- Oct 31, 2018
The entertainment that got us through 2020
The Magnus Archives, produced by Rusty Quill, is chock-full of terrible things: flesh-eating worms, doors leading to endless twisting hallways, and the fear that wherever you hide, someone is watching… [but] Right now, listening to The Magnus Archives feels good. And by good, I mean it feels bad in a simultaneously abstract and relatable way, which apparently is just what I need.
- The Verge
- Dec 14, 2020
The Horror Novel Lurking in Your Busy Online Life
On the brilliant British horror podcast “The Magnus Archives,” one of the 15 godlike entities that terrorize humanity is known as “the
Lonely.” There is no corresponding terrifying embodiment of “the Crowd.”
- Margot Harrison
- The New York Times
- Jul 18, 2020
Podcast Review: The Magnus Archives
One of the best horror podcasts out there right now and one breaking new narrative ground.
- Alasdair Stuart
- Ghostwoods Books
- Aug 1, 2016
The Magnus Archives: Institute of Horror
You need to listen to this podcast. If you are any fan of horror or suspense, you must listen. Each unique tale will bring you to the edge of both your seat and your sanity.
- The Daftest Punk You Know
- Jan 9, 2017
It’s got ambiance, it’s got the spooks, it’s got great representation, and it’s got a lot of material directly out of your childhood nightmares. Get out your sticky notes and yarn — you’ll need it.
- DailyUW
Extremely Relatable Horrifying Content
Chilling, engaging, and terrifyingly relatable.
- Aysha U. Farah
- Medium
- Sep 1, 2019
NotThem: Replacements in The Magnus Archives
This podcast deserves thousands upon thousands of words discussing
its themes, which I plan on delivering as soon as it’s finished.
- Sarah Kravitz
- Medium
- Jan 9, 2020
Best Fiction Podcasts
This show is a cut above the rest.
- Zoe Robertson
- Book Riot
- Apr 5, 2020
50 Best Horror Podcasts of 2018
Damn do they do weird horror well.
- Alex Hensley
- AudioDramaRama
- Jan 1, 2019
Top 30 Audio Dramas of 2019
The amount of effort and build up that has gone into The Magnus Archives is absolutely incredible. There were reveals this season [four] that had been built up since episode one. Not one word is wasted.
- The Podcast Dragon
- Dec 27, 2019
On Season Finales: The Magnus Archives Episode 160 – The Eye Opens
Now this… this is how you build up to a finale.
- The Podcast Dragon
- Nov 12, 2019
Revisiting The Magnus Archives After Listening To Nearly 100 Episodes
The thing that boggles my mind even this deep into the episodes though is how scary it is. Tropes, rhythms, patterns, and in-universe cliches are stacking up, but it’s still one of the most disturbing pieces of fiction I’ve experienced. I don’t think something like this could ever get a one hundred percent hit rate, but this consistency of quality is astounding.
- Brandon Scott
- Sci-Fi Bloggers
- Aug 30, 2021
The Ending of The Magnus Archives
The Magnus Archives is the kind of thing that inspired me to want to be a reviewer. It’s narratively dense and artistically special. I may spend the rest of my life chasing something comparable. And, frankly, I’m not sure I’ll ever find it.
- Brandon Scott
- Sci-Fi Bloggers
- Mar 9, 2021
Descendants of Brigid: A Review of “The Magnus Archives,” Written by Jonathan Sims
At a time when horror films have arguably become oversaturated with unoriginal content, The Magnus Archives brings fresh spooks to the ears. By removing visual stimuli, The Magnus Archives relies solely on audio to spin the narrative, creating space for the listener’s imagination to fill in the gaps.
- Molly McGill
- Sage Cigarettes Magazine
- Sep 13, 2024
This is Dope: The Magnus Archives has 160 episodes of bone-chilling horror for you
Be warned, the stories are not for the faint of heart and are often legitimately horrifying, but the show doesn’t resort to cheap gimmicks like jump scares or music cues to direct your adrenaline.
- Tres Dean
- Syfywire
- Nov 15, 2019
Cosmic Horror and HP Lovecraft: Letting go of a Legacy
The genius of it all is that the show gets no less frightening as mysteries are unraveled and knowledge is uncovered. It leads the listener to wonder: is knowledge a blessing or a curse? Where does the actual horror lie? In what we do not yet know, or in what we know but wish we didn’t?
- Rebecca Daly
- Her Campus
- Feb 20, 2020
You don’t have to be mad to work here…
This is surely one of the finest audio dramas out there and one that you should check out immediately. You’ll thank me, I know you will.
- sludgieboy
- The Podcast Geek
- Dec 5, 2021
Review: The Magnus Archives
The Magnus Archives is a beautifully crafted tale about fear and what it means to be afraid that utilizes every single bullet in Chekhov’s gun. From unconventional monsters that chill you to the bone to the kind of monsters we see everyday, The Magnus Archives is a fresh look into a genre prone to relying on tropes to remain effective. Jonathan Sims does an excellent job in orchestrating a petrifying world with an engaging plot and interesting lore without infringing on the fear that haunts us in our everyday lives.
- Shepherd Lee Williams
- Eagle's Scream
- Nov 2, 2021
The Magnus Archives Review
If you’re tired of horror that relies on jump scares and chainsaws, and would prefer your nightmares to be intellectually stimulating, The Magnus Archives awaits your listening.
- Sebastian Arciszewski
- Find That Pod
- Apr 2, 2025
The podcasts you need to listen to in 2025
The way the stories begin to intertwine is a genuinely thrilling experience.
- Jenna Outcalt
- The Daily Campus
- Sep 30, 2025
‘The Magnus Protocol’ Season 1 Act 1 review
In terms of the metaplot, “Protocol” starts very strong right off the bat. The cast is amazing and grabbed me from the first few scenes, immediately setting up the terrible workplace drama that will inevitably get even more messy as the horror ramps up. The voice actors have so much chemistry together.
- Ceil Shandell
- The Brandeis Hoot
- Mar 22, 2024
33 Podcasts For Horror Lovers
Rusty Quill wins ten awards at the Audio Verse Awards in 2019
Podcast Review: The Magnus Archives
I would like to give The Magnus Archive a special recommendation. Its a top notch effort from a fairly new production company and its worth listening to on quality of the stories alone, and the possibility of the framing device developing its own sub-plots is the icing on the cake. Thoroughly recommended for any fan of that sort of horror, its a delightfully spine tingling experience.
- Megan Talbot
- Aber Student Media
- May 15, 2016
10 horror podcasts that will keep you up all night
CS Recommends: The Magnus Archives Podcast, Plus Movies & More!
The podcast hits every note.
- Kylie Hemmert
- ComingSoon.net
- Aug 14, 2020
Listen Up: The Magnus Archives
And even when other voices become more common, Johnathan Sims is still the glue that holds them all together. So the show is either going to sink or swim on that voice. And Sims is delightful.
- Lane Robbins
- Speculative Chic
- Oct 3, 2018
Spooky Podcasts to Get You in The Halloween Spirit
Best Fiction Podcasts
Listening to the show is fun enough on its own, but tracing the connecting threads between statements and guessing that their implications is equally engaging, and keeps online communities thriving.
- Adam Townsell
- Resonate Recordings
- Jul 1, 2019
The Magnus Archives
Had me listening to every available episode – of which there are over a hundred – in seven days.
- Confessions of a Book Worm
Get Haunted By The Best Horror Fiction Podcasts
Monday Blues: The Magnus Archives
The Magnus Archives is the total package – great writing with interesting stories and characters (and some beautiful wordcraft at times), quality production and performances, and an eerie atmosphere that inspires its own sort of wonder.
- Rowan Rook
- Beware The Rook
- Dec 12, 2017
Recommended Podcast: The Magnus Archives
The Magnus Archives Season 1 Review
10/10 would recommend to creepypasta lovers and fans of well-acted audio dramas.
- Calaticia
- Mar 30, 2017
Top 50 Bingeworthy Podcasts
Our Favorite Horror Audio Drama Podcasts
You’ll go into an episode about a scary doll, for instance, thinking, “Oh, this is silly”–but by the time the episode’s ended, you’ll be avoiding the toy aisle next time you hit up Target.
- Wil Williams
- Discover Pods
- Apr 19, 2022
The Magnus Effect: how Tumblr contributed to the success of The Magnus Archives
The Magnus Archives is simply an excellent series with solid writing, great world building, and compelling characters, not limited to a brilliant take on the narrator, but to leave it at that would be doing its impact a disservice.
- Podcake
- Discover Pods
- Oct 28, 2019
The 17 Best Horror Podcasts of 2020
The timely use of sound effects heightens the dread, as does the slick production and professional voice acting.
- Brian Hall
- LifeWire
Audio Fiction From Rusty Quill
The first episode, “Angler Fish,” was exactly what I hoped and expected from that title, and all I knew going in was that this was horror audio fiction. (And, no, that episode does not take place in the water.) As much as I try to avoid even the appearance of using puns, there’s no better way to say it than I was well and truly hooked.
- Jeff Stehman
- Black Gate
- Oct 26, 2019
How to spend your Pandemic Summer
Appreciating LGBTQ+ representation in fiction podcasts
The Magnus Archives reached a total of 160 episodes with its fourth season finale, and is starting its fifth and final season soon… Don’t let the worryingly high number of installments put you off — each episode is only about 20 minutes long, perfect for early morning jogs or listening three-at-a-time on commutes. And by the time you’ve caught up, there’ll (hopefully) be more.
- Wei Ai Ng
- The Oxford Student
- Feb 17, 2020
Best Fiction Podcasts
Fans of horror fiction will love the concept driving The Magnus Archives.
- WhatPods
Top 30 Horror Audio Podcasts & Radio You Must Subscribe and Listen to in 2019
RANKED! The 10 Best Horror Podcasts
With its original stories, mysteries that interweave in unexpected ways, an intriguing narrator and guest voice actors, a well-balanced musical score, and, oh yeah, some truly scary stories, this podcast is top-notch.
- Kylie Hemmert
- Mandatory
- Sep 10, 2018
Not your dad's podcasts
Have you talked to me in person recently? No, you haven’t, because we’re all in quarantine. However, my roommates know I will not shut up about this show. The Magnus Archives starts as a horror anthology, with each episode a spooky one-off told through the lens of an archivist recording witnesses’ statements. As the seasons progress, the episodes are slowly woven together into an overarching narrative that absolutely blows every B-tier horror movie out of the water.
- Sophie Concannon
- Portland State Vanguard
- May 12, 2020
Top 5 ways to spend Quarantine
One of the most famous horror fiction podcasts with millions of listeners worldwide… If you want to know what’s behind the huge success, you can also lose yourself in the previous 160 episodes that have appeared since 2016.
- Süddeutsche Zeitung
The Best Horror Podcasts For Halloween
Since the Magnus Institute is the kind of place it is, you get case after case of unsettling Europeans creepiness, the most effective kind of creepiness.
- Dillon McLaughlin
- Cool Material
- Oct 19, 2018
Top 10 Best Fiction Podcasts
A ghostly good time - The Magnus Archives Review
I have never once found something I’ve enjoyed within the horror genre. But I quite like The Magnus Archives… The Magnus Archives is a podcast that I highly recommend… this is definitely one to give a listen to.
- Ria Boldt
- Her Campus
- Mar 15, 2020
10 Best Paranormal Podcasts to Listen to Today
These 13 Horror Podcasts Will Scare the Sh*t Out of You
This anthology out of the UK has a classic sensibility to it while delivering a wide range of shiver-inducing stories.
- Scott Beggs
- Thrillist
- Oct 24, 2019
Some podcasts I’m listening to in 2019
Excellent British horror stories.
- Bryan Alexander
- bryanalexander.org
- Sep 30, 2019
Bite-sized bits of babble: The podcast as a modern storytelling device
Couch Cinema: ‘The Vast of Night’
I’m breaking my rules, because this is a podcast. But anyone who wishes that spooky radio plays would make a comeback needs to listen to this superlative UK horror series about an organization that collects supernatural witnessings… it is also a reflection on recording technology and the power of voice.
- Margot Harrison
- Seven Days VST
- Jul 7, 2020
The Meta: A Podcast about Podcasts - The Magnus Archives
Episode 1 – The Meta: A Podcast About Podcasts
Episode 2 – The Meta: A Podcast About Podcasts
- The Meta: A Podcast About Podcasts
How podcasts are reviving radio plays
The Magnus Archives is a clear standout in terms of plot and production…The podcast, though not gory or explicit, can be quite spooky and is definitely not recommended for the very young or the faint-hearted.”
- Amrita V Nair
- The Hindu Business Line
- Aug 23, 2019
Podquisition 277 - The Magnus Archives review
I’ve been listening to alot of a horror podcast… The Magnus Archives…I’ve had people recommending this to me for YEARS and I’m getting why people are REALLY in to it.
- Podquisition
Finding perspective in privilege
I equally stress on self-care. I enjoy working out with some good music and also set aside time to cook fresh meals in my little studio, often with a podcast for company. The Magnus Archives by Rusty Quill is the podcast that’s currently on my queue.
- Priya Bala
- The New Indian Express
- Apr 23, 2020
Review (and Rec): The Magnus Archives, Season 1
I can’t recommend ‘The Magnus Archives’ highly enough. If you like horror, or even if you just want to get into the Halloween spirit, do yourself a favor and tune in.
- Centuari Anthropology
- Oct 30, 2019
The best scary podcasts to keep you up all night
9 Creepy Podcasts That Feel So Real, They’ll Give You Nightmares
If you’re into the SCP Foundation, you’ll probably dig The Magnus Archives.
- Lucia Peters
- Bustle
- Aug 31, 2017
13 Spooky Podcasts You Need To Download ASAP If You Love Horror Novels
Podcasts that will keep you spooked this fall
Each episode is thrilling on its own, but as the whole story starts to unfold, you realize that these strange occurrences aren’t necessarily disconnected…
- Caroline Donovan
- The Vanderbilt Hustler
- Oct 30, 2018
21 Podcasts That Come Highly Recommended
If you are a fan of horror, fantastic story-telling, great character development, or all of the above, I can’t recommend this one enough.
- Ben Armson
- Buzzfeed
- Jan 11, 2020
Staff Picks to get you through Coronavirus Quarantine
10 Scary Podcasts To Keep You Up At Night
The Magnus Archives: Live Review
A precise, measured and relentless inventive first step onto the live stage for one of the best podcasts in the field. Keep an eye out for future shows.
- Alasdair Stuart
- Sci-fi Bulletin
- Nov 30, 2019
All the Spooky Podcasts You Need to Listen To
As Sims attempts to organize the archives, new mysteries turn up for our listening pleasure.
- Jessica Arnold
- She Knows
- Oct 18, 2017
The Creepy, Weird and Unexplainable: My Favourite Podcasts
Caroles Pick Of The Week – Smashing Security Episode 184
Season 1 Statement
Would you recommend? Hell yes!
- Briony Rose Smith
- Jan 15, 2019
Season 2 Statement
Nearly every statement has some kind of piece of the puzzle that gives both more of a story but mostly more questions. It’s just been so fun to listen to. You feel like a detective trying to piece together a mystery.
- Briony Rose Smith
- Feb 5, 2019
Season 3 Statement
This series goes from strength to strength and I’m both terrified and excited for what’s to come!
- Briony Rose Smith
- Apr 30, 2019
Season 4 Statement
The metaplot of Magnus just keeps getting better.
- Briony Rose Smith
- Nov 12, 2019
5 spooky and brilliant podcasts to listen to this Halloween
Do Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out, 2020
Words fail me. This is one of the best podcasts I’ve ever heard.
- Gabriel Blanchard
- Patheos
- Dec 31, 2020
Opinion: For unique stories, listen to podcasts
Media Review: “Magnus Archive”
Almost feels real.
- Isabelle Emerson
- Exponent
- Feb 12, 2025
The best fiction podcasts to listen to
For those who love horror, The Magnus Archives is a must-listen.
- iHeart.com
- Sep 5, 2024
Podcasts: Creating Queer Spaces Without The Added Baggage
’Toban Listens: The Magnus Archives
Despite having no imagery or visuals, MAG creates another world through its masterful use of audio.
- Jacob Davis
- The Manitoban
- Oct 25, 2023
Staff Picks: What to listen to on International Podcast Day
As someone who loves horror and all things weird, this podcast gives creepy vibes and gets more complex as the seasons go on.
- The Red & Black
- Sep 30, 2023
The best scary podcasts to keep you up all night
POP Archives Deep Thoughts: The Curious Case of Archives in Horror Audio Fiction
5 Podcasts to Listen to After Archive 81
Here Are the Winners of the 2021 British Fantasy Award!
Are you listening comfortably? Audio drama and theatre
Media Review: The Magnus Protocol
I’d rate it five stars and recommend it for any fan of horror!
- Natalie Meyer
- The Etownian
- Sep 24, 2024
Review: The Magnus Archives
I can hardly speak highly enough of this podcast.
- Gabriel Blanchard
- Patheos
- May 6, 2021
They are not who they say they are
Keep an eye out for “The Magnus Archives” this Halloween
Every episode is gripping and horrifying.
- Kal Hawley
- The Daily Free Press
- Oct 30, 2023
‘The Magnus Archives’ Brings a New Approach to the Horror Genre
For all those new to podcasts, current horror fanatics who are looking for more quality content or those who want to give the horror genre a shot, the Magnus Institute has its doors open for you.
- Sammi Looi
- Study Breaks Magazine
- Jan 14, 2021
The Magnus Archives: An Avatar of Modern Horror
Dive into the Halloween season with these horror fiction podcasts
A must-listen for any horror fan.
- Alex Jaspers
- The Oracle
- Oct 6, 2024
The Magnus Archives
I think The Magnus Archives is a good podcast. I like it because it plays around with modern horror tropes – sometimes exaggerating them, sometimes subverting.
- Silas
- Speakout
- Aug 27, 2024
The Magnus Archives: A Terrible, Wonderful Podcast
In a medium where the only way to convey your story is via dialogue and sound effects, The Magnus Archives excels.
- Joanna Mijares
The Magnus Archives
The Magnus Archives can be considered a true example of progressive, inclusive horror where equality, equity, and representation can be defined in terms of the ability for characters to be terrorized by eldritch abominations independent of identity, while also having story beats that demonstrate and celebrate authentic, meaningful moments of queer happiness and joy.
- Hayley McCullough
- American Journalism
- Feb 21, 2024
Listen to ‘The Magnus Archives’ for an authentically creepy experience
The Magnus Archives
If you adore the creativity of a scary story, self-contained episodes that add to greater plot, compellingly layered lore, a larger mystery, and characters who you can’t help but adore, then this may be the podcast for you.
- Reading with your Eyes Shut
- Feb 4, 2023
How The Magnus Archives Helped Me Love Horror Again
The Magnus Archives: A Slice Of Horror For Everybody
A large portion of people believe that not being able to see the horror makes it far less effective. This story can blow those thoughts out of the water.
- Sydney Elliott
- The Johnny Green
- Mar 11, 2025
The Magnus Archives: When Does Peace Begin?
Like all good horror stories, it nudges us to look with fresh eyes at some of the horrors in our own world.
- Arden Henley
- Museum of Peace at the University of St Andrews
- May 1, 2022
The Magnus Archives
I love it when an idea changes the way I look at the world because once that piece of information burrows into your grey matter, good luck trying to get it out.
- Samantha Cross
- The American Archivist Reviews Portal
- Dec 1, 2020
Podcast Review: The Magnus Archives (Season 1)
Something to Listen to: The Magnus Archives
While the series is filled with all the scary elements horror lovers expect, the great storytelling captivates even chickens like me. Especially chickens who love mysteries.
- A Mom's Year
- Jan 7, 2021
Podcast Recs – The Magnus Archives
Best Episodes of The Magnus Archives
Episode 5 Review: The Magnus Protocol
Reviews
Rusty Quill Gaming Reviews
Rusty Quill Gaming - 5 Star Review
One of the biggest appeals of this show is the world Newell has built. It’s a spin on Victorian-ish Earth, with magitek and all you might expect, but a lot of thought has been put into the background political and historical elements that have lead to the campaign that the players have to navigate.
- The Cambridge Geek
Rusty Quill Gaming Podcast shortlisted at BBC Audio Drama Awards for Best Podcast or Online Audio Drama
The BBC Audio Drama Awards celebrate the range, originality and cut-through quality of audio drama on air and online and give recognition to the creativity of actors, writers, producers, sound designers and others who work in this genre.
- BBC Audio Drama Awards 2020
News: BBC Audio Drama Awards Shortlist Announced
100 Best Role Playing Games Podcasts for 2026
The 10 Best Table Top Gaming Podcasts
Rusty Quill Gaming wins three Audio Verse Awards 2019
Discussing Audio Verse Awards
Rusty Quill Gaming Podcast has fantasy, fun for all
Stellar Firma Reviews
Stellar Firma Season 1
Stellar Firma is the flagship for Rusty Quill’s expansion plans and they could not have asked for a better show. Which is ironic as everyone who asks for a better planet, by and large, doesn’t get one.
- Alasdair Stuart
Stellar Firma - Four Stars
Top 30 Audio Dramas of 2019
Stellar Firma THE SECOND BEST AUDIO DRAMA OF 2019 – I can think of absolutely nothing that I would change about it. The acting is perfect, the soundscapes are incredible, the improv is hilarious, I love it all.
- The Podcast Dragon
- Dec 27, 2019
Stellar Firma wins two Audio Verse Awards 2019
5 Comedy Improv Podcasts
Stellar Firma from Rusty Quill never ceases to delight or amaze me. A truly wonderful dystopian comedy from some truly talented improvisers.
- Sean Howard
- Discoverpods
- Apr 24, 2020
Spacescaping: Exploring Stellar Firma
Today’s journey lead me in the direction of Rusty Quill’s, Stellar Firma, a science fiction comedy about planetary designer Trextel Greistman and clone assistant David 7 as they take up requests from clients, i.e. listeners, for a number of unique and ridiculous planet designs… Stellar Firma’s core premise of creating new planets with the kind of discussions that make more sense over blueprints of a house has this wonderfully surreal vibe to it.
- Podcake
- Discoverpods
- Oct 6, 2020
An improvised weekly science fiction podcast from brothers Tim and Ben Meredith features a new planet suggestion from their listeners every week. Trexel and David squabble as they fully flesh out the idea in hilarious ways. Previous planet designs have included death rays, dangerous lava playgrounds, and an eternal night club.
- Park Rapids Enterprise
The Meta - Episode 4
Episode 4 of The Meta celebrates Stellar Firma
- The Meta: A Podcasts About Podcast
Duluth Media Group staffers share their podcast picks, and bonus: some worthy audiobooks.
Audio Fiction from Rusty Quill
Hooked me on their first episodes and have kept me on the line.
- Jeff Stehman
- Black Gate
- Oct 26, 2019
Outliers Reviews
Worth a Listen
How do you make British palaces — and their bygone occupants — come alive without a trip to the U.K.? You listen to “Outliers — Stories From the Edge of History.”
- Phoebe Lett
- The New York Times
- Dec 8, 2019
Our Favourite Fiction Podcasts
An absorbing series of dramatic monologues from characters on the fringes of history.
- Sarah Hemming and Fiona Sturges
- Financial Times
The 39 best podcasts you need to listen to right now
A collaboration between Historic Royal Palaces and producers Rusty Quill, Outliers is a charming historical fiction podcast. Each short story weaves a beguiling narrative around a real person, place or event, focussing on little-heard tales from Britain’s ancient buildings.
- Eleanor Bley Griffiths
- Radio Times
- Mar 20, 2018
TOP 50 London Podcasts
Best Fiction Podcasts
Rusty Quill’s (Magnus Archives) series of monologues from characters just outside the spotlight of history immerses us in intimate moments. Historic locations aren’t cold dusty rooms, they’re environments where secrets are shared, mischief is wrought and excitement is incited.
- Lindsay Harris Friel
- The Podcast Host
Heritage from Home – October 2020
Enjoy this historical fiction podcast from Historic Royal Palaces, which examines significant events through the eyes of characters who have traditionally been confined to the shadows.
- Current Archaeology
- Oct 1, 2020
Reviews
Rusty Quill in The News
The Magnus Archives News
Trope Talk: Greatest Fears – video sponsorship
Fandom Spotlight
The Magnus Archives nominated for This is Horror Award
Finding Comfort in Horror
Tumblr Loves Animal Crossing, But It Especially Loves Raymond
Ear Candy ABC of Audiobooks and Podcast of The Month: The Magnus Archives
Rusty Quill sponsor YouTube video on Generator Rex
Video interview with Alexander J.Newall by Haggis and Dragons at PodCon UK 2020
Jonny Sims on The Magnus Archives Final Season
The Magnus Archives Debuts New Logo and Video Trailer for Fifth and Final Season
Award Winning Horror Fiction Podcast Teases Final Chilling Season
The Magnus Archives debuts new logo, preps for its final season
Trending: The Magnus Archives Season 5 Trailer
Interview on Riverside Radio Arts Watch with Lydia Nicholas
The Magnus Archives Debuts New Logo and Trailer for Fifth and Final Season
Podcasts: The Rising Media Form
Virtual HorrorCon Annouce Schedule
Podcast Radio Hour: Audio Fiction
Audiences brave enough for dramatised fictional horror will be treated by The Magnus Archives, who will give City Hall’s residential ghosts a run for their money as creators Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall bring the mysteries of their multi-award-winning podcast live on stage.
Crossed Wires announces The Magnus Archives for 2026 festival
Random House Worlds to Publish Official Books Based on ‘The Magnus Archives’
Hit Horror Podcast The Magnus Archives Is Getting an Official Novel
From the Library of Jurgen Leitner: The Magnus Archives Prequel Novel Arriving October 2026
Random House Worlds to Publish Official Novels Based on the Hit Horror Podcast The Magnus Archives
Indie Boards & Cards' The Magnus Archives Mysteries Kickstarter is Fully Funded in 10 Minutes
‘The Magnus Archives’ RPG Launches This Month With Monte Cook Games
Three Days Left For ‘The Magnus Archives’ RPG Crowdfunding – Get In On the Eldritch Goodness
Horror Podcast ‘The Magnus Archives’ Will Get Its Own RPG
The Magnus Archives TTRPG Fully Funded Within 30 Minutes
The Magnus Archives TTRPG Announced
The Magnus Archives’ tabletop RPG cracks $1m
Delve into 'The Magnus Archives' with a new TTRPG based on a popular podcast
The Magnus Archives Roleplaying Game Review – Leitner-Worthy
2024 TechRaptor Awards- Tabletop Game of the Year
The Magnus Archives RPG based on the cult-classic podcast goes on sale
UK production company Rusty Quill’s The Magnus Archives Surpasses 100 Million Downloads, Earning Prestigious Award from Spotify
The Magnus Archives nominated for Best Fiction in 2025 iHeartPodcast Awards
Fresh chills - the best new horror fiction
Here Are the Winners of the 2021 British Fantasy Award!
British Fantasy Awards 2021 Shortlist Announced
Last Words: journey into the fandom of The Magnus Archives with Jonathan Sims
The Magnus Protocol wins Best Horror or Supernatural at the Independent Podcast Awards 2025
Tumblr Top Web Series 2019 - #9 The Magnus Archives
Tumblr Top Web Series, Webcomics & Podcasts 2020 - #2 The Magnus Archives
Tumblr Top Web Series 2021 - #4 The Magnus Archives
Tumblr Top Web Series 2022 - #7 The Magnus Archives
Tumblr Top Web Series 2023 - #8 The Magnus Archives
Tumblr Top Web Series 2024 - #9 The Magnus Archives, #10 The Magnus Protocol
Rusty Quill Ltd. News
The One Shot Podcast
Press Release – “Rusty Quill Signs with WME”
“Podcast Network Rusty Quill signs with WME”
Press Release – “Rusty Quill Signs With WME in Trailblazing Move”
Press Release – “Rusty Quill signs with WME in Trailblazing Move”
Gehenna Gaming Announces Virtual Horror Convention
Rusty Quill Sponsors The Independent Podcast Awards 2026
Rusty Quill Sponsors The Independent Podcast Awards 2026
April Sumner, Executive of Production, nominated in the Women Podcasters Awards 2026
RQ Network shortlisted for Publisher or Network of the Year in Audio Production Awards 2024
Independent Podcast Awards 2024 winners revealed
Rusty Quill to present at new AudioUK event
Rusty Quill in speaker line-up for The Podcast Show 2024
Kickstarter's Top Projects in 2022 - The Magnus Archives 2 is the 4th highest funded publishing project on Kickstarter
Does length matter? Finding the perfect podcast duration
Rusty Quill Announces Several New Podcasts And Audio Dramas
Audio Drama Day and RQ Network
Newcastle agency Guerilla rebrands podcast firm Rusty Quill
RQ Network shortlisted for Publisher or Network of the Year in Audio Production Awards 2025
London Podcast Festival Audio Drama Day 2021 to feature Rusty Quill’s Alexander Newall
Independent Podcast Awards 2024: winners announced
Rusty Quill Originals and RQ Network win more than 30 awards in the Audio Verse Awards 2023
Rusty Quill wins 48 awards in the 2021 Audio Verse Awards
Talking podcasts with Alexander J. Newall and Acast
RQ Network shortlisted for Publisher or Network of the Year in Audio Production Awards 2025
Katharine Seaton Shortlisted in IWPA 2024
Rusty Quill sponsors Golden Lobes 2026
Cry Havoc! Ask Questions Later: A new comedy-drama of Anncient Roman backstabbing, pitched someplace between Succession and Up Pompeii!
Cry Havoc! Ask Questions Later: "It's funny and arch, frantic and panicked, and there's no easy roles or answers, just people doing their best."
Callum Dougherty - CCO of the Year (Creative Production) – 2025
Welcome to Fosters: "The conclusion of the first season is the sort of beat that makes me stand on my chair and applaud."