Join the Game Dads for a special episode: the 2025 Brettley Awards — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The hosts kick off with light, nostalgic banter about Pokémon — from watching the Indigo League on Netflix to critiques of modern Game Freak releases, Pikachu’s inconsistent power portrayals, and the clever loading tricks that make classic Pokémon feel seamless. They also riff on collectibles, adult fandom, and how franchise focus has shifted since the original creators’ early, eccentric ideas. Next up: the awards. This episode is a lively, category-driven roast and celebration where the hosts alternate nominees and winners. Highlights include Anime Voice Actor of the Year (with special praise for Zeno Robinson), Anime of the Year (Dan to Dan season two), and the Digital Dust Award for games they never quite finished (winner: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion). They also name Xbox their Biggest Disappointment of the year, and award Donkey Kong the Don’t Say Anything prize for best silent protagonist. Movie and TV coverage features passionate takes on Sinners (winner of Movie of the Year), One Battle After Another, Superman, and a surprise love for anime films like Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man. On television, Creature Commandos earns a standout mention for subversive, earned storytelling, alongside Twisted Metal season 2, Dragon Ball Daima and more. The hosts praise memorable moments, voice performances and how certain shows exceeded expectations. Game discussion runs from indie time-sinks to AAA remakes: Robocop Rogue City is highlighted among non-2025 game picks, Marvel Rivals’ live-ops loop is lauded for player engagement, Satisfactory and Monster Hunter World get personal shout-outs, and Ball X Pit (Ball Expert) is recognized as a surprise addictive time-sink. The episode’s Game of the Year goes to Donkey Kong Bonanza — praised as a brilliant, nostalgic-yet-modern 3D Donkey Kong that many felt justified a Switch 2 purchase. Throughout the show the hosts mix deep fandom analysis with personal storytelling: why English voice acting now shines, how anime like Mashal, Shangri-La Frontier, Solo Leveling and Campfire Cooking Delivered delight and warmth, and why Dragon Ball Daima hit a sweet spot for longtime fans. They also debate console pricing, Steam machine rumors, and the shifting economics of modern hardware. The episode wraps with lighter moments and real-life advice — a reminder to make time for people not screens (the hosts describe a nightly ritual of playing cards and talking). The Brettley Awards close with absent-shoutouts (a missed cameo from Dickie Simpkins), playful prize descriptions, and invitations to continue the conversation next time.
