Special: 2025 in Review

Special: 2025 in Review

Author: Matt Storm and Gen Moonen January 2, 2026 Duration: 1:58:21

Another year, another mountain of games. There may never land on a definition of "Indie". One can only shake thier fists at studio closures. But there will always more games to find and play.

Matt & Geoff share their Top Ten games of the year, what they're excited to see in 2026, and where they hope the conversation in games can go in the new year.

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Episode Art by Case Aiken

Episode Music by Geoff Moonen

 


The "Fun" and Games Podcast is a conversation between hosts Matt Storm and Gen Moonen, built on a shared enthusiasm for play in all its forms. This isn't just a recap of the latest releases; it's a deeper dive into why games captivate us. Listeners will hear discussions that trace the evolution of gaming as an artistic medium, exploring how interactive experiences tell stories, build worlds, and connect people. The hosts frequently bring on guests from inside the industry and beyond, offering a wide range of perspectives on what makes games special. The dynamic between Matt and Gen drives the podcast, making each episode feel like a thoughtful chat between friends who happen to be deeply knowledgeable. Additionally, Matt Storm produces a companion minisode series called Side Quests, where each short episode features a different host passionately explaining a single game they love and the personal reasons behind that affection. It’s a show for anyone who has ever gotten lost in a game and wanted to understand the magic behind that feeling.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

"Fun" and Games Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 206: Big Hops [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:50
When traversing a 3D world in games, it's as important to enjoy your character's movement as it is to just enjoy your character. Matt & Geoff are joined by Chris Wade, director of the recently released froggy platformer,…
Side Quests Episode 432: Blood with Jesse Fresco [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:10
Side Quests is back and this episode's host is writer and undead early 20th century gunslinger, Jesse Fresco! The game he is talking about today is Blood by Monolith Productions and GT Interactive! You can also find his…
Side Quests Episode 431: SCHiM with Matt Sowinski [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:09
Side Quests is back and so is host Matt Sowinski! He is a podcaster, writer and lil creature that lives in shadows! The game he is talking about today is SCHiM by Ewoud van der Werf, Nils Slijkerman and Extra Nice. You c…
Episode 205: Good Enough is More than Enough [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:48
Very few games get perfect scores. So why would anyone play a game that wasn't the best? Is there any reason to play something that's considered only "okay"? Well, yes. Matt & Geoff discuss the middle of the road titles,…
Side Quests Episode 429: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 with Darren Hupke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:42
Side Quests is back and so is host Darren Hupke! He is a writer, podcaster, publisher and all-star pro skater! The game he is talking about today is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 by Neversoft and Activision. You can also find…
Side Quests Episode 428: Resident Evil 2 (1998) with Keith Gasper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:47
Side Quests is back and so is host Keith Gasper! He is a podcaster and R.P.D. officer on his first day of duty! The game he is talking about today is Resident Evil 2 (1998) by Capcom. You can also check out his podcast h…
Episode 204: GIGASWORD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:47
Often, when you're given a sword in video games, the only solutions it provides are violent. But what if was also how you opened doors, solved puzzles, and traversed a wide map? You'd need a pretty big sword to do all th…