Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Besties: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Russ Frushtick, Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy
It's Game of the Year meets King of the Hill as four of Earth's best friends – Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Chris Plante, and Russ Frushtick – rank and review their favorite video games. Because shouldn't the world's best friends pick the world's best games?
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 days ago59 min
Control Resonant Rewards Your Patience
Control Resonant is technically a sequel to 2019’s Control. But developer Remedy has (as they often do) opted to stretch the definition of sequel as far as possible, converting the third-person shooter series into an open-world action game. Shockingly, it works… once you get your sea-legs. Plus, we talk about how the release of Gears of War: E-DAY falls in the shadow of the brutal layoffs and changes at Xbox. Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!
- 1 weeks ago59 min
With Fire Emblem, Is It Finally Time to Buy a Switch 2?
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is the biggest exclusive for the Nintendo Switch 2 — quite literally. A completionist run of the new tactics RPG could take you 200 hours. For some fans, the epic length will be a decadent pleasure. For others, like Plante, it’s a threat. To guide us through the huge adventure, longtime Fire Emblem-lovers Griffin and Frush share what works and doesn’t. Meanwhile, Plante wonders if the current list of exclusives has made the Switch 2 a worthwhile upgrade. Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!
- 2 weeks ago57 min
Wolverine Is a Disaster
Most of the time, we chat about games we enjoy. So many games debut every week, and picking promising new ones is relatively easy. But every so often, a game with high expectations ends up being a colossal disappointment. Wolverine, we’re sad to say, is one of those games. And yet, we’re making lemonade from lemons. Because all of Wolverine’s flaws make for a good conversation about what we expect (and hope for) from video games. Especially ones that cost so much. Speaking of expensive stuff: Frush shares hands-on impressions with the Steam Frame. Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!
- 3 weeks ago57 min
Onimusha: Or, Capcom Refuses to Make Bad Games
The last time Capcom made a new Onimusha game, George W. Bush was President. But Onimusha: The Way of the Sword would have you believe the series never missed a beat. This week, Ron Funches joins the guys to talk about the ways this new entry blends Devil May Cry and Dark Souls tropes into something fresh and surprisingly welcoming! Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!
- Sep 4, 20261h 0m
The Witcher, But With Vampires? Yes, Please!
The Blood of Dawnwalker proves the old adage, “The worse the name, the better the game.” The debut from Rebel Wolves, a studio composed in part of CD Projekt Red veterans, is a grim fantasy RPG set in the Carpathian mountains in the thick of the Black Plague. It looks and feel at first like the The Witcher series, though give it a few hours, and you’ll see this isn’t reheated leftover. It’s got vampires and time management and bears too powerful to be bitten by a bloodsucker! To talk about this gem, we’re joined by Fire Escape Cast’s Mary Kish! Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!
- Aug 28, 202657 min
Blood Dungeon Takes Us to Bullet Heaven
Blood Dungeon is a spectacular evolution of the Vampire Survivors formula. Developer Messhof plops the auto-shooting, upgrade-building bullet-heaven genre into something a bit more strategic and conscious of your time. It certainly doesn’t hurt that the art looks, at first blush, like Spelunky by way of a child’s sketchbook. In the back half of the episode, we chat about what to call these games, and then pick some of our favorites. Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!
- Aug 21, 202657 min
Stardew Valley vs. Fields of Mistria? Everybody Wins
Fields of Mistria has finally hit 1.0 after a couple of years in Early Access on Steam. Does the “official” release rise to the level of Stardew Valley? Or is this anime-inspired small town simulator doing something different? And is 1.0 just a new beginning? We discuss all of that and the hot new handheld! Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!
- Aug 14, 20261h 2m
A Spoiler-Free Big Walk Bonanza
Big Walk is the game everyone wanted during the pandemic. Not-so-coincidentally, that’s when the project began development. The multiplayer open-world adventure is developer House House’s follow-up to Untitled Goose Game. But where Goose Game hinged on you pestering NPCs to solve puzzles, Big Walk tasks you with pestering and supporting your friends. Or to put it succinctly: Big Walk is a game about communication. Though, as we explain, it’s an experience that requires some careful scheduling. Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!
Get The Besties summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Castle Super Beast
A weekly discussion about video games, pop culture, and over-the-top enthusiasm from the Super Best Friends Play crew.
Friends Per Second
Three friends discuss video games with humor and no pretense.
Get Played
Comedians and video game fans discuss and humorously critique games they play, from classics to new releases.
Video Game Outsiders
Two hosts cover gaming and tech news with humor, catering to an adult audience through live streams and community engagement.
Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast
A weekly podcast offering video game reviews, previews, and analysis covering major platforms and industry topics.
Triple Click
A weekly podcast discussing video games, hosted by Kirk Hamilton, Maddy Myers, and Jason Schreier.
The MinnMax Show
Former Game Informer staff and guests discuss the week's biggest game releases and industry news with community input.
The Game Informer Show
A weekly gaming podcast featuring discussions on video game news, reviews, and industry topics with developers and special guests.
The Nextlander Podcast
Three veteran game journalists discuss weekly gaming news, industry trends, and personal gameplay experiences.
Game Mess Mornings
A daily gaming news podcast delivering global video game headlines and industry updates.
Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family
Two fun things go head-to-head in lively debates where facts and humor decide the winner.
The Kit & Krysta Podcast
Two former Nintendo employees discuss gaming industry news, share behind-the-scenes stories, and talk about games they’re playing.
About The Besties
It's Game of the Year meets King of the Hill as four of Earth's best friends – Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Chris Plante, and Russ Frushtick – rank and review their favorite video games. Because shouldn't the world's best friends pick the world's best games?
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from The Besties in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Besties daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Besties as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Besties podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Besties product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Russ Frushtick, Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does The Besties release new episodes?
The Besties publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Besties cover?
The Besties covers topics including Leisure, Games, Video Games. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting The Besties summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.