The Inner Gamer Podcast

In this episode, we’re breaking down a week that has fundamentally shifted the tectonic plates of the gaming industry. First, we tackle the "Dream Team" success of Edmund McMillen’s Mewgenics—a 14-year labor of love that proves deep, uncompromising design still wins. We also check in on the "Indie Renaissance" with the undercover alien chaos of Roadside Research and the friendship-ending, $8 orbital-laser mayhem of Super Battle Golf. Then, we shift to the "Big Two" and the strange decisions coming out of the corporate boardrooms. With Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond departing Xbox and Bluepoint Games officially shuttered by Sony, the leadership of console gaming is in a total state of flux. Why is PlayStation pivoting to a stylized Horizon live-service game that fans didn't ask for? Can the "New Guard" at Microsoft find a soul for Xbox? It’s a discussion about creative risks, corporate safe-bets, and why the most exciting things in gaming right now aren't coming from the names you expect. Show Notes: 0:46 - Housekeeping 2:51 - 14 Years to Success: Why Mewgenics Matters 42:41 - Super Battle Golf: 8 Players, 0 Rules, Pure Chaos. 1:04:54 - Paper Masks & Profit: Why Indie Sims are Saving Gaming 1:21:04 - PlayStation is Closing Studios. Phil Spencer is Out. Is Console Gaming Dying? 1:58:53 - Upcoming Video Game Releases   Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

In this episode of The Inner Gamer, we dive into the high-stakes world of modern hero shooters and the indie revolution of 2026. First, we tackle the polarizing launch of Highguard—discussing how its "PvP Raid" loop is surviving a rocky start through a massive Episode 2 update. Then, we flip the script to look at LORT, the breakout co-op roguelite from ex-Fortnite devs that proves small teams can build global hits on a budget. We also share our hype for the neon-drenched rhythm-brawler Dead as Disco before closing with the biggest news of the year: the total reboot of Overwatch. With the "2" officially dropped, 10 new heroes on the horizon (including Jetpack Cat!), and the "Reign of Talon" story arc, is Blizzard finally doing enough to fend off Marvel Rivals?Show Notes:00:43 - Housekeeping02:30 - The Most Polarizing Game of 2026: Our Highguard Deep Dive40:48 - LORT Early Access: The Risk of Rain 2 Successor We’ve Been Waiting For?59:03 - Dead as Disco: The Most Stylish Game of 2026?1:17:05 - Did Marvel Rivals Save Overwatch? The 2026 Roadmap Explained.1:41:21 - Upcoming Video Game Releases  Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

We kick things off by mapping out the 2026 gaming calendar—not with rankings, but with a realistic survival guide. From early-year sequel grinds like Nioh 3 and Resident Evil Requiem, to spring’s speed-and-stealth energy with Forza Horizon 6 and 007 First Light, and all the way to an end-of-year showdown between Fable and Grand Theft Auto VI, we talk through when these games hit, which ones demand your time, and where busy gamers might actually squeeze them in. Along the way, we call out wildcards, potential shadow drops, and the titles we’re most excited—and most scared—to make room for.From there, we pivot into a deep-dive discussion on South of Midnight, a game with one of the most striking art styles and soundtracks in recent memory, but a gameplay loop that struggles to keep up with its ambition. We debate whether incredible vibes, music, and world-building can carry a repetitive “walk, fight, repeat” structure, and ask the tough question: would this experience have been better as a short animated series than a full-length game?We close the episode with two heavy conversations: first, a brutally honest look at Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and whether hyper-realism has crossed the line from immersive to exhausting, especially for players with limited time. Then we zoom out to the industry level, breaking down Ubisoft’s massive shakeup—cancelled games, creative restructuring, controversial AI initiatives, and a stock crash that raises real concerns about the publisher’s future. Is this a painful but necessary reset, or the beginning of the end? As always, we leave it to you: which games define your 2026, how much realism is too much, and is Ubisoft still worth believing in?Show Notes:0:46 - Housekeeping2:36 - GTA VI, Fable, and the 2026 Games We Can't Miss59:31 - South of Midnight: A 10/10 World in a 6/10 Game1:26:09 - Is Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 TOO Realistic to Be Fun?1:45:36 - Ubisoft at the Crossroads — Can They Still Win?2:09:35 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

Welcome to our first episode of 2026! In this episode we kick off with our official Game of the Year for 2025. Each one of us has our top 10 list and we explore all of our favorite games from 10 to our #1 game of the year. At the end, we aggregate the picks to reveal our official Game of the Year for 2025 which may surprise you!After Game of the Year, we talk about a fun $20 game we played over the holidays called Jump Space. It's a great co-op space game that feels like Sea of Thieves in space.There is even more news out about subscriptions for gaming. With the cost of RAM increasing, NVIDIA is leaning into GeForce Now. We look at what the future would look like if everything we do starts to go away from owning things to simply paying a subscription for everything. Lastly, we have a spoiler-filled conversation about Ghost of Yotei. Brett beat the game of the break and it surprised him after nearly 60 hours of gameplay. Find out why in this diverse discussion.Show Notes:00:53 - Housekeeping01:54 - The Inner Gamer Game of the Year 20251:51:04 - Jump Space Review2:11:31 - Beyond Game Pass: Everything Will be a Monthly Subscription2:33:39 - Ghost of Yotei Surprised Me (SPOILERS)3:12:51 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

It's our last episode of the year! We'll back back in 2026 on January 13th, 2026 with our Game of the Year episode.In this episode, Jason reviews Dying Light the Beast. It's darker, more intense and hugely open. It follows Kyle from Dying Light 1 and highlights what happened to him after the events of the first. It also features up to 4 player co-op and it looks like the guys may join in and play with him too!We recap The Game Awards 2025. It was so fun to see Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sweep the awards with the most ever game awards. Lots of great games got awarded during this showcase. We also saw a ton of new reveals from Forest 3 to Highguard to a new Old Republic game and even a fresh new Divinity game! Some were exciting and others were leaving some to be desired. Overall, it was a great awards show that we had a blast watching.We also have a discussion on how high the memory prices have gone up thanks in part to AI. It leads to a full discussion on the growth of artificial intelligence and the fears of the future with the hardware scarcity. Brett also plays Two Point Museum and talks about how its a masterclass in sim simplicity. It starts off with some easy mechanics and slowly builds you into a master at management. The simplistic artstyle and well-designed layouts add to the masterful design. If you haven't dove into a Two Point game, this one is a perfect entry!Lastly, we recap our Fantasy Critic scores to see who won with picking which games not only would come out this year, but would score well.Thank you all for listening this year! We look forward to seeing you again in 2026!Show Notes:1:19 - Housekeeping3:25 - Dying Light the Beast Review: Unleash the Monster Within31:23 - The Game Awards 2025: Recapping the Winners and Best Reveals1:28:22 - The Crypto Crisis is Back: Memory Prices Are Insane1:55:01 - Two Point Museum: A Masterclass in Sim Simplicity2:20:08 - Fantasy Critic 2025: Who Won?2:26:57 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

In episode 436, Brett joins the Earth Directorate on a planet-hopping adventure in The Outer Worlds 2. Conspiracy is rampant and you must find and stop the people responsible. This game features a ton of player choice and the ability to shape your character in a variety of ways to suit your playstyle.Brett also finished all 8 episodes of Dispatch and it continued to impress. The ending hit the landing and this is definitely a game you shouldn't miss playing in 2025. It brings back the magic of Telltale Games in a modern, cutting edge way.Jason revisits Red Dead Redemption 2 and digging into the mechanics of this game from eating and all the other survival mechanics we look at what Grand Theft Auto 6 could do and how much realism is too much? What do we want Grand Theft Auto to do so we have fun and don't feel like we're doing work again?Lastly, we review the nominees for The Game Awards 2025 and discuss our favorites. We also throw in some game predictions for the big "world premieres" we come to expect from The Game Awards. Get hyped!Show Notes:1:02 - Housekeeping2:36 - The Outer Worlds 2 Review: When Choice Matters31:08 - Dispatch is a Must Play of 202544:19 - The Balance of Fun and Work in Rockstar Games1:10:41 - The Game Awards 2025: Nominees and What to Expect1:53:38 - Upcoming Video Game Releases  Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

Embark Studios is back and this time it's their shiny new extraction shooter called Arc Raiders. This is a long-anticipated game from Brett who fell in love with The Finals, also made by Embark. This is their next game which takes you topside from Speranza to loot and extract back with valuable resources. Fight Arc Robots and maybe enemy raiders (or befriend them) and make it out alive with all your gear. It's amazing multiplayer and you won't want to miss this.Next, we talk about our review of PowerWash Simulator 2. It's more PowerWash Simulator but with a lot of new features such as attachments, extensions and various types of cleaning tools. It also features over 35 new levels of varying sizes plus co-op!Steam quietly dropped 3 new hardware announcements. No big press event, no showcase just a simple under 3 minute video showcasing the Steam Machine, the Steam Frame and the Steam Controller. Did they quietly just take over the platform war?Lastly, Austin talks about why he thinks western gaming is dead. They've lost their way and eastern gaming is alive and well. What happened? How can western companies bounce back? Show Notes:1:07 - Housekeeping1:48 - Arc Raiders Lives Up to the Hype34:21 - PowerWash Simulator 2: A New Level of Polish53:36 - Did Steam Just Quietly Take Over the Platform War?1:22:46 - Western Gaming Is Dead1:56:58 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

You may not have heard of Dispatch but after this podcast you surely will wish you had. Dispatch is a new interactive narrative from former  Telltale Games devs about superheroes in a modern day office setting. It's one part Suicide Squad and one part The Office. AdHoc Studios shines in delivering animation that looks just like the best TV shows out there as well as some stellar writing and voice acting. We review Episodes 1-4 with no spoilers but hope that you jump out there and buy it because this is perfect for casual gamers. Bite sized chunks that are easy to digest and keep you wanting more!It was Spooktober this past month, so Brett reviewed Choo Choo Charles from Two Star Games and talked about how one hit from that team couldn't help them in their recent flop with Cuff Bust. There's still a chance for redemption...but is it too little too late?Austin plays Silent Hill f and although the game looks great and plays well, he can't seem to get into it to finish it. It's a fun game for some people but for him it's not quite hitting the mark, despite the solid atmosphere and interesting story.Jason and Brett both play Outlast Trials. We missed this game when it first dropped but now with a new "Invasion" update we're in it and loving every bit of it. This game is dark, it's bloody and full of chaos but it's a blast to play with friends. 4 player co op and the new PVP mode where you can play as another player makes for a fun time.Lastly, we revisit Battlefield 6. Season 1 dropped with a new map, lots of new updates, a battle pass, a new mode and several gadgets and weapons. They also finally dropped the free to play Battle Royale now called "RedSec." It's great and we can't wait for you to hear all about it.Show Notes:1:10 - Housekeeping2:49 - Dispatch: A Superhero Story for Busy Gamers24:28 - Choo-Choo Charles to Cuff Bust: The Rise and Stumble of Two Star Games42:37 - Silent Hill f Review1:03:57 - Is The Outlast Trials Still Worth Playing in 2025?1:20:57 - Battlefield Redsec Battle Royale and Season 11:51:57 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

Note: We had audio issues with this podcast. You may hear a low buzzing sound. We had a card reader interfering with our camera and therefore the audio is not our normal quality. We will check more closely next time!---Battlefield 6 is back! We are thrilled that Battlefield is back and that it seems to be delivering a quality experience out of the box. We're having a blast with multiplayer finding the game truly delivers on those Battlefield moments, while tightening gameplay fixing a lot of the issues people had with Battlefield 2042. We also try the campaign and talk about our limited time with Battlefield Portal.Austin beats Borderlands 4 and talks about the ending (no spoilers) as well as what happens in the end game. Is it worth playing through to the end to grind at the end or does it leave much to be desired?Jason beats Ghost of Yōtei after 60 hours of game time. He loved the game and enjoyed playing through but the question remains...does it outshine Ghost of Tsushima or does it fail to hit the mark? Listen to find out!Brett jumps into the server slam for Arc Raiders. Arc Raiders is a new extraction shooter from Embark Studios, creators of The Finals. This game feels very different but has the same level of polish The Finals had that has Brett excited to visit this world. The game is very challenging but this time jumping in with random people made it a bit more approachable. The game releases Oct 30th and Brett will definitely be diving in!Lastly, we have a unique conversation about credit card companies. News has recently cropped up about Visa and Mastercard stepping into the moderation game by blocking usage of their platform for certain platforms basically if they don't comply with their rules. We don't think credit card companies should turn to moderation, that's not their responsibility. It's happening and we fear this is a slippery slope for them being able to block more things if it doesn't align with them. Show Notes:1:13 - Housekeeping3:35 - Battlefield 6 Early Review: Campaign, Multiplayer and Portal44:53 - Borderlands 4 Endgame1:06:13 - Ghost of Yōtei Full Review1:23:49 - Arc Raiders: The Next Big Extraction Shooter?1:53:36 - Can Credit Card Companies Moderate Our Games?2:18:34 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

This week on The Inner Gamer, Brett and Jason share their first impressions of Ghost of Yōtei — the long-awaited follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima. You now play as Atsu, a warrior on a brutal quest for revenge against the Yōtei Six who murdered her family. The tone is darker, the world more open, and the storytelling more grounded. It’s a different kind of Ghost game, but so far, we’re loving the shift in direction.Brett also dives into the full 1.0 release of Hades II on the Switch 2. This sequel from Supergiant Games expands everything fans loved about the original — deeper combat, gorgeous art, and another gripping mythic story. If you’re a roguelike fan, this is a must-play; if you’re not, its repetition may still test your patience.Finally, we break down some major industry news. With rising game and console prices — including another Game Pass increase — gaming is getting more expensive than ever. And in a stunning move, Electronic Arts was acquired by Saudi Arabia for $55 billion, the largest deal in gaming history. We discuss what this could mean for players, studios, and the future of the industry as costs climb higher than ever.Show Notes:1:05 - Housekeeping3:09 - Ghost of Yōtei First Look: Hunting the Yōtei Six46:26 - Hades 2 First Look: Is It Worth the Loop?1:08:36 - Console Gaming Is Too Expensive — The Beginning of the End?1:37:25 - Inside the $55B EA Takeover — Risks, Opportunities, and What’s Next1:59:37 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

Borderlands 4 has finally arrived and with it we have the giant open world of Kairos to explore. Armed with 4 new vault hunters and a slew of missions, side quests and LOTS of guns we share what makes this game a huge step in the right direction. The open world is vast with plenty to do, the game has brought a ton of new traversal mechanics and the story is better and more grounded than BL3. Despite some rough spots around the edges, we're going to see this one to the end.Austin downloads the much anticipated Hollow Knight Silksong. This game has been in development for 6 years and it's clear it was worth the wait. The game is challenging, beautiful and full of discovery. Check out our first impressions and find out if this is worth the $19.99 entry fee!The Finals is back with season 8 and of course Brett is excited. He talks about the brand new destruction enhancements called "smooth destruction" that makes what was already amazing destruction even better. They also have a better onboarding system, instant replays and more to make this an awesome season as they prepare for the first big eSports tournament.Lastly, skate. has arrived in early access. We never played Skate but have heard it's the more sim-like skateboarding game of the genre. It's very sim-like in its play of skateboarding, but has a lot of new social features and an open world to make it more approachable. Brett is actually really enjoying the game and is learning the moves pretty well but can tell it's very early access. If the devs can keep it up they'll have an awesome title on their hands.Show Notes:1:18 - Housekeeping2:38 - Borderlands 4: Wildly Addicting But Rough Around the Edges47:17 - Hollow Knight Silksong: 6 Years Was Worth the Wait1:13:04 - The Finals Season 8: The Best Destruction Engine in Gaming!1:32:22 -  Skate Early Access – The Good, The Bad, The Future1:51:45 - Upcoming Video Game Releases  Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

007 First Light had it's first gameplay reveal. This is the new Bond game from IO Interactive, the creators of Hitman. It's looking good in some areas and not so much in others. How will it turn out when it releases next year?Brett revisits some older games. He dives back into No Man's Sky Voyagers update with the new build-your-own Corvette's. It's an awesome update and No Man's Sky is a technical marvel, but it's daunting and Brett keeps realizing that every time he jumps back in.Brett also went to see The Witcher in Concert and that brought him into The Witcher 3. He may have also convinced everyone else to jump back into it. The Witcher 3 came out 10 years ago and it surprisingly still holds up!We also finished Mafia The Old Country and take a look back at the Mafia games of the past and what they could do in the future. We were a little let down by the overall package provided in The Old Country and Mafia 3 and 2 definitely showed us they can make amazing stories with fun gameplay.Lastly, we're 10 years old! The Inner Gamer launched its first podcast September 4th, 2015. We look back on the last 10 years and reminisce on all the great memories building this podcast. Feel free to email us at hello@theinnergamer.net with your favorite episode or moment from our 10 years!Show Notes:1:21 - Housekeeping3:40 - 007 First Light State of Play Reveal – Hype or Letdown?33:25 - No Man’s Sky: A Voyage Through Redemption57:47 - From Concert Hall to Kaer Morhen: My Witcher 3 Journey1:26:39 - Vito to Lincoln to Enzo - The Future of Mafia Games1:50:26 - The Inner Gamer: Looking Back on 10 Years2:30:17 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

This week Austin is out for his birthday (happy birthday Austin) but Jason and Brett are here to dig into the games. We start with our first look of Mafia: The Old Country. This game takes us back to 1900's Sicily where the Italian mob got its start. You play Enzo working your way up in the family led by the Don  through the hills of beautiful Sicily. The story is great...but does the gameplay follow suit?We also cover all the highlights from Gamescom 2025 particularly our surprise of the new Lego Batman game coming out in 2026. We were shocked to see Lego take us back to Arkham when Rocksteady couldn't. Additionally, we talk about Resident Evil Requiem, Call of Duty Black Ops 7, Silent Hill f, Ghost of Yotei and more.Battlefield 6 had their second open beta weekend and we continue to talk about it. We loved the second weekend but not everyone did. We talk about this, the changes Battlefield Studios will be making and what the road to Battlefield 6 looks like as it prepares for release in October.Lastly, Ubisoft has been quiet this year. After Assassin's Creed: Shadows, not much has released and they didn't even have an Ubisoft Forward. What's going on and what's coming from their studios this year and beyond?Show Notes:01:11 - Housekeeping02:58 - Mafia Returns: What Worked (and Didn’t) in The Old Country32:26 - Gamescom 2025 Highlights : Lego Batman Stole the Show57:07 - The Road to Battlefield 6: What’s Changed and What’s Next1:23:56 - What Happened to Ubisoft? The Silent Year Explained1:50:01 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

In this episode, we review the new game from Dreamhaven (former Blizzard devs) called Wildgate. It's a PvPvE shooter we're having a blast playing. You and 3 other players pilot a shop through The Reach with other ships in the battle with you. Find the artifact and take it through the Wildgate or destroy all the enemy ships. The moment to moment combat is fantastic and there's a lot of variety to gameplay that keeps us coming back for more.Grounded 2 is out in early access. This is Obsidian Entertainment's sequel to the survival "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" style game. Now we're in a big park with better graphics, simpler mechanics and tougher enemies...did we mention buggies? Battlefield 6 is back! The open beta happened last weekend and we played a ton of it. With this new title in the franchise, we have a return to form with the 4 classes, tighter maps, incredible destruction, fantastic sound and several new mechanics that change the game. This is the Battlefield we've been waiting for!Lastly, Brett is bummed with Tony Hawk Pro Skater's 3+4. It doesn't live up to the memories he had as a kid. Is the game bad? Or is our memory simply remembering the best parts of the games we played?Show Notes:1:06 - Housekeeping2:05 - Wildgate Review: Ship Heists in Space 31:52 - Grounded 2: Better in Every Way…Plus Buggies!54:33 - Battlefield 6: The Destructive Magic is Back 1:22:26 - Grinding Through Nostalgia: The Problem with Remakes1:41:33 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

Nintendo is back in the conversation with a banger of a game with Donkey Kong Bananza. Exclusive to the Switch 2, Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the best platformers probably ever featuring fully destructible environments and dopamine hits with every smash of a rock you do. With Pauline by your side, venture down into Earth the planet's core through a variety of sublayers that represent different types of terrains and styles. It's a dense game with a ton of fun, charming characters, incredible tech and great music.Jason also surprises us by picking up Death Stranding 2. Not only did he pick it up, he's clocked in over 45 hours so this is a more in-depth review from Jason digging into why Death Stranding 2 has quickly become one of his favorite games of the year. Brett plays Mecha Break which is a mech game with hero shooter style mechanics. It's free to play and you pilot a mech in 6v6 or 3v3 objective style missions or dive into a 3 player game in an extraction mode. The game looked ok but is suprisingly a ton of fun. The question...can it keep us engaged long term?Austin dives into Atomfall that released earlier this year. With the hopes that it would bring back the feelings of Skyrim and Fallout, it unfortunately did not meet the standards Austin hoped for. It's a beautiful game but doesn't give the carrot on the stick he's looking for to keep exploring.Lastly, we have our review of the video game adaptation Until Dawn. Now a movie, it's set in the universe but follows a new story with the same premise. Is it as good or better than the game? Listen to find out! Show Notes:1:10 - Housekeeping2:23- Donkey Kong Bananza Review34:02 - Jason’s Review of Death Stranding 21:01:01 - Mecha Break Review1:19:00 - Atomfall: Not the Fallout We Hoped1:34:07 - Until Dawn Movie Review1:43:19 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

We have a great episode this week featuring our first look at Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2. We dive into this beautiful world and explore the early hours of the strand game. Brett dives into Sloclap's Rematch. These are the developers of Sifu entering into the competitive scene with a soccer game. It's a paid title with some solid mechanics, but is it enough to keep us engaged?We also review Thronefall on the Steam Deck. It just released on mobile devices, but this game originally released in 2024 and is an RTS/tower defense mix. It has a beautiful art style, great progression and a simple but complex loop that keeps you coming back for more.Sony brought a big update with the upcoming Ghost of Yotei from Sucker Punch. This is the follow up to Ghost of Tsushima and we want to know if Ghost of Yotei can outshine Tsushima? There's a ton of new features coming to this game and a whole new set of ways to uncover the world and we're excited to get our hands on it in October.Lastly, Brett rolled credits in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and it may be one of his favorite games of all time. This game has it all. A fantastic score, brilliant combat, an incredibly beautiful world and the most genuine team that crafted a masterpiece with an ending you won't forget. This game can't be missed!Show Notes:1:11 - Housekeeping2:11 - Death Stranding 2 First Look35:00 - Rematch First Look50:34 - Thronefall Review1:03:33 - Can Ghost of Yotei Outshine Ghost of Tsushima?1:23:41 - A Love Letter to Clair Obscur: Expedition 331:57:23 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

We have a returning guest on the podcast! Welcome back Joe Lambert from the Nerd Sloth Creative. He's here to talk about all the games we've been playing. Make sure and check out his podcast Indie Game Arcade, releasing weekly! We have an incredibly focused podcast today featuring 4 games. We start with Elden Ring Nightreign, the side project from From Software that takes us into a co-op experience in the Elden Ring universe fighting incredibly hard bosses in a battle royale style experience. Avoid the blue flames and fight to the center to face the boss and survive the day!We also review Monster Train 2. This is the sequel to the 2020 roguelike deckbuilder. It's better in every way with brand new cards, new mechanics and enhanced visuals. It's a blast to play with tons of replayability.Peak is a new game that is a collab between the team behind Another Crab's Treasure and Content Warning. It takes you and 3 other players to a mountain where you have to climb to a series of peaks, helping each other up and surviving the weather to reach the top and escape in a helicopter. It's so much fun and super cheap at launch!Lastly, Austin revisits Warhammer 40k Darktide. There is a new, paid DLC that brings a new class and several updates that came for free to all players. Is the game worth diving back into 2025? Show Notes:1:19 - Housekeeping2:12 - Elden Ring Nightreign Review25:56 - Monster Train 2 Review50:15 - Peak Review1:08:58 - Warhammer 40k Darktide Arbites Class Update1:28:51 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

The Switch 2 is finally here! We've had it a little over week and talk about our first impressions of the hardware, the game library and what's coming. We also review Mario Kart World which is the premiere launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2.Jason reviews Mindseye, the new game from the larger experience Everywhere, but unfortunately the game doesn't quite deliver the big promise we had hoped. It has an interesting story and a beautiful world, but falls flat with the AI, gameplay and bugs.There was also a ton of showcases for Summer Games Fest and we cover all the highlights. From Silent Hill f to Resident Evil Requiem, Clockwork Revolution to Call of Duty Black Ops 7, there's a lot to discuss and we share our favorite reveals from the State of Play, Summer Games Fest and Xbox Games Showcase.Show Notes:0:59 - Housekeeping2:12 - Nintendo Switch 2 First Impressions28:36 - Mario Kart World Review53:15 - Mindseye Review1:12:43 - State of Play June 20251:26:32 - Summer Games Fest 20251:47:28 - Xbox Games Showcase 20252:14:43 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

We have a surprise review this week for a game called Revenge of the Savage Planet. This game was not on our radar, but we're glad we got it and played it. It's a third-person collect-a-thon where you fight bugs and other creatures, capture them and collect eggs, spool and more to level up your character. It's on Xbox Game Pass and can be easily played with a friend!We also dove back into the 8 year old Star Wars Battlefront 2. It's been getting some popularity recently because of Star Wars in Fortnite, Andor Season 2 and Star Wars Day. We quickly realized how much we enjoyed that game despite it's commercial failure due to poor business decisions. We hope the resurgence is enough to bring it back and do it right.Splitgate 2 is officially out in open beta. They had some issues with the launch but after it was fixed, it feels good jumping back into this game. We predict when the game will release and talk about what we love and don't love about the sequel to the much anticipated arena shooter.Lastly, we share our experiences both at Dreamhack Dallas and Dallas Fan Expo. One focused on gaming and esports and the other on nerd culture in comic books, sci-fi, anime and more. Show Notes:0:55 - Housekeeping4:35 - Revenge of the Savage Planet Review28:44 - Why We Need Star Wars Battlefront 351:38 - Splitgate 2: Open Beta Launch Woes and Launch Predictions1:07:56 - Dreamhack Dallas Recap1:36:10 - Dallas Fan Expo Recap1:59:07 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

Doom the Dark Ages is here from iD Software. It's a prequel to Doom 2016 and is much more grounded than the previous entries but just as intense. The visceral action in this game and the technical gameplay is unlike anything else out there. The chain shield, the shotgun, the skullcrusher and more make for an epic game with a gorgeous world.Elder Scrolls Oblivion got a full remaster. Travel back in time to the 2006 RPG from Bethesda and play the game in 4K 60FPS graphics with a lot of new enhancements to the UI, NPC's and more. Austin shares his review of this beloved title.Wildgate is a new game coming later this year from Dreamhaven, former Blizzard devs. We got a chance to play the community preview and it was way better than we expected. We had a blast commanding our ship with our crew, collecting loot in the procedurally generated world. Once we felt good with our loot, we engaged in combat with other ships to win either by eliminating all enemy ships or finding the artifact and existing the Wildgate. We had a good time and can't wait for the full release on this one!In the news, we talk about Nintendo Switch 2's new EULA that seems to say they can brick your console if they find you doing something they deem resulting in piracy or unauthorized modification. Is this justified or too much reach for a corporation for a console you own?Lastly, we talk more on Marathon with new details coming to light about how this could be Bungie's final mistake. Show Notes:1:09 - Housekeeping2:20 - Doom the Dark Ages Review26:47 - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered44:03 - Wildgate Preview: Nonstop Action and Jaw-Dropping Art Design1:10:03 - Nintendo’s Switch 2 Warning: Break the Rules, Lose Your Console1:27:53 - Bungie’s Final Mistake: Why Marathon Will End It All1:55:54 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64