151: Games of the Year 2025
The Secret Lives of Games
Zach: Pokemon Legends ZA systems reinvention
Zach explains why Pokemon Legends ZA's systemic redesign and open zones excited him.
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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