10 Video Games You Need to Know with Ryan 🎮

Summary

Podcast Summary: "10 Video Games You Need to Know with Ryan 🎮"

The Ten News – News For Curious Kids
Host: Ryan Willard (Small But Mighty Media)
Date: August 14, 2025

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Main Theme / Purpose

In this lighthearted bonus episode of The Ten News, Ryan Willard takes over the studio solo to share his top ten video games of the summer, plus a few bonus picks and enthusiastic shoutouts to listeners. Tailored for curious kids (and their game-loving adults), the episode is packed with accessible reviews, fun anecdotes, and recommendations for current and upcoming video games across various platforms. The episode’s tone is energetic, conversational, and playful, reflecting the excitement of summer break and gaming adventures.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Accidental Solo Episode

• Ryan discovers he’s alone in the studio:
  • After a brief (and funny) exchange with a co-host at the beach, Ryan realizes he’s recording solo, making this a surprise "super secret special bonus" episode.
  • [00:41] “I might as well do something… this is a 10News Super Secret Special bonus episode all about by myself. Let’s go!” – Ryan

2. Top 10 Video Games You Need to Know (with Commentary)

Ryan counts down the top ten games he’s played this summer, mixing classics, blockbusters, indies, and hidden gems. He also offers bonus puns, gaming lingo (“GGs—Good Games!”), and fun details about each title.

1. Mario Kart World – Switch 2

• The Switch 2’s big launch title; “high skill ceiling, but anyone can play.”
• Ryan shouts out friends (Jacks Mine, Max, Audrey, Juno, Will) for heated multiplayer sessions.
• [01:30] “It absolutely did not disappoint… Mario Kart is best played with friends.”

2. Blueprints

• Roguelike puzzle game with a mysterious, ever-shifting mansion.
• Each playthrough is different; unique focus on exploration and puzzles.
• Not scary, but “really fun to explore… cool story.”
• On Xbox, PS5, and PC.

3. Ruffy and the Riverside

• Indie, hand-drawn, 3D platformer with ‘90s vibes.
• Ruffy the Bear can copy and paste textures and environments to solve puzzles.
• [02:30] “Ruffy’s powers include copying and pasting… it’s very original and it has 1990s vibes, so I dig it.”

4. Rematch

• Fast-paced, arcade-style soccer (no fouls or offsides!).
• Matches are short and chaotic; competitive online, fun with friends.
• [03:00] “It’s a totally level playing field.”
• Bonus shoutout: Madden 26, which Ryan’s previewed (runs well even on Switch 2).

5. Hogwarts Legacy

• Ryan finally plays the Switch 2 version; immersive Harry Potter world.
• [04:30] “You basically get to be a student at Hogwarts and do all the things you would expect to do… flying and racing on broomsticks, and teaming up with a teacher to solve a great mystery.”
• High praise for story; available on all major platforms (free with PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium).

(Brief break for fundraising message) [05:33-06:26]

6. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Switch 2 Edition

• Enhanced performance and new companion app (Zelda Notes).
• [06:32] “Runs smoother than butter on hot pancakes.”
• Rec: Download Zelda Notes app for 100% completion help; only on Switch 2.

7. Ninja Games:

• Ninja Ragebound (2D, throwback to classic Ninja Gaiden): More fun on non-Switch systems due to frame rate.
• Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (demo out, Metroidvania-style adventure).
• Atomic Owl (not yet on consoles): Anticipation for the console launch later in the year.
• [07:20] “I think ninjas are the coolest people ever… and since I’m not allowed to carry a sword or throwing stars, I’ve been playing a lot of ninja games.”

8. Deltarune

• Side-sequel to Undertale; praised for writing and RPG nostalgia.
• Free chapters 1–2 (PC, Mac, PlayStation, Switch), chapters 3–4 are paid.
• [08:20] “Fun fact: if you rearrange the letters in Undertale, you get Deltarune.”

9. Split Fiction

• New from Hazelight (makers of It Takes Two).
• Co-op game about writers stuck in colliding sci-fi and fantasy worlds.
• [09:00] “Highly, highly, highly recommend. I think it's a Game of the Year contender.”
• Play with family or friends for maximum fun.

10. Donkey Kong Bonanza (Switch 2 Exclusive)

• Ryan’s most-played and most-anticipated game of the summer.
• Combines Donkey Kong and Pauline in quirky underground adventures against the evil mining company Voidco.
• Unique animal-powered abilities (the “bonanzas”) and varied gameplay styles.
• [10:30] “There’s no right or wrong way to play it… this is a Game of the Year contender and it’s officially my favorite video game of the summer.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On solo podcasting:
  “I might as well do something… this is a 10News Super Secret Special bonus episode all about by myself. Let’s go!” – Ryan [00:41]

• On Mario Kart World:
  “It absolutely did not disappoint… Mario Kart is best played with friends. And it got heated.” – Ryan [01:30]

• On Ruffy and the Riverside’s originality:
  “Ruffy’s powers include copying and pasting so you can copy an environment or texture like water or sand and paste them onto other things to solve puzzles. It’s very original and it has 1990s vibes, so I dig it.” – Ryan [02:30]

• On Breath of the Wild (Switch 2 Edition):
  “The game looks better than ever and runs smoother than butter on hot pancakes.” – Ryan [06:32]

• On Split Fiction:
  “Highly, highly, highly recommend. I think it's a Game of the Year contender and you can play Split Fiction on Switch 2, PC, Xbox and PS5.” – Ryan [09:00]

• On Donkey Kong Bonanza:
  “There’s no right or wrong way to play it. For instance, a tenner named Jax likes to speedrun the game, while I like to take my time and just smash everything that I possibly can and also find as many bananas as possible…” – Ryan [10:30]

• Listener Shout-outs:

  • “A Tenner named Grace said, ‘I love the show. Thank you your Grace.’” [11:15]
  • “A Tenner named Archie said, ‘I love this podcast. I listen to it every day and I love the 10 new snaps. Definitely 5 stars.’” [11:22]
  • From ‘Hot Sauce’: “Great podcast. And I love this podcast because it is informative but not boring. I also like how they describe the topic more than other podcasts.” [11:30]
  • Ryan’s reply: “So I’m glad you don’t think we’re boring.” [11:37]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00–01:00] — Ryan realizes he’s alone; sets up surprise solo gaming bonus episode.
• [01:10–05:25] — The 10 games: detailed breakdown of each summer favorite (Mario Kart World to Hogwarts Legacy).
• [05:33–06:26] — Fundraising message (skip).
• [06:26–11:10] — Remaining top games (Zelda, Ninja games, Deltarune, Split Fiction, Donkey Kong Bonanza).
• [11:12–12:15] — Listener 10News Snapshots; podcast community shout-outs.

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Episode Tone & Takeaways

• Language and Tone: Friendly, high-energy, and playful—Ryan’s enthusiasm for summer, friends, and gaming shines through every pick.
• Content: Excellent mix for kids and families—originals, classics, oddballs, sports, and adventure titles all get equal attention.
• Not just reviews: The episode is about sharing enthusiasm, recommending fun, and building a sense of community among listeners (the “Tenners”).

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Conclusion

This special bonus episode is a perfect bite-sized rundown for anyone curious about both new and classic video games for kids. With personal stories, honest opinions, and quirky humor, Ryan keeps things informative but never boring, promising both inspiration and practical tips for curious kid gamers and their adults.

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For full game details and more listener shoutouts, check out the full episode!

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Summary by Podcast Summarizer AI

Transcript

[A]

Okay, this is weird. Hello? Hello? Okay.

[B]

Hey, Rye. What's up?

[A]

Where are you and where is everyone?

[B]

I'm at the beach and I'm pretty sure everyone is still on vacation. Are you in the office?

[A]

Yeah. Because it's August 14th and we're supposed to be back on.

[B]

Oh, no, no, no. Ry, we're back on August 28th. Yes.

[A]

Oh, yep. That is definitely my bad. Thank you. Have a great time at the beach.

[B]

Bye.

[A]

Okay, well, I'm here in the studio alone, so I might as well do something. I'm Ryan Willard. It's Thursday, August 14th, and this is a 10News Super Secret Special bonus episode all about by myself. Let's go. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. All right, Tenners. I hope you've been having a tremendous summer. Filled with water fights, barbecues, bicycle adventures, ice cream sundaes and boba tea and all the good stuff, obviously. I hope you didn't have any bad vibes, tummy aches, or land in your ear like some people did. No. In case you're wondering, I've been having a great time these past couple months, on break from the show, and I played more video games than I've ever played in one single summer. And I still have a few weeks left. So today I'm going to tell you the 10 games I've been playing this summer and what I think of them. These are 10 games you need to know, plus some bonus games, of course. Ggs. Good games. First off, obviously, I've been playing Mario Kart World on my Switch 2. It was the big launch title and it absolutely did not disappoint. The skill ceiling is really high, so anyone can pick up and play, but there are some insane tricks and shortcuts that I've already seen people do. Mario Kart is best played with friends, so I've gotten to play with some tenors like Jacks Mine, Max, Audrey, Juno and Will. And it got heated. Next up is a game called Blueprints, where you inherit a mysterious, ever shifting mansion from your great uncle. And to fully inherit the estate, you must find the hidden 46th room. Blueprints is a roguelike puzzle game, so every time you play, you start from fresh and the mansion changes. It's not scary or anything, but it's got a cool story and it's really fun to explore the mansion and solve all of the puzzles. Blueprints is on Xbox, PS5 and PC. Number three is Ruffy and the Riverside, which is an indie old school 3D platformer that is Hand drawn, it looks really, really cool. You play as Ruffy the Bear and when an alien cube named Grohl shows up and steals powerful magic marbles, you gotta get those marbles back and save the riverside. Ruffy's powers include copying and pasting so you can copy an environment or texture like water or sand and paste them onto other things to solve puzzles. It's very original and it has 1990s vibes, so I dig it. Ruffy and the Riverside is on PC, Switch 1 and 2, Xbox and PS5 number four I've been playing Rematch which is an arcade style soccer game or football if you're anywhere but America. When I say arcade style, it's either 3v3, 4v4 or 5v5 and matches all last six minutes. It's a fast and loose type of soccer game and there are no fouls, no offsides, and no handballs. There's also no corner or goal kicks and there's no progression or skill points to earn, so it's a totally level playing field. I will say when I played online players it got a little sweaty, but when I play with my friends I had a blast. Rematch is available on PS5, Xbox and PC. Also got to give a side shout out to Madden 26. I got an advanced copy and I've just started playing it. It's the first time Madden has been on a Nintendo system since Madden 13 and it does run well on the Switch too. But I will say I've been playing it mainly on my PlayStation 5 and since I haven't played Madden in a long time I I've been stuck in the skills trainer mode which is a souped up tutorial and it's actually really awesome. Madden 25 is available on Switch 2, PS5, Xbox and PC number 5 Hogwarts Legacy this game came out in 2023 but I got the Switch 2 edition and dude, if you like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you'll think this game is unbelievably cool. You get to create your own character, get get sorted into a house and then swept right into the original story. You basically get to be a student at Hogwarts and do all the things you would expect to do. Learning a ton of cool spells, flying and racing on broomsticks, and teaming up with a teacher to solve a great mystery. I don't want to give anything away because the story was awesome. Hogwarts Legacy is available on Switch 1 and 2, Xbox and PlayStation 4 and 5, but if you have PlayStation plus and Extra or Premium it's available for free. Okay, I need to take a quick break and catch my breath.

[B]

Hey, grown ups. It's me, Tracy Leeds Kaplan. Can I borrow you for a minute? Don't tell Ryan, but I'm calling in from the beach with an ask for you. Wonderful parents, guardians, caretakers all around awesome adults. Here it is. We have kicked off our fundraising to support the next season of the 10News. We need your help to make sure we can commit to a full season. If you're able to help us with a gift, you'll find the link to our fundraising site in the show description. We do have a bunch of different ways to support the show and all gifts are appreciated. And if we don't fit in your family's budget right now, another way to help us out is tell your friends about the show. Leave us a review, rate it. Make sure everyone you know is listening to the ten News. Thank you for being part of the tenu's family now. Speaking of family, I better get back to mine. Owen, did you put on any sunblock?

[A]

And we're back. All right, number six. I know this is a game that is older than some of you tenors, but I've been playing the Legend of Zelda Breath of the wild. The Switch 2 Edition has a much higher frame rate so the game looks better, better than ever and run smoother than butter on hot pancakes. And if you're allowed to download the Switch app for a device, there's something called Zelda Notes which is a companion app and it gives you additional story through Zelda's voice, memories and even a navigation tracker to help you find everything possible so you can 100% that game, Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition is only available on Switch 2. Number seven, if you didn't know, I think ninjas are the coolest people ever. And since I'm not allowed to carry a sword or throwing stars, I've been playing a lot of ninja games. First off, I got Ninja Ragebound, which is based on the original Ninja Gaiden series and it brings it back to its original roots. Other Ninja gaiden games were 3D, but Ragebound brought it back to its 2D side scrolling beginnings. It's simple, yet hard and fun. I'm digging it. Unfortunately, I bought the Switch version which runs at 30 frames per second, but the Xbox, PlayStation and PC versions run at a smooth 60 frames per second. I'm hoping there's a Switch 2 update, but I haven't heard anything yet. Oh, there's also a really cool demo out for Shinobi Art of Vengeance, which is actually based on an old arcade and Sega franchise that started in 1987. The new shinobi feels a bit like a Metroidvania, meaning you'll have to explore a lot. And the last ninja game that I'm very excited for is called Atomic Owl, but that's not out for consoles yet, it's only on PC. I will update when I've got it on consoles, which is supposed to happen later this year. Number eight is Deltarune, which is a side sequel to the legendary RPG Undertale. Deltarune takes inspiration from Earthbound and other Super Nintendo RPGs. It's basically an elevated old school RPG with really great writing. Toby Fox is a master game creator and deltarunes Chapter one through four are no exception. Fun fact, if you rearrange the letters in Undertale, you get Deltarune. As of now, Deltarune chapters one and two are available for free on PC, Mac, PlayStation and Switch and if you like that, you can purchase chapters three or four to continue the journey. And for number nine, it's Split Fiction from Hazelight, the studio that made the award winning game It Takes two. Split Fiction is a co op game where a science fiction writer and a fantasy writer are invited to test out a simulation machine where they experience their own stories. The two accidentally collide and so the pair just keep jumping between a futuristic high speed cyber world and a fantastical fantasy world with wizards and magical creatures. It is really fun to play with a friend or family member. Highly, highly, highly recommend. I think it's a Game of the year contender and you can play Split Fiction on Switch 2, PC, Xbox and PS5. And at number 10 is the game I played the most this summer. Drumroll please. What do you think it is by the way? All right, I'll just tell you. It is Donkey Kong Bonanza. When I got a sneak Preview of the Switch 2, I said that this was my most anticipated game and it was worth the wait. It's from the same team that made Super Mario Odyssey and is just incredibly fun to play. You play as Donkey Kong paired up with a young singer named Pauline and and you travel deeper and deeper underground to catch and stop the mining company voidco who is a group that stole the Banandium gems to fuel their meteor ship. Along the way you get bonanzas which are different animal infused powers that make Donkey Kong way op so you can get super strong, crazy fast and a whole bunch of other powers. My favorite part of the game is that there's no right or wrong way to play it. For instance, a tenner named Jax likes to speedrun the game, while I like to take my time and just smash everything that I possibly can and also find as many bananas as possible. I also think that this is a Game of the Year contender and it's officially my favorite video game of the summer. Donkey Kong Bonanza is only available on Switch 2 and that is that Owen's on summer break so there's no trivia today. And Pam and Cap are on a beach somewhere. So I guess it's time for 10 new snapshots right after this quick note for the grownups. It's time for 10 new snaps. A tenor named Grace said, I love the show. Thank you your Grace. A tenor named Archie said, I love this podcast. I listen to it every day and I love the 10 new snaps. Definitely 5 stars. Thank you for that Archie. And I hope you like your 10 new snap and a tenor named Hot Sauce said, Great podcast. And I love this podcast because it is informative but not boring. I also like how they describe the topic more than other podcasts. You know, I gotta tell you, Hot Sauce, we do our absolute best and try really hard to give you a great podcast. So I'm glad you don't think we're boring. And then Ezbear 20, Agpi, Taco Seal and Winter C11 all seem to have left reviews that contain a lot of. I don't like it, I don't want it. Why would you do that to me on my summer break? And if you want to help support the 10News, you can make a tax deductible donation at the link in our show notes. The whole team thanks you for your support. The 10 News is a co production of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter podcasts and part of the Airwave podcast network. The 10News credit team is not here. No one's here. So I'm only going to shout out our editor for doing what he does best. Thank you Adam the Great Bambido Bernard Our production director is Jeremiah on Fire Tittle, and our executive producers are Donald Albright. Albright Albright. And show creator Tracy takes the leads. Kaplan I'm Ryan Willard. Thanks for listening to this 10News bonus episode. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Steve Cubine and Nan McNamara's podcast From Beneath the Hollywood sign pulls out a box and gives McAllister a ring, saying, here's something to remember me by. Daryl Zanuck Hit the roof. Mary Astor has been keeping a diary.

[B]

This torrid Affair with George S. Kaufman is chronicled on a daily basis, talking.

[A]

About the actors and actresses who won an Oscar on their very first film. Get your fix of old Hollywood on the podcast From Beneath the Hollywood Sign.