In this heartfelt and candid episode, Andrew, Dylan, and Aubrey come together to share some important news with their listeners—Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers will be taking a break. The crew opens up about the challenges of balancing life’s big changes, shifting priorities, and how their relationship with content creation has evolved over time. They discuss what led them to this decision, reflect on the journey so far, and explain what this hiatus means for their podcast, YouTube channel, an...
May 26, 2025•36 min•Ep. 174
In this episode, Andrew welcomes Phil Barrera from the Wait For It Podcast to dive deep into Assassin’s Creed Shadows. After years of anticipation, the series finally brings us to feudal Japan—and there’s a lot to unpack. The guys break down first impressions of the stunning setting, the introduction of dual protagonists Naoi and Yasuke, and what those new gameplay mechanics really mean for longtime fans and newcomers alike. They discuss how the game stacks up to other entries in the franchise, ...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 173
Welcome back to the Neighborhood! In this Neighborhood Watch episode, Andrew and Dylan catch up on everything they’ve been playing (and thinking about) in this busy gaming season. Andrew dives deep into indie gem Willow Guard, breaking down its ambitious blend of hack-and-slash combat, deck-building, and choice-driven storytelling—with a healthy dose of badgers and Witcher-meets-Redwall vibes. Dylan gives a spoiler-free overview of Blue Prince, the viral escape-room-meets-roguelike puzzler that ...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 172
Join Dylan Wren and special guest Dave Jackson from Tales from the Backlog and a Top 3 Podcast for an in-depth, down-to-earth conversation about Capcom’s latest action RPG sensation, Monster Hunter Wilds! Our hosts team up for a wide-ranging breakdown of everything Monster Hunter — from the perspective of a lifelong fan and a series newcomer. They cover the series’ unique “prep-and-hunt” gameplay loop, the depth of combat, gear grinding, and the surprisingly nuanced evolution of the Monster Hunt...
May 05, 2025•2 hr 27 min•Ep. 171
Join Andrew, Dylan, and special guest Jordan Rae for a lively and inspiring discussion on all things nerdy and creative! In this episode, we welcome cosplayer, streamer, graphic designer, and fledgling podcaster Jordan Rae to the show. Jordan shares her journey from designing logos in college to building a community through cosplay, streaming, and her new horror-themed podcast, Read It and Reap. We dive into the challenges and surprises of getting started as a creator, how conventions and stream...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 170
Ready to take a trip down memory lane? In this episode, your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers—Andrew, Dylan, Aubrey, and special guest Braedon—revisit the formative video games that shaped their childhoods and left a lasting impact. From educational staples like Reader Rabbit and trial-by-fire PC demos, to the glory days of handhelds and console favorites like GameCube, DS, and Xbox, they share hilarious stories and heartfelt nostalgia. The crew unpacks obscure games only they seem to remember (Nano...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 169
In this episode of the Neighborhood Watch, Andrew, Aubrey and Dylan share their thoughts on the following games: Do No Harm Balatro Avowed Tavern Manager Simulator The Outlast Trials Dragon Age: The Veilguard Then, the FN Discord Community shares the games they've been playing and enjoying recently as well. We hope you enjoy! WEBSITE https://www.fngamers.com/ DISCORD https://discord.gg/euhEYZxC58 TWITTER https://twitter.com/F_N_Gamerz INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendlyneighborhoodg...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 168
We finally have a ton of information about the Nintendo Switch 2. In this episode, Andrew and Dylan share their thoughts on the recent Nintendo Direct dedicated to the new Switch. Talking points include: What makes Switch 2 different from its predecessor? Nintendo Discord? These prices, man... New games from Nintendo! Games coming to the Switch 2 that aren't Nintendo It's not Bloodborne 2, everyone settle down. Our thoughts on The Duskbloods Let us know what you thought of the Switch 2 Direct by...
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 167
Welcome hunters! It's time to return to the streets of Yharnam and kill some beasts because Bloodborne turned 10 this year! In this episode, we discuss one of our favorite games of all time. Topics include: The development of Bloodborne and why it's a PlayStation exclusive. Who actually owns the IP? The constant rumors of a remake/remaster/pc version. What would we like to see if FromSoft ever did make another game in this universe? Games we recommend to fill the emptiness left by Bloodborne. Ou...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 166
Video games have always been attempting the most realistic visuals that hardware and software allows. But over the last couple of generations the cost to value ratio of this pursuit seems to be diminishing. Games are taking longer to create and the advancements in visuals are sometimes barely noticeable or require hardware the average gamer doesn’t even have. Is this worth it? In this episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers, Andrew and Dylan discuss this topic and share their thoughts and o...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 165
In this episode of "Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers," hosts Andrew Kimball, Dylan Wren, and Aubrey Sommer are joined by special guests Braeden and Abi Kimball for a heartfelt and nostalgic deep dive into Animal Crossing: New Horizons, five years after its remarkable release. The crew reflects on the game's explosive impact during the COVID-19 pandemic, explores the cozy charm that captivated millions, and shares personal island stories and memories. Aubrey leads the conversation into what made...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 164
**This conversation is full spoilers** In this episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers, Andrew, Aubrey and Dylan are experimenting with a new format for episodes focused on a single game. For the pilot episode if this format, they are discussing Banishers: Ghost of New Eden! Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a title crafted by the renowned studio DON'T NOD, known for their acclaimed works Life is Strange and Vampyr. Immerse in an unforgettable action RPG that takes you on an exhilarating jou...
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 163
On this edition of the Neighborhood Watch, Andrew and Dylan are here to talk about the games they've been playing lately! The episode kicks off with a fun question, "How would you try to get someone into the hobby of gaming if you could only show them one game?" Then the episode shifts into what our hosts have been playing. Andrew and Dylan have both previewed games that aren't out yet! Dylan played a game called Stash: A Card Looter and Andrew played the 33 Immortals beta. Then, the conversatio...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 162
Andrew and Dylan got to play Elden Ring Nightreign early and they're here to talk about it! Listen as they share the experience they had playing the network test for one of the most anticipated games of this year! Talking points include: What was included in the network test The differences between Nightreign and Elden Ring Favorite characters Which bosses made an appearance Major changes to movement and traversal Is this a good starting point for someone who is new to souls games? Concerns for ...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 161
Welcome back to Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers! In this episode, hosts Andrew Kimball and Dylan Wren are joined by the host of the Good Playing With You Podcast, Dan Whitehill! Learn about Dan's time in the world of cable television working for G4 and how that experience shaped the way he approaches his current show. Learn what Dan thinks are the most challenging aspects of creating an indie podcast as well as what he finds most rewarding. In the second half of the episode, the conversation t...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 160
Welcome back to Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers! In this episode, hosts Andrew Kimball and Dylan Wren are joined by Phil Barrera from the Wait For It Podcast to dive deep into the world of live service games. We explore the impact these types of games have had on the current generation of gaming, discuss the phenomenon of industry giants chasing the "Fortnite model" and evaluate whether this pursuit has led to wasted potential in the industry. From PlayStation's recent cancellation of several ...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 159
On this episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers, hosts Andrew Kimball, Aubrey Sommer, and Dylan Wren dive into the games they've been playing recently in the latest installment of "The Neighborhood Watch." The episode kicks off with an in-depth discussion about the recently announced Nintendo Switch 2, diving into their impressions of the announcement trailer, hardware speculations, potential new features, and the types of games that might be on the horizon for the next generation of Ninten...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 158
On this episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers, Andrew is joined by Phil and Eric from The Wait For It podcast to talk about a game that has taken the world by storm, Marvel Rivals. Talking points include: Comparisons to Overwatch Our hosts favorite heroes to play as The lack of cross-progression and ranked cross-play Things our hosts would like to see in the future and more! Check out The Wait For It podcast here - https://linktr.ee/waitforitpodcast WEBSITE https://www.fngamers.com/ DISCO...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 157
Welcome back to Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers! In this special New Year's episode, hosts Andrew Kimball, Aubrey Sommer, and Dylan Wren sit down to share and discuss their gaming resolutions and goals for 2025. From finishing AAA titles to diving into unexplored game genres and tackling backlogs, the trio lays out their ambitions for the coming year in gaming. Does Aubrey have what it takes to finally conquer some AAA titles? Will Andrew persevere through Baldur's Gate 3? Can Dylan catch up o...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 156
A new year means a new draft in our Fantasy Critic League! Phil, Eric and Stefan from the Wait For It Podcast crew and Jay Davis from Super Bracket Bros. are back again to talk about the results from last year's league and to draft the games for 2025's league! Follow the league with the link below and check out the other shows represented in this episode with their links below as well! Wait For It info - https://linktr.ee/waitforitpodcast Super Bracket Bros info - https://superbracketbros.buzzsp...
Jan 13, 2025•2 hr 30 min•Ep. 155
It's finally time for another Neighborhood Watch episode! This is the format where we talk about all the games we've been playing recently. Games discussed in this episode include: World of Warcraft Classic Team Fight Tactics and other auto-battlers Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden Wingspan Unicorn Overlord Rise of the Ronin We hope you enjoy the discussion! If you want to be part of our community and future episodes, join our Discord with the link below. WEBSITE https://www.fngamers.com/ DISCORD h...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 154
Join hosts Andrew Kimball, Dylan Wren, and Aubrey Sommer as they wrap up an incredible year of gaming with the highly-anticipated FN Game Awards for 2024! This episode is packed with surprising gaming revelations, heartfelt community engagement, and in-depth discussions on your favorite and not-so-favorite titles. Highlights of the Episode Include: Dylan's Competitive Gaming Journey: Dylan shares his unexpected deep dive into multiplayer games like "Dead by Daylight" and "Teamfight Tactics," dis...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 153
It's back... Welcome to the Fifth Annual Podcast Holiday Crossover Special! We have Super Bracket Bros, Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers, Game of Groans and The Wait for It Podcast all joining together to bring holiday cheer from the Super Bracket Bros Cinematic Universe (SBBCU). If you enjoy this bonus episode, let us know! And please check out all the podcasts represented on this episode! Thank you, and we hope you had a Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Super Bracket Bros https://superbrac...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 46 min
In this episode, we look back at the predictions we made for 2024 to see who got the most correct. Whoever wins, gets to pick a game that the other hosts have to play and we'll record and episode about it! After that, we take a look forward and make predictions for gaming in 2025! Some are probably gonna happen, others are completely wild! Listen in and see if you agree with our thoughts. SPOILERS FOR FF7 REBIRTH - 06:51 - 7:17 WEBSITE https://www.fngamers.com/ DISCORD https://discord.gg/euhEYZx...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 152
We're talking about The Game Awards 2024! First, we discuss our thoughts on the show overall. How was the pacing, the awards, the Muppets?? We poke fun at the cringe, try to figure out why Snoop Dogg was there, and the fact that Astro Bot won! In the second half of the episode we discuss the real reason we all tune in, the announcements! The show kicked off with the announcement of the new Witcher game (where Ciri is confirmed as the protagonist) and a new co-op game in the Elden Ring universe. ...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 151
We made it, episode 150 is in the bag! We take a look back at the past year of episodes and YouTube videos and talk about the highlights, what we've learned and more! Then, we answer questions that our awesome community submitted to us on Discord! It was a lot of fun and we greatly appreciate everyone who submitted questions for the episode! Here's to another 150! WEBSITE https://www.fngamers.com/ DISCORD https://discord.gg/euhEYZxC58 TWITTER https://twitter.com/F_N_Gamerz INSTAGRAM https://www....
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 150
Welcome back to "Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers"! In this exciting episode, hosts Andrew Kimball, Aubrey Sommer, and Dylan Wren are joined by special guest Joe Sommer (KhazakDK) from Wowhead. Strap in as we dive deep into the ever-evolving world of World of Warcraft (WoW), with insightful commentary and nostalgic reflections. What We Cover: Joe's journey into writing for Wowhead, embracing the art of theory crafting, and navigating the complex world of gaming guides. Nostalgic trips down memo...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 149
On the final episode in the FN Game Swap month, we're talking about Yakuza: Like a Dragon! Listen as we discuss the interesting combination of the whacky gameplay mixed with a serious character driven story. We also discuss the turn-based combat system (a series first) along with the many side activities the game has to offer. Thank you so much for listening to our Game Swap this month, we hope you've enjoyed it! Please let us know in Discord what your favorite episode in the swap was and if thi...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 148
For part 2 of the FN Video Game Swap, we're talking about Lost In Random! Lost in Random is an action-adventure game developed by Zoink and published by Electronic Arts. Part of the EA Originals program, the game was released 10 September 2021. It was the final game developed by Zoink prior to their consolidation into Thunderful Development. It received generally positive reviews from critics. A sequel titled Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is in development at Thunderful and is scheduled for a ...
Nov 18, 2024•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 147
On the first episode of the FN Game Swap, Aubrey takes over the hosting seat as the crew discusses a Gameboy Advance game, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team! The conversation includes talk about this game being one of the earliest roguelike games, the interesting twist of playing as a Pokémon, who the target audience of Pokémon games actually is, nostalgia affecting your opinion of a game and more! WEBSITE https://www.fngamers.com/ DISCORD https://discord.gg/euhEYZxC58 TWITTER https://twi...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 146
