New Dad Gaming

Nintendo just did the unthinkable: a full remake of Ocarina of Time - the game so many call "perfect" - and it's coming exclusively to the Switch 2. Trevor and Jeff unpack the announcement, the Final Fantasy VII "permission slip" theory behind it, and whether one game is really enough to make a busy dad drop $800 on a new console. Plus: the strange new milestone of your kid going EASY on you (a "victory through loss" at FIFA), a charming $5 indie hide-and-seek game called Mecca Chameleon that's perfect for gaming with your kids, and why Zelda: Link's Awakening somehow hits harder on a retro handheld than on the Switch remake. This week's episode opens with a poem - "Paper Flowers" by Jessica Jocelyn - on the fear, and the magic, of having kids. New Dad Gaming is the longest-running podcast for dads who love games and fatherhood. Hosted by Trevor Alexander and Jeff Smalley since 2015. Just because you became a dad doesn't mean it's game over. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 - Welcome + Poem: "Paper Flowers" by Jessica Jocelyn 01:18 - Listener mail & where's Summer of Beer? (greetings from Colombia) 02:46 - Nintendo remakes Ocarina of Time for Switch 2 10:51 - The $800 Ocarina machine: is it worth buying a Switch 2? 16:31 - When your kid goes easy on you: "victory through loss" at FIFA 21:56 - New game pick: Mecca Chameleon, the $5 paint-and-seek indie 28:31 - Retro pick: why Zelda: Link's Awakening hits harder on a handheld 34:17 - Wrap-up & sign-off 📧 Got a story, question, or beer pick? Reach us at newdadgaming.com 🎧 New episode every week - subscribe wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw Others on Our Website:https://newdadgaming.com/ Topics: Ocarina of Time remake, Nintendo Switch 2, Zelda Link's Awakening, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Mecca Chameleon, indie games, retro gaming, gaming with kids, FIFA, gaming dads, fatherhood, parenting, limited game time.

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

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

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/

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/

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/

Welcome to New Dad Gaming, the show where Trevor and Jeff prove that becoming a dad doesn’t mean game over. 🎮👨‍👧‍👦 This week, the dads dive into: Broken controllers & kid chaos – how one “dad-only” controller didn’t survive. No Man’s Sky resurgence – the dads revisit the galaxy, ship-building, and VR. Hard root beer & craft beer picks – Prairie Fairy Blackberry Wheat Ale & Crazy Uncle Hard Root Beer. Hollow Knight & Silksong struggles – tougher than Elden Ring? Can the kids beat what broke the dads? 2026 hype list – the games the dads can’t wait to buy once the “No New Game” challenge is over. 🍺 Got a beer suggestion? 🚀 Built a wild ship in No Man’s Sky? 🕹️ Have kids wrecked your controllers too? Share your story at newdadgaming.com. 👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on fatherhood, gaming, and the chaos in between. 🔔 Don’t forget to hit the bell so you never miss an episode. 📝 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772 🎧 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw 🎧 Other Platforms:https://newdadgaming.com/

Being a dad isn’t about engineering your kids’ every move—it’s about shepherding them through life’s adventures. In this episode of New Dad Gaming, Trevor and Jeff dive into Dr. Russell Barkley’s powerful advice on parenting: guiding your kids like a shepherd instead of trying to engineer who they’ll become. The dads also share: 🎮 How their kids traded dreams of a PS5 for… a metal detector (and then found the Roblox version of it!). 🍺 Trevor’s wife surprising him with a “Game Theory” IPA—perfect for their Summer of Beers theme. 🪵 Jeff gifting a stunning custom wood-carved podcast logo from Ankor Valley to celebrate 10 years of New Dad Gaming. 🚀 Trevor’s plan to join the epic Elite Dangerous “Distant Worlds” event this January. 💸 Teaching kids financial responsibility when gaming budgets clash with hobbies like One Piece card tournaments. As always, it’s a mix of parenting lessons, gaming laughs, and the realities of dad life. Because just because you became a dad… doesn’t mean it’s game over. 📝 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-dad-gaming/id1107330772 🎧 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/434cj9ksKBnX6aY2aBZ6Uw 🎧 Other Platforms:https://newdadgaming.com/