Claim OwnershipPixel Parents | Video Game Podcast
Subscribed: 1Played: 34
Subscribe
© Pixel Parents
Description
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.
106 Episodes
Reverse
This week we’re revealing the games we totally FOMO’d on — the ones we didn’t plan to buy, didn’t have time for, didn’t even want… until the hype wave swallowed us whole.We’re naming names, owning our weaknesses, and dissecting where the influence came from: reviews, trailers, friends, social media, podcasts… or our own self-inflicted hype spirals.Why does FOMO hit gamer parents so hard? What makes certain games impossible to resist? And do we ever regret it?And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best FOMO Game — the title that defined hype, influence, and panic-buy energy.In this episode:Cairn: Gripping or Slipped?Too Many Games?Main topic: The Games We FOMO’d OnPixel Picks Showdown: Best FOMO GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re digging into Highguard and tackling a spicy conversation about what actually makes someone a hardcore gamer… and why it’s definitely not just the people sinking endless hours into games.Life gets busy. Priorities shift. Kids appear. Jobs explode. But the passion for gaming doesn’t disappear (it just shows up in different ways). So we’re asking: What defines a Hardcore gamer? And who gets to decide that, anyway?And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Easy Game, the perfect comfort pick when life gives you 20 minutes instead of two hours.In this episode:Highguard thoughts & reactionsIntro to Steam Deck and Handheld PC LifeWhat actually defines a hardcore gamerGamer parents and the shifting identity of “hardcore”Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Easy GameFREE 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 react to the Xbox Developer Direct and run through the biggest moments as we see more from Fable, Forza Horizon 6, Beast of Reincarnation and Kiln! PLUS - Big news this week — Scott is going to be a dad again!So we’re pressing reset and talking honestly about what it means to juggle gaming when life gets busier, noisier, and a whole lot more sleepless.We break down what changes (and what doesn’t) when you’re expecting again, what expectations Scott has this time around, and what advice we’d give to listeners heading into that newborn window. No pressure, no myths, just real talk from two gamer parents.And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Short Session Game, perfect for those tiny pockets of time life still gives you.In this episode:Xbox Developer Direct 26’ reactions2026 Challenge game updatePressing Reset: Gaming & expecting againPixel Picks Showdown: Best Short Session GameSUPPORT US AND JOIN 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, Alex is back for what might be our most chaotic episode yet as we play a ruthless round of Underrated or Overrated.Nothing is safe.No franchise is sacred.And yes — your favourite game might appear.Expect sparks and the kind of nonsense that only happens when two tired gamer parents decide to say what many others dare not!And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Polarising Critique Game, the titles that split reviewers, communities, and sometimes even us.In this episode:Underrated or Overrated Games: Vol 1Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Polarising Critique GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s a brand new year, which means one thing... more games than we’ll ever find time to play.This week, friend of the show and host of The Mimic's Veil, Alex, returns as our special guest! And we’re kicking off 2026 by breaking down the games we’re most excited about, from the obvious heavy hitters to the long shots and dream announcements. We also tackle the elephant in the room: GTA 6, when we think it will land, and how it could reshape everything around it.We chat through Xbox’s anniversary year with Halo, Fable and Gears all lining up for a comeback, Nintendo’s potential big swings in a Switch 2 world, and whether the Steam Machine really could be hiding Half-Life 3 or something equally seismic.Then we grab the crystal ball and make our bold, probably-wrong 2026 predictions.And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Bullet Heaven/Hell Game.In this episode:Liam's Journey into PC Gaming with the ROG Xbox Ally X Our most anticipated games of 2026Our bold 2026 predictionsPixel Picks Showdown: Best Bullet Heaven/Hell GameSUPPORT THE SHOW - JOIN OUR FREE PATREON: www.patreon.com/pixelparentsWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
We’re kicking off the new year with a look forward and a look back.First, we set out our 2026 gaming resolutions, the promises, intentions and delusions we’ll almost definitely break by March. Backlog goals, platform habits, spending choices, and the types of games we want to play more (or less) of next year.Then we revisit 2025 and grade the Big Three: PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo.Who delivered? Who stumbled? And who quietly had the strongest year of the lot?All wrapped in a wee bow as we kick off our own year in gaming as two tired gamer dads!In this episode:Our 2026 Gaming ResolutionsPlayStation 2025: Our final gradeXbox 2025: What worked, what didn’tNintendo 2025: Late-year momentum and the road to Switch 2Our personal year-in-gaming wrap-upWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s our biggest episode of the year, the Pixel Parents Game of the Year 2025.We’re counting down our top ten favourite games of the year, celebrating the surprises, the slow burns, the instant classics, and the titles that defined our time playing games this year.No big stage. No world premieres. Just the honest, personal picks that stuck with us.In this episode:The official Pixel Parents GOTY 2025Top ten games of the yearHonorable mentions and momentsSupport the show and get more! Join our FREE Patreon: www.patreon.com/pixelparentsWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s Christmas at Pixel Parents HQ, and we’re going full festive this week.We’re looking back at the games we wanted for Christmas growing up, the ones we got, the ones we didn’t, and the ones that live rent-free in our memories.Inspired by Jingle All The Way, we’re also asking the big one: What would be the "Turbo Man" if it were a game?We also chat about our modern festive gaming rituals, the media traditions we fall into every year, and the cosy comfort games we reach for once the Christmas lights go up.This is the warm, nostalgic, slightly chaotic end-of-year hangout you deserve. Grab your favourite festive tipple, get cozy, and join us for a nostalgic and festive chat about video games!In this episode:Our Christmas RitualsJingle All The Play The Games Wanted Turbo Man Game PicksWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re doing what should have been done years ago:A full audit of The Game Awards’ GOTY winners. We go year-by-year through every Keighley-era champion, asking:did the right game win — or did something else deserve the crown?From undeniable classics to questionable choices, we break down each year, what else was nominated, and which games have actually stood the test of time.Also, we’re chatting about our time with Metroid Prime 4, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny and Demonschool to name but a few games to chat about this week!It’s equal parts nostalgia, hindsight, and a bit of chaos.In this episode:Metroid Prime 4Marvel Cosmic InvasionDemonschoolNicktoons & The Dice of DestinyMain Topic: Every GOTY ever: The Game Awards AuditPixel Picks Showdown: Best Snubbed GOTY GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, it’s time for yet another alternative Game Awards…. The Geoffies! No orchestra, no celebrity cameos, just two tired gamer dads handing out deeply unserious gongs for the best (and strangest) moments in gaming this year.We’ve got brand new categories, some new favourites, and a few that probably shouldn’t exist at all. No tuxedos or trailers, but plenty of laughs in what is our most unhinged episode yet!In this episode:Pixel Parents Presents…The Geoffies: Yet Another Alternative Game Awards 2025Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re taking a look back at the Console Wars: the daft bits, the fanboy era, and what it’s become in the age of “play anywhere.”Who won? Who lost? Has the battle shifted to storefronts (Game Pass, PS Plus, Steam, Epic) instead of plastic boxes?We’re also reviewing CloverPit and joining in the fun, sharing our looting tales from Arc Raiders. We’ve also got a Festive Gaming Buying Guide 2025 — our best tips for Black Friday through Christmas to get the most for less, whether you’re buying for big kids or little ones.And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best System Seller… the games that made you buy the box.In this episode:CloverPit ReviewArc Raiders TalesFestive Gaming Buying Guide 2025: deals, bundles, and smart buysRIP Console Wars (?): from culture war to storefront warPixel Picks Showdown: Best System SellerWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
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
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States