The Daily Sunday Special: The Year in Gaming
205 snips
Nov 2, 2025 
Zachary Small, a culture reporter for The New York Times, and Jason M. Bailey, an editor overseeing video game coverage, dive into the exciting world of gaming in 2025. They discuss their childhood gaming memories and current preferences across genres. Industry dynamics are explored, including the challenges and opportunities for AAA and indie games. Highlights include a debate on the anticipated Pokémon title, the addictive storytelling of Hades 2, and recommendations for underrated gems. They also predict Game of the Year contenders, wrapping up with fun gaming trivia.
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Childhood Spark With Super Mario World
- Zachary Small remembers catching chicken pox at six and being entertained with Super Mario World on a Super Nintendo.
- That early moment framed video games as his first meaningful encounter with an art form.
From NES Surprise To Indie Games
- Jason M. Bailey got a Nintendo as a surprise Christmas present and began with Super Mario Bros. 3 and Zelda.
- He moved to first-person shooters in the 2000s and now prefers shorter indie games.
Post‑Pandemic Growth Has Plateaued
- The pandemic caused a boom that studios overestimated, leaving the industry in a mature, stagnant-growth phase.
- High development costs mean even big hits like Spider-Man 2 can leave studios cutting staff and scrapping projects.