
The Besties
It's Game of the Year meets King of the Hill as four of Earth's best friends – Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Chris Plante, and Russ Frushtick – rank and review their favorite video games. Because shouldn't the world's best friends pick the world's best games?
Latest episodes

Jul 12, 2024 • 1h 3min
The Best Games of 2024 at the Halfway Point
The Besties discuss the best games of 2024 so far, like Balatro and Like a Dragon. They explore surprise game releases, RPG Yakuza, Bellatro's gameplay mechanics, and unique video games. The hosts reflect on Destiny games, Elden Ring DLC, Fallen Aces' FPS world, and Hades 2 evolution. Exciting teasers for future episodes are also shared.

Jul 5, 2024 • 56min
We're Haunted by Luigi's Mansion 2 HD
Nintendo’s final year of Switch has been a bizarre mishmash of remakes and spinoffs. Luigi’s Mansion 2 continues that trend, updating the 2013 3DS jaunt for a 2024 audience. Can a decade-old game meet the expectations of Luigi’s Mansion 3 fans? And what other 3DS games should Nintendo update next?
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!

Jun 28, 2024 • 55min
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a LOT
Can the game of the year be a DLC expansion? This week, The Besties discuss Elden Ring: The Shadow of the Erdtree, the highly anticipated addition to one of the greatest games of all time. Is it too hard? How is it different from the original game? Can The Besties get gud? In the back half, what do we want from FromSoftware moving forward? Listen to find out!
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!

Jun 21, 2024 • 1h 1min
What makes Nintendo different from the rest
Nintendo surprises everyone with big announcements, including a Zelda game starring Zelda. The Besties also dive into Destiny 2's last major update, The Final Shape, and reminisce about the launch year of Metroid Prime 4. Exciting times ahead!

Jun 14, 2024 • 1h 5min
Summertime Funtime Gamefest Time
The Besties dive into the chaos of Summer Game Fest, discussing the array of game reveals, Xbox's big moment, and the future of small games. They analyze the messy state of the video game industry in 2024 and question if SGF is the dream E3 replacement we've been waiting for.

Jun 7, 2024 • 56min
Is This the Year of Prince of Persia?
A new Prince of Persia game in a roguelike style is discussed, comparing it to other games in the genre. The connection between Dead Cells and the new game is explored, along with unique gameplay features. The hosts also analyze combat mechanics and progression systems in different video games, debunking fears about early access and speculating on potential sub-franchises. Other topics include imagining a new Splinter Cell game, Jeff Keeley's rise in the gaming industry, excitement for an upcoming Astrobot game, and exploring stand-up comedy and deep themes in video games.

May 31, 2024 • 1h 4min
Walking Into the Thousand-Year Door
Mario, the popular plumber, joins the podcast to discuss the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The crew shares their best guesses for Summer Game Fest. Topics include unexpected pregnancy, gaming preferences, unique character creation, and exciting rumors about upcoming game releases.

May 24, 2024 • 43min
The Great Indie Game Flood of 2024 Continues
The podcast discusses the latest indie games from the flood of 2024, including Lorelei and the Laser Eyes by Simogo. They dive into intricate puzzles, explore puzzle mechanics, puzzle solving partnerships, a sneak peek at Hades 2, and comparisons of dark versus vibrant tones in games. They also touch on a handheld gaming device and online privacy solutions.

May 17, 2024 • 57min
Into the Aether of Hell with Hades 2
Brendon Bigley joins as a guest discussing Hades 2 with the Besties. They talk about playing early access, managing gameplay mechanics, and balancing progress. The chapter also explores game sequels and handheld gaming devices, offering a diverse range of topics.

May 10, 2024 • 1h 2min
Going down Animal Well's Rabbit Hole
The gang has a spoiler-free discussion of one of the most intriguing games of the year, Animal Well. Will Griffin's life ever be the same? Probably not! We also dive into some of the horrendous studio closures happening this week.
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!
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