Unlock the full Game of the Year debate weeks early, including our hour-long post-debate airing of grievances we call "The Pissy Zone" by joining the $10 Backstage Pass tier. https://www.patreon.com/posts/early-access-to-145988285

We're officially kicking off MinnMax's 2025 Game of the Year debate, which we call The Two Tens! We've gathered the full crew of Ben Hanson, Haley MacLean, Jacob Geller, Janet Garcia, Jeff Marchiafava, Kelsey Lewin, Kyle Hilliard, Leo Vader, and Sarah Podzorski to create a list of our favorite games from the year before we start hacking away to get the list down to the Top 20. Will your favorite game make the cut? Please forgive us if it doesn't. Join us on next week's episode where we'll rank The Two Tens. What will take the #1 spot? Will it be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? Will it be Death Stranding 2: On The Beach? Will it be Aotenjo: Infinite Hands? Tune in to find out!

Watch and share the video version here - https://youtu.be/5LSlLzgQGFs

Learn more about the BDS XBOX boycott here - https://bdsmovement.net/microsoft

Help support MinnMax's supporters!

https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: 8BITPRESENTS

To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below...

00:00:00 - Intro

00:05:44 - Win Steam codes by following @MinnMaxShow on Instagram

00:06:41 - Building The Two Tens

01:50:21 - Cutting The List Down To 20 Games

03:10:52 - And Roger Spoilers

03:17:27 - Spoilers End

Disclosure - Games discussed on MinnMax content are most often provided for free by the publisher or developer. Also, we held code giveaways for new Patreon supporters for the following games: Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance, Sunderfolk, Wildgate, Despelote, Promise Mascot Agency, Spilled!, Star of Providence, LEGO Party, and Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3.

Support us on Patreon -https://www.patreon.com/minnmax

Support MinnMax directly on YouTube - https://youtube.com/minnmax/join

Follow us on Twitch -https://www.twitch.tv/minnmaxshow

Subscribe to our YouTube channel -https://www.youtube.com/minnmax

Subscribe to our solo stream channel - https://www.youtube.com/@minnmaxstreamarchives

Buy MinnMax merch here -https://minnmax.com/merch

Follow us on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/minnmax.com

Go behind the scenes on Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/minnmaxshow

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Win 150 Steam codes by subscribing to The MinnMax Show and leaving a podcast review that includes a social media handle. We're randomly picking one winner from Apple Podcasts on 12/22/25. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-minnmax-show/id1484599827

Welcome to The MinnMax Awards! On this big episode, Ben Hanson, Haley MacLean, Jacob Geller, Janet Garcia, Jeff Marchiafava, Kelsey Lewin, Kyle Hilliard, Leo Vader, and Sarah Podzorski debate nominees and winners for the year of gaming in 2025. We determine the Best Moment, Biggest News, Dumbest Thing, and more. How many categories will Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 win in THIS show? Tune in to find out! Any help sharing MinnMax's Game of the Year content online is appreciated.

Unlock our full Game of the Year debates weeks early and get access to "The Pissy Zone" post-debate unleashing of grievances by joining the $10 Backstage Pass tier. https://www.patreon.com/posts/early-access-to-145988285

Watch and share the video version here - https://youtu.be/jZqJiLwhX4c

To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below...

00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:18 - Win 150 Steam codes by subscribing

00:08:39 - Best Thing

01:05:08 - Dumbest Thing

01:51:22 - Biggest News

02:18:17 - Best Game We Didn't Play

02:26:59 - Best Moment

02:29:48 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Spoilers

02:51:21 - End of Spoilers - Best Moment

02:53:01 - Silent Hill F Spoilers

03:00:09 - The Roottrees Are Dead Spoilers

03:02:14 - Blue Prince Spoilers

03:05:10 - Keeper Spoilers

03:07:59 - Donkey Kong Bananza Spoilers

03:13:57 - Split Fiction Spoilers

03:21:13 - Consume Me Spoilers

03:25:04 - End of Spoilers - Best Moment

03:26:13 - Ghost of Yōtei Spoilers

03:35:58 - Keep Driving Spoilers

03:37:49 - The Alters Spoilers

03:40:48 - Hollow Knight: Silksong Spoilers

03:50:08 - The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy Spoilers

03:53:02 - Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Spoilers

03:58:37 - End of Spoilers - Best Moment

04:09:05 - Road To Empress Spoilers

04:13:39 - Greatest Work Of Art Of All Time For 2025

Support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/minnmax

Support MinnMax directly on YouTube - https://youtube.com/minnmax/join

Follow us on Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/minnmaxshow

Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/minnmax

Subscribe to our solo stream channel - https://www.youtube.com/@minnmaxstreamarchives

Buy MinnMax merch here - https://minnmax.com/merch

Follow us on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/minnmax.com

Go behind the scenes on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/minnmaxshow

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

https://www.patreon.com/minnmax - Get a Steam code for Shinobi: Art of Vengeance by supporting MinnMax at the $5 tier on Patreon before 12/15. This offer is for brand new supporters only. We'll post on Instagram and Bluesky when we run out of codes.

For the last episode of The MinnMax Show before our end-of-year awards, guest host Haley MacLean invites Janet Garcia, Jacob Geller and Leo Vader for one last grab bag of 2025 indies before bringing in special guest Santa Claus to evaluate whether everyone has been naughty or nice little gamers this year.

Please donate to help defend our Somali American neighbors in Minnesota after recent attacks. 100% of the money goes directly to The Somali Museum of Minnesota to connect generations and share the beauty of Somali art and history through interactive exhubiits, cultural performances, and hands-on workshops. http://bit.ly/minnmaxsomali

Help support MinnMax's supporters!

https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: 8BITPRESENTS

Level up your game and get 10% off @TurtleBeach with code MINNMAX at turtlebeach.com/MINNMAX #turtlebeachpod

https://www.hellofresh.com/minnmax10fm - Get 10 free meals and a free item for life

To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below...

00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:09 - Holiday Content Schedule

00:07:34 - Pipistrello & The Cursed Yo-Yo

00:21:06 - Unbeatable

00:30:54 - Turtle Beach - code MINNMAX at turtlebeach.com/MINNMAX

00:34:02 - It Takes A War

00:39:38 - Spoilers For It Takes A War Starts

00:40:57 - Spoilers End

00:42:28 - Hello Fresh - https://www.hellofresh.com/minnmax10fm - Get 10 free meals and a free item for life

00:45:51 - Skate Story

00:55:49 - Santa Arrives

01:00:41 - Naughty Or Nice Gaming Habits

01:25:26 - Thanking iAm8Bit - https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: 8BITPRESENTS

01:27:33 - Community Questions

02:00:25 - Get A Load Of This

Haley's GALOT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1a2AzvX7pc

Jacob's GALOT - (sorry we can't bleep a link) https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/1pg0ujj/new_rare_footage_of_a_li[…]m=web3x\&utm_name=web3xcss\&utm_term=1\&utm_content=share_button

Community GALOT - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raichu

Leo's GALOT - https://www.anildash.com/2025/10/17/the-majority-ai-view/

Janet's GALOT - https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/home-in-or-hone-in

Support us on Patreon -https://www.patreon.com/minnmax

Support MinnMax directly on YouTube - https://youtube.com/minnmax/join

Follow us on Twitch -https://www.twitch.tv/minnmaxshow

Subscribe to our YouTube channel -https://www.youtube.com/minnmax

Subscribe to our solo stream channel - https://www.youtube.com/@minnmaxstreamarchives

Buy MinnMax merch here -https://minnmax.com/merch

Follow us on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/minnmax.com

Go behind the scenes on Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/minnmaxshow

#minnmax

#minnmaxshow

#gameinformer

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https://www.patreon.com/minnmax - Unlock a benefit and directly support independent games media

MinnMax's official Usual Guest Host Kyle Bosman teams up with fellow Kyle Kyle Hilliard to unpack Nintendo's whelming Fall offerings, with Sarah Podzorski diving into her latest favorite shopkeeper sim Strange Antiquities and Leo Vader also in the mix providing an undefinable je ne sais quoi. Then the crew answers some all-bangers community questions before revealing who was this episode's Twerp!

To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below...

00:00:00 - Intro

00:05:00 - Kirby Air Riders

00:19:28 - Hyrule Warriors Age Of Imprisonment

00:32:16 - Strange Antiquities

00:43:25 - Thank You // No Thank You

01:04:47 - https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: TURDUCKEN

01:06:55 - Community Questions

01:51:36 - Get A Load Of This

02:01:07 - Who Was The Twerp

Community GALOT - https://consequence.net/2025/11/macaulay-culkin-middle-name-change/

Kyle H's GALOT - https://bsky.app/profile/leovader.com/post/3m6cvulv5ck2j

Sarah's GALOT - https://www.roblox.com/games/15684145480/Oakridge-Nuclear-Power-Station

Leo's GALOT - https://iseeicy.itch.io/mass

Kyle B's GALOT - https://www.mountaindew.com/news/do-dew-do-worm-mountain-dew-x-trolli-launch-sweet-sour-collab

Bonus's GALOT - https://www.businessinsider.com/sourdough-starter-face-mask-review-with-surprisingly-good-results-2020-5

Disclosure - Games discussed on MinnMax content are most often provided for free by the publisher or developer.

Support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/minnmax

Support MinnMax directly on YouTube - https://youtube.com/minnmax/join

Follow us on Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/minnmaxshow

Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/minnmax

Subscribe to our solo stream channel - https://www.youtube.com/@minnmaxstreamarchives

Buy MinnMax merch here - https://minnmax.com/merch

Follow us on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/minnmax.com

Go behind the scenes on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/minnmaxshow

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

https://www.patreon.com/minnmax - Unlock a benefit and directly support independent games media

MinnMax's host of Bonus Pod Haley MacLean becomes host of Main Pod this week as she guides Janet Garcia, Jacob Geller, Kyle Hilliard and Leo Vader through conversations on narrative hit Dispatch, narrative miss Deadpool VR, the follow-up to Before Your Eyes with Goodnight Universe, and some more candid takes on Lumines Arise before revealing her mysterious Secret Sauce. Then the non-Pew Pew Bang crew takes off and the rest of us answer your wonderful questions submitted over on Patreon!

To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below...

00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:41 - Dispatch

00:25:54 - https://www.hellofresh.com/minnmax10fm - 10 free meals + a free high protein item for life

00:28:12 - Deadpool VR

00:41:10 - Goodnight Universe

01:01:34 - https://www.uncommongoods.com/minnmax - 15% off

01:03:44 - Lumines Arise

01:22:59 - Haley’s Secret Sauce

01:37:16 - https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: TURDUCKEN

01:38:53 - Community Emails

02:22:30 - Get A Load Of This

Haley's GALOT - https://www.ign.com/articles/us-patent-office-boss-orders-reexamination-of-nintendos-controversial-summon-character-and-let-it-fight-pokmon-patent-which-ip-lawyer-claims-further-undermines-credibility-of-its-case-against-palworld

Janet's GALOT - https://store.steampowered.com/personalcalendar

Community GALOT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLrRFB2TSCw

Disclosure - Games discussed on MinnMax content are most often provided for free by the publisher or developer.

Support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/minnmax

Support MinnMax directly on YouTube - https://youtube.com/minnmax/join

Follow us on Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/minnmaxshow

Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/minnmax

Subscribe to our solo stream channel - https://www.youtube.com/@minnmaxstreamarchives

Buy MinnMax merch here - https://minnmax.com/merch

Follow us on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/minnmax.com

Go behind the scenes on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/minnmaxshow

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

https://www.patreon.com/minnmax - Unlock a benefit and directly support independent games media

MinnMax's Leo Vader is flanked from all sides by guest host Kyle Bosman, guest guest Mark MacDonald, and fan favorite Ana Diaz to walk through Steam's surprise hardware announcement as we kick off The Second Paternity Leave Era of MinnMax. Then we talk about Lumines Arise with Mark's developer perspective before Kyle unpacks their unusual trailer strategy. After that, we explain the smart deduction mechanics of Seance Of Blake Manor and answer your wonderful questions submitted over on Patreon!

Help support MinnMax's supporters!

https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: TURDUCKEN

Level up your game and get 10% off @TurtleBeach with code MINNMAX at http://www.turtlebeach.com/MINNMAX #ad

To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below...

00:00:00 - Intro

00:07:26 - Steam Hardware

00:45:00 - Lumines Arise

01:28:13 - Lumines Trailer Analysis

01:38:48 - Ad - Turtle Beach - http://www.turtlebeach.com/MINNMAX - get 10% off @TurtleBeach with code MINNMAX

01:41:42 - Seance Of Blake Manor

01:53:27 - Ad - iAm8Bit - https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: TURDUCKEN

01:55:54 - Community Emails

02:30:43 - Get A Load Of This

Leo's GALOT -

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MinnMax's Ben Hanson, Leo Vader, Kelsey Lewin, Jeff Marchiafava, Jacob Geller, AND Haley MacLean gush about falling in love with the extraction genre thanks to Arc Raiders from Embark Studios. Then we talk about the ambitious recreation of Springfield from The Simpsons in Fortnite, the incredible history in the Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, the free arcade-y chaos of Evil Egg, and Moon's RPG follow-up with Stray Children from Onion Games. Then we answer questions submitted on Patreon by the community and award the iam8bit question of the week! You can win a prize and help make the show better by supporting us on Patreon and submitting a question! https://www.patreon.com/minnmax

Watch and share the video version here - https://youtu.be/khrl2-nScAQ

Join Pew Pew Bang in Florida this weekend with the Really Rad Weekend event!

https://www.reallyradweekend.com/

Help support MinnMax's supporters!

https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: TURDUCKEN

https://www.FactorMeals.com/minnmax50off - 50% off your first order

To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below...

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:15 - Ben's paternity leave

00:05:19 - Arc Raiders

00:45:54 - The Simpsons X Fortnite

00:53:15 - Factor

00:56:27 - Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

01:15:09 - Evil Egg

01:18:53 - No, I'm not a Human

01:22:00 - Stray Children

01:32:24 - Thanking iam8bit - https://www.iam8bit.com/

01:33:44 - Community questions

02:11:17 - Get A Load Of This

Leo’s GALOT - https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1olu7qw/most_evil_shit_ive_done_ingame_so_far/

Here's the Matt Johnson interview Leo mentioned in the episode - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGdWzzcMxPg

Hanson's GALOT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3gbXDjNWyI

Kelsey's GALOT - https://www.npr.org/2025/10/31/nx-s1-5593052/67-dictionary-word-of-the-year-2025#:~:text=This%20year%2C%20that%20honor%20goes,rapper%20Skrilla%20released%20last%20December.

Community GALOT - https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/new-mummy-movie-brendan-fraser-rachel-weisz-1236418031/

Disclosure - Games discussed on MinnMax content are most often provided for free by the publisher or developer.

Support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/minnmax

Support MinnMax directly on YouTube - https://youtube.com/minnmax/join

Follow us on Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/minnmaxshow

Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/minnmax

Subscribe to our solo stream channel - https://www.youtube.com/@minnmaxstreamarchives

Buy MinnMax merch here - https://minnmax.com/merch

Follow us on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/minnmax.com

Go behind the scenes on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/minnmaxshow

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.