It's that time again, and what a great gaming year it's been. What standouts have made the cut on Matty and Sandy's respective Top 5 lists, and which honorable mentions just didn't make it? Here's the best gaming experiences we fell in love with in 2025, which might influence what we see in the years to come.

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-- SHOW NOTES --

00:00:00​ - Excel sorcery
00:06:17 - Matty's honourable mentions
00:12:38​ - Sandy's honourable mention
00:13:35​ - Sandy's #5
00:19:33​ - Matty's #5
00:23:15​ - Matty's #4 (Sandy's #3)
00:33:03​ - Matty's #2 (Sandy's #4)
00:41:15​ - Sandy's #1 (Matty's #3)
00:51:18​ - Matty's #1 (Sandy's #2)
01:07:55​ - THANK YOU!!! ????????

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It's that time of year again where Geoff Keighley emerges to dazzle and wow us with game trailers and celebrity appearances at his extravagant end-of-year show. Oh, and game awards, given that this is The Game Awards after all. Which games are walking away with all the Keighleys in hand, and which are going to cruelly miss out? Here's all our predictions for this week's show.

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-- SHOW NOTES --

00:00:00​ - Jackhammers and tarring
00:04:50 - It's The Game Awards season!
00:10:36​ - Our predictions on winners...
01:07:10​ - What will be Game of the Year?
01:17:38​ - Are we seeing Bloodborne 2 and Half-Life 3?

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This week on Checkpoint Chat, we checked out the long-awaited return of Ryu in Ninja Gaiden 4 while avoiding the mess he's made on the walls, on the ceiling, and pretty much anywhere else you can think of. The Outer Worlds 2 is also out and reminding us that Fallout New Vegas was pretty damn good, and so is this latest Obsidian role-playing game set in capitalist space hell.

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Want to listen to more gaming goodness, on other platforms? Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, and more right here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkpointchat

-- SHOW NOTES --

00:00:00​ - Does tea count as water and rare Monster flavours
00:14:06 - An actual story about eyedrops
00:21:51​ - Ninja Gaiden 4 surprised us (in a good way)
00:41:06 - The Outer Worlds 2 is also great (thus far)
00:59:04 - Halo 2 came out a long time ago

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We're back and the game releases have not stopped. This week on Checkpoint Chat we finally get around to checking out Ghost of Yotei and its compelling, yet familiar revenge tale. Matty has finally started losing hours to runs in Hades II after Hollow Knight: Silksong released him from its grasp, while Sandy has been enjoying a different kind of kart racer with Sonic Racing Crossworlds.

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Want to listen to more gaming goodness, on other platforms? Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, and more right here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkpointchat

-- SHOW NOTES --
00:00:00​ - Are monitor light bars any good?
00:14:36 - Ghost of Yōtei is more of the same thus far (but that's fine)
00:30:26​ - Matty is ready to be consumed by Hades II
00:48:13 - 56.5 hours later, we got 100% on Hollow Knight: Silksong
00:58:20 - Battlefield 6 is the best the franchise has been in years
01:07:06 - Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is a good alternate
01:16:22 - Are we upgrading anytime soon?

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This week on Checkpoint Chat, we're still deep in the inset-filled catacombs while making our way through Team Cherry's Silksong, taking the fight to time itself in Hades 2, and enjoying the good "shooties" that Borderlands 4 is offering with some of the series' best action.

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Want to listen to more gaming goodness, on other platforms? Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, and more right here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkpointchat

-- SHOW NOTES --
00:00:00​ - Matty meant Barry White, not Barry Manilow
00:15:35 - Xbox Game Pass is up in price and down in sentiment
00:22:13​ - 30 hours in and Hollow Knight: Silksong is fantastic
00:39:04 - Hades II is one of the best games you'll play this year
01:00:03 - Borderlands 4's shooties are real good!
01:13:13 - It's time to say goodbye (until next time)

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This week on Checkpoint Chat it's finally happened; we've played Silksong and it's living up to all the lofty expectations its long development cycle promised. Speaking of expectations, Borderlands 4 is here and attempting to steer the franchise's ship straight again, Prince of Persia gets another great game that is hopefully not going to be overlooked, and Gears of War is... on PlayStation?

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Want to listen to more gaming goodness, on other platforms?
Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, and more right here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkpointchat

-- SHOW NOTES --
00:00:00​ - Where exactly does Harry Potter live?
00:12:50 - Borderlands 4 feels great thus far
00:23:30​ - Hollow Knight: Silksong is real (and it's real good)
01:00:08 - The Rogue Prince of Persia is fantastic
01:08:58 - Gears of War Reloaded is old, but good0
1:30:45 - Landing the plane (late)

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This week on Checkpoint Chat, couriering packings has never been better as Death Stranding 2 continues to delight on many fronts. Mafia The Old Country returns the series to its linear roots, for better or worse, while Battlefield 6 feels familiar and modern in all the right ways. Finally, we check in on Metavoidal, a new metroidvania where you play as a drummer trying to escape and evil metal band!

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Want to listen to more gaming goodness, on other platforms? Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, and more right here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkpointchat

-- SHOW NOTES --

00:00:00​ - Internet has come a long way
00:10:10 - Death Stranding 2 is so strange (but we love it)
00:36:01​ - It's early days for us in Mafia: The Old Country
00:45:03 - the Battlefield 6 beta has us hooked
01:05:54 - We played a local game called Metavoidal!
01:14:57 - Goodbye shenanigans

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This week on Checkpoint Chat, Matty is loading up cargo both physically and virtually as he concludes his thoughts on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Then there's monkey business on the horizon with the latest Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, Donkey Kong Bananza, before we answer... a listener question?

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-- SHOW NOTES --
00:00:00​ - Moving vans, bed sizes, and cuddling
00:16:44​ - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a GOTY contender for sure
00:41:30 - Donkey Kong Bananza is packed with Nintendo goodness
01:05:07 - Speaking of Nintendo... Silksong?
01:08:56 - A QUESTION!

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On the latest episode of Checkpoint Chat, we've had out Nintendo Switch 2 consoles for over a month now and have a lot to say about its design, some pitfalls, and the value of Mario Kart World. Then it's off to Australia and its tar spider-infested forests in Death Stranding 2, all the feels we felt at the end of Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, and the enduring pull of Elden Ring Nightrein.

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Want to listen to more gaming goodness, on other platforms? Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, and more right here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkpointchat

-- SHOW NOTES --

00:00:00​ - Why is networking so complicated???
00:11:45​ - So, is the Nintendo Switch 2 worth getting right now?
00:45:03 - Death Stranding 2 is all about the vibes
01:11:36 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 remains a GOTY frontrunner
01:20:43 - Elden Ring Nightreign is real good

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It's a big week this week on Checkpoint Chat, with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, a brand new Mario Kart, and the new satisfying clicks of a Joy-Con. There's also loads of other games to talk about, like Elden Ring Nightreign, Blue Prince, and a bunch of upcoming titles such as Resident Evil Requiem from Summer Game Fest.

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Want to listen to more gaming goodness, on other platforms? Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, and more right here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkpointchat

-- SHOW NOTES --
00:00:00​ - Resident Evil Games Fest
00:24:15​ - What are we seeing at the Xbox showcase
00:32:53 - We have the Nintendo Switch 2!
01:02:35 - Blue Prince is unbelievably good
01:17:18 - Elden Ring Nightreign is forcing us to GET GUD

#gamingpodcast #gamingchannels #gamingreview