The MinnMax Show
2024's Best Under The Radar Games
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The podcast begins with a light-hearted story about a charity stream raising over $65,000 for single moms, showcasing community support.
- Hosts passionately discuss lesser-known games of 2024, highlighting the importance of exploring underappreciated titles that deserve recognition.
- Engagement with listeners through Patreon is emphasized as vital for sustaining independent content, providing exclusive benefits and fostering community interaction.
- The hosts critique the current structure of the Game Awards, debating community voting's effectiveness in representing gamers versus industry professionals.
- Through personal anecdotes, the hosts reflect on the emotional connections formed with games, illustrating their significance in providing solace and nostalgia.
Deep dives
Charity Success and Shaved Heads
The episode opens with the hosts sharing a personal story about a charity event that raised over $65,000 for single moms in Minneapolis. One of the highlights of the event was the shaving of a host's head, which raises an entertaining discussion about the intimacy and humor of the situation. The anecdote transitions into light-hearted banter regarding family, raising kids, and the unexpected joys of baldness, particularly how it engages children. Such moments showcase the camaraderie and warmth that permeates the podcast, creating a welcoming atmosphere for listeners.
Game Highlights from the Charity Stream
As the episode unfolds, the hosts recap various games featured during their lengthy charity stream, which included live interactions and community questions. They discuss the various titles such as Grun, Crypt Custodian, and Metro Awakening, while also highlighting their excitement to be joined by a generous donor in the podcast. The discussion transitions to the dynamic energy of being together in person again after long periods apart due to lockdowns, enhancing the overall experience for both hosts and guests. Each host reflects on the unique aspects of the games, revealing personal favorites and community engagement through donations and participation.
Patreon Support and Exclusive Content
The hosts emphasize the significance of listener engagement and support through Patreon, illustrating how donations help sustain their independent content. They discuss the exclusive offers for patrons, including access to bonuses and game codes, creating an avenue for community members to contribute and receive personalized content in return. The conversation highlights the effectiveness of their ongoing efforts to foster a growing community while providing unique insights into game culture. This segment reinforces the importance of patron support as a foundation for future projects, goodwill, and community relations.
Underappreciated Games and Predictions
The podcast segues into a rich discussion about underappreciated games of 2024, amplifying the voices of community members who share their favorite discoveries. They highlight titles that may be overlooked or overshadowed by larger releases, creating an opportunity for diverse games to shine. Each host shares their opinions on various games, examining the intricacies of game design and story narratives that deserve recognition. This segment promotes a sense of enthusiasm for exploring lesser-known titles, emphasizing that all games have their unique place in the gaming landscape.
Reflections on the Game Awards
The hosts ponder the structure of the Game Awards, debating the merits of community voting and the representation of gamers versus industry professionals. They reflect on how the current voting system can undermine the intent of recognizing quality games, especially when powerful franchises dominate the nominations. This discussion leads to speculation on how the Game Awards could evolve to better reflect the community's tastes and preferences, as well as a desire for awards that honor emerging voices and lesser-known titles. Such debates reveal underlying sentiments within the gaming community regarding the importance of authenticity and representation in awards.
Shifts in the Gaming Landscape
Casually, they touch upon their personal experiences within the gaming sphere and the effects of current industry trends impacting game development. Namely, they mention how game releases often coincide with franchise popularity, illustrating how commerce can overshadow unique narratives. This discussion emphasizes a shared desire for change, with the hosts advocating for a meaningful evolution in gaming culture so that creative narratives can thrive independently, rather than conform to mainstream expectations. This conversation fosters a growing dialogue about quality versus quantity in gaming, appealing to listeners seeking depth in their gaming experiences.
The Emotional Weight of Gaming Experiences
As the conversation unfolds, the hosts dive into deeper reflections on the emotional connections forged through gaming, offering insights about various titles that resonate personally with each host. They explore how video games can act as emotional conduits, providing solace in times of hardship or uncertainty while emphasizing games that evoke significant nostalgia or philosophical contemplation. This discussion highlights the power of storytelling in video games, ensuring that listeners are reminded of their unique journeys through these interactive worlds. By sharing their personal anecdotes, the hosts bolster the community's bond and reflect on the deeper meanings hidden within gameplay.
Anecdotes About Game Culture
The show features lighter anecdotes drawn from the hosts’ experiences interacting with games, drawing parallels to broader pop culture issues, which add levity to serious conversations. Humor plays a significant role in their discussions, especially when navigating the intricacies of game design, industry practices, and fandom culture. Such stories help humanize their perspectives, showing that beyond the games themselves lies relatable and often humorous real-world experiences tied to gaming. Through laughter and shared experiences, the camaraderie between hosts becomes evident, providing a comforting space for listeners.
Bringing Together Game Enthusiasts
The episode is punctuated by discussions regarding community meetups, which serve as a reminder of the warmth and support within their audience network. They touch on their recent community gathering, sparking conversations about the importance of creating connections beyond the online landscape. Their reflections on real interactions foster community engagement and encourage listeners to consider attending future events, further creating a tight-knit gaming community. The spirit of togetherness reinforces the sense that gaming can facilitate meaningful friendships and experiences that transcend the screen.
Exploring Unique Concepts in Gaming
Lastly, the hosts playfully contemplate various odd gaming concepts, such as a Thanksgiving-themed game or an Oregon Trail AR experience, showcasing their imaginative leaps and creativity within the gaming space. The brainstorming of game ideas encourages listeners to engage their own imaginations, highlighting how the possibilities within gaming extend far beyond traditional narratives. This segment allows the hosts to express their own wishes for innovation in the industry while simultaneously inviting their audience to envision new gaming experiences. The interplay of these creative dialogues cultivates a sense of wonder and intrigue in listeners, inspiring them to think beyond the existing gaming conventions.
https://www.patreon.com/minnmax - We'll DM you a Steam code for Lynked: Banner of the Spark (Hades meets Animal Crossing, 92% positive reviews, directed by Steven Spielberg's son Max) if you support MinnMax on Patreon at any tier before the end of 11/29/24
MinnMax's Ben Hanson, Janet Garcia, Kyle Hilliard, and Jacob Geller share their picks for the most underrated games of 2024 before we talk about Grunn, Crypt Custodian, and Metro Awakening in VR. Then for community questions we're joined by Jonah Abraham, who is a generous donor from our big charity stream where you all raised over $65,000 to help single moms in Minneapolis through the nonprofit Emerge Mother's Academy! You can still donate here - https://www.givemn.org/story/Maxmoms
Watch and share the video version here - https://youtu.be/PI9RicWGLXY
Help support MinnMax's supporters! https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: CORNBREADCHAOS
Level up your game and get 10% off @TurtleBeach with code MINNMAX at turtlebeach.com/minnmax! #turtlebeachpod #ad
Here's the full list of underappreciated games...
Knock on the Coffin Lid
Master Key
Content Warning
Daemonologie
One Btn Bosses
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami
Star Wars Outlaws
EDF 6
Platform 8
Arco
Botany Manor
Maestro
Clickholding
World of Goo 2
Little Guardsmen
All You Need is Help
Jackbox Survey Scramble
Thronefall
Yars Rising
Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior
Surmount
Spirit City: Lo-Fi Settings
Bore Blasters
Death of a Wish
Children of the Sun
Persona 3 Reload
Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story
Doranko Wanko
Tiny Glade
Gourdlets
Unicorn Overlord
Triangle Strategy VR
The Rogue Prince of Persia
Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure
Penny’s Big Breakaway
Mars After Midnight
Pepper Grinder
House Flipper 2
Little Kitty Big City
Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom
Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip
To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below...
00:00:00 - Intro
00:06:20 - 2024's Most Underappreciated Games
00:54:22 - turtlebeach.com/minnmax 10% off with promo code MINNMAX
00:56:51 - Grunn
01:06:28 - Crypt Custodian
01:12:10 - Neva
01:15:05 - Metro Awakening
01:23:46 - Thanking iam8bit
01:26:13 - Welcome generous donor Jonah Abraham!
01:29:43 - Community questions
02:24:59 - Get A Load Of This
Hanson's GALOT - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kita_e
Jonah's GALOT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6cS--qho6Q
Kyle's GALOT - https://x.com/catsuka/status/1846151696256229490
Community GALOT - https://shows.acast.com/my-perfect-console/episodes/andy-macnamara-former-editor-in-chief-game-informer
Disclosure - Games discussed on MinnMax content are most often provided for free by the publisher or developer.
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