Normal service resume for Idle Game Chat as we have another edition, jam packed with gaming impressions!

On the docket this time we have the record setting “indie” darling, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It picked up 9 awards at The Game Awards 2025 and is widely tipped to garner more big rewards for DICE, GDC and BAFTA. Adkins’ curiosity got the better of him and he dived two feet into this on Steam. Did it live up to all the hype?

Adcock returns with The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. This 2024 release was widely praised for flipping the script, where you play as Zelda on a quest to save Link. It’s a complete departure from the current Zelda framework which begun with Breath of the Wild. We will find out if Adcock this is a worthy change.

Palette cleansers are popular amongst the Dimp clan and this time it’s the turn of Gris! Nomada Studios’ debut title Gris was released in 2018 on PC and Switch with wider platforms being targeted in 2019. Apps takes up the mantle, with one eye on Nomada Studios latest game, Neva, he works his way this award-winning Platform-Adventure game.

The game impressions are rounded out by South of Midnight. This 2025 release arrived to a decent reception, but wasn’t the breakout title that Xbox and Compulsion Games were hoping for. It certainly faired better than Compulsion’s last game, We Happy Few, but what does Adkins make of it all?

The episode is wrapped up Gaming’s Most Wanted 2026. Each member of the Dimp clan was asked for the one game they are most looking forward to. Apps reveals the results!

Sit back, relax and enjoy

Timestamps

00:00:00 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

01:23:02 The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

02:01:09 Gris

02:45:13 South of Midnight

03:19:43 Gaming’s Most Wanted 2026

We kick of 2026 with our Fantasy Gaming League draft!

This year it is the Comedy Brothers, Paper and Adkins, going head-to-head to see who comes out on top!

Will Paper get a hattrick of wins back-to-back or will Adkins make history and be the first person to land the Grand Slam?

Here we are then, the Festive Special of Idle Game Chat!

In our final show of the year, we have a jam-packed episode with a bit of a twist.

Gaming’s Greatest Quiz is the rebrand of our traditional annual quiz. To complement the name change we have also shifted format. All questions are multiple choice and competitors are scored on accuracy and also time. 12 months, 36 questions, 6 competitors, buckle up! Feel free to play along at home and you can find the quiz by heading over to Kahoot.it and searching for “Gaming’s Greatest Quiz 2025”.

The Fantasy Gaming League is over and we are joined by the winner, Paper, to analyse where he got it right and where Hall got it wrong. We also tip our cap to Grand Prix winner Adkins who will be stepping up to challenge for a historic Grand Slam…

We close things out with our traditional Year-In-Review with Logan. Nintendo, Xbox and PlayStation are all put under the spotlight, accompanied by the usual unrelated waffle.

It’s been a great year and we happy that you joined us on the ride. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Patreon.com/DimpDigital

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Gaming's Greatest Quiz 2025

01:05:55 FGL 2025 Results Show

02:10:18 Year-In-Review 2025

In this episode of Idle Game Chat, we dive into our full impressions of some wildly different worlds. From the sprawling adventures of Pokémon Scarlet and the intriguing change of Pokémon Legends: Z‑A, to the quirky charm of Donut County, we share what stuck with us long after playing. We also hit the track with F1 23 and F1 25, breaking down how the series continues to evolve, before stepping into the mysterious cinematic journey of Death Stranding 2. It’s a mix of racing, rolling, catching, and connecting — all through our honest, in‑depth takes.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Pokémon Scarlet

00:53:00 Pokémon Legends: Z-A

01:48:32 Donut County

02:00:10 F1 23

02:18:18 Death Standing 2: On the Beach

03:23:44 F1 25

Another packed episode of Idle Game Chat is here, and this week we’re diving headfirst into a lineup that blends myth, stealth, and full-on action. We kick things off with Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, then unravel the chilling mystery of Ghost of Yōtei before stepping into feudal Japan once more with Claws of Awaji, the latest Assassin’s Creed Shadows expansion. We also take a long look at the enigmatic Hell Is Us, reflect on a newbies experience of Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, and close with a fresh take on a classic franchise through Gears of War: Reloaded.

Stealth, steel, spirits, and nostalgia—get ready for another episode packed with sharp insights and questionable banter.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:58 Ghost of Tsushima: Legends

01:04:10 Ghost of Yōtei

01:59:49 Claws of Awaji - Assassin's Creed Shadows Expansion

02:18:29 Hell Is Us

03:01:18 Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (Minor Spoilers)

03:37:58 Gears of War: Reloaded

Hosts: Your Essex mates at Dimp Digital

Episode: We've finished 'em all! Our complete verdict on Borderlands 4, plus deep dives into Snake Eater's remake, our F1 management shame, a Ninja Gaiden double bill and most anticipated Assassin’s Creed game in a while, Assassin’s Creed Shadows!

Right, we've put the hours in so you don't have to! This month we're giving you our proper, final thoughts on some massive games we've played from start to finish.

Here's the full breakdown:

🔫 Borderlands 4

We've completed the campaign, tried the endgame, and messed with the new Vault Hunters. Is it a worthy successor or did it drop the ball? Our no-BS verdict on the story, loot, and whether it's worth your time now it's out.

🔍 Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Does this legendary remake have us saluting or sulking? We break down the jungle gameplay, the graphics, and the pressure of remaking a classic.

⚔️ Ninja Gaiden 2 & 3: Razor's Edge

We've suffered through every brutal minute. Our thoughts on which one holds up better, which is just plain unfair, and whether they're still essential action games.

🏎️ F1 Manager 2024

Another season in the bin. We've seen a full championship through and we're here to report on whether this year's game fixes the series' problems or if it's the same old story.

🗡️ Assassin's Creed Shadows

Feudal Japan from start to finish. Our take on the dual protagonists, the new mechanics, and whether Ubisoft has delivered a return to form.

[00:00:00] - Intro

[00:00:26] - Housekeeping

[00:01:03] - Community notes

[00:01:53] - Transition

[00:02:09] - Metal Gear Solid Delta

[01:00:06] - Ninja Gaiden double feature

[01:28:18] - Assassin’s Creed Shadows

[02:19:11] - F1 Manager 2024

[03:09:41] - Borderlands 4

[03:58:54] - Outro

[03:59:25] - Sign-off

[04:00:09] - End

Three months in, is the Nintendo Switch 2 living up to the hype? We're cracking open the console's biggest talking points and giving you our proper, no-nonsense verdict.

THE BIG DEBATE:

We're nattering about all the stuff that matters:

💷 The Price: Was it worth the dent in our wallets?

🕹️ Game Costs: Are we being taken for a ride with these new release prices?

🤬 The Game Card Scandal: Physical games not having the full game on the card? Get outta here!

📺 How We Play: Are we docked on the sofa or handheld on the loo?

📸 Accessories: The new Pro Controller 2, that funky camera – worth the extra cash?

FULL REVIEWS:

We've put the hours in so you don't have to:

🏎️ Mario Kart World: More than just a graphical glow-up?

🍌 Donkey Kong Bananza: Does it capture the magic of the classics?

⚡ Pokémon Violet (Switch 2 Patched): Finally the game we were promised?

QUICK FIRE IMPRESSIONS:

⛏️ Stardew Valley: How does it feel on the new hardware?

🕹️ Switch 2 Welcome Tour: Nintendo's pack-in demo – any good?

New to Idle Game Chat? We're just a bunch of mates from Essex (and beyond) having a right good chinwag about games. No jargon, no nonsense – just honest opinions and a few laughs.

👉 Subscribe Now on your favourite podcast app

💰 Support Us by going to Patreion.com/DimpDigital

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/r_fuk3Ph3Q4

00:00:00 Intro

00:02:14 Nintendo Switch 2 Chat

00:49:53 Mario Kart World Chat

01:03:42 Donkey Kong Bananza Chat

01:21:04 Pokémon Violet (Switch 2 Update) Chat

01:35:19 Neva Chat

01:44:30 Stardew Valle | Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

01:55:55 FGL Update

02:01:30 Mario Kart World Chat (Again)

#IdleGameChat #NintendoSwitch2 #GamingPodcast #Essex

We've gone proper massive this week! Join us for:

As usual there is more, check the timestamps below for a full rundown!

Why bother? We're just Essex lads nattering about games:

• No jargon, no pretentiousness
• Proper laughs and the occasional row
• Real opinions (even when dead wrong)

00:00:00 Intro

00:02:35 Battlefield 6 Beta

00:17:40 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

01:34:25 Sable

02:25:52 Schedule I

02:58:50 Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

03:29:17 Super Mario Land 1 + 2

03:44:01 Cairn Demo

03:56:24 Baby Steps Demo

04:07:52 Outro

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/ZET5Tc9_FcU