151: Games of the Year 2025
The Secret Lives of Games
Andy: Death Stranding 2 and narrative ambition
Andy situates Death Stranding 2's reception, story resolution, and mechanical continuity with Kojima's work.
The gang's all here to count down our favorite "games" of "2025", alongside a bevvy of great picks from previous guests and listeners. Happy new year!
Audio edited by Dylan Shumway
Our GOTY Picks (SPOILERS!):
~~~~~~~~~
Rob
5. Many Nights a Whisper - Deconstructeam, Selkie Harbour
4. Blue Prince - Dogubomb
3. Skat - German Trick Taking Game
2. UFO 50 - Mossmouth
1. Caves of Qud - Freehold Games
Zach
Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry
Pokemon Legends: Z-A - Game Freak
Dragon Warrior IV - Chunsoft
(Bonus: CorgiSpace - Adam Saltsman)
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (N64) - Lucasarts
1. Kirby and the Forgotten Land - HAL Laboratory
Doug
5. Don't Rank Cuomo - Robert Yang
4. Harold Holt Video Series (first episode) (YouTube uploads) - James Ward
3. Baby Steps - Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy
2. Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers - Kart Krew
1. Slice & Dice - Tann
Nick
Tall Trails - Brady Soglin
Magical Athlete - Takashi Ishida - updated design by Richard Garfield
The Attraction - Palace Games San Francisco
Hot Streak - Jon Perry
1. Öoo - NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus studio, Tsuyomi
Sarah
5. Consume Me - Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, et al.
4. Blue Prince - Dogubomb
3. Slice & Dice - Tann
2. Tiny Bookshop - neoludic games
1. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes - Simogo
Laura
The Roottrees are Dead - Evil Trout Inc.
Type Help - William Rous
Monkey Around: the Wiggle and Giggle Game - Peaceable Kingdom
despelote - Julián Cordero, Sebastian Valbuena
Death Wears White - Guillaume Montiage/Asmodee
Andy
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Nintendo
Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry
Hot Streak - Jon Perry
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach - Kojima Productions
The Old King's Crown - Pablo Clark
Other picks from guests and listeners:
UFO 50 - Mossmouth
Consume Me - Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, et al.
Öoo - NamaTakahashi, tiny cactus studio, Tsuyomi
Hollow Knight: Silksong - Team Cherry
Blue Prince - Dogubomb
Clues By Sam - Ad Artis Oy
Magical Athlete - Takashi Ishida - updated design by Richard Garfield
Complex 629 - Lillex Studios
Donkey Kong Bananza - Nintendo
Final Fantasy V - Square Enix
Baby Steps - Gabe Cuzzillo, Maxi Boch, Bennett Foddy
Puzzmo Crosswords - Puzzmo Team & Collaborators
Numberblocks RPG (developed in Izzy Kestrels mind)
Lost Cities - Reiner Knizia
Deadlock - Valve
Hexadecipad NES Tetris Tournament - Patrick LeMieux and Stephanie Boluk
Star Waspir (from UFO 50) - Mossmouth
Lumines Arise - Enhance, Monstars
Outer Wilds - Mobius Digital
Zexion - Gallant Leaf
PEAK - Landfall
Writing essays
Elden Ring Nightreign - FromSoftware
Unfair Flips - HEATHER FLOWERS
DISCOPUP - Parry Mechanics
OVER/UNDER - Sam Sorenson
Type Help - William Rous
Rain World - Videocult
Snekburd - Werxzy
2025 Pico-8 Advent Calendar - organized by Kevin Thompson and bikibird
Mol Hunt for 2025 Season of De Mol - TSLOG Discord
Q-UP - Everybody House Games
Many Nights a Whisper - Deconstructeam, Selkie Harbour
Vantage - Stonemaier Games
The Old King's Crown - Pablo Clark
Hot Streak - Jon Perry
Cave Noire - Konami
Judo (martial art)
Retro handheld hobby
Clair Obscur | Expedition 33 - Sandfall Interactive
Skin Deep - Blendo Games
Peekaboo
The Séance of Blake Manor - Spooky Doorway
Minni & Max (from UFO 50) - Mossmouth
Patapon - Pyramid, Japan Studio
Promise Mascot Agency - Kaizen Game Works
10S Forever - owch
Miscellaneous Honorable Mentions:
Perfect Dark (N64) - Rare
ACTION BUTTON REVIEWS Cyberpunk 2077
Party House of the Day (mod of UFO 50) - Mossmouth
Cairn - The Game Bakers
Other topics discussed this episode:
Why We're Boycotting Xbox (and Maybe You Should Too) - People Make Games
Cosmic Encounter - Fantasy Flight Games
Upcoming games packed with hidden secrets! – FuryForged
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective - Space Cowboys
Klaverjas - Dutch Trick-taking Game
129: Reinforcing Worldbuilding through Gameplay with Spoils
despelote - Official Nintendo Switch Trailer
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