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The Besties

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Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick

It's Game of the Year meets King of the Hill as four of Earth's best friends – Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Chris Plante, and Russ Frushtick – rank and review their favorite video games. Because shouldn't the world's best friends pick the world's best games?

#354

Lies of P is the Pinocchio Souls-like We Never Knew We Needed

In a year full of surprise sleeper hits, Lies of P might just be the most surprising -- Pinocchio trappings and ridiculous title aside, it's one of the most solid replications of the Souls formula we've ever played. Join us for a discussion of what sets it apart from other entries in the genre. (Hint: It's the P-Organ.) Also discussed: Remains of the Day, Sea of Stars, Hammerwatch 2, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC, Stray Gods, Inland Empire, Willie Nelson ... Read more

22 Sep 2023

51 MINS

51:19

22 Sep 2023

#353

Gunbrella is a gun that's an umbrella [Resties]

The goal of Gunbrella is to find those responsible for your wife's death by wielding the murder weapon: a gun that turns into an umbrella. Of course this isn't any umbrella. It can block bullets, zip you into the sky, and grind rails like a pro skater. We really enjoyed the developer's previous game, Gato Roboto; can Gunbrella take their talents another step forward? In the second half, we make sense of this month's big video game industry controversy: Unity's baffling decision to change its payment structure, infuriating tons of developers and potentially causing a glut of delays as designers move their games to new engines. See a full list of everything discussed on the episode (plus links!) at Besties.fan. ... Read more

19 Sep 2023

44 MINS

44:05

19 Sep 2023

#352

Sea of Stars Won Over the Most Unlikely Bestie

This week's game, the classic JRPG-inspired Sea of Stars, seems like it'd be up the alley of a couple of this podcast's humble hosts, and definitely not up the alley of some others. Well, guess again, buckaroo! Because it's got crossover appeal that we absolutely did not see coming. Also discussed: Karateka, Baldur's Gate 3, Fae Farm, Game Changers: The Video Game Revolution, The Beauty of Games, The Faculty, Who Shat On the Floor at My Wedding ... Read more

15 Sep 2023

57 MINS

57:23

15 Sep 2023

#351

Armored Core 6 Makes us Love Mechs All Over Again

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon might have one of the video game-iest ass titles in the history of games, but that doesn't stop it from being an absolute barn-burner of a mecha action game. Join us as we dive into our history with the series, and extol the virtues of the demo discs of yore. Also discussed: Starfield, No Man's Sky, Baldur's Gate 3, The Righteous Gemstones ... Read more

08 Sep 2023

59 MINS

59:06

08 Sep 2023

#350

Two great games: one new, one old

Starfield inspired Frushtick to take a ship deep into the cosmos of No Man's Sky. After seven years and tons of updates, the sci-fi game is a stunning alternative for people who crave the awesomeness of space more than the dramatics of a traditional RPG. We also talk about the fantastic Shadow Gambit, a stealth tactics game for everybody -- not just fans of the genre. Also discussed: Retro Bowl and Only Weird Games. For more info and links to all games, follow our newsletter besties.fan. ... Read more

05 Sep 2023

49 MINS

49:21

05 Sep 2023

#349

Starfield Didn't Exactly Send Us to the Moon

Todd and the gang have cooked up another big ol' game for us: The outer space frontier explorin', space ship buildin', dude blastin' open world RPG known as Starfield. How well does Bethesda's formula apply to the infinite cosmos? We have some thoughts. Also discussed: No Man's Sky, New World, Finity ... Read more

01 Sep 2023

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:01

01 Sep 2023

#348

THERE'S TOO MANY GOOD GAMES OUT PLEASE HELP

This episode is just wall-to-wall, chock-a-block full of new and upcoming games! We're talking Armored Core 6! Fae Farm! Blasphemous 2! Stray Gods! Just, like, too many for one episode, but we done did it anyways! Also discussed: YEAH, YOU WANT THOSE GAMES, RIGHT? SO, HERE YOU GO! NOW LET'S SEE YOU CLEAR THEM!, Doomsday Hunters, En Garde, Baldur's Gate 3, Unlock!, Robodunk, New World ... Read more

25 Aug 2023

57 MINS

57:51

25 Aug 2023

#347

The Video Game Required Reading List: 1990-1994 [The Resties]

It's the penultimate episode of The Resties Required Reading List! If this is your first entry, don't worry. It's easy to hop on. Our goal is to curate a "must-play" list of 25 games released between 1980 to 2020. Think of it like Video Games 101. This week, we've selected games from 1990-1994. Time to be little kids again! For the full list of games discussed on the episode, along with our previous picks for the list, visit besties.fan. ... Read more

22 Aug 2023

1 HR 08 MINS

1:08:25

22 Aug 2023

#346

Hammerwatch II, and Much More Baldur's Gate 3

This week, we're pivoting a little bit, which is honestly what us Besties do Best. First off, a little bit about the perplexing choices of Hammerwatch II — but then, who's that coming over the top rope?! It's Justin, who missed our first chat about Baldur's Gate 3, and is ready to dunk down with his own opinions! Also discussed: The Nonary Games, The Sexy Brutale, The Forgotten City, Outer Wilds, Minit, The Legend of Zelda, Wool ... Read more

18 Aug 2023

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:56

18 Aug 2023

#345

Baldur's Gate 3 is Just Unbelievably Good

Baldur's Gate 3 has been a long time coming, and boy howdy, it does not disappoint. How well has Larian Studios adapted the D&D 5E tabletop experience into the digital realm, and how many ways can you mess with your friends in the game's incredibly robust co-op offering? Find out inside! Also discussed: TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, Oppenheimer, THE FIRST SLAM DUNK ... Read more

11 Aug 2023

1 HR 00 MINS

1:00:19

11 Aug 2023

#344

The new Double Dragon is a summer surprise!

Double Dragon helped popularize the beat 'em-up genre in 1980s arcades, but over the following decades, the series fell into irrelevance. Recently, the publisher handed the rights to an indie developer with a knack for pixelated combat. The result is Double Dragon Gaiden, a clever twist on the genre with a small army of playable characters. In the second half of the episode, Frushtick and Plante pick their combined six favorite beat 'em-ups! Subscribe to our newsletter at besties.fan for a full list of every game, movie, TV show, and book discussed on the podcast along with links and bonus materials!! ... Read more

08 Aug 2023

46 MINS

46:52

08 Aug 2023

#343

Disney Illusion Island's Clever, Kid-Friendly Contrivances

Disney Illusion Island might not be the most mechanically complex platformer to grace modern consoles, but what it lacks in depth it more than makes up for with systems to ease in younger, less nimble-fingered players. We're talking all about it, and also tierlisting all the Mickeyverse characters for some reason. Also discussed: Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Edition, Mia and the Dragon Princess, Good Omens Season 2, Chip and Dale Park Life ... Read more

04 Aug 2023

46 MINS

46:06

04 Aug 2023

#342

Pikmin 4 and the Art of Little Space Guy Farming

There's never been a better time to hop aboard the Pikmin train! What does Pikmin 4 add (and subtract) to make it the series most digestible entry to date? Also, how well does a classic DS Match 3 RPG hold up in 2023? Also discussed: Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes - Definitive Edition, Gravity Circuit, Luck Be a Landlord iOS, Chrono Cross Remastered, UN Squadron, Ridiculous Fishing EX, Matinee, Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits, Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick ... Read more

28 Jul 2023

52 MINS

52:05

28 Jul 2023

#341

Ridiculous Fishing EX is ridiculously good [Resties]

This week, the Resties dive deep into the waters of Ridiculous Fishing EX, an exceptional update of the brilliant decade-old mobile game. They also take a tour of Remnant 2, the sequel to "Dark Souls with guns." For the full list of games and much more, subscribe to the Besties/Resties newsletter at besties.fan! ... Read more

25 Jul 2023

49 MINS

49:50