Not-E3 is here! Hot off the heels of the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase, the boys sit down to record their reviews of June’s three big presentations: Xbox’s show, Summer Game Fest, and PlayStation’s State of Play. They discuss why this was a good but not great year, what the announcements mean for 2025 as a whole, and their favorite trailers, including Clockwork Revolution, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and Super Meat Boy 3D.
2025 Summer Showcase Predictions
Geoff Keighley Summer is about to begin, so Jake and Sam make their predictions for the showcase season, from Summer Game Fest to the Xbox Games Showcase. Will Nintendo or PlayStation announce anything? Will Bioshock 4 finally be announced? The brothers give their best guesses!
Toys-to-Life Games: The Good, The Bad, and The Amiibo
Jake and Sam take a break from contemporary news this week to look back at toys-to-life games. Why were they a hit? Why did they fizzle out so quickly? Could we ever see a toys-to-life revival? The boys break down everything from the heavy hitters (Skylanders, Disney Infinity, LEGO Dimensions) to the weirdos (Starlink, Telepods, Sick Bricks) to Amiibo, which is still doing its thing.
May 2025 Check-in (GTA VI Trailer, Xbox Prices, PlayStation’s teamLFG, and More!)
The past few weeks have been very busy, so the brothers take an opportunity to breathe and catch up. From GTA VI to Polygon’s sale, the boys chat through everything they’ve missed. NOTE: This was recorded prior to Giant Bomb going independent. Jake is very happy for them.
Top 25 Nintendo Switch Games (Part 2)
The brothers return to their 25 favorite Nintendo Switch games list and rank them to celebrate the end of the console generation. If that wasn’t enough, they also discuss pre-ordering the Switch 2, Marathon’s reveal, and Ghost of Yōtei’s quiet release date announcement.
Top 25 Nintendo Switch Games (Part 1)
The Nintendo Switch 2 is coming soon, so it’s time to celebrate the first Nintendo Switch’s legendary catalog by building a list of the top 25 Nintendo Switch games. As if that wasn’t enough, the boys conduct a tariff-induced venting session and share the results of their Nintendo Switch 2 predictions.
Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Reactions
The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct finally happened. And the brothers had a sleepover so they could watch it together! They break down everything from the price point to Nintendo GameChat to Mario Kart World to Donkey Kong Bananza. The entire episode is dedicated to the Switch 2 Direct, so no need for timecodes!
Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Predictions
Nintendo is about to blow the doors off the Switch 2 with its April 2 Direct, so the boys sit down and predict the system’s launch lineup, launch-year games, hardware quirks, and more.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Review
Sam is busy at GDC, so Jake is solo-reviewing The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. He breaks down his thoughts on Zelda’s first-ever playable adventure.
The 2025 Game Developer Power Ranking (Ranking The Top 35)
Who are the best developers in the games industry today? Jake and Sam answer that question by power ranking the top 35 studios (based on the list they built two episodes ago). Check out the final list below the timecodes if you like spoilers!
Monster Hunter Wilds Impressions
Jake and Sam ventured to the Forbidden Lands to take on nature’s greatest beasts and lived to tell the tale. That’s right; for the first time ever, Jake and Sam jump into the world of Monster Hunter and share their impressions of Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom’s newest entry in the historic action franchise!
The 2025 Game Developer Power Ranking (Picking The Top 35)
If sports can power rank teams and The Big Picture can power rank actors, then Jake and Sam can power rank game developers. The boys kick off a two-part episode to build 2025’s definitive power ranking of game studios by narrowing down their list to 35 contenders.
PlayStation State of Play February 2025 Review
PlayStation stepped up to the podium and let players know what they can expect in 2025. The brothers discuss the latest State of Play, including the many upcoming character action games and Saros, the surprise first-party announcement.
We Pitch and Cast the Live-Action Zelda Movie
Nintendo and Sony Pictures are making a live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, but that opens up a Breath of the Wild-sized amount of questions. What game should the movie adapt? Should it be standalone or the start of a saga? Who should play Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf? The brothers answer these questions and more with their pitches for the movie.
Has The PS5 and Xbox Series Generation Been Disappointing?
The PS5 and Xbox Series generation is most likely halfway done, which means it’s time for a check-in. Has this generation lived up to the hype, or has it been disappointing compared to the PS4 and Xbox One? Sam and Jake break down the first four years of the current generation and find out.
The Super Mosher 64 - Our Best Games List (2024 Edition)
It’s time for Jake and Sam’s annual take on the “Game of the Year” episode: The Super Mosher 64. The brothers revisit, debate, and revise the list of their 64 all-time favorite games based on the best games they played in 2024.
Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal Reactions
Nintendo finally revealed the successor to the Nintendo Switch, and unsurprisingly, it’s the Nintendo Switch 2. Jake and Sam get together in person to break down everything in the short announcement trailer, including the increased size, mouse functionality, and the next Mario Kart!
2025 Fantasy Critic Gaming Draft
Jake and Sam kick off their annual OpenCritic competition with the 2025 Fantasy Critic draft. They pick the first 14 games and first two counter picks of the year in an attempt to build the strongest lineup of releases, with top contenders including Monster Hunter Wilds, Elden Ring Nightreign, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Ghost of Yōtei.
2025 Predictions and Resolutions (Plus, 2024 Recap)
Happy New Year! Following the podcast’s yearly tradition, Jake and Sam predict what will happen in 2025 and make their New Year’s resolutions. Will GTA VI be delayed? What will launch with the Switch 2? Peek into the future and find out.
The Game Awards 2024 Review and Predictions Results
Geoff Keighley lived up to the hype of The Game Awards’ 10th anniversary show, so after 3.5+ hours of gaming goodness, what excited the brothers most? And how accurate were their announcement and award predictions? Jake and Sam have the answers on their last episode of 2024.