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.

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(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.

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