Skill Up

Level up your game and get 10% off @TurtleBeach with code FPS at http://turtlebeach.com/FPS

#turtlebeachpod

--

The Pets Table at https://thepetstable.com with code fps55 to get 55% off your first box PLUS 10% off your next two. Thanks to The Pets Table for sponsoring FPS!

--

Head to https://raycon.com/friendsOPEN to get up to 20% off Raycon products sitewide. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring FPS!

--

Try HelloFresh at https://www.hellofresh.com/fps10fm with code fps10fm to get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Thanks to HelloFresh for sponsoring FPS!

--

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Catch Up

15:36 Jake's Been Playing the Avatar Frontiers of Pandora DLC

17:15 Jake's Been Playing Hytale

25:48 Ralph's Been Playing Hollow Knight Silksong

37:26 Raycon (ad)

40:28 Hello Fresh (ad)

43:42 Movie and Book Recommendations

54:36 Lucy's Been Playing Demos from the Steam Detective Fest

01:00:49 Games We're Excited for in 2026

01:36:39 Turtle Beach (ad)

01:39:22 The Pets Table (ad)

01:41:29 Show and Tell

01:58:19 Wrap Up

--

If you wanna check out our newsletter, you can do so here: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/

Listen to the Friends Per Second Podcast on your favourite podcast platform: https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendspersecond

--

Let's meet our hosts!

- Jake Baldino (aka the Before You Buy Guy) is pretty much the most watched reviewer on YouTube across both Gameranx and his personal channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/JakeBaldino). If you're obsessed with Delorians, The Mummy and Pizza you can discuss that stuff with him directly over on Twitter: @JakeBaldino

- Lucy James is a Senior Producer at Gamespot. She's actually, like, experienced and credentialed and has real life skills and stuff, while the rest of the gang would be funemployed if the YT algorithm didn't kiss them for random, inexplicable reasons.

- Skill Up used to work at McDonalds but he got fired for skimming too many chicken nuggets. He says he regrets it since he hasn't had a better job since.

Thanks to Squarespace for sponsoring the video. If you want to set up your own website (and get a discount while doing it), hit this link for more info: http://www.squarespace.com/skillup

--

Ed's write up after speaking to actual Concept Artists about Gen-AI: https://thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/concept-artists-in-games-say-generative-ai-references-only-make-their-jobs-harder/

--

Support independent games coverage by signing up to https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com. It's 100% ad-free and you can sign up for free to get access to our news, reviews and previews, as well as a weekly newsletter. Become a Supporter to get access to our op-ed features, expert columns, a bonus newsletter and an ad-free version of this very show.

--

#thisweekinvideogames #Witcher3 #Divinity

--

If you want to check out Big Hops or any of our other radar shout outs, you can find them on our Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128/

--

If you want to check out the Friends Per Second Podcast, you can find all the links to it here:

https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

--

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is by becoming a supporter on our website: https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com.

--

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

Thank you Surfshark for Sponsoring! Go to https://surfshark.com/skillup or use code SKILLUP at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!

--

Hell of a year. A damn good one, in fact. Shame it had to end the way that it did.

--

Support independent games coverage by signing up to https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com. It's 100% ad-free and you can sign up for free to get access to our news, reviews and previews, as well as a weekly newsletter. Become a Supporter to get access to our op-ed features, expert columns, a bonus newsletter and an ad-free version of this very show.

--

#thisweekinvideogames #ThisYearinVideogames #VinceZampella

--

If you want to check out the Friends Per Second Podcast, you can find all the links to it here:

https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

--

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is by becoming a supporter on our website: https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com.

--

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code SKILLUP at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/skillup. Thank you Incogni for sponsoring!

--

The Alters is the Management Sim evolved, both in terms of its visual presentation and its narrative heft. Packed with brilliant ideas, incredible performances and thought-provoking themes, this is one that we didn't want to let slip under anyone's radar as 2025 draws to a close.

--

Visit our website https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com for ad-free, ai-free, clickbait-free games coverage. Sign up for free, or become a supporter for access to exclusive content like features, expert columns, newsletters and an ad-free version of the weekly news show. Thanks for supporting the work we do.

--

You can find all the Skill Up content (reviews, previews, This Week in Videogames & The Friends Per Second Podcast over on Spotify, where you can listen ad-free if you're a Spotify premium subscriber: https://open.spotify.com/show/2w3Injyqj2VoxOxQg6ESbl?si=b651261f52c24e58

--

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

--

Grab 12% off any SteelSeries peripheral by using offer code SKILLUP at checkout: https://steelseries.pbj2.net/c/2446303/1266556/2390

--

Check out my curator page on steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128-Skill-Up-Curates.../

--

Recent vids:

Arc Raiders review:

https://youtu.be/wXB9flDrIXs

Dispatch review:

https://youtu.be/TyWU33qspwE

The Outer Worlds 2 review:

https://youtu.be/PzcPyEYlyA0

Hades II review:

https://youtu.be/L2BGd3x5gP4

Silent Hill f review:

https://youtu.be/PBW3NH7OaXM

Borderlands 4 review:

https://youtu.be/vRvKRcSCXU0

Cronos: The New Dawn review

https://youtu.be/3hIGaJfEk4E

Hell is Us review

https://youtu.be/cQDG_f_REPU

Mafia: The Old Country review

https://youtu.be/GTPe44ictv0

Donkey Kong Bananza Review:

https://youtu.be/0E2T-Ne9N5Q

Death Stranding 2 review:

https://youtu.be/UxMJ5WAp1gY

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 - The Making of a Masterpiece

https://youtu.be/mXLOLgC2V2Q

Doom: The Dark Ages review:

https://youtu.be/6CNivLBwLkM

Marathon preview:

https://youtu.be/bZVwBavB0Mg

Assassin's Creed Shadows review:

https://youtu.be/gdWyGurnSbU

Split Fiction review:

https://youtu.be/hajChij56Xo

Kingdom Come Deliverance II review:

https://youtu.be/_wFHtqKYMaM

Avowed review:

https://youtu.be/yxnyOmJzg_0

The best games of 2024

https://youtu.be/ShInfDuzl7A

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review:

https://youtu.be/HtbtcLxJTtY

STALKER 2 review:

https://youtu.be/BRCLRAJkqjg

Dragon Age: The Veilguard review:

https://youtu.be/QF-Kd2BBpx8

Silent Hill 2 review:

https://youtu.be/dBoU9SNFw9w

Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 review:

https://youtu.be/OZ6ur9NOkpE

Astrobot review:

https://youtu.be/JVAEWreFU0I

Star Wars Outlaws review:

https://youtu.be/sKo1owZzYcs

Concord review (RIP):

https://youtu.be/vRrWp_MVAxU

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree review:

https://youtu.be/d1FQ3BiL-L8

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review:

https://youtu.be/_LaI5Knv4wM

Helldivers 2 review:

https://youtu.be/5j4TsO8vngA

Skull and Bones review:

https://youtu.be/z_BKf5cdV_w

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League review:

https://youtu.be/reQKHNg0jh8

The Day Before - A Scam To Remember:

https://youtu.be/tdQXfXm8rjg

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review:

https://youtu.be/QNKS3vkGAag

Final Fantasy XVI review:

https://youtu.be/PzfUardkloY

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum review:

https://youtu.be/E21qSEyRa88

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review:

https://youtu.be/BQFImTqvW8E

Redfall review:

https://youtu.be/YTpFvYbDuqA

Resident Evil 4 Remake Review:

https://youtu.be/iIXQ3sospSo

Calisto Protocol review:

https://youtu.be/mm8pxfU9c6E

God of War Ragnarok review:

https://youtu.be/QdqMpAV1A1s

Saints Row review:

https://youtu.be/T-hsMkWHMLU

Elden Ring review:

https://youtu.be/gfcJv3oZNcc

Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at http://trueclassic.com/friends #trueclassicpod

--

Try HelloFresh at https://www.hellofresh.com/fps10fm with code fps10fm to get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Thanks to HelloFresh for sponsoring FPS!

--

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

16:15 Game Awards Recap

52:55 True Classic (Ad)

54:59 AI Discussion

01:33:53 Hello Fresh (Ad)

01:36:12 User Question

01:44:31 Jake's Been Playing Skate Story

01:49:59 Lucy's Been Playing Puzzmo

01:52:40 Jake's Been Playing Terminator 2D: No Fate

01:56:02 Ralph's Been Playing the New Diablo Season, Darktide and Hollow Knight: Silksong

02:02:55 Show and Tell

02:13:58 Wrap Up

--

If you wanna check out our newsletter, you can do so here: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/

Listen to the Friends Per Second Podcast on your favourite podcast platform: https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendspersecond

--

Let's meet our hosts!

- Jake Baldino (aka the Before You Buy Guy) is pretty much the most watched reviewer on YouTube across both Gameranx and his personal channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/JakeBaldino). If you're obsessed with Delorians, The Mummy and Pizza you can discuss that stuff with him directly over on Twitter: @JakeBaldino

- Lucy James is a Senior Producer at Gamespot. She's actually, like, experienced and credentialed and has real life skills and stuff, while the rest of the gang would be funemployed if the YT algorithm didn't kiss them for random, inexplicable reasons.

- Skill Up used to work at McDonalds but he got fired for skimming too many chicken nuggets. He says he regrets it since he hasn't had a better job since.

Track your nutrition intake and hit your wellness goals with MacroFactor. Use offer code SKILLUP for a FREE 14 day trial. Visit https://onelink.to/mfskillup or search MacroFactor on the App or Google Play stores. Thanks to MacroFactor for sponsoring the video.

--

Ed's write up after speaking to actual Concept Artists about Gen-AI: https://thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/concept-artists-in-games-say-generative-ai-references-only-make-their-jobs-harder/

Timestamps

00:00 Ad- MacroFactor

01:17 Gamers!

02:04 Larian and Gen-AI

12:00 Marathon in 2026

14:28 Lighting Round

20:00 Announced & Delayed

22:19 Review Round-Up

26:27 Out This Week

28:38 Put This On Your Radar

29:53 Feel Good and Outro

--

Support independent games coverage by signing up to https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com. It's 100% ad-free and you can sign up for free to get access to our news, reviews and previews, as well as a weekly newsletter. Become a Supporter to get access to our op-ed features, expert columns, a bonus newsletter and an ad-free version of this very show.

--

#thisweekinvideogames #Divinity #Larian

--

If you want to check out Angeline Era or any of our other radar shout outs, you can find them on our Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128/

--

If you want to check out the Friends Per Second Podcast, you can find all the links to it here:

https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

--

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is by becoming a supporter on our website: https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com.

--

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

Visit https://www.lostincult.co.uk and user offer code SKILLUPDESIGNWORKS to get 5% off your purchase, include the recently announced Tunic or Cocoon Design Works collections. Thanks to Lost in Cult for sponsoring the video.

--

Our interview with the Control Resonant game director: https://thisweekinvideogames.com/feature/control-resonant-remedy-creative-director-interview-not-a-safe-sequel-or-soulslike/

My Skate Story review: https://youtu.be/4nw24Xybvro?si=ktoAtFtMbOGVqIss

--

Support independent games coverage by signing up to https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com. It's 100% ad-free and you can sign up for free to get access to our news, reviews and previews, as well as a weekly newsletter. Become a Supporter to get access to our op-ed features, expert columns, a bonus newsletter and an ad-free version of this very show.

--

#thisweekinvideogames #TheGameAwards #clairobscurexpedition33

--

If you want to check out Death Howl or any of our other radar shout outs, you can find them on our Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128/

--

If you want to check out the Friends Per Second Podcast, you can find all the links to it here:

https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

--

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is by becoming a supporter on our website: https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com.

--

Grab 12% off any SteelSeries peripheral by using offer code SKILLUP at checkout: https://steelseries.pbj2.net/c/2446303/1266556/2390

--

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

Where most other games are about empowering me to achieve beyond what is impossible, Skate Story is often about the distance between between my euphoria and my ability.

--

Visit our website https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com for ad-free, ai-free, clickbait-free games coverage. Sign up for free, or become a supporter for access to exclusive content like features, expert columns, newsletters and an ad-free version of the weekly news show. Thanks for supporting the work we do.

--

You can find all the Skill Up content (reviews, previews, This Week in Videogames & The Friends Per Second Podcast over on Spotify, where you can listen ad-free if you're a Spotify premium subscriber: https://open.spotify.com/show/2w3Injyqj2VoxOxQg6ESbl?si=b651261f52c24e58

--

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en

--

Grab 12% off any SteelSeries peripheral by using offer code SKILLUP at checkout: https://steelseries.pbj2.net/c/2446303/1266556/2390

--

Check out my curator page on steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128-Skill-Up-Curates.../

--

Recent vids:

Arc Raiders review:

https://youtu.be/wXB9flDrIXs

Dispatch review:

https://youtu.be/TyWU33qspwE

The Outer Worlds 2 review:

https://youtu.be/PzcPyEYlyA0

Hades II review:

https://youtu.be/L2BGd3x5gP4

Silent Hill f review:

https://youtu.be/PBW3NH7OaXM

Borderlands 4 review:

https://youtu.be/vRvKRcSCXU0

Cronos: The New Dawn review

https://youtu.be/3hIGaJfEk4E

Hell is Us review

https://youtu.be/cQDG_f_REPU

Mafia: The Old Country review

https://youtu.be/GTPe44ictv0

Donkey Kong Bananza Review:

https://youtu.be/0E2T-Ne9N5Q

Death Stranding 2 review:

https://youtu.be/UxMJ5WAp1gY

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 - The Making of a Masterpiece

https://youtu.be/mXLOLgC2V2Q

Doom: The Dark Ages review:

https://youtu.be/6CNivLBwLkM

Marathon preview:

https://youtu.be/bZVwBavB0Mg

Assassin's Creed Shadows review:

https://youtu.be/gdWyGurnSbU

Split Fiction review:

https://youtu.be/hajChij56Xo

Kingdom Come Deliverance II review:

https://youtu.be/_wFHtqKYMaM

Avowed review:

https://youtu.be/yxnyOmJzg_0

The best games of 2024

https://youtu.be/ShInfDuzl7A

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review:

https://youtu.be/HtbtcLxJTtY

STALKER 2 review:

https://youtu.be/BRCLRAJkqjg

Dragon Age: The Veilguard review:

https://youtu.be/QF-Kd2BBpx8

Silent Hill 2 review:

https://youtu.be/dBoU9SNFw9w

Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 review:

https://youtu.be/OZ6ur9NOkpE

Astrobot review:

https://youtu.be/JVAEWreFU0I

Star Wars Outlaws review:

https://youtu.be/sKo1owZzYcs

Concord review (RIP):

https://youtu.be/vRrWp_MVAxU

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree review:

https://youtu.be/d1FQ3BiL-L8

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review:

https://youtu.be/_LaI5Knv4wM

Helldivers 2 review:

https://youtu.be/5j4TsO8vngA

Skull and Bones review:

https://youtu.be/z_BKf5cdV_w

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League review:

https://youtu.be/reQKHNg0jh8

The Day Before - A Scam To Remember:

https://youtu.be/tdQXfXm8rjg

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review:

https://youtu.be/QNKS3vkGAag

Final Fantasy XVI review:

https://youtu.be/PzfUardkloY

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum review:

https://youtu.be/E21qSEyRa88

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review:

https://youtu.be/BQFImTqvW8E

Redfall review:

https://youtu.be/YTpFvYbDuqA

Resident Evil 4 Remake Review:

https://youtu.be/iIXQ3sospSo

Calisto Protocol review:

https://youtu.be/mm8pxfU9c6E

God of War Ragnarok review:

https://youtu.be/QdqMpAV1A1s

Saints Row review:

https://youtu.be/T-hsMkWHMLU

Elden Ring review:

https://youtu.be/gfcJv3oZNcc

Head to https://buyraycon.com/friends to get up to 20% off Raycon audio products this holiday season. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring FPS!

--

https://www.factormeals.com/fps50off with code fps50off to get 50% off your first box plus free breakfast for 1 year. Thanks to Factor for sponsoring FPS!

--

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

05:56 Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Discussion

28:53 Horses Discussion

48:24 Raycon (ad)

50:43 Interview with Treasa McCabe, Paul Conway, and Dave McCabe About Making The Seance of Blake Manor

01:22:44 Factor (ad)

01:24:48 User Question

01:32:04 Ralph's STILL Playing Arc Raiders

01:39:21 Lucy's Played the Elden Ring Nightreign DLC

01:44:52 Jake's Been Playing Marvel Cosmic Invasion

01:47:53 Jake's Been Playing Red Dead Redemption AGAIN

01:53:36 Game's We're Excited to Play (Skate Story and Terminator 2D No Fate)

01:55:21 Show and Tell

02:12:18 Wrap Up

--

If you wanna check out our newsletter, you can do so here: https://friendspersecond.substack.com/

Listen to the Friends Per Second Podcast on your favourite podcast platform: https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendspersecond

--

Let's meet our hosts!

- Jake Baldino (aka the Before You Buy Guy) is pretty much the most watched reviewer on YouTube across both Gameranx and his personal channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/JakeBaldino). If you're obsessed with Delorians, The Mummy and Pizza you can discuss that stuff with him directly over on Twitter: @JakeBaldino

- Lucy James is a Senior Producer at Gamespot. She's actually, like, experienced and credentialed and has real life skills and stuff, while the rest of the gang would be funemployed if the YT algorithm didn't kiss them for random, inexplicable reasons.

- Skill Up used to work at McDonalds but he got fired for skimming too many chicken nuggets. He says he regrets it since he hasn't had a better job since.

Thanks to Squarespace for sponsoring the video. If you want to set up your own website (and get a discount while doing it), hit this link for more info: http://www.squarespace.com/skillup

--

My Metroid Prime 4 review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdyQDAL_WwQ

Austin's Where Winds Meet review: https://youtu.be/J5_iSm85b_w?si=v1nBnxgXdp-EQRLU

NakeyJakey's Silksong review: https://youtu.be/snNIZGuo92c?si=PpQoRpD2Wgte1Cbd

--

Support independent games coverage by signing up to https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com. It's 100% ad-free and you can sign up for free to get access to our news, reviews and previews, as well as a weekly newsletter. Become a Supporter to get access to our op-ed features, expert columns, a bonus newsletter and an ad-free version of this very show.

--

#thisweekinvideogames #Witcher4 #metroidprime4

--

If you want to check out Death Howl or any of our other radar shout outs, you can find them on our Steam curator page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28625128/

--

If you want to check out the Friends Per Second Podcast, you can find all the links to it here:

https://linktr.ee/friendspersecond

--

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. If you'd like to support the channel even more, the best way is by becoming a supporter on our website: https://www.thisweekinvideogames.com.

--

Grab 12% off any SteelSeries peripheral by using offer code SKILLUP at checkout: https://steelseries.pbj2.net/c/2446303/1266556/2390

--

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skillup.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillupyt/?hl=en