Game Clique

It’s the crossover you didn’t know you needed. Game Clique is taking the viral "Pop the Balloon" dating show format and bringing it straight into the gaming multiverse! This week, we invited a lineup of special guest contestants to test to see if they can recognize whether they're about to commit to a GOTY contender or pick up a Metacritic flop just from vague descriptions of video g...

Forget the massive marketing budgets and the $70 price tags. It is officially indie season. Steam Next Fest is back for June 2026, and the Clique has been in the trenches all week. We took the time to sift through hundreds of free, playable demos from upcoming independent developers so you don't have to. If you are looking for the next breakout hit before it blows up on Twitch and TikTok, this...

Geoff Keighley is getting the stage ready at the Dolby Theater, which means it’s time for the Clique to drop our official Summer Game Fest 2026 predictions. But let’s be real... our veteran panel is so dialed into the industry right now that we aren't even calling these predictions anymore. We are calling them SPOILERS. If you want to be surprised this June, look away now. We are breaking down...

Annapurna Interactive is back at it again with the "vibes," but the Clique is here to see if there’s actually a game under all that style. This week, we’re doing a deep dive into Mixtape, the neon-soaked, music-driven narrative adventure that has the entire internet arguing. Is it a "coming-of-age masterpiece" or just a glorified Spotify playlist with some minigames? We’re tack...

The 2026 gaming calendar is moving fast, and the Clique vets are back to bring order to the chaos. It’s time for an update to our 2026 Power Rankings, our definitive, ever-evolving list of the Top 10 games released this year. We’ve had some massive heavy hitters drop since our last check-in, and the leaderboard is looking completely different. Can Resident Evil Requiem hold onto the top spot, or h...

It’s time to check the scoreboards! In this episode of Game Clique , we are doing a massive check-in on our 2026 Fantasy Critic league. For those who don't know, Fantasy Critic is basically fantasy football, but for video games. We drafted unreleased games at the start of the year, and our teams earn points based on their official Metacritic/OpenCritic review scores. Right now, the group chat...

Happy Women’s History Month! It’s March, which means the madness isn't just on the hardwood... it’s on the sticks. For this special episode of Game Clique, we’ve compiled a definitive list of 32 iconic Black female video game characters and thrown them into a ruthless, winner-takes-all March Madness-inspired tournament bracket. To help us decide who truly has the ultimate "Main Character...

We’re taking the show on the road! The Clique vet panel touched down at BlerdCon 2026 in Arlington, VA, for a live, unfiltered debate on the state of Black representation in video games. With a packed auditorium of cosplayers, creators, and convention-goers, we tackled the ultimate question: Who are the most iconic Black video game characters of all time? The room was divided as we revisited the h...

Steam Next Fest 2026 is finally here, and the Clique did the heavy lifting for you! With hundreds of demos hitting the store, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. Our panel spent the week rooting through the library to find the absolute gems you need to wishlist right now. We’re breaking down our top recommendations that actually lived up to the hype. We’re talking about the high-octane action of...

The Clique is putting the industry on notice. We took a look at OkayPlayer’s list of the "30 Most Iconic Black Characters in Video Game History," and let’s say... we had some notes. While we show love to the pioneers, we sat down to do what we do best: refine the rankings. We’ve narrowed it down to the  10 most influential Black characters  and put them in their rightful order, from the...

We’re looking into the crystal ball for  2026 . This year is already feeling like a fever dream, so the Clique decided to sit down and place our bets on what’s actually going to go down in the industry. From the "will-they-won't-they" drama of  Grand Theft Auto VI  to the financial soap opera over at  Ubisoft , we aren't holding back. Grab some milk, because the takes are spicy....

Forget fantasy football, the Clique just drafted VIDEO GAMES like our lives depended on it... because "something" does depend on it. Resident Evil Requiem, Marvel’s Wolverine, GTA VI, Saros… yeah, it got heated. We're talking trash, making bold picks, and praying our league mates don’t snatch my sleeper hits. 👀 This is the Fantasy Critic Draft Episode , where bragging rights are ear...

It’s that time again... Game Clique is locking in the 2025 Power Rankings, and you already know the debates got spicy . From the hilarious story of Dispatch , to the controversial long-awaited Metroid Prime 4 Beyond , to the chaotic pocket monster drama in Pokémon Z‑A , we’re putting every contender under the microscope. And yes, we had to talk about the haunting vibes of Silent Hill f and the art...

Forget the Game Awards, bruh. The Clique pulled up with The Cliquies; our own chaotic, hilarious, and brutally honest award show celebrating the highs (and lows) of gaming in 2025. We’re talking: 🏆 Best Gaming Moment of the Year 🤦🏾 Most Disappointing Game 🎉 Best Game of the Year that None of Us Played 💀 Gaming Trend That Needs to STOP 🔥 Most Attractive In-Game Character No corporate scripts,...

We break down our predictions for this year’s Game Awards 2025. From Game of the Year (GOTY) to Best Fighting Game, Best Score/Music, Best RPG, and more, we’re diving deep into every category that matters! We don’t just talk winners... we also call out the biggest snubs that deserved recognition but got left off the list. Expect passionate debates, hot takes, and plenty of laughs as we celebrate t...

🚨 WE'RE BREAKING DOWN EVERY SECOND OF DISPATCH! 🚨 Three brains, one wild ride. We kick things off with our brutally honest reviews of Dispatch and settle the eternal question: does it deserve a spot among Telltale’s greatest adventure games, or is it just another “press X to doubt”? Then buckle up for a spoiler‑packed breakdown of Episodes 1–8: every twist, every cliffhanger, every WTF momen...

Arc Raiders Impressions – We couldn’t stop playing. From epic co‑op battles to stunning sci‑fi visuals, this game had us hooked. Kirby Air Riders Preview – This upcoming release left us underwhelmed. After spending time with the preview build, we share why the chaotic design and mechanics didn’t click for us and what we hope will be improved before launch. Game Clique Awards Nominees – Our very fi...

This week, we packed our bags, hit Seattle, and pulled up to  Halo Studios  to get hands-on with  Halo Campaign Evolved . Was it nostalgia? Was it chaos? Was it BOTH? 👀 Then we switch gears into something a little different: our  first impressions of the cozy horror indie gem  Fractured Blooms ... yes, it’s somehow both “aww” and “ahhh!” at the same time. But here’s the real talk:  leaving review...

The Clique is back on Discord, updating the  Power Rankings , our running Top 10 Games of the Year list that refuses to wait until December like everybody else. Why crown GOTY once when you can argue about it every other month? This week, we’re debating whether  Hades 2  is already a lock for the throne, if  Sonic Racing Crossworlds  is secretly a better party game than Mario Kart, and whether  Gh...

We're joined by my guy Groovy from The Posse as we dive deep into two of the most anticipated titles in gaming: Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong. We break down what’s got us hyped, what’s got us skeptical, and why these games might redefine their genres. But that’s not all... things get heated when we step into the arena for Trivia Souls, our one-of-a-kind gaming trivia showdown inspired b...

We kick things off with a glowing review of Hollow Knight: Silksong, and the verdict is clear... the wait was worth it. From its fluid combat to the hauntingly beautiful world design, Silksong delivers on every promise and sets a new standard for indie Metroidvania games. But the heart of the episode dives into a bigger question: Are modern video games too challenging? Sparked by the release of Si...

CharmCityChamp, Hinokaga, and CandieMoon go head-to-head-to-head in a lively debate over the  Top 10 Best Role-Playing Games of All Time . From the timeless classic  Chrono Trigger  to the stylish storytelling of  Persona 5 Royal , and the bold, immersive world of  Expedition 33 , no title is safe from praise or critique. Expect in-depth explorations of what makes an RPG truly unforgettable, engag...

It’s late August, the air is buzzing with hype, and Hinokaga and Candiemoon are about to have the ultimate video game prediction battle. We’re going head-to-head to lock in our Metacritic score predictions for some of the biggest releases dropping the last week of August 2025: - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater 🐍 — Can this remake stealth its way to legendary status - Kirby and the Forgotten L...

What’s good, Clique! This week we’re serving up a stacked episode for all our fighting game heads and ninja action lovers. We kicked things off with the crew by digging into Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, the latest blood-soaked reboot that’s pulling no punches. Think precision steel meets punishing difficulty. Then it was time to go full shinobi mode. We got an early look at Shinobi: Art of Vengeance,...

Join the Clique as they reconvene for the latest Power Rankings, revisiting and reshuffling their hottest contenders of 2025. Expect fiery debates, surprise entries, and nostalgia trips as we break down the strengths and weaknesses of the season’s biggest titles. Throughout the episode, they dive into titles such as Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World, Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur Expeditio...