The Besties

Frushtick and Griffin were Destiny dudes, and yet it's Plante who has fallen in love with Bungie's new extraction shooter. What's so appealing about Marathon? Is the extraction genre's difficulty a dealbreaker? Who is this game even for? Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Welcome to The Besties March grab bag. There are simply too many new games, so to cover as much as possible, we split up the workload. Griffin talks about the surprisingly complete Early Access release of Slay the Spire 2. Plante, of all people, explains how to get into Marathon. And Frushtick . . . well, he found a big hole. To avoid Resident Evil 9 spoilers, skip to ~20 minutes after the return from ad break. Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Plenty of companies have torched their fortunes trying to smelt together a collection of hit games and genres, hoping to recreate others’ success. Understandably, many folks (ourselves included) approached Pokopia with a cold skepticism. A Pokémon, Animal Crossing, Minecraft, and Viva Piñata combination? It sounded too good to be  true. Friends… they did it. Pokopia isn’t just a collection of great ideas; it’s also a wholly interesting and original thing. We can’t wait to tell you about this wonderful game. Plus, we look at Nintendo’s peculiar plan for the rest of 2026. Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Scott Pilgrim EX is a spiritual sequel to a Netflix animated series from 2024, a Scott Pilgrim movie tie-in game from 15 years ago, and an underrated beat ‘em up series that debuted on the NES. Or to put it another way: Scott Pilgrim EX is deeply nostalgic, not for one moment, but for the breadth of the millennial gamer experience. Is that… fun? It will depend on your love of Scott Pilgrim, Rivert City Ransom, and the ongoing renaissance of a long-dormant genre. Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Resident Evil Requiem has the misfortune of following Resident Evil: Village, one of our favorite games of all time. How does a game live up to that high bar? It becomes more than just one game. This week, to avoid major spoilers, we talk about the first act of Requiem, roughly the first 5-7 hours set in a classic Resident Evil-style location. We also chat about the top-level shifts in tone and pacing. In the coming weeks, we’ll do a “full spoilers” segment digging into the unusual, lore-soaked places the game goes in its second and third acts. I suppose you could say it’s like a book club, but for video games. Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

16 years ago, Limbo launched on Xbox Live.  It wasn’t the first puzzle-platformer, but its molasses-thick layer of fairy tale horror inspired a generation of grim, mostly wordless contemporaries. Arguably, the most successful of the bunch has been the Little Nightmare series, created by Tarsier Studios. Today’s game is the latest evolution of this sub-genre. With Reanimal, the Tarsier team adds co-op to the mix. Is playing with friends (or a computer companion) a clever addition or does it undermine the horror of being alone in a cruel, dark world? We have conflicting answers! Plus, The Besties pick through Sony’s recent State of Play and share their favorite announcements. Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Ron Funches, comedian and actor known for his warm, goofy style, chats about Mewgenics and why its cat-breeding tactics hooked him. They dive into tactics, breeding and inbreeding, disorders as gameplay mechanics, the soundtrack, and how the loop keeps players coming back. Ron also reflects on his time on Traitors and how gaming instincts shaped his reality TV play.

A lively dive into how Dragon Quest VII Reimagined trims long JRPG bloat into a brisk, anthology-style adventure. A debate over modern conveniences like auto-battle, waypoints, and whether speed-ups harm genre identity. A hot take on Nioh 3’s brutal opening boss and whether punishing skill checks gate players unfairly. Quick recommendations and listener mail wrap up the conversation.

A deep dive into Cairn’s limb-by-limb climbing mechanics, physics-driven struggles, and endurance systems that change pacing. A spotlight on Perfect Tides: Station to Station’s memoir roots, pixel art, and emotional early-20s vignettes. Side discussions include alternative climbing games, technical achievements, and speedrun or permadeath possibilities.

Dive into the captivating world of Mio: Memories in Orbit, a stunning new entry in the Metroidvania genre that’s catching attention for its unique art style and emotional depth. Explore the mechanics of physics-driven movement and sequence-breaking gameplay that challenge traditional design. The hosts also reminisce about their quirky Animal Crossing islands, discussing new Switch 2 features and their hilarious in-game antics. Don't miss the chatter about nostalgia for retro games and the magic of discovering timeless classics!