Noclip Crewcast Noclip's 2025 GOTYs - Episode 3: The Category Awards (2/2)
Jan 18, 2026
The hosts debate the best Steam Deck game and share personal stories about portable gaming. They passionately discuss favorite original characters, awarding Nate from Baby Steps for his awkward charm. The panel unanimously calls out generative AI as the worst trend affecting gaming. From intense difficulty to award-winning soundtracks, they highlight top contenders for various categories. A lively discussion on games that would shine in multiplayer or single-player rounds out the conversation, alongside reflections on gaming titles that will age well or poorly.
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Steam Deck Favors Pick-Up-And-Play Design
- Steam Deck shines for short, pick-up-and-play designs with simple controls and save-on-exit features.
- Games like Ball Pit, Mega Bonk, and Absalom benefit from portable, 2D or fixed-camera design on the Deck.
Portable Games Can Become Obsessive
- Frank described playing Mega Bonk obsessively until it affected his sleep and eyes.
- He stopped to protect his life balance, showing how portable games can become compulsive.
Prefer New Works Over Direct Sequels
- Many panelists want studios to keep making the same creative tone rather than direct sequels.
- They value new games from trusted teams over literal franchise continuations.