This week on The Inner Gamer, Brett and Jason share their first impressions of Ghost of Yōtei — the long-awaited follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima. You now play as Atsu, a warrior on a brutal quest for revenge against the Yōtei Six who murdered her family. The tone is darker, the world more open, and the storytelling more grounded. It’s a different kind of Ghost game, but so far, we’re loving the shift in direction.

Brett also dives into the full 1.0 release of Hades II on the Switch 2. This sequel from Supergiant Games expands everything fans loved about the original — deeper combat, gorgeous art, and another gripping mythic story. If you’re a roguelike fan, this is a must-play; if you’re not, its repetition may still test your patience.

Finally, we break down some major industry news. With rising game and console prices — including another Game Pass increase — gaming is getting more expensive than ever. And in a stunning move, Electronic Arts was acquired by Saudi Arabia for $55 billion, the largest deal in gaming history. We discuss what this could mean for players, studios, and the future of the industry as costs climb higher than ever.

Show Notes:
1:05 - Housekeeping
3:09 - Ghost of Yōtei First Look: Hunting the Yōtei Six
46:26 - Hades 2 First Look: Is It Worth the Loop?
1:08:36 - Console Gaming Is Too Expensive — The Beginning of the End?
1:37:25 - Inside the $55B EA Takeover — Risks, Opportunities, and What’s Next
1:59:37 - Upcoming Video Game Releases

Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server.

Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.

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Credits:
"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.net
Woman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress
"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

Borderlands 4 has finally arrived and with it we have the giant open world of Kairos to explore. Armed with 4 new vault hunters and a slew of missions, side quests and LOTS of guns we share what makes this game a huge step in the right direction. The open world is vast with plenty to do, the game has brought a ton of new traversal mechanics and the story is better and more grounded than BL3. Despite some rough spots around the edges, we're going to see this one to the end.

Austin downloads the much anticipated Hollow Knight Silksong. This game has been in development for 6 years and it's clear it was worth the wait. The game is challenging, beautiful and full of discovery. Check out our first impressions and find out if this is worth the $19.99 entry fee!

The Finals is back with season 8 and of course Brett is excited. He talks about the brand new destruction enhancements called "smooth destruction" that makes what was already amazing destruction even better. They also have a better onboarding system, instant replays and more to make this an awesome season as they prepare for the first big eSports tournament.

Lastly, skate. has arrived in early access. We never played Skate but have heard it's the more sim-like skateboarding game of the genre. It's very sim-like in its play of skateboarding, but has a lot of new social features and an open world to make it more approachable. Brett is actually really enjoying the game and is learning the moves pretty well but can tell it's very early access. If the devs can keep it up they'll have an awesome title on their hands.

Show Notes:
1:18 - Housekeeping
2:38 - Borderlands 4: Wildly Addicting But Rough Around the Edges
47:17 - Hollow Knight Silksong: 6 Years Was Worth the Wait
1:13:04 - The Finals Season 8: The Best Destruction Engine in Gaming!
1:32:22 -  Skate Early Access – The Good, The Bad, The Future
1:51:45 - Upcoming Video Game Releases

Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server.

Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop.

Credits:
"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.net
Woman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress
"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

007 First Light had it's first gameplay reveal. This is the new Bond game from IO Interactive, the creators of Hitman. It's looking good in some areas and not so much in others. How will it turn out when it releases next year?

Brett revisits some older games. He dives back into No Man's Sky Voyagers update with the new build-your-own Corvette's. It's an awesome update and No Man's Sky is a technical marvel, but it's daunting and Brett keeps realizing that every time he jumps back in.

Brett also went to see The Witcher in Concert and that brought him into The Witcher 3. He may have also convinced everyone else to jump back into it. The Witcher 3 came out 10 years ago and it surprisingly still holds up!

We also finished Mafia The Old Country and take a look back at the Mafia games of the past and what they could do in the future. We were a little let down by the overall package provided in The Old Country and Mafia 3 and 2 definitely showed us they can make amazing stories with fun gameplay.

Lastly, we're 10 years old! The Inner Gamer launched its first podcast September 4th, 2015. We look back on the last 10 years and reminisce on all the great memories building this podcast. Feel free to email us at [email protected] with your favorite episode or moment from our 10 years!

Show Notes:
1:21 - Housekeeping
3:40 - 007 First Light State of Play Reveal – Hype or Letdown?
33:25 - No Man’s Sky: A Voyage Through Redemption
57:47 - From Concert Hall to Kaer Morhen: My Witcher 3 Journey
1:26:39 - Vito to Lincoln to Enzo - The Future of Mafia Games
1:50:26 - The Inner Gamer: Looking Back on 10 Years
2:30:17 - Upcoming Video Game Releases

Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server.

Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop.

Credits:
"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.net
Woman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress
"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

This week Austin is out for his birthday (happy birthday Austin) but Jason and Brett are here to dig into the games. We start with our first look of Mafia: The Old Country. This game takes us back to 1900's Sicily where the Italian mob got its start. You play Enzo working your way up in the family led by the Don  through the hills of beautiful Sicily. The story is great...but does the gameplay follow suit?

We also cover all the highlights from Gamescom 2025 particularly our surprise of the new Lego Batman game coming out in 2026. We were shocked to see Lego take us back to Arkham when Rocksteady couldn't. Additionally, we talk about Resident Evil Requiem, Call of Duty Black Ops 7, Silent Hill f, Ghost of Yotei and more.

Battlefield 6 had their second open beta weekend and we continue to talk about it. We loved the second weekend but not everyone did. We talk about this, the changes Battlefield Studios will be making and what the road to Battlefield 6 looks like as it prepares for release in October.

Lastly, Ubisoft has been quiet this year. After Assassin's Creed: Shadows, not much has released and they didn't even have an Ubisoft Forward. What's going on and what's coming from their studios this year and beyond?

Show Notes:
01:11 - Housekeeping
02:58 - Mafia Returns: What Worked (and Didn’t) in The Old Country
32:26 - Gamescom 2025 Highlights : Lego Batman Stole the Show
57:07 - The Road to Battlefield 6: What’s Changed and What’s Next
1:23:56 - What Happened to Ubisoft? The Silent Year Explained
1:50:01 - Upcoming Video Game Releases

Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server.

Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop.

Credits:
"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.net
Woman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress
"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

In this episode, we review the new game from Dreamhaven (former Blizzard devs) called Wildgate. It's a PvPvE shooter we're having a blast playing. You and 3 other players pilot a shop through The Reach with other ships in the battle with you. Find the artifact and take it through the Wildgate or destroy all the enemy ships. The moment to moment combat is fantastic and there's a lot of variety to gameplay that keeps us coming back for more.

Grounded 2 is out in early access. This is Obsidian Entertainment's sequel to the survival "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" style game. Now we're in a big park with better graphics, simpler mechanics and tougher enemies...did we mention buggies? 

Battlefield 6 is back! The open beta happened last weekend and we played a ton of it. With this new title in the franchise, we have a return to form with the 4 classes, tighter maps, incredible destruction, fantastic sound and several new mechanics that change the game. This is the Battlefield we've been waiting for!

Lastly, Brett is bummed with Tony Hawk Pro Skater's 3+4. It doesn't live up to the memories he had as a kid. Is the game bad? Or is our memory simply remembering the best parts of the games we played?

Show Notes:
1:06 - Housekeeping
2:05 - Wildgate Review: Ship Heists in Space 
31:52 - Grounded 2: Better in Every Way…Plus Buggies!
54:33 - Battlefield 6: The Destructive Magic is Back 
1:22:26 - Grinding Through Nostalgia: The Problem with Remakes
1:41:33 - Upcoming Video Game Releases

Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server.

Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop.

Credits:
"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.net
Woman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress
"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

Nintendo is back in the conversation with a banger of a game with Donkey Kong Bananza. Exclusive to the Switch 2, Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the best platformers probably ever featuring fully destructible environments and dopamine hits with every smash of a rock you do. With Pauline by your side, venture down into Earth the planet's core through a variety of sublayers that represent different types of terrains and styles. It's a dense game with a ton of fun, charming characters, incredible tech and great music.

Jason also surprises us by picking up Death Stranding 2. Not only did he pick it up, he's clocked in over 45 hours so this is a more in-depth review from Jason digging into why Death Stranding 2 has quickly become one of his favorite games of the year. 

Brett plays Mecha Break which is a mech game with hero shooter style mechanics. It's free to play and you pilot a mech in 6v6 or 3v3 objective style missions or dive into a 3 player game in an extraction mode. The game looked ok but is suprisingly a ton of fun. The question...can it keep us engaged long term?

Austin dives into Atomfall that released earlier this year. With the hopes that it would bring back the feelings of Skyrim and Fallout, it unfortunately did not meet the standards Austin hoped for. It's a beautiful game but doesn't give the carrot on the stick he's looking for to keep exploring.

Lastly, we have our review of the video game adaptation Until Dawn. Now a movie, it's set in the universe but follows a new story with the same premise. Is it as good or better than the game? Listen to find out! 

Show Notes:
1:10 - Housekeeping
2:23- Donkey Kong Bananza Review
34:02 - Jason’s Review of Death Stranding 2
1:01:01 - Mecha Break Review
1:19:00 - Atomfall: Not the Fallout We Hoped
1:34:07 - Until Dawn Movie Review
1:43:19 - Upcoming Video Game Releases

Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server.

Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop.

Credits:
"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.net
Woman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress
"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

We have a great episode this week featuring our first look at Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2. We dive into this beautiful world and explore the early hours of the strand game. 

Brett dives into Sloclap's Rematch. These are the developers of Sifu entering into the competitive scene with a soccer game. It's a paid title with some solid mechanics, but is it enough to keep us engaged?

We also review Thronefall on the Steam Deck. It just released on mobile devices, but this game originally released in 2024 and is an RTS/tower defense mix. It has a beautiful art style, great progression and a simple but complex loop that keeps you coming back for more.

Sony brought a big update with the upcoming Ghost of Yotei from Sucker Punch. This is the follow up to Ghost of Tsushima and we want to know if Ghost of Yotei can outshine Tsushima? There's a ton of new features coming to this game and a whole new set of ways to uncover the world and we're excited to get our hands on it in October.

Lastly, Brett rolled credits in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and it may be one of his favorite games of all time. This game has it all. A fantastic score, brilliant combat, an incredibly beautiful world and the most genuine team that crafted a masterpiece with an ending you won't forget. This game can't be missed!

Show Notes:
1:11 - Housekeeping
2:11 - Death Stranding 2 First Look
35:00 - Rematch First Look
50:34 - Thronefall Review
1:03:33 - Can Ghost of Yotei Outshine Ghost of Tsushima?
1:23:41 - A Love Letter to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
1:57:23 - Upcoming Video Game Releases

Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server.

Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop.

Credits:
"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.net
Woman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress
"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

We have a returning guest on the podcast! Welcome back Joe Lambert from the Nerd Sloth Creative. He's here to talk about all the games we've been playing. Make sure and check out his podcast Indie Game Arcade, releasing weekly! 

We have an incredibly focused podcast today featuring 4 games. We start with Elden Ring Nightreign, the side project from From Software that takes us into a co-op experience in the Elden Ring universe fighting incredibly hard bosses in a battle royale style experience. Avoid the blue flames and fight to the center to face the boss and survive the day!

We also review Monster Train 2. This is the sequel to the 2020 roguelike deckbuilder. It's better in every way with brand new cards, new mechanics and enhanced visuals. It's a blast to play with tons of replayability.

Peak is a new game that is a collab between the team behind Another Crab's Treasure and Content Warning. It takes you and 3 other players to a mountain where you have to climb to a series of peaks, helping each other up and surviving the weather to reach the top and escape in a helicopter. It's so much fun and super cheap at launch!

Lastly, Austin revisits Warhammer 40k Darktide. There is a new, paid DLC that brings a new class and several updates that came for free to all players. Is the game worth diving back into 2025? 

Show Notes:
1:19 - Housekeeping
2:12 - Elden Ring Nightreign Review
25:56 - Monster Train 2 Review
50:15 - Peak Review
1:08:58 - Warhammer 40k Darktide Arbites Class Update
1:28:51 - Upcoming Video Game Releases

Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server.

Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop.

Credits:
"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.net
Woman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress
"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

The Switch 2 is finally here! We've had it a little over week and talk about our first impressions of the hardware, the game library and what's coming. We also review Mario Kart World which is the premiere launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Jason reviews Mindseye, the new game from the larger experience Everywhere, but unfortunately the game doesn't quite deliver the big promise we had hoped. It has an interesting story and a beautiful world, but falls flat with the AI, gameplay and bugs.

There was also a ton of showcases for Summer Games Fest and we cover all the highlights. From Silent Hill f to Resident Evil Requiem, Clockwork Revolution to Call of Duty Black Ops 7, there's a lot to discuss and we share our favorite reveals from the State of Play, Summer Games Fest and Xbox Games Showcase.

Show Notes:
0:59 - Housekeeping
2:12 - Nintendo Switch 2 First Impressions
28:36 - Mario Kart World Review
53:15 - Mindseye Review
1:12:43 - State of Play June 2025
1:26:32 - Summer Games Fest 2025
1:47:28 - Xbox Games Showcase 2025
2:14:43 - Upcoming Video Game Releases

Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server.

Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop.

Credits:
"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.net
Woman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress
"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

We have a surprise review this week for a game called Revenge of the Savage Planet. This game was not on our radar, but we're glad we got it and played it. It's a third-person collect-a-thon where you fight bugs and other creatures, capture them and collect eggs, spool and more to level up your character. It's on Xbox Game Pass and can be easily played with a friend!

We also dove back into the 8 year old Star Wars Battlefront 2. It's been getting some popularity recently because of Star Wars in Fortnite, Andor Season 2 and Star Wars Day. We quickly realized how much we enjoyed that game despite it's commercial failure due to poor business decisions. We hope the resurgence is enough to bring it back and do it right.

Splitgate 2 is officially out in open beta. They had some issues with the launch but after it was fixed, it feels good jumping back into this game. We predict when the game will release and talk about what we love and don't love about the sequel to the much anticipated arena shooter.

Lastly, we share our experiences both at Dreamhack Dallas and Dallas Fan Expo. One focused on gaming and esports and the other on nerd culture in comic books, sci-fi, anime and more. 

Show Notes:
0:55 - Housekeeping
4:35 - Revenge of the Savage Planet Review
28:44 - Why We Need Star Wars Battlefront 3
51:38 - Splitgate 2: Open Beta Launch Woes and Launch Predictions
1:07:56 - Dreamhack Dallas Recap
1:36:10 - Dallas Fan Expo Recap
1:59:07 - Upcoming Video Game Releases

Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server.

Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop.

Credits:
"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.net
Woman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress
"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64