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© Pixel Parents
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Welcome to the Pixel Podcast Podcast! Join your Ol’ dads Liam and Scott each week as they chat about their love of gaming and how they navigate the hobby they love while raising little ones.
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It’s a chunky one this week as we take a loving look back at 20 years of Xbox 360, peak online play, era-defining blockbusters and ask: what made it so damn good? We also share our predictions for The Game Awards and react to the Xbox Partner Showcase!Also, we’ve got the verdict on Dispatch and share our thoughts on Call of Duty: Black Ops 7And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Nintendo Exclusive Game…from Hyrule to the Mushroom Kingdom and beyondSupport us FREE! Get bonus shows FREE! - www.patreon.com/pixelparentsIn this episode:Dispatch ReviewCall of Duty: Black Ops 7 impressionsXbox Partner Showcase reactionsThe Game Awards nominees & predictionsMain topic: 20 Years of Xbox 360Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Nintendo Exclusive GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
Support us FREE! Get bonus shows FREE! - www.patreon.com/pixelparentsThis week we’re joined by Patrick Klepek (Editor Remap, and Editor/founder Crossplay) for a wide-ranging chat on games media, parent-gamer life, and how we all keep the joy of play alive!We also break down State of Play Japan (what landed, what didn’t), chat the all new Steam Machine and review Winter Burrow after some quality time with our cosy, crunchy little mouse adventure.And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Xbox Exclusive Game… what title defines Team Green?In this episode:In Conversation: Patrick KlepekNIBLS (News In Brief with Liam and Scott)Steam Machine ReactionsState of Play Japan discussionWinter Burrow reviewPixel Picks Showdown: Best Xbox Exclusive Game—Keep up with Patrick and subscribe for more!Remap - https://remapradio.com/Crossplay - https://www.crossplay.news/BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/patrickklepek.bsky.social—Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
Support us FREE! Get bonus shows! - www.patreon.com/pixelparentsIt’s been a year with the PS5 Pro. Was it a smart upgrade or pure FOMO?We break down the first year of Sony’s priciest console: what actually improved, who it suits, and whether we’d buy it today if we didn’t already own one. We’ll also ask where this leaves the PS6 conversation.Plus, we’re catching up on The Outer Worlds 2 and how it’s shaping up against our expectations.And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best PlayStation Exclusive Game!In this episode:1000x Resist reviewThe Outer Worlds 2 review so farPixel Picks Showdown: Best PlayStation Exclusive GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
Join our FREE Patreon for bonus shows and support the show: www.patreon.com/pixelparentsIt’s our Halloween Special, and we’re naming our personal Gaming Pile of Shame… the games we still haven’t played or beaten on the backlog, which has grown monstrous and out of control! Nowhere to hide, it’s time to expose just how depraved our buying habits have been with video games in 2025! (Insert evil laughter and screams).Speaking of buying video games, we’ve got your November Games Roundup to showcase what games you need on your radar this month, as well as an in-depth chat about Halo returning… and do we care??We’re also sharing fresh impressions on Dispatch, Ninja Gaiden 4, PowerWash Simulator 2 and more! And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we crown the Best Terrible Game… the glorious disasters we can’t help but enjoy.In this episode:Ninja Gaiden 4 reviewDispatch impressionsPowerWash Simulator 2 and moreHalo return… do we care?November Games RoundupHalloween Special: Gaming Pile of Shame 2025Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Terrible GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com(Go give Sean love as he knocked the Halloween special production out of the park!)
SUPPORT US AND JOIN OUR FREE PATREON: www.patreon.com/pixelparentsThis week we’re getting honest about taste shifts: the game genres we’ve grown into (and the ones we’ve quietly fallen out of).From rogue-likes and tactics to racing sims and survival horror, we list the genres that finally clicked and the ones that just don’t hit like they used to… and dig into the why: time, mood, mechanics, and life-changing around us.We also share our impressions on what could be our new obsession in Ball X Pit, why Baby Steps may actually be a GOTY contender, Final Fantasy Tactics joy, as well as dig into what is our ever-growing backlog with the final tidal wave of games arriving this silly season. We also discuss the latest news from Xbox and their plans for next-gen… are they reading the room?And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Gateway Game, the one that converted us to a genre we didn’t think was for us!In this episode:Ball X Pit: Our New Obsession?Final Fantasy TacticsBaby Steps: GOTY?The end of the silly season, what big games are next?Xbox, Next-Gen WoesMain Topic: Genres we’ve grown into (and out of)Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Gateway GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
Support the show! Join our FREE Patreon for more! Visit - www.patreon.com/pixelparents This week, we catch up on what we’ve been playing including Ghost of Yotei, Baby Steps, and Hades II, then dive into our main topic: Sleeping Giants — the game devs who’ve gone quiet or still haven’t dropped the banger we’re all waiting for. Who has the big pressure on and who has the biggest opportunity to be the next thing in gaming?And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Character Action Game...the slick, stylish, skill-ceiling monsters that never leave your muscle memory!In this episode:Baby Steps and Ghost of Yotei Hades II GOTY vibeMain topic: Sleeping Giants, devs we’re still waiting onPixel Picks Showdown: Best Character Action GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, we’re slowing things right down.Between Ghost of Yotei, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Hades II and Silent Hill f — we’ve been bouncing between chaos and calm. But it’s got us asking: Is it time we all embraced slow gaming?We're unpacking what “slow gaming” even means, why it might be exactly what we need, and how it could help us actually finish our backlogs without burning out.And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re looking at games that reward you for taking it slow…In this episode:Scott's BIG newsGhost of Yotei: Initial thoughtsSilent Hill f: Still haunting usSuper Mario Galaxy 2Hades II: Still GOTY contender?Main topic: Is it time we all embrace Slow Gaming?Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Slow Burn GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, we’re reacting to the Xbox Game Pass price hikes and asking the big question… Is it still the best deal in gaming?We also go deep on Hades II to share our impressions of what may already be a serious GOTY contender, as well as our thoughts on Silent Hill f as spooky season gets off to a flying start.And in this week’s main topic, we are chatting about Sequels that outshine the original, and make a few predictions about what the next best sequel in gaming may be!
Finally, in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Game Within a Game, those clever little side distractions that sometimes outshine the main game!Support the show and join our FREE Patreon: www.patreon.com/pixelparentsIn this episode:- Hades II impressions- Silent Hill f Review in progress- Xbox Game Pass price hikes: what it means for gamers, value & choice- Main topic: Sequels That Surpass the Original- Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Game Within a GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, it’s announcement overload — the PlayStation State of Play just dropped and we’re diving into every reveal, trailer, and potential wishlist addition. But with so many games dropping every month, it begs the question: Where do we even find the time?We’re taking a beat to ask: how do you actually fit all these games into adult life?And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Game With No Combat 🎧 Let us know which State of Play game actually made it to your mental backlog In this episode:Full PlayStation State of Play reactionThe reality of juggling hype and free timePixel Picks Showdown: Best Game With No CombatWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.comJoin our FREE Patreon - Patreon.Com/PixelParents
This week, we’re diving into a topic that’s been bubbling for a while:Do we still trust video game reviews?From inflated scores to rushed embargo day hot takes, we’re asking what actually makes a good review, and whether we need to rethink how we consume them.We also give our verdict on The Knightling, share our continued progress with Hollow Knight Silksong, and talk about how it feels to sit with a game for longer than the review cycle demands.And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Replayable Game — the ones you just keep coming back to, no matter how many years pass.🎧 Still trust reviews? Or do you go full gut instinct? Let us know on BlueSky or by email!In this episode:Do game reviews still mean what they used to?The Knightling: Review & first impressionsSilksong progress check-inPixel Picks Showdown: Best Replayable GameJoin our FREE Patreon: www.patreon.com/pixelparentsWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re asking the question Hollow Knight fans have waited years to hear:Could Silksong actually be a Game of the Year contender?We dig into the latest hype, our expectations, and whether the long wait has helped or hurt.Then, in our main topic, we look ahead: What will be the next meme-hype game?And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Indie Game That Went Mainstream – the ones that broke out and changed the game.🎧 Got a pick for the next viral gaming hit? Let us know on BlueSky or by email!In this episode:Is Silksong a serious GOTY threat?Why meme games blow up — and what might be nextPixel Picks Showdown: Best Indie Game That Went MainstreamJOIN OUR FREE COMMUNITY - Patreon.com/PixelParentsWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s officially silly season, and this week we’re taking a beat to ask: What really drives your next game to play?Is it FOMO? A glowing recommendation? The algorithm? Social pressure? Or just… vibes?We’ve all got limited time and more games than ever — so how do we actually make that next pick? This week’s main topic is personal, chaotic, and maybe a bit too relatable.We’re also reacting to the 007: State of Play Special, sharing our impressions of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, giving verdicts on Metal Gear Solid Delta and Gears Reloaded, and checking in on how we’re faring in the middle of the flood.Plus: Silksong FOMO, review code chaos, and in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Spy Game ever.🎧 Got your own chaotic game-picking habits? Let us know on BlueSky or by email!In this episode:State of Play 007 – shaken or stirred?Shinobi: Art of Vengeance first impressionsVerdicts on MGSD & Gears ReloadedSilksong hype spiral continuesReview code verdictsMain topic: What Drives Our Next Game to Play?Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Spy GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re deep-diving into the world of remakes—what makes them feel right, and when do they just feel… off? With Metal Gear Solid Delta and Gears of War Reloaded hitting shelves, we’re asking the big questions: Should a remake preserve everything that worked back then? Or are there things—story, tone, even design—that should stay in the past?We break down how modern remakes try to balance nostalgia with modern expectations, and whether it’s possible to truly update a classic without alienating the people who loved it in the first place.Plus, in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Metroidvania Game🎧 What’s your take on remakes—should they evolve with the player, or stick to the script?In this episode:Remakes vs reboots: What’s the difference?Metal Gear Solid Delta & Gears Reloaded Remakes: Fix the game or fix the player?Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Metroidvania GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re fresh off Gamescom 2025 with our early reactions and a deeper look at what makes a stand-out games showcase. With announcements like Resident Evil Requiem, Black Myth 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hell is Us, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and more, we’ll talk about what worked, what missed the mark, and what games we walk away excited for. We’ll also ask: what makes a great showcase? Is it surprises, pacing, tone, or just lots of big names in trailers?And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re ranking the Best Art Style Game, because sometimes it's simply about doing things in style!In this episode:Gamescom & Opening Night Live 2025 reactions and revealsWhat Makes A Great Games Showcase?Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Art Style GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, we’re pulling back the curtain on our gaming backlogs—no more hiding behind those unfinished games. Scott and Liam are laying it all out there, revealing every game they’ve got on the backlog, the progress they’ve made (or haven’t made), and just how likely they are to finally finish them in the inaugural Year of the Log. We’ll also dive into our thoughts on the highly anticipated Hell is Us, our thoughts on Battlefield 6, if Liam is still hyped after playing Shinobi Art of Vengeance and Scott’s ongoing quest in The Witcher 3. Are we making real progress or just adding to the pile?Plus, we’ll go head-to-head in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, where we debate the Best Game You’ll Never 100%. Which games will you never fully complete, and why? Tune in for some candid and fun discussions.🎧 Are you tackling your gaming backlog, or is it growing by the day? Let us know your backlogged games and if you think you’ll ever finish them!In this episode:Big preview chat: Hell is Us, Battlefield 6, and Shinobi: Art of VengeanceScott and Liam expose their gaming backlogs for the Year of the LogPixel Picks Showdown: Best Game You’ll Never 100%Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic and production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s time to look forward – and backward. With PS6 specs allegedly leaking , we sit down to ask whether gamers are anywhere near ready for the next generation. We review the PS5 and Xbox Series X era, asking what delivered and what disappointed. Are seven‑year cycles still appropriate when PS6 and a PS6 handheld could release in late 2027 or early 2028?We’ll also cover the upcoming games ready to assault our backlogs – from Mafia: The Old Country and Gears of War Reloaded to Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, Borderlands 4 and Silent Hill F – before going head‑to‑head in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown to name the Best RPG Shooter game.🎧 Are you ready to trade in the current gen? Let us know on social or in the comments below!In this episode:Upcoming Releases & Backlog AssaultMain topic: Are We Ready for the Next Generation? PS5/Xbox Series X in ReviewPixel Picks Showdown: Best PlayStation 3 GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic and production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
We get real this week in what may be our most heartfelt main topic yet - asking if video games hit harder since becoming parents. Is it being more in touch with our emotions or simple sleep deprivation?We also give final scores on Donkey Kong Bananza and Death Stranding 2, before catching up on how summertime has been the scourge of our efforts in the Year of the Log! Also, on this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we finally go large as we crown the best Open World Game!🎧 Do games hit harder for you as a parent? Let us know on social or in the comments below!In this episode:Donkey Kong Bananza Final ScoreDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach Final ScoreYear of the Log: Summer StrugglesMain topic: Do Games Hit Harder Since BecomingA Parent?Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Open World GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic and production by Sean Murray - barehandsdesigns.com
This week on the Pixel Parents Podcast, Alex from The Mimic’s Veil returns to talk Donkey Kong Bananza — the bold new platformer swinging into the hearts of a new generation. Could this be their Mario 64 moment?On our main topic, inspired by the new Fantastic Four: First Steps, we each unveil our Gaming Fantastic Four — the four games that define us. It’s personal. It’s chaotic. And it’s guaranteed to spark debate. And on the Pixel Picks Showdown, things can only get better as we name the Best Remake Game!🎧 What’s in your Gaming Fantastic Four? Let us know on social or in the comments below!In this episode:Donkey Kong BananzaThe next generations Mario 64 moment?Pokemon Presents ReactionsXbox Pricing change reactionsMain topic: Our Gaming Fantastic FourPixel Picks Showdown: Best Remake GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic and production by Sean Murray - barehandsdesigns.comCheck out Alex on The Mimic’s Veil - https://open.spotify.com/show/7hQ7STWDvH0RYWC7cVTWgX
We’re more than halfway through the year, so it’s time to ask the big question: what’s our Game of the Year… so far? We break down the best games we’ve played in 2025 and predict who might take the crown by December. We’re also celebrating the return of skateboarding, reviewing our favourite delivery simulator, and going all-in on a nostalgic brawl to crown the Best Gamecube game in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown. All this plus:THPS 3+4 Deliver at All Costs hands-on reviewDeath Stranding 2 - Our Journey So FarMain topic: Game of The Year (so far)Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Gamecube GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic and production by Sean Murray - barehandsdesigns.com
We sit down for a chat with legendary games composer, Grant Kirkhope and discuss his creative process, legacy and more! We also catch up on all things Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. And much more. Fellow gamers, WELCOME TO THE VIDEO ERA OF PIXEL PARENTS!Death Stranding 2 - Our Journey So FarMain topic: In Conversation with Grant KirkhopePixel Picks Showdown: Best Rhythm GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialSubscribe to us on YouTube: @pixelparentspodcastMusic and production by Sean Murray - barehandsdesigns.com
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