Ball x Pit makes an incredible first impression. But whether it’s a great break from the frustrations of life or an overly powerful time suck will depend on your taste in games. The Besties explain why.

What if you combined the structure of Hades with the minute-to-minute gameplay of Castle Crashers? Absolum! The new game from the creators of Streets of Rage 4 is one of the best surprises in a year full of them. Plus, The Besties take a trip to 1960s Japan with Silent Hill f. It might not look like other entries in the series, but we explain why this is definitely a Silent Hill game.

The Besties were mixed on 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, but have found a lot to love in its new sequel, Ghost of Yotei. What makes this open-world Sony-exclusive stand out? Plus, Griffin updates the group on the brilliant remake of Final Fantasy Tactics. And we make some time to pick through the mailbag!

Baby Steps is the latest game from the creators of QWOP, Getting Over It, and Ape Out. This time, these connoisseurs of challenge have created a game about an awkward man who is transported from his parents’ basement to a fantastical mountain. His goal: reach the top. The challenge: learning to walk. Plus, Justin catches us up on the state of emulator handhelds. Like the show? Leave a review!

Borderlands 4 reimagines the series with more weapons and less snark. Will that be enough to appease longtime fans and attract skeptical newcomers? The Besties chat about the many positive tweaks and the one structural decision that impacts the entire experience. Plus, Justin talks about mobile Destiny, and Plante shares his opinions on a new co-op indie game.

After years of anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong has arrived. And it’s difficult! The Besties talk about what makes the game so appealing, the early spike in difficulty, and the appeal of discovering small upgrades in an inhospitable (but beautiful) world.

With practically every “important” PlayStation 2 game being remastered, remade, and reimagined, it wasn’t a surprise when Konami announced Metal Gear Solid Delta. The question wasn’t “would it exist?”, but “should it exist?” This week, The Besties discuss why Metal Gear Solid 3 benefits from a high-definition, low-tweak update. And they debate just how loyal a remake should be to its source material.

This week, The Besties wrangle fantastical beasts in the new herding game, Herdling. It’s a beautiful throwback to the atmospheric games of the PS2 era. But your enjoyment will depend on your gaming preferences. In the back half, we open the listener mailbag, and Justin shares his thoughts on an alternate, more modifiable video game industry.

Filmmaker and video essayist Patrick H. Willems makes sense of 30 years of video game movies. Learn how Mario went from box office poison to Hollywood's favorite blockbuster!

Sword of the Sea is the closest game yet to a Journey sequel. The new game from Giant Squid sends a silent, heroic character through a desert on a magical sword that fills the world with life-giving waters. It’s fun! It’s beautiful! It’s… sensual? In the back half, the Besties discuss the big news from Gamescom, including updates on Silksong and Bubsy 4D.

Mafia: The Old Country is one of the most visually extravagant AAA video games we’ve ever played. And yet, there’s very little game to be found in this strange, disjointed, but decadent tale of organized crime in early 20th-century Sicily. Why has the Mafia series struggled for decades to deliver on its ambitions? And how did this get made? The Besties unpack their complicated feelings after a week with this oddity. And because we always like to provide something fresh for you to try, we share a few new, enjoyable games.

Want a prehistoric riff on Metroidvanias? Crave a life-consuming multiplayer survival adventure? Yearn for the olden times of point-and-click adventures? This week, The Besties spotlight new delectable delicacies from across the video game spectrum. Music featured: "Primal Planet (Reprise)" by Michael Kirby Ward from Primal Planet: https://michaelkirbyward.bandcamp.com/

The first of two new Ninja Gaiden games has arrived! The developers of Blasphemous have produced a 2D retro-inspired action game worthy of the original entries on the NES. Are we living in a golden age of ninja games? Is there such a thing as too many ninjas? The Besties investigate!

Donkey Kong Bananza isn't the game we expected Nintendo would create to launch the Switch 2. But we're so glad they made this weird, wonderful, and inverted platformer. Who needs to jump when you can smash? Plus, what other Nintendo series deserve the AAA treatment?

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo looks and feels like a lost Game Boy Advance game, but with all of the quality of life improvements of a modern game. We talk about what makes it a great game to fill a weekend. In the back half, we share our feelings on the nerd event of the season: Superman!

This week, The Besties talk about Deltarune Chapters 1-4. Though a few more chapters are on the way, now’s a great time to try the Undertale follow-up. We explain why. Plus, the gang brings a bundle of indie games you shouldn’t overlook!

The Alters is one of the year’s most interesting games, blending experimental sci-fi narrative with a clever management simulation. The Besties talk about how the game’s mechanics clock together, why the story deserved more space, and what makes the developers’ use of AI so irritating. Plus, Plante played an awesome Persona/SMT spin-off

This week, the Besties deliver an episode on Death Stranding 2. It’s a big and heavy one, but we were happy to hike across the internet and leave it on your podcast app of choice. Plus, we dig into the mailbag!

Mario Kart World is getting all of the attention at the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. But if you look deeper into the Nintendo eShop, you’ll find another excellent racing game for a fraction of the price. Fast Fusion reimagines the futuristic fun of the Wipeout and F-Zero series. This week, The Besties discuss this $14.99 surprise, along with revisiting the Switch 2 following more time with the hardware.

Nintendo’s new console is finally here. With Plante undergoing a colonoscopy (which was all okay!), the crew invited long-time friend of the show Chris Grant to discuss the Switch 2. In the back half, the group shares the most promising games from Summer Game Fest. Chris Grant: https://bsky.app/profile/charstring.com