Gametalk

Episode 238 The Game Awards have come and gone, and now we analyze the results! We discuss the big winners of the evening, as well as the new games that were revealed at the show. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Red Dead Redemption 2, Persona 5 Royal). This episode was recorded in December 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase. Chat us up in Discord...

Episode 237 2025 is coming to a close, and it's time to take stock of the games we played this year. Today, we discuss every single game we played this year and form a list of the top 16 games, which we will pit against each other at the end of the year in a tournament bracket to determine Game of the Year! As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Hitman VR, League of Legends, Until Da...

Episode 236 On today's very special episode, we welcome Jim and Chris, the creators of TerraClash! TerraClash is an adaptable deckbuilding fantasy RPG that offers tons of replayability and fun with friends (or solo)! We chat with Jim and Chris about the design of TerraClash, their interesting backgrounds, how the game came to be, and much more! As always, we conclude with the games we're p...

Episode 235 The Game Awards 2025 nominees have been announced! What becomes evident after looking at the nominees is that 2025 is an extremely strong year for video games. Today, we predict the winners and losers, as well as predict some announcements that may be made at the show. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Cyberpunk 2077). This episode was recorded in November 2025....

Episode 234 After months and months of rumors, Valve has finally dropped the bomb - new hardware is coming! With the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and new Steam Controller finally revealed, Valve looks poised to disrupt the status quo in a big way...if they nail the pricing. Today, we analyze Valve's latest hardware, speculate on the price, and compare the hardware to its contemporaries. As alwa...

Episode 233 Over the decades, some game franchises have established themselves as champions of quality gaming, while others are more hit or miss with their entries. From Zelda to Mario to Resident Evil to Castlevania, we give our thoughts on all these storied video game franchises and many more. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Europa Universalis V, ARC Raiders, PEAK). This...

Episode 232 Nintendo Switch 2 has been on the market for a little under half a year, we have some concrete sales data, and spoiler alert - it's a juggernaut. Today, we examine the hardware and software numbers at this very early stage in the Switch 2 lifecycle, and then offer our opinions on the device and its ecosystem after using it for the past several months. As always, we conclude with th...

Episode 231 From Nintendo vs Sega to PlayStation vs Xbox, the so-called "console wars" have been raging for decades. Now, with the announcement of Halo coming to PlayStation, is it finally time to put the idea of console warring to rest? Where does Xbox go from here, and what could their future hardware look like? As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Battlefield 6, Mo...

Episode 230 Electronic Arts (EA) is being purchased by a private equity consortium for 55 billion dollars. Today, we discuss the implications of this purchase - what will happen to high profile EA studios like Bioware and Dice? Will EA's new owners "trim the fat" and reduce EA to Madden/FIFA factory? How will Saudi Arabia's influence impact future EA games? Also, we talk about no...

Episode 229 The seemingly unstoppable downward spiral of Xbox continues with the latest salvo of bad news - a drastic price increase for Game Pass. Today, we analyze how the Activision deal ultimately led to Xbox's current situation and examine the current state of Xbox and Game Pass after the price hike. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Ghost of Yōtei, Sonic Adventure...

Episode 228 Sony's September State of Play has come and gone, and in addition to hotly anticipated first party games like Wolverine and Saros, they had an good variety of games to show. After we discuss the State of Play highlights and briefly go over the latest Monster Hunter Wilds update, we dive deep into another standout game released this year: Hades II. As always, we conclude with the ga...

Episode 227 With the proliferation of modern graphics technologies like ray tracing, we increasingly see AAA games struggle to maintain respectable resolutions and frame rates. Silent Hill F and Borderlands 4 are the latest examples of new games using modern technologies that have image/performance issues. At what point do consumers decide they've had enough and demand better optimized product...

Episode 226 We have completed Silksong, and what a game it was. Today, we talk about our full, spoilery, in-depth thoughts on the bosses, lore, and impactful moments from the game. Then, we briefly give our impressions of the latest Nintendo Direct. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Mario Kart World, Fortnite). This episode was recorded in September 2025. Intro and outro mus...

Episode 225 Silksong is out and it proves once again that Team Cherry stands at the pinnacle of their craft. We give our (relatively) spoiler-free impressions of the game and gush about the world design, new mechanics, and much more. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Victoria 3). This episode was recorded in September 2025. Intro and outro music composed by Christopher Larki...

Episode 224 One of the year's most anticipated games, Hollow Knight: Silksong, is imminent! As of this recording, it is two days before the game comes out and we have much to discuss! From the price to the release date to the "controversy" from indie devs around the release - we talk about the fervor surrounding Silksong and how it has immediately become the center of attention. As a...

Episode 223 Welcome to the first episode of a new series we're launching, "Games of Yesteryear"! In this series, we'll pick a year in the past, debate the best games, and crown a game of the year. We kick it off with one of the greatest years in gaming history, 1998. What was 1998's game of the year? As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (MapleStory, Sword o...

Episode 222 From sequence breaks to randomizers to bingos, alternative ways to play are a great way to breathe new life into a game. What are some of our favorite ways to play, and what games do we enjoy playing in non-traditional ways? As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Monster Hunter Wilds, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Battlefield 6 (Beta)). This episode was recorded in Aug...

Episode 221 Battlefield is back with a vengeance! We played the highly successful beta and talk about how we enjoyed it and compare it to previous Battlefield entries. We then go on to reflect on other betas we have enjoyed over the years. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Donkey Kong Bananza). This episode was recorded in August 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Game...

Episode 220 It's no secret that we at Gametalk (2/3 of us at least) are huge fans of FromSoft and Hidetaka Miyazaki. Today, we dive into our history with Miyazaki's games, and discuss what makes his projects so special. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Factorio). This episode was recorded in August 2025. Intro and outro music composed for Gametalk by Dylan Chase (dy...

Episode 219 We (or at least 2/3 of us) are big fans of Hideo Kojima. Between Metal Gear, Death Stranding, and P.T., he has cemented himself as one of gaming's true auteurs. Today, we dive into our history with Kojima's games, and dissect his unique brand of weird genius. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Abiotic F...

Episode 218 In a controversial move, Steam has delisted scores of adult-themed games, spurred by external financial institutions to remove games deemed inappropriate. Is this move justified, or is this a slippery slope to something more sinister? As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Warframe, Donkey Kong Bananza). This episode was recorded in July 2025. Intro and outro music co...

Episode 217 It's hard to believe, but we are already over halfway through 2025, and what an eventful year it's been! Today, we look back at some of this year's standout titles, and look ahead to what we're anticipating in the back half of 2025. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Deltarune, Satisfactory). This episode was record...

Episode 216 Microsoft has laid off over 9000 employees, heavily crippling and outright killing some of their Xbox studios. Today, we discuss this tragic layoff, examining the ramifications for Xbox and where this leaves them in the broader games industry landscape. As always, we conclude with the games we're playing (Monster Hunter 4U, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, Death Stranding 2: On...

Episode 215 Games like Phasmophobia, Lethal Company, and most recently, Peak, are indie projects with proximity chat-based multiplayer that seem to go viral thanks to the unpredictable and hilarious nature of playing these games with your friends. Today, we dive into these "friendlike" games and discuss what makes them tick, and why they seem to do numbers that punch way above their weig...

Episode 214 We're back after a three week hiatus, and there is much to discuss! Between Summer Games Fest and PlayStation and Xbox's showcases, there are a slew of games that caught our eye. This is also the first episode released after the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, so we dive deep into our first impressions with the new console and discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly. As always, we co...