Podcast Summary: The Besties – "The Most Anticipated Games of 2026"

Hosts: Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick
Date: January 9, 2026
Episode Theme:
The Besties kick off the year by ranking and hyping up their most anticipated games of 2026, with classic banter, hot takes, and plenty of deep-cut gaming picks. The episode weaves in their trademark humor and camaraderie while reflecting on past predictions, sharing behind-the-scenes gaming drama, and surfacing hidden indie gems alongside blockbuster releases.

1. Opening Banter and Recap of Past Predictions

• Russ shares an embarrassing mix-up where he asked patrons about 2025 games, drawing some playful ire and unsubscribes.
• Group reflects on last year’s list:
  • Justin only correctly anticipated "Outer Worlds 2" coming out (03:02), but missed on big titles like "Fable," "Slay the Spire 2," "Judas," and "Marvel Knights."
  • Plant did better, liking all the games on his list except maybe one he didn’t play much ("Atom Fall").
  • Russ missed with picks like "unannounced 3D Mario" and "Elden Ring Night Range," but correctly anticipated "MGS3 Delta."
  • Griffin’s picks were suspiciously “not in the rundown” (04:43), with the group joking about missing historical records.

"I'm dinged for being a dreamer that anticipates games that didn't quite cross the finish line."
—Justin, [03:08]

2. Most Anticipated Games of 2026 (Round Robin Picks)

Resident Evil 9: Requiem

• Russ kicks off with this deep cut, out Feb 27.
• Discussion: The reliability and inventiveness of the Resident Evil franchise, with parallels to Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty.

"Every Resident Evil game that has come out since seven has just been kind of a club banger."
—Griffin, [05:57]

The Fate of Fable

• Justin provocatively predicts Fable will be canceled in 2026 ([08:05]), sparking debate—others think it would have been canceled already if so.
• Justin instead hypes a meta-narrative RPG remake (possibly referencing "The Magic Circle"), lauding its blending of director’s commentary, trailers, and developer footage.

Dragon Quest VII Remake

• Griffin details the streamlining of this notoriously lengthy JRPG, with nostalgia for the franchise and improvements over the original ([11:00]).

"It has more of a Dragon Quest XI aesthetic now... It is just like so daunting..."
—Griffin, [12:05]

Perfect Tides: Station to Station

• Chris Plant recommends this adventure game for its authentic memoir writing and nostalgia for early-2000s NYC independent life ([13:25]).

Pokémon Pocopia

• Russ’s genuine excitement for this Pokémon/Dragon Quest Builders crossover, especially Snorlax’s new form and the existential twist of playing as a Ditto ([15:21]).

"You play as a ditto masquerading as a human being. And that asks a lot of sort of existential questions that I'm ready to really dive into."
—Griffin, [16:30]

Little Gator Game: In the Dark (DLC)

• Warm praise for the original’s charm; anticipation for new content, which follows a beloved gator into underground adventures ([17:17]).

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

• Griffin expects this Switch 1/Switch 2 compatible title to take over streaming and social feeds, lauding the expanded Mii Maker and comedic, lighthearted focus ([18:51]).

Animal Crossing (2026 Update)

• Griffin discusses complicated feelings about the new edition’s restrictions (one island per console) and content updates, torn between nostalgia and technical limitations ([21:12]).

Pragmata

• Plant hypes this third-person shooter/hacker from Capcom, comparing it to Dead Space with unique mechanics ([23:07]).

Duskbloods

• Russ shares cautious optimism about From Software’s Switch 2 exclusive, noting PvPvE focus and Bloodborne-like aesthetics but some concerns over less single-player emphasis ([25:27]).

Witchbrook

• Griffin is excited for Chucklefish’s magical Stardew Valley–style sim, with gorgeous isometric pixel art and “witch college” setting ([26:12]).

Fields of Mistria

• Plant notes its Stardew-like charm, anime aesthetic, romance, and robust early access quality-of-life features ([28:28]).

Mina the Hollower & Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave

• Russ quickly shouts out Yacht Club’s Link’s Awakening–inspired game and hopes the next Fire Emblem recaptures “Three Houses” highs ([32:14], [32:24]).

Deltarune Chapter 5 & Professor Layton: The New World of Steam

• Griffin is eager for the next Deltarune release and Level-5’s return to logic puzzles ([33:24], [34:42]).

Vampire Crawlers

• Justin can barely contain his hype for this “Vampire Survivors” + “Balatro” roguelike card battler ([35:45]).

"It's gonna sound like you're dreaming, dude, but listen..."
—Justin, [36:14]

Control: Resonant & Unannounced AP Thompson Game

• Plant looks forward to Remedy’s action-focused Control follow-up (though doubts a 2026 release), and teases a new punk-indie title from AP Thompson. ([37:00], [38:06])

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Resident Evil’s Rocket Launchers:

  "I guarantee the final act of that game will be fucking rocket launchers out there shooting a rocket launcher."
  —Griffin, [07:42]

• On Pokémon’s Allure:

  "Snorlax I'm pretty excited about is one of the best sentences I've ever heard on my tombstone. Find joy."
  —Justin, [16:46]

• On Fable’s Existence:

  "The fact that there's not makes me think that there will be."
  —Justin, on Half-Life 3, [40:43]

• On Vampire Crawlers Pitch:

  "The turbo wild card from Vampire Survivors turns the snowballing thrill of Vampire Survivors into a turbo turn-based car driven blobber."
  —Justin, [36:14]

4. Listener Picks and Honorable Mentions ([41:09–44:31])

Reader Mail Popular Picks:

• Rhythm Heaven sequel
• Sulfur 1.0
• Tamagotchi Life
• Assassin's Creed Hex & Black Flag remake
• The Incident at Galley House
• Ace Combat 8
• Fields of Mistria full release
• Mugenics (Edmund McMillen's cat-based tactics)
• Denshattak (train-based fighting/racing)

"Satisfactories" and Gaming in Downtime:

• Griffin discusses the hypnotic appeal and productivity of Satisfactory ([44:38–47:25]).
• Russ recounts replaying Dark Souls 1 for all achievements, with debates on necessary guides and game design quirks ([47:44–51:10]).
• Pikmin 4, Sonic Racing Cross Worlds, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Death Stranding 2, and Alan Wake 2 named as recent joyful replays.

5. Offbeat Recs and Closing Fun ([53:13–60:10])

• Hundreds of Beavers: Justin describes this madcap indie film as “one of the best movies I’ve ever seen,” structured like a video game let's play—highly recommended for fans of slapstick and gaming culture ([53:13–55:46]).
• EXO Win 9x: Justin walks through this massive PC gaming preservation project offering hundreds of classic Windows 95/98 games in a user-friendly package, praising its historical value ([55:55–60:10]).

6. Closing & Acknowledgements ([60:11–61:32])

• Shout-out to Patreon supporters, announcement of special bracket episodes and future coverage.
• Teaser for the next week: a discussion of Terminator 2D.

Timestamps for Key Games Mentioned

• Resident Evil 9 Requiem: [05:10]
• Fable (and its possible cancellation): [07:54]
• Dragon Quest VII Remake: [11:00]
• Perfect Tides: Station to Station: [13:25]
• Pokémon Pocopia: [15:21]
• Little Gator Game (DLC): [17:17]
• Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream: [18:51]
• Animal Crossing 2026: [21:12]
• Pragmata: [23:07]
• Duskbloods: [24:21]
• Witchbrook: [26:12]
• Fields of Mistria: [28:28]
• Mina the Hollower: [32:14]
• Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave: [32:24]
• Deltarune Chapter 5: [33:24]
• Professor Layton: New World of Steam: [34:42]
• Vampire Crawlers: [35:45]
• Control: Resonant: [37:00]
• AP Thompson’s new game: [38:06]

Tone & Takeaways

The episode leans into the playful and nerdy rapport that defines The Besties, poking fun at each other’s optimism and missteps, and providing both serious game hype and tongue-in-cheek picks ("Half-Life 3," anyone?). If you’re looking for a deeply knowledgeable but never-too-serious take on the year in games, this episode captures the rising excitement and friendly skepticism that the 2026 lineup deserves.