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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.
114 Episodes
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The Super Mario Galaxy film is here! So... we've gone Hollywood.This week on Pixel Parents, we're celebrating the release of Super Mario Galaxy on the big screen by doing what any self-respecting gamer parent would do: pitching the full Nintendo Cinematic Universe. We've also got a catch-up on the biggest game releases of the month, and the Pixel Picks Showdown goes full nostalgia as we crown the greatest movie tie-in game of all time.In this episode:Kena Bridge of Spirits (Switch 2)RaccoinApril Game Release RadarMain topic: Building the NCUPixel Picks: Best Movie Tie-In GameSUPPORT THE SHOW FOR FREE - www.patreon.con/pixelparentsWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
We’re only a quarter into 2026 and already it feels like we’ve been served a banquet of enormous games.This week we’re discussing our journey so far with Crimson Desert. Does it live up to the hype? Does it justify the scale? And most importantly… how are we actually playing it?That leads us into this week’s main topic:Clocking In: Big Game Bonanza TIME CRUNCHThe games are getting bigger. Longer. Meatier. More “worth your money.” But what does that mean when your gaming time is limited?Do massive hour counts inspire us… or overwhelm us? Are we savouring them properly — or taking anxious one-bite chunks before jumping ship? Does adult life sabotage big releases by default?And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Game That Pushed Gaming Forward. The titles that genuinely changed the industry!In this episode:Crimson Desert impressionsFortnite: Is it cooked?Main topic: Clocking In: Big Game Bonanza Time CrunchPixel Picks: Best Game That Pushed Gaming ForwardSUPPORT THE SHOW FOR FREE - www.patreon.con/pixelparentsWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
Alex from The Mimic’s Veil returns as we unpack the fallout from the DLSS 5 reveal and what it could mean for the future. Are we doomed to slop or is there hope?Then things get spicy.In our main topic, we’re planting flags and naming the gaming hills we’re willing to die on. No hedging. No soft takes. Just core beliefs about this hobby that we’re not backing down from!And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we crown the Best Game That Split the Fanbase, the titles that divided players right down the middle.In this episode:DLSS 5 fallout and reactionGaming Hills We’ll Die OnPixel Picks Showdown: Best Game That Split the FanbaseSUPPORT THE SHOW FOR FREE - www.patreon.con/pixelparentsWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re covering a LOT of ground.We kick things off with our impressions of Pokémon Pokopia, why we’ve found ourselves back in that world, how it has become an obsession and what it says about how we approach gaming in 2026.We’re also reviewing Collector’s Cove and Greedfall: The Dying World, breaking down what’s landing and what isn’t.Then it’s time for The Big Next-Gen Chat (again)…With Xbox blinking first in the next-gen race with Project Helix, and rumours that PlayStation is pushing ahead with the PS6 despite hardware shortages, we’re asking:Is it too soon? Who is this really for? Are consoles becoming luxury products for only the hardest of hardcore? And is the industry pushing forward simply because it can?In this episode:Pokémon Pokopia impressionsCollector’s Cove Greedfall: The Dying World The Big Next Gen Chat (Xbox Project Helix edition)PS6 rumours & pricing debateSUPPORT THE SHOW FOR FREE - www.patreon.con/pixelparentsWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re asking a big one: are we too old for gaming?As we get older, priorities shift, time shrinks and the industry keeps evolving. Do we ever feel like certain games aren’t “for us” anymore? Or does gaming simply grow with us?We’re breaking down what ageing in this hobby actually feels like… and whether the idea of “ageing out” is complete nonsense.We’re also giving our full review of Resident Evil Requiem after launch. Does it live up to the name?Plus, we chat about how we’re approaching Pokémon these days, our Steam Next Fest picks and whether we’re worried about Bungie with Marathon releasing.And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Game That Aged Like Fine Wine. The titles that somehow feel even better now than they did at launch.In this episode:Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf GreenResident Evil Requiem ReviewSteam Next Fest PicksHighguard closes: Should We Worry For Bungie and Marathon?Main Topic: Are We Too Old For Gaming?Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Game That Aged Like Fine WineSUPPORT THE SHOW FOR FREE - www.patreon.com/pixelparentsWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s a special week on the Pixel Parents Podcast as we welcome Steven Mair, the Gamer In Residence at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.In honour of today’s Resident Evil Requiem release, we’re flipping the script with a celebration of real-world positivity this is our Resident Hero episode. Steven joins us to talk about Games for the Weans, the power of play in tough moments, and how gaming can make a genuine difference in kids’ lives.We’re also digging into the future of Xbox after the departures of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond. What happens next? Who carries the brand forward? And what does a post-Spencer era even mean for Xbox fans?Scott also reviews Demon Tides, and Liam talks Steam Next Fest with Akatori and more!And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Game of the Phil Spencer Era — the title that defined Xbox during one of its most important chapters.In this episode:Resident Hero: Steven Mair interviewDemon Tides ReviewSteam Next Fest Early PicksThe future of Xbox without Spencer & BondPixel Picks Showdown: Best Game of the Phil Spencer eraSUPPORT THE SHOW FOR FREE! www.patreon.com/pixelparentsWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
We made it. 100 episodes of the Pixel Parents Podcast!!!And this week we’re celebrating everything that’s brought us here.We kick things off by looking back at our favourite moments, the guests who’ve joined us, and the chaotic highlights that helped shape the show. From early-day nerves to big interviews and everything in between, we’re building our Pixel Parents Hall of Fame.Then we look forward.This episode is also a time capsule! A record we can revisit 100 episodes from now. We set our gaming resolutions for the next era, talk hopes and dreams for the community and the show, and say thank you to everyone who’s been part of the journey so far.PLUS: a special Patreon giveaway plug for long-time listeners.And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Game of the Last 100 Episodes… the title that defined this podcast era.In this episode:Celebrating 100 episodesPixel Parents Hall of FameGuest highlights & special momentsWhat we’ve learned and how the show has changedOur Time Capsule for the next 100Patreon giveawayPixel Picks Showdown: Best Game of the Last 100 EpisodesWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re chatting all things Nioh 3, from first impressions to what we hope Team Ninja brings to the next chapter of the series. We’re also chatting Mewgenics and more!Our main topic comes straight from a listener: do we get gamer guilt?We love this hobby, but does gaming sometimes feel like it comes at the expense of… everything else?Time, chores, partners, kids, rest. The real-life boss fights!We break down where gamer guilt comes from, how it shows up for parents and busy adults, and whether it ever truly goes away. More importantly: is it worth it anyway?How do we balance the joy, the escapism and the identity of being a gamer with the reality of limited time?And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Time Sponge Game… the ones that happily (and unapologetically) eat your entire weekend.In this episode:Nioh 3 thoughts & early chatMewgenics ImpressionsMain topic: Gamer Guilt: Time vs RealityPixel Picks Showdown: Best Time Sponge GameWrite to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
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
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