Loot Level Chill

This is a full on spoilercast for some of the biggest games of 2025, as we dissect the narratives and moments that made them so special. It's time for two categories: best moment, and first up, best story.

• Buy us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/U7U81H2M26
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lootlevelchill/about?
• Website: https://lootlevelchill.com/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lootlevelchill.bsky.social
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loot.level.chill

We're starting to get a little spoiler-y now, as Best New Character means we have to talk about stories in games, but before that, what is the nicest surprise of a game in 2025? Our awards season continues.

• Buy us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/U7U81H2M26
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lootlevelchill/about?
• Website: https://lootlevelchill.com/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lootlevelchill.bsky.social
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loot.level.chill

Our best spectacle category is here, and we've split it into audio and visual, so we can coo over which games in 2025 looked and sounded the best. Top threes for these one, and no spoilers. Yay!

• Buy us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/U7U81H2M26
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lootlevelchill/about?
• Website: https://lootlevelchill.com/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lootlevelchill.bsky.social
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loot.level.chill

It's time to talk about the best games of 2025, and what better way to do it than with lengthy podcast discussions. The first of our special run of episodes is about best re-release and best multiplayer, and boy has it been a year for re-releases, thanks to a certain Switch 2.

• Buy us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/U7U81H2M26
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lootlevelchill/about?
• Website: https://lootlevelchill.com/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lootlevelchill.bsky.social
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loot.level.chill

Kieran makes his full podcast debut (you can hear him earlier on an exclusive Patreon only podcast) to talk about Rue Valley, a game inspired by Disco Elysium, and it has Lyle, Steve, and Adam all intrigued.

Speaking of intrigue, what is the deal with Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Is it cannon? It is, right? Lyle is playing this meaty experience. 

And speaking of meaty, the hunky Steve(n) has lost his mind playing Lumines Arise, so let's chat about that, too.

Note: we'll be starting game of the year recordings soon, so we'll do our best to keep up with regular podcasts, but as you know, these GOTY recordings take a lot of time, so we can't promise! Thanks for baring with us, in what has been a tricky end of 2025.

PS: Quick note on the podcast schedule. Some changes to our lives have meant that we may have to adjust when the episodes appear. It's likely that the podcast will now appear on Fridays, with Patreon members getting early access on Wednesdays, and the bonus episodes on a Friday. Oh and we're recording GOTY pods soon, so that'll delay the regular pod. Thanks for your patience!

• Buy us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/U7U81H2M26
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lootlevelchill/about?
• Website: https://lootlevelchill.com/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lootlevelchill.bsky.social
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loot.level.chill

On this episode of Loot Level Chat, it's time to talk about Ball x Pit, and hey, what's in a name? We find out as Lyle, Steve, and Adam discuss what that "x" means, and why. Oh, and they talk about the game itself, of course, too.

Steve has been living his best Burnout-life as he investigates Wreckreation, and explains to Adam and Lyle what it's all about. Meanwhile both Lyle and Adam have finished Pokemon Legends: Z-A and are rather enamoured with the game, hoping the future for Pokemon fans is finally bright again.

PS: Quick note on the podcast schedule. Some changes to our lives have meant that we may have to adjust when the episodes appear. It's likely that the podcast will now appear on Fridays, with Patreon members getting early access on Wednesdays, and the bonus episodes on a Friday.

• Buy us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/U7U81H2M26
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lootlevelchill/about?
• Website: https://lootlevelchill.com/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lootlevelchill.bsky.social
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loot.level.chill

It's a two person podcast this episode, with Adam and Lyle here to bring some seriously positive vibes.

Both of the duo have been playing Super Mario Galaxy 1+2, and despite the first game in the collection having been previously available on Switch, it actually has some new changes that are really interesting. Super Mario Galaxy 2, of course, is a first-time thing for Nintendo Switch: was it worth the wait?

Meanwhile, the word "perfect" is used when describing Hades II. It's not a word we like to use too often when referring to a game, but Hades II really does seem like it's that special. Lastly, we have a quick check in on the newest "Balatro-like", CloverPit, and check in with how Lyle and Adam feel about the Mina the Hollower delay, before trying to work out if another member of the team is playing a long game to troll Lyle.

PS: Quick note on the podcast schedule. Some changes to our lives have meant that we may have to adjust when the episodes appear. It's likely that the podcast will now appear on Fridays, with Patreon members getting early access on Wednesdays, and the bonus episodes on a Friday.

• Buy us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/U7U81H2M26
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lootlevelchill/about?
• Website: https://lootlevelchill.com/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lootlevelchill.bsky.social
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loot.level.chill

Ghost of Yotei is a game you might of heard of? Well, Mick has been playing it and on this episode of the podcast has plenty to say about it.

Does it feel like a bit step up from the hugely popular Ghost of Tsushima? Do we get to ride the wolf like a horse? These questions will be answered, because of course they will.

Lyle has been playing Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, though, and spoilers, but he kinda prefers it to Mario Kart World. It's hard not to compare the two, really, but CrossWorlds has a few things MKW is missing, and it makes it somehow better.

Lastly, Adam and Mick have been back into the world of zombies, with Dying Light: The Beast, which by all accounts is a thoroughly good time. Who knew?

On LLC DLC this coming week, you can hear us talking about Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Deus Ex, and Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac, so consider our Patreon for that exclusive bonus episode. Not only that, but you'll get the regular podcast (this one!) early!

• Buy us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/U7U81H2M26
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lootlevelchill/about?
• Website: https://lootlevelchill.com/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lootlevelchill.bsky.social
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loot.level.chill

Borderlands 4 is here, and so is Mick to explain to Adam, Steve, and Lyle how great it is on this week's episode of the Loot Level Chill podcast.

Adam is a huge fan and can't wait to get stuck in to Borderlands 4, but Mick has played it for his review and the podcast is largely about that for a good chunk. How's the story; the mechanics; the performance? And also, why was review access PC only?

For those of you sick of hearing about Hollow Knight: Silksong, well, we're sorry, but this week's podcast contains a bit more chat about it. In many ways given the lack of access pre-release, this is like a review in progress, over a lengthy period of time. Adam thinks it's mean, but Steve is still keen. Where will we end up, you'll have to tune in every week for the rest of time, as it seems a chunky game.

Lyle has games, too, as he's played and finished (to give it the full title) Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World. It's a lovely, gorgeous experience, so the gang wax lyrical about it, and hope more people play it this time. Also, a cheeky little bonus as Adam has played Star Wars: Outlaws on Switch 2. Was the pre-release noise right or wrong? Spoiler: it was wrong, it plays really well.

• Buy us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/U7U81H2M26
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lootlevelchill/about?
• Website: https://lootlevelchill.com/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lootlevelchill.bsky.social
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loot.level.chill

This week we have a very, very special guest joining us to make the first 4-person pod in a while.

We'll let you listen to find out exactly who it is, but he, along with Mick and Adam, has been playing Hell is Us. We know we talked about the game in a preview/demo sense a few weeks ago, but a few of the gang have finished it now and are enamoured with how special it is when it comes to a few ideas. There's NO SPOILERS here, but it's a very hefty chat about the game.

That said, our guest and Adam have also played Lost Soul Aside and are... sadly not hugely impressed. So there's a chat about that, and... Silksong when? Now. It's now! It's actually out now, and that means we can have an early chat about the opening hours of it. What a world we live in.

• Buy us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/U7U81H2M26
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lootlevelchill/about?
• Website: https://lootlevelchill.com/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lootlevelchill.bsky.social
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loot.level.chill