The Gangcast

Latest Episodes:

TGA Results, 2026 Gaming Resolutions, and Our End-of-Year Todo Lists for 2025 Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

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

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

Timestamps:

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

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

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

Follow the hosts:

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

The Game Awards Picks & Predictions and Getting Into Reading Again Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

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

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

Timestamps:

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

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

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

Follow the hosts:

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

Upcoming games we’re scared of and resurrecting neglected hobbies Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

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

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

Timestamps:

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

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

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

Follow the hosts:

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

We say "I Do" to each other... and Hollow Knight: Silksong Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

Janet and Isaiah talk about their time with Hollow Knight: Silksong now that they’ve both had some major time to play it. What they think of the first act, how it compares to Hollow Knight 1, and if it lands on their Top-10 games of the year so far. They also both have started Pokemon: Legends Z-A and share some initial thoughts on that adventure (GAMES). Then, it finally happened! Janet and Isaiah talk about their wedding day, what it was like planning their wedding, what went well, what went wrong, and what advice they might have for others doing the same. They also go over their “Mini”-moon vacation, going to Universal, eating lunch with Toad and friends, exploring the Disneyland parks, and if they think it was all time well spent (NOT GAMES).

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

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:18 Catching Up
06:06 Games / Hollow Knight Silksong
52:49 Pokemon Legends Z-A (Check-in)
01:02:47 Top-10 Games (Check-in)
01:09:42 Not Games / Our Wedding + “Mini”-moon
02:21:16 Poll of the Show
02:29:21 Outro

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

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

Follow the hosts:

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

When to give up on a game and exploring The Matrix movies Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

Janet and Isaiah talk about when is it time to give up on a game, what are reasons you abandon playing a game to the end, and what games are on the chopping block to get dropped by them? They also compile a quick list of all the reasons they think someone might commonly abandon a game (GAMES). Then they talk about The Matrix movies. Isaiah only having seen the first 1 and Janet only having seen 2 - 4, they come together to talk about which of the movies are good, which are bad, and ultimately decide which are even worth watching in the first place (NOT GAMES).

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

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:18 Catching Up
02:22 Games / When do you give up on a game?
01:18:31 Not Games / The Matrix movies
02:04:35 Poll of the Show
02:07:19 Outro

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

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

Follow the hosts:

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

Gamescom 2025 and exploring the Twin Cities in Minnesota Sep 01, 2025

Show notes

Janet and Isaiah talk about Janet going international to attend Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, Germany. From Opening Night Live, to playing indie games, Janet and Isaiah recap some of the announcements and go over what games caught their attention (GAMES). Then they talk about their trip to Minnesota, trying out the (in)famous Juicy Lucy, seeing some Gangcast fans at the MinnMax meetup, and exploring the Mall of America (NOT GAMES).

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

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:18 Catching Up
02:40 Games / Gamescom 2025
01:12:27 Not Games / Visiting Minnesota
02:04:49 Poll of the Show
02:11:20 Outro

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

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

Follow the hosts:

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

The Best Games From Each Studio and Our History With Pets Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Janet and Isaiah talk about Janet maybe starting Monster Train? Having Slay the Spire experience under her belt, they touch on if they think it’s a good time to pick up something new. They then pick a handful of games studios and try to find out what’s the best game from each one, touching on their history with the studio, its franchises, and more (GAMES). Then they talk about their past, present, and future with pets. Going over what pets they had growing up, sharing some fun and not so fun stories with pets from their childhood, and dream about what animal friends they may have in the future (NOT GAMES).

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

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:18 Catching Up
05:12 Games / Janet starts Monster Train?
11:48 Best games from each studio
01:03:02 Not Games / Pets (our past, present, and future)
01:54:31 Poll of the Show
02:11:16 Outro

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

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

Follow the hosts:

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

Donkey Kong Bananza And Our Skills In The Kitchen Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Janet and Isaiah talk about the latest updates in Janet’s Slay the Spire journey. They then talk about if they’re bananas for Bananza, their thoughts on the latest DK game, what they like, what they don’t like, and how they think it sits against other games in the genre (GAMES). Then they talk about cooking in the Garcia-Smith household. They go over what their goto meals are, their best recipes, and how they want to grow their skills in the kitchen (NOT GAMES).

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

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:18 Catching Up
01:22 Games / Slay the Spire (Check-In)
16:53 Donkey Kong Bananza
49:00 Not Games / Cooking and Recipes
01:28:19 Poll of the Show
01:38:07 Outro

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

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

Follow the hosts:

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

Slay the Spire x Anime Expo 2025 Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

Janet and Isaiah talk about Slay the Spire, a modern classic roguelike deckbuilder that’s captured Janet’s attention while playing around with Nintendo Switch 2’s virtual game card sharing. From poisoning foes to building energy, Janet seems to be really enjoying her runs so far. Lets just hope this doesn’t take a turn for the worse (GAMES). Then they talk about attending Anime Expo 2025 in the Los Angeles Convention Center. They managed to catch a panel about Janet’s newest anime love Frieren, listened to some NASA scientist discuss if anime science is based on fact or fiction, share their Artist Alley flops, and come to terms with the fact that some Persona 5 music fans are just plain better than them (NOT GAMES).

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

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:18 Catching Up
02:53 Games / Slay the Spire
50:52 Not Games / Anime Expo 2025
01:37:47 Poll of the Show
01:44:42 Outro

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

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

Follow the hosts:

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

Finding Gaming Time and Daily Routines After Starting a New Job Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

Janet and Isaiah talk about finding time to game. With recent changes to their day-to-day schedules and their backlogs continuing to pile up, they go over what gaming time used to be like for them, what its like most recently, and what they hope to transform it into in the near future (GAMES). Then they talk about just what has caused the recent changes in their day-to-day life, Isaiah getting a new job! They touch on how the new job has changed their sleep patterns (for the better?) as well as what going “back to work” shopping was like when you mix a shopper and non-shopper together (NOT GAMES).

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

Timestamps: