The Besties bid farewell to 2019 with the highs and lows of some of the biggest trends of the year.

Time to decide the best video game of 2019. We've tabulated our votes, and we're even including a surprise bracket, as voted on by the fans. Here we go, folks. It's all led to this.

Who better to pick the world's best games than the world's best friends? The Besties kick off the 2019 Game of the Year special with an intense melee of the greatest video games to walk the Earth in the last 12 months.

Got a submission? Send it to mail@besties.fan

Who likes walking? Justin likes walking! Hideo Kojima's long-awaited walking epic captures Justin's heart, but will the other Besties be as charmed? Also: What other games would be well-served by entering the "Strand" genre?

Griffin loves his adorable little pocket monsters and tries his very best to convince the boys that they are truly creatures of god. This is generally ineffectual. Also: Pokémon that get far, far worse the more they evolve.

The Besties are back! This week they're discussing Respawn's Star Wars game, Jedi: Fallen Order, and diving into the weird world of deep cut Star Wars lore, from Yaddle to jizz (literally the official term for the genre of music in the cantina scene) .

Wondering what the best games of 2018 were? Join Justin McElroy, Griffin McElory, Chris Plante and Russ Frushtick as they venture forth and discuss the cream of the crop. Will it be the last Besties episode ever? Yes! Maybe! I don't know! We just hope you enjoy it.

Hello Besties fans! First off, we love all of you! Secondly, we wanted to let you know that we'll be shifting back to just having The Besties as an end-of-year special. You can hear all about it in the episode, but this was the solution we were able to make work with everyone's schedules. While we know you'll miss hearing from us each month, know that we'll do our absolute best to make the end-of-year episode a true banger. But before that, please enjoy this episode where we discuss the very best games of April 2018.

There were a ton of games trying to beat the Q1 deadline, but as The Besties soon learned, some of those titles may have needed a little more time in the oven. Or maybe they were beyond hope? Who’s to say? Not us, we have no idea. Listen, we don’t know what we’re talking about, OK? We thought you knew.Games Discussed: Deep Town, Alto’s Odyssey, Vermintide 2, FarCry 5, Ni No Kuni 2, Sea of Thieves, Fortnite

February is the month of love and we’ve got a crop of games that ... well, we like them. Maybe not like like them, but we regular like them a great deal.Games discussed: Lemon drinks, Almost a Hero, Monster Hunter World, Slay the Spire, Bayonetta 2, Membrane, The Fall Part 2: Unbound, Xbox One X Backwards Compatibility, Into the Breach, Owlboy.

Games discussed: Iconoclasts, SOS, Sea of Thieves, Celeste, Subnautica, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Colossus.

In defiance of reason, good taste and the laws of both god and man, your pals The Besties sat down and recorded a two-hour-and-forty-five-minute battle royale to decide the best game of 2017. Get comfy, get hydrated.

Since they waited so ding dang long to record their November and because December is a crummy month for releases, The Besties have combined both months into one big (OK, so it’s regular-length) episode. Enjoy!Games discussed: Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild DLC, Solitairica, Call of Duty: WW2, Star Wars: Battlefront 2, Hearthstone: Kobolds and Catacombs, Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, Universal Paperclips, Destiny 2: Curse of Osiris, Battle Chef Brigade, Endless Space 2.

There may be be a bigger month for video game releases in recent memory, but we sure can’t think of one. Join us for a whirlwind tour of October 2017, capped off by an only slightly predictable finale.Games discussed: Assassin’s Creed Origins, Animal Crossing Pocket Camp, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, The Evil Within 2, Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, Super Mario Odyssey.

September was one of the most jam-packed months of 2017 until ... well, next month. But worry not, dear listener. The Besties are here to filter out all the disgusting chaff and leave you with a heaping plate of gaming wheat. Delicious, delicious wheat.Games discussed: SteamWorld Dig 2, Danganronpa 3, Heat Signature, Divinity: Original Sin 2, SNES Classic, Metroid: Samus Returns, Cuphead, Golf Story, Destiny 2.

We know, we know, it’s late, and it’s really, really hard not to just talk about Destiny 2, but you know what? We don’t. Because we’re true professionals with a vague recollection of games that came out before Destiny 2.Games discussed: Everybody’s Golf, Absolver, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Nidhogg 2, Agents of Mayhem, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Sonic Mania, Tacoma, Lone Echo.

It’s a hot one After a slow June, things have picked back up considerably for July. We’ve got a ton of great games to talk about and, most excitingly, one of Russ’ classic characters makes an extremely unexpected return. Games discussed: Destiny 2 Beta, Hidden My Game By Mom, Flipping Legend, Vostok Inc., Mass Effect Andromeda, Miitopia, The End is Nigh, Splatoon 2, Pyre. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3 Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

It’s gotten a little slow, but we’re still here OK, things have slowed down for game releases in June. How slow? Well, one of our games was released in May. But, we’re still here picking the best games of the month, just for you. Games discussed: Final Fantasy 14, Nier: Automata, Wolfenstein: The New Blood, Caveblazers, Cave Story +, Arms, The Surge. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3" Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

April showers bring good games We’re back with another surprisingly great month of games. This May brings us a few out-of-nowhere surprises and a couple of big releases. A happy May to us all! Games discussed: Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, Card Thief, Nier Automata, The Surge, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Injustice 2, Dead Cells, Prey. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3" Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

It’s only APRIL? Remember when good games only came out after Madden? That’s out the window. It’s been a stunner of a year already for game releases, and the streak continues in April with everything from JRPG/dating games to idle games. Join the Besties as they pick the month’s best. Games discussed: Puyo Puyo Tetris, Office Space: Idle Profits, Flinthook, Kubb, Nier: Automata, The Sexy Brutale, Persona 5, What Remains of Edith Finch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3" Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

You probably guessed it already Just because you almost certainly know what game we picked as the best of March 2017, doesn’t mean you can’t listen and enjoy hearing about all the games that aren’t the best game of March 2017. It’s about the journey, folks. Not the destination. GAMES DISCUSSED: Mass Effect Andromeda, 1-2 Switch, Robo Recall, Nier Automata, Typeshift, Everything, Snipperclips, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3" Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

At least the games have been good in 2017! Though we still don’t have a great explanation as to why, the first ever Polygon podcast has returned on a monthly basis. Join The Besties (Russ Frushtick, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy and Chris Plante) as they nonsensically attempt to pick the “best” game released in January 2017. GAMES DISCUSSED: Dandy Dungeon, Chess (again), Fire Emblem Heroes, For Honor, Nioh, Horizon: Zero Dawn Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3" Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

Yes, they’re back. OK? Though we still don’t have a great explanation as to why, the first ever Polygon podcast has returned on a monthly basis. Join The Besties (Russ Frushtick, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy and Chris Plante) as they nonsensically attempt to pick the “best” game released in January 2017. GAMES DISCUSSED: Dragon Quest Builders, Chess, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone, Final Fantasy XV, Gravity Rush 2, Resident Evil 7, Yakuza 0 and Astroneer. Also, the Nintendo Switch. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3 Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

Yes, it's true, we've returned for yet another round of nobody's favorite video game podcast, The Besties. Join your hosts Justin McElroy, Chris Plante, Russ Frushtick and Griffin McElroy as they pick the year's best game with a methodology that ranges from "non-sensical" to "utterly, destructively haphazard." Please enjoy this year's edition before The Besties are once again enveloped by fog and trapped in oblivion for 12 calendar months.0:07 -- Honorable Mentions 0:24 -- Round 1Hyper Light Drifter Overwatch Superhot Battlefield 1 0:53 -- Round 2Pokemon Go Dishonored 2 Watchdogs 2 Stardew Valley 1:53 -- Round 3Forza Horizon 3 DOOM Dark Souls 3 The Witness 2:31 -- Round 4Fire Emblem Fates Quadrilateral Cowboy Inside Titanfall 2 Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3 Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

Last year, we published a post called "The Final Besties Ever." We're sorry that we lied about that, but we're even sorrier for those of you who made it happen by constantly demanding that we do it. We can't imagine what dark hole is embedded in your heart that you require one of the most universally maligned video game podcasts in history in order for your year to be complete, but that's your cross to bear. True story: If Russ Frushtick's audio sounds odd during this episode, it's because he literally talked into the wrong side of his mic for the whole show, I shit you not. This is the podcast you demanded. This. This is on you. If you'd like to subscribe to The Besties, you still can, believe it or not. 7:00 - Honorable Mentions 31:20 - Round One 1:09:50 - Round Two 1:45:20 - Round Three 2:25:25 - Final Decision Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3

This is it. The Besties have been on hiatus — which intimates a brief pause in an otherwise regular schedule, so let's call it a "temporary cancellation" — for a few months now, but we've gathered the crew back together for one last hurrah. We're going to talk about video games for a very, very long time, y'all. In this four-hour series finale, we're pitting 2014's best games against one another in unyielding combat to the death. (This isn't Polygon's official Game of the Year lineup, though — those will be announced soon!) For those that have stuck with us from the beginning, through the exploratory episodes, the Chris Grant-a-Tron period, the video specials and countless horrible, imaginary special guests — thank you. Sorry it got so weird there, in the middle. Now: Let's close this out right. The GamesDragon Age: Inquisition Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Mario Kart 8 Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Transistor P.T. Far Cry 4 Dark Souls 2 Bayonetta 2 Wolfenstein: The New Order Destiny Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Titanfall Sunset Overdrive Shovel Knight Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3"

It's fair to say that July 2014 will not go down as the most active month in video game history. There were so few major releases this July that we decided the best way to cope was to go into the deep, dark past. Each Bestie was asked to select one game from their childhood that they love. The rule, though, was that at least two of the remaining three Besties had to have not played that game, so some of us would be playing them with fresh eyes. It was an enlightening experience. Despite coming up with a whole backup plan for the lack of July games, it actually did end up as a pretty solid month, so we spend the top half of the show on some of the new releases, if that's your bag. (Oh, and Justin couldn't make this episode because babies. Don't worry, he'll be back next month!)5:00 - Some actually good games from July 2014! 31:00 - Actraiser (Frushtick) 43:30 - Quest for Glory (Griffin) 58:00 - Half Time 1:03:00 - News 1:16:00 - River City Ransom (Plante) 1:24:30 - The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery (Justin) 1:43:00 - Resties!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Remember last month when a surprise cloud of quality games rained down upon us, soaking us in the joys of kart racing and nazi shooting? Those warm rains of spring have passed and what remains is the scorched, dry earth of summer. Sure, a couple of nice games appeared, like oases ready to quench our thirst. But after completing Shovel Knight and Valiant Hearts we returned to our slog, counting the days till the fall deluge. How have you been passing the summer drought?5:00 - 1001 Spikes 22:00 - Shovel Knight 36:00 - News of the month, E3 Edition 56:00 - Valiant Hearts 1:14:00 - Pixel Junk Shooter Ultimate 1:18:00 - The Resties!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

What a peculiar May. Typically, I think of spring as a dumping ground, the soft, warm land where publishers unceremoniously bury games that failed to meet internal creative expectations or sales projections. The past few years have changed that, partly because publishers have learned to tie a AAA game's release to the incoming hype of E3, and partly because many games are released each year that every month is all but guaranteed to have one stand out. There were a lot of games this month that deserve to be on a best of list. And we do our darndest to talk about most of them. Let's continue the conversation in the comments, because I'm sure we missed something.5:00 - Watch Dogs41:00 - Transistor56:00 - News of the month 1:18:00 - Wolfenstein1:32:00 - Mario Kart 81:39:00 - The Resties!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The ides of March were nothing compared to this! Yes, April is upon us and it seems many game companies are just holding their collective breath in order to make it all the way to May, which happens to be so packed with video games that we can't even deal. April is another story. Knowing that it was going to be a dry month, we held off on Dark Souls 2 until its far-superior PC version came out. Kinda cheating, but hey, who's counting? And besides, there are still a few legitimately April releases to discuss. Some of which we sorta liked!4:30 - Dark Souls 2 53:00 - Wayward Souls 1:00:30 - News of the month 1:21:00 - Half-time! 1:25:00 - Elder Scrolls Online 1:40:00 - Broforce 1:51:30 - The Resties!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

I hope you enjoyed March. The month full of big game releases may be the last of its kind for the foreseeable future. Looking at the calendar, we won't see four weeks so full of hyped AAA and indie games until fall. That's why we chose to withhold Dark Souls 2 from this month's Besties. We can discuss its release on PC next month. April, after all, looks slim by comparison. Anyway, let's live in the now! This month we have four good games, a bag full of reader favorites and some big news involving a certain Lawnmower Man knockoff.8:30 - Titanfall 25:00 - Mercenary Kings 37:00 - Halftime! 48:00 - Infamous: Second Son 1:14:00 - News of the month 1:24:00 - Luftrausers 1:34:40 - Reader emailsTheme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

February came and went. The shortest month of the year was practically a wasteland in terms of major game releases. The standout AAA game, Thief, left many of us feeling robbed. And Fable's anniversary wasn't quite worth celebrating. Then again, maybe we were just looking for fun in all the wrong places. Bravely Default, The Last of Us' DLC and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze all got lavished with praise by our reviews team. And hey, I'm always happy to shout my love for Earth Defense Force 2025. You know, maybe it wasn't a bad slate of games, so much as it was a strange one. Just look at the four we chose to discuss: a remake in the mode of Metroidvania, an anthropomorphic number puzzler, an asburdist espionage comedy and a third-person shooter spin-off of a family-friendly real-time strategy game.5:30 - Thief 14:30 - Jazzpunk 26:00 - Threes! 36:15 - Halftime! 56:00 - Strider 1:08:00 - News of the month 1:25:45 - Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 1:41:30 - Reader emailsTheme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The Besties are back! At the end of 2013, the fate of the show was unclear. We were unsure what the podcast would look like in 2014. But after hearing positive feedback from many of our listeners, we buckled down and came up with a new format. We really like it; we hope you do, too. This year, we will record one extended episode at the end of each month, discussing the best games of the previous 30 or so days. With the new format, we can ensure all four hosts have had time to play the selected games. We think that change alone will produce better conversations. If all goes well, the show will feel more like our end-of-the-year specials. Also, we'll be reading listener mail. So send your thoughts, feelings, questions and deepest, darkest secrets to besties at polygon dot com! We also want to know your favorite games of February and why they're so special. Thanks again to everyone who asked for more Besties. You are why we do the show.9:20 - Rust 29:00 - Hearthstone 49:00 - Halftime! 55:00 - Loadout 1:05:00 - News of the month 1:23:00 - The Banner SagaTheme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

In the words of 2 Unlimited, "Y'all ready for this?" The Besties return to finish the fight. Eight games emerged from last week's battle royal, but only one has the grit to claim the title of Besty. Will it be Gone Home? Or Towerfall? Or maybe Zelda? What about The Last of Us, people seemed to like that game, right? The tension is killing me and I already know who takes the title! Stay tuned. We'll notify the winner of the bracket contest shortly!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The time has come! Just like last year, The Besties have come together to celebrate the holidays and decide, once and for all, which game will be crowned the very best of 2013. We narrowed it down to 16 games (four of which came direct from the audience) and pit them against one another in ultimate combat. Who will win? Who will lose? Only one way to find out! (By the way, Part 2 will go live next Monday, December 30. Soon after that, we'll notify the winner of the bracket contest.) Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

I can't believe we're about to film another end of the year Besties Besty Special. But I shouldn't let the excitement spoil this week's episode. Live in the present, Plante! Be here now. Okay, so what do we have? Oh, just a number of heartfelt, respectfully designed video games that challenge our conceptions of the medium. You know, that's all.3:30 - Best Gachapon machine of 2013 (Heroes of Dragon Age) 19:10 - Best interlude (The Entertainment, Kentucky Route Zero) 30:30 - Halftime! 35:00 - Best reason to reload (Teleglitch: Die More Edition) 41:00 - Best educational game (The Novelist)Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

We couldn't let you brave the long trip home all alone. Earlier this week, The Besties recorded a special, pre-holiday episode. Thank goodness, because we'd missed a number of great games during launch month madness. There's so much left to hit before the end of the year! How have you kept up with the holiday releases? Or are you just hoarding a backlog for the long winter ahead? Give us some tips!3:30 - Best sequel (The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds) 19:10 - Best/worst camera (Tearaway) 33:30 - Halftime! 38:00 - Best Mario game (Super Mario 3D World) 49:00 - Best collectibles (Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag)Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

We know, it's PS4 launch week, but aren't you burnt out on our coverage already? Seriously, between the packed-to-brim StoryStream and 12-hour live video stream, we wager you've had your fill. That's why, this week, we're talking about decidedly not-next-gen stuff. Okay, some talk of PS4 and Wii U slips in there, but we think you'll find it appropriately non-informative. This is, as you've probably discovered, how we do.4:28 - Best brief tour of Rapture (BioShock Infinite: Burial At Sea: Part One) 21:05 - Best PS4 distraction (Rayman Fiesta Run) 26:48 - Halftime - WobbleGate, The Walking Dead Continuity 33:24 - Best Game of This Year, Next Year (Towerfall on PS4) 41:00 - Best Reason Not to Sleep on Nintendo (New Zelda, New Mario)Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

To send off the current generation of consoles, we decided to do something a little special. There are no winners or losers this week, just our fondest memories from one of gaming's longest console cycles. I had a nice time recording this episode. Like Justin and Griffin, I started covering games professionally during this generation. I can plot my entire career alongside its big releases, studio openings, studio closures, small conferences, big conferences and comic conferences. When the Xbox 360 came out, I was still in college. That's strange to think about. Share a few of your best memories from this generation in the comments. Let's have an old-fashioned reminiscence.4:00 - Watching Nintendo reveal the Wii13:15 - Being an early adopter of Rock Band25:00 - Halftime - Call of Duty: Ghosts37:00 - Finishing Portal 242:00 - Playing through Oblivion with the McElroy clan 1:01:00 - The winner is everyone!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

It's almost here. The calamity of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launch month can be heard in the distance; the vibrations can be felt if you stand still enough. Are you ready? Enjoy these final couple Besties of the current generation. We'll see you on the other side.2:40 - Best controller upgrade (The PS4 controller) 9:30 - Best book of the week (Device 6) 16:00 - Halftime! 20:00 - Best sail (The Wind Waker HD) 25:30 - Best improvement upon Battlefield 3's miserable single-player campaign (Battlefield 4) 34:00 - The winner is everyone!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

I come here to praise Sonic, not to bury him. Wait, that's wrong. I come here to bury him — or at least the happy memories I once had of him. Fortunately, my besties Justin and Griffin have positive things to talk about, like the surprises of The Stanley Parable and oh my gosh Candy Box 2 is out! So yes, while I'm sad to see the mascot of my childhood continue to struggle through my adult years, I can take solace in the cornucopia of other good games being released on a weekly basis.3:20 - Best first level of a not-so-good game (Sonic: Lost World) 15:15 - Best tutorial (How to Survive) 22:20 - Halftime! 26:00 - Best endings (The Stanley Parable) 37:00 - The winner is everyone!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Last week we promised an all Pokémon episode. This week we deliver. The Besties discuss pocket monsters on a level of granularity that ultimately drives Justin to the brink of insanity. Can you handle that? Maybe you're not the sort of person who wants to know about min-maxing Ghastly mating. And maybe weighing the benefits of Grass and Dragon types isn't your cup of tea. Well, to you I say, good riddance and good day! Now that it's just us super fans, let's gather close and tell stories of Squirtle battles long past.3:31 - Best way to force breed Pokémon (day care) 8:14 - Best item (Exp. Share) 17:15 - Halftime! 20:33 - Best way to make a Pokémon feel real (feed it cupcakes) 24:59 - Best mobile multiplayer of the year so far (Player Search System) 37:43 - The Winner Is!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Russ is gone. We know, we'd thought we'd be thrilled about it too, but damned if we don't miss the little guy. But hey, he'll be back next week, right? Until we're doing our best to cheer ourselves up with video games. Play the pain away.4:13 - Best Board Game iPad Adaptation (Pandemic) 14:05 - Best Performance by a Supporting Willem Dafoe (Beyond: Two Souls) 24:08 - Halftime! 30:43 - Best Load Screen (GTA Online) 45:58 - The Winner Is!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The whole gang is back together! Griffin returns from Japan to regale us with amazing stories of vegetables and video games and video games starring vegetables. By the end of the episode, we get to the big topic of the week: SteamOS. Valve has decided to take down video game consoles! Or are they targeting Windows? Or is their plan something else entirely? With the power of our four noggins, we're bound to uncover the truth in this week's episode of The Besties!3:00 - Best example of Buyer's Remorse (Grand Theft Auto 5's Social Club) 10:10 - Best talking mask (Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death) 19:30 - Halftime! 32:30 - Healthiest game (Food Practice Shooter) 40:00 - Best alternative to the absurdly long HDMI cable connecting my PC to my TV (SteamOS) X:XX - The winner is ...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

This week, Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto 5 and the rest of the games industry politely gave it and its hype plenty of space to do their thing. Justin, Frushtick and I (sadly Griffin is busy covering Tokyo Game Show in Japan) talk about the things we love, like, don't understand and find painfully dull in Grand Theft Auto 5. It's a long conversation, and while we tried to talk about specifics, the conversation moves quickly from one topic to the next. That explains why there's no beat sheet below the audio file today. How are you enjoying GTA 5? Or, did you pass? And if so, why? Let's talk in the comments!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Due to technical difficulties only three Besties were able to record this week. Frushtick, Griffin and I try to make magic without the magician, Justin McElroy. Do we succeed? You of course will be the judge. It's been a slow news week, what with the entire games industry trying to distance itself from the media magnet that is Grand Theft Auto 5's upcoming release. So, we stir together a few oddities from the gameosphere into a stew of conversation. Will people remember this episode ever happened a week from now, when citizens have abandoned their earthly duties to roam the virtual world of San Andreas? I sure hope so.5:50 - Best 2D Minecraft (Junk Jack X) 13:00 - Best byproduct of Microsoft's reverse nefariousness (Steam family sharing program) 21:00 - Halftime! 30:30 - Best effort to make people sort of care about Vita (Vita TV) 40:20 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Frushtick is an uncle! Yes, the man of a thousand roles has a new one: the grown-up responsible for introducing a child to video games. Congratulations to Russ and the Frushtick clan. We return after a holiday hiatus to discuss everything from a life-affirming platformer to a bowel-purging horror simulator. We apologize upfront for any and all bathroom humor. How did you spend your final days of summer? What did you eat? I ate southern fried food for five consecutive days and my internal organs are now at war with one another. Whoever wins, I lose!3:23 - Best dose of untarnished joy (the music levels in Rayman Legends) 12:40 - Best virtual colonic (Outlast) 21:24 - Halftime! 26:22 - Best Gauntlet reboot (Hammerwatch) 31:12 - Best tie-in surprise (Splinter Cell: Spider-Bot) 38:15 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

You ask for more Grant. You get more Grant. That's how things work here with The Besties. We give the people what they want. But what's this? Zounds! It appears your wish was made on a cursed monkey's paw. You know not what you've done! You see, in exchange for Grant, Griffin McElroy has been expelled to the land of Germany. Though I must say, the curse could not have happened at a more helpful time, what with Gamescom. Any who, somehow Frushtick, Hoops, Grant and myself all happened to be in the New York office this week, so we decided to record the episode the old-fashioned way: sitting uncomfortably in four wheely chairs, waiting for the others to snap under the pressure of extended eye contact.0:00 - Broadway! 3:10 - The best transition of a video game series from offensive to progressive (Saints Row 4) 16:00 - Best ghost and / or panther simulator (Splinter Cell: Blacklist) 27:30 - Halftime! 34:30 - Best XCOM game of the month (The Bureau: XCOM Declassified) 50:00 - Best free-to-play game ever (Plants vs. Zombies 2) 57:45 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The gang gets back together before being dashed apart once more. This week on The Besties, the whole gang is back together, which is exciting because the next few weeks will be rife with missing members. So enjoy it while you can! We also get a glimpse into what it takes to drive Griffin mad.4:05 - Best MetroidVania Spelunky Minecraft (SteamWorld Dig) 13:45 - Best broken piece of shit that oh my god I love please don't leave me (PayDay 2) 27:50 - Halftime! 33:45 - Best way to feel like a monster (Papers, Please) 41:15 - Best example of a forever runner that doesn't feel cheap (Knightmare Tower) 48:00 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

This week there is no me. Yes, due to a mysterious stomach virus, I, your Besties poster was unable to attend the weekly podcast. But don't worry, because another, balder and smarter Chris filled the vacancy. This week, I hope you enjoy the silky smooth tones of Polygon Editor-in-Chief Chris Grant.4:05 - The best use of consonants (Rymdkapsel) 15:25 - The best reason to not listen to Russ Frushtick (Earthbound) 24:40 - Halftime! 38:00 - The best career move (John Carmack becomes CTO of Oculus) 48:55 - The best single-player co-op game of the year (Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons) 58:00 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

What's that sound? Well I'll be! It's the dulcet tones of Mr. David Tach. Yes, this week Dave "Sweet Sweet Butter Voice" Tach fills in for Justin "Hoops" McElroy. We discuss the rising of a triad, the setting of a sun, the returning of a shadow and the escaping of a zero. Won't you join us on this audio expedition?4:05 - The best new old game (Rise of the Triad) 13:20 - The best old new game (Shadowrun Returns) 21:20 - Halftime! 32:10 - The best PC game that could be a mobile game (Race the Sun) 36:50 - The best game that was on PS+ but isn't anymore (Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward) 43:00 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The theme of this week's Besties is giant monsters. The gang discusses kaiju, space ants and malevolent monolithic mega corps from the not-so-distant future. Like the summer's big films, a number of recent game releases are sci-fi allegories about the way we live now. Or in the case of Attack of the Friday Monsters, the way we lived way back when. We also talk about the week's big news: Microsoft's indie marketplace strategy. But the monsters are the thrust of the episode. I should probably mention there's another large monster that makes an appearance. It's possible you've met him before. He's from New York and has a long neck. I'll let him introduce himself.3:30 - Best latest strategy update from Microsoft (Xbox One indie self-publishing) 15:00 - Best game you can't buy in the US (Earth Defense Force 4) 22:15 - Halftime! 28:20 - Best game you can buy in the US, unexpectedly (Attack of the Friday Monsters) 37:05 - Best mechanic with the worst implementation (Remember Me) 45:15 - The winner is ...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

It's that time of the year. The Besties gather around the digital fire to share fond memories of their favorite games, some as old as January itself. Yes, it's the middle of July and we're recounting the best games of the year, so far. Some of you might be surprised to know one of the games is Animal Crossing. But what are the others? To know, you'll have to listen. Or I guess you could read the notes below, but why spoil the magic?3:45 - Griffin (Animal Crossing: New Leaf) 12:20 - Plante (Towerfall) 19:00 - Halftime! 24:00 - Frushtick (The Last of Us) 33:00 - Justin (Gunpoint) 37:00 - The winner is ...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

It's possible you've never noticed this odd bit of Besties trivia. Each week, we invite a new clone of the original Russ Frushtick to discuss the week's best things. The new clone is cloned from the previous week's clone, Multiplicity style. Surely, you've assumed as much. The strange characters. The shrill introduction. The clues have been on the proverbial bottom of the mug all along. This week, we invited the 63rd member of the Frushtick bloodline to discuss Rogue Legacy. After the podcast, we repeated the weekly chore, locking the clone in a tank full of water and filing that tank into the back of a theater alongside its 62 brothers. This will be the last of Russ. Join us next week when the original Russ Frushtick returns to the show for the first time since episode one!2:20 - Best family tree in gaming (Rogue Legacy) 14:40 - Best turning point of the week (The Last of Us) 30:00 - Halftime! 35:20 - Best way to play a stealth game (Dishonored, Deus Ex: Human Revolution) 42:00 - Best anniversary of the week (App Store's 5th anniversary) 49:00 - The winner is ...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Welcome to the end of days. It's rare that all four Besties find themselves smitten by a single game, let alone one for weeks on end. And yet, that's just what has happened with Animal Crossing: New Leaf on 3DS. It has taken the quartet by storm, sucking up every day with talk of turnip prices and furniture sets. And it seems they're not alone. There have been more than a few requests for an all-Animal Crossing episode, and now we're delivering. Brace yourselves.3:30 - Best example that Justin is a masochist 13:00 - Best heart-pounding moment of E3 19:00 - Halftime! 23:54 - Best boat ride 30:15- Best narrative in a video game everTheme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Allow me one moment to welcome any new listeners who were introduced to The Besties by our recent E3 video spectacular. The podcast is a little different than what you saw last week. For one, it's not filmed. For two, the rules and structure tend to change — regularly. For three, there are, how do I put this, special guests. Yes, this week, Milton Bradley, the grandfather of board games himself, graced The Besties recording studio to inform us of the games he failed to sneak onto store shelves. These games sure are something, and by something I mean morally repugnant! We also talked about the big news of the week: Griffin bought an Android phone! Oh, and Microsoft changed its controversial policy. And Griffin bought an Android phone. You'll hear all that and more on this week's Besties!4:35 - Best "switcherooniski" (Xbox One game licensing policy) 21:45 - Best gaming device I've bought this year (HTC One) 29:00 - Halftime! 35:40 - Best screenwriting gig for a popular game designer (Ken Levine is writing the Logan's Run remake (and I predict it will take longer than three months to write, despite what Frushtick says, because Hollywood is Hollyweird)) 40:10- Best flashback to shop class (Bridgy Jones) 49:15- The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Is it Christmas in June? Usually the period around E3 is like a desert in which the year's worst games are left to rot under the sweltering summer sun. But as you may have gleamed from the carousel of review scores on the Polygon homepage, we have been submerged by a flood of excellence: Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, The Swapper, Gunpoint, The Last of Us, Don't Starve, Remember Me, State of Decay and the list goes on and on. We discuss a few of those games this week, saving others for later this month. What about next week, you ask? Lean closer and I'll tell you a secret: next Friday we're streaming a special E3 video episode of the Besties live from Los Angeles. Before you run out the door and scream thanks to the heavens, be sure to listen to this week's episode. We'd hate for it to go to waste.3:40 - Best pocket-sized daily vacation (Animal Crossing: New Leaf) 18:40 - Best sound effect of the year (Gunpoint) 26:23 - Halftime! 30:43 - Best way to start a forest fire (Don't Starve) 38:20 - Best way to die (The Swapper) 43:54 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

I take a break from the podcast to fulfill my civic duty and Griffin McElroy buys a Wii U. I'm genuinely curious what our listeners think about this decision. At first, I was befuddled. It's like when a man buys an expensive umbrella in the middle of a drought. But I've come to see his point. The logic's charming in a really expensive sort of way. What do you think? Would you buy a console to better enjoy a hype train that may or may not arrive at the station?03:30 - Best unreliable narration in games this year (Call of Juarez: Gunslinger) 14:00 - Best killer app for the Wii U that I purchased over the weekend for some reason (Super Metroid)23:20 - Half time: E3 hype and a case of the barfs 33:30 - Best mask simulation in video game history (Metro: Last Light) 38:50 - Best use of life's mondernity mundisnus mundanity to build tension in a video game (Metro: Last Light) 43:20 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Throw us an Xbone, why don't you? We're not sure if you heard, maybe you didn't, but there's a new Xbox coming soon. Well, not soon, but this year, for sure. On The Besties this week, we dive deep and come back with the pearls.07:30 - Best cell phone feature we're excited to use 17:25 - Best use of FMV that may not be 19:00 - Half time: Ghost dog 29:30 - Best news for publishers in the next generation 38:50 - Best feature that only Russ Frushtick cares about 47:30 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The gang is back in action. On this week's episode of The Besties, there's some derisive Snoopy talk, as well as an anthropomorphic helicopter. Griffin has his doubts and Justin changes his pick at the last minute, much to the chagrin of the other Besties.03:50 - Best reason to hate Snoopy (Sid Meier's Ace Patrol) 10:25 - Best way to waste $20 (Injustice on iOS) 19:00 - Half time: Daft Punk and a new car 24:00 - Best gaming news story of the decade that is getting worse and worse with every passing day (Shadow of the Eternals) 38:40 - Best way to remake a retro franchise (Thunder Wolves) 41:00 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Mr. Dave Tach fills in for the absent Griffin McElroy this week. His dulcet tones could melt an ice cap, but are they enough to warm our hearts in Brother M's absence? This episode's a hodgepodge, in which the good is bad, the bad is good and Kickstarter is mediocre. We discuss a handful of video gaming anomalies, like "good bad" games and good games with bad titles. We debate whether rough edges are beauty marks or flaws waiting to be smoothed. We also rap on the reality of Kickstarter projects and the practicality of AAA licensing deals. Whether you prefer one to the other, it's clear that all the money and creative freedom in the world can't guarantee a great game. Also, we talk Canada. Did you know Vancouver is the perfect city? All that and more on this week's Besties.2:10 - Best reason to be wary of supporting games on Kickstarter (Star Command) 14:30 - Best worst game of the week (Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut) 29:30 - Half time: Chris goes to Canada 33:30 - Best game with worst title (Mars: War Logs) 43:40 - Best billion dollar partnership for things I probably won't end up caring about (The EA/Disney Star Wars contract) 52:10 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

I love Candy Box. I'd hate to spoil what Candy Box is. So trust me. Before you press that play button, click this link. Play Candy Box for a few minutes, then leave it open on a browser tab and return for the podcast. Follow these instructions precisely. Fun, right? Confusing, right? Great, let's get to the show. This week, we offend chiropractors, slay mystical beasts, fix the industry's piracy problem and Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box. Also, Candy Box.3:00 - Best use of Blood Dragons (Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon) 9:50 - Best piracy prevention that is also ironic (Game Dev Tycoon) 19:50 - Half time: Chris goes back to school 26:10 - Best value of the week and also of all time (Neverwinter) 33:30 - Best something something Candy Box (Candy Box) 41:00 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Griffin couldn't help himself. Drunk off back to back wins, the Brother McElroy brought one of the most awkward topics to date. This business. I believe we discussed the topic with the greatest amount of grace and respect afforded a podcast that occassionally stars a talking giraffe. Speaking of, a certain Long Island zoo animal made an unexpected experience, uncovering Microsoft's elaborate plan to run his uncle out of business. I talk Monaco. Justin talks Star Trek. And Frushtick talks talking blocks. All that and more on this week's Besties.2:30 - Best Star Trek game of the month (Star Trek) 13:15 - Best acting by a rectangle (Thomas Was Alone) 20:20 - Half time: The Pizza Hut app and special guest 26:30 - Best REDACTED ever (Dragon's Crown) 39:50 - Best love letter to Bonanza Bros. (Monaco) 46:30 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Boy, am I happy to end this week. Over the past few days, I've struggled to write, think or care about video games. I've struggled to really do anything. Surely I'm not alone. What an awful week. What an absolutely awful week. And yet, some really amazing things have happened this week. Like this and this and this. Many people are really stepping up. So this weekend I hope you will join me in doing what we love: playing games. And I also hope you'll lend a hand. You could donate blood or money or anything. It's been an awful week, but I believe we can help to make next week better. That's all. This week's Besties doesn't talk about "this week." We tried to focus on the good, which has been the unspoken goal of the show since its creation. I hope you enjoy it. Let's talk about some video games.4:30 - Best Nintendo Direct14:30 - Best way to remind yourself how difficult Dishonored was (The Knife of Dunwall DLC) 21:30 - Half time - The recently canceled Ready for Love25:45 - The best example that in-app purchasing will bring the end of the world (Dungeon Hunter 4) 31:00 - Best reason to throw a controller though a PC monitor (La Mulana) 39:00 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Why hello there. This week on The Besties, we've decided to stick with the rules set forth in last week's episode because, hey, consistency has to rear its ugly head once in a while. And if Justin sounds quiet this week, it's because his internet is crap and he only heard about half of every conversation. Either that or he walked away from the mic for a really, really long time without telling anyone.2:50 - Best reason that Russ Frushtick is an obsessive maniac (BioShock Infinite) 23:30 - Best mash-up of two genres you wouldn't think work well together but do (Guacamelee) 30:30 - Half time - Beard! 33:15 - Best Easter Egg that is better than the actual game it's in (Soda Drinker Pro) 41:00 - Best multiplayer mode for ruining friendships (BattleBlock Theater) 50:00 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

We've read your comments. You miss the original concept of four best friends battling to the death to decide the best game of the week. Or maybe you want less nitty-gritty mechanic talk. Or you're the one soul on Planet Earth that yearns to hear the squeaky pitches of a certain European independent game design counterfeiter. We understand. After 50 episodes, we've decided to fiddle with the rules one (possibly) last time. As of today, four best friends will battle to the death to decide the best game thing of the week. That's right. We're no longer limited to games. We can bring news, songs, artwork, European independent game design counterfeiters, anything! All that matters is we genuinely believe our submission is the best. That way, when the show concludes a battle can be waged to determine the week's winner. Is this the best Besties yet? We sure hope so.06:30 - Best ATV stunting (Defiance)16:30 - Best local adversarial game at GDC 2013 (Samurai Gunn)23:30 - Half time - A very special guest 31:30 - Best rumor that is probably not a rumor, but maybe it is a rumor (Always online Xbox) 43:30 - Best awards show in video games (2013 Game Developers Choice Awards) 50:30 - The winner is...Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Let's hear it for the supporting character! This week, we discuss two games based off the less popular sidekicks of major franchises. First, we have the Ballad of Baird, also known as Gears of War: Judgment. The fourth game in the Gears of War franchise has more of what you've come to expect from the franchise, which means hours of carefree body mutilation. Speaking of dead stuff, Justin leans over the campfire to tell us a scary story about the time he reviewed The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. Sticking to the ghastly theme, we finish the show with a Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, the second game in a series about the lesser-loved plumber turned ghost hunter. Is Dark Moon the 3DS's killer app? Does anyone care about 3DS when we have Super Stickman Golf 2 on our cellphones? Does the video game industry have a morbid fascination with our mutual fleeting mortality? Find out on this week's Besties!03:00 - Gears of War: Judgment 16:30 - Half Time - The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct 29:30 - Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon 46:00 - What's next?Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

All mobile all the time. In the history of The Besties, when the gents end up bringing mobile games to the table, it doesn't bode well for the quality of said games. This week is the exception to the rule, as they're talking about two of the best games of 2013 (mobile or beyond!). In other news, Chris Plante literally got off a flight from Japan and recorded the podcast, so if he sounds drowsy, it's probably the sleeping meds coursing through his veins.04:00 - Ridiculous Fishing 20:00 - Half Time 27:00 - Super Stickman Golf 2 47:00 - What's next?Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Two big games, including one that works! This week on The Besties, Chris Plante is galavanting out in Japan for work (probably), so we've gone and found his temporary replacement: the incomparable Phil Kollar. Phil authored the Polygon review of Tomb Raider, so who better to detail the highs and lows of Lara's latest adventure. Speaking of Lara, one of her relatives calls in to discuss some qualms he has with her renewed success. And lastly, there's SimCity. Not a whole lot to say on that one. Pretty much controversy-free, that game.04:00 - Tomb Raider 22:00 - Half Time 28:00 - SimCity 49:00 - What's next?Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Call it a sick day. Griffin succumbed to the Andromeda Strain this week, leaving Frushtick, Hoops and myself to brave The Besties without him. I confess, it was tough. Fortunately, we had two very different, very unusual games to discuss in the forms of Proteus and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Proteus is what you might call an art game. Drawn in colorful and simple polygons, the game lacks traditional goals and rules. When Proteus was released a few weeks ago, a band of perturbed critics claimed Proteus wasn't a game at all. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on the other hand is the stereotypical action video game. The neo-future world is chock-full of robots and foot soldiers that can be sliced like a watermelon in Fruit Ninja. The game has a clear goal and that's KILL, KILL, KILL! To kill or chase a frog: that is the question.03:00 - Proteus 16:30 - Half Time / The spread of the Andromeda Strain 20:30 - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance 40:30 - What's next? Tomb Raider and SimCityTheme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The Besties enter the next generation! This week on The Besties, we talk about the mysterious ghost man living above Griffin's garage. If you think that's grim, just wait till you hear our recap of the PlayStation 4 launch event. Justin does his best to turn our frowns upside down, but is that enough? One of this week's games already looks like it belongs on a next-generation console — and basically demands a next-generation PC. The other game has a long title and a beat we can dance to. Let us know your opinions of this week's games in the comments. And convince Justin why Proteus is good now, before it's too late.04:30 - Crysis 3 20:30 - Half Time / PlayStation 4 announcement talk 40:00 - Bit.Trip Presents Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien 49:30 - What's next? Proteus and Metal Gear Rising: RevengeanceTheme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The Besties are back! This week on The Besties, we discuss babies having babies and then having those babies fight for their baby parents. There's also talk of the thrills and chills of space combat, with an emphasis on the thrills. Hey, look at this, two solid games this week! We're on a roll! Warning: This episode contains spoilers for the movie, Safe Haven. If learning that makes you not want to listen, this probably isn't the podcast for you.03:00 - Fire Emblem: Awakening 15:00 - Half Time 30:00 - Dead Space 3 48:30 - What's next?Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Long live The Besties! This week's episode revolves around the mysteries of Doritos, Taco Bell and much, much more. Also Plante takes the opportunity to not say anything for the longest time in Besties history. Where was he? What was he thinking? We may never know.03:00 - Antichamber 15:00 - Half Time 26:00 - Ni No Kuni 42:20 - What's next?Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The march of The Besties continues! This week on The Besties, an old friend stops by for a visit and there's some examination of the latest free-to-play game burning up the charts. Oh yes, and Dante's resurrection is making some people grumpy.03:00 - Temple Run 2 21:50 - Half Time: THQ 32:35 - DMC: Devil May Cry 48:20 - What's next?Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Oh ye of little faith! The Besties are back for 2013 to warm your hearths and hearts. As per usual, the rules have been changed, but don't worry, it's only to protect the innocent. We've got some new games, we've got some old games and we've got a time machine. Let's get crackin'.03:00 - Kentucky Route Zero 18:00 - Half Time Battle Royale 23:40- Dark Souls 40:00 - What's next?Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

This is the audio-only version of Part 2 of our end of year video special. Enjoy!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

This is the audio-only version of Part 1 of our end of year video special. Enjoy!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

This week on The Besties, we take a look back at all the games that have made it into our Hall of Fame of 2012. We also decide which three games from the fan vote are getting resurrected for next week's finals. And, what's this, one of our very first HOF selections gets the boot at the 11th hour? Incredible!03:00 - Playing catch-up! 20:30 - The user picks! 30:00- Halftime: VGA thoughts! 40:15 - The full HOF list! 51:15 - THE NEXT STEP!Help The Besties build their Sweet 16 bracket!Theme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

In what is basically the last week of the year in terms of big video game releases, The Besties are concerned with one thing and one thing only: holiday cookies. Oh, what the heck, we'll talk about some games as well! Far Cry 3 is the heavy hitter of the week, but there seem to be some surprising contenders going up against it.07:00 - Far Cry 3 21:00 - Skyrim: Dragonborn 34:30 - Halftime: The dark corners of Xbox Live 43:00 - Dikembe Mutombo's 4 1/2 Weeks to Save the World 48:45 - THE DECISIONTheme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

This week, The Besties examine just how humble you need to be for the Humble Bundle. Also, Griffin tries to explain Persona, much to the chagrin of all involved. There's also a question of how Agent 47 manages to hide in the middle of Chinatown, even as a very tall, very pale white guy.08:30 - Hitman: Absolution 21:00 - Planetside 2 30:30 - Halftime: Thanksgiving and gambling 34:35 - Persona 4 Golden 45:45 - THE DECISIONTheme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The Besties all trekked off for Thanksgiving last week, but before did, they wanted to share their thoughts on the Wii U! Yes, it's an entire episode dedicated to Nintendo's latest gaming console. Oh, and there's also a special guest who hasn't shown his neck in a while.01:20 - The Console 11:20 - Nintendo Land 33:50 - Halftime: NYG is going home for the holidays 40:35 - ZombiU 51:00 - THE DECISIONTheme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

The Besties are back in fine form, discussing the merits of Michael Crichton and examining the mysteries of frogs and fractions. There's also some talk about a little-known game called Black Ops 2 and some Halo 4 fatigue begins to set in.03:00 - Halo 4 and Black Ops 2 29:20 - Chip Chain 35:27- Halftime: Griffin hates his cat 40:15 - Frog Fractions 44:45 - THE DECISIONTheme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

After a night of heavy drinking, some of The Besties aren't quite up to fighting form. And yet, they press on! In this episode, Assassin's Creed 3 makes its second appearance, and we give some props to some unhappy birds. There's also some mention of a horrifying juice cleanse. Oh yeah, and Halo 4.05:20 - Assassin's Creed 3 21:00 - Knights of Pen & Paper 29:35 - Halftime: Polygon launch party 33:30 - Angry Birds Star Wars 39:30 - Halo 4 49:00 - THE DECISIONTheme song by Ian Dorsch Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

So it turns out that we don't actually know how to count to 33 in roman numerals, so we're going with tried-and-true 'Merican numbers from now on. Other changes include a new theme song by the talented Ian Dorsch and we're no longer bleeping out cuss words, so tread carefully! With that out of the way, after an unfortunate delay, The Besties are back. Half of them were slammed by Hurricane Sandy while the other half basked with mai tais and sangria. Weather or no, many games were played this week and a new game of the week was crowned.06:00 - Assassin's Creed 3 15:00 - Hotline Miami 20:45 - Halftime: Hurricane Sandy and Dracula 28:40 - Need for Speed: Most Wanted 38:30 - Punch Quest 47:20 - THE DECISION Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Besties! Those stunning changes you were expecting? Yeah...sorry...you'll have to wait on those. The Besties are back, in pretty much the form you remember them in. But the changes! They're coming! We swear! And no, the changes don't involve us stopping the podcast. Sorry to disappoint! Ran into a few audio issues this week, so if you hear us talking over each other more than normal, blame evil, evil technology.04:00 - Retro City Rampage 12:15 - XCOM: Enemy Unknown 18:30 - Halftime: Denpa Men & Spycraft 29:50 - Dishonored 43:30 - THE DECISION Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Special thanks to Salivation Army for recovering this episode from the archives!

Besties! Here's our State of the Union: We love video games. Much like Vin Diesel or (to a lesser extent) Ice Cube before us. Won't your join us for our 30th show-ebration? We certainly hope you will.04:30 - Griffin McElroy - Little Big Planet Vita (PS Vita) 13:00 - Chris Plante - Torchlight 2 (PC) 26:00 - Halftime: Mr. Frushtick Goes to Japan 31:45 - Justin McElroy - The Testament of Sherlock Holmes (PC, 360, PS3) 39:30 - THE DECISION by Russ Frushtick Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Special thanks to Salivation Army for recovering this episode from the archive!

Besties! Straight up: We didn't play anything this week. There. We said it. Also, Russ Frushtick is in Japan, so we thought that we'd talk about yesterday's big Wii U event where pricing, dates and much more was revealed. So, what'd we think? Well, you'll have to listen, it took us like a half hour to make. Straight up: We didn't play anything this week. There. We said it. Also, Russ Frushtick is in Japan, so we thought that we'd talk about yesterday's big Wii U event where pricing, dates and much more was revealed. So, what'd we think? Well, you'll have to listen, it took us like a half hour to make. Also, our boss, Chris Grant is there. In closing: Funky Barn.Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Besties! Besties! An old friend visits the show, proclaiming a love for the mightiest shape of them all. There's also some talk about overly complicated board games and the importance of maintaining one's composure when being a ninja. Also, Plante worries about pumpkin-spiced lattes. Welcome, once again, to The Besties.05:00 - Griffin McElroy - Borderlands 2 (360, PC, PS3) 16:30 - Chris Plante - Rayman Jungle Run (iOS) 26:15 - Halftime: iOS 6 is a snore 31:15 - Justin McElroy - FTL (PC/Mac) 50:30 - THE DECISION by Chris Grant Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Besties! This week on The Besties, Griffiin returns from his escapades. What do the Mannequin movies and Pokemon have in common? So, so much. This week on The Besties, Griffin returns from travelling around the world and Justin attempts to take control of the insanity. We also learn all about the magic of Mexican poop worms.5:30 - Chris Plante - McPixel (iOS/Android/PC/Mac/Linnux) 11:30 - Griffin McElroy - New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS) 21:40 - Halftime: Mexico! 26:00 - Russ Frushtick - Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (360/PS3/PC) 39:50 - THE DECISION by Justin McElroy Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Special thanks to Salivation Army for recovering this episode from the archive!

Besties! You know you want to spend the weekend with The Besties. How could you not? Another week has come and gone, and The Besties are here to let you know what games you should be playing. This week, Griffin is in Germany, so the honey-voiced Dave Tach fills in with a seriously depressing game. We also have our very first non-human guest. And Justin eats a pear. Breaking boundaries, wherever we go.3:10 Dave Tach - Papo and Yo (PSN) 11:30 Justin McElroy - Sleeping Dogs (360/PS3) 24:00 Halftime: Plante likes iOS games 26:10 Russ Frushtick - Dust: The Elysian Tail (XBLA) 33:45 THE DECISION by Chris Plante Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan Get the show:Download MP3" Subscribe to the podcast (RSS) Subscribe on iTunes

Besties! Your friends The Besties are back with the audio security blanket you need to help snuggle you into the weekend. This week on The Besties, we continue to deal with the staggering lack of releases during the summer months. We get a blast from the past with an unfortunate guest and examine the importance of breakfast in Germany. Also, in a shocking turn, Justin likes FMV games.7:00 Russ Frushtick - Clash of Clans (iOS)

Special thanks to Salivation Army for recovering this episode from the archives!

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eKhoKo1GbOsoZolR33_O40V_bgM=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1950697/besties.0.png" / pWill you fall in love with the low whispers of Mr. David Tach?/p pIn a week of mediocre games, the Besties turns to gas station sandwiches for entertainment./p pThis week on The Besties, Griffin's request for bombast is delivered by a mysterious figure from the South. Meanwhile, Dave Tach, the man with cherrywood vocal chords, fills in for a vacationing Justin McElroy. Will a target="_blank" href="http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/2/3122153/spelunky-review-digging-deep"iSpelunky/i/a remain the standing champion? Which demographic will Russ Frushtick offend? Can you find good food at a pitstop? There's only one way to find out!/p p/p paudio src="http://share.sbndev.net.s3.amazonaws.com/Besties21.mp3" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1342199395260"/p p4:05 — Griffing McElroy, a href="http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3185430/wreckateer-review"iWreckateer/i/a (XBLA)/p p12:35 — Chris Plante, a target="_blank" href="http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/27/3192011/when-nostalgia-attacks-a-spy-vs-spy-lesson-learned"iSpy vs. Spy/i/a (iOS)/p p22:05 — Halftime: Dave Tach eats gas station sandwiches/p p27:00 — Russ Frushtick, a target="_blank" href="http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/25/3186607/ios-gaming-watch-list-shellrazer-the-walking-dead-and-spy-vs-spy"iShellrazer/i/a (iOS)/p p35:15 — THE DECISION by Dave Tach/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia target="_blank" href="http://share.sbndev.net.s3.amazonaws.com/Besties21.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/_4EXnrA6u4I" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YC2Pf7MZR71g1MzxdojaCVSlwa8=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1949991/besties.0.png" / pBesties!/p pThis week on The Besties, Griffin returns and demands bombast from a fellow co-host. There's also some discussion about whether dolphins can survive in space. /p pThis week on The Besties, Griffin returns and demands bombast from a fellow co-host. There's also some discussion about whether dolphins can survive in space./p p/p paudio id="torty-player" preload="none" controls="controls" src="http://share.sbndev.net.s3.amazonaws.com/Besties20.mp3"/audiobr id="1342199395260"/p p11:25 — Justin McElroy, iDolphin Up/i (iOS)/p p18:10 — Halftime: Sex Shuttle/p p25:22 — Griffin McElroy, iDyad/i (PSN)/p p32:14 — Russ Frushtick, iFieldrunners 2/i (iOS)/p p40:50 — THE DECISION by Chris Plante/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://share.sbndev.net.s3.amazonaws.com/Besties20.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/wjm_RMeJCwQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2HnaJmXkL7v4h5ciZLXvGDsxcYA=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1949313/besties.0.png" / pBesties!/p pYour friends The Besties are back with the only reason you get out of bed on Fridays. Join us as we pit the new games of the week against each other to find out which one reigns supreme. Also: Tiny Wings 2! And the epic conclusion of the Mousepocalypse!/p pspan style="line-height: 9px;"Your friends The Besties are back with the only reason you get out of bed on Fridays. Join us as we pit the new games of the week against each other to find out which one reigns supreme. Also: /spani style="line-height: 9px;"Tiny Wings 2/ispan style="line-height: 9px;"! And the epic conclusion of the Mousepocalypse!/span/p p/p paudio src=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/TheBesties19.mp3"" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1342199395260"/p p8:20 — Chris Plante, iNCAA Football 2013 /i(Multi)/p p17:45 — Russ Frushtick, iKnights of the Round Cable/i (iOS)/p p21:30 — Halftime: Mousepocalypse/Chris' dumb idea/p p30:45 — Justin McElroy, iThe Secret World/i (PC)/p p45:00 — THE DECISION by special guest Dave Tach/p piframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/k93T6-W8E5E" frameborder="0"/iframe/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/TheBesties19.mp3"Download MP3"/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/EnYCSmg45SI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3Ba12dwbC1nsiZxg_te5WGfmd0U=/0x32:800x482/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1948771/bestiespromo.0.jpg" / pBesties!/p pThis week doesn't seem like a fair fight, but at least your buddies The Besties are still getting along. This week: Hear how honestly terrified Justin is of mice, walk the exotic wasteland that is Huntington, WV and be there when a new king game is crowned!/p pspan style="line-height: 9px;"This week doesn't seem like a fair fight, but at least your buddies The Besties are still getting along (except the part when they isort of/i threaten to kill one another). This week: Hear how honestly terrified Justin is of mice, walk the exotic wasteland that is Huntington, WV and be there when a new king game is crowned!/span/p p/p paudio src=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/Besties18.mp3"" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1341607360864"/p p4:45 — Justin McElroy, iYou Don't Know Jack /i(Facebook)/p p13:00 — Griffin McElroy, iOutwitters/i (iOS)/p p21:30 — Halftime: No power/p p30:25 — Chris Plante, iSpelunky/i (360)/p p45:00 — THE DECISION by Russ Frushtick/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/Besties18.mp3"Download MP3"/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/Pszz_xVIp8w" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/41IybjzL1E43nMlGI2fAMYjcHd4=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1948459/besties.0.png" / pshouldn't the world's best friends pick the world's best games?/p pIn this time and political and Today Show-centric turmoil, it's comforting to know your friends The Besties are constant. Some iOS game you've never heard of? Check. Russ Frushtick doing a terrible European accent. You betcha. Come, bask in our stability./p pspan style="line-height: 9px;"In this time and political and Today Show-centric turmoil, it's comforting to know your friends The Besties are constant. Some iOS game you've never heard of? Check. Russ Frushtick doing a terrible European accent. You betcha. Come, bask in our stability./span/p p/p paudio src=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/Besties17.mp3"" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1340998777646"/p p2:40 — Griffin McElroy, emSquids: Wild West/em (iOS)/p p11:30 — Russ Frushtick, iThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Dawnguard/i (360, PS3, PC)/p p19:30 — Halftime: Griffin McElroy: Pro Programmer/p p27:25 — Justin McElroy, Amazing Spider-Man (360, PS3)/p p46:40 — THE DECISION by Chris Plante/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/Besties17.mp3"Download MP3"/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/tfCgqGOHwqk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/L3xqfn5Cs4tC5obkUTBle5B0NIs=/0x32:800x482/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1948009/bestiespromo.0.jpg" / pShouldn't the best friends pick the best games?/p pThe Besties settle in for a long summer which may not be the most robust in terms of quality game releases. Justin describes the woes of emSteel Battalion/em, Griffin gives some advice to Wizards of the Coast and there's some discussion over whether emGravity Rush/em should have actually beaten out emMax Payne 3/em last week. Also yuks. /p pThe Besties settle in for a long summer which may not be the most robust in terms of quality game releases. Justin describes the woes of emSteel Battalion/em, Griffin gives some advice to Wizards of the Coast and there's some discussion over whether emGravity Rush/em should have actually beaten out emMax Payne 3/em last week. Also yuks./p p/p paudio id="torty-player" preload="none" controls="controls" src=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/Besties16.mp3""/audiobr id="1339788242379"/p p2:40 — Griffin McElroy, emSquids: Wild West/em (iOS)/p p14:35 — Russ Frushtick, iAstronot/i (iOS)/p p23:20 — Griffin McElroy, iPokemon Conquest/i (DS)/p p31:25 — Halftime: Modern suggestions for Damp;D/p p36:30 — Chris Plante, iThe Act/i (iOS)/p p42:26 — THE DECISION by Commish Justin/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/Besties16.mp3"Download MP3"/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/rHelEbYJPVo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DWi1ol1f_p6fHXo_f-2saiLsKU0=/0x32:800x482/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1947679/bestiespromo.0.jpg" / pShouldn't the best friends pick the best games?/p pThe Besties are back from their E3 sojourn and they've been playing all the latest games so they can talk about them, for that is the social contract you and they have entered into. Also, Russ Frushtick shares the sad, sad story of attempting to do a pull-up./p pThe Besties are back from their E3 sojourn and they've been playing all the latest games so they can talk about them, for that is the social contract you and they have entered into. Also, Russ Frushtick shares the sad, sad story of attempting to do a pull-up./p p/p paudio id="torty-player" preload="none" controls="controls" src=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/Besties15.mp3""/audiobr id="1339788242379"/p p5:00 — Justin McElroy, iLollipop Chainsaw /i(360, PS3)/p p15:00 — Chris Plante, iGravity Rush/i (Vita)/p p25:00 — Halftime: Pull ups/p p32:40 — Russ Frushtick, iPocket Planes/i (iOS)/p p44:40 — THE DECISION/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/Besties15.mp3"Download MP3"/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/4vuxIedzM7w" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2sS5eLBuppu0nGSx66ttHeVAeaA=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1946133/besties.0.png" / pBesties!/p pThe Besties square off on emGhost Recon/em, emDragon's Dogma/em and emResistance: Burning Skies/em./p pThe Commish returns to dole out more Besties justice. This week we've got three big games, but a special nod to a fourth game, emSlingshot Racing/em, which offers up single-touch iOS racing enjoyment with grappling hooks. Plus we're introduced to Special Boy, Justin's ward./p p/p paudio src=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/besties14.mp3"" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1337977062919"/p p4:25 — Justin McElroy, iDragon's Dogma/i (360, PS3)/p p16:25 — Russ Frushtick, iGhost Recon: Future Soldier/i (360, PS3, PC)/p p24:00 — Halftime: "Brought to you by Shandy"/p p29:28 — Griffin McElroy, iResistance: Burning Skies/i (Vita)/p p36:48 — THE DECISION By Commissioner Chris Plante/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/besties14.mp3"Download MP3"/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/qp1u5KW8OHs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0OYMnyeMRvrgnBI6LvYCncNxbOQ=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1945677/besties.0.png" / pBesties!/p pThe Besties square off on Diablo 3, Max Payne 3 and Quest for Glory./p pIn what they hope will be the final rule change for at least a few weeks, The Besties introduce a commissioner to help them select the best game of the week. Also, Russ does a Max Payne impression, Justin infuriates iDiablo 3/i fans and Chris Plante whisks you away to Europe./p p/p paudio id="torty-player" preload="none" controls="controls" src=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/Besties13.mp3""/audiobr id="1337977062919"/p p4:30 — Justin McElroy, iDiablo 3/i (PC)/p p16:30 — Russ Frushtick, iMax Payne 3/i (360, PS3, PC)/p p26:45 — Halftime: "Hey, I climbed that."/p p31:00 — Griffin McElroy, iQuest for Glory/i (PC)/p p42:00 — THE DECISION/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href=="http://s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts.sbnation.com/Besties13.mp3"Download MP3"/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/irQDwUOP1PY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JBRe1jay4MJr1QuF0fwkLegkAak=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1944783/besties.0.png" / pShouldn't the world's best friends pick the world's best games?/p pThe Besties return with their most unusual rule change yet: They've completely forgone making any sort of decision an instead created an robot version of their editor-in-chief Chris Grant to choose a winner for them./p pThe Besties return with their most unusual rule change yet: They've completely forgone making any sort of decision and instead created a robot version of their editor-in-chief Chris Grant to choose a winner for them./p p... Yeah, it's one of those kinds of episodes./p p/p paudio id="torty-player" preload="none" controls="controls" src="http://share.sbndev.net.s3.amazonaws.com/Besties12.mp3"/audiobr id="1336764566627"/p p5:45 — Chris Plante, iAwesomenauts/i (360)/p p12:00 — Justin McElroy, iTribes Ascend/i (PC)/p p20:30 — Halftime: Superbed/p p25:00 — Russ Frushtick, iTower of Fortune/i (iOS)/p p29:00 — Griffin McElroy, iMinecraft/i (360)/p p38:30 — THE DECISION/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://share.sbndev.net.s3.amazonaws.com/Besties12.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/VSQb7wGlSmI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4DF7ICFMFutnGSH08LAg546uyYA=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1944413/besties.0.png" / pshouldn't the worlds best friends pick the world's best games?/p pThe Besties return with what's likely to be the most comprehensive discussion of flume and flume-adjacent theme park rides you've ever heard in a podcast. Also? Video games!/p pThe Besties return with what's likely to be the most comprehensive discussion of flume and flume-adjacent theme park rides you've ever heard in a podcast. Also? Video games! (Note: You may notice a little audio weirdness: Take heart, we've corrected the problem, and it won't happen again!)/p p/p paudio src="http://share.sbndev.net/thebesties11.mp3" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1336168117534"/p p5:45 — Chris Plante, iAwesomenauts/i (iOS)/p p11:00 — Griffin McElroy, iMy Little Hero/i (iOS)/p p16:00 — Halftime: Flumin'/p p18:50 — Justin McElroy, iRisen 2/i (PC)/p p26:15 — Russ Frushtick, iPrototype 2/i (Multi)/p p35:00 — THE DECISION/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://share.sbndev.net/thebesties11.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/vK5m1IY2C4I" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nCe2XRlyrJWVs7n2gDtEtm_FWBw=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1943991/besties.0.png" / pIs it Journey's end?/p pThis week on The Besties, we've promised to dethrone Journey as the Game of the Year, but will we actually deliver? Can Journey bring about world peace before the show ends? Also, we welcome world-renowned indie developer Jean Baptiste. It's a profound moment./p pThis week on The Besties, we've promised to dethrone iJourney/i as the Game of the Year, but will we actually deliver? Or can iJourney/i bring about world peace before the show ends? Also, we welcome world-renowned indie developer Jean Baptiste into the studio, which we predict will be a ... divisive moment./p p/p paudio src="http://share.sbndev.net.s3.amazonaws.com/Besties10.mp3" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1335554323167"/p p3:45 — Justin McElroy, iWalking Dead/i (PC)/p p10:15 — Russ Frushtick, iSpellsword/i (iOS)/p p15:30 — Halftime: Jean Baptiste, independent game designer/p p23:50 — Chris Plante, iAZT Teleporter HD/i (iOS)/p p28:15 — Griffin McElroy, iPolymer/i (iOS)/p p31:24 — THE DECISION/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://share.sbndev.net.s3.amazonaws.com/Besties10.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/Lf_4QsXlss0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/y8xpEA68uUZpXMEK63LbpjqY5ZU=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1943711/besties.0.png" / pJourney's days are numbered!/p pThis week on the Besties podcast, Chris Plante expresses his love of pig-related games and talks about his romantic physical therapy experience. We also answer the question: Can a motorcycle single-handedly win World War II? The answer: Yes. Finally, the clock is ticking on emJourney/em, which has thus far failed to achieve true world peace./p pThis week on The Besties, we've promised to dethrone Jo/p p /p pAlso, we welcome world-renowned indie developer Jean Baptiste. It's a profound moment./p p/p paudio id="torty-player" preload="none" controls="controls" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1073491/Besties09.mp3"/audiobr id="1334335001596"/p p3:45 — Chris Plante, iHambo/i (iOS)/p p9:50 — Griffin McElroy, iSuper Monday Night Combat/i (PC)/p p15:30 — Halftime: Griffin turns 25 and Plante goes to the doctor/p p20:50 — Russ Frushtick, iTrials Evolution/i (360)/p p28:18 — Justin McElroy, iBXX Haunted/i (PC, Mac)/p p36:29 — THE DECISION/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1073491/Besties09.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ul divb"Motorcycle Can Remix"/b/div divbr/div piframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/88l1vpW3Dx8" height="315" width="560"/iframe/p divbr/div divRemix by a href="https://twitter.com/#!/tole_cover"@tole_cover/a. Image by a href="https://twitter.com/#!/TheJWittz"@TheJWittz/a./divimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/egaxNg6kEr0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HtltHIGkNHyHZGfLK_kMoN_6Qeo=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1943465/besties.0.png" / pShouldn't the world's best friends pick the world's best games?/p pWe're all slowly recuperating from the emotional and physical gauntlet which is PAX East, but that didn't stop us from playing the latest games and forcing them to fight each other in an epic, heart-wrenching battle. Be there as Griffin mistakes a human man for a trashcan and we give Journey a deadline for bringing about peace in the Middle East./p pWe're all slowly recuperating from the emotional and physical gauntlet which is PAX East, but that didn't stop us from playing the latest games and forcing them to fight each other in an epic, heart-wrenching battle. Be there as Griffin mistakes a human man for a trashcan and we give iJourney/i a deadline for bringing about peace in the Middle East./p p/p paudio src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1058071/Besties08a.mp3" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1334335001596"/p p2:30 — Griffin McElroy, iXenoblade Chronicles/igt;/p p8:00 — Russ Frushtick, iSkylanders: Cloud Patrol/i/p p12:15 — Halftime: Griffin mistakes a human man for a trashcan/p p14:20 — Justin McElroy, iEpic Sax Guy/i/p p20:15 — Chris Plante, iFez/i/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1058071/Besties08a.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/g3zYnp75e9g" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wVkRMj0EOpkHUUG24lS_V7f5rN4=/0x32:800x482/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1943367/bestiespromo.0.jpg" / pThe besties go to beantown!/p pTypically, your friends The Besties are hunched like so many scurvy-ridden sailors over their laptops as they pit the week's best games against each other in a fight to the death. But since they were all in one zip code for a change last weekend at PAX East, they figured, "Hey, let's take this fight to the streets."/p pTypically, your friends a href="http://www.theverge.com/label/the-besties-podcast"The Besties/a are hunched like so many scurvy-ridden sailors over their laptops as they pit the week's best games against each other in a fight to the death. But since they were all in one zip code for a change at PAX East, they figured, "Hey, let's take this fight to the streets."/p pspan style="line-height: 9px;"So join Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy and Russ Frushtick as they scream, run, cajole and Johann Sebastian Joust their way to a new champion./span/p p/p div object width="560" height="400" class="mceItemFlash" param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B4geSrmdgXI" param name="wmode" value="transparent" embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B4geSrmdgXI" mce_src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B4geSrmdgXI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="560" height="400"/embed/object p /p /div p1:30 — Russ Frushtick, iMark of the Ninja/i/p p4:20 — Chris Plante, iSuper T.I.M.E. Force/i/p p6:30 — Justin McElroy, iGuacamelee/i/p p9:20 — Griffin McElroy, iRetro/Grade/i/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1053597/thebestiespaxeast.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/AYor40A5DxE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/q9I3xXQgNcfywpJ1Q3EqQTCJGWA=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1943183/besties.0.png" / pShipping out to boston, hey, hey, hey/p pWe're a little late but no less passionate for our favorite games of the week. Be there when Griffin makes a case for a game he, in fact, quantifiably does not like. Enjoy Chris' realization that his game is wholly inappropriate for our program. Enjoy a lovely, yet impossible to safely describe adventure game from Justin and Frushtick gives it his all with Hunters 2 and yet falls tragically short./p pWe're a little late but no less passionate for our favorite games of the week. Be there when Griffin makes a case for a game he, in fact, quantifiably does not like. Enjoy Chris' realization that his game is wholly inappropriate for our program. Enjoy a lovely, yet impossible-to-safely-describe adventure game from Justin and Frushtick gives it his all with iHunters 2 /iand yet falls tragically short./p p/p p /p paudio src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1047401/besties07final.mp3" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1333858076071"/p p6:00 — Griffin McElroy, iDiabolical Pitch/i/p p8:30 — Justin McElroy, iYesterday/i/p p12:30 — Halftime: Russ and Chris almost get murdered by an escaped mental patient/p p18:30 — Chris Plante, iDys4ia/i/p p22:30 — Russ Frushtick, iHunters 2/i/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1047401/besties07final.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/1LqsbkkLrr8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sIfDYOh5IKaWXJIF9yIBslFKdE0=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1942913/besties.0.png" / pthe world's best friends pick the world's best games/p pThis week on The Besties: Plante goes on a safari for the wild "cereal gorilla," Russ tries to convince us that Ouch, My Balls should be the best game of the week, Justin waxes poetic about Sherlock Holmes and Betamax and Griffin refuses to share his secret video game pie./p pThis week on The Besties: we go on a safari for the wild "cereal gorilla" in Doodle or Die, Russ tries to convince us that iOw, My Balls/i should be the best game of the week, Justin waxes poetic about Sherlock Holmes and Betamax and Griffin refuses to share his secret video game pie./p pAlso, look after the break for companion images, perfect for absorbing as you listen./p paudio src="http://share.sbndev.net.s3.amazonaws.com/Besties06.mp3" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1333139369388"/p p5:30 — Chris Plante, iDrawception/i/p p12:45 — Russ Frushtick, iFibble/i/p p16:45 — Halftime: The Rebirth of Sherlock Holmes/p p25:30 — Griffin McElroy, iLone Survivor/i/p p30:30 — Justin McElroy, iClosure/i/p p /p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://share.sbndev.net.s3.amazonaws.com/Besties06.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/ibLipBK96Nk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PsWfV7HLPqw0H75D8PHQO0dPEiY=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1942733/besties.0.png" / pthe world's best friends pick the world's best games/p pLast week, we decided that Journey had the ability to bring about peace in the Middle East, what's gonna have even half a shot at beating a game like that? You buddies The Besties are trying to find out! Won't you join them? We hope you will./p p /p pLast week, we decided that iJourney/i had the ability to bring about peace in the Middle East, what's gonna have even half a shot at beating a game like that? Your buddies The Besties are trying to find out! Won't you join them? We hope you will./p pAlso: So much cursing that it sounds like a Daft Punk show./p p4:30 — Russ Frushtick, iAngry Birds Space/i/p p8:30 — Chris Plante, iMLB: The Show/i/p p12:50 — Halftime: Geocaching and The Bachelor and a pipe bomb at Disneyland/p p17:00 — Justin McElroy, iHunger Games: Girl on Fire/i/p p25:50 — Griffin McElroy, iKid Icarus: Uprising/i/p paudio id="torty-player" preload="none" controls="controls" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1021633/Besties05.mp3"/audiobr id="1332533512808"/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1021633/Besties05.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/2Szda-g8BJA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mfq0P8Kxgxd7iLOc4Gk56ZuIStY=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1942495/besties.0.png" / pthe best friends pick the best games/p pWe've welcomed Griffin back to our bosom after his absence last week, and he's brought a pretty darn heavy hitter with him: Mass Effect 3. We've had plenty of predictions that Commander Shepard will take the top slot and ride it to December, is that how it all shakes out?/p pibEditors Note:/b The following podcast contains no spoilers about Mass Effect 3. Because we care about you./i/p pWe've welcomed Griffin back to our bosom after his absence last week, and he's brought a pretty darn heavy hitter with him: iMass Effect 3/i. We've had plenty of predictions that Commander Shepard will take the top slot and ride it to December, is that how it all shakes out? Will Russ' dumb marshmallow game thwart his plans? Is anything in iMass Effect 3/i better than current favorite iSSX/i's feature that lets you race against the ghost times of your dead father ... and in doing so keep him alive in perpetuity?/p pOnly The Besties know for sure!/p p4:00 — Griffin McElroy, iMass Effect 3/i/p p9:30 — Russ Frushtick, iCoco Loco/i/p p15:30 — Halftime: SXSW/p p19:30 — Chris Plante, iJourney/i/p p25:50 — Justin McElroy, iMotorStorm RC/i/p paudio src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1008086/besties04.mp3" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1331917059444"/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1008086/besties04.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/ZMWY71I2xr0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

If the audio sounds weird it's because we recorded this, the third ever Besties episode, in a hotel room in San Francisco.

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VAOe4DHVa7GdPWSCwzaCBe0hchY=/0x32:637x390/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1941987/besties.0.png" / pking of the hill meets game of the year/p pJustin McElroy, Russ Frushtick, Chris Plante and Griffin McElroy return with a new batch of contenders for the world's most prestigious honor: The Bestie. Which of their top picks of the week will reign supreme? And will it be enough to take the top slot from current champion Ziggurat? Listen and find out!/p p5:15 — Russ Frushtick, a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/waking-mars/id462397814?mt=8amp;uo=4"iWaking Mars/i/a/p p8:25 — Chris Plante, a href="http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/2/28/2829746/ssx-review"iSSX/i/a/p p14:30 — Halftime: Griffin's new beverage/p p17:45 — Griffin McElroy, iLumines: Electronic Symphony/i/p p22:45 — Justin McElroy, a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coderunner/id463639902?mt=8amp;uo=4"iCode Runner/i/a/p paudio src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/985920/Besties02.mp3" controls="controls" preload="none" id="torty-player"/audiobr id="1330734707856"/p p /p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/985920/Besties02.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thebestiespodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li li a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vox-games-the-besties-podcast/id505516789"Subscribe on iTunes/a /li liZune subscription coming soon!/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/rDzqlLbybnA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/

img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jHBVyKN9lzQX2KLuM_ggaGKH0Nk=/0x37:400x262/640x360/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48720015/besties.0.0.jpg" / pBest games, best friends/p pIt's Game span class="s2"of/span span class="s2"the/span Year meets span class="s2"King/span span class="s2"of/span span class="s2"the/span span class="s2"Hill/span as four span class="s2"of/span Earth's best friends discuss span class="s2"the/span week's new releases and decide if any will topple whatever game currently holds span class="s2"the/span honor. Will iKillstroke 4: span class="s2"The/span Bloodening/i dethrone your favorite and claim the coveted Bestie award? How long can iProfessor Wigglebottom's Puzzle Bordello/i keep hold span class="s2"of/span span class="s2"the/span top spot? span class="s2"The/span choice is in span class="s2"the/span capable hands of Vox Games' Chris Plante, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick and Griffin McElroy. span class="s2"The/span Besties: Because shouldn't span class="s2"the/span best span class="s2"of/span games be chosen by span class="s2"the/span best span class="s2"of/span friends?/p pWhat'd you think? a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/2/24/2821726/besties-i-your-feedback"Discuss the show and our picks here!/a/p ul li03:45 — Russ Frushtick, "iFairway Solitaire/i"/li li08:00 — Chris Plante, "iZiggurat/i"/li li11:52 — Halftime, a href="https://twitter.com/#!/RussFrushtick/status/171691962565529600/photo/1/large" target="new"The Viking Painting/a /li li15:50 — Justin McElroy, "iTales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack/i"/li li20:15 — Griffin McElroy, "iWelcome Park"/i /li /ul paudio src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/967832/TheBesties01.mp3" preload="none" controls="controls"/audiobr id="1330098296995"/p pbMusic/b: "a href="http://georgeandjonathan.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-lifestyle"Little Marcus/a" by George amp; Jonathan/p pbGet the show:/b/p ul lia href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/967832/TheBesties01.mp3"Download MP3/a/li lia href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheBestiesPodcast"Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)/a/li lia href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-besties/id505516789?mt=2"iTunes/a/li /ulimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheBestiesPodcast/~4/c1LmllRyoGo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/