Join us on the first episode of 2025 as we dive into the Game Awards 2024 highlights and announcements! We break down the big winners, discuss our top five most anticipated reveals, and provide an in-depth review of Dragon Age Veilguard.

Plus, we catch up on what we've been playing and watching over the holiday season. From indie gems to AAA blockbusters, here's everything you need to know: Slay the Spire 2, Helldivers 2, Metaphor, and so much more. Don’t miss out!

00:00 Welcome to the Grown Up Gaming Podcast 2025

00:36 Introducing the Gang01:13 Movie Marathons and Mob Films

02:27 Episode Overview and Game Awards

02:56 Sock Beer Tradition and Dragon Age Review

04:11 Games at a Glance: Steam Sales and Backlogs

06:48 The Witcher 3 and Gaming Strategies

10:23 Indie Love: Mini Shoot Adventures

14:36 Path of Exile 2: A Deep Dive

22:38 Dead Island 2 and Other Games

34:57 Introduction to Infinity Nikki

35:55 Gameplay Mechanics and Features

37:12 Daily Activities and Customization

42:03 Gacha Game Explanation

49:11 Dragon Age Veilguard Review

50:20 Controversies and Criticisms

55:11 Gameplay and Mechanics Analysis

01:16:04 Final Thoughts and Ratings

01:18:01 The Disappointment of Dragon Age

01:18:31 Objective and Angry Gamer Scores

01:19:46 Mixed Feelings on Gameplay

01:20:46 Character Development in RPGs

01:21:52 Metacritic Scores and Wokeness

01:24:52 Expectations vs Reality

01:25:30 Final Thoughts on Dragon Age

01:26:53 2024 Game Awards Introduction

01:28:37 Most Anticipated Games

01:30:34 Best Multiplayer Game

01:31:30 Best Adaptation and Other Categories

01:34:42 Best RPG and Action Adventure

01:38:21 Best Action and Mobile Games

01:40:41 Best Indie and Ongoing Games

01:43:00 Innovation and Accessibility

01:44:29 Best Audio and Music

01:46:37 Best Art Direction and Narrative

01:48:14 Best Game Direction

01:49:57 Game of the Year 2024

01:52:32 Astro Bot: A Joyful Experience

01:54:03 Game of the Year Debate

01:57:17 Final Fantasy 7 and Replayability

02:00:57 Top 5 Game Announcements

02:02:34 Slay the Spire 2 and Indie Games

02:04:05 Dying Light and Zombie Games

02:09:38 Anticipation for Borderlands 4

02:16:14 Naughty Dog's New Game: Intergalactic The Heretic Prophet

02:21:10 Witcher 4: Medieval Fantasy Returns

02:25:02 Ninja Gaiden Metroidvania and Honorable Mentions

02:27:14 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts