The Nextlander Podcast

In our second and final year-end wrap-up, we detail numbers 4 through 1 on our personal GOTY lists, and then dive into an array of honorable (and not too many dishonorable) mentions before pondering the year ahead. Happy new year!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:01:17) Brad's recap from last episode
(00:01:55) Vinny's recap from last episode
(00:02:10) Alex's recap from last episode
(00:02:29) Number 04 [Brad]
(00:10:04) Number 04 [Vinny]
(00:16:18) Number 04 [Alex]
(00:22:55) Number 03 [Brad]
(00:31:03) Number 03 [Vinny]
(00:31:21) Number 03 [Alex]
(00:38:12) First Break
(00:38:17) Number 02 [Brad]
(00:45:34) Number 02 [Vinny]
(00:52:49) Number 02 [Alex]
(00:57:38) Number 01 [Brad]
(01:16:09) Number 01 [Vinny]
(01:29:34) Number 01 [Alex]
(01:38:21) Second Break
(01:38:26) Honorable Mentions
(02:17:56) The games that missed the mark for us
(02:24:05) ...and nobody talked about Maro Kart World
(02:25:05) There's always more to talk about...
(02:27:06) Brad's Top Ten Games of 2025
(02:27:25) Vinny's Top Ten Games of 2025
(02:27:53) Alex's Top Ten Games of 2025
(02:28:13) Wrapping up and thanks for 2025
(02:31:20) See ya
(02:31:41) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts

For our final two podcasts of 2025, we're getting together to lay out and discuss our personal top 10 lists. This week we reflect a bit on the state of games over the past year before running through numbers 10 through 5 on our lists. Hope you're having a happy holiday!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:11:15) Number 10 [Brad]
(00:17:34) Number 10 [Vinny]
(00:24:01) Number 10 [Alex]
(00:28:27) Number 09 [Brad]
(00:30:58) Number 09 [Vinny]
(00:31:42) Number 09 [Alex]
(00:36:28) Number 08 [Brad]
(00:46:32) First Break
(00:46:37) Number 08 [Vinny]
(00:47:57) Number 08 [Alex]
(00:49:44) Number 07 [Brad]
(00:50:24) Number 07 [Alex]
(01:06:38) Number 07 [Vinny]
(01:07:14) Number 06 [Brad]
(01:16:14) Number 06 [Vinny]
(01:22:26) Second Break
(01:22:30) Number 06 [Alex]
(01:26:29) Number 05 [Brad]
(01:37:25) Number 05 [Vinny]
(01:37:48) Number 05 [Alex]
(01:46:43) Brad numbers 10 through 05 recap
(01:47:05) Vinny's Number 10 through 05 recap
(01:47:23) Alex's Number 10 through 05 recap
(01:47:38) Wrapping up
(01:49:35) See Ya!
(01:49:48) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts

We spend most of this week's show unpacking all the announcements and trailers out of the Game Awards, including Control Resonant, Ontos, Gang of Dragon, Divinity, the Street Fighter movie, Mega Man: Dual Override, Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Fate of the Old Republic, and a ton of other stuff. Plus, games we plan to dig into over the holidays, some final thoughts as we approach the end of 2025, and more!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:04:30) The Game Awards get A LOT of views
(00:07:54) Physical games and hardware sales
(00:10:52) Let's talk about the announcements
(00:11:07) South of Midnight  |  [PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Q2 2026
(00:11:36) Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  TBD
(00:16:21) Star Wars: Galactic Racer  |  [Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  2026
(00:19:59) The Street Fighter movie trailer
(00:31:25) First Break
(00:31:30) Warlock  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  2027
(00:33:42) Divinity  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  TBD
(00:35:18) Ontos  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  2026
(00:38:09) Warframe: The Old Peace  |  [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4]  |  Dec 10, 2025
(00:39:04) Soulframe (Beta) |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  TBD
(00:40:02) Bradley the Badger  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  TBD
(00:41:51) TankRat  |  [PlayStation 5, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Q2 2026
(00:42:40) Screamer  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 26, 2026
(00:43:17) Gang of Dragon  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  TBD
(00:45:02) The expected announcements
(00:45:15) Mega Man: Dual Override  |  [Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  2027
(00:46:28) Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  2026
(00:46:46) Tomb Raider: Catalyst  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  2027
(00:47:45) Control Resonant  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Mac]  |  2026
(00:51:11) Total War: Warhammer 40,000  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  TBD
(00:52:50) Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve  |  [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  2026
(00:53:42) Coven of the Chicken Foot  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  TBD
(00:54:34) 007 First Light  |  [Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Mar 27, 2026
(00:57:08) Forest 3  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  TBD
(00:59:27) Out of Words  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  2026
(01:01:42) A few other games we'd like to mention
(01:02:17) Pragmata  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Apr 24, 2026
(01:02:47) Audiomech: Your Music Transformed  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  TBD
(01:03:22) Solasta II (Early Access) |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 12, 2026
(01:03:28) Highguard  |  [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Jan 26, 2026
(01:08:14) Our highlights
(01:08:57) Anything missing we thought might be there?
(01:12:49) Second Break
(01:12:54) Games we want to play during the break
(01:22:24) Metroid Prime 4: Beyond  |  [Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Dec 04, 2025
(01:32:09) Silent Hill f  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Sep 25, 2025
(01:33:51) Light Up the Town  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Dec 07, 2025
(01:39:16) Emails
(01:43:31) Wrapping up and thanks
(01:46:42) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(01:48:58) Nextlander content updates
(01:50:14) Goodbye 2025, Hello 2026!
(01:50:29) See Ya!

Brad got a Switch 2, and played Metroid Prime 4 on it, and we talk about that, Skate Story, the end of Silent Hill f, a bunch of Game Awards announcement speculation, the resurrection of Romero Games' latest project, whatever the hell is going on with Call of Duty right now, the immortal might of Shang Tsung, our love of Roger Ebert, a shocking revelation about controller face buttons, and a bunch more on this week's show.


CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:09) Intro
(00:14:13) Metroid Prime 4: Beyond | [Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2] | Dec 04, 2025
(00:42:07) First Break
(00:42:11) Skate Story | [Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac] | Dec 08, 2025
(00:49:28) Silent Hill f | [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S] | Sep 25, 2025
(00:57:30) The Séance of Blake Manor | [Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Oct 27, 2025
(00:57:53) Marvel Cosmic Invasion | [Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Linux] | Dec 01, 2025
(00:58:10) Absolum | [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5] | Oct 09, 2025
(00:59:30) Void Crew | [PC (Microsoft Windows)] | Nov 25, 2024
(01:03:59) Second Break
(01:04:03) The Game Awards is soon and news is swirling
(01:04:24) Larian may have a new game in the Divinity series
(01:07:49) Capcom wants more Mega Man (and other) games!
(01:12:29) Tomb Raider will have something to show at The Game Awards
(01:17:16) Warner Bros. and Netflix... What will it mean for the games?
(01:29:01) Katsuhiro Harada retires from Tekken
(01:31:46) John Romero's latest project is still alive
(01:35:02) Tim Cain returns to Obsidian
(01:37:28) Call of Duty will slow down with the releases
(01:45:36) Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa has passed away
(01:47:58) Emails
(01:57:32) Wrapping up and thanks
(01:59:31) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:01:08) Nextlander Content Updates
(02:02:46) See ya!

We're chock-a-block with stuff to talk about this week, from the Analogue 3D to Horses (both the game and its banning), Marvel Cosmic Invasion, the Fortnite chapter 6 ending bonanza, more with Silent Hill f, a surprising amount of news about the possible futures of franchises like Dead Rising, Control, Metal Gear, and Hitman, your emails, and more!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:01:46) Podcast Celebrities vs Celebrity Podcasters
(00:11:38) Alex got an Analogue 3D!
(00:28:57) First Break
(00:33:34) Marvel Cosmic Invasion  |  [Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Linux]  |  Dec 01, 2025
(00:46:51) Horses  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Dec 02, 2025
(01:06:51) Silent Hill f  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Sep 25, 2025
(01:21:06) The Séance of Blake Manor  |  [Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Oct 27, 2025
(01:24:34) Hollow Knight: Silksong  |  [Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One]  |  Sep 04, 2025
(01:24:59) Fortnite  |  [Android, iOS, Xbox One, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4]  |  Jun 29, 2020
(01:49:40) Second Break
(01:49:44) New Dead Rising in the works?
(01:56:31) Control: Resonant is trademarked ahead of the Game Awards...
(02:03:00) Of course they are still going to make Hitman!
(02:08:55) Should we better recognize the performance capture for characters?
(02:17:12) What's next for Metal Gear? Probably nothing around Sons of the Patriots
(02:22:37) Emails
(02:31:52) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:36:28) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:39:02) Nextlander content updates
(02:42:41) See ya!

Brad and Vinny produce the rare duos podcast this week with deep(er) dives into Silent Hill f and Hollow Knight: Silksong, a look at The Séance of Blake Manor, the new Vampire Survivors quasi-sequel, Valve's comments on Steam Machine pricing/Linux anti-cheat/Half-Life 3, the passing of Udo Kier, Thanksgiving turkey (and other fowl) strategies, our annual recitation of Final Fantasy character names, and more!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:06:07) Silent Hill f  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Sep 25, 2025
(00:23:50) First Break
(00:23:54) The Séance of Blake Manor  |  [Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Oct 27, 2025
(00:31:54) Hollow Knight: Silksong  |  [Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One]  |  Sep 04, 2025
(00:33:29) [SPOILERS] Some Silksong items, areas, and encounters
(00:50:47) Fortnite: Chapter 6 - Mini Season 2: The Simpsons  |  [Android, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Nov 01, 2025
(00:55:05) Second Break
(00:55:09) More updates about the Steam Machine
(01:15:55) What's next for the Vampire Survivors folks?
(01:19:29) Will we see more of Naughty Dog's Intergalactic soon?
(01:24:40) Udo Kier has passed away at 81
(01:28:01) Emails
(01:51:05) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(01:55:24) See ya!

This week we dig into hot, brand-new video games like Metal Gear Solid and Nier: Automata, plus Lumines Arise's multiplayer, the ending chapters of Dispatch, Sektori, whatever's going on with Ubisoft, the loss of "Burger" Becky Heineman, Megabonk's stand-up Game Awards move, a "will it come out in 2026" quiz, and more!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:01:23) Some pure personal project nonsense
(00:05:57) That TV project is almost done!
(00:12:22) Extra Life 2025!
(00:18:25) Dispatch  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5]  |  Oct 22, 2025
(00:32:58) First Break
(00:36:49) Lumines Arise  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, SteamVR]  |  Nov 11, 2025
(00:54:36) Sektori  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Nov 18, 2025
(01:01:05) Plenty of games too play!
(01:02:07) Hollow Knight: Silksong  |  [Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One]  |  Sep 04, 2025
(01:03:12) Morsels  |  [Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Nov 18, 2025
(01:05:46) Metal Gear Solid  |  [PlayStation]  |  Oct 20, 1998
(01:19:07) Silent Hill f  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Sep 25, 2025
(01:22:22) Second Break
(01:22:32) What is happening at Ubisoft?
(01:32:10) Rebecca Heineman has passed away
(01:38:54) Yoko Taro is still trying to make games!
(01:42:34) Megabonk and The Game Awards
(01:52:03) Will Concord be playable again?
(02:01:16) Emails
(02:32:21) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:37:57) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts

This is it: the final Death Stranding 2 spoilercast. Lumines Arise is also out, and that game is an extreme banger. Valve crashes back into the hardware market with a new Steam Machine, VR headset, and controller. Grand Theft Auto VI gets yet another delay. We even hear from someone who's had both the McDonald's Pizza and the Street Fighter burgers. Real action-packed week on the ol' Nextlander Podcast!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:09) Intro
(00:02:15) Alex has some big news for everyone
(00:07:51) Death Stranding 2: On The Beach  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Jun 26, 2025
(00:08:23) [SPOILERS] All the Death Stranding spoilers are here.
(01:31:13) First Break
(01:31:17) Lumines Arise  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, SteamVR]  |  Nov 11, 2025
(01:44:27) Thrasher  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), SteamVR, Linux]  |  Nov 07, 2025
(01:49:54) Dispatch  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5]  |  Oct 22, 2025
(01:53:22) Silent Hill f  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Sep 25, 2025
(01:54:21) Hollow Knight: Silksong  |  [Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One]  |  Sep 04, 2025
(01:57:17) Second Break
(01:57:21) Initial thoughts on the Valve hardware dump
(02:21:09) Grand Theft Auto is delayed... again
(02:22:34) More about the firings from Rockstar
(02:27:48) Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra also delayed
(02:33:28) Emails
(02:39:44) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:43:55) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:46:26) See ya!

This week, the wild social dynamics of ARC Raiders, The Simpsons get Brad back into Fortnite, Vinny finishes Death Stranding 2 and starts Dispatch, the Switch 2 is still selling like hotcakes, Sony might allow cross-buying PS5 and PC games, and we find out what happened to Rockstar's Agent. It's a video game podcast!

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:10) Intro
(00:01:20) Alex in NYC
(00:03:43) ARC Raiders  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Oct 30, 2025
(00:29:29) Satisfactory  |  [PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Nov 04, 2025
(00:31:40) First Break
(00:38:07) Dispatch  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5]  |  Oct 22, 2025
(00:49:01) Silent Hill f  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Sep 25, 2025
(00:56:37) Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2]  |  Oct 30, 2025
(01:09:14) Fortnite: Chapter 6 - Mini Season 2: The Simpsons  |  [Android, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Nov 01, 2025
(01:20:32) Death Stranding 2: On The Beach  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Jun 26, 2025
(01:20:48) [SPOILERS] Definitely some story talk as we near the end. Getting to the good stuff!
(01:46:21) Second Break
(01:46:26) News
(01:46:47) Nintendo Switch 2 selling extremely well!
(01:51:19) Animal Crossing: New Horizons getting some love
(01:56:14) Rumors of Sony implementing a Cross-Buy on PC system
(02:03:36) Dan Houser talks about Agent
(02:07:42) Rockstar accused of 'Union Busting' with recent layoffs
(02:12:27) Emails
(02:28:04) Wrapping up and thanks
(02:31:49) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts
(02:34:28) Nextlander content updates
(02:36:09) See ya!