Is it Christmas in June? Usually the period around E3 is like a desert in which the year's worst games are left to rot under the sweltering summer sun. But as you may have gleamed from the carousel of review scores on the Polygon homepage, we have been submerged by a flood of excellence: Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, The Swapper, Gunpoint, The Last of Us, Don't Starve, Remember Me, State of Decay and the list goes on and on. We discuss a few of those games this week, saving others for later this month. What about next week, you ask? Lean closer and I'll tell you a secret: next Friday we're streaming a special E3 video episode of the Besties live from Los Angeles. Before you run out the door and scream thanks to the heavens, be sure to listen to this week's episode. We'd hate for it to go to waste. 3:40 - Best pocket-sized daily vacation (Animal Crossing: New Leaf) 18:40 - Best sound effect of the year (Gunpoint) 26:23 - Halftime! 30:43 - Best way to start a forest fire (Don't Starve) 38:20 - Best way to die (The Swapper) 43:54 - The winner is... Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show: Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

I take a break from the podcast to fulfill my civic duty and Griffin McElroy buys a Wii U. I'm genuinely curious what our listeners think about this decision. At first, I was befuddled. It's like when a man buys an expensive umbrella in the middle of a drought. But I've come to see his point. The logic's charming in a really expensive sort of way. What do you think? Would you buy a console to better enjoy a hype train that may or may not arrive at the station? 03:30 - Best unreliable narration in games this year (Call of Juarez: Gunslinger) 14:00 - Best killer app for the Wii U that I purchased over the weekend for some reason (Super Metroid) 23:20 - Half time: E3 hype and a case of the barfs 33:30 - Best mask simulation in video game history (Metro: Last Light) 38:50 - Best use of life's mondernity mundisnus mundanity to build tension in a video game (Metro: Last Light) 43:20 - The winner is... Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show: Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Throw us an Xbone, why don't you? We're not sure if you heard, maybe you didn't, but there's a new Xbox coming soon. Well, not soon, but this year, for sure. On The Besties this week, we dive deep and come back with the pearls. 07:30 - Best cell phone feature we're excited to use 17:25 - Best use of FMV that may not be 19:00 - Half time: Ghost dog 29:30 - Best news for publishers in the next generation 38:50 - Best feature that only Russ Frushtick cares about 47:30 - The winner is... Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show: Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

The gang is back in action. On this week's episode of The Besties, there's some derisive Snoopy talk, as well as an anthropomorphic helicopter. Griffin has his doubts and Justin changes his pick at the last minute, much to the chagrin of the other Besties. 03:50 - Best reason to hate Snoopy (Sid Meier's Ace Patrol) 10:25 - Best way to waste $20 (Injustice on iOS) 19:00 - Half time: Daft Punk and a new car 24:00 - Best gaming news story of the decade that is getting worse and worse with every passing day (Shadow of the Eternals) 38:40 - Best way to remake a retro franchise (Thunder Wolves) 41:00 - The winner is... Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show: Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Mr. Dave Tach fills in for the absent Griffin McElroy this week. His dulcet tones could melt an ice cap, but are they enough to warm our hearts in Brother M's absence? This episode's a hodgepodge, in which the good is bad, the bad is good and Kickstarter is mediocre. We discuss a handful of video gaming anomalies, like "good bad" games and good games with bad titles. We debate whether rough edges are beauty marks or flaws waiting to be smoothed. We also rap on the reality of Kickstarter projects and the practicality of AAA licensing deals. Whether you prefer one to the other, it's clear that all the money and creative freedom in the world can't guarantee a great game. Also, we talk Canada. Did you know Vancouver is the perfect city? All that and more on this week's Besties. 2:10 - Best reason to be wary of supporting games on Kickstarter (Star Command) 14:30 - Best worst game of the week (Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut) 29:30 - Half time: Chris goes to Canada 33:30 - Best game with worst title (Mars: War Logs) 43:40 - Best billion dollar partnership for things I probably won't end up caring about (The EA/Disney Star Wars contract) 52:10 - The winner is... Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show: Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

I love Candy Box. I'd hate to spoil what Candy Box is. So trust me. Before you press that play button, click this link. Play Candy Box for a few minutes, then leave it open on a browser tab and return for the podcast. Follow these instructions precisely. Fun, right? Confusing, right? Great, let's get to the show. This week, we offend chiropractors, slay mystical beasts, fix the industry's piracy problem and Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box. Also, Candy Box. 3:00 - Best use of Blood Dragons (Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon) 9:50 - Best piracy prevention that is also ironic (Game Dev Tycoon) 19:50 - Half time: Chris goes back to school 26:10 - Best value of the week and also of all time (Neverwinter) 33:30 - Best something something Candy Box (Candy Box) 41:00 - The winner is... Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show: Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Griffin couldn't help himself. Drunk off back to back wins, the Brother McElroy brought one of the most awkward topics to date. This business. I believe we discussed the topic with the greatest amount of grace and respect afforded a podcast that occassionally stars a talking giraffe. Speaking of, a certain Long Island zoo animal made an unexpected experience, uncovering Microsoft's elaborate plan to run his uncle out of business. I talk Monaco. Justin talks Star Trek. And Frushtick talks talking blocks. All that and more on this week's Besties. 2:30 - Best Star Trek game of the month (Star Trek) 13:15 - Best acting by a rectangle (Thomas Was Alone) 20:20 - Half time: The Pizza Hut app and special guest 26:30 - Best REDACTED ever (Dragon's Crown) 39:50 - Best love letter to Bonanza Bros. (Monaco) 46:30 - The winner is... Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show: Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Boy, am I happy to end this week. Over the past few days, I've struggled to write, think or care about video games. I've struggled to really do anything. Surely I'm not alone. What an awful week. What an absolutely awful week. And yet, some really amazing things have happened this week. Like this and this and this. Many people are really stepping up. So this weekend I hope you will join me in doing what we love: playing games. And I also hope you'll lend a hand. You could donate blood or money or anything. It's been an awful week, but I believe we can help to make next week better. That's all. This week's Besties doesn't talk about "this week." We tried to focus on the good, which has been the unspoken goal of the show since its creation. I hope you enjoy it. Let's talk about some video games. 4:30 - Best Nintendo Direct 14:30 - Best way to remind yourself how difficult Dishonored was (The Knife of Dunwall DLC) 21:30 - Half time - The recently canceled Ready for Love 25:45 - The best example that in-app purchasing will bring the end of the world (Dungeon Hunter 4) 31:00 - Best reason to throw a controller though a PC monitor (La Mulana) 39:00 - The winner is... Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show: Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Why hello there. This week on The Besties, we've decided to stick with the rules set forth in last week's episode because, hey, consistency has to rear its ugly head once in a while. And if Justin sounds quiet this week, it's because his internet is crap and he only heard about half of every conversation. Either that or he walked away from the mic for a really, really long time without telling anyone. 2:50 - Best reason that Russ Frushtick is an obsessive maniac (BioShock Infinite) 23:30 - Best mash-up of two genres you wouldn't think work well together but do (Guacamelee) 30:30 - Half time - Beard! 33:15 - Best Easter Egg that is better than the actual game it's in (Soda Drinker Pro) 41:00 - Best multiplayer mode for ruining friendships (BattleBlock Theater) 50:00 - The winner is... Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show: Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

We've read your comments. You miss the original concept of four best friends battling to the death to decide the best game of the week. Or maybe you want less nitty-gritty mechanic talk. Or you're the one soul on Planet Earth that yearns to hear the squeaky pitches of a certain European independent game design counterfeiter. We understand. After 50 episodes, we've decided to fiddle with the rules one (possibly) last time. As of today, four best friends will battle to the death to decide the best game thing of the week. That's right. We're no longer limited to games. We can bring news, songs, artwork, European independent game design counterfeiters, anything! All that matters is we genuinely believe our submission is the best. That way, when the show concludes a battle can be waged to determine the week's winner. Is this the best Besties yet? We sure hope so. 06:30 - Best ATV stunting (Defiance) 16:30 - Best local adversarial game at GDC 2013 (Samurai Gunn) 23:30 - Half time - A very special guest 31:30 - Best rumor that is probably not a rumor, but maybe it is a rumor (Always online Xbox) 43:30 - Best awards show in video games (2013 Game Developers Choice Awards) 50:30 - The winner is... Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show: Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!