Ep. 427 - Game of the Year 2025

Insert Credit nominates and ranks the fifteen best video games of the year 2025. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums (Finalized list appears at the bottom of the show notes, don’t spoil yourself!) SHOW NOTES: Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure “Displeased! If I breathe, if I live, I am displeased. Only the dead are satisfied.” 52 Pickup Video Game History Foundation Digital Archive Demonschool 1: Ash Parrish’s First Nominee (05:20) South of Midnight BDS Ahmed Best Jar Jar Binks 2: Brandon Sheffield’s First Nominee (09:27) Yakuza series Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Ichiban Kasuga Kazuma Kiryu Goro Majima Yakuza 0 Deadpool 3: Frank Cifaldi’s First Nominee (14:46) Wanderstop Davey Wreden The Stanley Parable The Beginner’s Guide Animal Crossing series 4: Ash’s Second Nominee (20:34) Blue Prince Escape Academy 5: Brandon’s Second Nominee (24:50) Asura the Striker Space Harrier OutRun Darius 6: Frank’s Second Nominee (28:01) The Roottrees are Dead The Séance of Blake Manor HowLongToBeat.com 7: Ash’s Third Nominee (32:37z) Dead Take Tales of Kenzera: Zau Assassin’s Creed: Origins Full-motion video Ben Starr Neil Newbon Final Fantasy XVI Baldur’s Gate III Matt Mercer Jeffrey Epstein Harvey Weinstein Alan Wake series Sam Lake Max Payne series Palworld Meet The Unconventional Publishers Trying To Unfuck The Games Industry 8: Brandon’s Third Nominee (37:53) Call of Ponchy : Mahjong Warfare Fortnite D3Publisher Inc. 9: Frank’s Third Nominee (43:24) Silent Hill f Silent Hill 2 Sonic the Werehog Bonk Bubsy Frank’s Top 5 Albums of the Year (54:01) The Tune-Yards - Better Dreaming Deep Sea Diver - Billboard Heart Tunde Adebimpe - Thee Black Boltz Wet Leg - moisturizer Wet Leg: Tiny Desk Concert Wednesday - Bleeds 10: Ash’s Fourth Nominee (59:31) Hollow Knight: Silksong Hollow Knight Death Stranding 2: On The Beach 11: Brandon’s Fourth Nominee (01:05:41) Hypogea Quake 12: Frank’s Fourth Nominee (01:08:50) Windswept Donkey Kong Country Kaizo Super Mario series Oh, Deer! 13: Ash’s Fifth Nominee (01:14:37) News Tower Citizen Kane (1941) Game Dev Story Home of the Underdogs Superhero League of Hoboken Mad TV 14: Brandon’s Fifth Nominee (01:22:01) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Promise Mascot Agency Insert Credit Gaiden #13 - The Intended Game, with Oli Clarke Smith 15: Frank’s Fifth Nomination (01:27:41) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater Hideo Kojima 16: Alex Jaffe’s First Nomination (01:33:29) THE INSERT CREDIT GAME OF THE YEAR 2025 TOP 16: Silent Hilf ($69.99) [14 hrs] News Tower ($24.99) [9.5 hrs] South of Midnight ($39.99) [11.5 hrs] Wanderstop ($24.99) [10.5 hrs] Hollow Knight: Silksong ($19.99) [28 hrs] Blue Prince ($29.99) [26.5 hrs] Dead Take ($14.99) [4 hrs] Promise Mascot Agency ($24.99) [12.5 hrs] Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii ($59.99) [36 hrs] Windswept ($19.99) [9.5 hrs] Hypogea ($9.99) [2.5 hrs] Asura the Striker ($14.99) [0.5 hrs] The Roottrees are Dead ($19.99) [11.5 hrs] Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater ($69.99) [12 hrs] Call of Ponchy: Mahjong Warfare ($0.99) [??? hrs] Demonschool ($24.99) [31.5 hrs] This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you. Subscribe: RSS, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!