Frank Cifaldi of the Video Game History Foundation, Ash Parrish of The Verge, and Brandon Sheffield of Necrosoft Games choose and rank the twenty-one best video games of the year 2024. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

Credit Report (03:42)

1: Frank’s first nomination (09:45)

2: Ash’s first nomination (14:06)

3: Brandon’s first nomination (19:47)

4: Frank’s second nomination (24:26)

5: Ash’s second nomination (30:54)

6: Brandon’s second nomination (36:35)

7: Frank’s third nomination (42:18)

8: Ash’s third nomination (47:37)

9: Brandon’s third nomination (52:49)

10: Frank’s fourth nomination (59:10)

11: Ash’s fourth nomination (01:09:29)

12: Brandon’s fourth nomination (01:18:01)

13: Frank’s fifth nomination (01:24:33)

14: Ash’s fifth nomination (01:33:31)

15: Brandon’s fifth nomination (01:37:49)

16: Frank’s sixth nomination (01:44:37)

17: Ash’s sixth nomination (01:51:22)

18: Brandon’s sixth nomination (02:02:44)

19: Frank’s seventh nomination (02:09:58)

20: Ash’s seventh nomination (02:14:52)

21: Brandon’s seventh nomination (02:23:48)

View the finalized and ranked list at insertcredit.com

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Brandon Sheffield roams the streets and parties of Tokyo Game Show 2024, interviewing famous developers, spotting soba restaurants affiliated with drift tracks, and espousing the beauty of Neo Geo Pocket sprites. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with Christian Whitehead, Paul Veer, Hunter Bridges, Yohan Leclerc, Brad Flick, Dylan Cuthbert, and KC. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Chapters:

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Journalist, podcaster, and PR person Ed Zitron joins the panel for the reveal of the Video Game History Museum Library, how to tell when a PR person is lying, and a precise rundown of how fucked video games are. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Brandon Sheffield, and Ed Zitron. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

Credit Report (05:01)

1: Aaron Stewart-Ahn asks, have you ever gotten in serious trouble playing a multiplayer game? (05:12)

2: Frank, tell us about the newly online Video Game History Museum Library (11:01)

3: Who do you think has the best PR team in video games? (19:52)

4: How fucked are video games? (27:31)

5: LeFish asks, rank from best to worst: 1080 Snowboarding, Excitebike, F-Zero, Mario Kart, and Wave Race. (34:13)

6: What is exactly as satisfying in real life as it is to do in a video game? (37:49)

7: What is the Queens of the Stone Age of Video Games? (40:45)

LIGHTNING ROUND: 21 Questions (43:41)

Recommendations and Outro (55:11):

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Screenwriter Aaron Stewart-Ahn joins a panel guest hosted by Esper to cover the current definition of “good graphics,” Nicholas Cage’s sublime beauty, and seeing Attack of the Clones on acid.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: Where are your favorite places to hang out in open world video games? (06:20)

2: When is it most obvious that zero research went into a particular video game scene? (15:15)

3: Design a video game where the main hero is played by Nicolas Cage. (20:54)

4: Design a video game where the main villain is played by Nicolas Cage. (25:16)

5: Spencer asks, what are games biggest strengths as a medium? (30:56)

6: What do “good graphics” mean in 2025? (38:11)

7: What is the Decemberists of video games? (44:46)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Name Design – Czech New Wave Classics (49:37)

Credit Report (57:01)

Recommendations and Outro (57:24):

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Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield assemble to cover the Switch 2, video game console Marxism, and the shocking return of our most controversial segment. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: merritt k asks, which 90s platformer mascots do you think will never get a cash-in nostalgia-baiting revival? (03:31)

2: How bout that Switch 2? (09:37)

3: What are the characteristics of a Nintendo video game? (16:55)

4: Improv Zone - MMO Raid (22:48)

5: BluntForceMama asks, what is the optimal point in a game’s life cycle (ie, how long after release) to play it? (28:17)

6: Which video game fandom has the highest barrier of entry? (34:10)

7: What’s the ratio of great 2D games to great 3D games? (37:29)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Quester’s Fest (41:00)

Recommendations and Outro (44:12):

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Writer, game designer, and friend of the show merritt k joins the panel to discuss GDQ runs, the Radiohead of video games, and skeleton bone boobs. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, Brandon Sheffield, and merritt k. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: If you had to design and perform a gimmicky GDQ speedrun, what would it be? (05:13)

2: What are the popular games within the monsterfucking community? (12:03)

3: What tricks do video games do to convince players that they’re much bigger than they actually are? (18:39)

4: The Annual Public Domain Adaptation Game - Popeye (24:57)

5: a small rabite’s mom asks, why are there so many deserts in video games? Every time I see you playing one of these things you’re in a desert. (31:22)

6: What is the Radiohead of video games? (35:26)

LIGHTNING ROUND: GameFAQ&As - Draskula (39:31)

Credit Report (44:57)

Recommendations and Outro (45:30):

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As has become tradition, Insert Credit ranks the best games of all time, or at least 87% of them: the ones the industry won’t sell you anymore. Plus, the first ever spending of credits on Insert Credit Show. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: Round 1 - Frank’s First Nomination (08:13)

2: Round 1 - Ash’s First Nomination (13:08)

3: Round 1 - Brandon’s First Nomination (16:12)

4: Round 2 - Frank’s Second Nomination (19:34)

5: Round 2 - Ash’s Second Nomination (28:00)

6: Round 2 - Brandon’s Second Nomination (32:43)

7: Round 3 - Frank’s Third Nomination (36:50)

8: Round 3 - Ash’s Third Nomination (43:37)

9: Round 3 - Brandon’s Third Nomination (51:06)

10: Round 4 - Frank’s Final Nomination (01:02:04)

11: Round 4 - Ash’s Final Nomination (01:09:02)

12: Brandon’s Honorable Mentions (01:15:17)

12: Round 4 - Brandon’s Final Nomination (01:18:18)

13: Frank and Ash’s Honorable Mentions (01:20:19)

Why do games go out of print? (01:24:58)

Credit Report (01:37:58)

THE INSERT CREDIT ANNUAL #6

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The three finest minds in video games plumb the depths of our listener-submitted Question Hole, dredging up all manner of holiday cheer, the Floridafication of America, and the return of Seaman. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: Tradegood asks, what is the best video game to play on a first date? (03:04)

2: Kiko B asks, aside from jumping and running, what are the most important verbs in a platform game? Are there any that don’t get the attention they deserve? (06:28)

3: Breadytodie asks, which is the better racing game series: Initial D or Wangan Midnight? (07:34)

4: Goonbag asks, what’s the most shame you have ever experienced playing a video game? (08:48)

5: Hobart Painsborough asks, why do so many games lie to the player when they say “press any button to continue” when in reality “any button” does not, in fact, allow you to continue? (11:23)

6: A small rabite asks, is the Mana series the most mismanaged Square-Enix franchise? (12:43)

7: LeFish asks, who is the coolest videogame character whose design is family friendly or specifically aimed towards kids? (13:27)

8: Tom Arrow asks, I recently noticed while playing the Dreamcast that a bunch of these games feature an arcade-style race against the clock mechanic. What was the deal with that? (13:43)

9: Connrrr asks, can playing a video game be a form of puppeteering? (15:48)

10: Michael from Cyprus asks, it was Alain Badiou I think that said “ Most people resort to the certainty of misery than the misery of uncertainty.“ What two Video Games ultimately answer to the two paths? (16:27)

11: LowGuppy asks, what video game most needs a sequel subtitled “On the Beach?” (17:55)

12: Spencergifs asks, what is the best video game that is not played with a controller, mouse and keyboard, or arcade stick (19:19)

13: Rice_9 asks, when looking at a new game online, do you watch the video, read the copy, or look at screenshots first? (21:39)

14: Why Why asks, how do you make destructible items fun to destroy? (22:01)

15: Psinuxie asks, what are some later games that figured out design fundamentals? (23:29)

16: Dustin asks, what was a favorite multi-disc game for you? (26:36)

17: BluntForceMama asks, is GTA 6 late to the party regarding Florida culture? (29:18)

18: Anonymous asks, how do one’s actions in the human realm affect which video game world you go to when you die? (30:39)

19: Anders Matsen asks, what specific elements make up a “hang out game?”

20: Will Heydt Minor asks, is the world ready for Seaman 2? (35:36)

21: Kyle Karesh asks, what game series is better to play in chronological order rather than release order? (37:54)

22: Cara Esten asks, what video game would make the memory of a traumatic event worse? (38:49)

23: Dilson asks, what makes in-game lore compelling? (39:22)

Credit Report (52:00)

Recommendations and Outro (52:37):

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Composer, designer, and puzzler Chris Remo joins the panel to cover how specific instruments evoke moods in games, Mad Libs as branching path narrative, and VR’s Myst problem. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, Brandon Sheffield, and Chris Remo. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: What’s the right way to modulate crossword puzzle difficulty? (06:04)

2: What particular moods or vibes in video game soundtracks are most closely associated with specific instruments? (12:24)

3: Did any of those Wordle clones have any merit? (16:41)

4: If I haven’t been convinced to get into VR by now, am I beyond reach? (22:53)

Insert Credit Quick Break: Charles Greenberg (33:27)

5: Death Strandicoot asks, what are some interesting company interactions or rivalries in gaming? (34:41)

6: What is the TCM documentary about the making of The Day the Clown Cried of video games? (41:16)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Burning Questions (47:51)

Recommendations and Outro (51:34):

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Frank, Ash and Brandon design games based on historical events, explain the plot of Earth Defense Force, and discover why women have hollow bones. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: What historical events would it be interesting to recreate in a video game? (06:03)

2: What video game do you like that you believe the greatest percentage of people who have played it do not like? (11:22)

Credit Report (14:58)

3: Has there ever been an unreleased video game that you were glad never came out? (15:16)

4: Explain the lore of Earth Defense Force in 6 minutes (19:51)

Insert Credit Quick Break: Puppycam! (25:50)

5: Rin asks, how often do you use button remapping? (26:32)

6: What’s the best prison or prison sequence in a video game? (34:32)

7: What is the Christopher Nolan’s TENET of video games? (40:27)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Famicom Feud - Past Game Awards Winners (44:26)

Recommendations and Outro (54:01):

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