Unofficial Controller Podcast

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A game called Bang Average Football has no right to be this addictive, and yet it completely derails our week. We talk through the exact moment it clicks: the Stardew-style town loop, the light RPG quests that drip-feed stat upgrades, and the surprisingly satisfying matches that feel like a modern take on Sensible Soccer. If you’ve been craving a cozy indie that still delivers that competitive “one more game” rush, our play-by-play will tell you whether it’s your next obsession.

Then we jump into the kind of news we love: we...

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A game can look like a glitchy mess to everyone watching and still feel amazing in your hands and Cairn is our proof. We break down why its limb-by-limb climbing, stamina management, and piton “mini-saves” create real tension and real relief, the kind of accomplishment most modern games chase but rarely earn. If you’ve been hunting for a new PS5 game that feels different, or you just love design talk that goes deeper than graphics, this one gets into the details.

Then we jump across generations with the kind of playlist only a...

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A horror game that makes you pause, breathe, and come back braver. A port on Switch 2 that shouldn’t look this good. And a platform holder that might be quietly ending the PC honeymoon. This week we dive into Resident Evil Requiem’s two‑minded design—high‑octane third‑person set pieces with Leon and nerve‑tightening first‑person sequences with a heroine who turns every hallway into a heartbeat test. That shift in perspective isn’t a gimmick; it rewires how you play, when you push, and when you hide. Even better, we were floored by ho...

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A cat-breeding tactics roguelike that plays like Fire Emblem meets house management, a physics-forward indie platformer channeling N64 energy, and a survival-strategy Star Trek game that’s equal parts engrossing and maddening—this week’s journey is a snapshot of where gaming stands in 2026. We start with the indie crown: why Big Hops feels like a smart, compact alternative to the wait between tentpoles, and how Mewgenics turns genetics, classes, and brutal runs into a dangerously compelling loop with real staying power.

From there, we tackle the heavy stuff. Skate’s layoffs bring th...

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A PS3 classic gets its flowers, a remake titan goes dark, and space RPG promises meet reality. We kick off with Infamous, celebrating the late-game difficulty, clever traversal design, and that unforgettable twist that still shocks. It’s a perfect reminder that bold storytelling and tight systems can outlast any hardware cycle—and why Gen 7 games deserve more love in 2026.

From there, we jump into what’s been on our controllers: Tiger Woods 12 remains dangerously addictive with its soothing palette and career grind; Africa on PS3 brings cozy-photo vibes with rough starter gear...

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If you’ve been waiting for a PlayStation showcase that actually lands, this is the one. We kick off with what we’ve been playing—FF7 Rebirth, Art of Rally’s glorious adaptive triggers, and a guilty fling with Need for Speed: The Run—then dive into a State of Play that surprised us with real momentum and almost no fluff. Our rule of thumb is simple: does it feel good in the hands? With that lens, a 2D, CRT-kissed God of War: Sons of Sparta pops hard, and the God of War Trilogy remake tea...

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What if the games we finish fastest tell us the most about what we love? That question runs through this week’s ride as we finish Sleeping Dogs, return to Infamous on PS3, and unearth a shockingly good £2 ARPG on PSP. We dig into why “GTA clones” can still hit hard—when combat feels right, pacing stays lean, and the city serves the story instead of stealing the spotlight. Sleeping Dogs’ Arkham‑style counters, rain‑slick neon, and compact side content become a masterclass in approachable design, while DLC hints at the longer, better version that al...

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A cozy fishing sim, a classic turned modern, and a debate that might change how you buy games this year. We kick off with Cast and Chill on Switch—the prettiest pixel art water you’ll see—then jump straight into Final Fantasy I Pixel Remaster, where party roles, fast saves, and auto-battle make retro feel fresh. From there, the stakes rise: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 quietly teaches while you play, Expedition 33 hits like a movie with an intro that lingers, and Blue Reflection 2 shows why mid-tier JRPGs can charm and frustrate in equal measure.

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The suits were sharp, the jokes were chaotic, and the wings were hot—perfect conditions for the Ponsies, our annual Game of the Year awards engineered by Seb’s “committee” of number-crunchers. We opened the books on four very different gaming diets and found a story that spanned cozy farms, roguelike obsessions, comeback ports, and a JRPG that might define a generation.

Our Switch 2 streak is undeniable, but the data went deeper: indie love runs strong, platform diversity got its due, and yes, we called out retro comfort when it smothered discovery. After ti...

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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth grabbed us by the scruff and reminded us how an open world can feel alive without drowning you in chores. We dig into why the new exploration loop works—think the curiosity of Breath of the Wild, the gathering rhythm of Horizon, and a dash of Xenoblade’s scale—then point to the quiet magic of Kalm, a bustling town that feels worth lingering in. Streamlined materia and upgrades reduce menu tax, while crafting makes scavenging meaningful. It’s modern without losing that FF7 heart.

From there, we zoom int...

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Three hundred episodes in and we still can’t shut up about games, community, and the wild lore that got us here. We kick off with the triumphant return of OG Tom, celebrate the 300th with heartfelt thanks, and then dive into a stacked “what we’re playing” that spans razor-sharp indies, comfort food cozies, and big-budget nostalgia. Silksong delivers a perfect late-game skill check, Hades 2 nails that 20–30 minute run cadence, and Expedition 33 sparks a real debate on how turn-based combat can stay deliberate while still feeling alive on defense.

We put the Switch...

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Ever wish a new release felt like the best parts of the 16-bit era without the grind or the guesswork? That’s the spark behind our deep dive into Terminator 2D: No Fate—an affectionate, modern-built throwback that marries beat-em-up grit, run-and-gun pacing, and side-scrolling driving with clever movie nods and genuinely meaningful branching paths. It’s the rare licensed game that rewards replays because choices actually reshape missions, tone, and outcomes. We break down why it works, where it surprises, and how its small details add up to big grins.

From there...

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Hades 2 feels like the rare sequel that actually earns its extra systems. We dig into the above world’s health-drain tension, smart spellcrafting, and why a simple fishing rod supports progression without padding the grind. Then we pivot into Red Dead Redemption’s PS5 upgrade and make the case for “gentle touch-ups” over full remasters—60 fps and cleaner presentation that keep the dust, silence, and tone intact. If you just finished Red Dead 2, this is a powerful continuation that respects the original’s shape.

The retro itch takes over when a pristine DualShock 2...

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Ever have a week where you just want a straight hit of games, news, and honest opinions without the fluff? That’s the energy today. I kick things off with Hades 2 on Switch 2 and why its small, thoughtful touches—like audio cues that swell into boss fights—make it the perfect half-hour loop when life is busy. The Switch 2 port holds steady in handheld and docked, and those fast runs keep piling up because the friction is basically gone.

From there, we dig into three stories that matter. Tiny Bookshop is set for a...

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This week George and the infamous RGT get stuck in with your latest weekly dose of the worlds favourite gaming podcast.

They touch on what they’ve been playing with RGT struggling with a burgeoning Hades 2 addiction and George being George and he’s playing a broken simulator from 5 years ago that no one played even then.

The boys bring you the latest news such as Switch 2 going head to head with PS5 , Call of Dury coming  to switch  and so much more 

...

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A shooter can live or die by how it feels in your hands. That’s where we start: unpacking why Halo’s air control and sticky mid-jump chaos still feel unmatched, while Resistance 2’s heavier, cover-first design delivers a different kind of tension. From checkpoint pain to flow states, we break down how movement, framerate, and responsiveness shape the stories we remember long after credits roll.

Then we jump into Hades 2 on Switch 2, running at a buttery 120 FPS at 1080p. We dig into why roguelikes benefit more from cadence than pixels, how the ne...

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What if the best gaming experiences aren’t the biggest, but the most focused? We kick off with Resistance 2 and talk through how creepier enemies, smarter encounters, and a tighter campaign deliver more satisfaction than bloated epics. It’s a reminder that balance matters, and 12–15 hour games still hit a sweet spot when your schedule doesn’t.

That idea comes alive when we return to Liberty City. Replaying Grand Theft Auto IV feels like opening a time capsule and finding it sharper than you remember. We compare its mood, story, and grounded city to...

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A real-time Pokémon that actually feels dangerous, a breakout-bullet-hell roguelike we can’t put down, and a PlayStation handheld that just became useful overnight—this week goes hard on design, value, and where gaming is headed next. We start with Pokémon Legends Z-A, which swaps turn-based comfort for dodge-rolls, boss-scale Mega encounters, and a day-night cadence that pushes exploration and risk. The world still shows its Switch 1 seams, but the loop is tight, the quests stack well, and a mid-story series callback had us grinning. Verdict: gameplay rescues the tech, and that’s enough...

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Sometimes it’s best just to talk it out , Seb and George get stuck into some of gaming most interesting topics - why is George still not on steam deck , what’s happening with the current gaming subscriptions ? 

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Big year. Bigger questions. We kick things off with that familiar tug between what we used to play and what actually fits life now — and it turns out single-player indies are meeting the moment. Expedition 33 becomes our touchstone: a sharp blend of turn-based planning and real-time timing that rewards mastery without punishing those who prefer defense builds. Its countdown mythos, voice acting, and expedition logs show how smart scope and strong direction can outshine budget. Persona fans get a tailored roadmap too: how 3 Reload stacks up against 4 and 5, and why Metaphor might be the pe...

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Nostalgia just got teeth. We’re launching Flashback, a brand-new channel dedicated to jumping into specific months of gaming history—magazine covers, previews that never shipped, weird accessories, and those console wars that lit up schoolyards. Think time capsules you can listen to: March ’94 one week, 2006 the next, maybe 1979 after that. The main show stays free, and Sundays now bring double downloads. When Flashback drops, help us by downloading and leaving a quick review on Apple or Spotify to nudge the algorithm in our favor.

We also plug back into Resistance: Fall of Man...

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Retro joy met modern surprise the moment we put Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2 and saw a handheld punch way above its weight. We share what actually happened in docked and handheld tests, why performance felt close to PS5 at a glance, and where the cracks showed—two crashes tied to online checks that reminded us this era still leans on servers even when you’re playing solo. From there, we kept the momentum with a warm return to South Park: The Stick of Truth, Resistance on PS3, and a first look at EAFC26’s slow...

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A sleeper train, a leather PS1 bag with lockable carabiners, and a Switch 2 that refuses to leave handheld mode—this week we go full travel-nerd and full game-nerd at once. We start with a surprisingly great wired “travel dock” setup and land on the big takeaway: on a café table, inches from your eyes, the Switch 2 screen is a tiny theater. From there we dive into Grand Bazaar and why its market-day core loop is so addictive—limited plots, clever windmill crafting, sprite-powered sales spikes, and a Saturday rush that feels like a small business...

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Scott takes the helm solo, sharing his current gaming obsessions while providing a Nintendo-heavy update on the latest releases and announcements. Without the usual supervision of his co-hosts, he embraces the opportunity to dive deep into his gaming passions and personal stories.

• Dead by Daylight dominates Scott's gaming time with its new Thai folklore update featuring an overpowered killer
• Expanding his Switch 2 collection with recent purchases of Hogwarts Legacy and Star Wars Outlaws
• Yakuza Zero on Switch proving to be an engaging experience that keeps pulling him back
• Nintendo Direct a...

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Flying solo this week, I take you on a journey through the strange territory of being a "gaming widower" – that peculiar state where your console has been commandeered by a loved one. With my wife happily immersed in Persona 5's stylish world and my daughter off to university, I've found myself reconnecting with forgotten corners of my gaming collection.

My No Man's Sky adventures took an unexpected turn as I ventured into the expedition system for the first time. What started as curiosity about the new Corvette ship became a fascinating lesson in...

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When your gaming partner discovers Persona, what's a dedicated gamer to do? This week, George flies solo on the Unofficial Controller Podcast as he navigates life as a "gaming widower" while his partner Rachel completes her Persona 4 journey.

Rediscovery becomes the theme as George dusts off forgotten hardware – from his trusty PlayStation Vita to experimenting with PSP adapters that bring old tech into the modern USB-C era. His gaming adventures take him through Iconoclasts, a watercolor-esque MLB 14, and a somewhat disappointing Oregon Trail revival that failed to capture the magic of the or...

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Switch 2's surprising power, the truth behind game key cards, and the subscription model debate take center stage in this week's gaming deep dive.

Gaming's technological frontiers are expanding before our eyes, and nowhere is this more evident than with Nintendo's Switch 2. We explore why games like Star Wars Outlaws and Cyberpunk 2077 running on this pocket-sized powerhouse feel like "witchcraft" to longtime gamers. The Switch 2's controversial game key card system isn't just about cost-cutting – it's enabling AAA experiences that wouldn't be possible with traditional cartridges, bringing Nintendo back into the multiplatform co...

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What happens when a gaming podcast host is left to his own devices? You get a delightfully chaotic journey through the gaming universe! In this solo adventure, George takes listeners on a meandering exploration of his current gaming obsessions, industry news, and the bizarre thoughts that populate a gamer's mind when there's no co-host to rein them in.

The journey begins with No Man's Sky's exciting new Corvette update, which finally lets players construct and walk around their own customizable spaceships—a dream feature that's been years in the making. Though it re...

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Fresh from wedding bells and honeymoon bliss, George makes his triumphant return to the Unofficial Controller Podcast, reuniting with Scott for episode 282. The reunion sparkles with their trademark banter as Scott reveals his complete obsession with Harvestella – a game he can't stop praising for its beautiful music, compelling storylines, and perfect balance of farming simulation and action JRPG elements.

George shares his gaming adventures during his time away, having fallen deep into The Witcher 3 on his Nintendo Switch 2. He and his new wife Rachel completed Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (wi...

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The gaming gauntlet has been thrown down! In our first-ever subscriber quiz special, Digital Monkery challenges five UCP community members to prove their gaming knowledge through 30 brain-teasing questions that span decades of video game history.

From counting buttons on a PS1 controller to naming the ghosts in Pac-Man, our contestants battle through increasingly difficult trivia. The stakes? A custom-made Cards Against UCP game for the winner, with gaming vouchers for the runners-up. Witness the triumph and frustration as participants dig deep into their gaming memories, occasionally punctuated by Luigi's colorful Italian outbursts...

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Step into the heart of gaming culture with Timeless 25, Liverpool's premier gaming convention that tears down the barriers between fans and their heroes. In this in-depth conversation with event organizer Maggs, we explore how this beloved community gathering has evolved into the ultimate celebration of gaming passion.

Maggs reveals the exciting new venue spanning multiple connected spaces—Kane's Brewery arcade with its three floors of free-to-play games, and the adjoining Punch Tarmys pub transformed into exhibition halls and performance spaces. This expanded setting addresses previous feedback while maintaining the intimate, accessible atmosphere th...

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In this episode, Scott and RGT are joined by returning guest Seb to dive into a week filled with gaming disappointments and surprising industry moves. We kick things off with Scott's adventures at the Nottingham Video Games Expo, where he not only scored a boxed Sega Game Gear carry case but also connected face-to-face with a valued member of our Discord community – proving once again that gaming brings people together in meaningful ways.

The gaming discussion heats up as Scott reveals his newfound addiction to Harvestella on Switch 2, a game that beautifully bl...

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Step into the world of gaming with Scott and RGT as they hold down the fort while George enjoys his honeymoon! This week's episode is bursting with unexpected gaming gems and headline-making industry news that will have you reaching for your wallet.

Ever wondered what it would be like if Red Dead Redemption and Stardew Valley had a baby? Look no further than Cattle Country, a pixel-art farming simulator set in 1891 that has completely captivated RGT. Starting with nothing but a tent, you'll grow crops, brew beer, and even fight off bandits...

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What if the most compelling gaming experiences aren't coming from $80 blockbusters, but from the thoughtfully crafted $30-50 titles that fly under the radar? This week, we're thrilled to welcome back Seb (Triple S) who immediately challenges our assumptions about where gaming's greatest joys can be found.

Seb introduces us to "The Altars," a mind-bending sci-fi adventure where you're stranded on a desolate planet with the ability to clone yourself and alter those clones' memories—creating specialists from doctors to technicians while managing their psychological quirks. It's just one example of how double-A ga...

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Dive into the latest gaming landscape as Scott navigates through an ocean of gaming experiences, industry updates, and hidden gems you might have missed. From survival adventures on deserted islands to spine-chilling PS2 horror classics that continue to haunt players years later, this episode covers the full spectrum of gaming nostalgia and innovation.

Scott kicks things off with honest reviews of his recent gaming sessions, praising the immersive island survival experience in Stranded Deep while warning listeners about the disappointing mechanics and implementation of Dino Survivor. His candid assessment of these titles...

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Gaming's landscape shifts dramatically as we witness the stark contrast between Nintendo's soaring success and Microsoft's painful restructuring. The Switch 2 has shattered records with 3.5 million units sold in just four days, while Xbox undergoes its fourth round of layoffs in 18 months, shuttering studios and cancelling anticipated titles like Everwild and Perfect Dark.

Scott takes us on an unexpected journey through survival gaming with Stranded Deep, where crafting tools, avoiding sharks, and battling wild boars has consumed his free time. His renewed exploration of the eShop reveals how digital discoveries offer gaming experiences...

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Gaming's past meets its uncertain future as Marathon Gaming and RGT reconnect for a gaming catch-up that spans nostalgic treasures and industry upheavals.

Marathon shares his adventures in Mario Kart World's challenging knockout mode before revealing how he's rediscovered Grand Theft Auto 4's raw brilliance years after its release. His fresh perspective on Liberty City's gritty streets highlights what made the fourth installment so special—from its distinctive driving mechanics to the immersive Eastern European immigrant narrative that pulls players into Niko Bellic's complex world.

Meanwhile, RGT takes us through hi...

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In a triumphant return after his world tour, Marathon Gaming emerges as "Corporate Marathon Gaming," sunglasses on and energy drink in hand, ready to share his transformative experience with the Nintendo Switch 2. What begins as casual banter quickly evolves into a passionate exploration of how Nintendo's new console has completely changed his gaming perspective.

The comparison between Switch 1 and Switch 2 proves startling - Scott describes the original as looking "like a toy" when placed beside its successor. With superior build quality, enhanced joysticks that resist drift, improved connections, and a dramatically better...

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The gaming landscape is experiencing a seismic shift as Nintendo's Switch 2 breaks all-time US hardware sales records while Sony and Microsoft grapple with their own gaming futures. 

This episode dives deep into what's working and what's not in today's gaming market. RGT shares his completion of GTA 4, marveling at how a 17-year-old game still delivers unmatched city detail and immersion that many modern titles can't replicate. Meanwhile, George finds himself surprisingly immersed in Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2, describing an almost VR-like experience in handheld mode.

The conversation shifts to industry strategy a...

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Step into the future of hybrid gaming as we deliver our comprehensive hands-on review of the Nintendo Switch 2! After extensive testing, we're thrilled to share our genuine reactions to Nintendo's newest console – and spoiler alert: this isn't just an incremental update.

The hardware improvements are immediately noticeable. From the larger, brighter 8-inch LCD screen that surprisingly outperforms the previous OLED model, to the brilliantly redesigned magnetic Joy-Con attachment system that eliminates the infamous wobble, every aspect feels more premium. The speakers deliver unexpectedly impressive surround sound, the dock is more functional, and ev...