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Game of the hour: Metroid Dread Other topics discussed: Guardians of The Galaxy, Junji Ito, Saga

Game of the hour: Quake Other games discussed: Deathloop, Eastward, Tony Hawk Pro Skater

Game of the hour: Umurangi Generation Topics discussed: Moving on up(state), three years of catch-up, Hollow Knight, Odin's Sphere, Mass Effect

Game of the hour: God of War Topics discussed: Open world problems, Fatherhood & power fantasy, False redemption

Game of the hour: Monster Hunter: World Topics discussed: Monster Hunter's endless loop of fun, Japanese Colonialism, What makes an RPG?

Game of the hour: Super Mario Odyssey Topics discussed: Odyssey’s interchangeable buildings blocks of level design. Tourism and cultural appropriation.

We talk about: What does the term “Immersive Sim” really mean? Also: about how Billy Lurk’s outsider status alters her perspective and the way she interacts with a similar setting.

Tavit and Yussef recap the past 20 episodes of the podcast and reminisce over how we’ve changed, how we’ve stayed the same, and what we’ve learned along the way.

Gliding powerfully out of the night, Batman alights on a rooftop and whips out his high-powered night vision binoculars with GPS targeting and a tiny unfoldable bayonet. Arriving a few minutes later, Supergirl walks up and asks him what he's doing. "Scanning for Superman, of course." "In that woman's bedroom?" She gestures at the subject of Batman's gaze, 6 stories up in the high-rise across the street. "He could be anywhere," the Bat tersely responds. Supergirl flies away, shaking her head and muttering, "what a weirdo."

Link slides the last metallic block into its proper niche and the puzzle's giant mechanisms reassemble in satisfying staccato. He runs up to the monk's platform and waits to receive another orb. The shrine's papery deity stirs and begins slowly to intone: "Your resourcefulness in overcoming this trial speaks to the promise of a hero... but, Link, it's kind of cheesy that you used bombs and kinesis to solve yet another puzzle and you're making us all look bad. The other monks have been talking. You're a good kid, Link - just, no haxx plz?" Special Guest: Michelle Ehrhardt (@ChelleEhrhardt) Freelance writer for KillScreen, Bullet Points Monthly, Paste and more. Special Note: Bird chirps audible during the recording were totally a purposeful decision to help establish mood.

Kiryu drops the splintered chair he's been holding in his white-knuckled grip. Around him dozens of badly-beaten yakuza groan in pain. Turning, he sees a group of adorable small children approaching. “Kiryu-San” they cry in unison, “Why did you beat up our papa(s)? Our families will surely starve tonight!" Kiryu's expression softens. He proceeds to spend the next two in-game weeks winning them toys in the claw game."

Agent 47 and Lincoln Clay are walking around downtown while passing a joint back and forth. Their inebriation has led them to become somewhat lost. Up ahead a police officer twirls a baton on the street corner. Agent 47 turns to Clay and says “I’m gonna ask him for directions.” Clay, aghast, whispers “No! 47, No!” But 47 is resolute and walks up behind the cop, garroting him swiftly, and slipping into his uniform. He pulls the slide back on his handgun, turns to Lincoln and says: “I didn’t know I couldn’t do that.” (all thanks due to the great Dave Chappelle for this reference)

Lincoln leaves his chrome-wrapped car idling - "Black Ghost Blues" crooning out its speakers - and kicks down the doors of the mafia-controlled warehouse. He mows through nameless goons until finally he reaches the head goon. Laying his gun down, the goon says "don't you think you're being a little divisive right now? Doesn't our nation need time to heal? Have you ever looked at the statistics on black on black crime?" Special Guest: Shawn Alexander Allen @aNuChallenger co-creator of “Treachery in Beatdown City”

Join us as we discuss the most interesting and memorable games of 2016. It was a pretty shitty year, but we’ve found a shred of solace in the digital media with which we tend to pass our free time. Whether it’s through telling good stories or fostering supportive communities, games remain important even as larger issues threaten to overwhelm us. We cap off the podcast with our hopes and dreams for gaming in 2017, bringing up VR, games criticism, Nintendo’s prospects and diversity in the games space. Games discussed: Dishonored 2, Hitman, Overcooked, Uncharted 4, Titanfall 2, Doom, Dark Souls 3, The Witness, Shin Megami Tensei, Inside

You blast out of hyperspace just in time to begin your descent through the looming planet's atmosphere. In the periphery your hull glows red, then begins to cool. The landing jets of your ship flare up as you dust down on the lush and colorful surface. You pop open the cockpit hatch and set out to explore a new and exciting world, when behind you, you hear a floppy wet squeak. You whip around, and upon seeing the poor misbegotten creature, fall to you knees in despair. "No, not squishy butt planet again!" Other games discussed: Persona 4 Golden, Severed, Her Story, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

You raise your head from fitful sleep - you’ve been dozing at your desk again. On the computer is a half completed Reddit post: “TIL the kid from Inside is actually a simulation run by an employee of the Abstergo Corporation from Assassin’s Creed.” Other games discussed: Overwatch, Volume, Hyper Light Drifter, Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, Doom

Nathan slides recklessly down the muddy embankment firing RPGs at hordes of nameless Euro-military types. "Hey I just met you," he bellows at Elena over the explosive rattle of gun fire. "This is crazy!" Elena responds as she backflips onto a jet ski while filming the whole scene through her camcorder. "Well, here's my number." Nate tosses a live grenade with his digits sprayed on at a group of baddies running off with the treasure. "Call it a perfect 10 maybe": Every game publication on Earth. Guest this week: Joe Russ - Creator of the upcoming adventure game Jenny LeClue Other games discussed: Inside

You find yourself down to your very last sliver of health. The enemy looms before you, readying itself to deliver the final blow. As you grimace and prepare to meet your doom, the monster drops its weapon and whips out a mirror instead. "Look within to find the most *dangerous* monster in this world," it croons. You frantically navigate over to and initiate the menu option: "Self-awareness" - It is super effective.

Serenely, you meander through the bright, effervescent world of The Witness. The sky is a brilliant shade of blue dotted with the occasional brush stroked cloud. The problems and struggles of the real world fade away as you solve cereal box puzzles in quick succession until… “wtf? Why isn’t this one working? What did I do wrong? Do I need to rethink this whole segment? I tried it 50 different times and it still doesn’t work! ARRGHHH…” Other games discussed: The Division, Puzzles and Monsters, Firewatch, The Talos Principle

Enemy fire peppers the hull from all directions. “our love shields are down to 33%, Captain!” shouts the first mate from below decks. I jump on the rudder and swing wildly to starboard. All of a sudden fisticuffs cloud my vision and the first ma- “wait, who made you the captain?” “Well I’m better at steering” “Arguably guns are more important” We explode into a thousand starbursts of cosmic love tinged with the sourness of a married couple’s bickering. Other games discussed: Fallout 4, Bloodborne, Splatoon