It’s been a little while since our last regular episode, but we’re back and there’s plenty to catch up on. We’ve both been fully immersed in Death Stranding 2, and we’re loving every minute of it. Ed has also wrapped up the Lies of P DLC, Overture, and has been enjoying Fast Fusion on the Switch 2. Meanwhile, Ben’s found his next cosy obsession in Fantasy Life i, and he’s also really into The Alters. Lots of games, lots of thoughts - let’s dive in.

00:00:00 - Intro

00:05:50 - Death Stranding 2

00:20:10 - Maestro VR

00:25:32 - Lies of P: Overture DLC & the 'Soulslike' genre

00:39:55 - The Alters

00:52:10 - Fantasy Life i

00:57:10 - Fast Fusion

01:01:24 - What you've been playing

01:09:40 - News: Mario Kart World's update & other news

01:15:30 - Outro

▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼

● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 

▼ Ben's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social

● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus

● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus

▼ Ed's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

We've had the Switch 2 in our hands for a week, so what do we think? Is the hardware up to scratch? Is Mario Kart World's open world a waste of time? Why would anyone play the Welcome Tour? Tune in and find out!

00:00:00 - Intro

00:03:15 - Initial console impressions & Welcome Tour

00:37:54 - Mario Kart World

00:53:17 - Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2

01:02:43 - What you think

▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼

● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 

▼ Ben's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social

● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus

● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus

▼ Ed's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

We're back to regular episodes, and this week we're chatting about just how impressive Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is. Ben's only just reached Act 2, so no spoilers here - just a relaxed look at what makes the game stand out so far.

We also talk about South of Midnight, the chaos of Grandma, No!, and the stylish Neon-Noir vibes of The Precinct.

Plus, a quick round-up of what you've been playing and a few headlines from the week.

00:00:00 - Intro

00:08:13 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

00:39:27 - Grandma, No!

00:43:56 - The Precinct

00:56:05 - South of Midnight

01:03:16 - What you've been playing

01:14:30 - Gaming news (speedrun)

01:20:00 - Twitter **** of the Week

01:21:40 - Outro

▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼

● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 

▼ Ben's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social

● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus

● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus

▼ Ed's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

We're back and we’ve got something special. Ed just returned from Japan, where he spent 30 hours playing Death Stranding 2. We've got exclusive details and fresh impressions you won’t hear anywhere else. He also got time with the Switch 2, but let’s be honest - you’re here for Kojima.

00:00:00 - Intro & catch up

00:10:44 - Death Stranding 2 hands-on impressions

00:44:36 - Switch 2 hands-on impressions

01:27:07 - Outro

▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼

● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com  

▼ Ben's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social

● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus

● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus 

▼ Ed's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

Ed is back from San Francisco with plenty to share about his time at GDC! From the games he played to the developers he interviewed, there's a lot to cover. Plus, he'll be sharing his thoughts on the city itself - the bars, the clubs, and of course, all the gaming. Tune in for the full rundown! 

Plus, we talk about what you’ve been playing!

▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼

● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 

▼ Ben's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus

● Follow on Bluesky -

https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social

● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus

● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus

▼ Ed's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

We’re back with a special episode featuring Elden Ring expert (and gaming aficionado) Doms Roundtable! Both Ed and Dom attended an exclusive Nightreign preview event recently, and they’re here to share everything they learned. Plus, we dive into the art of creating in-depth video guides for challenging games, chat about Final Fantasy 7, and discuss the most exciting upcoming releases of the year!

▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼

● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 

▼ Dom's links ▼

● Follow on YouTube - http://youtube.com/domsroundtable

● Follow on Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/domsroundtable

● Follow on BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/domsroundtable.bsky.social

▼ Ben's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social

● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus

● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus

▼ Ed's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

We're recording this live following the Xbox Developer Direct 2025 and we go through all the games mentioned there. Also, Ed's been playing Returnal, Metroid Other M, Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon, and Ben discusses Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth.

Plus, we talk about what you’ve been playing!

00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:44 - Ninja Gaiden 4

00:13:36 - South of Midnight

00:19:02 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

00:26:30 - DOOM The Dark Ages

00:41:40 - Metroid: Other M

00:48:09 - Returnal

00:51:15 - Yakuza 7 Like a Dragon, The Man Who Erased His Name, Infinite

Wealth

01:13:17 - What you've been playing

01:24:28 - Outro

▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼

● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com

▼ Ben's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social

● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus

● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus

▼ Ed's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

It's time for an emergency podcast that's luckily at the same time we do our normal podcast and of course there is only one thing to talk about - the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2! We delve into that trailer, what we'd like to see, what we expect, and a whole lot more.

Plus, we talk about what you thought of the trailer!

No chapters, it's Switch 2 from start to finish

▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼

● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com

▼ Ben's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus

● Follow on Twitter - http://twitter.com/biggusbennus1

● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus

● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus

▼ Ed's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights

● Follow on Twitter - http://twitter.com/ed_nights 

It's the big one - our Game of the Year 2024 podcast! Find out what we thought of all the games we played this year, a final top 10 ranking, and also your top 10 games voted by YOU!

▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼

● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com

▼ Ben's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social

● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus

● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus

▼ Ed's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

In this very special episode we're joined by PlayStation Access's Rosie Caddick, The Gamer's Meg Pelliccio and Eurogamer's Victoria Kennedy to chat about their favourite 3 games of 2024. If you don't have a list of games you must play/finish by the end of this episode I'll be stunned.

00:00:00 - Intro

00:05:30 - Meg Pelluccio's top games of 2024

00:41:23 - Rosie Caddick's top games of 2024

01:22:49 - Victoria Kennedy's top games of 2024

01:55:53 - Honourable mentions

02:24:19 - What we're looking forward to in 2025

02:35:43 - Outro

▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼

● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com

▼ Meg's links ▼

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/megpelliccio.bsky.social

● Follow on Twitter - https://twitter.com/megpelliccio

▼ Rosie's links ▼

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/rosiecaddick.bsky.social

● Follow on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rosie_Caddick

▼ Victoria's links ▼

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/lilchopshopgal.bsky.social

● Follow on Twitter - https://twitter.com/LilChopShopGal

▼ Ben's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social

● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus

● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus

▼ Ed's links ▼

● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights

● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social