Game Pass Grab Bag

In this episode the hosts review the game 'Keeper' by Double Fine Studios. They discuss their experiences with the gameplay, art style, and narrative elements, ultimately sharing their thoughts on whether the game is a keeper or a pass. The conversation highlights the game's unique artistic approach, the mechanics that frustrated some players, and the lack of a strong narrative. The hosts conclude with their rat...

In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, the hosts review 'The Casting of Frank Stone' by Supermassive Games, discussing its narrative-driven gameplay, character relationships, and pacing issues. They compare it to previous titles from the developer and explore its connection to the Dead by Daylight universe, ultimately concluding that while it has potential, it falls short in execution. In this conversation, the hosts de...

In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, the hosts dive into the psychological horror game 'Transference.' They discuss the game's spooky elements, gameplay mechanics, and the intricate storytelling that unfolds through various character perspectives. The conversation explores themes of family dynamics, control, and the impact of past traumas, all while analyzing the audio-visual design that enhances the eerie atmosph...

In this episode, the hosts discuss their experiences with Deep Rock Galactic Survivor, a game that combines elements of survival and roguelike mechanics. They explore the gameplay features, meta progression, and the variety of challenges the game offers. The conversation also touches on comparisons with other survivor games like Megabonk and the absence of multiplayer options, highlighting the game's strengths and areas for imp...

In this episode, we discuss Gears of War Reloaded, a remaster of the original Gears of War game. They explore the gameplay mechanics, co-op experience, storytelling, graphics, and audio design. The conversation highlights the nostalgia associated with the game, its revolutionary cover-based shooting mechanics, and the significant skill gap in multiplayer. They also touch on the collectibles that unlock comic book pages, expanding t...

In this episode, the hosts review the indie game Herdling, discussing its gameplay, art style, music, and thematic elements. They explore the game's simplistic mechanics, the ambiguous story, and the unique creatures called calicorns. The conversation highlights the game's strengths in art and sound while critiquing its gameplay depth. Ultimately, the hosts share their ratings and final thoughts, recommending the game for f...

In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, the hosts discuss Hollow Knight: Silksong, exploring its gameplay mechanics, story, art style, audio design, and their final thoughts on the game. They share their experiences, frustrations, and praises for the game, highlighting its difficulty, visual appeal, and engaging sound design. The conversation reflects on the game's impact and its place in the gaming landscape, especially as an i...

In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, the hosts review Assassin's Creed Mirage, discussing its return to traditional gameplay, character development, and the historical context of the game. They express mixed feelings about the storyline and gameplay mechanics, while also contemplating the future of the Assassin's Creed series and its potential for innovation. In this episode, the hosts delve into the intricacies of game d...

In this episode of the Game Pass podcast, the hosts discuss the indie game Crypt Custodian, exploring its gameplay mechanics, story elements, and overall experience. They share their thoughts on the game's Metroidvania style, character development, and the balance between challenge and accessibility. The conversation also touches on the game's humor, puzzles, and the unique aspects of its combat system, culminating in a com...

In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, hosts Andrew and Aaron discuss a variety of gaming topics, including their impressions of the Battlefield 6 beta, upcoming game releases from Gamescom, and their thoughts on various titles available on Game Pass. They also delve into the hype surrounding Silksong, the sequel to Hollow Knight, and explore the differences in gaming experiences across different platforms. The conversation is fill...

In this episode, the hosts discuss their experiences with Grounded 2, an early access game by Obsidian. They explore the game's features, improvements over the first installment, and the overall gameplay experience. The conversation touches on bugs encountered, multiplayer stability, and the development of the story and characters. The hosts also share their thoughts on audio quality, combat mechanics, and the nostalgic element...

In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, I'm stepping in for Andrew while he's on vacation. Join Aaron and me as we dive into the latest Xbox and gaming news. We discuss the unexpected move of Splitgate 2 returning to beta, the ongoing debate over game pricing, and the excitement and concerns surrounding upcoming releases like Battlefield 6. It's a fun and insightful chat, even if I fumble through the intro! Tune in for s...

In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, the hosts dive into the nostalgic world of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4. They discuss the impact of the game on their childhoods, the gameplay mechanics, and the cultural significance of the music featured in the game. The conversation also touches on character customization, unlockables, and the ongoing debate of whether the game is a remake or a remaster. Overall, the episode captures ...

In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, the hosts discuss Splitgate 2, a first-person shooter that incorporates unique portal mechanics. They explore the gameplay mechanics, class system, various game modes including battle royale, and the impact of microtransactions on the player experience. The audio and visual design are critiqued, with a consensus that while the game is fun, it has room for improvement. The hosts share their fin...

In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, the hosts discuss their current gaming experiences, including the recent layoffs at Xbox and the implications for the gaming industry. They explore the upcoming release of PlayStation games on Xbox, the sustainability of Game Pass, and the future of Xbox hardware. The conversation highlights the mixed feelings surrounding Game Pass and its impact on both indie and AAA developers, as well as th...

In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, the hosts review 'Rematch', an arcade soccer game developed by Slow Clap. They discuss their experiences with the game, comparing it to Rocket League, and delve into its gameplay mechanics, character customization, and multiplayer features. The conversation also touches on the game's monetization strategy, including the battle pass system, and concludes with their final thoughts an...

In this episode, the hosts discuss 'The Alters', a unique base management game with a sci-fi theme. They explore the game's story, gameplay mechanics, character dynamics, and audio-visual experience. The conversation highlights the philosophical questions posed by the game, the engaging character interactions, and the overall fun experience it offers. The hosts share their ratings and final thoughts, emphasizing the gam...

In this episode of Game Pass Grab Bag, we dive into a detailed review of Metaphor: ReFantazio, exploring its gameplay mechanics, story, character development, and the social commentary embedded within the game. We discuss the challenges of the RPG genre, the graphics and art style, and the audio experience, while also sharing our personal experiences and ratings of the game. The conversation highlights the game's strengths and weak...