The Besties

The Besties

The Besties
Leisure Video Games
en
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?

Episodes (50)

The Besties

Herdling is Beautiful, But is it Fun?

August 29, 2025 55m Episode 462
This week, The Besties wrangle fantastical beasts in the new herding game, Herdling. It’s a beautiful throwback to the atmospheric games of the PS2 era. But your enjoyment will depend on your gaming...
The Besties

How video game movies got good: A Post Games bonus

August 25, 2025 1h 3m Episode 461
Filmmaker and video essayist Patrick H. Willems makes sense of 30 years of video game movies. Learn how Mario went from box office poison to Hollywood's favorite blockbuster!
Sword of the Sea is Like Journey on a Hoverboard

Sword of the Sea is Like Journey on a Hoverboard

August 22, 2025 52m Episode 460
Sword of the Sea is the closest game yet to a Journey sequel. The new game from Giant Squid sends a silent, heroic character through a desert on a magical sword that fills the world with life-giving...
The Besties

Mafia Is One of the Strangest, Messiest AAA Games Ever Released

August 15, 2025 59m Episode 459
Mafia: The Old Country is one of the most visually extravagant AAA video games we’ve ever played. And yet, there’s very little game to be found in this strange, disjointed, but decadent tale of...
The Besties

A Great Game for Every Genre

August 08, 2025 55m Episode 458
Want a prehistoric riff on Metroidvanias? Crave a life-consuming multiplayer survival adventure? Yearn for the olden times of point-and-click adventures? This week, The Besties spotlight new...
The Besties

The Year of the Video Game Ninja

August 01, 2025 40m Episode 457
The first of two new Ninja Gaiden games has arrived! The developers of Blasphemous have produced a 2D retro-inspired action game worthy of the original entries on the NES. Are we living in a golden...
The Besties

Mario + Hulk + Red Faction = Donkey Kong Bananza

July 25, 2025 52m Episode 456
Donkey Kong Bananza isn't the game we expected Nintendo would create to launch the Switch 2. But we're so glad they made this weird, wonderful, and inverted platformer. Who needs to jump when you can...
The Besties

Want a New GBA-style Zelda? Try This Indie Game

July 18, 2025 53m Episode 455
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo looks and feels like a lost Game Boy Advance game, but with all of the quality of life improvements of a modern game. We talk about what makes it a great game to fill a...
The Besties

Deltraune Isn’t Finished Just Yet, But You Should Play It Now

July 11, 2025 46m Episode 454
This week, The Besties talk about Deltarune Chapters 1-4. Though a few more chapters are on the way, now’s a great time to try the Undertale follow-up. We explain why. Plus, the gang brings a bundle...
The Besties

In The Alters, Life Comes at You Fast

July 04, 2025 53m Episode 453
The Alters is one of the year’s most interesting games, blending experimental sci-fi narrative with a clever management simulation. The Besties talk about how the game’s mechanics clock together, why...
The Besties

Death Stranding 2 Adds Fun, Subtracts Frustration

June 27, 2025 56m Episode 452
This week, the Besties deliver an episode on Death Stranding 2. It’s a big and heavy one, but we were happy to hike across the internet and leave it on your podcast app of choice. Plus, we dig into...
The Besties

Don’t Miss the Switch 2’s Hidden Gem

June 20, 2025 53m Episode 451
Mario Kart World is getting all of the attention at the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. But if you look deeper into the Nintendo eShop, you’ll find another excellent racing game for a fraction of the price....
The Besties

The Big Switch 2 Episode – Plus the Best of SGF

June 13, 2025 1h 4m Episode 450
Nintendo’s new console is finally here. With Plante undergoing a colonoscopy (which was all okay!), the crew invited long-time friend of the show Chris Grant to discuss the Switch 2. In the back half,...
The Besties

A Golden Age for Card Game Sickos

June 06, 2025 53m Episode 449
This week, The Besties shuffle the deck and deal a hand of fun new video games. First, they discuss two new card games that have little in common beyond the cards themselves: Monster Train 2 and...
The Besties

Tired of the World? Try a Fantasy Life

May 30, 2025 54m Episode 448
The cult 3DS game Fantasy Life returns, now on all major platforms and PC. The sequel blends Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, and action-RPGs. Plus, we live the life of Teen in To a T, the new game...
The Besties

Doom: The Dark Ages is a (Shotgun) Blast

May 23, 2025 56m Episode 447
Doom: The Dark Ages is a surprisingly bold departure from the formula of its predecessors. It’s also quite fun — if you can vibe with its slightly slower, parry-heavy gunplay. In the back half, the...
The Besties

Open the Besties Treasure Trove

May 16, 2025 56m Episode 446
Due to technical issues, our Doom conversation has been delayed until next week. The good news? We finally had time to dig into our backlogs! The boys brought a bag of beautiful bits and bobs. A...
The Besties

Revenge of the French RPG!

May 09, 2025 47m Episode 445
This week, the boys have two new games to share with you. First, Griffin and Plante go deep into the wilderness of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an exceptional RPG. Then, Hoops and Frush report on...
The Besties

Let's Save Cats From Oblivion!

May 02, 2025 55m Episode 444
The Besties talk about the brand new, ultra indie immersive-sim Skin Deep. Then they revisit the world of Oblivion. But none of this matters because Plante got a CRTV to play Promise Mascot Agency.
The Besties

Runescape and a Competitor to Limbo? It's a Grab Bag, Y'all

April 25, 2025 51m Episode 443
On this episode of The Besties, we're checking out some stellar smaller games: Bionic Bay, Sunderfolk, and Runescape Dragonwilds. We've also got an update on the latest and greatest in Japanese...
The Besties

Promise Mascot Agency is an Escape From Life’s Headaches

April 18, 2025 50m Episode 442
Promise Mascot Agency is like running errands on a cool summer day, the radio blasting killer tunes and a good friend riding shotgun. Justin and Plante talk about what makes this a great example of a...
The Besties

Blue Prince is the First Must-Play Game of 2025

April 11, 2025 1h 13m Episode 441
We will try to convince you to play Blue Prince without spoiling Blue Prince. But first, we need to talk about the Switch 2: the games, the price, the canceled pre-order date, and everything else.
The Besties

Chilling in the Grab Bag with Kingdom Come Deliverance 3

April 04, 2025 54m Episode 440
Usually, we talk about the latest and great video games. But this week, what if we try the greatest of the not-so-latest? That’s right, it’s finally time to talk about Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and...
The Besties

Assassin's Creed Shadows Delivers on an 18-Year-Old Promise

March 28, 2025 1h 4m Episode 439
Assassin's Creed Shadows finally takes the series to Feudal Japan. But is Ubisoft too late? Or does their AAAA mega release slice through the competition like a hidden blade to the neck of an...
The Besties

Repo and Inzoi Will Terrify You – For Very Different Reasons

March 21, 2025 59m Episode 438
We’re talking REPO. (Not the genetic opera! Not the Emilio Estevez movie!) The co-op horror game blends laughs with thrills by dropping some deeply strange characters into a terrifying world. Plus, we...
The Besties

Wanderstop Performs an Autopsy on the Cozy Game Genre

March 14, 2025 1h 5m Episode 437
Wanderstop is the new game from developer Ivy Road, founded by Davey Wreden, Karla Zimonja, and C418. What looks like a farming game is an exploration of burnout, anxiety, and the "to-do" list nature...
The Besties

Split Fiction is everything fans want (and more of what critics fear)

March 07, 2025 57m Episode 436
This week, the Besties play Split Fiction, the latest game from the creators of It Takes Two. It tells the story of an evil corporation that uses AI to steal creative ideas and create generic sci-fi...
The Besties

Monster Hunter Wilds is Surprisingly Great in Single-Player

February 28, 2025 59m Episode 435
Over the past 12 years, The Besties have — one by one — fallen in love with the Monster Hunter series. The latest entry, Monster Hunter Wilds, is the most welcoming version yet. It’s still a...
The Besties

The Pirate Yakuza Game Has Something for Everyone – Even Newcomers

February 21, 2025 54m Episode 434
Ahoy, besties! This week, the crew sets sails with Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, a video game that’s as silly as its name suggests. Unlike its predecessor — our best game of 2024 — this...
The Besties

Is Avowed Too Good for Our Brains to Comprehend?

February 14, 2025 1h 0m Episode 433
The Besties discuss Avowed, the new game from Fallout 76 developer Obsidian. It is extremely our shit. Perhaps… too much so? What does that even mean? Listen to find out!
The Besties

The Best Combat in a Metroidvania . . .Ever

February 07, 2025 58m Episode 432
2025 already has a fantastic Metroidvania, errrr, Search Action game! Ender Magnolia combines Metroid, Nier, Mega Man, and Pokémon into a single, beautiful 2D experience. Technically, this is a...
The Besties

Citizen Sleeper 2 Blends Game and Story Into One Complex Dish

January 31, 2025 49m Episode 431
We loved the original Citizen Sleeper, but were intimidated when we first heard the news of a sequel that would be more complicated — and presumably more difficult. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector...
The Besties

The Switch 2 and "Vampire Survivors+RPG"

January 24, 2025 1h 3m Episode 430
Nintendo finally announced the Switch 2. So why do folks seem a bit disappointed by the reveal? We discuss what we know so far… and what’s to come. Plus, one of our most anticipated games of the year...
The Besties

How to Get Started in Handheld Gaming with Retro Game Corps

January 17, 2025 58m Episode 429
Special guest Russ from Retro Game Corps teaches The Besties how to get into retro gaming handhelds. Here's you chance to become obsessed with the hobby! Plus, we finally catch up with Indiana...
The Besties

The Most Anticipated Games of 2025

January 10, 2025 1h 1m Episode 428
In the world of video games, 2025 will be an incredible year. The Besties collect over 25 games they can't wait to play in the coming months. We promise there's something here for you! And to think:...
The Besties

Our Big Predictions for Video Games in 2025

January 03, 2025 57m Episode 427
Frushtick and Plante’s annual predictions episode returns. They revisit their predictions from January 2024, crown a winner, and draft new predictions for the year to come. Here’s your chance to know...
Best Console (Not Including the Games) (Patreon Bonus)

Best Console (Not Including the Games) (Patreon Bonus)

December 27, 2024 1h 32m
As a holiday treat, the Besties brings one of our most beloved Patreon bracket episodes to the main feed.

What is the greatest video game console of all time? Before you answer that, we have one huge...
The Besties

The Besties Game of the Year Is . . .

December 20, 2024 1h 28m Episode 426
A year’s worth of video game podcasting has brought us to this moment. The Besties use their brains and brackets to select the Besties Besty of 2024. Plus, Frushtick, Hoops, Griffin, and Plante share...
The Besties

The Besties Besty of the Year 2024, part 1

December 13, 2024 1h 29m Episode 425
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The Besties have places 16 games in their annual bracket. By the end of this extra meaty episode, eight will remain. Will your favorite make the cut? Listen...
The Besties

These Games Will Win at The Game Awards – Maybe!

December 06, 2024 58m Episode 424
Ahead of the annual Game Awards spectacle, Frushtick and Griffin make their predictions on which games will take home statues. Does Balatro really have a chance to win it all?
The Besties

Half-Life 2's Patch Adds an Incredible Commentary

November 29, 2024 55m Episode 423
The 20th-anniversary update to Half-Life 2 turns the game into a masterclass in game design. The Besties talk about the in-game commentary along with the new feature-length documentary. No surprise:...
The Besties

The Thanksgiving Buffet of Video Games

November 22, 2024 54m Episode 422
It's not the holiday yet, but we couldn't help ourselves from digging into a game that embodies a decadent feast. Echo Point Nova is a forgettable name for an excellent game. The open-world indie FPS...
The Besties

The "Something Old, Something New" Week in Gaming

November 15, 2024 1h 9m Episode 421
This week, The Besties host a double feature! First, we’ve got the Hades-like Windblown, the new game from the creators of Dead Cells. Then, Griffin and Plante celebrate the ultra-cozy Dragon Quest 3...
The Besties

Revisiting our "Most Anticipated Games" of 2024

November 08, 2024 56m Episode 420
This week, the Besties pay tribute to the words of the great Huey Lewis and "gotta get back in time." How does their list of anticipated games from January look in the harsh light of November? Listen...
The Besties

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Wants You to be Happy

November 01, 2024 1h 5m Episode 419
After nearly a decade, a new Dragon Age soars into the world. The Besties grab their swords and spells, hop through the portal, and make a delicious meal of the colossal RPG. Plus, the squad helps you...
The Besties

The Awesome Games of the Future

October 25, 2024 50m Episode 418
Crave the era of demo discs? It’s returned thanks to Steam Next Fest. This week, The Besties discuss 10 demos of anticipated games. Plus, we share some of your favorites. And we talk about a very...
The Besties

Silent Hill 2 is the Psycho (1998) of Video Games

October 18, 2024 49m Episode 417
The new remake of Silent Hill 2 has painterly visuals, killer sound design, and genuinely scary surprises. But why does this remake feel different than Dead Space and Resident Evil 4? The Besties...
The Besties

Yes, Metaphor: ReFantazio Really is Fantasy Persona

October 11, 2024 52m Episode 416
Half of The Besties adore Metaphor: ReFantazio. The other half? It’s complicated! Griffin and Plante talk about the new RPG that puts a fantasy spin on the Persona formula. And Hoops and Frush bring...
The Besties

Is the New Zelda as Good as We Hoped?

October 04, 2024 1h 4m Episode 415
New Zelda week! The Besties step into the shoes of Zelda (not Link!) in Echoes of Wisdom. With the help of a magical wand and a star, they summon countless tables and vases to save the world. Plus,...
The Besties

UFO 50 with special guest Jason Schreier!

September 27, 2024 1h 6m Episode 414
To pick through the 50 indie games stuffed into UFO 50, The Besties called in support: Bloomberg reporter and author Jason Schreier. We discuss our favorites from UFO 50 and the point of a collection...

About this Podcast

Copyright
2021
Language
en
Categories
Leisure, Video Games