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.

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!

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