Rhythm Heaven returns after an eleven-year hiatus with Rhythm Heaven Groove. It’s a fun game, but something’s changed. The series? The boys? Nintendo? We find the answer. Plus, Frushtick talks about life with the Steam Machine. It’s neat! It’s expensive! And it’s a reflection of the moment!

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The Besties: Live on Broadway

Friday, October 9 at 7pm
The Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036)
Feat. Justin McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Chris Plante, Russ Frushtick, and Very Special Guests!

We’re thrilled to announce that we will FINALLY be doing our first-ever live show. Will we ever do another one? Honestly, we have no idea. It was a bit of a road to get here. But this one is happening, so we’re making it count!

Tickets are available now!

We timed the event to coincide with New York Comic-Con, which is also happening that weekend, if you wanted to really do it up right. But obviously if you’re just coming to see us, you’ve made the right choice.

NOTE: Please be careful where you buy tickets. The above link and any links you find on The Town Hall website are legit. But Google will surface ticket-reseller sites first, and those will have prices jacked up way higher than we’d ever charge.

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, we published our latest Besties Battle Bracket! Special guest Mary Kish (Twitch, Fire Escape Cast) joined us to pick the best troll moment in games! Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

Games discussed:

Rhythm Heaven Groove, Rhythm Doctor, Unbeatable, Ace Combat 7, Everquest Legends, Deltarune Chapter 5, Blue Prince

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Assassin's Creed 4 Remake / Denshattack

What’s the Point of Video Game Reviews?

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly series Past Games, which tells the histories of video game classics.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• The Cruelest Part of Xbox’s Layoffs (Jason Schreier)

• I played 4 hours of The Blood of Dawnwalker and it borrows a heck of a lot from The Witcher 3, for good and bad (PCGamer)9 Rhythm Heaven Groove Games

• That Made Me Want To Put A Controller Through My TV (Kotaku)

• “I know how devastating it is, and my heart’s with all of you”: Doom’s John Romero responds to id Software reportedly losing half their team (RPS)

• Is the Best Game of the Year a Failure? (404 Media)

Griffin needed to take this week off, but our guest was more than prepared to talk about the huge gaming news. Stephen Totilo, the founder of Game File and former EIC of Kotaku, explains the cause and fallout of Sony’s decision to cease physical game production in 2028. In more joyful news, Nintendo remade Starfox for the fifth fourth third second time! And Frushtick and Plante have impressions to share!

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: This Tuesday, we have a brand-new Besties Battle Bracket with special guest Mary Kish from Twitch and Fire Escape Cast! The topic? Best troll moments in games! Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

Games discussed:

Star Fox, Starseed Pilgrim, Blue Prince

Comics discussed:

All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison

Stephen Totilo’s newsletter:

Game File

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Rhythm Heaven Groove

‘Weird Nintendo’ Isn’t Dead

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly series Past Games, which tells the histories of video game classics.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• The Indie Game Guide To July 2026 (Gaming in the Wild)

• Akira 4K Theatrical Re-Release (Crunchyroll)

• Is There ANYTHING That Isn’t Getting Worse? (TheReportOfTheWeek)

• How One Man’s Anger Created a Masterpiece (Wait in the Wings)

• The Nintendo 64 Thirty Years Later! An LGR Retrospective (LGR)

Midway through the year, The Besties share their top contenders. However, don’t make any bets on these being our final picks for our GOTY list, because the back half of 2026 is unprecedentedly dense with new releases. To set the stage, we curate our most anticipated games. Also, The Grinch 2.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: This past Tuesday, the Resties shared their favorite demos from Steam Next Fest, and considered what the trends mean for the not-so-distant future of games. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 50 episodes!

Griffin’s best games of 2026 so far:

• Pokémon Pokopia

• Mina the Hollower

• Mewgenics

• Mixtape

• Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred

• Berry Bury Berry

• Slay the Spire II

• MIO: Memories in Orbit

Russ’ best games of 2026 so far:

• Mewgenics

• Mina the Hollower

• Mixtape

• Pokopia

• Pragmata

• Titanium Court

Plante’s best games of 2026 so far discussed:

• Perfect Tides: Station to Station

• Romeo Is a Dead Man

• Marathon

• Pokopia

• Pragmata/Resident Evil 9

• Titanium Court

Upcoming 2026 games discussed:

[Our picks were pulled from this full calendar, courtesy GameSpot.]

• Star Fox - June 25

• Rhythm Heaven Groove (Switch) – July 2

• Splatoon Raiders (Switch 2) – July 23

• EverQuest Legends (PC) – July 28

• Fields of Mistria (PC) – August 3

• Beast of Reincarnation (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – August 4

• Big Walk (PS5, Switch 2, PC) – August 4

• Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls (PS5, PC) – August 6

• Marvel’s Wolverine (PS5) – September 15

• Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (Switch 2) – September 17

• The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – September 18

• Control Resonant (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – September 24

• Minecraft Dungeons 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, PC) – September 29

• Rayman Legends Retold (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, PC) – October 1

• Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – October 2

• Star Wars: Galactic Racer (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – October 6

• Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – October 15

• Nintendo Switch Sports Resort (Switch 2) – October 22

• Grand Theft Auto 6 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S) – November 19

• Ocarina of Time Remake (TBD 2026)

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Star Fox

How the Games Industry Got to This Point

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly series Past Games, which tells the histories of video game classics.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• I’ve played countless Doom engine games, so believe me when I say this one that combines the FPS with JRPG combat might be the coolest one in 30 years (PCGamer)

• Star Wars: Galactic Racer let me play podracer ping-pong, though its high-stakes roguelike gauntlet feels more tuned for pace-focused speeder freaks (RPS)

• Man, It’s Going To Get So Much Worse Before It Gets Better (Kotaku)

• The device I want Valve to make (Jank)

• Video Games Are Changing, And Meccha Chameleon’s Absurd Popularity Is Proof (Aftermath)

This week, we throw our own summer festival of video games by opening the grab bag! There’s so much stuff to play, it took all three Besties working on different piles to separate the “Yes!” from the “Yuck!” Want a meta Sherlock Holmes mystery? How about overlooked DLC to a Besties favorite? Or maybe you want to hear about Steam running on Android emulators? Friends, we have something for everyone!

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, The Resties share their favorite demos from Steam Next Fest and discuss what the demo trends tell us about the upcoming year in games. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

Games discussed:

Crushed in Time, Teardown DLC: Relics of Barkuna, Persona 3 Reload, Voidling Bound, Pronoun Palace, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

Hardware discussed:

Ayn Thor

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: The best stuff from the first half of 2026 and what we’re looking forward to in the back half!

The Earliest Game of the Year Awards!

The Earliest Game of the Year Awards features 50 designers, critics, game directors, authors, comedians, and more sharing their picks for the best game of 2026!

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly series Past Games, which tells the histories of video game classics.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• A project is underway to remaster all 223 issues of ’90s UK publication Sonic the Comic (Sega Mania via VGC)

• Attention former 2000s youths: A second Beyblade-inspired roguelike has hit Steam Next Fest (PCGamer)

• Another Xbocalypse begins: Microsoft are reportedly closing or spinning off Double Fine, Ninja Theory and Compulsion (RPS)

• GTA 6′s Cover Continues The Weird Rule Rockstar Has Followed For 25 Years (Kotaku)

• Microsoft should get out of games before it does more damage (Polygon)

We watched all of the Summer Game Festival events and curated the upcoming releases that we think you’ll enjoy! Plus, Frushtick and Plante attended SGF Play Days in Los Angeles and went hands-on with tons of games, from the new Tomb Raider to Stranger Than Heaven. Was this episode recorded alongside Nintendo’s big announcement? Were we struggling to retain control of our brains? Yes and yes.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: Yoshi and the Mysterious Book epitomizes modern Nintendo, prioritizing player creativity and expression above everything else. It’s also a video game for little kids. This is great news for parents who want rich, thoughtful, inventive experiences for their children. A recommendation is a bit more complicated for grown-ups. Is this the Yoshi for you?

Check out the latest episode of The Resties, in which Frushtick and Plante talk about “the best Yoshi game in years*.” Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

SGF games discussed:

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Resident Evil Veronica, Spyro: A Realm Beyond, Persona 6, Persona 4 Revival, Virtua Fighter Crossroads, 1666 Amsterdam, Stuntman Hollywood, Guild Wars 3, Fable, Halo: Campaign Evolved, State of Decay 3, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Vivarium, Clockwork Revolution, Cassette Beasts 2002, Slash Zero, Carcass Clad, Pipes.exe, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Stranger Than Heaven, Clutch, Star Wars Galactic Racer, Blood Dungeon

Nintendo Direct discussed:

Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026

Movies discussed:

Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs That’s the Weight of the World), Widow’s Bay

Games and hardware discussed:

No Man’s Sky, Ayn Thor

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes! Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Grab bag!!!

How to Have a Persona Summer

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly series Past Games, which tells the histories of video game classics.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• Samara Weaving is raising a gamer baby | Shelf Quest (Polygon)

• GameNative 1.0 is HERE: Massive Gains on the AYN THOR! (Graves)

• Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis - The First Preview (IGN)

• Is this the best deal in gaming right now? (Wulff Den)

• Yeah, I’m Thinkin’ Xbox Exclusives Are Back (Delayed Input)

007 First Light is the new game from IO Interactive, the developers of the beloved stealth series Hitman. So you’d be forgiven for assuming this entry in the Bond canon would emphasize sleuthy spycraft. Instead, IOI created something akin to a season of James Bond television, spotlighting its strong story above everything else. Was that the right choice? It depends on which Besty you ask!

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: A new Besties Battle Bracket is available! Ron Funches helps us select the best video game roommate. Listen here! Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

Games discussed:

007: First Light, Diablo IV, Blue Prince, Subnautica

State of Play games discussed:

God of War: Laufey, Stuntman Hollywood, Rayman Legends Retold, Until Dawn 2, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Thieve, Wolverine, Silent Hill: Townfall, The Lost Wild

TV discussed:

Battle of Fates

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Not-Quite-Live from Summer Game Fest!

The History of James Bond and His Many Games

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly series Past Games, which tells the histories of video game classics.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• Tomodachi Life is my new favorite fanfic idea generator (Mothership)

• A Link Between Genders: Trans Joy and the Legend of Zelda (Gizmodo)

• OK, But Do We Really Think All Those Games Are Gonna Come Out In September? (Aftermath)

• Here’s How The 9 Biggest Games At Summer Game Fest 2025 Have Turned Out (Kotaku)

• Every Nintendo game from the Switch 2’s first year, ranked (Polygon)

• Think you’ve got a handle on Mina the Hollower? Yacht Club reckons many playthroughs are “missing 50 percent of the game”, and “there are a few very secret things” players are yet to find (Eurogamer)

Mina the Hollower is a delicious 7-layer dip of beloved video games. It looks and feels like a gothic Zelda, but its influences stretch far beyond Nintendo’s action-adventure series. The Besties are joined by Jason Schreier (from Bloomberg and Triple Click) to burrow through one layer after another to uncover its many secrets. In the back half, we talk about the big news of the week: Dragon Quest XII’s development reboot and the end of Destiny 2.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, The Besties Battle Bracket returns with special guest Ron Funches. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

Games discussed:

Mina the Hollower, Dragon Quest XII, Destiny 2, Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred, Blue Prince, 007: First Light

Movies discussed:

Obsession

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: 007: First Light

How to See the Profound Beauty in Gaming’s Tiniest Details

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly series Past Games, which tells the histories of video game classics.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• Why Are Thin Bodies the Default in Games? (Teen Vogue)

• Which Persona game should I play first? (Mothership)

• EVEN MORE Under Loved Hidden Indie Gems We All Let Down (The Gammelier)

• Modern Warfare 4 Out-Grounded Dragon Quest XII (Delayed Input)

Forza Horizon 6 wants you to be happy forever. It features a colossal open world that reimagines Japan, stuffed with more free cars than you’ll ever have time to drive – let alone upgrade. You can win races or lose them; either way, you’ll get rewards. Even its trees will gladly explode into tinder on contact with your vehicle, because the game would hate for a pesky forest to get in the way of chaotic car fun. All of this makes for a fun game. So why are we craving friction? The Besties try to find an answer.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, a brand new Resties on Bubsy 4D, Demon Tides, and Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. And to kick off June, a Besties Battle Bracket with Ron Funches. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

Games discussed:

Forza Horizon 6, 868-Back, Dragon Quest Smash/Grow, Splatoon 3 Side Order DLC, Vampire Survivors, Blue Prince

YouTube discussed:

Trial by Fieri

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Mina the Hollower

The History (and Future) of Bubsy

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly series Past Games, which tells the histories of video game classics.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• Steam Controller vs 3rd Party Controllers (Retro Game Corps)

• Bungie Plans Layoffs After Ending ‘Destiny 2’ Development (Bloomberg)

• Destiny 2 hasn’t been the game I’d loved in years, but it still sucks to know it’s ending (PCGamer)

• Forza Horizon 6 Is A Difficult Game To Be Around (Aftermath)

• An open-world Lord of the Rings RPG from the Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 studio feels even more perfect when you spot all the Tolkien references in Warhorse’s latest game (Games Radar)

Mixtape arrived alongside a flood of euphoric reviews and a variety of discourses across various social media platforms and gaming groups. With a tiny bit of distance, we talk through what does and doesn’t work about this riff on the modern musical with the help of Friends Per Second co-host Lucy James!

Heads up: After the main conversation, mailbag, and honorable mentions, we’ve included a full spoiler convo on the game. We hope you enjoy it!

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: A new episode of The Resties pierces the veil of Forbidden Solitaire. Plus, Plante talks about one of the coolest video game weapons in years: the chainstaff in… Chainstaff. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 50 episodes!

Games discussed:

Mixtape, Blue Prince

Movies and TV discussed:

Marty: Life is Short, Widows Bay

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Forza Horizon 6

The History of The Legend of Zelda (1986)

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly series Past Games, which tells the histories of video game classics.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• The Super Game Died Offscreen (Delayed Input)

• Mario 101: For Super Players (Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games)

• Roommania #203: Renta[l room ]hero (Kimimi)

• DC’s Absolute Universe Dominates the 2026 Eisner Award Nominations (IGN)

• The Secrets Behind THAT Cyberpunk 2077 Montage (Game Maker’s Toolkit)

Saros is the continuation of decades of bullet-dodging action games from Housemarque. But it has most in common with the team’s previous game, Returnal. Is this game welcoming enough to bring newcomers into the pseudo-series? We find out! Plus, a humongous collection of other stuff we’re playing and watching, including a Korean reality TV series that pits different types of spirit mediums against one another! Look, we’re just as surprised, confused, and delighted as you are.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: A new release went live on Tuesday! All four original Besties gathered for a special Besties Battle Bracket: the best video game to adapt into a theme park. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

Games discussed:

Saros, Super Stardust HD, Nex Machina, Sektori, Blue Prince, Idle Obelisk Miner, Nubbys Number Factory, Gambonanza, Chainstaff

TV discussed:

Battle of Fates, Dan Da Dan

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes! Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Mixtape

The Nine Lives of Games Journalism

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly series Past Games, which tells the histories of video game classics.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• It’s time to set the record straight: Doomguy’s armor does not have a tummy window, his shirt just got ripped (PCGamer)

• Kids are fixing NYC in Minecraft: Battle of the Boroughs | Full Documentary (Polygon)

• Quinns Quest Reviews: Stonetop! (Quinns Quest)

• CARIBBEAN ACTIVIST CINEMA | Criterion Channel Teaser (Criterion)

• New Yakuza Prequel Game Uses The Likeness Of An Actor Who Died 12 Years Ago (Kotaku)

This is a big week of change at The Besties. But before we get to the news, we all want to chat about one of the strangest spin-offs in indie games. Vampire Crawlers adapts the iconic Vampire Survivors into a dungeon-crawling, roguelike deckbuilder. And... it mostly works? Stick around until the end of the show, when we chat about a big change for the future of The Besties.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, a brand new Besties Battle Bracket feature all four of the boys: the game that should get its own theme park! Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

Games discussed:

Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors, Vampire Survivors

Hardware discussed:

Steam Controller

YouTube discussed:

Dammit Jeff, Switch and Click

Justin discussed:

The one and only!

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Saros

5 Must-Listen Episodes: The Post Games Starter Pack

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly video series Video Game Journalism 101.

Here’s the starter pack for new listeners!

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• The best Tomodachi Life creations its twisted fans have made so far (Polygon)

• Rupaul’s Drag Race Subreddit Is Fed Up With Tomodachi Life (Kotaku)

• Every videogame movie and TV show coming out in 2026 (and beyond) (PCGamer)

• Australia’s ‘Payphone Tag’ Game Is An Excellent Use Of Public Infrastructure (Aftermath)

This week, we’re diving into Nintendo’s bizarre life sim, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, which allows a bunch of Miis to eat cigarettes for breakfast. Griffin also regales us with his experience visiting Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios, and we explore the total nonsense going on with handhelds these days.

[Ed. note: Hey, it’s Plante! I’m traveling this week, so it’s a very short newsletter. We’ll be back to normal next week!]

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: In early May, the Besties Battle Brack returns with full chaos energy. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

Games discussed:

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

Movies and TV discussed:

Elden Ring: The Movie, Taskmaster, Survivor

Theme park discussed:

Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Vampire Crawlers

He Won the Biggest Award in Indie Games. Then He Did It Again.

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly video series Video Game Journalism 101.

Besties Merch!

Announced in 2020, Pragmata has finally arrived. Capcom’s new third-person shooter puts you in the boots of a space marine-type who must overcome evil robots on a moon covered in 3D-printed skyscrapers. Which comically sounds like a pretty standard video game premise. But this isn’t your standard shooter. You must solve puzzles in the middle of combat, team up with an adorable robo-kid, and navigate some classic 3D platforming in low-gravity. Kinda Funny’s Andy Cortez joins us to discuss this odd delight!

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, The Resties discussed Runato, a game that is not what it claims to be! Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

Games discussed:

Shattered Pixel Dungeon on iOS, Marathon, AYN Thor, The King Is Watching, Exit 8

Movies discussed:

Exit 8, The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

Where Do Video Games Go From Here?

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly video series Video Game Journalism 101.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• Pragmata (Celebrating 8 years on Twitch) (Andy Cortez on YouTube)

• The Street Fighter movie trailer (YouTube)

• Let’s Just Make Our Own Steam Machine (Retro Game Corps)

• Trapped in a loop: How Unemployment Simulator 2018 brilliantly represents depression (Mothership)

• Paddington The Musical perform ‘Marmalade’ | Olivier Awards 2026 with Cunard (Paddington)

How do you talk about a film as strange as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie? You call in backup. Get Played’s Matt Apodaca joins us to talk about the blockbuster sequel. Does a film need a story? What’s the worst sin in adapting a video game? And which voice actor stole the show? Plus, Raccoin!

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, Frushtick and Plante talk about one of the biggest surprises of the year — as in this game is not what it claims to be. Hear about Rubato and much more on The Resties! Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 80 episodes!

Games discussed:

Raccoin, the Resident Evil series, Mewgenics, Chrono Trigger DS

Movies discussed:

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Books discussed:

Partially Devoured

Hardware discussed:

AYN Thor

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: EMBARGOED!

Video Games Are Art. Are Museums Ready?

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly video series Video Game Journalism 101.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Donald Glover Discuss Yoshi Biology and Spoil Movies w/ Get Played! (Get Played)

• Mio: Memories in Orbit [Review] (One More Round)

• 10 big announcements from the jam-packed Triple-i Initiative Showcase (Polygon)

• Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve - Official Strangereal Evolution Episode 1 Trailer (YouTube)

• NYU Game Center Lecture Series Presents Chris Plante (NYU Game Center)

  

Listen to this week’s episode

This week, the Besties chat about two relatively low-priced games that have won over huge audiences: Creature Kitchen and Scritchy Scratchy. In the back half, we talk through the recent PlayStation price hikes and consider what alternatives gamers have as the hobby gets more and more expensive.

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Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, The Besties Battle Bracket returns with one of the most chaotic episodes yet. “Which Franchise Roster Would Best Compete in an Intergalactic Space Jam-style Competition?” Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 70 episodes!

Games discussed:

Creature Kitchen, Scritchy Scratchy, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, GameHub Lite

Mr. Big songs discussed:

“To Be With You”

TV discussed:

Jury Duty: Company Retreat, Last One Laughing UK, Neighbors

YouTube discussed:

Tom Scott

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes! Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

2026’s Fantasy Masterpiece Took 8 Years, 4 Attempts, and 1 Disco Elysium

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly video series Video Game Journalism 101.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• Gelli Haha - Klouds Will Carry Me To Sleep (Official Video) (Gelli Haha)

• Devils on the Moon Pinball – OUT NOW (Panic)

• Are Indie Games Developing a Gambling Problem? (TWIV)

• 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Making A Movie (Patrick H Willems)

• Baby Steps Fans Think the Game Might Secretly Be a Fan-made Uncharted 5 (IGN)

Frushtick and Griffin were Destiny dudes, and yet it’s Plante who has fallen in love with Bungie’s new extraction shooter. What’s so appealing about Marathon? Is the extraction genre’s difficulty a dealbreaker? Who is this game even for? Plus, we open the Besties mailbag!

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Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: A fresh episode of Resties is now live! Frushtick and Plante talk about Screamer, a game that revives the four-player splitscreen thrill of arcade racing. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 80 episodes!

Games discussed:

Marathon, Diablo 4, Pokopia

Movies & TV discussed:

Last One Laughing UK Season 2, Project Hail Mary, Shoresy Season 4

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: TBD!

Why Pinball Moved from Bars to Basements

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly video series Video Game Journalism 101.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• My Favorite Twilight Knockoff (Jenny Nicholson)

• I was the untitled goose in Big Walk, the balmy new open-world co-op puzzler from House House (RPS)

• Star Wars Zero Company is more than just ‘Star Wars XCOM’—it feels like Mass Effect but with turn-based tactics and permadeath (PCGamer)

• Finally, a football card game that doesn’t cost your soul (Eurogamer)

Welcome to The Besties March grab bag. There are simply too many new games, so to cover as much as possible, we split up the workload. Griffin talks about the surprisingly complete Early Access release of Slay the Spire 2. Plante, of all people, explains how to get into Marathon. And Frushtick… well, he found a big hole.

Plus, in the B-segment: a Resident Evil 9 spoiler convo!

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Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, The Resites discuss Screamer, the return of the arcade racing genre — now with 50% more anime! Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 60 episodes!

Games discussed:

Slay the Spire 2, Berry Bury Berry, Marathon, Pokopia

Anime discussed:

Delicious in Dungeon

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Marathon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Games Can Save Us from the Hell of Silicon Valley Optimization

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly video series Video Game Journalism 101.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• Share In The Incredible Moment An Indie Dev Discovers His Game Made $250,000 (Kotaku)

• Baby Steps’ level design was hugely inspired by a custom map in Mirror’s Edge and Japanese skateboarder Gou Miyagi (PCGamer)

• Marathon’s Time To Kill Is Unforgiving, Unfair, and Utterly Brilliant (IGN)

• His Majesty’s Pop Life: Prince Interactive (shy.center)

Plenty of companies have torched their fortunes trying to smelt together a collection of hit games and genres, hoping to recreate others’ success. Understandably, many folks (ourselves included) approached Pokopia with a cold skepticism. A Pokémon, Animal Crossing, Minecraft, and Viva Piñata combination? It sounded too good to be true.

Friends… they did it. Pokopia isn’t just a collection of great ideas; it’s also a wholly interesting and original thing. We can’t wait to tell you about this wonderful game. Plus, we look at Nintendo’s peculiar plan for the rest of 2026.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: This past Tuesday, The Resties talked about Esoteric Ebb, an incredible role-playing game inspired by Disco Elysium and D&D that will be in the GOTY conversation later this year. Trust us, you’ll want to hear more about this! Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 60 episodes!

Games discussed:

Pokopia, Slay the Spire 2, Death Stranding 2 on PC, Esoteric Ebb

New Griffin book discussed:

The Stowaway

TV discussed:

Survivor 50, Traitors Australia

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: End of Winter grab bag!!

The ESA Saved Video Games Once. Can It Do It Again?

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly video series Video Game Journalism 101.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• Shovel Knight team’s homage to Zelda is going to be a very big deal (Polygon)

• I sure hope the Resident Evil Requiem DLC is all about Grace, the best thing to happen to Resi in years (Eurogamer)

• Blizzard vet Rob Pardo closed this year’s GDC keynote by urging executives to cool it with the layoffs: ‘The game team is more valuable than the game itself’ (PCGamer)

• “Valve does not cooperate with gambling sites” - Counter-Strike publishers issue rare public defence of lootbox mechanics, following New York lawsuit (RPS)

• They Might Be Giants - Doctor Worm (Live on KEXP) (YouTube)

Scott Pilgrim EX is a spiritual sequel to a Netflix animated series from 2024, a Scott Pilgrim movie tie-in game from 15 years ago, and an underrated beat ‘em up series that debuted on the NES. Or to put it another way: Scott Pilgrim EX is deeply nostalgic, not for one moment, but for the breadth of the millennial gamer experience. Is that… fun? It will depend on your love of Scott Pilgrim, Rivert City Ransom, and the ongoing renaissance of a long-dormant genre.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: This past Tuesday, a new Besties Battle Bracket went live. We select the best bespoke peripheral! You can hear a preview at the end of today’s episode. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 60 episodes!

Games discussed:

Scott Pilgrim Ex, Shotgun King, Rune Dice demo, Lil Gator Game: In the Dark, Minishoot’ Adventures, Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! demo

TV discussed:

Wonder Man

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Pokemon Pokopia

What is fictosexuality?

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly video series Video Game Journalism 101.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• Matthew Lillard’s Wing Commander nightmares and FIFA dreams | Shelf Quest (Polygon)

• Control Resonant First-Look Preview – This Is No Soulslike. It’s Faster (IGN)

• Lost Fallout: New Vegas post-ending dialogue has been found and restored (PCGamer)

• Just Dance 2026 gameplay - Born to be Alive (Stop Motion) (YouTube)

Resident Evil Requiem has the misfortune of following Resident Evil: Village, one of our favorite games of all time. How does a game live up to that high bar? It becomes more than just one game. This week, to avoid major spoilers, we talk about the first act of Requiem, roughly the first 5-7 hours set in a classic Resident Evil-style location. We also chat about the top-level shifts in tone and pacing.

In the coming weeks, we’ll do a “full spoilers” segment digging into the unusual, lore-soaked places the game goes in its second and third acts. I suppose you could say it’s like a book club, but for video games.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, a brand new Besties Battle Bracket: the best bespoke controller! Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 60 exclusive episodes!

Games discussed:

Resident Evil: Requiem, Super Battle Golf, Vampire Crawlers demo, Lil Gator Game

Movies discussed:

Pokémon season 1, Rental Family, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Have questions for The Besties?

Drop them in the comments! We aren’t able to respond to every question, but we read all of them and answer some in episodes!

Subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on shows, upcoming games, merch, and egg steam.

Next week on The Besties:

On next week’s The Besties: Scott Pilgrim EX

The Resident Evil Auteur in His Own Words (Paul W.S. Anderson)

Post Games is now available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS. Watch shorts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Patreon subscribers get early access, weekly bonus segments, and the monthly video series Video Game Journalism 101.

Besties Merch!

Bonus links:

• The Final Author (Gameservatory)

• Billions of dollars later and still nobody knows what an Xbox is (The Verge)

• RPGFan Chapters Review: Boss Fight Books ‘Legend of the River King’ by Alexander B. Joy (RPGFan)

• Secret Places of Pain: a review/interview of Perfect Tides: Station to Station (Unwinnable)