Game Scoop!: IGN's Game of the Year 2024 Revealed

Summary

IGN's Game Scoop!: IGN's Game of the Year 2024 Revealed – Detailed Summary

Release Date: December 20, 2024

In this special edition of Game Scoop!, host Damon Hatfield, alongside a panel of esteemed IGN staff members—Jada Griffin, Destin Legarie, and Tom Marks—delivers an in-depth analysis and reveal of IGN's Game of the Year (GOTY) 2024. The episode meticulously navigates through various award categories, offering insights, predictions, and reactions from the panelists. Below is a comprehensive summary of the discussions and outcomes from each category.

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1. Best Xbox Game

Nominees:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Dungeons of Hinterberg
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
• Senua Saga
• Hellblade 2
• Soccer 2: Heart of Chernobyl

Discussion: Damon Hatfield opens the segment by highlighting the last-minute addition of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, pondering its chances against seasoned titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Hellblade 2. Destin Legarie favors Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, praising its "great job" and "countless hours in zombies" mode (03:30). Tom Marks echoes this sentiment, lauding the franchise's ability to "knock people's socks off" after a down year (03:58). However, another panelist expresses strong support for Stalker 2, emphasizing its polished gameplay post-patch (04:14).

Winner:

• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Reactions: The panel celebrates the unexpected triumph of Indiana Jones, with Tom Marks applauding Machine Games for successfully pivoting from Wolfenstein to an Indiana Jones title. The acceptance speech from the Machine Games team underscores their gratitude and excitement for the community’s reception (06:29).

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2. Best PC Game

Nominees:

• Animal: Well, Blotro
• Heck Yeah
• Blotro 1000X
• Resist
• Satisfactory: The Rise of the Golden Idol
• UFO 50

Discussion: The panel notes the competitive nature of the PC category, distinguishing it from platform-specific nominations. Tom Marks points out that PC often serves as a "multi-platform category," accommodating diverse game types from Black Myth, Wukong to Satisfactory (07:47). Destin Legarie champions Balatro, describing it as "one of my favorite PC games of last year" and commends its engaging roguelike mechanics (10:10).

Winner:

• Heck Yeah: Balatro

Reactions: Mark praises Balatro for its "marvel of game design" and addictive gameplay loop, while Legarie shares personal enthusiasm, recounting his extensive playtime and love for the game's mechanics (10:28).

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3. Best PlayStation Game

Nominees:

• Astrobot: Rescue Mission
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Helldivers 2
• Silent Hill 2
• Stellar Blade

Discussion: Destin Legarie expresses his preference for Metaphor Refantazio, though it's not among the final nominees. He highlights its "great storyline" and "incredible style and presentation" (13:27). Tom Marks and Damon Hatfield back Astrobot: Rescue Mission, comparing its quality to top-tier Nintendo platformers and praising its "joyous" gameplay (14:07, 14:50).

Winner:

• Astrobot: Rescue Mission

Reactions: Despite Destin's personal pick, the panel unanimously celebrates Astrobot's success, with Mark noting its homage to classic PlayStation titles and Hammering its place as a standout 3D platformer (15:03).

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4. Best RPG

Nominees:

• Dragon: The Veil Guard
• Dragon's Dogma 2
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor Refantazio
• Unicorn Overlord

Discussion: The panel acknowledges the exceptional quality of RPGs this year, with Tom Marks labeling it an "S Tier RPG year" due to the plethora of outstanding titles (16:40). Destin Legarie champions Metaphor Refantazio, praising its "relevant" storyline and the depth of its character relationships (17:16). The discussion delves into how Metaphor successfully balances innovative mechanics with a compelling narrative (18:01).

Winner:

• Metaphor Refantazio

Reactions: All panelists concur that Metaphor Refantazio earned its win through its intelligent evolution of RPG mechanics and emotionally resonant storytelling. Tom Marks emphasizes its status as a "feather in their cap" for Sega and Atlus, cementing their reputation in the RPG genre (37:17).

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5. Best Nintendo Game

Nominees:

• Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
• Paper: The Thousand Year Door
• Super Mario Party Jamboree
• Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Unicorn Overlord

Discussion: Destin Legarie initially leans towards Unicorn Overlord due to its RPG depth and customization (26:17). However, Tom Marks advocates for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, highlighting its blend of traditional and innovative gameplay mechanics inspired by both classic and modern Zelda titles (27:45).

Winner:

• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Reactions: The panel lauds Zelda for its "unique art style" and seamless integration of homage and innovation, with Tom Marks noting its influence on the series’ future directions (28:32).

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6. Best Downloadable Content (DLC)

Nominees:

• Alan Wake 2: Lake House
• Destiny 2: The Final Sheep
• Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred
• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
• World of the War Within

Discussion: The panel discusses the competitive nature of the DLC category, with particular emphasis on the standout expansions. Tom Marks acknowledges Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree as a front-runner but recognizes the quality across all nominees (31:22). They delve into how Destiny 2’s latest DLC serves as a fitting conclusion to its decade-long journey (32:02).

Winner:

• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Reactions: The team celebrates Elden Ring's DLC for its depth and the seamless experience that rivals standalone games, with Tom Marks awarding it a rare 10 out of 10 (33:05).

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7. Game of the Year (GOTY)

Nominees:

• Animal: Well, Balatro
• Astrobot: Rescue Mission
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Dragon: The Veil Guard
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Helldivers 2
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• Infinity Nikki: Metaphor Refantazio
• Prince of the Lost Crown
• Silent Hill 2
• The Rise of the Golden Idol
• The Legend of Echoes of Wisdom

Discussion: As the climactic segment, the panel reflects on the diverse and high-quality pool of nominees. Destin Legarie votes for Metaphor Refantazio, while Tom Marks notes Black Myth: Wukong's popularity but ultimately aligns with Damon Hatfield and himself in supporting Metaphor Refantazio. Predictions vary, with some anticipating other titles like GTA 6 or Metroid Prime 4 to emerge victorious.

Winner:

• Metaphor Refantazio

Reactions: The announcement of Metaphor Refantazio as GOTY 2024 is met with unanimous approval from the panel. Damon Hatfield and Tom Marks express their excitement and validate the game's exceptional design and storytelling. Destin Legarie highlights the game's well-crafted characters and emotional depth, cementing its place as the standout title of the year (37:17).

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Final Poll Results

• Should DLC be considered for Game of the Year?

  • 78.1% No

• Most Underrated Game of 2024:

  • Options included Star Wars Outlaws, Unicorn Overlord, Nine Souls, Life is Strange: Double Exposure, etc.

• Most Anticipated Game for 2025 Release:

  • GTA 6 with 47% of the votes

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Conclusion

The Game Scoop! episode culminates with a celebration of Metaphor Refantazio's well-deserved recognition as both Best RPG and Game of the Year 2024. The panelists express their excitement for upcoming releases and reflect on the year's achievements in the gaming industry. Damon Hatfield wraps up the episode with warm holiday greetings, marking the end of a remarkable year for gaming enthusiasts.

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Notable Quotes:

• Destin Legarie at 03:34: "For most of the year, for best Xbox was Hellblade 2 Cinema Saga. But Call of Duty: Black Ops 6... it’s firing on all cylinders."

• Tom Marks at 10:37: "Balatro is sort of just like a marvel of game design... so satisfying."

• Destin Legarie at 17:16: "Metaphor is just storyline. It’s kind of very relevant to today... fantastic game."

• Damon Hatfield at 28:32: "I’m excited to see what the studio does with their next Zelda game..."

• Tom Marks at 33:05: "The only completely new thing that came out in video games that we gave a 10 out of 10."

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Conclusion

This episode of Game Scoop! offers a thorough exploration of the top gaming achievements of 2024, enriched by the panel's expert opinions and genuine enthusiasm. Whether you're a dedicated gamer or an industry follower, this summary encapsulates the essence of IGN's prestigious awards, highlighting the year's most impactful and beloved titles.

Transcript

[Damon Hatfield]

The holidays are about spending time with your loved ones and creating magical memories.

[Tom Marks]

That will last a lifetime.

[Damon Hatfield]

So whether it's family and friends you haven't seen in a while, or those who you see all the time, share holiday magic this season with an ice cold Coca Cola. Copyright 2024 the Coca Cola Company.

[Jada Griffin]

This episode is brought to you by Dutch Bros. Big smiles, rocking tunes and epic drinks. Dutch Bros. Is all about you choose from a variety of custom, customizable handcrafted beverages like our Rebel energy drinks, coffees, teas and more. Download the Dutch Bros app for a free medium drink. Plus find your nearest shop, order ahead and start earning rewards offer valid for new app users only. Free medium drink reward upon registration. 14 day expiration terms apply. See Dutchbros.com Aw, that's so exciting.

[Damon Hatfield]

That feels so good. I'm not saying I'm mad about it. A little surprised, but not now.

[Destin Legarie]

Well, I'm.

[Damon Hatfield]

Hello and welcome to a very Special edition of GameScoop and Game of the Year Watch. I'm your host, Damon Hatfield, and all year long we've been tracking the best games of 2024, trying to predict what would be nominated and what might win Game of the Year. Now it's time to find out. Joining me today is an esteemed panel of IGN staff. Each is an expert in their own right from our PlayStation podcast, Podcast Beyond. She's IGN's community lead, arguably one of our best in house gamers, Inarguably, in my opinion. Jada Griffin from our Xbox podcast Unlocked. He's the Director of Video Content Strategy, hardcore Destiny fan, and a well versed Mr. Know It all of PC gaming, Destin Legarie.

[IGN Staff Member]

Hi everybody.

[Damon Hatfield]

Known for a few hot takes on socials, and last but never least, our executive reviews editor, Tom Marks is joining us. He's deeply involved in our awards process. A perfect compliment to our panel here today. What is up everybody?

[Destin Legarie]

Hello. Hey dmon.

[Damon Hatfield]

So here's how all this is going to work. We're going to announce the nominees for each category. We'll make any final predictions that we have, then reveal the winners. The categories we're going through today will be Best Xbox Game, PC Game, PlayStation Game, Best RPG, Best Nintendo Game, Best DLC and Game of the Year. Now I want to point out this will all be news to us because we're filming this before any of the winners have been revealed. By the time you're watching this, most of the platform and genre winners will have been announced and all that will be left will be Game of the Year. So you're about to get our honest reactions to all the winners and we'll all learn what is IGN's game of the year 2024 together. I have the envelopes here. They were delivered by PricewaterhouseCoopers this morning. These envelopes contain all the winners. It's a secret to everybody. I did have one game that didn't win an award spoiled for me. If anybody's interested, I can share that at the end of our show. So are we ready?

[Destin Legarie]

Yeah.

[Damon Hatfield]

Then let's get to our first award. Best Xbox Game. The nominees are Call of Duty, Black Ops 6, Dungeons of Hinterberg, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Senua Saga, Hellblade 2, and Soccer 2 Heart of Chernobyl. So Indiana Jones was a last minute addition this year. How do we feel about its chances?

[IGN Staff Member]

I think it's going to be tough for that one to win just because we've had more time with Call of Duty, we've had more time with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Hellblade, et cetera, and it's coming right at the end. But the fact that it ended up getting enough votes to get nominated says a lot about the quality of Indiana Jones. And everybody I've talked to who's playing it is really enjoying it.

[Damon Hatfield]

I am playing it. I am really enjoying it. Jada, what was your pick for best Xbox game?

[Destin Legarie]

For most of the year for best Xbox was Hellblade 2 Cinema Saga. But Call of Duty Black Ops 6. And this is crazy in a game of the year conversation to have as one of my picks is I voted for Call of duty Black Ops 6 this year and they've just done such a great job. I've spent countless hours in zombies already. One of the best campaigns in years. Multiplayer isn't too shabby. It's just. It's firing on all cylinders.

[Tom Marks]

Yeah, they had a down year last year, so it's. I mean we get a Call of Duty every year, but it is cool to see one shining in this way after, you know, it can feel like they settle into a rhythm and so it's nice to have one that comes in and knocks people's socks off.

[Damon Hatfield]

And Destin, you were really hot on Stalker 2.

[IGN Staff Member]

Yeah, I really, really like what they did with Stalker 2. Pre release there were some bugs, but very quickly they patched a ton of the issues. I think it was like 650 of the bugs were patched and I played it after that patch came out and it was great. It was like what I did for the preview And I put a lot of time into it. It's just really, really fun that. I like the survival aspect of it. I like that you are constantly worried about your inventory and making sure you have everything balanced. It's a really, really great game.

[Damon Hatfield]

All right, well, let's find out. The winner of IGN's best Xbox game is. Drumroll, please. It Jones and the great.

[IGN Staff Member]

Congrats.

[Damon Hatfield]

Love it. I guess Destin. I guess enough people did have time.

[Tom Marks]

Yeah. That's great.

[IGN Staff Member]

That's incredible.

[Tom Marks]

Swinging in right at the end there.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah. I mean this is a great success story. I think it was. It's just a nice surprise that it turned out so well. I'm loving it. They really nailed the aesthetic of the original Indiana Jones trilogy. Troy Baker is perfect as. As Saracen for it seems Clyde Howard's passion project.

[IGN Staff Member]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Tom Marks]

I mean we. I don't think we knew what to make of this one for a long time. Right. Because previews were kind of mixed throughout and we didn't get a lot of trailers. We didn't get. We didn't see a ton about this game really. Like even to peek behind the reviews curtain. Like we got code for the review pretty late, close to launch. Which does not always mean bad things as we see here. But like can indicate some stuff sometimes. But no, it's. It's super cool to see it just sort of sweep in and impress people.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah.

[Destin Legarie]

I mean they've got the pedigree. You know, they did the Wolfenstein games escape from Butcher Bay back in the day. Like, I had a lot of faith in this one. I'm not a huge Indiana Jones fan, but I'm happy that it is getting.

[Tom Marks]

The flowers it deserves and especially impressive for Machine games. I know you mentioned Butcher Bay.

[IGN Staff Member]

Right.

[Tom Marks]

But this isn't just a Wolfenstein game right now. Isn't just them sticking with what they've had success with, but with an Indiana Jones skin. This is something sort of new and stealthy, different for them. And so for them to do that, make that pivot successfully is really cool to see.

[Damon Hatfield]

We actually have an acceptance speech from someone on the team of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Let's take a look at that now.

[Tom Marks]

Hello from Machine Games here in Uppsala, Sweden. We want to thank you so much for your support and thank you to IGN for this wonderful award.

[Damon Hatfield]

This means a lot to the entire team at MachineGames. So thank you and we are extremely happy to finally have the game out into the hands of all the fans out there.

[Tom Marks]

And to the fans, thank you so much for embracing this game. We have wanted to play a new Indiana Jones game for so long and to see this come to life and finally be out there. Well, we can't thank all of you enough.

[Damon Hatfield]

Thank you. Well, congratulations to everyone on the team for Indiana Jones and the great circle. Awesome game. A great way to start off our awards this year. So a couple notes before we continue. We're actually running a promotion on our IGN subscription service. You can get $10 off an annual IGN plus subscription with the Code Holiday. And there are some cool items in the Igen store right now. We've got Halo trilogy, vinyl Fallout hoodies and Pure Arts collectibles. Go check them out. Next up is Best PC Game. The nominees this year are Animal well, blotro. Heck yeah. Blotro 1000X, resist, satisfactory, the Rise of the Golden Idol and UFO 50. I think we should. I think maybe an explanation is in order here because this is a year.

[IGN Staff Member]

That all my noms didn't make it.

[Damon Hatfield]

Black Myth, Wukong Metaphor, Griffin Dazio, Tekken 8, Like a Dragon, Infinite wealth and Helldivers 2 all came to PC this year.

[Tom Marks]

Yeah. And all games that are nominated in other categories for us. And I think that this is the interesting thing about the PC category is nowadays basically everything comes to PC eventually, if not right away. And so it can just become the multi plat category, like the multi platform category if you do put all those things in there. So I think this list was taken with the mind of things that have homes elsewhere. Like Black Myth is a PlayStation console exclusive. So it is on the PlayStation list. Right. Whereas this is, you know, stuff like Satisfactory or UFO 50 you can only get on PC. And some of these games are multi platform as well. But it is, you know, satisfactory. Feels like a quintessentially mouse and keyboard sort of game. And UFO 50 is this very weird indie amalgamation of retro games. So it just, I think there's the vibe going on there in that way with these ones.

[IGN Staff Member]

I nominated Black Myth. Just saying it was one of my favorite PC games of last year and it runs best on PC.

[Tom Marks]

Fair enough.

[IGN Staff Member]

I look at the honorable mentions that I'm like, that's basically my list. But yeah, lots of great entries on PC this year and that's awesome to see. That's why that platform is continuing to grow and see new users every year because there's so many different types of experience. Like you have Balatro on one hand, a card game and Satisfactory a sort of like a. A game where you can basically build anything you could imagine.

[Tom Marks]

Yeah. Building automation game, I think.

[IGN Staff Member]

Yeah, it's really, really cool.

[Damon Hatfield]

Well, let's find out who we picked as the winner. Best PC game of the year is. Heck, yeah. Balatro. Yeah. Balatro is easily the game that I've played the most this year. It's very, very good. It's so brilliant. It's almost like, why. How did no one think of this before? You know, take poker. Make it a roguelike throw in all these jokers that allow you to break the game and get just insanely high scores with each hand. I love Balacho so much. It's definitely on my personal short list of my favorite games of the year.

[IGN Staff Member]

It's hard to put down once you start playing it, because just that loop of figuring out what joker you're going to get next or can I use that in my build or whatever I'm doing on this run. I read a story that this was just built as a game to teach people how to play poker, and I think that's kind of cool because it's way more than that.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah, it's not that at all. It actually, if you know how to play poker, that doesn't. You're. That doesn't translate very much into playing velocity. You need to know the hands. Yeah, you need to know the hands.

[Tom Marks]

Five of a kind flush house to stand the standard with hands.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Tom Marks]

Yeah, yeah. Balatro is. Is sort of just like a marvel of game design, for lack of a better way of putting it. It is just, you know, it's. It's a fairly simple thing. It's not a big, flashy AAA game by any means, but the simplicity, the things that are there are just so finely tuned and so satisfying. And every little sound effect, every little time that your score gets tallied up, those things just make you want to come back to it over and over and over again. And then, of course, they pair that with an endless list of unlockables that you want to fill out.

[Destin Legarie]

Yeah, yeah. I didn't probably put nearly as much time into Balatro as everybody else, and I'm happy for that because I love the game, but there are so many other great games that came out this year. I was so happy I was able to step away from this one, but totally deserved in this category. I fell in love with it for the two weeks that I played it nonstop.

[Damon Hatfield]

Well, congratulations to Blachro and LocalThunk on our PC Game of the year. Well deserved. Okay, Jada, you've been polling our audience on some big topic questions recently. Is that right?

[Destin Legarie]

I have. Our first poll for today is how would you grade the year in gaming? And overwhelmingly 40.1% said it was a B, which is. You know what, I don't disagree. It was a great year in gaming. Last year had some really big hits like Baldur's Gate, Tears of the Kingdom and this year had lots of great games. But I don't think anything got pushed through like those ones did last year.

[Damon Hatfield]

Okay, we got to take a quick break, but when we return, the best PlayStation game of 2024. Stick around. All right, time for a quick word from our sponsor. Quitting nicotine on your own can be tough. There's a lot to deal with. Making a plan, coping through cravings, finding support when you need it. But now you can guess a little less and outsmart nicotine with X program. X program is a free support program developed by experts to help you quit smart, not harder. You'll get science backed advice, daily support, texts and access to a community of real life quitters like you. So whether you're just getting started or keeping up, your quit X program will get you on the path that works best for you and help increase your odds of quitting by up to 40%. To get free quitting help, text X program to 88709. You got this. Welcome back to go with your watch on Gamescoop on IGN greatness awaits because now it's time for the Best PlayStation Game award and the nominees are Astrobot Blackmith, Wukong, Final Fantasy 7, Rebirth, Helldivers 2, Silent Hill 2 and Stellar Blade. Jada, what was your pick for best PlayStation game this year?

[IGN Staff Member]

That's a good list.

[Destin Legarie]

That's a very good list. My personal pick was not in our nominees there for our final nominees which was Metaphor Refantasia. I played that on PlayStation and hundreds and hundreds of hours. I'm digging into my new game plus to try and get that platinum trophy and such a great storyline, great characters, like a wonderful, I wouldn't say like evolution but kind of side evolution of the Persona like format, like just fantastic game but out of our nominees. I'm hoping it goes to rebirth then because that was my runner up.

[Damon Hatfield]

I feel like that's been. I would say that's been the front runner for most of the year but it is almost a year old now and there's been other games that have come out. Tom, any predictions on what might win best PlayStation game?

[Tom Marks]

I think my pick from this list and my prediction for winner is Astrobot. I think Astrobot has really A lot of people fell in love with that game. It's probably the best 3D platformer we have seen outside of Nintendo. Right? Agree. Or at least in a very long time. It's just so joyous. There's not many other ways to put it. It is just such a feel good game that is just a video gamey video game that wants you to have fun and run around.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah. Astrobot is also my personal pick. I've had such a great time playing that with my five year old son this year. Super impressed, I think. I totally agree. It feels. It's just. It's practically a Nintendo game on a quality level. So.

[Tom Marks]

Yeah.

[Damon Hatfield]

Let's find out who wins best PlayStation game. The winner is Masterbuzz.

[Destin Legarie]

Yep. I am not mad at that at all.

[Damon Hatfield]

No, it's so good. The best 3D platformer since Mario Odyssey. I believe.

[Tom Marks]

Sure.

[IGN Staff Member]

Yeah.

[Damon Hatfield]

What? Destin is making a face. Destin's making a face.

[IGN Staff Member]

I was going to say that Astrobot was one that I wasn't sure about initially when it came out because I was like, oh, people are just over hyping it or whatever and then you go play it. It's incredibly charming. It has a lot of really interesting characters. A lot of homage to some of the best PlayStation games ever made. It's a really, really special game and I'm happy to see that one.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah.

[Tom Marks]

Any game that includes a Katamari Damacy reference in it is easily one of my game of the year.

[Damon Hatfield]

It showed me something that I want from Nintendo. I want that style of game from Nintendo that celebrates its own history. Imagine a 3D platform with Mario where he can go into Hyrule and he's running on jumping on octoroks and whatnot. It's so well done.

[Tom Marks]

They saved that stuff for Smash Bros. And Mario Kart. Pretty much.

[Damon Hatfield]

Well, I'm super. I'm happy with all of our winners so far. Everything's coming up Milhouse for me so far. Congratulations to Astrobot and the team. Best PlayStation game of the year. Okay, now it is time for best RPG. The nominees for best RPG are. Dragon the Veil Guard, Dragon's Dogma 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Like a Dragon infinite wealth metaphor, refantazio and unicorn overlord. Pretty solid list of RPGs this year.

[Tom Marks]

Yeah, if you want to call this year a B. Overall, this is S Tier RPG year. It's insane. That list could be twice as long and it would still be like, yeah, every game deserves to be there.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah, I'm going to go out on a limb and say Jada's pick would be Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

[Destin Legarie]

No, metaphor. Oh, my. That's right. Yeah. Remember we were talking about PlayStation metaphor. Fantastic. Was my pick. I love, love Rebirth. I'm replaying through it again right now through the hard playthrough, and it's great. And they added some smart things to it for the next playthrough. But, man, metaphor is just storyline. And it's kind of very relevant to today. Like, just what's going on in the world and the timing of it. It's just fantastic. It's very smart. I loved all of the companions. It's just. It's such a great game. Like, I really hope that this one wins our category.

[IGN Staff Member]

Metaphor is a little bit of a surprise, I think, for anybody who plays it from the get go. You don't really know what you're going into going into it. And there's a murder that basically happens instantly as soon as you get into the game. And then it deals with societal structures and it tackles some really difficult problems while also establishing that you're in this group and you're trying to make friends with your colleagues. And I really like how it presented everything. I got to play it originally during a preview event. It's really, really special, and I hope more people get to play it.

[Destin Legarie]

It was one that was on my skip list this year. I was like, I'm gonna get back to this later. And then I ended up picking it up and I was like, nonstop for 90 hours.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah, it actually wasn't on my radar until right when it was coming out and everyone in the office was talking about it. So I was like, oh, yeah, I got this. I was struck. In addition to what all you all said, it also just has incredible style and presentation and music.

[Destin Legarie]

The music, the battle chant. Oh, so good.

[Damon Hatfield]

And then earlier, we were also singing the praises of Unicorn Overlord, which I think is maybe a little niche. I don't think it has an actual much of a chance of actually winning. But that would be my pick for RPG of the Year this year.

[Tom Marks]

Yeah. We were talking about how in a quieter year for RPGs, Unicorn Overlord would be, I think, a front runner. Right. But like a dragon was also a phenomenal game this year. The idea that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was the front runner for so long this year, and now we have so many other amazing RPGs to talk about alongside it is amazing and insane on its own.

[Damon Hatfield]

Well, let's find out who won Best RPG of the Year. The winner is.

[Destin Legarie]

Metaphor Refundazio Yeah, well deserved. Well deserved.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah, agreed. Able to beat out Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

[Tom Marks]

Yeah, that was my pick as well for this category. I mean, even we talked about all the things it does different, but also the things that it does similar because it is an evolution of Persona 5 and Shin Megami Tensei and it is such a smart evolution of those games because Persona 5 Royal is one of my favorite RPGs ever. And the fact that it was able to. To take battle systems and mechanics specifically that I already loved in those games and sort of just tweak them and refine them and make them feel similar but more satisfying, more nuanced is really, really impressive.

[Damon Hatfield]

Destiny, are you happy with Metaphor winning?

[IGN Staff Member]

Oh yeah, absolutely. And you brought up it doing things different. The fact is that it also does things very well that it did different. So it's really refreshing to see that they took a chance. Very unique art style, very unique way of having you build these relationships with these other characters. And it's getting a lot of praise, rightfully so.

[Damon Hatfield]

Congratulations to Metaphor reef and Tatio. IGN's RPG of the Year. Jada hit us with some more poll results.

[Destin Legarie]

Our next poll should DLC be considered for Game of the Year? I think most of us can know.

[Damon Hatfield]

Where this poll went. I know they're going to say no.

[Destin Legarie]

78.1% said no. This was probably the just the most blowout of a poll that we've had we've put up. And rightfully so.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah, yeah, I agree. It seems that just about everyone agrees. Except for. Except for.

[Destin Legarie]

Except for a couple other places. A couple other places.

[Damon Hatfield]

Okay, time for another quick break, but when we come back, the best Nintendo game of 2024. Don't go anywhere. Did you know Cleopatra married not one but two of her brothers and police in Victorian London had to wear their uniforms all the time, even when off duty. If you're an Assassin's Creed fan like me, then you'll want to know everything about the real history that inspires the games. And I have a podcast recommendation for you. Echoes of History. Echoes of History, a podcast brought to you by History Hit and Ubisoft, takes you back to the past to discover the real history behind the Assassin's Creed video games. Every three episodes they examine an era explored in the games. Historian and Assassin's Creed mega fan Matt Lewis talks world leading experts to step into the shoes of the real historical people you meet in the games, to take an eagle eye view of iconic locations you can climb, and to reveal the causes and events of the epic historical moments you get to relive in Assassin's Creed. Find out the true history behind the Assassin's Creed games by following the Echoes of History podcast on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. No man wants to lose his hair, but for men, it's actually very common. And now with hims, the solution is simple. Try HIMS Hair Loss Solutions and you'll be joining hundreds of thousands of subscribers who got their flow back with hims. HIMS provides you with convenient access to a range of hair loss treatments that work all from the comfort of your couch, so you barely even have to pause whatever game you're playing. HIMS makes treating hair loss simple with doctor trusted options and clinically proven ingredients like finasteride and minoxidil that can regrow hair in as little as three to six months. The process is simple and 100% online, so there are no uncomfortable doctor visits. Answer a few questions and a medical provider will determine if treatment is right for you. If prescribed, your treatment is sent directly to you in discreet packaging with free shipping. No insurance is needed and one low price covers everything. HIMS has hundreds of thousands of trusted subscribers and they can help you get your confidence back too, with visibly thicker and fuller hair. Start your free online Visit [e-mail] Gamescoop that's H I-M-S.com Gamescoop for your personalized hair loss treatment options. Hiss.com Gamescoop results vary based on studies of topical and oral minoxidil and finasteride. Prescription products require an online consultation with a healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Restrictions apply. See website for full details and important safety information.

[F]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game, shifting a little money here, a little there, and hoping it all works out well? With the name your price tool from Progressive, you can be a better budgeter and potentially lower your insurance bill too. You tell Progressive what you want to pay for car insurance and they'll help you find options within your budget. Try it [e-mail] progressive casualty insurance company and affiliate price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states.

[Damon Hatfield]

I love a great deal as much as the next guy, but I'm not going to crawl through a bed of hot coals just to save a few bucks. It has to be easy. No hoops, no bs. So when Mint Mobile said it was easy to get wireless for just $15 a month with the purchase of a three month plan, I had to find out if it's too good to be true. Turns out it really is that easy to get wireless for 15 bucks a month. The longest part of the process will be the time you spend on hold waiting to break up with your old provider. Isn't that right, Set?

[G]

Okay, I was actually very skeptical about Mint, I have to be honest. But I have been using it for actually forgotten how many months now. But whatever, I am a true believer now. Initially I was skeptical because as you know, I live in the middle of nowhere and basically America's hinterlands. I'm actually closer to parts of Canada than I am to most of the rest of the United States. So naturally I just figured that with all the moose and bears and whatnot, a service like Mint was pretty much not going to serve my specific mountain man needs. However, I'm here to say I was pleasantly surprised because it works everywhere my old provider works, except for it doesn't have me locked into a contract, which is pretty nice and it's so much cheaper, which I like. On top of that, Ryan Reynolds actually sent a Christmas card to my house. It was a bulk. It was a bulk mailer, but I'm pretty sure all Mint subscribers got one. But honestly, it's the thought that counts. So thank you, Mr. Mr. Ryan Reynolds. So yeah, I can say authoritatively, Mint is pretty rad. Actually, it turned me into a believer and I am, as you know, an expert in what is rad.

[Damon Hatfield]

Thanks, Seth. Say goodbye to your overpriced wireless plans, Jaw dropping monthly bills and unexpected overages. All Mint Mobile plans come with high speed data and unlimited talk and text delivered on the nation's largest 5G network. Use your own phone with any Mint Mobile plan and bring your existing phone number along with all of your existing contacts. Find out how easy it is to switch to Mint Mobile to get this new customer offer and your new three month premium wireless plan including the unlimited plan for just 15 bucks a month go to mintmobile.com gamescoop that's mintmobile.com Gamescoop cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com Gamescoop $45 upfront payment required equivalent to $15 a month. New customers on first three month plan only speed slower above 40 gigs on unlimited plan. Additional taxes, fees and restrictions apply. See Mint Mobile for details. Welcome back. It is our final game of the year watch of 2024 leading up to the reveal of IGN's Game of the Year. I'm Damon Hatfield. I'm joined by JD Griffin, Dustin Legarie and Tom Marks. And now it is time for the best Nintendo game. The nominees are Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Paper, the Thousand Year Door, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Super Monkey Ball, Banana Rumble, the Legend of Zelda, Echoes of Wisdom and Unicorn Overlord. Nice to see that nominate another category. Jada, what's your pick for best Nintendo game this year?

[Destin Legarie]

I gave it to Unicorn Overlord because I I loved so many RPGs this year. I wanted them to win as many categories as possible. And just the the amount of depth and customization you can put into this game to where you're changing units, arrangements and their skills and their equipment like mid battle right before a fight to just optimize and min Max. This screamed everything that Jada wants in an RPG for this year and so I fell in love with this game and it was great on the switch.

[Damon Hatfield]

There's also a surprising amount of things to do just on this giant overworld map when you're not even in battle. It's my favorite art style of the year, hands down. But how do we feel about Zelda? Echoes of Wisdom, Zelda.

[Tom Marks]

So I reviewed Zelda. I love Zelda and feels like it sort of unjustly got lost in the shuffle this year. The conversation sort of moved on from it kind of quick, which is a shame because I genuinely think it's one of my top 2D Zelda games of all time, like Ever. And Link to the Past is my favorite Zelda game period. And so to have a game that was so inspired by in line with following in the footsteps of that while also bringing in what the Breath of the Wild Tears of the Kingdom 3D Zelda games have been doing with Wacky creating things to break the game and solve puzzles in ways the developers were not necessarily intending. I thought it did that so, so well and I think it deserves, I think it's going to be very influential for the series going forward and I think it deserves the love of being on a list like this.

[Damon Hatfield]

I do think it's probably still the front runner for the Nintendo Award. Unless there's Mario Party.

[Tom Marks]

Mario Party has a beloved Mario Party. Or maybe Unicorn. I also do really quickly want to say Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. I'm really glad that game got nominated, made it onto a list for us somewhere that is an underappreciated gem. It's like the weirdest one on this list. We have like tapping Nintendo games and RPG and then this weird horror ish point and click puzzle game. But man, Lorelei and The Laser eyes is absolutely one of my favorite games of 2024.

[Damon Hatfield]

All right, it's time to find out. The winner of IGN's Nintendo Game of the Year is the Legend of Echoes of Wisdom.

[Destin Legarie]

I'm the Zelda one. It was. It was. It's such a great experience and such a fun new mechanic that they included. I'm very excited to see what the studio does with their next Zelda game, because I feel like this is them kind of just getting started, them figuring out how to make their brand of Zelda games. And so I'm very excited to see what they do next.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah, I'm. I'm excited to see if we get another actual Zelda game starring Zelda.

[Tom Marks]

Yeah, I think they proved that they. They have a way to do it that doesn't feel like, quote unquote, a gimmick. Right. It doesn't feel like a spin off, whatever. This felt like a Zelda game.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah.

[Tom Marks]

Very cool.

[Damon Hatfield]

Congratulations to the Legend of echoes of wisdom, IGN's Nintendo Game of the Year. Jada, what do the polls tell us?

[Destin Legarie]

The polls are telling us what the community is feeling about 2025's game slate so far. These are the games that we know of that are supposed to drop in 2025. And this one, 44.3% optimistic. They're very excited. So for, obviously, like we said earlier, Grand Theft Auto 6, Monster Hunter Wilds. There's so many games we know that are coming.

[Tom Marks]

Death Stranding 2.

[Damon Hatfield]

Death Stranding 2. No. Doom.

[IGN Staff Member]

The Dark Ages.

[Destin Legarie]

Yeah, there's so many big games. Ghost of Yote.

[Damon Hatfield]

Ghost of Yote.

[Tom Marks]

Maybe an entire console.

[Damon Hatfield]

Probably an entire Switch console. Metroid Prime 4.

[Tom Marks]

Right.

[Damon Hatfield]

Bring it all on.

[H]

Catch up on your up to the minute gaming and entertainment news with IGN podcast.

[Damon Hatfield]

What's up, everybody? Welcome to a very special episode of ign. Gamescoop.

[H]

Gamescoop has you covered for all things gaming and the latest game releases.

[Damon Hatfield]

Obviously, we're going to do Game of the year.

[Tom Marks]

Watch.

[H]

Tune in to podcast beyond for the biggest PlayStation news.

[Destin Legarie]

Y'all gonna have to let me cook. These game devs need to learn a lesson.

[H]

Everything. Xbox on podcast unlocked.

[Damon Hatfield]

This is Steve Downs, the voice of Master Chief.

[H]

Catch up with your super Nintend friendos on Nintendo voice Chat.

[G]

Seth Macy's candidate for Game of Infinity.

[H]

And get all the latest console news and rumors with next gen console.

[IGN Staff Member]

Watch now.

[Damon Hatfield]

Xbox and Phil Spencer are even saying that a midget refresh isn't even necessary.

[H]

The CineFix Top 100 Podcast picks a movie every week. To celebrate and debate.

[Tom Marks]

It's kind of every movie's grandpa.

[H]

Check out the sophisticated tech breakdowns on Digital Foundry Direct Weekly.

[Damon Hatfield]

She's an absolute, absolutely beautiful game.

[H]

And dip into the business of games on the gamesindustry Biz Microcast.

[Damon Hatfield]

We are going to be digging into the biggest stories of the past week.

[H]

IGN Podcasts.

[Damon Hatfield]

Okay, it's time for the only category Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree should be nominated for best downloadable content DLC. The nominees are Alan Wake 2, Lake House, Destiny 2, the Final Sheep, Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred, Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy xiv, Dawntrail, and World of the War Within. I feel like any category that Elden Ring is in, that's going to be.

[Tom Marks]

Tough for other games to it's the front runner. But what I will say is it is crazy that the DLC expansion category for 2024 is as competitive as it is because every one of those expansions is not just like a good expansion, it's like an impressive expansion. Dawntrail and War within were lauded as some of the best expansions that those MMOs have gotten in a while. And the Lake House was really well loved for Alan Wake. So yeah, I think Elden Ring is definitely the front runner here, but every One of these DLCs and expansions is really, really impressive in its own right.

[Damon Hatfield]

Destiny, you want to comment on Destiny 2?

[Tom Marks]

Yeah.

[IGN Staff Member]

So Destiny 2 just had this massive 10 year journey come to a conclusion with their most recent dlc and it, it really sent things off with a bang, with a love letter to fans and I was really, really happy that we got to try out the new abilities. Like Prismatic is really fun. It allows you to combine all of your abilities from the previous games. But what really meant a lot was how they ended the story. It was really, really nice to see the conclusion of the tale that they started telling with Destiny 1. And they did it. With great gameplay, great new mechanics, fun new builds, you can make a great raid pro. One of the best raids they've done. Difficult, but a very, very solid raid. And it, it was a really good send off for that, that storyline.

[Damon Hatfield]

All right, let's find out who wins best DLC this year then. The winner is. Wouldn't you know it, it's Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree.

[IGN Staff Member]

Well deserved shot kicker in there.

[Destin Legarie]

Color Be surprised Daemon.

[Damon Hatfield]

I mean an absolutely amazing experience, you know, maybe the most amazing experience I had playing games this year. Even though it's not a full new game, the only New release. We gave a 10 out of 10, right, Tom?

[Tom Marks]

Yes. The only completely new thing that came out in video games that we gave a 10 out of 10. And you know, I think so impressive that we are even having the conversation of should be DLC be counted as game of the year because it was a 50 hour DLC that basically felt like if they had just released that as a standalone game, it would have been an incredible game. Right. So yeah, it is that impressive that it could even be in that conversation at all.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah.

[Destin Legarie]

Do you think fans would have been on board if they called it Elden Ring Jr. Just like I think they.

[Tom Marks]

Would be maybe expecting like math, like Donkey Kong Jr. From that.

[Damon Hatfield]

Well, congratulations to Elden Ring. Shout out to the retreat. Amazing dlc. Amazing. Way to cap off one of the greatest games ever made. Do we have another poll to check in with?

[Tom Marks]

Yeah.

[Destin Legarie]

Yeah. So our next poll, this one's going to go through a couple things, but what was the most underrated game of 2024? So a couple I'm seeing in here. Star Wars Outlaws, Unicorn Overlord, which we've all been talking about. Great things. Animal. Well, this is one I love that somebody brought up. Nine Souls. This is a fantastic little great game. Highly recommend. People checking that one out. I haven't even got a chance to check it out, but everything I've seen on it looks fantastic.

[Tom Marks]

To be reductive. If you liked Hollow Knight, play Nine Souls.

[Destin Legarie]

Yes, got it. And Life is Strange. Double Exposure. So lots of, lots of really good options in there for games that people were feeling were underappreciated.

[Damon Hatfield]

Cool. All right, one more quick break and then it's time for the big one, Game of the Year. After these messages. We'll be right back. Welcome back. The time has come for what we've been watching all year long on this show, Game of the Year. The nominees for IGN's Game of the Year 2024 are. There's a lot of them. Animal. Well, Astrobot Balatro, Black Myth, Wukong Dragon, the Veil guard, Final Fantasy VII, Rebirth, Helldivers 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Infinity Nikki Metaphor Refantatio, Prince of the Lost Crown, Silent Hill 2, the Rise of the Golden Idol and the Legend of Echoes of Wisdom man, when you read them all out, it's pretty good year for games.

[Tom Marks]

Pretty good year.

[Destin Legarie]

Pretty good year.

[Damon Hatfield]

Any last minute predictions? What would we all vote for?

[Destin Legarie]

Jada I voted for Metaphor for my Game of the Year all around. That was my favorite experience this year. I was really torn because I wanted to Give it to Prince of Persia. But man, Metaphor hit me just like a runaway train and I just couldn't get off.

[IGN Staff Member]

I could see that game taking it. If there's one that would win the popular vote, I think Blackmouth Wukong would probably be on that list because there's this massive audience in celebration for it in China. And I think it was really, really celebrated in the gaming community as a fantastic game. It was potentially my game of the year until path of exile 2 came along. I know it's in early Access, so it doesn't really. Black Myth. Wukong is great. I like its telling of Journey of the west, its boss design, the combat, and it looks really pretty.

[Damon Hatfield]

So my personal vote, which Astrobot? But Tom, how about you?

[Tom Marks]

Yeah, mine was Metaphor as well. To be honest. It's just. I mean, for all the reasons we've already talked about, that game just blew me away.

[Damon Hatfield]

Okay, any last minute, last minute hopes for our live studio audience here. Rebirth.

[Tom Marks]

The Final Fantasy and Metaphor factions immediately pop up.

[IGN Staff Member]

Elden Ring. No, just kidding.

[Damon Hatfield]

Okay. The winner of IGN's Game of the Year 2024 is Metaphor Reproductive.

[IGN Staff Member]

Well deserved.

[Damon Hatfield]

Well deserved.

[IGN Staff Member]

That's so exciting.

[Damon Hatfield]

That feels so good. I'm not saying I'm mad about it. A little surprised, but not mad.

[Tom Marks]

Well, I'm. To be honest, I would be surprised too, because it wasn't so long ago that Persona 5 felt like a niche game, right? And Atlus felt like this sort of niche RPG developer. And then Royal was really impressive and that blew the door open on the series. Persona 3 Reloaded sold even better than Royal, and now they're coming out of the gate with this and it's different and interesting and exciting and I mean, it just solidifies Atlus as is absolutely up there as one of the best RPG makers around right now, bar none. Like, and Sega in general has had an incredible year with like a dragon.

[Destin Legarie]

Also, and all these other Shadow generations.

[Tom Marks]

Yeah, they've had a very good year. And Metaphor, I think, is an absolute feather in their cap.

[Damon Hatfield]

Jd, you must be happy with the winner.

[Destin Legarie]

I'm very happy with the winner. I've rambled about it so much already today. I'm trying to think of what else I can talk about. Like, there's just so much to this game. The characters are all written extremely well. All of your companions, when you're doing the social links, they have these very detailed stories that are. Some of them are very. Just heartwarming. Some of them are just a punch to the gut with some of the things that are going on in them. And I'm trying to be as vague as possible because I don't want to spoil things for people because I want them to experience this fantastic game.

[Tom Marks]

And crucially, coming from the Persona series, not just taking those similar systems but. But Persona sometimes had social links that felt like they had filler in them and they cut down them from 10 to 8. And now all those stories feel very intentional. They feel very prescribed in a very particular way. And it just doesn't feel like. It doesn't feel like that game for being a huge 70, 80 something hour RPG doesn't waste your time. It really respects your time through all of that.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah. Without having all of our previous winners in front of me, I think it's been a while since a Japanese RPG won Game of the year. Sure. I have to check in with that.

[Destin Legarie]

But yeah, I think you're right.

[Damon Hatfield]

It's been a while. Awesome. Congratulations to Metaphor refund Tatsu IGN's Game of the Year 2024.

[IGN Staff Member]

Yeah, that's awesome.

[Damon Hatfield]

JD have one more poll result for us.

[Destin Legarie]

Yes. Our final poll. Which hotly anticipated game do you think we will get first? And the winner is GTA 6 with 47%.

[Damon Hatfield]

They think that.

[Destin Legarie]

They think that is coming first as our other compared to. Compared to Death Stranding 2 on the beach, which got 25% of the votes.

[IGN Staff Member]

Okay.

[Destin Legarie]

Metroid Prime 4 beyond 17% of the votes. And Hollow Knight Silksong with 11% of the votes.

[Tom Marks]

Okay.

[Destin Legarie]

I, I think that, I think, personally I think we're going to get Metroid Prime 4 first just because I feel like Nintendo's gearing up for the new console and I think they're going to want to come out swinging and like, I think it's Metroid's time.

[IGN Staff Member]

That logic makes sense.

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah.

[IGN Staff Member]

GTA 6 probably October silksong doesn't exist. So that one's never coming until it's.

[Tom Marks]

Literally in our hands. It doesn't exist. Otherwise I'll go crazy.

[IGN Staff Member]

Yeah. I don't know. And Death Stranding 2 with Ghost of Yotei, that's like the beginning of the year.

[Destin Legarie]

Yeah. We didn't put Ghost of Yotei on the list because we have a more firm timing on that one. These ones are all very nebulous timing.

[Tom Marks]

Staggering.

[IGN Staff Member]

That release within the PlayStation library. I imagine they would distance it from Go Su Yotei. So maybe there's a potential that one could come out before GTA 6.

[Tom Marks]

True.

[Destin Legarie]

Yeah.

[Damon Hatfield]

All right. Very cool. That is it. It's been another great year for Gaming. Congratulations to all of our winners. Thank you to all of you out there for watching, reading all the stuff we made in 2024. Let's do it again next year. Now this is true. We're actually going to have our office white elephant gift exchange right now. So stick around and watch. No, just kidding. We're not filming that. Skedaddle. Go on, get. Thank you. Yeah. From all of us here at ign. Happy holidays.

[I]

Nothing is as it seems in liminal London. Hidden amongst everyday people are werewolves.

[Destin Legarie]

You'll be the werewolf then. Yeah.

[I]

I'm Magic wizards.

[Destin Legarie]

Montgomery Archibald Barker at your bloody service.

[I]

And those cursed by the fae monarchs of the city.

[Destin Legarie]

Declan Buchanan, PI he has quite a large pair of antlers growing out of his forehead.

[I]

Join the unlikely misfits of liminal London as they work to take down the powers that claim to rule the city.

[Damon Hatfield]

I think the queen doesn't like you. Thank you very much.

[I]

With incredible guest players like Johnny Chiadini.

[Tom Marks]

You say there's sludge?

[Damon Hatfield]

Yeah, Sludge. Yeah. I'm the sludge boy.

[Destin Legarie]

F ing love.

[Damon Hatfield]

Sludge boy. No, again, I'm not that sludge boy.

[I]

Grant Howard.

[Destin Legarie]

Isaac Newton didn't study in f ing Putney, did he? Who's Isaac?

[Tom Marks]

Oh, my God.

[I]

And Sharmony Bundel.

[Tom Marks]

There's a magic community.

[Damon Hatfield]

There is. Yay.

[Tom Marks]

I'm in a magic community.

[I]

Go to realmspod.com or search realms of peril and glory wherever you listen to podcasts to find this mysteriously magical actual play series.

[Damon Hatfield]

Hi, this is Rob Benedict and I am Richard Speight. We were both on a little show, you might know, called Supernatural.

[J]

It had a pretty good run, 15 seasons, 327 episodes.

[Damon Hatfield]

And though we have seen, of course, every episode many times, we figured, hey, now that we're wrapped, let's watch it all again.

[J]

And we can't do that alone. So we're inviting the cast and crew that made the show along for the ride. We've got writers, producers, composers, directors, and we'll of course have some actors on as well, including some certain guys that played some certain pretty iconic brothers.

[Damon Hatfield]

It was kind of a little bit of a left field choice in the best way possible. The note from Kripke was, he's great, we love him, but we're looking for like a really intelligent Duchovny tyranny with.

[J]

15 seasons to explore. It's going to be the road trip of several lifetimes. So please join us and subscribe to Supernatural then and now.