Pixel Parents | A Video Game Podcast

Are we spending more time chasing new releases than enjoying the games we already own?This week, we discuss gaming FOMO, overflowing backlogs and the pressure to remain part of the latest gaming conversation. We look at why buying games can sometimes become more exciting than playing them, the appeal of patient gaming and why it is perfectly fine to miss even genuinely brilliant games.Pixel Picks Replay also returns as we revisit GoldenEye 007. From its unforgettable multiplayer and brilliant soundtrack to its wonderfully dated character models, does this influential shooter remain worth playing in 2026?We also reveal November’s Pixel Picks Replay selection and put yellow climbing paint on trial in Gamer Court.What game are you deliberately taking your time with right now, and what are you choosing to ignore while you play it?Join our free Discord communityhttps://discord.gg/XpwXctfYeE#Gaming #PlayStation5 #XboxIn this episode:Final Fantasy ResonanceNintendo Switch Sports ResortCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 4CONTROL ResonantPenguin ColonyStar Wars: Galactic RacerFire EmblemSubscribe for weekly gaming discussions from two adult gamer parents.https://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcastGET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code BMB591ST2JKNHXWE#GamingPodcast #TheWitcher3 #GamingPodcast—CHAPTERS00:00 Are we always chasing the next game?00:51 Remembering Sir Patrick Stewart05:19 What we’ve been playing07:19 Penguin Colony11:46 Fire Emblem13:39 CONTROL Resonant18:59 Star Wars: Galactic Racer20:38 Modern Warfare 426:25 Final Fantasy Resonance37:39 Nintendo Switch Sports Resort43:00 Are we playing games or chasing them?46:31 The pressure of running a gaming podcast51:15 Time, money and buying new games56:37 Are we addicted to day one?59:35 When buying games is still completely fine01:04:39 Preparing for the gaming winter01:09:17 Pixel Picks Replay: GoldenEye 00701:13:18 Does GoldenEye still hold up?01:18:53 GoldenEye’s incredible soundtrack01:23:55 November’s Pixel Picks Replay01:28:00 Gamer Court: yellow climbing paint01:30:54 Closing thoughts—COME FOR THE PODCAST. STAY FOR THE COMPANY.Pixel Parents is more than a weekly gaming podcast. We're building a friendly, free community of grown-up gamers who love talking games, even when real life gets in the way.Join our FREE Discord: https://discord.gg/XpwXctfYeEChat about what you're playing, share recommendations, join our monthly Pixel Picks Replay game club, submit a Gamer Court confession or help shape the conversation on the show.Parent or not, everyone's welcome. No pressure, no paywalls, just good company.🎧 Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2JE8TeviD5XXuiqVYxj63Q?_reload_cause=banner-auto-reload🍎 Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pixel-parents-video-game-podcast/id1740836394💖 Join the FREE Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/pixelparents🦋 Follow us on Blueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/pixelparents.bsky.social📺 Subscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcast/S✉️ Email the [email protected] episodes every Friday.

Do PlayStation and Xbox really need another console generation?Project Helix has reportedly been projected to cost between $1,200 and $1,800 without a subsidy. Separate claims suggest memory and storage for the PS6 could cost more than $680 before you even consider the rest of the machine.Neither figure is an announced retail price. But if the consoles we already own have barely reached their limits, why should players spend considerably more money to begin another generation?This week, we discuss whether this could be the last console generation many of us buy at launch.Could our backlogs protect us from the rising cost of gaming? Are subscriptions and creator memberships adding another tax to the hobby? What happens when children want consoles of their own? And does Nintendo now have an open goal with families?Before that, Scott gives Silver Pines his final score and explains why it could become one of 2026’s biggest sleeper hits.We also discuss Star Wars Galactic Racer, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4, Onimusha, Castlevania Belmont’s Curse, Final Fantasy Resonance and the value of casual gaming.Plus, we react to the closure of BioWare, remind everyone to play GoldenEye 007 for Pixel Picks Replay and hear a listener’s case about choice paralysis in Gamer Court.Would you still buy another console at launch? Tell us your absolute price limit in the comments.Join our free Discord communityhttps://discord.gg/XpwXctfYeEReview codes for Silver Pines were provided by Team17.#Gaming #PlayStation6 #XboxIn this episode:Star Wars Galactic RacerSilver PinesCall of Duty Modern Warfare 4Main Topic: Is this the Last Gen of Consoles?Pixel Picks ReplayGamer Court Subscribe for weekly gaming discussions from two adult gamer parents.https://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcastGET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code BMB591ST2JKNHXWE—CHAPTERS00:00 Is this our last console generation?01:04 Frozen cars and birthday catchup04:47 Liam’s good news06:56 Housekeeping and Discord08:37 Silver Pines final verdict13:46 Star Wars Galactic Racer17:17 Scott’s Game Pass sampler18:54 Restarting Control Resonant19:49 Castlevania Belmont’s Curse20:46 Final Fantasy Resonance22:15 Fire Emblem23:59 Onimusha and Modern Warfare 433:00 BioWare closes37:31 Do we need another generation?39:58 Project Helix and PS6 costs42:48 GTA VI as the technical test47:34 Is this our last console?49:27 A two tier gaming future54:55 We do not need next gen59:57 Preparing for the gaming winter01:05:37 The cost of following games01:16:57 The family multiplier01:21:54 Nintendo’s opportunity01:25:27 Raising retro gamers01:27:49 How Pixel Parents should respond01:33:46 GoldenEye Pixel Picks Replay01:36:09 Gamer Court01:39:41 Thanks for listening—Write to us: [email protected] us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.comNew episodes every Friday.🎧 Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2JE8TeviD5XXuiqVYxj63Q?_reload_cause=banner-auto-reload🍎 Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pixel-parents-video-game-podcast/id1740836394💬 Join our FREE Discordhttps://discord.gg/yjV2wSAZw💖 Join the FREE Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/pixelparents🦋 Follow us on Blueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/pixelparents.bsky.social📺 Subscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcast/S✉️ Email the [email protected]

Which video game character first made you feel something beyond excitement and rage?Smut Week has arrived, and we’re confessing our first gaming crushes, revisiting the characters developers clearly wanted us to fancy and discussing the game romances we took far too seriously.From Chun Li, Nina Williams and Lara Croft to Solid Snake, Leon Kennedy, Shadowheart and the entire increasingly suspicious history of Hideo Kojima, prepare to learn far too much about us.Before that, we give Gears of War E Day our verdicts, explain why Silver Pines could be one of 2026’s biggest horror surprises, discuss gaming on holiday and cautiously react to the latest unverified GTA VI footage.We also return to GoldenEye 007 for Pixel Picks Replay before entering Gamer Court to discuss more of the most ridiculous takes in gamingWho was your first video game crush? Give us the honest answer in the comments.Review codes for Silver Pines were provided by Team17.In this episode:Gears of War E-Day Silver PinesMain Topic: Smut WeekPixel Picks ReplayGamer Court Subscribe for weekly gaming discussions from two adult gamer parents.https://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcastGET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code BMB591ST2JKNHXWE#GamingPodcast #TheWitcher3 #GamingPodcast—CHAPTERS00:00 Smut Week begins01:05 Welcome to Pixel Parents02:06 Cabins and wedding hangovers05:21 Housekeeping06:46 What we have been playing07:23 Gears of War E Day verdict17:20 Mafia III for a fiver19:15 The reality of holiday gaming20:40 Control Resonant check in23:09 Too many October games26:06 Silver Pines impressions39:05 GTA VI footage discussion45:28 Entering Smut Week46:49 Our first gaming crushes53:19 Developers knew what they were doing01:01:17 Personality over pixels01:02:47 Romances we took seriously01:09:27 The panic pause01:10:53 Questionable character choices01:13:31 Snog, marry or delete01:15:56 GoldenEye Pixel Picks Replay01:17:21 Gamer Court01:20:46 Soundtracks over graphics01:24:23 Gaming concerts outside London01:27:18 Thanks for listening—Write to us: [email protected] us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.comNew episodes every Friday.🎧 Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2JE8TeviD5XXuiqVYxj63Q?_reload_cause=banner-auto-reload🍎 Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pixel-parents-video-game-podcast/id1740836394💬 Join our FREE Discordhttps://discord.gg/yjV2wSAZw💖 Join the FREE Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/pixelparents🦋 Follow us on Blueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/pixelparents.bsky.social📺 Subscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcast/S✉️ Email the [email protected]

Physical games were about more than owning a disc. Game shops, midnight launches, manuals, trade ins and lending games to friends all helped make gaming feel like a visible culture.This week, we ask what digital convenience has cost us, what today’s younger players may never experience and whether physical gaming is already beyond saving.We also share our first impressions of Gears of War E Day, including its horror atmosphere, incredible opening act and why it feels like the Xbox game we have been waiting for, plus:In this episode:Gears of War E-Day Ghost of Yōtei Echoes of SekigaharaFire Emblem Fortune’s WeavePES 6 Master LeagueThe Vale LostboundPixel Picks ReplayGamer Court Subscribe for weekly gaming discussions from two adult gamer parents.https://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcastGET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code BMB591ST2JKNHXWE#GamingPodcast #TheWitcher3 #GamingPodcast—CHAPTERS00:00 What we lose when games go digital00:42 Butter in the beard03:22 Welcome and housekeeping04:25 PES 6 Master League07:56 The Vale Lostbound09:24 Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave15:28 The value of comfort games21:50 Ghost of Yōtei Echoes of Sekigahara33:22 Moonlighter 2 and card shop life35:18 Gears of War E Day impressions42:18 Gears becomes survival horror49:26 Why the Locust feel frightening again57:26 What we lose without physical games01:00:31 What physical gaming meant to us01:08:08 Manuals, game shops and discovery01:14:07 The death of midnight launches01:20:01 What younger gamers may never experience01:28:24 Is physical gaming already dead?01:32:19 GoldenEye 007 Pixel Picks Replay01:33:55 Gamer Court puts PT on trial01:39:29 Was the seventh generation gaming’s peak?01:41:39 Thanks for listening—Write to us: [email protected] us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.comNew episodes every Friday.🎧 Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2JE8TeviD5XXuiqVYxj63Q?_reload_cause=banner-auto-reload🍎 Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pixel-parents-video-game-podcast/id1740836394💬 Join our FREE Discordhttps://discord.gg/yjV2wSAZw💖 Join the FREE Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/pixelparents🦋 Follow us on Blueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/pixelparents.bsky.social📺 Subscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcast/S✉️ Email the [email protected]

What are the nine games that made you the gamer you are today?Scott and Liam join the social media trend, but the grid only tells part of the story. We explain how these games shaped our tastes, friendships, families and different stages of our lives.These are not simply our nine favourite games. They are the games that made us.In this episode:Minecraft Dungeons II reviewFire Emblem Fortune’s WeaveControl ResonantStar Wars Zero CompanyFC 27The Witcher 3 RemasteredThe Last of Us Part I in Pixel Picks ReplayOctober 2026 Pixel Picks Replay selectionSubscribe for weekly gaming discussions from two adult gamer parents.https://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcastGET BONUS SHOWS AND MORE BY JOINING OUR ALWAYS FREE PATREON (www.patreon.com/pixelparents)Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code BMB591ST2JKNHXWE#GamingPodcast #TheWitcher3 #GamingPodcast—CHAPTERS00:00 The nine games that made us00:41 Welcome to Pixel Parents07:06 Minecraft Dungeons II review15:42 Onimusha and Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave24:22 Control Resonant first impressions30:18 Star Wars Zero Company38:34 Is FC 27 worth returning to?42:14 The Witcher 3 Remastered47:00 Gears of War E Day review leak49:26 Will we see more GTA VI?52:30 Scott fights back against scam callers55:52 The nine games that made us57:44 The games that started everything01:06:49 Games that shaped our tastes01:11:11 Games tied to friendship01:14:18 Games that helped us through life01:17:09 Our most surprising choices01:23:38 The final games01:32:23 The games that missed out01:35:37 Pixel Picks Replay01:36:21 The Last of Us Part I01:44:00 October’s game revealed01:45:20 Closing—Write to us: [email protected] us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.comNew episodes every Friday.🎧 Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/2JE8TeviD5XXuiqVYxj63Q?_reload_cause=banner-auto-reload🍎 Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pixel-parents-video-game-podcast/id1740836394💬 Join our FREE Discordhttps://discord.gg/yjV2wSAZw💖 Join the FREE Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/pixelparents🦋 Follow us on Blueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/pixelparents.bsky.social📺 Subscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@PixelParentsPodcast/S✉️ Email the [email protected]