We’re kicking off the new year with a look forward and a look back.
First, we set out our 2026 gaming resolutions, the promises, intentions and delusions we’ll almost definitely break by March. Backlog goals, platform habits, spending choices, and the types of games we want to play more (or less) of next year.
Then we revisit 2025 and grade the Big Three: PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo.
Who delivered? Who stumbled? And who quietly had the strongest year of the lot?
All wrapped in a wee bow as we kick off our own year in gaming as two tired gamer dads!
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s our biggest episode of the year, the Pixel Parents Game of the Year 2025.We’re counting down our top ten favourite games of the year, celebrating the surprises, the slow burns, the instant classics, and the titles that defined our time playing games this year.
No big stage. No world premieres. Just the honest, personal picks that stuck with us.
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Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.comFollow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.socialMusic & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s Christmas at Pixel Parents HQ, and we’re going full festive this week.
We’re looking back at the games we wanted for Christmas growing up, the ones we got, the ones we didn’t, and the ones that live rent-free in our memories.
Inspired by Jingle All The Way, we’re also asking the big one: What would be the "Turbo Man" if it were a game?
We also chat about our modern festive gaming rituals, the media traditions we fall into every year, and the cosy comfort games we reach for once the Christmas lights go up.
This is the warm, nostalgic, slightly chaotic end-of-year hangout you deserve. Grab your favourite festive tipple, get cozy, and join us for a nostalgic and festive chat about video games!
In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re doing what should have been done years ago:
A full audit of The Game Awards’ GOTY winners. We go year-by-year through every Keighley-era champion, asking:
did the right game win — or did something else deserve the crown?
From undeniable classics to questionable choices, we break down each year, what else was nominated, and which games have actually stood the test of time.
Also, we’re chatting about our time with Metroid Prime 4, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny and Demonschool to name but a few games to chat about this week!
It’s equal parts nostalgia, hindsight, and a bit of chaos.
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, it’s time for yet another alternative Game Awards…. The Geoffies! No orchestra, no celebrity cameos, just two tired gamer dads handing out deeply unserious gongs for the best (and strangest) moments in gaming this year.
We’ve got brand new categories, some new favourites, and a few that probably shouldn’t exist at all.
No tuxedos or trailers, but plenty of laughs in what is our most unhinged episode yet!
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re taking a look back at the Console Wars: the daft bits, the fanboy era, and what it’s become in the age of “play anywhere.”
Who won? Who lost? Has the battle shifted to storefronts (Game Pass, PS Plus, Steam, Epic) instead of plastic boxes?
We’re also reviewing CloverPit and joining in the fun, sharing our looting tales from Arc Raiders.
We’ve also got a Festive Gaming Buying Guide 2025 — our best tips for Black Friday through Christmas to get the most for less, whether you’re buying for big kids or little ones.
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best System Seller… the games that made you buy the box.
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s a chunky one this week as we take a loving look back at 20 years of Xbox 360, peak online play, era-defining blockbusters and ask: what made it so damn good? We also share our predictions for The Game Awards and react to the Xbox Partner Showcase!
Also, we’ve got the verdict on Dispatch and share our thoughts on Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Nintendo Exclusive Game…from Hyrule to the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond
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In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
Support us FREE! Get bonus shows FREE! - www.patreon.com/pixelparents
This week we’re joined by Patrick Klepek (Editor Remap, and Editor/founder Crossplay) for a wide-ranging chat on games media, parent-gamer life, and how we all keep the joy of play alive!
We also break down State of Play Japan (what landed, what didn’t), chat the all new Steam Machine and review Winter Burrow after some quality time with our cosy, crunchy little mouse adventure.
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Xbox Exclusive Game… what title defines Team Green?
In this episode:
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Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
Support us FREE! Get bonus shows! - www.patreon.com/pixelparents
It’s been a year with the PS5 Pro. Was it a smart upgrade or pure FOMO?
We break down the first year of Sony’s priciest console: what actually improved, who it suits, and whether we’d buy it today if we didn’t already own one. We’ll also ask where this leaves the PS6 conversation.
Plus, we’re catching up on The Outer Worlds 2 and how it’s shaping up against our expectations.
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best PlayStation Exclusive Game!
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
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It’s our Halloween Special, and we’re naming our personal Gaming Pile of Shame… the games we still haven’t played or beaten on the backlog, which has grown monstrous and out of control! Nowhere to hide, it’s time to expose just how depraved our buying habits have been with video games in 2025! (Insert evil laughter and screams).
Speaking of buying video games, we’ve got your November Games Roundup to showcase what games you need on your radar this month, as well as an in-depth chat about Halo returning… and do we care??
We’re also sharing fresh impressions on Dispatch, Ninja Gaiden 4, PowerWash Simulator 2 and more!
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we crown the Best Terrible Game… the glorious disasters we can’t help but enjoy.
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
(Go give Sean love as he knocked the Halloween special production out of the park!)
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This week we’re getting honest about taste shifts: the game genres we’ve grown into (and the ones we’ve quietly fallen out of).
From rogue-likes and tactics to racing sims and survival horror, we list the genres that finally clicked and the ones that just don’t hit like they used to… and dig into the why: time, mood, mechanics, and life-changing around us.
We also share our impressions on what could be our new obsession in Ball X Pit, why Baby Steps may actually be a GOTY contender, Final Fantasy Tactics joy, as well as dig into what is our ever-growing backlog with the final tidal wave of games arriving this silly season. We also discuss the latest news from Xbox and their plans for next-gen… are they reading the room?
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Gateway Game, the one that converted us to a genre we didn’t think was for us!
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
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This week, we catch up on what we’ve been playing including Ghost of Yotei, Baby Steps, and Hades II, then dive into our main topic: Sleeping Giants — the game devs who’ve gone quiet or still haven’t dropped the banger we’re all waiting for. Who has the big pressure on and who has the biggest opportunity to be the next thing in gaming?
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Character Action Game...the slick, stylish, skill-ceiling monsters that never leave your muscle memory!
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, we’re slowing things right down.
Between Ghost of Yotei, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Hades II and Silent Hill f — we’ve been bouncing between chaos and calm. But it’s got us asking: Is it time we all embraced slow gaming?
We're unpacking what “slow gaming” even means, why it might be exactly what we need, and how it could help us actually finish our backlogs without burning out.
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re looking at games that reward you for taking it slow…
In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, we’re reacting to the Xbox Game Pass price hikes and asking the big question… Is it still the best deal in gaming?
We also go deep on Hades II to share our impressions of what may already be a serious GOTY contender, as well as our thoughts on Silent Hill f as spooky season gets off to a flying start.
And in this week’s main topic, we are chatting about Sequels that outshine the original, and make a few predictions about what the next best sequel in gaming may be!
Finally, in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Game Within a Game, those clever little side distractions that sometimes outshine the main game!
Support the show and join our FREE Patreon: www.patreon.com/pixelparents
In this episode:
- Hades II impressions
- Silent Hill f Review in progress
- Xbox Game Pass price hikes: what it means for gamers, value & choice
- Main topic: Sequels That Surpass the Original
- Pixel Picks Showdown: Best Game Within a Game
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week, it’s announcement overload — the PlayStation State of Play just dropped and we’re diving into every reveal, trailer, and potential wishlist addition. But with so many games dropping every month, it begs the question: Where do we even find the time?
We’re taking a beat to ask: how do you actually fit all these games into adult life?
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Game With No Combat
🎧 Let us know which State of Play game actually made it to your mental backlog
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
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This week, we’re diving into a topic that’s been bubbling for a while:
Do we still trust video game reviews?
From inflated scores to rushed embargo day hot takes, we’re asking what actually makes a good review, and whether we need to rethink how we consume them.
We also give our verdict on The Knightling, share our continued progress with Hollow Knight Silksong, and talk about how it feels to sit with a game for longer than the review cycle demands.
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Replayable Game — the ones you just keep coming back to, no matter how many years pass.
🎧 Still trust reviews? Or do you go full gut instinct? Let us know on BlueSky or by email!
In this episode:
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This week we’re asking the question Hollow Knight fans have waited years to hear:
Could Silksong actually be a Game of the Year contender?
We dig into the latest hype, our expectations, and whether the long wait has helped or hurt.
Then, in our main topic, we look ahead: What will be the next meme-hype game?
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Indie Game That Went Mainstream – the ones that broke out and changed the game.
🎧 Got a pick for the next viral gaming hit? Let us know on BlueSky or by email!
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
It’s officially silly season, and this week we’re taking a beat to ask: What really drives your next game to play?
Is it FOMO? A glowing recommendation? The algorithm? Social pressure? Or just… vibes?
We’ve all got limited time and more games than ever — so how do we actually make that next pick? This week’s main topic is personal, chaotic, and maybe a bit too relatable.
We’re also reacting to the 007: State of Play Special, sharing our impressions of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, giving verdicts on Metal Gear Solid Delta and Gears Reloaded, and checking in on how we’re faring in the middle of the flood.
Plus: Silksong FOMO, review code chaos, and in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re naming the Best Spy Game ever.
🎧 Got your own chaotic game-picking habits? Let us know on BlueSky or by email!
In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on BlueSky: @pixelparents.bsky.social
Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re deep-diving into the world of remakes—what makes them feel right, and when do they just feel… off? With Metal Gear Solid Delta and Gears of War Reloaded hitting shelves, we’re asking the big questions: Should a remake preserve everything that worked back then? Or are there things—story, tone, even design—that should stay in the past?
We break down how modern remakes try to balance nostalgia with modern expectations, and whether it’s possible to truly update a classic without alienating the people who loved it in the first place.
Plus, in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re crowning the Best Metroidvania Game
🎧 What’s your take on remakes—should they evolve with the player, or stick to the script?
In this episode:
Write to us: pixelparentspodcast@gmail.com
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com
This week we’re fresh off Gamescom 2025 with our early reactions and a deeper look at what makes a stand-out games showcase.
With announcements like Resident Evil Requiem, Black Myth 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hell is Us, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and more, we’ll talk about what worked, what missed the mark, and what games we walk away excited for.
We’ll also ask: what makes a great showcase? Is it surprises, pacing, tone, or just lots of big names in trailers?
And in this week’s Pixel Picks Showdown, we’re ranking the Best Art Style Game, because sometimes it's simply about doing things in style!
In this episode:
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Music & production by Sean Murray – barehandsdesigns.com