The Video Game Hall of Fame

You know how it is - you're great. People say you're great. Yet, somehow, you never quite make it big. Just like cult classic video games. Here we are to nominate four games that deserved more than cult status, and you can give them more by voting one into the Hall of Fame! Go to @vg_hof on Twitter or @vghof on BlueSky to vote in the poll for your favourite cult classic. Also, send an email to videogamehof@gmail.com

This episode's category caused a bit of consternation amongst the lads. Maybe that's to be expected, what with Steve ‘I don't create characters - just make sure the hedgehog is blue' Andrews, and Rob ‘I don't understand any categories anymore. Why can't we have games with bikes instead of this woke nonsense?' Kirkup on the show. But hey, we've got Simon ‘I'll pick a category only slightly more vague and mysterious than the game I've planned to pick for it' Pike to blame (or thank) for that! Don't forget to go and vote for the game you want in the Hall of Fame over @VG_HOF on Twitter or @vghof on BlueSky. Send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com.

Get your wallet out, you cheap bastards, because in this episode we're nominating games that are rare and/or expensive. You can choose your voting choice for the Hall of Fame based on the rarest, most expensive or just the best game (probably do that).In an explosive pod, Rob nominates something fucking ridiculous and we try to track down and live call an old Spectrum developer.Say hi @vg_hof on X or @vghof on BlueSky, and email videogamehof@gmail.com

We're here to cram those pesky loser games from the last 8 episodes into the Hall of Fame whether you like it or not! That's not all, though, as we actually induct FIVE games in this episode, because there's a quiz to play and the winner gets to induct ANY game that's lost from any previous episode.You can play along with the quiz, and you also need to vote on the category we pick games from next. Head over to @VG_HOF on Twitter or @vghof on BlueSky to vote now!

Well, this feels topical doesn't it! Who doesn't love a good console launch (when the games don't cost £75)? We're here to celebrate Gaming Christmas by nominating four incredible console launch titles for potential induction into the Hall of Fame.Oh, and skip to about 9:50 if you hate football and everything to do with it. We had to placate the Geordies just this once.If you want to vote on the games, go to @VG_HOF on Twitter or @vghof on BlueSky and get on it. Also, send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com.

Put 'em up, punk! We're nominating fighting games for the Hall of Fame! Voting's finished for this one (this is a re-upload), so listen to Episode 49 to find out the winning game! Come say hi @VG_HOF on Twitter or @vghof on BlueSky and send emails to videogamehof@gmail.com

Put 'em up, punk! This episode, we're nominating four fighting games for the Hall of Fame. We've already got Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter 2 in there, but there's anything but slim pickings still left on the table. All you need to do to vote for your chosen fighting game, other than defeating our dragon punch to stand a chance, is to go to either @VG_HOF on Twitter, or @vghof on Bluesky and check out the poll.Don't forget to rate/review the pod, tell your pals, and send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com

We can be your hero, baby. That's right, we're here to kiss away your pain with four superhero game nominations for the Video Game Hall of Fame. The pickings may be a bit slim, but we still come out of it with four bangers. Just remember that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is already in the HOF so there's no rush to induct, say, its predecessor. Just FYI. Go to @VG_HOF on Twitter or @vghof on BlueSky to vote for the game you want to win! Send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.comSee you next time for fighting games!

What a console the PS2 is. So many classic games for us to nominate for the Hall of Fame (and a fair few we already have). Join us in a celebration of one of the GOATs. Once you've heard the pod, head over to @VG_HOF on Twitter or @vghof on BlueSky to vote for the PS2 game you want in the HOF.Send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com

You may see the doctor now. We're here to deliver you four doses of very different types of therapy through the medium of gaming. We've all got those games that fix our mood - be they violent, cosy, puzzly, grindy - it's escapism for a reason, right? Once you've heard the pod, head on over to @VG_HOF on Twitter (if you really must) or @vghof on BlueSky and vote for the game you want in the Hall of Fame. Send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com

In this episode, we chill out by nominating therapeutic games for the Hall of Fame. Remember, therapy is a very subjective activity! Voting's closed on this one now, so tune in to episode 46 to hear the winner. Please say hi @VG_HOF on Twitter or @vghof on Bluesky and/or send emails to videogamehof@gmail.com

Is it too late to say happy new year? It is isn't it. Well, hope you had a good one anyway, and to celebrate the beginning of 2025 we're doing another de facto GOTY pod and inducting a 2024 game into the Hall of Fame. Steve doesn't really play new games that aren't Shenmue homebrew mods, so we bring in a special guest to nominate for him. We also have a big ol' chat about games consoles we own and covet, and there's the return of an old friend who's still the best at shagging. Go vote for the game you want to induct over on Twitter @VG_HOF or @vghof on BlueSky, and/or send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com

Putting the 'ho' in your ho ho, we are here for another Christmas special episode to introduce the nominees for the last game going into the Video Game Hall of Fame Class of 2024 - it's games featuring snow. Loads of games to choose form on this one, but that's not all. We also have a special Xmas quiz you can play along to at home. Rob's early podcast notion of "I'm not arguing, it's Christmas" quickly goes out of the window once Alex's ChatGPT-designed quiz throws up some ludicrous questions. Vote for the game you want in the HOF on Twitter or BlueSky @VG_HOF or @vghof respectively, send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com and have a very merry Christmas. See you next year, babes x

Considering Goldeneye 007 is already in, and one of them Lord of the Rings PS2 games has already been nominated this year, we had slim pickings for this one! We needed movie tie-in games only - no movie licence games! See if you can guess the one Rob was denied by his not-so-subtle hints later in the pod. Go vote for the game you want in the Hall of Fame over @VG_HOF on Twitter or @vghof on BlueSky, and send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com

Four bitter beings join together to force in games you peasants decided weren't good enough for our Hall of Fame. Well, bollocks to you, we're sticking four of them in anyway! We also do some thoroughly exciting admin by deciding on the next run of episode themes. You'll love it! You'll also love the email we got from a returning amphibian. Go to @VG_HOF on Twitter or vghof on BlueSky to vote in the poll, and send emails to videogamehof@gmail.com

We missed the Halloween deadline because Alex went on holiday and forgot to transfer his audio to his MacBook, but we're belatedly here with an episode that isn't really spooky anyway. Still, Halloween is all about pumpkins, so that's what all our nominees had to feature. If you hear a game nominated that you like, go vote for it to be in the Hall of Fame over @VG_HOF Send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com please!

Goooooooal! Touchdown! Boomshakalaka! Deuce! Oh, he's snookered him! That's icing! Cricket! Yeah, it's an episode where we nominate four sports games for the Hall of Fame. Everyone's loved at least one sports game in their life, even if it's just Wii Sports like an old granny. Go vote for the sports game you want inducted over @VG_HOF, and send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com

Are you ready for an adventure? Good. It's adventure games this time. Not action adventure, you cheeky sod! Slow ones. Ones with puzzles and reading. Good ones. Say hi @VG_HOF, SEND US AN EMAIL to videogamehof@gmail.com. Rate/review/sub etc etc. Bye.

This was such a supreme bastard banger of a year, you'll be fuming at us for what we actually went with. Honestly still in shock at what Simon went for. Make sure you head over to @VG_HOF on X and vote in the poll for the 2001 game you want in the Hall of Fame - the poll should be up right... NOW! Please rate/review the pod on your platform of choice, tell your friends/enemies about it, and send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com

...that aren't Halo: CE or Half-Life 2, because they're already in the HOF. Or Hades because Alex is still upset that one didn't get in. Same goes for House of the Dead. Aside from that, enjoy a hell of a lot of hip and happening games beginning with H. That letter was randomly selected back in episode 30, so blame the algorithm or whatever. Once you're done with the episode, go to @VG_HOF and vote in the poll for the game you want in the Hall of Fame and we shall make it so. Also PLEASE email videogamehof@gmail.com

"Moo." "Baa." "Vote Reform." That's right, they're all noises that animals make, and that's handy because this episode sees us nominating games where you play as an animal. Spoilers: Nobody picks a Sonic game. Prepare for a wild ride! Go vote and tell us your animal game over @VG_HOF, and please send us an email about absolutely any old shit to videogamehof@gmail.com

By jove, here we ruddy well go, pip pip, innit blud, you filthy slag. That's right, this episode we're nominating games specifically developed or published in good ol' Blighty. This has to be one of the most eclectic nominee groups you'll ever hear out of us, so drink it in like you're throwing limbs in 'Spoons, ya fackin' melt. Go to @VG_HOF to vote on the one you want in the HOF, rate/review/subscribe on your pod platform, pull your knickers up and get me a cup of tea. Wanker.

Keep your stupid comments in your pocket... along with these handheld games! That's right, we're celebrating the pint-sized perfection that comes from holding a brilliant game in the palm of your hand while you take a monster shit to get away from the family for half an hour at Christmas. Oh, and Switch games are banned from our selection pool because, c'mon, that's cheatin'. Now you go get your sweet candy arse over to @VG_HOF and vote on the nominated game from this episode you want in the Hall of Fame. Like/review/rate/tell friends please! Email to videogamehof@gmail.com.

Disclaimer: this podcast's audio is randomly generated. If you die whilst listening to it, it will be completely different when you listen again. That's right! It's roguelikes! Games that are like Rogue, but not Rogue. Rob only likes one roguelike. Alex likes many roguelikes. Steve likes the one roguelike you know he likes. Simon is also here. Vote for your favourite nominee over @VG_HOF and the winner will be inducted into the Hall of Fame! Rate/review. Send us an email to videogamehof@gmail.com

The time has finally come to settle the ultimate argument as the deepest part of VGHOF lore has its moment in the sun. We are both - you and us - going to decide which game with turnips deserves Hall of Fame status. Drink it in, this is momentus. We also have the emails section ruined again by another potentially certified moon-howler. Why does this always happen to us? Don't forget to go vote on the poll over @VG_HOF and email us (unless you're a psycho) at videogamehof@gmail.com

It's everyone's favourite episode type - the one where democracy dies! That's right, we're once again going back through the previous batch of episodes since episode 20 to each pick one game that didn't win a listener poll and just lob it straight into the Hall of Fame because it's ours and we can. Following that, we do a lot of admin where the next nine episodes are all laid out and the categories are set. There are going to be some crackers in the future, lads. Normally, that would be it, but during this episode it emerged that the legendary Grant Kirkhope had helped Alex and Banjo-Kazooie take control of the 3D platformers poll which eventually garnered over 4000 votes. The anger of the rest of the lads is genuine GOAT podcasting. Go vote on the topic you want us to pick from next @VG_HOF (gonna be a short one for a quick recording turnaround), email us at videogamehof@gmail.com and apologies for Steve's audio. It shit the bed and randomly turned itself to as quiet as possible, so he broke his brain trying to fix it and it's the best we could do. Won't happen again xx

As we approach the Big 3-0 we go 3D with that most quintessential of all late-'90s gaming genres: 3D platformers! There's also an email that has us deciding on which pod member's entire catalogue of inducted games we'd most like to delete. You can email us too! videogamehof@gmail.com Vote for the game you want to be inducted into the Hall of Fame over @VG_HOF on Twitter.

It's not GOTY season anymore... except here! This episode, our nominees all come from the pool of games that have won a Game of the Year award at an event or ceremony. They're all listed here if you want to play along: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Game_of_the_Year_awards Vote for the game you want in the Hall of Fame over @VG_HOF - the poll should be up soon after the episode dropped. Please rate/review us on your pod platform of choice and we'll see you next time around for 3D Platformers!

This episode's subject was the result of a random generation of a year in the 90s to pick games from. Now, full disclosure, we were initially rolled 1992 but realised how many games from that year we'd already inducted, so we did another one and got 1996! 1996, as it turns out, was a year that some incredible things happened, and some iconic franchises were born. You can be sure we nominated a lot of those for the Hall of Fame. There's also a really thought-provoking question from Steve, two decent emails, and one from Shagger that ruined everything. Emails will never be the same again. Go vote for the game you want in the HOF over @VG_HOF, tell your mates to do the same, rate/review on your pod platform of choice, and tune in next time for Game of the Year Winners!

That's right, we're fighting for the underdog this episode, as we're all nominating only games that scored 79 and under on Metacritic. 7/10s, or 'hidden gems', have become a huge part of games media in recent years, and we're getting in on the act to stick one of them in the Hall of Fame. We've got loads of honourable mentions and a discussion on what exactly a 7/10 game is, plus the obligatory offensive email from Shagger. We don't know how he keeps outdoing himself. Go now to @VG_HOF on X and vote for the game you want in the Hall of Fame. Please rate/review on your pod platform of choice too!

We're selling our souls for those sweet license deals this episode, as we nominate four games that license IPs from outside the gaming sphere (not sports, though). Despite having something of a bad rap, there are a huge number of great licensed games, and we cover as many as we can here. Go vote for the one you want in the Hall of Fame over @VG_HOF. Of course, stay tuned for some more incredible emails from that bloke who upstages all of us at the end, or ruins the pod, depending on your tolerance for smelly tents. videogamehof@gmail.com if you fancy adding to the madness!

Year two of the Video Game Hall of Fame commences with a de facto game of the year episode! We're nominating games released in 2023 for this one, and we had a hell of a lineup to pick from, amirite?! Once you've heard the pod and our nominees, head on over to @VG_HOF on Twitter and vote for the one you want to be inducted to the Hall of Fame as the first member of the Class of 2024. Please rate/review on your pod platform of choice and send us emails, like the two legends who did in this episode, to videogamehof@gmail.com

Merry Christmas one and all! This year, and probably every year, we offered you the gift of nominating the final games in the class of 2023 for the Hall of Fame. You came through with some... games. There were some suggestions that were downright terrible games, and some we unfortunately have never played, but in amongst all that came four crackers that you'll have a hard time voting on. To do that, go to @VG_HOF on X and chuck in your vote for the game you want to be inducted. Then rate/review us on your pod platform of choice, have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year, and we'll see you in 2024.

That's right, we're nominating RPGs from W, not J! The lads have some big hitters for you this episode, so you'll likely have a tough choice on your hands. To make that choice, head over to @VG_HOF on Twitter and vote for the WRPG you want to go in the Hall of Fame. Please rate/review and share this pod with your pals if you like it, send emails to videogamehof@gmail.com and tune in next episode for our Xmas special!

We gave you the options, you once again voted against turnips. So, here we are with four game nominations that are all (according to GameRankings) superior sequels to their original predecessor. It's just second games in a series here, too, with minor allowances made for things that are direct sequels to specific entries (like Mario Galaxy 2 or Final Fantasy X-2 etc). To vote for your favourite nominated game, you'll need to head on over to @VG_HOF on X and choose the one you want to go in the Hall of Fame. Please review us on your pod platform and send some emails to us via videogamehof@gmail.com - we really miss them :'(

We're back to force games into the Hall of Fame that you lot didn't vote for! To wrap up episodes 11-19, each host picks a game that lost in a previous poll to automatically be inducted into the HoF. Did your favourite game previously miss out? Fear not, it has one final chance to be in the class of 2023! We also lay out all the categories we'll be nominating games from for all the episodes up to number 30, with plenty of debate, discussion and daft bollocks along the way. Of course, we have another email from Shagger too. You know you love 'em. Head over to @VG_HOF to vote on which category we choose nominees from next!

Spooky season is here, so here's a spooky episode. Well, it's the same as all the other episodes really, but we're nominating horror games for you to vote into the Hall of Fame. So, yeah... boo! There's also a story about Derren Brown and another incredible poem from You-Know-Who. Honestly, his content is better than ours so you might as well just skip to the end. Once you've heard the noms, head on over to X @VG_HOF and vote for your favourite horror game. Then email us some stupid nonsense to videogamehof@gmail.com

We embrace spooky season in typically morbid fashion, as we're nominating games from dead or dying genres in this episode. If you've got a game you love and think, "they don't make these anymore," then you know what we mean! Don't forget to rate/review on your pod platform of choice, tell your mates to check us out, say hi over @VG_HOF, and email us at videogamehof@gmail.com

It's a bit of a wildcard category this episode, as our nominated games could be basically anything, provided we initially disliked (or even hated) them, before completely changing our opinion and loving them. We've all been there, right? Yes, we also have more poems - all of outstanding quality. Go vote in the polls for the game you want inducted into the Hall of Fame as soon as you've finished listening via @VG_HOF on X, or tvghof on Instagram. Please rate/review the pod on your platform of choice!

This episode, the lads are nominating games in the Management Sim category. Yes, Rob wanted to include the entire Football Manager series, but he's not allowed. We also have some more ridiculous emails, including some very NSFW poetry, video game baddies, and our recommendations for other podcasts. Go and vote for the management game you want in the Hall of Fame on Twitter/X @VG_HOF or tvghof on Instagram. Send your emails (we love 'em really) to videogamehof@gmail.com and please rate/review on your platform of choice - it really helps x

It's time to P. A. R. T. Why? Because of a democratic process of voting for the theme for each episode of the podcast. Why else? Steve's choice for category was, as you've hopefully guessed from reading the title of the episode, party games. So stick on your party hat, fill up your party bag, knock off with some drunken co-worker in the toilets and let's bloody well party, shall we? This episode was chaos, by the way. Alongside party games you've got airplane-based break-ups, gripes about expensive games and roundabout usage, the Turkish PSN store, Die Hard vs Lethal Weapon, Simon's new house, poetry, shagging and much, much more. Go to @VG_HOF on X to vote for the party game nominated in this here episode and the winner will go into the Hall of Fame! There may also be a poll on https://www.instagram.com/tvghof/ too if we can be arsed. Email us: videogamehof@gmail.com

Are you ready to expand your horizons? Maybe you just like staring at little icons on maps? Whatever your pleasure, we're here to nominate four of our favourite open world games for the Video Game Hall of Fame. Once you've heard the episode, head on over to Twitter @VG_HOF and cast your vote - the winning game will be inducted and immortalised. We also had an email about wrestling games that god our blood pumping and set the tensions high. Jabroni. If you want to know your role and send us an email, then shoot it to videogamehof@gmail.com Rate/review us on your pod platform of choice and we'll see you for party games next time!

As the Hall of Fame gang recover from various bouts of lurgy, we return slightly hoarse but no less enthused to talk about Alex's chosen category: hack and/or slash games. As always, each of the four pod members will pick their favourite game from the category, and it's up to you to head over to @VG_HOF on (ugh) X and cast your vote for the game you want to be inducted into the Hall of Fame! We also have a delightful email from another person with a hilarious name who asked a whole host of questions ranging from our favourite movies you've never heard of to closed-down shops we all miss. If you want to get your questions on the show, shoot one of them electronic mails to videogamehof@gmail.com Please rate/review on your platform of choice, and we'll see you again for open world games in Episode 14.

We're being right wrong'uns on this episode! In a break from the standard sort of category we usually nominate games from, we're getting stuck into some controversies and seeing which games straddle the line between infamy and brilliance the best. Believe us when we tell you that controversy does not diminish the standard of the games nominated in this episode, as we may have the strongest lineup yet! Don't forget, as always, to head on over to @VG_HOF on Twitter once you've finished listening and vote for the game you want to see go into the Hall of Fame in the poll there. Review/rate us on your pod platform of choice, pretty please, as it really helps us get to more people, and email videogamehof@gmail.com if you want to ask us a question.

It's the tactical choice to listen to this podcast. In real time! No need to strategise, just press play! That's right, this episode we're each nominating a strategy game for the Video Game Hall of Fame. Once you've heard our nominations, head over to @VG_HOF on Twitter and vote in the poll for your favourite, and the winner will be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside the likes of Super Mario World, Final Fantasy VII, Minecraft, and Halo! Please leave us a review/rating on your pod platform of choice if you like what you hear, or email videogamehof@gmail.com to get in touch.

We are the people's Video Game Hall of Fame, but that doesn't mean the people are right 100% of the time. Let's be honest, we nominated waaaaaaay too many good games to only have one go in the Hall of Fame from each category. Fear not, though, because we're here to right those wrongs by inducting one more game each from the first nine categories of the pod. That means we will be inducting four games from amongst the 2D platformer, FPS, pre-3rd gen, beat ‘em up, JRPG, 8-bit, driving, rhythm, and indie categories. The only catch is that once a category has been chosen from, it's locked off for anyone else. Someone inducts Sonic the Hedgehog from 2D platformers? No Mario World for anyone else! We also lay out the categories we'll be choosing from for the next six episodes. We pick one each, one's randomised from a list, and the last one will be decided by you! See? We've not taken all the control away. To vote on which category we'll be nominating from in the next episode, head over to @VG_HOF on Twitter. Rate/review, email us at videogamehof@gmail.com, think about games with turnips, all that. Love you, bye.

It's time to channel the spirit of independence! This episode, we present to you our four nominations from the indie games sphere. As always, you will decide which nominee gets inducted into the Hall of Fame! There are so many amazing indie games to choose from, spanning every and all genres, so we all found it incredibly tough to pick just one each. If you like one our nominees, then head on over to @VG_HOF on Twitter and cast your vote for your preferred winner. If you don't like our picks, then let us know which game we should have nominated instead! This is definitely a category that we will revisit at some point, but the games here can always come up again in different categories, so calm down if this episode makes you upset! If you need to vent at us through email, and your name's not The Shagger, then hit us up at videogamehof@gmail.com. Ok, even if you are Shagger and want to email us again, that's fine. Rate, review, subscribe. All that shite.

Apparently this episode's genre is controversial. Apparently one member of the pod 'hates' rhythm games. But you're not like that are you, dear listener? You all like fun times with music and occasionally hitting or plucking things, right? Good, great, wonderful. We have another lineup of four games to introduce to you with our very bestest (or, in one case, most reluctant) reasoning for why each should go into the Hall of Fame. The eventual winner, as always, is down to you. Once you've heard the episode, head on over to Twatter and vote in the poll over @VG_HOF - with the inductee announced in Episode 9. Don't forget to leave us a rating/review on your pod platform of choice, and email videogamehof@gmail.com if you want us to read out your questions/opinions on the show.

You best put seatbelts on your ears, folks, because we're about to take them for a ride! That's right, this episode we're all nominating our favourite (or tactically nominating the most likely poll-winner) driving games! As always, we've got an eclectic mix of games from a wide variety of eras; from the early '90s to the late '00s; from arcades to consoles. As long as you sit yourself in a traditional car, hit that accelerator and enjoy the thrill of virtual driving, you're in. That means no kart racers or silly shite like Sonic R and Snowboard Kids. They'll likely come up later. Once you've heard the episode, head on over to our Twitter @VG_HOF and cast your vote for the game you want to be inducted. Don't forget to leave us a lovely review on your pod platform of choice and if you want us to read out your questions, opinions, measurements, list of greatest fears, then email videogamehof@gmail.com

Seat belts on, kids, it's time to nominate some driving games. This podcast is best consumed while driving, just like alcohol. This is a re-upload, so many thanks to the handsome @Fahmz21 for notifying us that Spotify took it down, the scallywags. Say hi to us on twitter @VG_HOF or on BlueSky (better) @vghof and email videogamehof@gmail.com for bants and rants.

We're going old skool again, as your nominees for the Video Game Hall of Fame this time hail from a bygone era of blocky chiptune greatness - the 8-bit generation! Having covered pre-3rd Gen games previously, we're sticking mainly to home consoles and handhelds this time around, so fans of NES, Master System and Game Boy are in for a treat! We also have to induct the poll-winning JRPG from Episode 5 into the Hall of Fame, learn about Rob's new unexpected friend, and settle the matter on whether chickens are dinosaurs. Once you've heard the episode, head on over to our Twitter @VG_HOF and cast your vote for the game you want to be inducted. If polls have stopped working without you paying for a blue tick to vote, then we'll have hopefully figured something out as an alternative! Don't forget to leave us a lovely review on your pod platform of choice and if you want us to read out your questions, opinions, measurements, list of greatest fears, then email videogamehof@gmail.com