Markers on the Map: A Gaming Adventure

It's always eclipse-y on Carcosa. This week, we're taking a big look at Housemarque's latest AAA rougelike game, Saros. In the followup to Returnal, Arjun Devraj fights his way through a hostile world where environments shift every time he goes out, and time works in mysterious ways. Weapons, modifiers, and a system of balance make each run unique as the secrets of Carcosa's eclipses are revealed. We've also got a look at Neverness to Everness, a game that's got a bunch of style, but an overwhelming amount of unfortunate mechanics. Then we have Bubsy 4D's demo, an update on...

When the minigame becomes the game. This week, we've got some early impressions of Capcom's Pragmata, the much anticipated new action IP where third-person shooter and hacking minigame gameplay intertwine to make something truly unique. Hugh and Diana take their first steps in the wild journey within the Moon itself as the story beings. We've also got more progress in GTA IV and a big look at a recent full game playthrough of Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, the follow-up to the Nintendo Switch original. It's a pretty great game that does fall into some pitfalls of the genre...

Momentum Platforming Extreme. This week, we're sharing some thoughts on the fantastic Super Mario Galaxy movie! Illumination's follow-up is a rollercoaster ride the likes of which moviegoers have never seen. We've also got a ton of this games this week, including a recent playthrough of the legendary Pizza Tower, a momentum-based Wario Land-like in the new era of indie platformers. We've also got a big discussion of Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties, the new side game in the series. Then, Marathon, Mario 64, Grand Theft Auto IV, and... the completion of Screamer, after much difficulty. Check out the show on...

"Singularly inanimate." This week, we're hooked on WikiGacha, the card opening simulator, and we're not complaining, because it's a great alternative to the actual gacha games! After that, it's onto other games, namely Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, the first new entry in the series in over two decades. Can it possibly live up to the hype? The answer may surprise you. We've also got a few updates on Screamer and Super Mario 64 as our individual playthroughs continue. Then, we've got more Marathon, as we continue to get better and better at this unforgiving extraction shooter. Check out the show...

Unlike the Cryo Archive, Screamer has no chill. This week, we're back at it with more Marathon, including a daring and impossibly lucky escape from the Cryo Archive. After that, we get into some co-op rhythm action with Cadence of Hyrule, Crypt of the Necrodancer's Legend of Zelda-themed spinoff. Then, it's onto Milestone's reboot of Screamer, a racing game so full of gameplay mechanics, it's almost upsetting to describe. There's also a lot of wild gaming news this week, from a devastating shakeup at Epic to unfortunate price hikes from Sony. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

A new flavor that fills at least half a health bar. This week, we're back at it with more Marathon, now that we've both set foot on the visually striking world of Tau Ceti IV. Through devious contracts, vicious life-draining plants, and many intense losses, the runners continue their scavenging across this devastated planet. We've got more, though, including Rift of the Necrodancer's super tough take on the rhythm genre. We also delve into Batman: Arkham Origins as the playthrough of the series continues. There's also more Ghost of Yotei Legends as we take on the Oni, and just...

Something like a ghost runner, but not that Ghostrunner. This week, we're back with some opening thoughts on Ghost of Yotei's new Legends mode, the return of Ghost's own slice of co-op action. A vast system of skills, weapons, and tons of cosmetics highlight this glorious free update to one of last year's greatest games. We've also got more Requiem, as a playthrough has been finished. Plus, more Marathon, now that the full game is released. The world of Tau Ceti IV is out to get each and every runner, and everyone fights back in their own way. There's...

A marathon of games. This week, we've actually played a ton of stuff. We'll start out with some opening thoughts on Resident Evil Requiem, Capcom's ninth main installment in the long-running survival horror series. After that, it's back to Arkham City for more Batman as we continue running through Rocksteady's superhero classics. There's also a little Super Mario 64, a revisit to the Haunted Mansion, and a small start to Grand Theft Auto 3. Then, some games that haven't come out yet in beta or demo form with Marathon and Pragmata, as well as Rave Racer, on consoles for the first...

Holy crossovers, Batman! It's the dynamic duo we thought we'd never see: Batman and Pokemon. This week, we're returning to Arkham Asylum for a more in-depth discussion on the ins and outs of Rocksteady's original Dark Knight adventure. After that, we take the first steps into Pokemon Shield, with the journey to becoming champion taking us through the magnificent Galar region. We also have another game that's new to both of us in Ridge Racer 6, the Xbox 360 exclusive that's already a blast to play. Plus, we discuss Sony's closure of Bluepoint games, a devastating story. Check out the show...

Break free from the PS3. This week, we're back with Carmageddon: Rogue Shift, a new racer roguelike that blends speed and synergies like never before. Through three maps stuffed with challenging races and constant customization, a new contender arrives in the massive field of repeatable, run-based games. Then, a mighty new State of Play from Sony brings tons of surprises, including Metal Gear Solid 4's debut on consoles that aren't the PS3, the return of Dead or Alive, and a remaster trilogy's completion with Legacy of Kain: Defiance. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

"The Crew Arrives on a New World." This season's first big lore cutscene takes us into a discussion on one of the most influential games of all time, in its finest form. Yes, it's Prince of Persia for the SNES. Devious platforming, vicious swordplay, and an incredible soundtrack highlight one of the most challenging games of its time. A simple story turned complex through twenty levels of nonstop traps, puzzles, and shadows sets the stage for the daring and classic royal rescue that only a truly seminal game can bring. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

Riddle me this, Shepard. This week, we're taking you do the late 2000s with a pair of Unreal Engine 3 classics. First up, Mass Effect, BioWare's groundbreaking sci-fi epic. It's a game with its fair share of issues, but narrative stands strong despite some of the gameplay archaisms. After that, Batman: Arkham Asylum takes us back to the glory days of superhero games as the Dark Knight Detective takes combat and stealth to a new level in a Metroidvania-styled island taken over by the Joker. We've also got some big frustrations with Ubisoft's game cancellations. Check out the show on...

Games of the Year. We’ve each selected our Top 5 games, including our game of the year for 2025. You can expect many things this week. The rebirth of a legendary series. The followup to an open world action masterpiece. The total destruction of an underground world… and the destructed society of an underwater one. A new planet full of intrigue. The return to an island and the journey to others. The jaw-dropping works of one of gaming’s greatest auteurs. They’re all here. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

And now, the first half of the best of the best. This week, join us for #10-6 on both of our lists of the top 10 games we played in 2025. The variety is here with racing games, looter shooters (and another wild FPS), some early 2000s classics, as well as a new entry in an early 2000s classic. A franchise revival continued, and a franchise moving in a bold new direction, as well as a new IP with some of the greatest gameplay and storytelling in recent memory. They're all here, and they're all part of the almighty Top 10 Plays...

Happy New Year! This year, we're starting off with three honorable mentions each from the games we played in 2025. From pioneers of one genre, to masterful executions of another, these six runners-up are no joke. A world of stealth and style awaits. Not to mention a wild flashback and a live service done right. Looking forward to a great new year of games starts with looking back at what came before! Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap!

Commerce... in space. The Gameland Christmas Toy Catalog 2025 is a fictional catalog featuring items that actually do not exist from games that have been played in the year 2025. Our copy just so happens to be aboard the Starship Gamekeeper. The catalog will undoubtably deliver, as it always does. This year, it features items from games both old and new, for they are all relevant. BioShock? We got you covered. Donkey Kong Bananza? But, of course. Mario Kart World, Clair Obscur, Mafia: The Old Country, and Metal Gear Solid Delta? We're just scratching the surface. We've even got a cool...

New Metroid week, everyone! This week, after a long, eighteen-year absence, the main Metroid Prime series returns with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Retro Studios' return to Samus brings a strange world in Viewros, dominated by mysterious architecture and psychic powers. While we only touch on the very beginning of the game in this episode, it does deliver a powerful first impression. After that, we've begun a playthrough of Mario RPG's Switch remake, a game that once paved the way for many games, even to this day. After that, a quick look at Disney Illusion Island with all its ups and...

Extreme Kirby Racing. This week, we're taking an early look at the full Kirby Air Riders experience, from Air Ride, to Top Ride, to City Trial and more in this absolutely wild game. We're also paving the way to Yakuza Kiwami 2 with a revisit to the first Kiwami, the remake of the original Yakuza story. And of course, there's some campaign, zombies, and multiplayer discussion of Black Ops 7 now that the game's been out for a while. And after all that, we take a look and make some predictions on the Game Awards Nominees. Check out the show on...

The Samurai Jack of all trades. This week, we delve into the multiple modes of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, this year's admittedly great followup to last year's disastrous entry. But it has a huge problem, and we'll discuss that first. Will this be a return to form for the series at the end, or will it continue a downward spiral? After that, we go back to Ghost of Yotei, now that we've both finished the game. There will be some small spoilers, but we'll save the big ones for a future special. After that, we pause Pokemon Drip...

Put it in a mech suit. This week, we're back with some very early impressions on Kirby Air Riders, thanks to the Global Test Ride dropping just before recording! We've also got some opening thoughts on Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, the action game prequel to Tears of the Kingdom. Does it show as much promise as Age of Calamity? Only time will tell. Then, we dive deep into Metal Gear Solid Delta's Fox Hunt online multiplayer, which has proven to be both interesting and fun, but does come with a few complaints. The good games just keep rolling...

The horrifying anthology returns! Join us for full spoilers on this year's mystery game. Many games owe features and mechanics to this pioneer of the genre, brought to us on modern consoles and officially released in North America for the first time ever courtesy of WayForward and Limited Run Games. Many haunts, randomized rooms, and a pulse-pounding theme are just the beginning of this short, but highly repayable and memorable 16-bit classic. Have you figured it out yet? Listen in for thoughts on this year's timely terrifying tale! Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

Silent Hill, but make it Pokemon. This week, we take a big look at the long-awaited Pokemon Legends Z-A, where we return to the grand world of X and Y's Lumiose City. In this installment, Pokemon becomes real-time and brings a whole new perspective to the series. Mega Evolutions, great side quests, and quality of life improvements you could only have dreamed of back in the day highlight these opening hours. After that, we return to Silent Hill f for some closing thoughts on the initial run. What was good, what was bad, and what enemies were truly awful...

The Gameland Before Time. This week, we've both got a ton to say about Ghost of Yotei, and most of it is complete praise. Sucker Punch's followup does so much right in terms of gameplay, character and story development, side content, and art style that it's so easy to pick up and enjoy. Atsu's tale of revenge gets more and more intriguing with each and every encounter. We're also talking quite a bit about the recent Black Ops 7 Beta, as well as its Zombies mode. Plus, a quick Silent Hill f update as the survival horror ride continues. Check...

Where's everyone going? Space? This week, some opening thoughts on Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch's follow-up to one of the best games ever made, Ghost of Tsushima. This time, the player takes the role of Atsu, who sets out to find the Yotei Six in 1600s Ezo. We've got spoiler-free thoughts on the first few hours, including mission and world design, combat mechanics, and the interesting flow of the game. We've got more Borderlands 4, with both of us having finished the campaign at this point. And yes, more Silent Hill f with Hinako's treacherous journey continuing. The Dark Souls...

The "f" stands for "I tell ya what." This week, join us for an introduction to Silent Hill f, a new installment in Konami's long-running franchise with a melee-based twist. A dark tale taking place in 1960s Japan is just getting started. We've also got some more thoughts on our continuing Borderlands 4 journey, now complete with frame rate fixes and field-of-view updates. And somehow still a broken inventory system. That's not all, though, as Sony dropped a massive State of Play with new looks at Wolverine, Saros, a remaster of Dynasty Warriors 3, a huge update for Gran Turismo 7, and...

Kairos is calling. This week, it's the big Borderlands 4 intro. Nearly the whole episode has us delving into the latest massive open-world adventure from Gearbox. There's a lot to unpack including moment-to-moment gameplay which is better than ever, upsetting performance issues, and some truly inexcusable item-holding side content. And what's Borderlands without a wild selection of some of the most random and interesting weapons you've ever seen in a game? It's a small start to a large Borderlands journey as the game is more of a live service than ever. But it's finally here and it was worth the...

Kratos Kong and the Borderlands Curse, a Virtual Boy exclusive. This week, join us for a discussion on one of Nintendo's longest and most varied Nintendo Directs! They've got everything from a whole bunch of announcements, products, DLC, and new games to celebrate Mario's 40th anniversary, to an actual release date for Metroid Prime 4. Things like Hades 2 and the Mortal Kombat Kollection are finally being released, with physical editions coming later. Classic favorites are getting new versions. And yes, the Virtual Boy is literally back, against all odds. We've also got a legendary tale... so legendary that you'll have...

Star-Crossed Snake Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. This week, we continue our long discussion on Metal Gear Solid Delta, with a few spoilers, but nothing too heavy. The pairing of story and gameplay takes center stage as we both have thoughts upon finishing up the game this past week. What's different, what's the same, and what we liked and didn't highlight the initial wrap-up. We've also got a look at Kirby and the Forgotten Land's Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and its DLC, which leads to a discussion on in-game challenges. And what's another week without some sort of Call of Duty misstep...

"What a thrill." Holy reference, Gameland. This week, we delve into the opening mission of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a modern update to Hideo Kojima's 2004 PS2 Classic, Metal Gear Solid 3. We go in depth with the Virtuous Mission and what sets this new version apart from the original - namely, control schemes and graphics. The timeless tale of Big Boss returns, and new players get the benefit of starting at the beginning of a series full of complicated twists and turns. We've also got a reaction to Call of Duty reversing the carry-over decision for Black Ops 7...

Part of a balanced breakfast. This week, we're taking a big first look at the story and gameplay in Mafia: The Old Country, Hangar 13's follow-up to the original Mafia trilogy. We've also got some comparisons and lingering thoughts on Mafia: Definitive Edition to go along with it. We also discuss some final thoughts on Lies of P and how a Soulslike with an easy mode really changes the game. Trust us, there's still plenty of difficulty to go around, even on easy. We also rattle through a bunch of new Gamescom announcements, ever so briefly, including Bubsy 4D...

King of the Hearts, I tell you what. This week, join us for an intro to Lies of P, the Pinocchio Soulslike we never knew we needed. A harsh world that feels like Bloodborne meets a fairy tale is made all the better with an interesting take on difficulty modification, a unique weapon and handle system, and quality of life improvements to obnoxious elements like weapon durability. If only Breath of the Wild had Lies of P's grindstone! We also delve into roguelike climbing with Peak, a solo or co-op mountain adventuring game. There's also a wrap-up on the...

Would Plok also enjoy Sabrina's Strawberry Daydream Refresher? This week, we continue our discussion on Donkey Kong Bananza. There's a whole bunch of new powers and additions to DK's moveset. There are many varied challenges, arenas, puzzles, and bosses to tackle... not to mention hundreds of Banandium Gems to collect across a seemingly endless underground world. Character moments, incredible designs, and a sense that the levels get more and more complex are just some of the things we talk about in this episode. Plus, an update to last week's Call of Duty woes. Check out the show on BlueSky...

A new competitor in the "games with destructible environments" category. This week, it's finally here: Donkey Kong Bananza. Join us for our introduction for one of the best games in recent memory. It's a new frontier for 3D platformers with DK and Pauline mixing smooth movement with wild destruction. It's a little of that Nintendo magic usually reserved for Mario given new life in the form of a successor to the DK games of yesteryear. This first look at the game takes us through Bananza's first seven major layers as the journey to the planet core begins. Plus, why...

A mind full of No Man's Sky. This week, we finally delve into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, one of the year's best games and one that's sure to be up for tons of awards. The modern realization of a turn-based RPG takes us into a world of devastation and complexity, where parrying mechanics, character abilities, and a wild skill system are just the start. After that, we go under the sea to revisit 2007's legendary BioShock and its twisted world of Rapture. We've also got some thoughts on Destiny 2's newest expansion, and some news on the Zelda movie's cast...

Games got us to this point. This week, we've returned from the hallowed halls of what was once the location of E3 for another epic adventure at Anime Expo. We cover four days of fun, including awesome things we saw, dope items we picked up, and some absolutely incredible panels including one extremely relevant to something we always discuss on this very show. Gaming presence was bigger than ever this year, with tons of Sega and Atlus representation, Guilty Gear, Marvel Rivals, and more. Would you believe we also found some Ridge Racer stuff? Join us for a chat...

The sequel to Daryl Game. This week, it's finally upon us: Death Stranding 2. Join us for a massive introduction to the world of Hideo Kojima's latest masterpiece, from its gameplay systems, traversal and social mechanics, world-building, and more. A bigger and even better delivery game is here in the PS5's greatest technical and graphical showcase. It's a return to the world of connections first glimpsed in 2019, and it's just as strange as ever. Now, as for why we call it Daryl Game, you'll have to listen in. Plus, we've got quick thoughts on a Red Dead Redemption 2 replay...

Snow Games and the Seven Bidoofs. This week, jump into some full thoughts on Jurassic World Evolution 2, the mission-based sequel to the park builder extraordinaire. With a short campaign, we take a look at what sets this one apart. After that, we delve into Bleach Rebirth of Souls for a look at what makes a solid anime fighter. A great cast and gameplay make sure this one doesn't disappoint. And just what advancements are being made in the game industry? In addition to all of this, it's the premiere outfit in Pokemon Drip Elite, the return of a classic...

Fake energy drink, real fun. So here's the Inside Story - Bowser's Inside Story, that is, as we take a look at the Nintendo DS' classic third installment of the Mario and Luigi RPG series. We're also returning to Mario Kart World for a little bit of Knockout Tour, one of the series' new modes. After that, we give you just a sneak peak at some Jurassic World Evolution 2 and Bleach: Rebirth of Souls. Then we end with a quick look at some new stuff from Summer Game Fest's Xbox Showcase. Plus, we've got one more Game Tip of...

But can it run Doom? Join us for our first impressions on the Nintendo Switch 2, the long awaited sequel to the Nintendo Switch. With so many cool new features and a highly premium feel, this is one of the greatest console releases of all time. And what's a console without a fantastic launch title? We've got some thoughts on the incredible Mario Kart World. Just think, that's only half the episode, because there was also a State of Play and the Summer Game Fest show. It's "Not-E3" week on a whole other level! Keep up with the show on...

The A-Team of our day. A pair of two modern Doom games highlight this week's foray into FPS madness. First up, Doom 2016 brings us into the modern Doom era with a memorable and frantic campaign that started this whole new trilogy and is a true classic in every sense of the word. After that, we return to the Dark Ages with a completed campaign and some comparisons between 2016 and Eternal - the most different one of all. So many set pieces, so many crazy weapons, and more enemies than you can possibly fathom, this is, indeed, a Doom episode...