Janet and Isaiah try to figure out what does it mean to be an exceptional game, what does it mean to innovate in a game, and ultimately try to decide if innovation is a requirement for making an exceptionally good game (GAMES). Then they talk about their media consumption, how many things they try to consume at once, and what media are they consuming and when (NOT GAMES).

Poll of the Show:
https://gamesandnotgames.com/poll

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:18 Catching Up
• 03:44 Games / Do exceptional games require innovation?
• 01:11:34 Not Games / Juggling media consumption
• 02:10:31 Poll of the Show
• 02:19:22 Outro

Send your questions and topics to the email address Inbox@GamesAndNotGames.com
For more Games And Not Games:

• YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
• Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
• BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames.com
• TikTok, Instagram, Threads: @GamesAndNotGames
• Backloggd: GamesAndNotGames

Follow the hosts:

• Janet: @gameonysus.bsky.social
• Isaiah: @isaiahsmith.dev

Janet and Isaiah create a new Backloggd account for Games And Not Games. In doing so they must come together and work out just what their shared Top 5 Favorite Games are (GAMES). Then they get into their financial life after being married and talk about what’s new, what’s been added, what’s just a little bit different, and what even is a credit union (NOT GAMES).

Follow us on Backloggd!

Poll of the Show:
https://gamesandnotgames.com/poll

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:18 Catching Up
• 02:55 Games / GANG Top 5 Favorite Games
• 01:06:12 Not Games / Finances After Marriage
• 01:40:58 Poll of the Show
• 02:05:12 Outro

Send your questions and topics to the email address Inbox@GamesAndNotGames.com
For more Games And Not Games:

• YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
• Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
• BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames.com
• TikTok, Instagram, Threads: @GamesAndNotGames
• Backloggd: GamesAndNotGames

Follow the hosts:

• Janet: @gameonysus.bsky.social
• Isaiah: @isaiahsmith.dev

Janet and Isaiah talk about their history and goals with retro gaming. Having just went to a few stores in LA, they go over what they’re currently looking got, when they pull the trigger on a retro game, and when do they reach for… other means… to get their classic games (GAMES). Then they bring back a recent format and talk about their “lock-ins” and “leave-its” for the new year, helping each other decide what to bring forward into 2026 and what to ultimately drop (NOT GAMES).

Poll of the Show:
https://gamesandnotgames.com/poll

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:18 Catching Up
• 02:03 Games / Retro Gaming
• 58:35 Not Games / 2026 Lock-Ins & Leave-Its
• 02:01:38 Poll of the Show
• 02:06:28 Outro

Send your questions and topics to the email address Inbox@GamesAndNotGames.com
For more Games And Not Games:

• YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
• Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
• BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames.com
• TikTok, Instagram, Threads: @GamesAndNotGames
• Twitter/X: @GamesAndNot

Follow the hosts:

• Janet: @gameonysus.bsky.social
• Isaiah: @isaiahsmith.dev

Janet and Isaiah talk about what they’ve been playing during the holiday break and also go over what 2026 games they’re most excited to play (GAMES). Then they talk about going snowboarding together, what it was like, their experience with the sport, and if they’ll go again. Finally they talk about Janet finally going to The COSM to see The Matrix in “Shared Reality”, their thoughts on the experience, how does The COSM stack up against other movie-going experiences, and if they think its worth the money and hype (NOT GAMES).

Poll of the Show:
https://gamesandnotgames.com/poll

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:18 Catching Up
• 11:36 Games / What we’ve been playing
• 32:56 Games we’re looking forward to
• 01:05:27 Not Games / Snowboarding Over New Years
• 01:28:18 The Matrix @ The COSM
• 01:46:56 Poll of the Show
• 01:47:27 Outro

Send your questions and topics to the email address Inbox@GamesAndNotGames.com
For more Games And Not Games:

• YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
• Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
• BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames.com
• TikTok, Instagram, Threads: @GamesAndNotGames
• Twitter/X: @GamesAndNot

Follow the hosts:

• Janet: @gameonysus.bsky.social
• Isaiah: @isaiahsmith.dev

Janet and Isaiah go over the second annual GANG of the Year awards. For each of the 7 "Games and not games" categories, Janet and Isaiah talk about their top choices, discuss what wins each category, and ultimately pit the 7 winners against each other to decide what walks away with the honor of being 2025's GANG of the Year!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:18 Opening Ceremonies
• 02:06 Video Game of the Year
• 01:07:53 Board Game of the Year
• 01:26:40 Movie of the Year
• 01:58:41 Show of the Year
• 02:20:19 Album of the Year
• 02:54:58 Experience of the Year
• 03:19:14 Food of the Year
• 03:36:25 GANG of the Year
• 03:46:15 Poll of the Show
• 03:58:28 Outro

Winner Links:
Video Game of the Year
Board Game of the Year
Movie of the Year
Show of the Year
Album of the Year
Experience of the Year
Food of the Year

Send your questions and topics to the email address Inbox@GamesAndNotGames.com
For more Games And Not Games:

• YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
• Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
• Twitter/X: @GamesAndNot
• TikTok, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames

Follow the hosts:

• Janet: @Gameonysus
• Isaiah: @IsaiahByDayah

Janet and Isaiah go over the results of The Game Awards 2025, share some of their favorite announcements and highlights, and tally up their prediction scores along with the GANG community to see how everyone did. Then they look forward into 2026 and share their Gaming Resolutions for next year (GAMES). Then they talk about what’s on their Todo lists before the end of the year, help each other decide what to lock-in on and what to let go of (NOT GAMES).

Poll of the Show:
https://gamesandnotgames.com/poll

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:18 Catching Up
• 03:16 Games / TGA Results
• 09:36 TGA Announcements & Highlights
• 46:09 TGA Community Poll Results
• 49:23 2026 Gaming Resolutions
• 01:13:45 Not Games / End-of-Year Todo Lists
• 02:03:01 Poll of the Show
• 02:10:36 Outro

Send your questions and topics to the email address Inbox@GamesAndNotGames.com
For more Games And Not Games:

• YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
• Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
• BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames.com
• TikTok, Instagram, Threads: @GamesAndNotGames
• Twitter/X: @GamesAndNot

Follow the hosts:

• Janet: @gameonysus.bsky.social
• Isaiah: @isaiahsmith.dev

Janet and Isaiah go down the list of categories for The Game Awards 2025 and share their personal picks and predictions for who the winners will be (GAMES). Then they dive into what it’s been like getting back into reading, their reading habits, and what books they’ve been enjoying since picking the hobby back up (NOT GAMES).

Poll of the Show:
https://gamesandnotgames.com/poll

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:18 Catching Up
• 09:10 Games / The Game Awards 2025 Picks and Predictions
• 10:24 Most Anticipated Game
• 12:57 Games for Impact
• 19:00 Debut Indie Game
• 21:16 Best Sports/Racing Game
• 26:09 Best RPG
• 28:44 Best Independent Game
• 33:23 Best Family Game
• 37:08 Best Action/Adventure Game
• 40:42 Best Action Game
• 44:45 Best Score & Music
• 48:14 Best Performance
• 51:10 Best Narrative
• 01:00:12 Best Multiplayer
• 01:08:16 Best Game Direction
• 01:11:09 Best Audio Design
• 01:13:38 Best Art Direction
• 01:19:31 Game of the Year
• 01:26:46 Not Games / Getting (back) into reading
• 02:02:36 Poll of the Show
• 02:06:24 Outro

Send your questions and topics to the email address Inbox@GamesAndNotGames.com
For more Games And Not Games:

• YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
• Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
• BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames.com
• TikTok, Instagram, Threads: @GamesAndNotGames
• Twitter/X: @GamesAndNot

Follow the hosts:

• Janet: @gameonysus.bsky.social
• Isaiah: @isaiahsmith.dev

Janet and Isaiah go over some games on the horizon that have them a little scared for one reason or another. Whether they think the game might be mad, a little disappointing, or just too massive, they walk through some of their fears and hopes for the titles (GAMES). Then, in the spirit of resurrecting the dead, Janet and Isaiah talk about some hobbies they’ve brought back out, what made them pick these hobbies up again, how progress with things are going, and what they still hope to achieve now that the hobby is back (NOT GAMES).

Poll of the Show:
https://gamesandnotgames.com/poll

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:18 Catching Up
• 02:59 Games / Upcoming games we’re scared of
• 42:36 Not Games / Resurrecting neglected hobbies
• 01:15:33 Poll of the Show
• 01:20:55 Outro

Send your questions and topics to the email address Inbox@GamesAndNotGames.com
For more Games And Not Games:

• YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
• Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
• BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames.com
• TikTok, Instagram, Threads: @GamesAndNotGames
• Twitter/X: @GamesAndNot

Follow the hosts:

• Janet: @gameonysus.bsky.social
• Isaiah: @isaiahsmith.dev