The Insert Credit Show

Insert Credit nominates and ranks the fifteen best video games of the year 2025.

Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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(Finalized list appears at the bottom of the show notes, don’t spoil yourself!)

SHOW NOTES:

Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure

“Displeased! If I breathe, if I live, I am displeased. Only the dead are satisfied.”

52 Pickup

Video Game History Foundation Digital Archive

Demonschool

1: Ash Parrish’s First Nominee (05:20)

South of Midnight

BDS

Ahmed Best

Jar Jar Binks

2: Brandon Sheffield’s First Nominee (09:27)

Yakuza series

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Ichiban Kasuga

Kazuma Kiryu

Goro Majima

Yakuza 0

Deadpool

3: Frank Cifaldi’s First Nominee (14:46)

Wanderstop

Davey Wreden

The Stanley Parable

The Beginner’s Guide

Animal Crossing series

4: Ash’s Second Nominee (20:34)

Blue Prince

Escape Academy

5: Brandon’s Second Nominee (24:50)

Asura the Striker

Space Harrier

OutRun

Darius

6: Frank’s Second Nominee (28:01)

The Roottrees are Dead

The Séance of Blake Manor

HowLongToBeat.com

7: Ash’s Third Nominee (32:37z)

Dead Take

Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Assassin’s Creed: Origins

Full-motion video

Ben Starr

Neil Newbon

Final Fantasy XVI

Baldur’s Gate III

Matt Mercer

Jeffrey Epstein

Harvey Weinstein

Alan Wake series

Sam Lake

Max Payne series

Palworld

Meet The Unconventional Publishers Trying To Unfuck The Games Industry

8: Brandon’s Third Nominee (37:53)

Call of Ponchy : Mahjong Warfare

Fortnite

D3Publisher Inc.

9: Frank’s Third Nominee (43:24)

Silent Hill f

Silent Hill 2

Sonic the Werehog

Bonk

Bubsy

Frank’s Top 5 Albums of the Year (54:01)

The Tune-Yards - Better Dreaming

Deep Sea Diver - Billboard Heart

Tunde Adebimpe - Thee Black Boltz

Wet Leg - moisturizer

Wet Leg: Tiny Desk Concert

Wednesday - Bleeds

10: Ash’s Fourth Nominee (59:31)

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hollow Knight

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

11: Brandon’s Fourth Nominee (01:05:41)

Hypogea

Quake

12: Frank’s Fourth Nominee (01:08:50)

Windswept

Donkey Kong Country

Kaizo

Super Mario series

Oh, Deer!

13: Ash’s Fifth Nominee (01:14:37)

News Tower

Citizen Kane (1941)

Game Dev Story

Home of the Underdogs

Superhero League of Hoboken

Mad TV

14: Brandon’s Fifth Nominee (01:22:01)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Promise Mascot Agency

Insert Credit Gaiden #13 - The Intended Game, with Oli Clarke Smith

15: Frank’s Fifth Nomination (01:27:41)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater

Hideo Kojima

16: Alex Jaffe’s First Nomination (01:33:29)

THE INSERT CREDIT GAME OF THE YEAR 2025 TOP 16:

Silent Hilf ($69.99) [14 hrs]

News Tower ($24.99) [9.5 hrs]

South of Midnight ($39.99) [11.5 hrs]

Wanderstop ($24.99) [10.5 hrs]

Hollow Knight: Silksong ($19.99) [28 hrs]

Blue Prince ($29.99) [26.5 hrs]

Dead Take ($14.99) [4 hrs]

Promise Mascot Agency ($24.99) [12.5 hrs]

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii ($59.99) [36 hrs]

Windswept ($19.99) [9.5 hrs]

Hypogea ($9.99) [2.5 hrs]

Asura the Striker ($14.99) [0.5 hrs]

The Roottrees are Dead ($19.99) [11.5 hrs]

Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater ($69.99) [12 hrs]

Call of Ponchy: Mahjong Warfare ($0.99) [??? hrs]

Demonschool ($24.99) [31.5 hrs]

This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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The finest minds in video games discuss the evolution of turn-based combat, turning pixels into symphonies, and the devastating return of Violence Island.

Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Watch episodes with full video on YouTube

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

SHOW NOTES:

Audacity

E3

Doctor Who

Doctor Manhattan

Blink

Tom Baker

Sherlock

Steven Moffat

Daliens

Cybermen

“Do you think people are happy in this wizard kingdom?”

Mega Man series

Clown Man

It

Nicole Kidman

Kid n’ Play

1: What tips you off that someone discussing video games has no idea what they’re talking about? (06:08)

New York Times

IGF Awards

Call of Duty series

Mega Man: Legacy Collection

Batman

Superman

Zack Snyder

Madden series

Daryl Hall & John Oates - Out Of Touch

2: How have turn-based battle systems evolved over 30 years? (11:58)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Shin Megami Tensei series

Valkyria Chronicles

Final Fantasy XII

Parasite Eve

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Kingdoms of the Dump

The Doors - Riders On The Storm

Final Fantasy X-2

3: On what occasions have you wished a game was harder? (17:27)

Soulslike

Gunstar Heroes

Bayonetta 3

Pokemon series

4: If we were to re-establish an official video game seal of quality, what would be the qualifying criteria? (21:41)

Official Nintendo Seal

Steam Deck

5: Syswivv asks, what kind of video game would Andy Warhol have made? (28:08)

Andy Warhol

Madonna

Fortnite

CD-i

Eric Idle

Starship Titanic

Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream

CD+G

Sega CD

Empire (1965)

Peter Molyneux

MAGFest

GDC

Bubsy 3D: Bubsy Visits the James Turrell Retrospective

James Turrell

6: Describe Bubsy 3D: Bubsy Visits the James Turrell Retrospective to Ash (32:24)

Arcane Kids

Donut County

Bubsy series

7: What’s the best use a game has ever made of being able to click in the analog stick? (34:39)

The Godfather: The Game

Manhunt

God of War III

Oedipus

Yanya Caballista: City Skater

Katamari Damacy

Kinect

Ghost (1990)

Octodad: Dadliest Catch

8: Who is your favorite video game character to debut in the last ten years? (40:39)

Crow Country

Mara Forest

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hornet

Bayonetta series

Bayonetta

Nier: Automata

2B

Indika

Final Fantasy XV

Prompto Argentum

Ignis Scientia

Overwatch

Tracer

Baldur’s Gate III

Astarion

Balan Wonderworld

Balan

Concord

LIGHTNING ROUND: Violence Island (46:02)

Recommendations and Outro (01:01:52):

Brandon: The Most Terrible Time in My Life (1993), Gnosia, yucca

Ash: Put chili crisp on everything, Support Laid-off Vox Media Workers

Frank: Lil’ baby potatoes

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Our heroes confront video game movie adaptations, how controversy sells games, and Tom Cruise in Sonic 3 & Knuckles the Porn Parody the Official Game of the Movie.

Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank “Baseball” Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Watch episodes with full video on YouTube

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

SHOW NOTES:

The mushroom making people hallucinate dozens of tiny humans

Lilliputians

“If I was a creature made of stagnant water, I’d rather die and return to my bog.”

Mark McGwire

Michael Jordan

Sylvester the Cat

Yosemite Sam

Dennis Rodman

Akron RubberDucks

Ricky Henderson

Twitch banned Dr Disrespect after viewing messages sent to a minor, say former employees

1: What are some good games with built in breaks? (08:20)

Demonschool

Final Fantasy XV

Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VIII

Hades

Loop Hero

Ball x Pit

Arkanoid

Hypogea

Quake

2: Which character has suffered the biggest design downgrade in video game history? (15:50)

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

Earthworm Jim HD

Arle Nadja

Overwatch 2

Ugly Sonic

Sonic Boom series

Sonic Adventure series

Cloud Strife

Ballz

Fat Pikachu

Bomberman: Act:Zero

Tomb Raider series

Mario

3: Who’s your Mario? (21:29)

Neo Geo Pocket

Sonic The Hedgehog Pocket Adventure

Super Mario Galaxy

Super Mario Bros. 2

Astal

Superstar Saga series

Alex Kidd in Shinobi World

4: Is the average video game based on a movie better than the average movie based on a video game? (25:42)

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Super Mario Bros. (1993)

Max Headroom

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)

Return to Silent Hill (2026)

Fallout

Silent Hill f

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School

Sweet Home

Werewolves of London

5: SaveaSaturn asks, what game that you’ve never played would you take to a desert island with you? (31:39)

Mario Kart series

Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space

Magic: the Gathering Arena

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Baldur’s Gate III

Dezaemon 2

Dragon Quest series

Satisfactory

Super Mario Maker 2

NetHack

Caves of Qud

Make My Video: Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

6: What makes bad video games successful? (38:30)

Horses

Hatred

Fortnite

Super Smash Brothers series

Sonic ’06

Top Gun (1986)

Top Gun

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. 3

7: What is the “Maybe it will happen today” of video games? (44:17)

Mother 3

Duke Nukem Forever

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Beyond Good and Evil 2

SNK

Kingdom Hearts IV

Chrono Trigger

Fallout: New Vegas

LIGHTNING ROUND: GameFAQ&As - Genshin Impact (49:54)

Recommendations and Outro (56:38):

Brandon: From the Fields granola, Dosa Chips, American Rickshaw (1989), please review Demonschool positively on Steam

Frank: Rate and review things in general

This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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As has become tradition, Insert Credit ranks the best games of all time. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Watch episodes with full video on YouTube

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

SHOW NOTES:

Digital Eclipse

Final Fantasy VIII

“If I die here alone, a miserable death, no one will bother to pick up my bones.”

Sonic the Hedgehog

Arator the Redeemer

World of WarCraft

Demonschool

Ryu Number

#IDARB

Street Fighter: 30th Anniversary Collection

Aetherdrift

Bestow Greatness (the supposed Ash card)

Johnny Silverhand

Yakuza 0

EarthBound

Super Mario Bros. 3

Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei

Doom

OutRun: Online Arcade

Silent Hill

1: Frank’s Mom’s Favorite Game (08:56)

Super Mario series

2: Ash’s Cousin Eric’s Favorite Game (14:07)

Ms. Pac-Man

Sega Genesis

Mortal Kombat series

Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures

3: Brandon’s Partner Christina’s Favorite Game (19:45)

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Nintendo DS

Grand Theft Auto series

Game Boy Advance

Ivy the Kiwi?

4: Frank’s Co-host Ash’s Favorite Game (25:08)

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Overwatch

Bayonetta

Sonic the Hedgehog Part II

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles

Sega Technical Institute

Mark Cerny

5: Ash’s Friend Nicki’s Favorite Game (34:34)

Pokémon Red Version

The Vision of Escaflowne

ACen

Pokémon Blue Version

Sega Game Gear

MissingNo

Sailor Moon

Street Sharks

Pikachu

6: Brandon’s Dad’s Favorite Game (39:52)

Military Madness

TurboGrafx-16

Famicom Wars

Advance Wars

Neutopia

Legend of Zelda series

Tetris

Spelling Bee

Sub Hunt

PalmPilot

Atari 2600

Circus

7: Frank’s Best Friend and Editor Esper’s Favorite Game (45:31)

Drifting Off with Joe Pera: A Sleep Podcast

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Final Fantasy VII

Phil Salvador

Sega Saturn

Final Fantasy VII: Remake

Barrett Wallace

Final Fantasy Got It Right With Two Black Fathers

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

8: Ash’s Friend Will’s Favorite Game (55:34)

Karazhan

Ventrillo

Hikikomori

Elwynn Forest

Dreadsteed

9: Brandon’s Friend Scott’s Favorite Game (01:04:38)

Final Fantasy VI

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Record of Lodoss War

La Blue Girl

Nobuo Uematsu

10: Frank’s Friend Lucy’s Favorite Game (01:11:42)

Mass Effect 2

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Fallout: New Vegas

11: Ash’s Cousin Jason’s Favorite Game (01:24:29)

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai

Dragon Ball Z

Vegeta

Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball Super

12: Brandon’s Former Coworker Christian’s Favorite Game (01:32:36)

Ys: Book I & II

Tengai Makyō: Ziria

Bump System

The Frog For Whom the Bell Tolls

13: Frank’s Wife Amanda’s Second Favorite Game (01:38:38)

Kickle Cubicle

Irem

R-Type series

Disaster Report series

Adventures of Lolo

14: Ash’s Husband Travis’s Favorite Game (01:42:33)

Contra III: The Alien Wars

Mana series

Castlevania: Bloodlines

Contra Hard Corps

Weenie Hut Jr’s

Super Castlevania IV

UFO 50

15: Brandon’s College Friend and Insert Credit Co-Founder Vincent’s Favorite Game (01:47:42)

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Puyo Puyo Sun

Bubble Bobble

Puzzle Bobble

16: Frank’s Pal Ian’s Favorite Game (01:52:31)

Killer7

Suda51

Cam Clarke

Resident Evil 4

No More Heroes

Shadows of the Damned

17: Ash’s Sister Alexis’s Favorite Game (01:59:53)

Uno No Mercy

Connect Four

Kingdom Hearts

Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit

Disney Channel

No Strings Attached

Katamari Damacy

18: Brandon’s Friend Chaz’s Favorite Game (02:06:00)

Shining Force II

N-Gage

19: Frank’s Other Friend Ian’s Favorite Game (02:10:48)

Super Mario World

Kaizo

Super Mario Maker

Disneyland

Walt Disney World

20: Ash’s Best Friend Abby’s Favorite Game (02:17:11)

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Baldur’s Gate series

Alistair

Sid Meier’s Civilization series

Cullen Rutherford

Miscegenation

21: Brandon’s Coworker Tara’s Favorite Game (02:28:43)

Aces Wild: Manic Brawling Action!

NieR: Automata

NieR

PlatinumGames Inc.

Final List (02:28:43)

View the finalized list right here!

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The panel reviews Mr. Bones, a Sega Saturn classic featuring frustrating design choices, a certain comedy level, and skeletism.

Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Watch episodes with full video on YouTube

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

SHOW NOTES:

“Oh, there go all my bones!”

Mr. Bones

Bonk series

1: How did we get here? (03:57)

Sega Saturn

Star Trek

Awesome Games Done Quick

January 6 United States Capitol attack

Mr. Bones by Lizstar in 1:12:00

Boneitis

LSD: Dream Emulator

Game Boy Color

Game Gear

Street Fighter series

PlayStation

Sega Genesis

Sega Dreamcast

Ronnie Montrose

Ed Anunziatta

Sinners (2025)

Paul Pena

Bastion

2: What are the good versions of the ideas presented in this game? (27:20)

Tempest

Vectorman series

Arzette: the Jewel of Faramore

Fitz Houston

Seinfeld

Contra series

3: Brenton Woodrow asks, which Saturn or Dreamcast game that never had a sequel is best suited for a sequel in 2021? (37:02)

Burning Rangers

Magic Knight Rayearth

Sonic R

Richard Jacques

Sonic & All-Stars Racing series

Powerslave

Black Fire

Metroid Prime

Final Fantasy II

Last Bronx

Shining Force series

Panzer Dragoon Saga

Rick Moranis

Clockwork Knight

Dark Savior

4: If not Mr. Bones, what’s the best skeleton in a video game? (42:04)

Dry Bones

Dry Bowser

Mr. Bones Japanese cover

Grateful Dead

5: Let’s talk about this game’s comedy level (44:46)

Monkey Island series

Grand Theft Auto series

Super Mario series

Jeff Fort

Zono, Inc.

Generations Lost

Bruce Straley

The Last of Us

KISS

Frank’s preservation of the print art for Generations Lost

X-Men

6: What can we learn about the blues from this video game? (51:07)

Paul Pena

Jet Airliner

7: Do you like Mr. Bones? (56:43)

TechnoClash

X-Men 2: Clone Wars

The Amazing Spider-Man: Web of Fire

Sega Channel

Sega Menacer

Freak Boy

LIGHTNING ROUND: Name Design - Mr. Organs (01:02:31)

Credit Report (01:08:16)

Recommendations and Outro (01:13:08):

Brandon: The All New, All Astonishing Insert Credit Patreon, May I Ask For One Final Thing?, Journal with Witch, Blackhawk Museum

Ash: Ball x Pit, touch grass, tell people you care about them, this empire shall burn too

Frank: someone make a thread in the forums of media where fascists lose and die

This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

Subscribe: RSS, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!