Send us a text

A cozy fishing sim, a classic turned modern, and a debate that might change how you buy games this year. We kick off with Cast and Chill on Switch—the prettiest pixel art water you’ll see—then jump straight into Final Fantasy I Pixel Remaster, where party roles, fast saves, and auto-battle make retro feel fresh. From there, the stakes rise: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 quietly teaches while you play, Expedition 33 hits like a movie with an intro that lingers, and Blue Reflection 2 shows why mid-tier JRPGs can charm and frustrate in equal measure.

The big question threads it all together: what’s the real value of a game in 2026? We challenge the $70 price tag, unpack why fall release windows don’t own the calendar anymore, and dig into the GTA effect—how a single date can warp everyone else’s plans. Along the way, we compare 100-hour epics to a cadence of tight, 15–40 hour experiences. Think Miles Morales, Lost Legacy, and compact RPGs that respect your time without skimping on heart. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth gets a spotlight for opening up its world with smart towers, clean crafting loops, and some of the most satisfying combat on PS5.

Then we turn the spotlight to indies poised to steal the year. Mio: Memories in Orbit brings Metroidvania mystery with watercolor vibes. Romeo Is A Dead Man swings for stylish hack-and-slash swagger. Mouse PI: For Hire blends steamboat-era noir with punchy FPS action. Screamer gives racers an anime story and neon-drenched drift. And Slay the Spire 2 looms like the roguelike deckbuilder to beat. Whether you chase platinum trophies or lunch-break wins, this lineup delivers identity, pacing, and honest value.

Stick around for community shoutouts, new Discord faces, and what we’re playing next, including Final Fantasy Rebirth progress, Sleeping Dogs in the Gen 7 playthrough, and a few hidden gems on deck. If you enjoyed the conversation, download the back catalog, leave a five-star review, and share this episode with a friend who still thinks value only comes in 100-hour packages. Your turn: short bangers or big epics—what are you playing?

Support the show

Join our fantastic discord

https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG

If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com

or DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.

Cheers gamers!

Subscription Tiers

$3

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

$5

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

A single item of yearly limited art merch

$8

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

A single item of yearly limited art merch

Yearly art merch mug

$10

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

A single item of yearly limited art merch

Yearly art merch mug

Yearly art merch t-shirt

Thanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

Send us a text

The suits were sharp, the jokes were chaotic, and the wings were hot—perfect conditions for the Ponsies, our annual Game of the Year awards engineered by Seb’s “committee” of number-crunchers. We opened the books on four very different gaming diets and found a story that spanned cozy farms, roguelike obsessions, comeback ports, and a JRPG that might define a generation.

Our Switch 2 streak is undeniable, but the data went deeper: indie love runs strong, platform diversity got its due, and yes, we called out retro comfort when it smothered discovery. After tiebreak fireworks, the top ten settled into a shape that actually makes sense: Persona 4 at #10 for its lasting impact, Mafia: The Old Country at #9, and a surprisingly excellent Cyberpunk 2077 port at #8 that finally lets you enjoy the dream without patches. Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar brought a fresh market-day loop at #7, while Witcher 3’s “Switcher 3” mystique refused to die at #6.

Then the momentum hit hard. Pokemon ZA fought its way to #5—underrated, heartfelt, and worth your time. No Man’s Sky reclaimed #4 on the strength of its transformative Corvette update, a masterclass in live-game redemption. Expedition 33 soared to #3 with world-class design and a new bar for JRPGs. Ball XP broke the internet in our little universe at #2—breakout-meets-roguelike with pinball-flavored mid-run strategy and “one more run” magic across platforms. And the Ponsie for Game of the Year? Hades 2. Leaner file size, deeper systems, immaculate performance, and that irresistible loop that defines why we play.

We locked in new rules to keep the Ponsies sharp—no repeat nominations without real evolution and a five-year eligibility window—while spinning forward to 2026: GTA 6 if it lands, Fable as a sleeper, Wolverine as a prestige swing. Looking for a to-play list you’ll actually finish? Start with Ball XP, give Pokemon ZA a fair shake, make time for Expedition 33, and clear a week for Hades 2.

If this ride made you laugh, argue, or add a game to your queue, tap follow, share with a friend, and drop your own top three. Which pick would you move up?

Support the show

Join our fantastic discord

https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG

If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com

or DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.

Cheers gamers!

Subscription Tiers

$3

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

$5

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

A single item of yearly limited art merch

$8

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

A single item of yearly limited art merch

Yearly art merch mug

$10

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

A single item of yearly limited art merch

Yearly art merch mug

Yearly art merch t-shirt

Thanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.

Send us a text

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth grabbed us by the scruff and reminded us how an open world can feel alive without drowning you in chores. We dig into why the new exploration loop works—think the curiosity of Breath of the Wild, the gathering rhythm of Horizon, and a dash of Xenoblade’s scale—then point to the quiet magic of Kalm, a bustling town that feels worth lingering in. Streamlined materia and upgrades reduce menu tax, while crafting makes scavenging meaningful. It’s modern without losing that FF7 heart.

From there, we zoom into small-but-mighty experiences. Cast and Chill is cozy pixel fishing at its best, with a controversial idle mode that prints progress while you’re away. Is it a smart quality-of-life choice or a shortcut that dulls the grind? We weigh both sides. Then it’s retro time: Evercade’s Taito Collection 2 brings back Rastan and friends, proving how licensed, curated collections can preserve feel and friction with save-state respect.

We also get brutally honest about a hyped handheld clone. The screen’s great and Game Boy shines, but performance above SNES gets patchy, audio artifacts crop up, and marketing outpaces reality. If you want Pokémon nostalgia on the go, it’s serviceable; serious retro fans should aim for better hardware or curated platforms.

News highlights deliver whiplash: Sony quietly axing thousands of low-effort shovelware titles (a win for curation and a wake-up call for trophy culture), Yakuza Kiwami 3 remastered with a playable Game Gear lineup that celebrates Sega’s heritage, and widespread GameStop/EB Games closures that make physical browsing even rarer. We talk discoverability, why shelves still matter, and how indie gems get lost in algorithmic noise.

Stick around for what we’re playing next—more Rebirth, Evercade experiments, and a return to Metroid Prime Remastered’s atmospheric corridors. If you enjoy smart takes on game design, storefront ethics, and the joy of finding a world you can’t stop thinking about, hit follow, share with a friend, and drop a review. Your support helps us keep the good stuff coming.

Support the show

Join our fantastic discord

https://discord.gg/v7RFSUcG

If link has expired then message us at questions@unofficialcontrollerpodcast.com

or DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.

Cheers gamers!

Subscription Tiers

$3

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

$5

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

A single item of yearly limited art merch

$8

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

A single item of yearly limited art merch

Yearly art merch mug

$10

Name read out on every show

Access to unglorious chat section of discord

Quarterly Zoom meet up

A single item of yearly limited art merch

Yearly art merch mug

Yearly art merch t-shirt

Thanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.