High Scores High Stakes

Game decompilation used to take teams of programmers years. Now AI tools can rebuild a game's code in weeks, and one of the biggest reverse-engineering communities has just shut down because it couldn't keep up. In this episode, we dig into what AI decompilation means for PlayStation, the homebrew scene, and who gets to play, mod and own games in the future. Preservation, piracy or access for all?...

This isn't a ranking of the best racers ever. It's the games they love most, and why. From arcade classics to modern sims, Tomahawk and Luvva count down their favourites and explain what keeps pulling them back. Expect SEGA Rally, Blur, Mario Kart, and plenty more. What's your favourite racing game? Let us know your top 5 in the comments. Make sure to subscribe, follow, and join the community! www...

Zach Cregger's Resident Evil just became the franchise's biggest opening weekend ever; but is it actually the best Resident Evil movie, or just the least bad one? In this episode, we're reviewing Zach Cregger's 2026 Resident Evil reboot; following Bryan, a medical courier caught in the middle of a zombie outbreak in Raccoon City. After six previous attempts to adapt the games, we break down whethe...

In this episode, we're diving into Big Walk, the 2026 co-op exploration game from the studio behind Untitled Goose Game. With up to 12 players trekking through an open-world bushland, solving puzzles, and communicating in increasingly chaotic ways, we break down what makes it work, what doesn't, and whether it's the co-op experience it's been hyped up to be. Have you played Big Walk with friends?...

Hideo Kojima built his legacy on Metal Gear Solid — then got dropped by Konami, split from Sony, and built his own studio from scratch. So does he still have it, or has the magic finally run out? In this episode, we're breaking down Kojima's entire career — the games, the fallout, and the business behind it all. From his genre-defining hits to his messy exit from Konami and eventual split from Son...

Resident Evil has no shortage of characters: but we are here to give our definitive Top 5 lists to name the best ones! It's Tomahawk vs Luvva; each with their Top 5 Character lists; we need a winner and you are the judge! In this episode Tomahawk and Luvva name and rank their favourite Resident Evil characters and go head-to-head defending their choices. With fan favourites, under-rated heroes...

Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Until Dawn 2, Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance and more; PlayStation's September State of Play just dropped and we're breaking down every announcement! With new game announcements and new updates from PlayStation Studios and third-party partners; we're sharing the big reveals, our hot takes & letting you know exactly what we're excited for... ...Un...

The Division and The Division 2; two of Ubisoft’s most divisive looter-shooters. Are they still worth your time in 2026? In this deep dive, we’re revisiting both games in The Division series; the eerie, quarantined streets of New York in the original, and the political chaos of Washington D.C. in the sequel. We break down what each game got right, what didn’t hold up, and whether the franchise des...

The ultimate competitive PlayStation gaming podcast. Every week, MrLuvvaLuvva, Cardinal Smith, and Tomahawk go head-to-head in epic PlayStation and PS5 gaming challenges - all in pursuit of points, pride, and the legendary High Scores High Stakes Cup!

The Last of Us, Hogwarts Legacy & Silent Hill contain three of the most iconic schools in all of video gaming; but they are not alone! Join Luvva & Tomahawk as they discuss the very best schools in gaming. With real life schools finally opening their doors after along Summer Holiday, we’re diving into gaming’s greatest (and sometimes scariest) classroom settings. From the Last of Us’ aband...

Which Metal Gear Solid game is actually the best? We ranked all 5 mainline games from the worst to the best in an attempt to settle one of gaming's biggest debates; which Metal Gear Solid game deserves the top spot? From the Original Metal Gear Solid and its undeniable PlayStation legacy all the way to The Phantom Pain. We compare all the numbered entries, debate the highs and lows of each tit...

Being a parent means gaming time can be hard to come by. After a full day of work, parenting, and everything else life throws at you, sometimes you just want to sit down, switch off, and play something that hits the spot. In this short episode of High Scores High Stakes , we’re talking about the games that work perfectly for parents — whether you’ve only got 20 minutes for a quick drop-in/drop-out...

What games deserve a sequel, remake, reboot, or adaptation? In this episode of High Scores High Stakes , we're joined by husband-and-wife gaming duo Flimosh and SierraKilo89 to talk about the games we'd love to see brought back to life. From long-forgotten classics that deserve modern remakes to dream sequels that should already exist, we dive into our gaming wish lists and debate which cu...

Bennett Foddy's Baby Steps is brutal, slow, and deliberately frustrating. So why can't we stop playing it? We dig into what the game is really doing to players, why it works, and what it says about pain as design. In this Deep Dive, we break down Baby Steps from every angle: the design choices that make failure feel personal, why the game continuously punishes you, and how the game is an e...

Can the right video game actually help you survive a heatwave? In this episode of High Scores High Stakes , we each pick the games we'd recommend for the hottest days of the year—but not always for the reasons you'd expect. From snowy landscapes and water parks to psychological horror, our choices are based on one simple goal: finding the perfect game to beat the heat. Expect plenty of deb...

The year isn't over... but the race for Game of the Year 2026 is already heating up. In this episode of High Scores High Stakes , Luvva & Tomahawk look back at the biggest releases of the year so far and debate which games have earned a place in the Game of the Year conversation. From blockbuster AAA releases to standout indie gems, we discuss the titles that have impressed us most, the bi...

Following the dramatic conclusion of Season 6, Episode 169, Mr Luvva Luvva and Tomahawk take a break from the competitive gaming to tackle one of the biggest conversations in gaming. Xbox has announced another wave of layoffs. Studios continue to close. More publishers are pushing towards an all-digital future. Meanwhile, discussions around the future of physical games on PlayStation have gamers w...

Is Stray really just "the game where you play as a cat"... or is there something far deeper beneath its furry exterior? In this episode of High Scores High Stakes , we take a deep dive into one of the most celebrated indie games of recent years, exploring why Stray resonated with so many players and whether it deserves its reputation as a modern classic. From its unique feline gameplay a...

The dust has settled after the dramatic conclusion of Season 6. Now it's time to ask a bigger question... What has gone wrong at Xbox? In this episode of High Scores High Stakes, Mr Luvva Luvva and Tomahawk dive headfirst into the ongoing discourse surrounding Microsoft's gaming division. From studio closures and exclusive titles to Game Pass, hardware sales, and the overall direction of the brand...

The Season 6 Cup comes down to one final challenge. In Episode 166 of High Scores High Stakes, Mr Luvva Luvva and Tomahawk enter the final episode of the season tied at the top of the league table. Just behind them sits Cardinal Smith , only 10 points adrift and still in with a chance of stealing the championship. The game? Baby Steps. The challenge sounds straightforward: walk as far as possible....

The latest PlayStation State of Play is here, and there’s plenty to discuss. In this episode of High Scores High Stakes , the team break down the biggest announcements, surprise reveals, standout trailers, and talking points from Sony’s latest showcase. From highly anticipated releases to unexpected reveals, we dive into everything that caught our attention and discuss what these announcements cou...

With World Cup 2026 right around the corner we ask who would make the ultimate football team from the world of video games? In this Side Quest episode of High Scores High Stakes, Tomahawk is joined by special guest TheMightyRyan to build their dream football (soccer) starting XI using characters from across gaming history. Every position is up for debate. From goalkeepers and defenders to midfield...

The party assembles for a deep dive review into the chaotic magical world of The Spell Brigade. In Episode 163 of High Scores High Stakes, Tomahawk, Mr Luvva Luvva, and Cardinal Smith discuss their time with the co-op roguelike where teamwork, spell combinations, and absolute chaos collide. From swarms of enemies to accidental catastrophes caused by friendly fire, the crew break down what makes Th...

Video game adaptations used to be a disaster… but are they finally worth watching? In this episode of High Scores High Stakes, Tomahawk is joined by special guest Hooke to dive into the long and chaotic history of video game adaptations. From infamous flops and questionable casting choices to modern successes that are finally winning over gamers, this episode explores why video game movies struggl...

Game development is changing; have Indie games become more important than ever? In this solo episode of High Scores High Stakes , Mr Luvva Luvva explores the growing impact of indie titles on the modern gaming industry and discusses whether smaller studios are now delivering the creativity, risk-taking, and originality that many players feel AAA gaming has lost. From the decline of traditional AA...