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It’s been a year with the PS5 Pro. Was it a smart upgrade or pure FOMO?
We break down the first year of Sony’s priciest console: what actually improved, who it suits, and whether we’d buy it today if we didn’t already own one. We’ll also ask where this leaves the PS6 conversation.
Plus, we’re catching up on The Outer Worlds 2 and how it’s shaping up against our expectations.
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best PlayStation Exclusive Game!
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
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It’s our Halloween Special, and we’re naming our personal Gaming Pile of Shame… the games we still haven’t played or beaten on the backlog, which has grown monstrous and out of control! Nowhere to hide, it’s time to expose just how depraved our buying habits have been with video games in 2025! (Insert evil laughter and screams).
Speaking of buying video games, we’ve got your November Games Roundup to showcase what games you need on your radar this month, as well as an in-depth chat about Halo returning… and do we care??
We’re also sharing fresh impressions on Dispatch, Ninja Gaiden 4, PowerWash Simulator 2 and more!
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we crown the Best Terrible Game… the glorious disasters we can’t help but enjoy.
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
(Go give Sean love as he knocked the Halloween special production out of the park!)
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This week we’re getting honest about taste shifts: the game genres we’ve grown into (and the ones we’ve quietly fallen out of).
From rogue-likes and tactics to racing sims and survival horror, we list the genres that finally clicked and the ones that just don’t hit like they used to… and dig into the why: time, mood, mechanics, and life-changing around us.
We also share our impressions on what could be our new obsession in Ball X Pit, why Baby Steps may actually be a GOTY contender, Final Fantasy Tactics joy, as well as dig into what is our ever-growing backlog with the final tidal wave of games arriving this silly season. We also discuss the latest news from Xbox and their plans for next-gen… are they reading the room?
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Gateway Game, the one that converted us to a genre we didn’t think was for us!
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
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This week, we catch up on what we’ve been playing including Ghost of Yotei, Baby Steps, and Hades II, then dive into our main topic: Sleeping Giants — the game devs who’ve gone quiet or still haven’t dropped the banger we’re all waiting for. Who has the big pressure on and who has the biggest opportunity to be the next thing in gaming?
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Character Action Game...the slick, stylish, skill-ceiling monsters that never leave your muscle memory!
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, we’re slowing things right down.
Between Ghost of Yotei, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Hades II and Silent Hill f — we’ve been bouncing between chaos and calm. But it’s got us asking: Is it time we all embraced slow gaming?
We're unpacking what “slow gaming” even means, why it might be exactly what we need, and how it could help us actually finish our backlogs without burning out.
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re looking at games that reward you for taking it slow…
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, we’re reacting to the Xbox Game Pass price hikes and asking the big question… Is it still the best deal in gaming?
We also go deep on Hades II to share our impressions of what may already be a serious GOTY contender, as well as our thoughts on Silent Hill f as spooky season gets off to a flying start.
And in this week’s main topic, we are chatting about Sequels that outshine the original, and make a few predictions about what the next best sequel in gaming may be!
Finally, in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Game Within a Game, those clever little side distractions that sometimes outshine the main game!
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In this episode:
- Hades II impressions
- Silent Hill f Review in progress
- Xbox Game Pass price hikes: what it means for gamers, value & choice
- Main topic: Sequels That Surpass the Original
- Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Game Within a Game
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, it’s announcement overload — the PlayStation State of Play just dropped and we’re diving into every reveal, trailer, and potential wishlist addition. But with so many games dropping every month, it begs the question: Where do we even find the time?
We’re taking a beat to ask: how do you actually fit all these games into adult life?
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Game With No Combat
🎧 Let us know which State of Play game actually made it to your mental backlog
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
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This week, we’re diving into a topic that’s been bubbling for a while:
Do we still trust video game reviews?
From inflated scores to rushed embargo day hot takes, we’re asking what actually makes a good review, and whether we need to rethink how we consume them.
We also give our verdict on The Knightling, share our continued progress with Hollow Knight Silksong, and talk about how it feels to sit with a game for longer than the review cycle demands.
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Replayable Game — the ones you just keep coming back to, no matter how many years pass.
🎧 Still trust reviews? Or do you go full gut instinct? Let us know on BlueSky or by email!
In this episode:
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Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re asking the question Hollow Knight fans have waited years to hear:
Could Silksong actually be a Game of the Year contender?
We dig into the latest hype, our expectations, and whether the long wait has helped or hurt.
Then, in our main topic, we look ahead: What will be the next meme-hype game?
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Indie Game That Went Mainstream – the ones that broke out and changed the game.
🎧 Got a pick for the next viral gaming hit? Let us know on BlueSky or by email!
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s officially silly season, and this week we’re taking a beat to ask: What really drives your next game to play?
Is it FOMO? A glowing recommendation? The algorithm? Social pressure? Or just… vibes?
We’ve all got limited time and more games than ever — so how do we actually make that next pick? This week’s main topic is personal, chaotic, and maybe a bit too relatable.
We’re also reacting to the 007: State of Play Special, sharing our impressions of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, giving verdicts on Metal Gear Solid Delta and Gears Reloaded, and checking in on how we’re faring in the middle of the flood.
Plus: Silksong FOMO, review code chaos, and in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Spy Game ever.
🎧 Got your own chaotic game-picking habits? Let us know on BlueSky or by email!
In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re deep-diving into the world of remakes—what makes them feel right, and when do they just feel… off? With Metal Gear Solid Delta and Gears of War Reloaded hitting shelves, we’re asking the big questions: Should a remake preserve everything that worked back then? Or are there things—story, tone, even design—that should stay in the past?
We break down how modern remakes try to balance nostalgia with modern expectations, and whether it’s possible to truly update a classic without alienating the people who loved it in the first place.
Plus, in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Metroidvania Game
🎧 What’s your take on remakes—should they evolve with the player, or stick to the script?
In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re fresh off Gamescom 2025 with our early reactions and a deeper look at what makes a stand-out games showcase.
With announcements like Resident Evil Requiem, Black Myth 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hell is Us, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and more, we’ll talk about what worked, what missed the mark, and what games we walk away excited for.
We’ll also ask: what makes a great showcase? Is it surprises, pacing, tone, or just lots of big names in trailers?
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re ranking the Best Art Style Game, because sometimes it's simply about doing things in style!
In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, we’re pulling back the curtain on our gaming backlogs—no more hiding behind those unfinished games. Scott and Liam are laying it all out there, revealing every game they’ve got on the backlog, the progress they’ve made (or haven’t made), and just how likely they are to finally finish them in the inaugural Year of the Log.
We’ll also dive into our thoughts on the highly anticipated Hell is Us, our thoughts on Battlefield 6, if Liam is still hyped after playing Shinobi Art of Vengeance and Scott’s ongoing quest in The Witcher 3. Are we making real progress or just adding to the pile?
Plus, we’ll go head-to-head in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, where we debate the Best Game You’ll Never 100%. Which games will you never fully complete, and why? Tune in for some candid and fun discussions.
🎧 Are you tackling your gaming backlog, or is it growing by the day? Let us know your backlogged games and if you think you’ll ever finish them!
In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music and production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s time to look forward – and backward. With PS6 specs allegedly leaking , we sit down to ask whether gamers are anywhere near ready for the next generation. We review the PS5 and Xbox Series X era, asking what delivered and what disappointed. Are seven‑year cycles still appropriate when PS6 and a PS6 handheld could release in late 2027 or early 2028?
We’ll also cover the upcoming games ready to assault our backlogs – from Mafia: The Old Country and Gears of War Reloaded to Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, Borderlands 4 and Silent Hill F – before going head‑to‑head in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown to name the Best RPG Shooter game.
🎧 Are you ready to trade in the current gen? Let us know on social or in the comments below!
In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music and production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
We get real this week in what may be our most heartfelt main topic yet - asking if video games hit harder since becoming parents. Is it being more in touch with our emotions or simple sleep deprivation?
We also give final scores on Donkey Kong Bananza and Death Stranding 2, before catching up on how summertime has been the scourge of our efforts in the Year of the Log!
Also, on this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we finally go large as we crown the best Open World Game!
🎧 Do games hit harder for you as a parent? Let us know on social or in the comments below!
In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music and production by Sean Murray - barehandsdesigns.com
This week on the Pixel Parents Podcast, Alex from The Mimic’s Veil returns to talk Donkey Kong Bananza — the bold new platformer swinging into the hearts of a new generation. Could this be their Mario 64 moment?
On our main topic, inspired by the new Fantastic Four: First Steps, we each unveil our Gaming Fantastic Four — the four games that define us. It’s personal. It’s chaotic. And it’s guaranteed to spark debate. And on the Pixel Picks Showdown, things can only get better as we name the Best Remake Game!
🎧 What’s in your Gaming Fantastic Four? Let us know on social or in the comments below!
In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music and production by Sean Murray - barehandsdesigns.com
Check out Alex on The Mimic’s Veil - https://open.spotify.com/show/7hQ7STWDvH0RYWC7cVTWgX
We’re more than halfway through the year, so it’s time to ask the big question: what’s our Game of the Year… so far? We break down the best games we’ve played in 2025 and predict who might take the crown by December.
We’re also celebrating the return of skateboarding, reviewing our favourite delivery simulator, and going all-in on a nostalgic brawl to crown the Best Gamecube game in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown. All this plus:
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Music and production by Sean Murray - barehandsdesigns.com
We sit down for a chat with legendary games composer, Grant Kirkhope and discuss his creative process, legacy and more! We also catch up on all things Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. And much more. Fellow gamers, WELCOME TO THE VIDEO ERA OF PIXEL PARENTS!
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Music and production by Sean Murray - barehandsdesigns.com
Who really likes a follow quest? This week it’s all about getting the big scythe out as we name all the gaming tropes we’d banish forever! Scott also has yet another platformer review, and it’s one to keep an eye on! Strap in, it’s a bold one! All this plus:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music and production by Sean Murray - barehandsdesigns.com
It’s Death Stranding 2’s launch week, so what better time to take a look back at the career of one of Video Gaming’s genuine auteurs? Scott also shares his verdict on the return of an old classic and we discuss our approach to building up to a big new release. All this plus:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music and production by Sean Murray - barehandsdesigns.com