It’s a community show this week, but first we dive into the games we’ve been playing. Terrence shares his love-hate relationship with REMATCH, calling it both his most beloved and most infuriating game of the year. He also gives quick takes on FBC Firebreak and Lost in Random: The Eternal Die. Brad compares two action-packed brawlers—Midnight Fight Express and Dead as Disco—before digging into strategy with a breakdown of Age of Wonders: Planetfall versus Age of Wonders 4 to determine which entr...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 547
Terrence has been diving into the new base-building game The Alters and shares his early impressions, along with his thoughts on Metaphor: ReFantazio, Dense Pixels' 2024 Game of the Year. Brad is working through his backlog and enjoying both Manor Lords and Shapez 2, with plenty of praise to go around. In news, we cover the massive launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike against major game publishers, and Embracer Group’s Lars Wingefors conveniently stepping into a new r...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 546
We’ve all finally gotten our hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 — even Micah — and we share our first impressions of the new console, along with thoughts on Mario Kart World and whether now is the right time to buy one. Summer Game Fest just wrapped, and we start by breaking down the one presentation that stood out for all the wrong reasons, plus what it says about the current state of the AAA gaming industry. We also highlight all of the games that grabbed our attention, including 007: First Light,...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 545
***CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33 SPOILER WARNING*** With news being light this week, we dive deep into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. We explore the elements that make it stand out, what lessons we hope other developers learn from it, and give a full breakdown of the game's characters. Of course, we also unpack the ending and examine the major themes that run throughout this compelling title.
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 544
Terrence shares his quick impressions of Doom: The Dark Ages and makes a surprise return to Dragon Age: Inquisition. Did he finally make it out of The Hinterlands this time? We dive into the controversy surrounding Bungie, as the studio is once again caught plagiarizing art. With morale reportedly low and Marathon in a precarious state, we discuss what the future might look like for Bungie moving forward. In the Post Office, we reflect on how we've changed as gamers over the years and share the ...
May 20, 2025•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 543
It’s a light news week, so we open the floodgates for a massive edition of the Post Office. We dig into our favorite independent media outlets, whether Jacob Fatu is officially invited to the cookout, and the most overrated bands in music history. Brad has found another hidden gem with Drop Duchy—a puzzle game dressed up as a Tetris-inspired roguelite that deserves more attention. We share our excitement about the resurrection of Giant Bomb as a worker-owned, independent games media outlet, and ...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 542
Brad has reached the endgame in Last Epoch and confirms it has the juice for ARPG fans. Terrence gives his full review of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 now that he's beaten it, and explains why he’s diving back into Avowed. Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed to next year—but does anyone on the panel actually care? Microsoft raises prices across the board for Xbox hardware and first-party games. We discuss what this means for the future of console pricing and why Microsoft may have jumped ahead o...
May 06, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 541
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remaster arrived unexpectedly, and Carrie and Terrence share their thoughts on how well it holds up today. Micah, Brad, and Terrence have all jumped into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Is the game living up to the buzz and lofty expectations? We also offer our impressions of Promise Mascot Agency and Last Epoch, and how each stacks up in their respective genres. Finally, we recap WrestleMania 41—which matches delivered, which disappointed, and what the outcomes could...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 540
Brad shares his impressions of Blue Prince, diving into what makes the game engaging for him while explaining why it might not be a must-play for everyone—even with Game of the Year buzz. Terrence wraps up South of Midnight, and he and Micah discuss how the game stands out as a powerful and positive representation of Black culture in gaming. Tariff relief might be on the horizon for the U.S., but game consoles are notably excluded. We examine what this means for the Switch 2 preorder landscape a...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 539
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders have been delayed in the US and Canada due to new tariffs, throwing a wrench in the planned release schedule. Nintendo claims that the $449 launch price for the Switch 2 did not factor in the potential impact of tariffs, raising questions about future price stability. We give our early impressions of South of Midnight and Atomfall and how they're shaping up ahead of release. Brad reviews the math-meets-madness chaos of Nubby's Number Factory. Micah gives his full rev...
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 538
We finally have all the details on the Nintendo Switch 2, and we break down everything from the Switch 2 Direct. We discuss the specs, price, and whether it's a day 1 purchase for any of us. We give our impressions of the games revealed during the presentation, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, The Duskbloods, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and many more. We also dive into last week’s Nintendo Direct, where the original Switch is getting its final big games—like Metroid Pri...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 537
We're still deep in the Forbidden Lands of Monster Hunter Wilds, grinding our way through the latest hunts. Reports suggest an Xbox handheld could be coming this year. We discuss what it might look like and whether it could shake up the current gaming hardware landscape. SAG-AFTRA continues its fight against AI in the voice acting industry, raising concerns about the future of human talent in games. Many developers are skipping GDC due to the U.S.'s treatment of foreign visitors, potentially imp...
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 536
Brad and Carrie are fully immersed in Monster Hunter Wilds, and even Micah is feeling the Monster Hunter FOMO… but is he finally hooked? Brad has discovered Two-Point Museum and regrets to inform everyone that he has a new obsession that will consume dozens of hours. Terrence has realized that Game Pass is actually a great value for him and shares his impressions of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Diablo IV. We also dive into several tangents in the Post Office, including our thoughts on the John Cena ...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 535
The James Bond franchise now creatively resides with Amazon, and Micah and Brad have some thoughts on what this could mean for the series.Carrie has been playing the Warsong update in Hades 2 and is mighty impressed with the new content.Carrie also gives her impressions of the demo for Promise Mascot Agency and what makes it stand out.Brad may have discovered another hidden Capcom gem in Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess.Microsoft made waves with the announcement of its generative-AI model Muse,...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 534
Brad played a ton of Sid Meier's Civilization VII and explains why he’s loving the new additions to the gameplay. He also breaks down why this might be the best entry point for new Civ players.PlayStation Network was mysteriously down for almost a whole day, and Sony isn’t explaining why.Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick might be the most unexpected person to make a fantastic point about AI and its role in gaming.Football Manager 25 has been canceled, and surprisingly, it’s for a pro-consumer reason....
Feb 11, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 533
Terrence is back on the show and shares his shift to the mini PC space for gaming, along with the slew of roguelikes he's been playing. Brad is feeling a bit ambivalent about the run-based tower defense game Dome Keeper. Micah might not be teaching the best lessons as he shows his son how to play Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Carrie is working on a video game soundtrack.Bioware seems to be on its last legs as EA lays off and transfers a large chunk of the studio. Will we actually see a new Mass E...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 532
Carrie is back from an unforgettable MAGfest and brings a hardware review of the MAGfest Swadge. Coincidentally, Brad also has a hardware review, sharing his excitement over the Playdate console. Unfortunately, we're once again discussing industry layoffs, this time at Ubisoft and Phoenix Labs. Sony has pulled the plug on live service projects from Bend Studios and Bluepoint. Microsoft's developer showcase delivered big surprises, including the unexpected reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4. Meanwhile, Mar...
Jan 29, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 531
Brad has been diving into Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and it’s absolutely fantastic. Carrie shares her thoughts on Sonic x Shadow Generations and explains why Sonic fans are eating good right now. Awesome Games Done Quick wraps up an incredible event, raising $2.5 million for charity. Ubisoft delays Assassin's Creed Shadow again and attempts to justify the move with questionable reasoning. We also share our 2025 gaming resolutions and discuss the swirling rumors of an imminent Switch 2 ann...
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 530
We’re back from the holiday break, and we’ve been diving into some incredible games! Carrie has joined the crew in tackling the epic Metaphor ReFantazio. We share our impressions of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and Okami HD. The PEGI ratings board delivers a hilariously misguided content rating for Balatro. Meanwhile, we discuss the surprising revelation that at least one NFL owner uses Madden NFL Football to evaluate player acquisitions. Finally, we...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 529
We recap the 2024 Game Awards, which somehow turned out to be one of the best video game shows…ever? From our takes on the winners to a breakdown of the smorgasbord of world premiere trailers, we dive into everything that made the night unforgettable. Ubisoft strikes again with the planned shutdown of their multiplayer shooter xDefiant, and we discuss how it went so wrong. Plus, a surprising connection between video games, Baltimore, and the alleged CEO shooter.
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 528
It’s our 2024 Game of the Year show! We dive into the games that defined our year and brought us the most joy, excitement, and surprises. Which title will take home the coveted Dense Pixels Game of the Year award? Tune in to hear our top picks, honorable mentions, and the ultimate winner of 2024.
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 527
It’s a lighter week in the wake of winter, but there’s plenty to discuss. MIcah caved and bought Star Wars Outlaws; How is he liking it? Brad recommends spatial puzzle game Humanity. Elon Musk claims he wants to save video games by creating an AI-focused gaming studio, and we explore why this idea—and Musk himself—deserves skepticism. Valve is facing a class-action lawsuit over its Steam commission structure, leading to a broader conversation about how Valve could reshape their business to bette...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 526
Micah has finished Dragon Age: The Veilguard and shares whether the game improved from his initial impressions and who it’s best suited for. Brad returns to VR, throwing punches in Batman: Arkham VR, and finally dives into the Peggle-roguelike Peglin, which he’s finding utterly delightful. Brad also takes on crime in dystopian Detroit while playing Robocop: Rogue City. Sony is making waves with an attempt to acquire anime giant Kadokawa, a move that would effectively give them control over FromS...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 525
We break down the 2024 Game Awards nominee slate and address the controversy surrounding Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s nominations. Micah surprises everyone by playing—and enjoying—Balatro. Brad shares his experience with the interactive museum-style game Tetris Forever and gives his impressions of The Rise of the Golden Idol, calling it a stellar follow-up to the original. GOG continues to stand out as a rare advocate for preserving classic video games. Nintendo is back in the courtroom, ...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 524
Micah shares his in-depth impressions of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, detailing how this game stands apart within the Dragon Age series but noting that it might not appeal to every fan, possibly even himself. We analyze the shutdown of Firewalk Studios, discussing who bears responsibility for the failure of Concord. Additionally, we dive into the implications of the recent QA walkout at Activision Blizzard and how it’s influencing remote work dynamics in the industry. Ubisoft is at it again, launc...
Nov 05, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 523
Micah shares his thoughts on the official Dragon Age: Vows and Vengeance podcast and expresses concerns about the direction of The Veilguard. He also dives into Metaphor ReFantazio, discussing how it evolves the Shin Megami Tensei/Persona formula. Brad is deeply immersed in the new Diablo IV endgame content, particularly enjoying the challenges in the Kurast Undercity and Dark Citadel areas. Meanwhile, Netflix faces challenges in gaming as it closes Blue Studios, highlighting the difficulties fo...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 522
Brad shares his experiences with more demos from Steam Next Fest, diving into why the Zachtronics Solitaire Collection has been capturing his attention. Carrie provides her early thoughts on the Olympus update for Hades II, offering insight into its latest changes. Meanwhile, Vampire Survivors is coming full circle with an exciting announcement: a new Castlevania-themed DLC called Ode to Castlevania. We also discuss the potential impacts of Trump's proposed tariffs on video game consoles and rec...
Oct 21, 2024•55 min•Ep. 521
Brad shares his thoughts on Metaphor: ReFantazio after spending significant time with it, highlighting the evolution of the battle system and the integration of social links into party development. He also dives into the Diablo IV expansion Vessel of Hatred, discussing the improvements made to the game's systems and leveling. Nintendo's latest hardware release is an unexpected motion-sensing alarm clock called Alarmo, and we discuss its potential impact. We explore the wider ramifications of Epi...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 520
We share our impressions of the Metaphor: ReFantazio demo as we anticipate its full release. Carrie dives into why the Monster Hunter Stories games are underrated gems in the turn-based RPG genre. Brad has more thoughts on UFO 50 and why he expects it to rank among his top games of 2024. Ubisoft is in turmoil with a delay to Assassin's Creed: Shadows and a steep drop in their share price. We discuss how the publisher ended up in this situation and what could be the best path forward for them. Me...
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 519
Sony has announced the PlayStation 5 Pro at the staggering price of $700. We debate whether we’re planning to get one and if this signals the future of console pricing. Sony’s State of Play brought several big announcements, with the standout reveal being the Ghost of Tsushima sequel, Ghost of Yotei. Brad shares his impressions on the quirky game collection UFO 50. Additionally, we discuss the industry’s recent layoffs, Unity canceling its controversial fees, and Nintendo Switch 2 leaks and rumo...
Sep 25, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 518
