New Dad Gaming

Welcome to Episode 381 of New Dad Gaming! The 2025 "No New Games" challenge is finally complete, and the floodgates are open. In this 2026 kickoff special, Trevor and Jeff break down the massive list of games they denied themselves last year and the upcoming titles they can't wait to pre-order.

We discuss the shifting landscape of 2026, including the looming release of GTA 6, the slump in console sales, and why we are both pivoting toward handhelds like the PlayStation Portal and Steam Deck to fit gaming into dad life.

We also do a live "Google Search" deep dive into the top PC games coming this year, debating everything from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 to cozy farming sims like Fantasy Life. Plus, we discuss what a household looks like after a Roblox Ban and whether Fortnite or Star Wars Jedi will take its place.

Topics Covered:

• The Floodgates Open: How it feels to finally be allowed to buy games again.

• Hardware Shift: Why we are ignoring the PS6 rumors to focus on Portable Gaming (Steam Deck & PS Portal).

• The 2026 Shopping List: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Death Stranding 2, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

• Backlog Catch-Up: Why Space Marine 2 is the first "old" game we are buying.

• Dad Life: Embracing "Mobile Gaming" (Red Dead on iPad) and why we are hoping for a Final Fantasy 7 Part 3demo.

• The Kids' Rotation: Life after banning Roblox and the move to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro: Welcome to 2026! 2:15 - The State of Gaming: GTA 6 & The Steam Deck Juggernaut 5:00 - Jeff’s Wishlist: Final Fantasy 7 Part 3 & The PS Portal 8:30 - Trevor’s Wishlist: Retro Handhelds & Red Dead on iPad 13:10 - Kids' Gaming Forecast: Can we keep Roblox out of the house? 17:45 - The "Immediate Buy" List: KCD2, Expedition 33, & Space Marine 2 22:00 - Live Reaction: Googling the "Top PC Games of 2026" (Arc Raiders & Donkey Kong?) 27:30 - Final Thoughts & Call for New Challenges

Connect with New Dad Gaming:

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📝 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw

🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/

Remember: Just because you became a dad, doesn't mean it's game over.

In this final episode of 2025, Trevor and Jeff wrap up their year-long experiment: The "No New Games" Challenge. We break down whether we succeeded in clearing our backlogs or if we just stopped playing altogether.

We also dive into the chaos of Christmas morning—from the quantity vs. quality gift debate to why one dad opted for a retro handheld emulator over a PS5. Plus, we discuss the "dark side" of kids' gaming in 2025, including why Robloxfinally got banned in the household, the surprising rise of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) among teenagers, and why Chess is making a comeback.

Whether you are a dad trying to manage screen time or a gamer staring at an intimidating Steam backlog, this episode is for you.

Topics Covered:

The Christmas Haul: Why we bought retro handhelds and "dumb" smartwatches instead of current-gen consoles.

The Cookie Experiment: Why kids prefer 10 small gifts over one expensive one (Funko Pops vs. PS5).

Kids Gaming Trends: The rise of Fortnite, the fall of Roblox, and the wholesome return of D&D and Chess.

The Challenge Results: How replaying Elden Ring, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Hades 2 changed our gaming habits.

Gaming Fatigue: Why having "no new games" was actually a relief for our anxiety.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro: Raising a glass to 2025 0:45 - The Steam Christmas Sale temptation 2:30 - What did the kids get? (Retro Consoles vs. Funko Pops) 6:10 - The "Quantity vs. Quality" Gift Dilemma 10:15 - Kids Gaming Recap: The rise of D&D & Hollow Knight 14:50 - The Roblox Ban: Why it didn't work for us 18:30 - The Dads' Recap: Surviving the "No New Games" Challenge 23:00 - Trevor’s "Lost Year" of Gaming 28:45 - Looking ahead and Final Thoughts

Connect with New Dad Gaming:

Website: newdadgaming.com

Email: newdadgaming [at] gmail [dot] com

Remember: Just because you became a dad, doesn't mean it's game over.

🎧 Subscribe to New Dad Gaming on your favorite podcast app:

📝 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw

🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/

 

Are digital currencies like Robux and V-Bucks ruining the magic of Christmas morning? In this episode of New Dad Gaming, Trevor and Jeff discuss the struggle of buying gifts for kids who only want digital skins, the sadness of not having physical games to unwrap, and the controversial reason Jeff is considering banning Roblox from his house entirely.

Plus, Trevor is moving his family to Colombia for the winter! We break down the logistics of traveling with gaming gear. Is it better to pack a PS5, an Xbox Series S, or just buy a Steam Deck? We also touch on handling bad grades during the holidays—do you ground your kids from gaming over Christmas break?

 

🎧 Subscribe to New Dad Gaming on your favorite podcast app:

📝 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw

🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/

 

In this episode:

• The "Unwrapping" Dilemma: Why giving gift cards feels empty compared to the nostalgia of unwrapping Final Fantasy X.

• The Roblox Controversy: We discuss the new AI face-scanning requirements for age verification and why it’s a privacy nightmare for parents.

• Gaming Grounding: Trevor’s son lost gaming privileges due to report cards—how do you handle punishment during the "happiest time of the year"?

• Travel Gaming Loadout: The debate on which console fits best in a carry-on for a 6-month trip.

• Mobile Tech: A look at Red Dead Redemption running natively on iOS via Netflix Games.

CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro & The "No Dad Poem" 02:20 - The struggle of Christmas Gifts in 2025 (Robux vs. Real Games) 06:50 - Nostalgia: Unwrapping Final Fantasy X vs. Digital Codes 10:00 - When Bad Grades Ruin Christmas Gaming (The Grounding Debate) 13:30 - Why We Might Ban Roblox: The Face Scan Controversy 20:25 - Moving to Colombia: Traveling with a PS5 vs. Xbox Series S 25:15 - The Steam Deck Regret 28:00 - Red Dead Redemption on iPhone (Netflix Games) 30:50 - Wrap Up & Community Questions

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Are you banning Roblox? How do you handle gaming punishments during the holidays? Let us know at [YourWebsiteLink] or in the comments below!

#NewDadGaming #ParentingGamers #RobloxBan #GamingPodcast

The New Dads review this years nominees for Game of The Year - a fun experience given they've played none during their year of no games.

However, if nothing else it helps fill out their wish list once their self imposed exile is over.

🎧 Subscribe to New Dad Gaming on your favorite podcast app:

📝 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw

🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/

It’s full-on dad mode: both households hand out no-game punishments after kids try to sneak Roblox and skip chores, sparking a conversation about clear consequences, consistency, and what it means when your kids don’t even argue the punishment - because they know the rules.

 

On the gaming front, Steam drops a bomb with three new hardware announcements:

 

• A redesigned Steam Controller built from Steam Deck learnings

• The tiny Steam “Machine” console promising 4K living room gaming and killer value versus PS5/Switch

• The Steam Frame VR headset, aiming to shake up Meta’s dominance and revive PC VR excitement

 

 

Jeff breaks down why the new controller’s trackpads are a quiet superpower for strategy and mouse-heavy games, how the Steam Machine could finally make PC libraries living-room friendly for dads, and whether the Steam Frame has enough going for it to tempt lapsed VR users.

Plus: Jeff’s patience on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 pays off in a big “all DLC included” edition, and the guys argue over which of these toys is actually for the kids… and which are clearly future dad presents.

 

If you’re a gaming father trying to balance kid punishments, chore charts, shrinking free time, and a dangerous interest in new hardware, this one’s for you.

 

👨‍👧‍👦 Got a story?

Send in your own “no games for a week” tales, Steam hardware hot takes, or dad-mode reviews at newdadgaming.com and we might feature it on a future episode.

 

🎧 Subscribe to New Dad Gaming on your favorite podcast app:

📝 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw

🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/

Arc Raiders is the hot new extraction shooter everyone’s talking about… and the community is actually nice?! 😅

 

This week on New Dad Gaming, Trevor and Jeff crack open the last of the pumpkin beers, dive into the surprise hype around Arc Raiders, and unpack the controversy around AI voice acting and what it means for real voice actors and future games.

 

From there, it’s full-on dad mode: Trevor raids eBay for cheap Magic: The Gathering cards to build a cube and see if his kids can handle the chaos of modern MTG rules… while he struggles to remember what lifelink even does.

 

Jeff, meanwhile, goes galaxy-brain with Dyson Sphere Program, turning chill dad evenings into interstellar automation spreadsheets, all thanks to their ongoing “year of no new games” challenge. They wrap with a quick (and painful) update on Jeff’s 25-minute, zero-progress attempt at Silksong, driven entirely by his determined teen.

 

If you’re a gaming dad trying to balance backlog guilt, new releases, kids who are better at games than you, and the ethics of AI in gaming—this one’s for you.

 

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⏱ Episode Timestamps (approx.)

 

• 00:00 – Cold open, dad life, and missed episodes

• 02:30 – Pumpkin beers, espresso porter review & maybe… Christmas beers?

• 07:20 – What is Arc Raiders and why is everyone loving it?

• 10:30 – PvPvE, surprising kindness & emergent co-op in Arc Raiders

• 15:30 – AI voice acting, ethics, and what it means for voice actors

• 23:50 – Magic: The Gathering with kids, cube drafting & card complexity

• 34:40 – Dyson Sphere Program: the ultimate dad automation game

• 40:45 – Jeff gets wrecked in Silksong at his kid’s request

• 42:20 – Outro, community shout-outs & how to reach the show

 

 

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🎮 About New Dad Gaming

 

New Dad Gaming is a podcast about fatherhood, gaming, and new dads figuring out their gaming lives. Hosts Trevor (dad of a 10 & 8-year-old) and Jeff (dad of a 15 & 12-year-old) share stories from the trenches: backlog struggles, co-op with kids, late-night sessions, and the games they want to play vs. the games they actually have time for.

 

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📬 Share Your Story

 

Played Arc Raiders? Have thoughts on AI in games? Trying to teach your kids Magic: The Gathering or hooked on Dyson Sphere Program?

 

👉 Reach out at newdadgaming.com – we’d love to feature your story on a future episode.

 

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Just because you became a dad does not mean it’s game over. 🎧🎮

This week the dads discuss expensive Fortnite skins, introducing Breaking Bad to an eldest, and dream a little dream of games they will have.

This week features some solid pumpkin beer to boot!

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on fatherhood, gaming, and the chaos in between.

📝 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw

🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/

The Dads are back with pumpkin in their beer,
With notes from listeners they definitely hold dear.

Breaking the bank with a skin from Fortnite,
And will a kid save for a Playstation? He just might.

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on fatherhood, gaming, and the chaos in between.

📝 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw

🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/

Trevor and Jeff kick off October with a live taste test of a 10% pumpkin ale (it goes… badly), celebrate the pure joy of Hades II (with “God Mode” as the ultimate dad setting), recap a wholesome Hollow Knight all-night kids’ sleepover, and confess to using Final Fantasy VIII cheats to finally experience the story—25 years later. We wrap with a classic “beat your kids (while you still can)” dad-race anecdote.

 

If you’re a gaming father (or future one) figuring out how to balance kids, work, and your backlog—this one’s for you.

 

👨‍👦 Hosts: Trevor (dad of a 10 & 8 y/o) and Jeff (dad of a 15 & 12 y/o)

🎙 Show: New Dad Gaming — fatherhood, gaming, and proof that becoming a dad isn’t “game over.”

 

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on fatherhood, gaming, and the chaos in between.

📝 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw

🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/

We did it: our once-a-year in-person episode! Trevor and Jeff awkwardly remember how to record without Zoom, swap Toronto trip stories, and dive into dad-mode gaming topics: Hades II’s launch, whether it breaks our “no new games” pact, accessibility/difficulty debates (Hollow Knight: Silksong, Elden Ring), letting a 15-year-old buy games on Steam, and the most dad-brained Fortnite setup ever (Xbox cloud streaming, Moonlight/Sunshine, PS Remote Play, and split-screen drama).

 

If you’re a gaming parent juggling time, tech, and teens—this one’s for you.

 

Join the conversation

• What’s your ruling on “no new games” if you paid during Early Access?

• When did you let your teen buy their own games—any ground rules?

• Your best (or worst) living-room co-op/streaming setup?

 

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on fatherhood, gaming, and the chaos in between.

📝 Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772

🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw

🎧 Other Platforms:
https://newdadgaming.com/

 

Hashtags

#NewDadGaming #DadGamers #Hades2 #GamingDads #Steam #ParentalControls #Fortnite #CloudGaming #XboxCloudGaming #MoonlightStreaming #PSRemotePlay #Silksong #EldenRing