Episodes
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We are officially entering our 11th year, making New Dad Gaming the longest-running fatherhood gaming podcast on the internet! To celebrate, we’re skipping the usual intro poem and taking a deep dive into the current "State of Dad Gaming."
How do your gaming habits change when your kids shift from watching you play Mario Party to setting up their own Steam LAN parties? We discuss avoiding FOMO, relying on the Steam Deck and retro handhelds to squeeze in 20-minute sessions, and the battle of trying to stay awake past 9:30 PM to play AAA titles on a big screen. Finally, we set a public goal: The Expedition 33 Challenge.
Thank you to all the gaming dads who have shared this journey with us for over a decade. Here is to the next 10 years!
Subscribe to the Podcast!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
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Others on Our Website: https://newdadgaming.com/
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The internet is on fire over the official pricing for the new Steam Machine, and we have thoughts. Is the $1,500+ price tag a symptom of the hardware apocalypse, or a massive misstep by Valve? We break down the specs, compare the costs to building a PC, and predict where the console market is headed.
Plus, Jeff attempts to validate his "gamer" status by playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the very first time (and discovers it's actually terrifying), while Trevor returns to Fortnite on mobile with a bizarre third-party controller—and secures a Victory Royale.
Subscribe to the Podcast!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
Others on Our Website: https://newdadgaming.com/
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Missing episodes?
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Nintendo just did the unthinkable: a full remake of Ocarina of Time - the game so many call "perfect" - and it's coming exclusively to the Switch 2. Trevor and Jeff unpack the announcement, the Final Fantasy VII "permission slip" theory behind it, and whether one game is really enough to make a busy dad drop $800 on a new console.
Plus: the strange new milestone of your kid going EASY on you (a "victory through loss" at FIFA), a charming $5 indie hide-and-seek game called Mecca Chameleon that's perfect for gaming with your kids, and why Zelda: Link's Awakening somehow hits harder on a retro handheld than on the Switch remake.
This week's episode opens with a poem - "Paper Flowers" by Jessica Jocelyn - on the fear, and the magic, of having kids.
New Dad Gaming is the longest-running podcast for dads who love games and fatherhood. Hosted by Trevor Alexander and Jeff Smalley since 2015. Just because you became a dad doesn't mean it's game over.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 - Welcome + Poem: "Paper Flowers" by Jessica Jocelyn
01:18 - Listener mail & where's Summer of Beer? (greetings from Colombia)
02:46 - Nintendo remakes Ocarina of Time for Switch 2
10:51 - The $800 Ocarina machine: is it worth buying a Switch 2?
16:31 - When your kid goes easy on you: "victory through loss" at FIFA
21:56 - New game pick: Mecca Chameleon, the $5 paint-and-seek indie
28:31 - Retro pick: why Zelda: Link's Awakening hits harder on a handheld
34:17 - Wrap-up & sign-off
📧 Got a story, question, or beer pick? Reach us at newdadgaming.com
🎧 New episode every week - subscribe wherever you listen:
Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
Others on Our Website:https://newdadgaming.com/
Topics: Ocarina of Time remake, Nintendo Switch 2, Zelda Link's Awakening, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Mecca Chameleon, indie games, retro gaming, gaming with kids, FIFA, gaming dads, fatherhood, parenting, limited game time.
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Clear the dust off if you have an iPod,Final Fantasy could sometimes use an extra clothing mod.
Who knew that a Steam Deck was an asset to invest,And streaming games turns into the great friendship test.
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Just because you became a dad, doesn't mean it's game over.
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Connect with New Dad Gaming:
🎧 Subscribe to New Dad Gaming on your favorite podcast app:
📝 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:https://newdadgaming.com/
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Welcome to New Dad Gaming, where the adult beverages are poured, the kids are (mostly) asleep, and we’re figuring out our gaming lives! This week, Trevor and Jeff read an amazing email from a fellow "Rad Dad" and Less Than Jake fan, proving that passing down your musical taste to your kids is a beautiful—and sometimes surreal—experience.
Then, things get a little savage. Have you ever absolutely destroyed your kid in a game of Monopoly Deal or Mario Party just because you needed to mow the lawn or enforce bedtime? We confess our darkest dad-gaming sins and discuss what happens when the kids start bringing the smack talk.
We also tackle a tough realization: the family living room console might be gathering dust. Are iPads, laptops, and mobile games officially replacing the Switch and PlayStation for the next generation? Finally, Jeff explains how he's surviving Final Fantasy XIV as a busy parent. Spoiler: The free trial and NPC party systems are absolute game-changers for gaming dads who might need to step away at a moment's notice.
In this episode, we cover:
Rad Dad Chronicles: A heartwarming listener story from Deadp 7 about concerts, kids, and pop-punk validation.
Bedtime Sabotage: The ruthless tactics we use in Monopoly Deal and Mario Party to speed up curfew.
The Console Exodus: Why teens and younger kids are abandoning traditional consoles for laptops, phones, and mobile apps.
FFXIV for Dads: How to play a massive MMO like a stress-free, single-player game using the free trial and NPC companions.
Bonus: A quick chat on using AI to build interactive homework tests for the kids.
Connect with Us: Have you ever turned up the heat on your kids in a game? Are your family consoles gathering dust? We'd love to hear your story! Reach out and share your experiences with the gaming dad community.
Website: newdadgaming.com
Socials: @NewDadGaming
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What music do you put on your kid's FIRST MP3 player? Trevor lost sleep over the answer.
This week opens with the universal dad experience: "watch this, Dad!" — followed by the kid's setup that NEVER works on the first try. Trevor and Jeff swap stories of standing patiently as 8-year-olds reset Roblox stages and 13-year-olds re-rig the table for the perfect WWE 2K24 finisher. It is, as Jeff puts it, "a waste of my time" you wouldn't trade for anything.
Listener "you fall before me" wrote in asking about Pragmata — Capcom's upcoming space-dad shooter where you escort a piggybacking AI girl through a Resident Evil-meets-God of War setup. Trevor and Jeff weren't sold on the trailers, but the dad-game tag is doing the work. Verdict: this one's going on the list. Sessionable, 12-15 hours, dad-coded story. Reach out at newdadgaming.com if you've played it.
Then the centerpiece — Trevor bought his oldest a replacement retro console (RIP first one), and the kid asked for music to load onto it. What followed was a parental crisis: deep cuts? popular bangers? things Dad loved at his kid's age? Trevor's final list lands somewhere in the middle: Bruno Mars (radio edit, naturally), Linkin Park (college nostalgia), an Áreva Vega track for the Colombian side of the family, Mariah Carey, White Stripes, 21 Pilots, and his guilty pleasure — Less Than Jake's "Science of Selling Yourself Short." Jeff shares the Just Dance pipeline that got his kids into Queen and AC/DC, and the perennial dad fantasy: bring back Rock Band.
In the L column: Jeff's Gaming Dad Loss with My Little Puppy. His 13-year-old asked for it (it reminded them of the family dog), Jeff bought it the moment it went on sale, and on birthday morning the kid politely asked if they really wanted that game. Steam playtime since: zero. Cautionary tale for any dad tempted to immediately fulfill a gift request — let it simmer.
Trevor brings a head-scratcher next: WWE 2K24 was running in SLOW MOTION on his kids' console and they were just… fine with it. They never said anything. The fix? Turn off the internet. That's it. The game runs at full speed in offline mode. Welcome to gaming in 2026.
The episode closes with a visit to an amusement park, a negative-90-degree roller coaster, and the slow realization that the dad body just doesn't bounce back like it used to. Trevor rode the same coaster five times, came home with neck issues, and is now openly counting the months until his youngest is tall enough to ride alone — at which point Dad is heading directly to the funnel cake stand. The heart is willing, but the body is OUT.
🎮 Topics: "Watch This, Dad" showcases, Pragmata (Capcom space-dad game), curating a kid's first MP3, Bruno Mars vs. Linkin Park vs. Less Than Jake, Just Dance as a music gateway, Rock Band revival hopes, My Little Puppy gift fail, WWE 2K24 slow-motion bug + offline-mode fix, negative-90 roller coasters, the aging dad body, VR roller coasters
📬 Got a story, question, or a soundtrack recommendation for a kid's first playlist? Reach out at newdadgaming.com -
Can your kids finish the classic parent threats? Jeff and Trevor find out — and the answers are heartwarming.This week starts with a social media trend we couldn't resist: parents asking their kids to finish old-school sayings like "as long as you live under my roof..." and "I'll give you something to..." The kids have absolutely no idea. Trevor and Jeff test their own recall against the trauma of the past, and the takeaway is surprisingly sweet — this generation's kids just don't know those threats because modern dads aren't using them anymore.Then Trevor drops an update on Infinite Craft — the browser-based word mashup game we covered last week. Turns out there's no kid-safe mode, and looking over his eight-year-old's shoulder revealed some very adult word combinations. Laptops were shut, the game was banned, and Jeff confesses his teen already "made everything" in the game. The eternal dad question: do you ask what they saw, or let a sleeping dog lie?Jeff hits a milestone nobody's excited about: his 15-year-old is officially on Instagram. It's the first NDG kid on social media. Despite being a teen account, the algorithm immediately served up political garbage instead of skateboarding and art. Jeff and his wife spent day one retraining the feed together and set up a family chat to share good content. Trevor shares a genius trick he used with his kid on Messenger Kids — he had him send a goofy selfie, refused to delete it, then forwarded it to mom. "I didn't let you do that!" "Doesn't matter. You don't own it anymore." Parenting in the digital age, one teachable moment at a time.In lighter news, Trevor was FLOORED to discover that Pokémon TCG Pocket has actual battles. He thought it was just a pack-opening simulator. His kids have thousands of physical Pokémon cards and have never once played the actual game. Jeff might download it for the card battler angle. Trevor might stream it. The future is wide open.Finally, for our Gaming Dad Question of the Week, Logan asks: has becoming a dad made you more emotional during games? Jeff talks about feeling Joel's panic in The Last of Us, and Trevor can't get through "Love You Forever" without losing it. The scenario of playing something heavy late at night and having to wake your kid up just to hug them? Yeah. That hit home.🎮 Topics: Old parent sayings trend, Infinite Craft parental warning, first kid on Instagram, digital literacy for teens, algorithm retraining, photo consent lesson, Pokémon TCG Pocket battles, Songs of Six city builder, Dwarf Fortress vibes, Last of Us dad emotions, God of War parenting, Love You Forever, Ori and the Blind Forest📬 Got a story, question, or a digital parenting win? Reach out at newdadgaming.com Timestamps:00:00 — Poem: old dad sayings & Infinite Craft00:27 — Welcome & intros00:44 — Intros: Trevor (10yo & 8yo) & Jeff (15yo & 12.5yo)00:57 — Old parent sayings trend: can your kids finish "as long as you live under my roof..."?02:57 — "I'll give you something to cry about" — trauma blocks unlocked04:27 — Jeff's kids HAVE heard these — and had no idea what they meant05:57 — Infinite Craft update: no kid-safe mode, adult content discovered07:57 — Jeff's teen "made everything" — do you ask what they saw?09:57 — Songs of Six: Jeff's new city builder obsession (Dwarf Fortress vibes)13:27 — One solo dev, generous demo, incredible soundtrack15:57 — Jeff's kids want war, dad wants to build a longhouse in peace17:37 — First NDG kid on social media: Jeff's 15-year-old joins Instagram19:47 — Algorithm immediately serves garbage to a teen account21:57 — Being a millennial parent navigating social media for the first time23:57 — Trevor's photo consent trick with Messenger Kids26:12 — "You don't own it anymore" — digital literacy teachable moment26:57 — Pokémon TCG Pocket: wait, there are actual BATTLES?29:27 — Dad completely missed half the game for months30:57 — Show wrap-up & sign-off
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Jeff's mid-combat in Kingdom Come Deliverance when everything goes blocky. A quick router check reveals his teen is downloading 100 gigs and pulling 10x the bandwidth. Then comes the plot twist: Trevor secretly set the router to prioritize gaming traffic — meaning his kid's download got VIP treatment because of dad's own settings. Self-own of the year.
From there, Trevor reveals he has a retro console secretly shipping to the house. Problem: his son just bombed his grades and is banned from all games. Now dad's staying up late coaching him through exams — not because he's a great dad, but because he desperately wants to hand over the surprise. Jeff one-ups him with his own tale of self-inflicted punishment: IMAX tickets to Project Hail Mary, snacks packed, ready to pull the kids from school — then the kids acted up and he had to cancel. On himself.
We pitch the ultimate generational escape room: it's 1994, and you have to survive the internet. Download an MP3 without someone picking up the phone. Print MapQuest directions and hope you got the right page. Dads would crush it. Kids would be completely destroyed.
Then we get into console pricing reality. The PS5 is six years old and still getting more expensive. The Pro is $800 CAD. Pre-ordering a console is now the financially responsible move because it will never be cheaper than today. Meanwhile, our kids are happy on browser games.
Finally, the big one: your 14-year-old wants GTA 6 for his birthday. We roleplay the conversation every gaming dad is about to have. The reasoning, the trust angle, and Jeff's closer: "You can't unsee some things."
🎮 Topics: Kingdom Come Deliverance bandwidth wars, router QoS self-own, secret retro console vs. bad grades, IMAX Project Hail Mary dad punishment, 1994 dial-up escape room, PS5 Pro pricing, GTA 6 age-appropriate parenting, dad schemes that backfire
📬 Got a story, question, or a backlog confession? Reach out at newdadgaming.com -
Jeff survived the family plague (barely), and this week we're recording live — poems and all.
This episode kicks off with a live poem creation featuring the Steam Deck and Skate 3. From there, Jeff shares how the Steam Deck was his lifeline while sick on the couch: full Steam library plus PS5 streaming, all from under the blankets. We compare it to the consoles that shaped our lives — the Game Boy SP, the PSP, and why portability matters more than ever for gaming dads.
Then we dig into Pokémon Pocketopia on the Switch 2. Jeff's family is all-in and Trevor might not be far behind. We break down what it is (Minecraft meets Pokémon in a post-apocalyptic world), the Switch 2's GameShare feature that lets you play co-op from a Switch 1, and whether this could be the next Animal Crossing for families.
Jeff's kid discovered Skate 3 on Game Pass and asked dad for help beating a challenge. 100+ hours of muscle memory kicked in — double kickflips, dark slides, 920s. The kid walked out of the room. Trevor confesses he may have traumatized his own kids at Mario Kart and GoldenEye beyond recovery.
We also talk about the "I didn't marry a loser" social media trend — wives pushing back on the incompetent dad stereotype — and what it means that this generation of dads has arrived. Millennial dads are spending three times more quality time with their kids than previous generations. It hit us right in the feels.
Finally, it's the debut of New Dad Gaming Questions! A listener sent in a study from 2averagegamers.com: what 10,000 Reddit comments reveal about the adult gaming backlog. The median gamer sits on 100–150 unplayed games, plays 8–10 hours a week, and 75% feel genuinely guilty about it. Adults who can finally afford all the games they want but lack the time to play them. Sound familiar? Welcome to New Dad Gaming.
🎮 Topics: Steam Deck sick day, Pokémon Pocketopia, Switch 2 GameShare, Skate 3 dad flex, Mario Kart trauma, "I didn't marry a loser" trend, modern fatherhood, gaming backlog paradox, No New Games 2025, adult gaming guilt
📬 Got a story, question, or a backlog confession? Reach out at newdadgaming.com -
The New Dads dive into a great listener email covering why it's time to kick Roblox to the curb, the magic of the Steam Deck on snow days, and fan-made Pokémon ROM hacks.
We also debate the perfect birthday gift for an 8-year-old (Switch 2 vs. Meta Quest 3), discuss whether the Pokémon TCG Mobile app is just a digital pack addiction, and look ahead at the massive hype surrounding Crimson Desert.
Finally, we come to terms with the harsh reality that our kids are already better at Hades than we ever were.
Connect With Us:Have a gaming dad fail, success, or "headshake moment" to share? We want to hear from you!
🌐 Visit us: newdadgaming.com
Subscribe to the Podcast!
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Others on Our Website:https://newdadgaming.com/
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating, and drop a comment! It helps the algorithm push the show out to other gaming fathers figuring out their gaming lives.
#NewDadGaming #GamingDads #FatherhoodAndGaming #NintendoSwitch2 #MetaQuest3 #PokemonTCG #PokemonShield #CrimsonDesert #HadesGame #SteamDeck #DadLife #Podcast
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Welcome back to New Dad Gaming! This week, Trevor and Jeff are surviving the wild energy of their kids—who are currently acting like Red Bull-fueled boars at a banquet.
With the family adjusting to life down in Medellín, the guys discuss bribing the kids with $100 to learn Spanish on Duolingo and how this educational "loophole" is racking up screen time. We also dive into the beautiful peace of a post-Roblox household, which has led the kids right back to the classics like Pokémon Sword and EA FC.
On the adult gaming front, Nintendo is testing our patience (and wallets) by charging a premium for retro Pokémon Fire Red ports, Trevor confesses to a slightly guilty relapse into Marvel Snap, Jeff returns to the Final Fantasy 14 grind, and we confront the terrifying reality of a 15-year-old pirating Balatro on school computers.
Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
Others on Our Website:https://newdadgaming.com/
#podcast #podcaster #podcasting #fatherhood #gaming #dadgaming
Chapter Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro & The "Boars at a Banquet" Analogy
4:39 - The Duolingo Screen Time Loophole & Spanish Bets
10:51 - Life After Roblox: Kids Return to Pokémon & Soccer
15:06 - Nintendo's Wild $30 Price Tag for Retro Pokémon
22:16 - Relapsing into Marvel Snap & Smurfing Low Levels
26:23 - The Endless Cycle of Final Fantasy 14
30:05 - Kids Pirating Balatro on School Computers
31:49 - Outro & How to Support the Show
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This week, Jeff is hustling as an Uber driver for his kids and subtly suggests they buy Skyrim VR, Trevor finished Hades 2 and is caught between endgame content and some retro fun with Pokemon Fire Red, and Trevor pulls a fast one as the dealer during a game of Flip 7 for a good cause.
Subscribe to the Podcast!
Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
Others on Our Website:https://newdadgaming.com/
#podcast #podcaster #podcasting #fatherhood #gaming #dadgaming
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What happens when your teenager gets caught playing a bootleg version of Balatro on school computers? Do you ground them, or are you secretly a little proud? 😂 Plus, Trevor is moving his family to Colombia for the winter and had to make some heartbreaking choices about what gaming gear makes the cut!
Welcome back to New Dad Gaming! In Episode 383, Trevor and Jeff are breaking down the ultimate travel gaming setup for dads on the move—why the Xbox Series S and Switch made the trip, but the PS5 and gaming PC had to stay behind. We also dive into the absolute chaos of playing Valheim with our kids (spoiler: do not let your teenager lead a troll horde back to your newly built cabin),and our struggles with giant gaming backlogs as we try to make time for Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Hades 2.
👇 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 👇 Have you ever had to make a painful sacrifice with your gaming setup for a big move? Or do you have a hilarious story of playing co-op games with your kids? Let us know in the comments below!
🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE for weekly episodes on fatherhood, gaming, and finding balance:
🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST ON THE GO:
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Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts
Everywhere Else: https://newdadgaming.com
⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:Use these to jump straight to your favorite topics!
[00:00:00] - Intro: Twitch Live Streams & Podcast Updates [00:03:54] - The Big Move: Trevor Takes His Family to Colombia![00:05:26] - The Ultimate Travel Gaming Setup (What made the cut?) [00:10:10] - The Hardest Choice: Heavy Gaming PC vs.MacBook Air [00:19:20] - Expedition 33, Kingdom Come, and the Backlog Struggle [00:24:59] - My 15-Year-Old Got Caught Playing Balatro in Class![00:31:32] - Valheim With the Kids: Pure Co-Op Survival Chaos [00:36:10] - Outro & How to Support the Show
📱 CONNECT WITH US:
Website: https://newdadgaming.com
Twitter / X: https://x.com/NewDadGaming
#DadGaming #Valheim #Balatro #XboxSeriesS #TravelGaming #Fatherhood #Podcast #NewDadGaming
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We are back for 2026! After a year-long challenge of purchasing zero new video games in 2025, Trevor and Jeff break down the aftermath. Did we survive the FOMO? What is the first game we bought in 2026?
In this episode, we dive into the "Dad Dust" of getting back behind the mic, the joy of finally playing Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and Hades 2, and the promising horizon of 2026 releases like Fable and potential Witcher 3 DLC.
We also discuss the state of gaming in our households: from successfully banning Roblox, to our kids discovering Skyrim with heavy mods, to the hilarious realization our children had while playing WWE 2K24—that you used to be able to unlock characters just by playing the game. Finally, Jeff shares his newfound obsession with Valheim on the Steam Deck and why its "beautiful ugly" aesthetic is perfect for gaming dads.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Dusting off the mics: We are back for 2026!
00:03 – The "No New Games in 2025" Challenge: The Verdict
00:06 – Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 & The Freedom of 2026
00:08 – The 2026 Gaming Horizon: Fable & Witcher 3 rumors
00:09 – The Great Roblox Ban & What the kids are playing now
00:10 – Review: Clone Drone in the Danger Zone (Voxel Roguelike)
00:14 – WWE 2K24: Kids are shocked by "Free" character unlocks
00:17 – Skyrim in 2026: Mods, Special Editions, and Family Sharing
00:22 – Valheim Review: The "Beautiful Ugly" on Steam Deck
Links & Resources:
Join the conversation: newdadgaming.com
Connect with us on social: @NewDadGaming
About the Show: Welcome to New Dad Gaming, a show about fatherhood, gaming, and new fathers figuring out their gaming lives. Hosted by Trevor and Jeff, we prove each week that just because you became a dad, does not mean it's Game Over.
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Welcome to Episode 381 of New Dad Gaming! The 2025 "No New Games" challenge is finally complete, and the floodgates are open. In this 2026 kickoff special, Trevor and Jeff break down the massive list of games they denied themselves last year and the upcoming titles they can't wait to pre-order.
We discuss the shifting landscape of 2026, including the looming release of GTA 6, the slump in console sales, and why we are both pivoting toward handhelds like the PlayStation Portal and Steam Deck to fit gaming into dad life.
We also do a live "Google Search" deep dive into the top PC games coming this year, debating everything from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 to cozy farming sims like Fantasy Life. Plus, we discuss what a household looks like after a Roblox Ban and whether Fortnite or Star Wars Jedi will take its place.
Topics Covered:
The Floodgates Open: How it feels to finally be allowed to buy games again.
Hardware Shift: Why we are ignoring the PS6 rumors to focus on Portable Gaming (Steam Deck & PS Portal).
The 2026 Shopping List: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Death Stranding 2, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Backlog Catch-Up: Why Space Marine 2 is the first "old" game we are buying.
Dad Life: Embracing "Mobile Gaming" (Red Dead on iPad) and why we are hoping for a Final Fantasy 7 Part 3demo.
The Kids' Rotation: Life after banning Roblox and the move to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro: Welcome to 2026! 2:15 - The State of Gaming: GTA 6 & The Steam Deck Juggernaut 5:00 - Jeff’s Wishlist: Final Fantasy 7 Part 3 & The PS Portal 8:30 - Trevor’s Wishlist: Retro Handhelds & Red Dead on iPad 13:10 - Kids' Gaming Forecast: Can we keep Roblox out of the house? 17:45 - The "Immediate Buy" List: KCD2, Expedition 33, & Space Marine 2 22:00 - Live Reaction: Googling the "Top PC Games of 2026" (Arc Raiders & Donkey Kong?) 27:30 - Final Thoughts & Call for New Challenges
Connect with New Dad Gaming:
🎧 Subscribe to New Dad Gaming on your favorite podcast app:
📝 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:https://newdadgaming.com/
Remember: Just because you became a dad, doesn't mean it's game over.
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In this final episode of 2025, Trevor and Jeff wrap up their year-long experiment: The "No New Games" Challenge. We break down whether we succeeded in clearing our backlogs or if we just stopped playing altogether.
We also dive into the chaos of Christmas morning—from the quantity vs. quality gift debate to why one dad opted for a retro handheld emulator over a PS5. Plus, we discuss the "dark side" of kids' gaming in 2025, including why Robloxfinally got banned in the household, the surprising rise of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) among teenagers, and why Chess is making a comeback.
Whether you are a dad trying to manage screen time or a gamer staring at an intimidating Steam backlog, this episode is for you.
Topics Covered:
The Christmas Haul: Why we bought retro handhelds and "dumb" smartwatches instead of current-gen consoles.
The Cookie Experiment: Why kids prefer 10 small gifts over one expensive one (Funko Pops vs. PS5).
Kids Gaming Trends: The rise of Fortnite, the fall of Roblox, and the wholesome return of D&D and Chess.
The Challenge Results: How replaying Elden Ring, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Hades 2 changed our gaming habits.
Gaming Fatigue: Why having "no new games" was actually a relief for our anxiety.
Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro: Raising a glass to 2025 0:45 - The Steam Christmas Sale temptation 2:30 - What did the kids get? (Retro Consoles vs. Funko Pops) 6:10 - The "Quantity vs. Quality" Gift Dilemma 10:15 - Kids Gaming Recap: The rise of D&D & Hollow Knight 14:50 - The Roblox Ban: Why it didn't work for us 18:30 - The Dads' Recap: Surviving the "No New Games" Challenge 23:00 - Trevor’s "Lost Year" of Gaming 28:45 - Looking ahead and Final Thoughts
Connect with New Dad Gaming:
Website: newdadgaming.com
Email: newdadgaming [at] gmail [dot] com
Remember: Just because you became a dad, doesn't mean it's game over.
🎧 Subscribe to New Dad Gaming on your favorite podcast app:
📝 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:https://newdadgaming.com/
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Are digital currencies like Robux and V-Bucks ruining the magic of Christmas morning? In this episode of New Dad Gaming, Trevor and Jeff discuss the struggle of buying gifts for kids who only want digital skins, the sadness of not having physical games to unwrap, and the controversial reason Jeff is considering banning Roblox from his house entirely.
Plus, Trevor is moving his family to Colombia for the winter! We break down the logistics of traveling with gaming gear. Is it better to pack a PS5, an Xbox Series S, or just buy a Steam Deck? We also touch on handling bad grades during the holidays—do you ground your kids from gaming over Christmas break?
🎧 Subscribe to New Dad Gaming on your favorite podcast app:
📝 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:https://newdadgaming.com/
In this episode:
The "Unwrapping" Dilemma: Why giving gift cards feels empty compared to the nostalgia of unwrapping Final Fantasy X.
The Roblox Controversy: We discuss the new AI face-scanning requirements for age verification and why it’s a privacy nightmare for parents.
Gaming Grounding: Trevor’s son lost gaming privileges due to report cards—how do you handle punishment during the "happiest time of the year"?
Travel Gaming Loadout: The debate on which console fits best in a carry-on for a 6-month trip.
Mobile Tech: A look at Red Dead Redemption running natively on iOS via Netflix Games.
CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro & The "No Dad Poem" 02:20 - The struggle of Christmas Gifts in 2025 (Robux vs. Real Games) 06:50 - Nostalgia: Unwrapping Final Fantasy X vs. Digital Codes 10:00 - When Bad Grades Ruin Christmas Gaming (The Grounding Debate) 13:30 - Why We Might Ban Roblox: The Face Scan Controversy 20:25 - Moving to Colombia: Traveling with a PS5 vs. Xbox Series S 25:15 - The Steam Deck Regret 28:00 - Red Dead Redemption on iPhone (Netflix Games) 30:50 - Wrap Up & Community Questions
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Are you banning Roblox? How do you handle gaming punishments during the holidays? Let us know at [YourWebsiteLink] or in the comments below!
#NewDadGaming #ParentingGamers #RobloxBan #GamingPodcast
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The New Dads review this years nominees for Game of The Year - a fun experience given they've played none during their year of no games.
However, if nothing else it helps fill out their wish list once their self imposed exile is over.
🎧 Subscribe to New Dad Gaming on your favorite podcast app:
📝 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:https://newdadgaming.com/
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It’s full-on dad mode: both households hand out no-game punishments after kids try to sneak Roblox and skip chores, sparking a conversation about clear consequences, consistency, and what it means when your kids don’t even argue the punishment - because they know the rules.
On the gaming front, Steam drops a bomb with three new hardware announcements:
A redesigned Steam Controller built from Steam Deck learnings
The tiny Steam “Machine” console promising 4K living room gaming and killer value versus PS5/Switch
The Steam Frame VR headset, aiming to shake up Meta’s dominance and revive PC VR excitement
Jeff breaks down why the new controller’s trackpads are a quiet superpower for strategy and mouse-heavy games, how the Steam Machine could finally make PC libraries living-room friendly for dads, and whether the Steam Frame has enough going for it to tempt lapsed VR users.
Plus: Jeff’s patience on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 pays off in a big “all DLC included” edition, and the guys argue over which of these toys is actually for the kids… and which are clearly future dad presents.
If you’re a gaming father trying to balance kid punishments, chore charts, shrinking free time, and a dangerous interest in new hardware, this one’s for you.
👨👧👦 Got a story?
Send in your own “no games for a week” tales, Steam hardware hot takes, or dad-mode reviews at newdadgaming.com and we might feature it on a future episode.
🎧 Subscribe to New Dad Gaming on your favorite podcast app:
📝 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:https://newdadgaming.com/
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Arc Raiders is the hot new extraction shooter everyone’s talking about… and the community is actually nice?! 😅
This week on New Dad Gaming, Trevor and Jeff crack open the last of the pumpkin beers, dive into the surprise hype around Arc Raiders, and unpack the controversy around AI voice acting and what it means for real voice actors and future games.
From there, it’s full-on dad mode: Trevor raids eBay for cheap Magic: The Gathering cards to build a cube and see if his kids can handle the chaos of modern MTG rules… while he struggles to remember what lifelink even does.
Jeff, meanwhile, goes galaxy-brain with Dyson Sphere Program, turning chill dad evenings into interstellar automation spreadsheets, all thanks to their ongoing “year of no new games” challenge. They wrap with a quick (and painful) update on Jeff’s 25-minute, zero-progress attempt at Silksong, driven entirely by his determined teen.
If you’re a gaming dad trying to balance backlog guilt, new releases, kids who are better at games than you, and the ethics of AI in gaming—this one’s for you.
⏱ Episode Timestamps (approx.)
00:00 – Cold open, dad life, and missed episodes
02:30 – Pumpkin beers, espresso porter review & maybe… Christmas beers?
07:20 – What is Arc Raiders and why is everyone loving it?
10:30 – PvPvE, surprising kindness & emergent co-op in Arc Raiders
15:30 – AI voice acting, ethics, and what it means for voice actors
23:50 – Magic: The Gathering with kids, cube drafting & card complexity
34:40 – Dyson Sphere Program: the ultimate dad automation game
40:45 – Jeff gets wrecked in Silksong at his kid’s request
42:20 – Outro, community shout-outs & how to reach the show
🎮 About New Dad Gaming
New Dad Gaming is a podcast about fatherhood, gaming, and new dads figuring out their gaming lives. Hosts Trevor (dad of a 10 & 8-year-old) and Jeff (dad of a 15 & 12-year-old) share stories from the trenches: backlog struggles, co-op with kids, late-night sessions, and the games they want to play vs. the games they actually have time for.
📬 Share Your Story
Played Arc Raiders? Have thoughts on AI in games? Trying to teach your kids Magic: The Gathering or hooked on Dyson Sphere Program?
👉 Reach out at newdadgaming.com – we’d love to feature your story on a future episode.
Subscribe
📝 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772
🎧 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw
🎧 Other Platforms:https://newdadgaming.com/
👍 Support the Show
If you enjoyed this episode:
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Just because you became a dad does not mean it’s game over. 🎧🎮
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