Episode 412 – Video Game Gift Guide

Our yearly show with Engaged Family Gaming, where we talk about what video games might be on your kids' wishlists.




00:00 Fact for 412






412 is the area code for Pittsburgh (and they seem really proud of it).






The most people washing dishes simultaneously is 412 and was achieved by Henkel (Algeria) and Pril-Isis, in Algiers, Algeria, on 16 June 2017.






https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/112306-most-people-washing-dishes-simultaneously




Sponsor Message






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0:04:30 What We've Been Playing – with November Monthly Report!






Anitra: 54 plays of 28 unique games. H-index: 4 (Chit Chat, Trio, INK, Leaders, Odin) – and Andrew is the most played-with person by a huge margin!






Andrew: 40 plays of 18 unique games. H-index 4 (Chit Chat, Leaders, Odin, Trio). 35 games together with Anitra! Pretty much everything was 2 players or 5 players.






Check out our recent reviews for INK (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/ink/) and Odin (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/odin/) .
Leaders
Jungo (check out our review! (https://www.thefamilygamers.com/jungo/) )
Logic & Lore
S'mores Galore Roast & Write
For Sale




0:10:40 The Family Gamers Community






Welcome to our newest community members (https://www.facebook.com/groups/familygamersaa/posts/4241818386107619/) on Facebook! In these darkest days of the year, let's share some light with each other. Stop in and say hello.




#Backtalk






We asked what you like to do with your family that ISN'T boardgames.






A few of you answered on the #backtalk channel (https://discord.com/channels/1157003438425653379/1239323617368604672) on the Discord and in our Facebook community (https://www.facebook.com/groups/familygamersaa/posts/4233763403579784/) .




0:19:00 Video Games with Engaged Family Gaming






Stephen Duetzmann helps us with the best video games to give this year, via the Engaged Family Gaming holiday list (https://engagedfamilygaming.com/parent-resources/holiday-gifts/the-official-engaged-family-gaming-holiday-gift-guide-video-games/) .






But first we talk about videogames we've been playing:






Dogpile (on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3839300/Dogpile/) )
Metroid Prime 4
Dredge (more info (https://www.dredge.game/) )
Hollow Knight: Silksong (which Andrew just finished – more info (https://hollowknightsilksong.com/) )




0:36:00 Consoles






PS5 or Xbox Series X – They are very expensive and not focused on family-friendly titles. Not recommended unless you really want it for games you can't get elsewhere.




0:37:15 Multi-platform Games






Civilization VII – the rough edges have been sanded off. Pick a leader, but jump to different civilizations in each age. Plays pretty well on any console and on PC, but if you have a Switch 2, buy it for that system, so you can use the mouse controller.






Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown – turn based tactical game that still forces you to move forward like a typical side-scrolling brawler.






Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar – cozy “farm and town” game with engine-building. Has a week cycle as well as a day cycle.






Sonic Racing: Crossworlds – good if you don't have Mario Kart.






Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted




0:45:00 Playstation Exclusives






“Playstation didn't put out anything that didn't involve mass-murder.”






Ghost of Yotei – only for grownups, but gorgeous.






nothing else really new, but Astro Bot, Final Fantasy VII, and Spider-man 2 are still great choices.




0:46:50 Xbox Exclusives






Also not much new that isn't “headshot-central”. But Star Wars Outlaws is updated and even better than it was last year.




0:47:45 Nintendo Switch / Switch 2






Both consoles are good choices: Switch 2 is very cool. Original Switch is the value choice, and those games will still work if you decide to upgrade later to the Switch 2.






Mario Kart World






Donkey Kong Bananza






Also recommended: Metroid Prime 4 – if you liked Metroid Prime
and Kirby Air Riders






“If you get a Switch 2, don't limit yourself to just Switch 2 games” – get older original Switch games, too. A lot of them have been updated for the better graphics of the Switch 2, and they'll be great!




0:53:00 Online Play and Online Sales






You need to do the math and decide if these are worth it for your family. Good alternative to buying a single game if you don't know what game your recipient would want.






Nintendo Switch Online – $80 for up to 8 users (don't all have to be in the same location), even cheaper if you only need one user. This is absolutely necessary to play online AND gives you access to a bunch of older games.






XBox Game Pass – probably ...