The Gangcast

Janet and Isaiah try to figure out what does it mean to be an exceptional game, what does it mean to innovate in a game, and ultimately try to decide if innovation is a requirement for making an exceptionally good game (GAMES). Then they talk about their media consumption, how many things they try to consume at once, and what media are they consuming and when (NOT GAMES).

Poll of the Show:
https://gamesandnotgames.com/poll
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:18 Catching Up
03:44 Games / Do exceptional games require innovation?
01:11:34 Not Games / Juggling media consumption
02:10:31 Poll of the Show
02:19:22 Outro
Send your questions and topics to the email address [email protected]
For more Games And Not Games:
YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames.com
TikTok, Instagram, Threads: @GamesAndNotGames
Backloggd: GamesAndNotGames
Follow the hosts:
Janet: @gameonysus.bsky.social
Isaiah: @isaiahsmith.dev

Janet and Isaiah create a new Backloggd account for Games And Not Games. In doing so they must come together and work out just what their shared Top 5 Favorite Games are (GAMES). Then they get into their financial life after being married and talk about what’s new, what’s been added, what’s just a little bit different, and what even is a credit union (NOT GAMES).
Follow us on Backloggd!

Poll of the Show:
https://gamesandnotgames.com/poll
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:18 Catching Up
02:55 Games / GANG Top 5 Favorite Games
01:06:12 Not Games / Finances After Marriage
01:40:58 Poll of the Show
02:05:12 Outro
Send your questions and topics to the email address [email protected]
For more Games And Not Games:
YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames.com
TikTok, Instagram, Threads: @GamesAndNotGames
Backloggd: GamesAndNotGames
Follow the hosts:
Janet: @gameonysus.bsky.social
Isaiah: @isaiahsmith.dev

Janet and Isaiah talk about their history and goals with retro gaming. Having just went to a few stores in LA, they go over what they’re currently looking got, when they pull the trigger on a retro game, and when do they reach for… other means… to get their classic games (GAMES). Then they bring back a recent format and talk about their “lock-ins” and “leave-its” for the new year, helping each other decide what to bring forward into 2026 and what to ultimately drop (NOT GAMES).

Poll of the Show:
https://gamesandnotgames.com/poll
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:18 Catching Up
02:03 Games / Retro Gaming
58:35 Not Games / 2026 Lock-Ins & Leave-Its
02:01:38 Poll of the Show
02:06:28 Outro
Send your questions and topics to the email address [email protected]
For more Games And Not Games:
YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames.com
TikTok, Instagram, Threads: @GamesAndNotGames
Twitter/X: @GamesAndNot
Follow the hosts:
Janet: @gameonysus.bsky.social
Isaiah: @isaiahsmith.dev

Janet and Isaiah talk about what they’ve been playing during the holiday break and also go over what 2026 games they’re most excited to play (GAMES). Then they talk about going snowboarding together, what it was like, their experience with the sport, and if they’ll go again. Finally they talk about Janet finally going to The COSM to see The Matrix in “Shared Reality”, their thoughts on the experience, how does The COSM stack up against other movie-going experiences, and if they think its worth the money and hype (NOT GAMES).

Poll of the Show:
https://gamesandnotgames.com/poll
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:18 Catching Up
11:36 Games / What we’ve been playing
32:56 Games we’re looking forward to
01:05:27 Not Games / Snowboarding Over New Years
01:28:18 The Matrix @ The COSM
01:46:56 Poll of the Show
01:47:27 Outro
Send your questions and topics to the email address [email protected]
For more Games And Not Games:
YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames.com
TikTok, Instagram, Threads: @GamesAndNotGames
Twitter/X: @GamesAndNot
Follow the hosts:
Janet: @gameonysus.bsky.social
Isaiah: @isaiahsmith.dev

Janet and Isaiah go over the second annual GANG of the Year awards. For each of the 7 "Games and not games" categories, Janet and Isaiah talk about their top choices, discuss what wins each category, and ultimately pit the 7 winners against each other to decide what walks away with the honor of being 2025's GANG of the Year!

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:18 Opening Ceremonies
02:06 Video Game of the Year
01:07:53 Board Game of the Year
01:26:40 Movie of the Year
01:58:41 Show of the Year
02:20:19 Album of the Year
02:54:58 Experience of the Year
03:19:14 Food of the Year
03:36:25 GANG of the Year
03:46:15 Poll of the Show
03:58:28 Outro
Winner Links:
Video Game of the Year
Board Game of the Year
Movie of the Year
Show of the Year
Album of the Year
Experience of the Year
Food of the Year

Send your questions and topics to the email address [email protected]
For more Games And Not Games:
YouTube.com/@GamesAndNotGames
Twitch.tv/GamesAndNotGames
Twitter/X: @GamesAndNot
TikTok, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky: @GamesAndNotGames
Follow the hosts:
Janet: @Gameonysus
Isaiah: @IsaiahByDayah