The Besties

The last time Capcom made a new Onimusha game, George W. Bush was President. But Onimusha: The Way of the Sword would have you believe the series never missed a beat. This week, Ron Funches joins the guys to talk about the ways this new entry blends Devil May Cry and Dark Souls tropes into something fresh and surprisingly welcoming!
 

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

The Blood of Dawnwalker proves the old adage, “The worse the name, the better the game.” The debut from Rebel Wolves, a studio composed in part of CD Projekt Red veterans, is a grim fantasy RPG set in the Carpathian mountains in the thick of the Black Plague. It looks and feel at first like the The Witcher series, though give it a few hours, and you’ll see this isn’t reheated leftover. It’s got vampires and time management and bears too powerful to be bitten by a bloodsucker! To talk about this gem, we’re joined by Fire Escape Cast’s Mary Kish!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Blood Dungeon is a spectacular evolution of the Vampire Survivors formula. Developer Messhof plops the auto-shooting, upgrade-building bullet-heaven genre into something a bit more strategic and conscious of your time. It certainly doesn’t hurt that the art looks, at first blush, like Spelunky by way of a child’s sketchbook. In the back half of the episode, we chat about what to call these games, and then pick some of our favorites.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Fields of Mistria has finally hit 1.0 after a couple of years in Early Access on Steam. Does the “official” release rise to the level of Stardew Valley? Or is this anime-inspired small town simulator doing something different? And is 1.0 just a new beginning? We discuss all of that and the hot new handheld!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Big Walk is the game everyone wanted during the pandemic. Not-so-coincidentally, that’s when the project began development. The multiplayer open-world adventure is developer House House’s follow-up to Untitled Goose Game. But where Goose Game hinged on you pestering NPCs to solve puzzles, Big Walk tasks you with pestering and supporting your friends. Or to put it succinctly: Big Walk is a game about communication. Though, as we explain, it’s an experience that requires some careful scheduling.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Beast of Reincarnation is the new game from Game Freak, the studio that creates every mainline Pokémon game. But friends, this is nothing like Pokémon. The action-RPG calls to mind series like Dark Souls and Onimusha. Is it… good? Guest Ron Funches joins to help us find out.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

The guys are back again to talk about the magic and wonder of Splatoon Raiders, a game that finally made us all agree that Splatoon is really kinda awesome. We've also got some reader mail to dive into and whether we can actually find someone who inverts their horizontal axis.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

In the back half of this week’s episode, we chat about Halo: Campaign Evolved, a video game that has the misfortune of representing everything infuriating about the modern Xbox strategy. Fortunately, other games exist. To soothe the soul, we start with an inspired murder mystery, a surprisingly deep Spelunky-like, and the 1.0 of Palworld.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

This week’s games represent two ends of the video game spectrum. On one side, we have Denshattack, an indie game about a train that performs skateboard-style tricks in a fantastical version of Japan. On the other end, we have Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, a decadent remake of a beloved but dusty Ubisoft open-world game. Guest Jeff Grubb from Giant Bomb helps us chat about these two very different delights!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Griffin needed to take this week off, but our guest was more than prepared to talk about the week’s 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 second time! And Frushtick and Plante have impressions to share!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

This week, we throw our own summer festival of video games by opening the grab bag! There was 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!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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 12’s development reboot and the end of Destiny 2.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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 spinoffs 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.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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!

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

Elden Ring: The Movie, Taskmaster, Survivor

Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

On next week’s The Besties: Vampire Crawlers

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!

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

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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!

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

Exit 8, The Super Mario Bros. Movie

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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

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!

• 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)

Announced in 2020, Pragamata 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!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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!

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

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Partially Devoured

AYN Thor

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

On next week’s The Besties: EMBARGOED!

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!

• 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)

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! 

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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.

Like the show? Leave a review!

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!

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

“To Be With You”

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

Tom Scott

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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

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!

• 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)

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.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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!

Like the show? Leave a review!

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!

Marathon, Diablo 4, Pokopia

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

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

On next week’s The Besties: TBD!

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!

• 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)

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?

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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!

Like the show? Leave a review!

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!

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

Delicious in Dungeon

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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

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!

• 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)

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.

To avoid Resident Evil 9 spoilers, skip to ~20 minutes after the return from ad break.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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!

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

The Stowaway

Survivor 50, Traitors Australia

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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

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!

• 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!

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

Wonder Man

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

On next week’s The Besties: Pokemon Pokopia

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!

• 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)

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.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

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!

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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!

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

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

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

On next week’s The Besties: Scott Pilgrim EX

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!

• 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)

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.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

16 years ago, Limbo launched on Xbox Live. It wasn’t the first puzzle-platformer, but its molasses-thick layer of fairy tale horror inspired a generation of grim, mostly wordless contemporaries. Arguably, the most successful of the bunch has been the Little Nightmare series, created by Tarsier Studios. Today’s game is the latest evolution of this sub-genre. With Reanimal, the Tarsier team adds co-op to the mix. Is playing with friends (or a computer companion) a clever addition or does it undermine the horror of being alone in a cruel, dark world? We have conflicting answers! Plus, The Besties pick through Sony’s recent State of Play and share their favorite announcements.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, The Resties swoon over a bunch of new and overlooked games, including Romeo Is a Dead Man, Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, and Mario Tennis Fever. Okay, so maybe that last one isn’t “overlooked.” Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 60 episodes!

Reanimal, Mewgenics, Board

State of Play announcements

• Beast of Reincarnation

• Castlevania Belmont’s Curse

• Control Resonant

• Death Stranding 2

• God of War Trilogy remake

• John Wick

• Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered

• Legacy of Kain: Ascendence

• Marathon

• Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2

• Pragmata

• Silent Hill: Townfall

• Star Wars: Galactic Racer

• Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls

Delicious in Dungeon

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

On next week’s The Besties: Resident Evil: Requiem

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!

• 6 Years To Build BIG HOPS - Dev Dive Documentary (YouTube)

• Diablo IV PC Cooled With Real Human Blood Is Still Going Strong Two Years Later, Says Guy Who Won It (Aftermath)

• Styx: Blades of Greed review - a sneaky feast for stealth lovers (Eurogamer)

• Train! Stunt! Game! Denshattack! Has! A! Demo! On! Steam! (RPS)

• Mirror Stage (Bullet Points Monthly)

16 years ago, Limbo launched on Xbox Live.  It wasn’t the first puzzle-platformer, but its molasses-thick layer of fairy tale horror inspired a generation of grim, mostly wordless contemporaries. Arguably, the most successful of the bunch has been the Little Nightmare series, created by Tarsier Studios. Today’s game is the latest evolution of this sub-genre. With Reanimal, the Tarsier team adds co-op to the mix. Is playing with friends (or a computer companion) a clever addition or does it undermine the horror of being alone in a cruel, dark world? We have conflicting answers! Plus, The Besties pick through Sony’s recent State of Play and share their favorite announcements.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

How do we celebrate a new release from one of the most acclaimed indie game designers of all time? With Ron Funches, of course! The fifth Besty joins us to chat about Mewgenics, a tactics-RPG about cats, breeding, hoarding, and well… eugenics. Plus, Ron shares what it was like to approach his time on Traitors as a gamer.

(If you’d like to hear Plante’s interview with Edmund McMillen, it’s currently available on the Post Games Patreon and goes live on the main feed on Monday!)

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: This past Tuesday, The Resties talked about Relooted, the new heist game that lets you steal artifacts from Western museums and return them to the African continent. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 60 episodes!

Mewgenics, World of Warcraft, Romeo Is a Dead Man

RonFunches.com, Ron’s YouTube Channel

Wonder Man on Disney +

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

On next week’s The Besties: Reanimal

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!

• Rest in peace, Bayonetta (Mothership)

• The biggest gaming series are going indie. Could it save the games industry? (Polygon)

• Though Beast of Reincarnation is all about “loneliness”, Game Freak doesn’t want it to be sad: enter “warmth”, “reliability” and your dog pal (Eurogamer)

• High on Life 2 review (PCGamer)

• Yoshi Mario Galaxy Popcorn Bucket Looks Like He Ate A Crazy Edible (Kotaku)

How do we celebrate a new release from one of the most acclaimed indie game designers of all time? With Ron Funches, of course! The fifth Besty joins us to chat about Mewgenics, a tactics-RPG about cats, breeding, hoarding, and well… eugenics. Plus, Ron shares what it was like to approach his time on Traitors as a gamer.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined makes one of the longest, most ambitious RPGs into something more manageable: a swashbuckling sprint through a book of fractured fairy tales. Whether or not you like that change of temp likely depends on your history with the series. Meanwhile, Nioh 3’s first boss is the skill check from hell. Why would game designers build a wall between the player and the fun?

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: We just published the latest Besties Battle Bracket: the best video game hubs! And on Tuesday, Frushtick and Plante chat about the killer new heist game: Relooted. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 60 episodes!

Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined, Nioh 3

Fallout Season 2, Star Trek Starfleet Academy, Make Some Noise on Dropout, Nirvana: The Band: The Show (Update Day - Nirvana The Band The Show)

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

On next week’s The Besties: Mewgenics

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!

• Menace wants you dead (Jank)

• We spoke to queer Nigerian gamers about the identities they hide online (Mothership)

• GameShare just took me from interested in Switch 2’s beautiful co-op space opera Orbitals, to overwhelmingly excited (Eurogamer)

• My Madden simulation predicts a Patriots win in Super Bowl 2026, though I should point out I used the Madden game from 1988 (PCGamer)

• Nioh 3 review - A superb blend of soulslike splendour (RPS)

• Epic’s free games program is only going to get bigger (Polygon)

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined makes one of the longest, most ambitious RPGs into something more manageable: a swashbuckling sprint through a book of fractured fairy tales. Whether or not you like that change of temp likely depends on your history with the series. Meanwhile, Nioh 3’s first boss is the skill check from hell. Why would game designers build a wall between the player and the fun?

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Climbing games have become a trend over the past few years, ranging from the AAA mountains of Death Stranding to the indie polygonal crags of Peak. But no climbing game has been as loyal to the actual physical experience of ascending cold, hard rock as Cairn. The guys report on their time on the cliffs. Plus, Plante shares his feelings about the brilliant adventure game, Perfect Tides: Station to Station. You can hear more about that game in Plante’s recent interview with its creator, Meredith Gran.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, The Besties Battle Bracket returns to choose the best video game hub world! Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 60 episodes!

Cairn, Perfect Tides: Station to Station, Banjo Recompiled, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Archipelago.gg

Taskmaster Live

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

On next week’s The Besties: Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined

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!

• Modest Mouse - Float On but with the SM64 Soundfont (Something is Real)

• Konglelujah (DK Rap + Hallelujah) (skim a cube)

• Africa by Toto but it’s a bunch of Animal Crossing villagers trying their best (Mako Ray)

• 도치의 숲 (Doechii - DENIAL IS A RIVER + Animal Crossing ) (동숲윤)

Climbing games have become a trend over the past few years, ranging from the AAA mountains of Death Stranding to the indie polygonal crags of Peak. But no climbing game has been as loyal to the actual physical experience of ascending cold, hard rock as Cairn. The guys report on their time on the cliffs. Plus, Plante shares his feelings about the brilliant adventure game, Perfect Tides: Station to Station. You can hear more about that game in Plante’s recent interview with its creator, Meredith Gran.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

MIO: Memories in Orbit is competing in one of the most crowded genres in video games: the Metroidvania. Sorry, "Search Action Game." But trust us, this one's worth pulling from the pack. It blends the aesthetics of Nier, Citizen Sleeper, and oil paintings into something surprising and beautiful. Plus, the boys return to their Animal Crossing islands for the big Switch 2 update.

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: On Tuesday, The Resties talk about the new indie platformer, Big Hops, and then share their video game resolutions for 2026. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 60 episodes!

MIO: Memories in Orbit, Animal Crossing: New Horizons update, Amiga games emulation, Illusion of Gaia on SNES, Powerwash Simulator on Apple Arcade

The Boyfriend Season 2 on Netflix

This guy's bidet YouTube channel

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

On next week’s The Besties: Cairn

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!

• TR-49 review - Inkle does it again with an eerie hunt for answers within a mysterious archival machine (Eurogamer)

• My 5 favorite ‘cozy’ games that don’t actually look like cozy games (PCGamer)

• Pathologic 3 is a sickly horror story about time pretending to be an ‘easier’ game (RPS)

• How Bandcamp became the “headquarters” for video game soundtracks (AV Club)

MIO: Memories in Orbit is competing in one of the most crowded genres in video games: the Metroidvania. Sorry, "Search Action Game."  But trust us, this one's worth pulling from the pack. It blends the aesthetics of Nier, Citizen Sleeper, and oil paintings into something surprising and beautiful. Plus, the boys return to their Animal Crossing islands for the big Switch 2 update.

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

At first, we thought Terminator 2D: No Fate looked and felt like a flawless recreation of the movie tie-ins for the SNES. Then we watched gameplay of the actual Terminator 2 SNES game. Time does not favor the cash grabs.

In hindsight, developers Bitmap Bureau performed a modest miracle, perfectly recreating how we remember trashy retro games — without actually becoming one of them. This is the game that Terminator fans should remember

We talk about this side-scrolling confection, our fading memories of movie-to-game adaptations, and more!

Like the show? Leave a review!

Now on The Besties Bonus Patreon: Last Tuesday, the Resties made 10 bold predictions for video games in 2026 — and revisited their predictions from 2025. Been considering a subscription? The Patreon now features a back catalog of over 60 episodes!

Terminator 2D: No Fate, The Thing: Remastered, Board, Pixel Art Academy: Learn Mode, ActRaiser, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

There Is No Antimemetics Division

LJN

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.

Thanks for reading The Besties! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

On next week’s The Besties: MIO: Memories in Orbit / Pathologic 3

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 exclusive retro gaming history series, Past Games.

Besties Merch!

• Save the Green Planet | Official Trailer | 4K (Arrow Video)

• Dunkey’s Best of 2025 (videogamedunkey)

• My anticlimactic return to Animal Crossing: New Horizons four years after I last logged in (Eurogamer)

At first, we thought Terminator 2D: No Fate looked and felt like a flawless recreation of the movie tie-ins for the SNES. Then we watched gameplay of the actual Terminator 2 SNES game. Time does not favor the cash grabs.

In hindsight, developers Bitmap Bureau performed a modest miracle, perfectly recreating how we remember trashy retro games — without actually becoming one of them. This is the game that Terminator fans should remember

We talk about this side-scrolling confection, our fading memories of movie-to-game adaptations, and more!

Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!