Podcasts about button mash

This is an Xbox ... episode of Button Mash! First, Ben Lindbergh and Matt "The Matt-ster Chief" James breaks down what the upcoming multi-platform remake of the original 'Halo' portends for the future of Xbox. Then, they stick with the theme by sharing their spoiler-free reactions to two new Xbox-published multiplatform games, 'Ninja Gaiden 4' and 'The Outer Worlds 2.'Intro (0:00)The Future of Xbox (1:46)'Ninja Gaiden 4' and 'The Outer Worlds 2' Reactions (25:18)Outro (1:09:13)Host: Ben LindberghGuest: Matt JamesProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Matt James banter about the big launch by ‘Battlefield 6' and share their spoiler-free impressions of three noteworthy recent releases in an overloaded gaming month: ‘Absolum,' ‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A,' and ‘Keeper.' Then Ben and Arjuna Ramgopowell discuss how and why they revisited, and finally completed, an N64 cult classic that has haunted them for a quarter of a century: ‘The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.' Intro (0:00)New releases: 'Absolum,' ‘Pokémon Legends: Z-A,' and 'Keeper' reviews (2:40)‘The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask' revisited (44:20)Outro (1:30:06) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James and Arjuna RamgopowellProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Matt James, and Justin Charity break down the bombshell news about Electronic Arts being sold for $55 billion, Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass price hike, and the showdown between ‘Battlefield' and ‘Call of Duty.' Then Ben, Matt, and Daniel Chin share their spoiler-free reviews of the new spiritual sequel to ‘Ghost of Tsushima,' the PlayStation 5 exclusive ‘Ghost of Yotei.' EA is being acquired (01:43) Microsoft Xbox Game Pass price increase (14:04) 'Call of Duty' vs. 'Battlefield' (28:29) 'Ghost of Yotei' reactions (35:58) Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Matt James, Justin Charity, and Daniel Chin Senior Producer: Steve Ahlman Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Rob Mahoney head back to the House of Hades for an in-depth (but spoiler-free) discussion of ‘Hades II,' in which they explain how Supergiant's sequel to ‘Hades' somehow improves upon its near-perfect predecessor. Then Steve Ahlman arrives to react to ‘Silent Hill f,' the recent ‘Silent Hill' series resurgence, and the first trailer for ‘Spider-Man' maker Insomniac's next Marvel game, ‘Wolverine.'Intro (0:00)First Thoughts on 'Hades II'  (2:54)'Silent Hill f' Reactions  (50:46)Marvel's 'Wolverine' Trailer (1:19:14)Outro (1:31:35)Host: Ben LindberghGuest: Rob Mahoney and Steve AhlmanProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Steve Ahlman, and Matt James enter the vault to round up recent news on game adaptations (including 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,' big-screen 'Call of Duty,' and live-action TV series 'Tomb Raider') and share their spoiler-free reviews of Gearbox's 'Borderlands' comeback, 'Borderlands 4.' They close by delivering their final verdicts on the difficulty and quality of 'Hollow Knight: Silksong.' Intro (0:00)'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' and adaptation news (5:37)'Borderlands 4' reactions (23:23)'Hollow Knight: Silksong' follow-up (57:39)Outro (1:15:54) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Steve Ahlman and Matt JamesProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's a (silk)song in Ben's heart as he brings on Matt James to share their reactions to one of the most anticipated games of the past several years: 'Hollow Knight: Silksong.' In a largely spoiler-free discussion after roughly 60 combined hours spent exploring the land of Pharloom, they consider what made 'Hollow Knight' and its sequel such sensations, how the hype for 'Silksong' grew, how the new game retains and tweaks the original's formula, whether 'Silksong' is too hard, and whether it lives up to unrestrained expectations. Intro (0:00)'Hollow Knight: Silksong' Reactions (3:00)Outro (1:13:04) Host: Ben LindberghGuest: Matt JamesProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben places a codec call to Steve Ahlman and Matt James to review the new remake of 'Metal Gear Solid 3.' First, they discuss a deluge of upcoming sequels (including 'Hollow Knight: Silksong') and react to the latest indication that the console wars are over, hardware price hikes, and comebacks by two venerable ninja-centric series. Then they discuss how 'MGS3' holds up, how the remake alters the original, and the post-Kojima future of the franchise, before recommending indie gem 'Sword of the Sea.' Finally, Ben has a (mostly spoiler-free) chat with 'Twisted Metal' showrunner/writer Michael Jonathan Smith about how he conceived of the first two seasons, depicting the titular tournament in a bigger-budget Season 2, drawing on 'Twisted Metal' lore, the show's cast and comedic tone, and his vision for a third season. Intro (0:00)'Metal Gear Solid 3.' Review (23:00)Interview with Michael Jonathan Smith (1:09:13)Outro (1:41:14) Host: Ben LindberghGuest: Steve Ahlman, Matt James and Michael Jonathan SmithProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben recruits game journalists (and ex-coworkers) Chris Plante, Maddy Myers, and Joshua Rivera to draft the greatest games featuring Mario, in honor of the upcoming 40th anniversary of 'Super Mario Bros.' First, they share their origin stories as Mario gamers, discuss what makes the character so versatile, and speculate on what Nintendo might announce for the franchise's big birthday. Then they select the all-time greatest (and weirdest!) Mario-centric releases across several genres.Intro (0:00)'Super Mario Bros.' 40th anniversary draft (24:55)Outro (1:47:20)Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Chris Plante, Maddy Myers, and Joshua RiveraProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Lindbergh, Steve Ahlman, Matt James, Rob Mahoney, and Daniel Chin press F to pay respects to the finest video games of the 2000s (so far), making five picks per person in a knock-down, drag-out draft of 25 stone-cold classics. Intro (0:00)25 Greatest Games of the Quarter Century Draft (11:00)Outro (1:43:23) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Steve Ahlman, Matt James, Rob Mahoney, and Daniel ChinProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Lindbergh and Jessica Clemons begin with a roundup of game adaptation news, covering the ‘Mortal Kombat II' trailer, Netflix's live-action ‘Assassin's Creed' series, the ‘Legend of Zelda' casting announcements, and an apparent animated ‘Donkey Kong' movie. Then they dive deep (both in game and on mic) into new Nintendo masterpiece ‘Donkey Kong Bananza,' touching on the history of the Donkey Kong character, the lineage of Nintendo 3D platformers, what makes the latest game great, why the Switch 2 sorely needed it, and what's next for Nintendo and its new, hot-selling system. Intro (0:00)Game adaptation news: 'MKII,' 'Zelda,' 'Assassin's Creed' (3:30)'Donkey Kong Bananza' reviews (28:34)Outro (1:31:15) Host: Ben LindberghGuest: Jess ClemonsProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Lindbergh and Van Lathan huddle up to discuss ‘EA Sports College Football 26,' the sequel to last year's bestselling comeback for the ‘College Football' franchise, focusing on the depths of Van's obsession, the series' transition to an annual release schedule, and whether college basketball games will be the next to return. Then, Ben, Van, and Devon Renaldo discuss ‘Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4,' the best ‘THPS' games, and gaming as a gateway to skating (32:50). Finally, Ben catches some air with the titular Tony Hawk, the skating/gaming legend, who weighs in on his ‘THPS' history and the future of the franchise (62:03). Intro (00:00) ‘EA Sports College Football 26' (09:30) College basketball games (24:28) ‘Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4' with Dev and Van (32:50) Interview with Tony Hawk (62:03) Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Tony Hawk and Van Lathan Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal and Olivia Crerie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Justin Charity have a spoiler-free discussion about Hideo Kojima's acclaimed PlayStation 5 sequel to 2019's 'Death Stranding,' 'Death Standing 2: On the Beach.' Then, after their brief reaction to casting news about the upcoming 'Street Fighter' film, Matt James joins to reflect on the year in gaming. The two construct joint top-10 lists of his and Ben's favorite games of the year so far, as well as their most anticipated games for the rest of 2025. Intro (0:00)‘Death Stranding 2: On the Beach' Spoiler-Free Impressions (3:53)Reactions to ‘Street Fighter' Casting News (46:22)Game of the Year So Far + 2025 Hype List (56:05)Outro (1:43:22) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Justin Charity and Matt JamesProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Matt put down their Pro Controllers long enough to react to a landmark weekend in gaming. First, they discuss the launch of Nintendo's Switch 2, their at-home experiences with the system, and whether it's worth getting now. Then they share their thoughts on ‘Mario Kart World'—as a sequel to one of the bestselling games of all time, as a reinvention of the franchise, and as a Switch 2 launch title and system seller. Then they break down the top trends and announcements from gaming's summer showcase season, including PlayStation's State of Play, Summer Game Fest, the Xbox Games Showcase, and more. Intro (0:00)Reactions to the Switch 2 (2:23)First thoughts on ‘Mario Kart World' (34:15)Highlights from summer showcase season (55:08)Outro (1:23:37) Host: Ben LindberghGuest: Matt JamesProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Matt, and Steve party up for a three-person podcast about a three-player game! First, they discuss what the cancellation of Electronic Arts' Black Panther project portends for the future of superhero games and Triple-A licensed games. Then they have a spoiler-free discussion of FromSoftware's fascinating 'Elden Ring' spinoff experiment, 'Nightreign,' focusing on its difficulty, its genre-spanning appeal, and its technological drawbacks. After that, they react to the news that Alex Garland is writing and directing an A24-produced 'Elden Ring' movie and try to figure out what the adaptation could look like, before honoring 'Mission: Impossible' by identifying other major media properties that historically have been the most underserved by video games. Intro (0:00)Black Panther + Game Cancellations  (2:40)Reactions to 'Elden Ring Nightreign' (11:13) 'Elden Ring' Movie Predictions Most Underserved Franchises in Video Games (56:46)Outro (1:16:48) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Steve Ahlman and Matt JamesProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer-Verse listeners let Ben and Daniel live, and they don't waste it! First, they give their reviews of Season 2, Episode 7, "Convergence," and then they break down the episode's departures from and additions to the game before assessing the season as a whole. Then they forecast when to expect Season 3 and what it could look like, and they conclude by answering audience emails. Intro (0:00)Reactions to Episode 7 (3:50)Season 3 Predictions (1:10:00)Audience Emails (1:28:13) Outro (1:40:50) Hosts: Ben Lindbergh and Daniel ChinProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Daniel "do it all over again." First, they give their reviews of Season 2's penultimate 'TLOU' episode, "The Price," and then they break down the episode's departures from and additions to the game.  Then they speculate about what could be coming in the season finale and beyond. Finally, Ben talks to Chris Rondinella, the musician who performed "Future Days," "Take On Me," and other songs in 'The Last of Us Part II,' about how he played Joel and Ellie. Intro (0:00) Reactions to Episode 6 (4:24) Interview with Chris Rondinella (1:19:08) Outro (1:32:59) Hosts: Ben Lindbergh and Daniel ChinGuest: Chris RondinellaProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Matt, and Steve share their (non-spoiler-y) impressions of the new first-person shooter 'Doom: The Dark Ages,' focusing on the ever-evolving nature of the franchise, whether the series' latest experiments improve upon its tried-and-true formula, how they'd rank the three most recent 'Doom' games, and more. Then, Ben brings on video game writer and screenwriter Tom Bissell, who wrote the three-part finale of 'Andor,' to talk about the 'Andor' writers room; working within story constraints and established universes; tying the finale to 'Rogue One'; the future of 'Star Wars' and IP storytelling in the aftermath of 'Andor'; 'Andor' as a video game; the differences between writing for TV and video games; his work on 'Uncharted,' 'Gears of War,' 'What Remains of Edith Finch,' and 'Masters of Doom'; Hollywood's appetite for video game adaptations; and more. Intro (0:00)Reactions to 'Doom: The Dark Ages' (2:30)Interview with Tom Bissell (35:35)Outro (1:41:53) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Steve Ahlman, Tom Bissell, and Matt JamesProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Daniel got here from Jackson just in time to talk about Episode 5, "Feel Her Love." They discuss the specifics of the action and the pivotal closing scene, then pull back a bit to comment on how the effort to adapt the game is going before forecasting what could be coming next. Then, Ben talks to longtime Naughty Dog game developer Almudena Soria Sancho, lead animator on 'The Last of Us Part II,' about her thoughts on the 'TLOU' adaptation, bringing the Stalkers and other infected to life, perfecting performance capture, the advantages and drawbacks of film and TV versus video games, what she's most looking forward to seeing the rest of this season and next season, and more. Intro (0:00)Reactions to Episode (3:50)Interview with Almudena Soria Sancho (1:05:50)Outro (1:32:18) Hosts: Ben Lindbergh and Daniel ChinGuest: Almudena Soria SanchoProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Daniel pass the halfway point of the second season as they visit Seattle and take on Episode 4, "Day One." After sharing their brief reviews of the episode, they discuss several significant changes to core characters and scenes from 'The Last of Us Part II' before wrapping up with some speculation about the structure of the remainder of the season (and beyond). Intro (0:00)Episode 4 breakdown and reactions (2:30)Predictions for the rest of the season (40:00)Outro (54:43) Hosts: Ben Lindbergh and Daniel ChinProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Matt, Jomi, and Steve join forces for an emergency reaction to the second trailer for ‘GTA VI' and the newly announced details about the game's plot, characters, and setting. First, they share their thoughts on how the trailer affected their overall levels of hype for the game, and then they run through some of the highlights, new revelations, and questions they still have before analyzing the impact of the game's delay to May 2026. Intro (0:00) Reactions to ‘Grand Theft Auto VI' trailer (3:14)Character rundown and gameplay speculation (26:53) Potential setbacks from release delay (48:18) Outro (1:08:00) Host: Ben LindberghGuests: Matt James, Jomi Adeniran, and Steve AhlmanProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Daniel get back on the horse and hit the road to a new destination: Episode 3, "The Path." They share their high-level reviews of the episode, consider the significant differences between how the game and show handled the aftermath of Episode 2's momentous events, and speculate about what those departures from the source material—and a notable non-departure from Jackson—might mean for the rest of the season and series. Intro (0:00)Ben and Daniel react to Episode 3 in the aftermath of Episode 2 (3:00)Key differences in gameplay vs. the show (7:50) Predictions for the rest of the season (48:25)Outro (1:07:55) Hosts: Ben Lindbergh and Daniel ChinProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our cup runneth over with role-playing games, so Ben and Matt James party up to tag-team two new titans of the genre. After opening banter about Nintendo Switch 2 preorders and ‘Grand Theft Auto VI' timing, they profess their love (in spoiler-free fashion) for the new hit RPG ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' and explain why the debut game gives them hope for the industry. Then they share their impressions of the recently released RPG behemoth ‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered' and discuss the difference between remasters and remakes and the proper approach to modernizing old games. Intro (0:00)Nintendo Switch 2 preorders and ‘Grand Theft Auto VI' updates (3:25)First thoughts on ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' (13:39)‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered' impressions (53:50)Outro (1:18:18) Host: Ben LindberghGuest: Matt JamesProducer: Devon RenaldoAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Mint Edition and Button Mash crossover, the guys talk all things Nintendo Switch 2! Later, the guys get into the latest video game to movie adaptation, 'Until Dawn' and more (31:00). Hosts: Jomi Adeniran and Steve Ahlman Guest: Ben Lindbergh Producer: Jonathan Kermah Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did Sunday's major moment compare to the video game version? Did [redacted] hit as hard the second time around? And what might some significant changes from ‘The Last of Us Part II' portend for the rest of the season? Ben and Daniel break down the big twist and the consequential second episode's other developments from a ‘TLOU' player's perspective. Hosts: Ben Lindbergh and Daniel Chin Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Daniel Chin begin their weekly Button Mash breakdowns of 'The Last of Us' Season 2 from the perspective of longtime 'The Last of Us' players. First, they describe their experiences with the games, recap the biggest changes Season 1 made to the original 'The Last of Us,' and discuss why 'The Last of Us Part II' poses a greater adaptation challenge. Then they analyze the most significant changes to the story and structure of 'TLOU2' in the first episode of the show's second season, before speculating about what those differences might signify for Episode 2 and beyond. WARNING: spoilers for 'The Last of Us Part II.' Hosts: Ben Lindbergh and Daniel Chin Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben brings on Steve Ahlman and Jomi Adeniran to break down the box office phenomenon that is 'A Minecraft Movie': the memes, the theatrical experience, and, yes, the movie itself. Then, after Ben and Jomi rant about being betrayed by the Season 4 finale of 'Mythic Quest' (00:52), Van Lathan and Jessica Clemons come on to discuss the new Deep South–set Xbox adventure 'South of Midnight' (45:47). Finally, Matt James joins to rave about (but not spoil!) the new best-reviewed game of 2025: indie darling 'Blue Prince' (1:18:00). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Steve Ahlman, Jomi Adeniran, Jessica Clemons, Van Lathan, and Matt James Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Matt James dissect all the news from Nintendo's long-awaited full unveiling of the Switch 2, from the announcements on the Nintendo Direct livestream to the in-person, hands-on event that Ben attended. First, they give their verdicts on whether the much-hyped Nintendo Direct fulfilled expectations. Then, they list their likes and dislikes from the day of reveals and demos, in addition to discussing some lingering unknowns. Host: Ben Lindbergh Guest: Matt James Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Jessica Clemons, and Arjuna Ramgopal get their 16th-century stealth on as they share their spoiler-free impressions of the highly anticipated, high-stakes sequel that brings the ‘Assassin's Creed' franchise to feudal Japan. They discuss what's new, what's not, what works, and what flops about the long-awaited title, as well as why its success is so vital to the future of beleaguered developer/publisher Ubisoft. Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Jessica Clemons and Arjuna Ramgopal Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Matt James, and Steve Ahlman step into their simulators and share their spoiler-free reviews of Hazelight's latest co-op opus, ‘Split Fiction.' After discussing the highs and lows of the genre-bending adventure, they name their all-time favorite local co-op games (01:28). Finally, Ben talks to Hazelight founder and ‘Split Fiction' director Josef Fares about the new game's development, the keys to co-op success, the future of gaming, and more (01:00:29). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Josef Fares, Steve Ahlman, and Matt James Producer: Jessie Lopez Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Matt discuss Matt's spoiler-free impressions of ‘Avowed,' the ‘Elden Ring Nightreign' network test, and news about layoffs and closures affecting ‘Marvel Rivals' and ‘Wonder Woman' (10:00). Then Ben looks for love in the latest installments of long-running video game franchises that he's never previously played—‘Dynasty Warriors,' ‘Sniper Elite,' ‘Civilization,' ‘Like a Dragon,' and ‘Monster Hunter'—by “speed-dating” each of their newly released sequels and deciding whether the series deserves a second digital date (30:30). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guest: Matt James Producer: Devon Renaldo Addition Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Steve Ahlman, and Matt James banter about whether the console wars are over and whether 'Marvel Rivals' will keep the crown that 'Overwatch' once wore. Then (19:50) they give their spoiler-free reviews of the immense, fascinating, and frustrating action RPG 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.' After that, Julianna Ress and Khal Davenport join Ben to reminisce about 'The Sims' and reflect on the franchise's legacy on its 25th anniversary (48:30). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Steve Ahlman, Matt James, Julianna Ress, and Khal Davenport Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Jomi discuss their mutual affection for the Apple TV+ comedy ‘Mythic Quest,' examine what makes the series stand out, and react to its return for a fourth season. Then they name their top five movies, TV shows, and novels about video games, game development, or gaming culture (1:20). After that, they talk to Ashly Burch, a prominent video game voice actor, ‘Mythic Quest' costar, and writer/director/producer of ‘Mythic Quest' and spinoff ‘Side Quest,' about making both series, her prolific career, and the evolution of the games industry (1:09:00). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Jomi Adeniran and Ashly Burch Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Jessica Clemons, and Matt James press reset on the gaming calendar and place hype-thetical preorders for the most intriguing releases of the coming year. First they look back at last year's most anticipated titles to examine how predictable good games actually are. Then they discuss this year's two biggest tentpoles, ‘Grand Theft Auto VI' and Nintendo's Switch successor, assessing their excitement for each and the odds of ‘GTA VI' avoiding a delay (8:30). After that, they preview a stacked February (40:00), select their most anticipated games of 2025 in several categories (29:30), and wrap up with big-picture predictions (1:16:20). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Jessica Clemons and Matt James Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Steve Ahlman, Matt James, and Justin Charity wrap a podcast present and put it under the tree. First, they name “naughty” and “nice” trends in gaming this year, from high-profile, live-service flops to the decline of console exclusivity (08:55). Then, they celebrate the most unforgettable titles of 2024 by drafting their favorite releases across several categories, including sprawling RPGs, riveting action adventures, and indie darlings (39:20). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Steve Ahlman, Matt James, and Justin Charity Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Jomi, and Arjuna begin by discussing the success of the free-to-play hero shooter ‘Marvel Rivals.' Then they whip through a discussion of ‘Indiana Jones and the Great Circle' (2:40), touching on Indy's checkered history in gaming and how his new adventure improves upon past titles and nails the tone of the franchise. After that, they provide their impressions of Prime Video's new video game adaptation anthology series, ‘Secret Level' (48:40), before reconvening to talk about the biggest news and announcements at the Game Awards (1:09:00). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Jomi Adeniran and Arjuna Ramgopal Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Even after 30 years, 'Button Mash' is still not underestimating the power of PlayStation. Join Ben Lindbergh, Steve Ahlman, Matt James, and Rob Mahoney as they assess the legacy and influence of Sony's first game console, reminisce about their personal PlayStation experiences, and then draft the best games from the classic system across several categories (33:17). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Steve Ahlman, Matt James, and Rob Mahoney Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is that Jason Concepcion's music?! Jason joins Ben to discuss the recent nominations for Game of the Year at the Game Awards (5:00) and then celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of the most momentous months in gaming history, November 2004 (17:40). Specifically, they reminisce about and analyze the legacies of two classic first-person shooters—'Halo 2' and 'Half-Life 2'—highlighting how they were made, how they improved upon their predecessors, and how they broke creative and technological boundaries in ways that changed gaming forever. Host: Ben Lindbergh Guest: Jason Concepcion Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From 'Like a Dragon' to 'Dragon Age,' settle in for a supersized ‘Button Mash' blowout! First, Ben, Brian Phillips, and Matt James discuss which games they would stream to enhance their appeal if they were running for office. Then, they break down Prime Video's latest TV adaptation of a video game franchise, 'Like a Dragon: Yakuza' (14:00), before Ben and Matt recommend several recent releases that are easy to consume, including the latest 'Call of Duty' and a 'Pokémon' mobile sensation (52:00). Then Ben and Joshua Rivera discuss 'Mario & Luigi: Brothership,' comedic Mario, weird Nintendo, the swan song of the Switch, whether 'Dragon Age: The Veilguard' is BioWare's big comeback, and the pros and cons of the industry's franchise reliance (1:20:00. Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Brian Phillips, Matt James, and Joshua Rivera Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘Arcane' is back and Steve and Jomi are joined by ‘Button Mash' host Ben Lindbergh to prepare you guys for Season 2 with a recap of Season 1 and a discussion concerning what they loved about the first season (8:03). Then the trio move on to a show they've waited a long time to cover, ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks'! They go over their thoughts about the beginning of the fifth and final season, as well as what they've loved about the show over the years. Hosts: Steve Ahlman and Jomi Adeniran Guest: Ben Lindbergh Producers: Isaiah Blakely and Steve Ahlman Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Justin Charity tiptoe through the halls of Sevastopol to discuss the 10-year anniversary of ‘Alien: Isolation' and their experiences with the cult classic. Then they bring on Andy Kelly, author of ‘Perfect Organism: An Alien: Isolation Companion,' to discuss the game's legacy, horror credentials, innovative AI system, and impact on ‘Alien,' as well as what they hope to see from the newly announced ‘Isolation' sequel (15:49). After that, Ben and Charity talk about Netflix and Amazon's big bets on a ‘Tomb Raider' revival, the history of the franchise, and Ben's impressions of the new Netflix series ‘Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft' (56:58). Finally, Steve Ahlman and Matt James pop in to give their impressions of ‘Silent Hill 2' and ‘Metaphor: ReFantazio' (84:32). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Justin Charity, Andy Kelly, Steve Ahlman, and Matt James Producers: Devon Renaldo and Eduardo Ocampo Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben summons Justin Charity for a spoiler-free but in-depth discussion about Nintendo's new ‘The Legend of Zelda' release for Switch, ‘Echoes of Wisdom.' After they give their high-level capsule reviews of the game, they catch up on some recent news, including the teaser for ‘The Last of Us' Season 2, the announcement of (and trailer for) ‘Ghost of Yotei,' the delay of ‘Assassin's Creed Shadows,' and Nintendo's lawsuit against ‘Palworld' maker Pocket Pair (6:00). After that, they describe their experiences with ‘Echoes,' explore how it synthesizes aspects of its open-world and top-down predecessors, examine the contrast between playing as Zelda and playing as Link, and share their hopes for the future of the franchise (33:40). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guest: Justin Charity Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Button Mash becomes Bot-ton Mash as Ben, Jess, and Steve celebrate the release of near-perfect PlayStation platformer ‘Astro Bot' and explain why the game is both a bold leap forward and a relic of an earlier era. Then they break down what the record sales success of ‘Black Myth: Wukong' and the flop of ‘Concord' (49:00) say about the industry, assess their appetites for the PS5 Pro and mid-generation console upgrades (1:09:55), and share takeaways from several trailers for upcoming video game movies and TV shows (1:15:25), before finishing with a fond farewell to the late, great James Earl Jones (1:32:00). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Jess Clemons and Steve Ahlman Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Jomi, and Arjuna discuss their experiences with Ubisoft's ‘Star Wars: Outlaws.' They break down the big-budget title's gameplay, graphics, and performance, as well as its open-world structure, and its portrayal of the ‘Star Wars' universe. They then critique the broad strokes of the story (6:40), before dipping briefly (and with warnings!) into spoiler territory (1:11:20). After the spoiler section, they reflect on lessons learned from ‘Outlaws,' assess where it ranks among ‘Star Wars' games, and share their hopes for future ‘Star Wars' releases (1:35:40). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Jomi Adeniran and Arjuna Ramgopal Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Haven't seen ‘Borderlands,' the latest video game movie? You have chosen wisely. Ben, Rob Mahoney, and Matt James chose poorly, and they're here to report on the brand-new box office flop. They begin by bantering about the demise of Game Informer and the end of the era of video game magazines (6:00). Then they review ‘Borderlands' (16:00) and discuss how it got made (36:00) and why it became a debacle that snapped a streak of strong game adaptations (44:24). They conclude by weighing whether ‘Borderlands' is the worst movie to feature multiple Oscar winners (52:00), comparing it to previous video game movie misfires (53:00), fantasy-casting their own improbably star-studded video game movies (59:00, and picking the upcoming adaptations they're most anticipating (1:05:00). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Rob Mahoney and Matt James Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Jomi form a found family for a spoiler-free preview of one of the biggest games of the rest of the year: Ubisoft's ‘Star Wars Outlaws.' First they discuss the strengths of 'Star Wars' games, the state of the 'Star Wars' gaming landscape, and the interactive future of the franchise. (3:57) Then they share their impressions after four hours with ‘Outlaws,' including what they liked, what concerned them, and what they're looking forward to finding out (27:22). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guest: Jomi Adeniran Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal and Devon Baroldi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Van Lathan, Diante Lee, and Steven Ruiz form a huddle to discuss the highly anticipated return of EA's college football franchise. First, they recount the history of the 'NCAA Football' series, what set it apart from 'Madden,' and why it was gone so long (00:52) before sharing their impressions of the new edition of the game (21:41). Then, they break down the consolidation of the sports gaming landscape (42:15), debate which sport translates best to video games (01:07:00, and name the top five sports games in each of their personal pantheons (01:14:00). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Van Lathan, Diante Lee, and Steven Ruiz Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Steve Ahlman, Matt James, and Justin Charity banter (sans spoilers) about their ongoing adventures in the Land of Shadow in 'Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree' and how they've handled the popular DLC's difficulty. Then, they share their big-picture takeaways from the year in gaming so far (25:00), collaboratively (and only semi-contentiously) construct a top 10 GotFHotY (games of the first half of the year) list (34:50), and pick the upcoming releases that they hope will make their year-end GotY draft (01:29:00). Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Steve Ahlman, Justin Charity, and Matt James Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Steve Ahlman, and Matt James discuss the biggest news from this week's Nintendo Direct (including a 'Legend of Zelda' with playable Zelda and proof of life for 'Metroid Prime 4'), gaming's suddenly stacked release schedule for the rest of 2024, and what the Switch 2's launch lineup could look like. Then they reflect on the legacy of 'Elden Ring' and share their spoiler-free early impressions of its acclaimed new expansion, 'Shadow of the Erdtree.' Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Steve Ahlman and Matt James Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Jessica Clemons, and Justin Charity react to a slew of big gaming news by ranking their big-picture takeaways and top 10 most exciting announcements, trailers, and reveals from Summer Game Fest, the Xbox Games Showcase, Ubisoft Forward, Sony State of Play, and other recent presentations. Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Jessica Clemons and Justin Charity Producer: Devon Renaldo  Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben, Jessica Clemons, Justin Charity, and Rob Mahoney break down news about the release date of 'GTA VI,' Phoebe Waller-Bridge writing a 'Tomb Raider' show, and the next 'Assassin's Creed.' They then compare and contrast recent releases 'Animal Well' and 'Senua's Saga: Hellblade II' (24:00), and later competitively put together lineups (31:00) of the games they most want to see remade. Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Jessica Clemons, Justin Charity, and Rob Mahoney Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices