ALL YOU CAN BOOKS

The Besties

Polygon


Podcast Overview

Podcast Episodes

The Besties pick the best games of June 2017

It’s gotten a little slow, but we’re still here

OK, things have slowed down for game releases in June. How slow? Well, one of our games was released in May. But, we’re still here picking the best games of the month, just for you.

Games discussed: Final Fantasy 14, Nier: Automata, Wolfenstein: The New Blood, Caveblazers, Cave Story +, Arms, The Surge.

Theme song by Ian Dorsch

Download MP3

Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

The Besties pick the best games of May 2017

April showers bring good games

We’re back with another surprisingly great month of games. This May brings us a few out-of-nowhere surprises and a couple of big releases. A happy May to us all!

Games discussed: Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, Card Thief, Nier Automata, The Surge, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Injustice 2, Dead Cells, Prey.

Theme song by Ian Dorsch

Download MP3

Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

The Besties pick the best games of April 2017

It’s only APRIL?

Remember when good games only came out after Madden? That’s out the window. It’s been a stunner of a year already for game releases, and the streak continues in April with everything from JRPG/dating games to idle games. Join the Besties as they pick the month’s best.

Games discussed: Puyo Puyo Tetris, Office Space: Idle Profits, Flinthook, Kubb, Nier: Automata, The Sexy Brutale, Persona 5, What Remains of Edith Finch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Theme song by Ian Dorsch

Download MP3

Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

The Besties are picking the best games of March 2017

You probably guessed it already

Just because you almost certainly know what game we picked as the best of March 2017, doesn’t mean you can’t listen and enjoy hearing about all the games that aren’t the best game of March 2017. It’s about the journey, folks. Not the destination.

GAMES DISCUSSED: Mass Effect Andromeda, 1-2 Switch, Robo Recall, Nier Automata, Typeshift, Everything, Snipperclips, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Theme song by Ian Dorsch

Download MP3

Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

The Besties pick the best games of February 2017

At least the games have been good in 2017!

Though we still don’t have a great explanation as to why, the first ever Polygon podcast has returned on a monthly basis. Join The Besties (Russ Frushtick, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy and Chris Plante) as they nonsensically attempt to pick the “best” game released in January 2017.

GAMES DISCUSSED: Dandy Dungeon, Chess (again), Fire Emblem Heroes, For Honor, Nioh, Horizon: Zero Dawn

Theme song by Ian Dorsch

Download MP3

Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

The Besties pick the best games of January 2017

Yes, they’re back. OK?

Though we still don’t have a great explanation as to why, the first ever Polygon podcast has returned on a monthly basis. Join The Besties (Russ Frushtick, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy and Chris Plante) as they nonsensically attempt to pick the “best” game released in January 2017.

GAMES DISCUSSED: Dragon Quest Builders, Chess, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone, Final Fantasy XV, Gravity Rush 2, Resident Evil 7, Yakuza 0 and Astroneer. Also, the Nintendo Switch.

Theme song by Ian Dorsch

Download MP3

Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

The Besties podcast: Best of 2016

Yes, it's true, we've returned for yet another round of nobody's favorite video game podcast, The Besties. Join your hosts Justin McElroy, Chris Plante, Russ Frushtick and Griffin McElroy as they pick the year's best game with a methodology that ranges from "non-sensical" to "utterly, destructively haphazard."

Please enjoy this year's edition before The Besties are once again enveloped by fog and trapped in oblivion for 12 calendar months.

0:07 -- Honorable Mentions

0:24 -- Round 1

  • Hyper Light Drifter
  • Overwatch
  • Superhot
  • Battlefield 1

0:53 -- Round 2

  • Pokemon Go
  • Dishonored 2
  • Watchdogs 2
  • Stardew Valley

1:53 -- Round 3

  • Forza Horizon 3
  • DOOM
  • Dark Souls 3
  • The Witness

2:31 -- Round 4

  • Fire Emblem Fates
  • Quadrilateral Cowboy
  • Inside
  • Titanfall 2

Theme song by Ian Dorsch

Download MP3

Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

The Besties Game of the Year special for 2015 is now available, you monster

Last year, we published a post called "The Final Besties Ever." We're sorry that we lied about that, but we're even sorrier for those of you who made it happen by constantly demanding that we do it. We can't imagine what dark hole is embedded in your heart that you require one of the most universally maligned video game podcasts in history in order for your year to be complete, but that's your cross to bear.

True story: If Russ Frushtick's audio sounds odd during this episode, it's because he literally talked into the wrong side of his mic for the whole show, I shit you not. This is the podcast you demanded. This. This is on you.

If you'd like to subscribe to The Besties, you still can, believe it or not.

7:00 - Honorable Mentions

31:20 - Round One

1:09:50 - Round Two

1:45:20 - Round Three

2:25:25 - Final Decision

Theme song by Ian Dorsch

Download MP3

The Final Besties Ever: 2014's best games battle it out

This is it. The Besties have been on hiatus — which intimates a brief pause in an otherwise regular schedule, so let's call it a "temporary cancellation" — for a few months now, but we've gathered the crew back together for one last hurrah. We're going to talk about video games for a very, very long time, y'all. In this four-hour series finale, we're pitting 2014's best games against one another in unyielding combat to the death. (This isn't Polygon's official Game of the Year lineup, though — those will be announced soon!)

For those that have stuck with us from the beginning, through the exploratory episodes, the Chris Grant-a-Tron period, the video specials and countless horrible, imaginary special guests — thank you. Sorry it got so weird there, in the middle. Now: Let's close this out right.

The Games

  • Dragon Age: Inquisition
  • Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
  • Mario Kart 8
  • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
  • Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
  • Transistor
  • P.T.
  • Far Cry 4
  • Dark Souls 2
  • Bayonetta 2
  • Wolfenstein: The New Order
  • Destiny
  • Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
  • Titanfall
  • Sunset Overdrive
  • Shovel Knight

Theme song by Ian Dorsch

Get the show:

  • Download MP3

Best games of July 2014 - The Besties

It's fair to say that July 2014 will not go down as the most active month in video game history.

There were so few major releases this July that we decided the best way to cope was to go into the deep, dark past. Each Bestie was asked to select one game from their childhood that they love. The rule, though, was that at least two of the remaining three Besties had to have not played that game, so some of us would be playing them with fresh eyes. It was an enlightening experience.

Despite coming up with a whole backup plan for the lack of July games, it actually did end up as a pretty solid month, so we spend the top half of the show on some of the new releases, if that's your bag.

(Oh, and Justin couldn't make this episode because babies. Don't worry, he'll be back next month!)

  • 5:00 - Some actually good games from July 2014!
  • 31:00 - Actraiser (Frushtick)
  • 43:30 - Quest for Glory (Griffin)
  • 58:00 - Half Time
  • 1:03:00 - News
  • 1:16:00 - River City Ransom (Plante)
  • 1:24:30 - The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery (Justin)
  • 1:43:00 - Resties!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch

Get the show:

  • Download MP3
  • Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)
  • Subscribe on iTunes

More Podcasts

More Polygon Podcasts

More Podcasts

More Polygon Podcasts