Jeff's mid-combat in Kingdom Come Deliverance when everything goes blocky. A quick router check reveals his teen is downloading 100 gigs and pulling 10x the bandwidth. Then comes the plot twist: Trevor secretly set the router to prioritize gaming traffic — meaning his kid's download got VIP treatment because of dad's own settings. Self-own of the year.
From there, Trevor reveals he has a retro console secretly shipping to the house. Problem: his son just bombed his grades and is banned from all games. Now dad's staying up late coaching him through exams — not because he's a great dad, but because he desperately wants to hand over the surprise. Jeff one-ups him with his own tale of self-inflicted punishment: IMAX tickets to Project Hail Mary, snacks packed, ready to pull the kids from school — then the kids acted up and he had to cancel. On himself.
We pitch the ultimate generational escape room: it's 1994, and you have to survive the internet. Download an MP3 without someone picking up the phone. Print MapQuest directions and hope you got the right page. Dads would crush it. Kids would be completely destroyed.
Then we get into console pricing reality. The PS5 is six years old and still getting more expensive. The Pro is $800 CAD. Pre-ordering a console is now the financially responsible move because it will never be cheaper than today. Meanwhile, our kids are happy on browser games.
Finally, the big one: your 14-year-old wants GTA 6 for his birthday. We roleplay the conversation every gaming dad is about to have. The reasoning, the trust angle, and Jeff's closer: "You can't unsee some things."
🎮 Topics: Kingdom Come Deliverance bandwidth wars, router QoS self-own, secret retro console vs. bad grades, IMAX Project Hail Mary dad punishment, 1994 dial-up escape room, PS5 Pro pricing, GTA 6 age-appropriate parenting, dad schemes that backfire
📬 Got a story, question, or a backlog confession? Reach out at newdadgaming.com

Jeff survived the family plague (barely), and this week we're recording live — poems and all.
This episode kicks off with a live poem creation featuring the Steam Deck and Skate 3. From there, Jeff shares how the Steam Deck was his lifeline while sick on the couch: full Steam library plus PS5 streaming, all from under the blankets. We compare it to the consoles that shaped our lives — the Game Boy SP, the PSP, and why portability matters more than ever for gaming dads.
Then we dig into Pokémon Pocketopia on the Switch 2. Jeff's family is all-in and Trevor might not be far behind. We break down what it is (Minecraft meets Pokémon in a post-apocalyptic world), the Switch 2's GameShare feature that lets you play co-op from a Switch 1, and whether this could be the next Animal Crossing for families.
Jeff's kid discovered Skate 3 on Game Pass and asked dad for help beating a challenge. 100+ hours of muscle memory kicked in — double kickflips, dark slides, 920s. The kid walked out of the room. Trevor confesses he may have traumatized his own kids at Mario Kart and GoldenEye beyond recovery.
We also talk about the "I didn't marry a loser" social media trend — wives pushing back on the incompetent dad stereotype — and what it means that this generation of dads has arrived. Millennial dads are spending three times more quality time with their kids than previous generations. It hit us right in the feels.
Finally, it's the debut of New Dad Gaming Questions! A listener sent in a study from 2averagegamers.com: what 10,000 Reddit comments reveal about the adult gaming backlog. The median gamer sits on 100–150 unplayed games, plays 8–10 hours a week, and 75% feel genuinely guilty about it. Adults who can finally afford all the games they want but lack the time to play them. Sound familiar? Welcome to New Dad Gaming.
🎮 Topics: Steam Deck sick day, Pokémon Pocketopia, Switch 2 GameShare, Skate 3 dad flex, Mario Kart trauma, "I didn't marry a loser" trend, modern fatherhood, gaming backlog paradox, No New Games 2025, adult gaming guilt
📬 Got a story, question, or a backlog confession? Reach out at newdadgaming.com

The New Dads dive into a great listener email covering why it's time to kick Roblox to the curb, the magic of the Steam Deck on snow days, and fan-made Pokémon ROM hacks.

We also debate the perfect birthday gift for an 8-year-old (Switch 2 vs. Meta Quest 3), discuss whether the Pokémon TCG Mobile app is just a digital pack addiction, and look ahead at the massive hype surrounding Crimson Desert.

Finally, we come to terms with the harsh reality that our kids are already better at Hades than we ever were.

Connect With Us:

Have a gaming dad fail, success, or "headshake moment" to share? We want to hear from you!

🌐 Visit us: newdadgaming.com

 

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#NewDadGaming #GamingDads #FatherhoodAndGaming #NintendoSwitch2 #MetaQuest3 #PokemonTCG #PokemonShield #CrimsonDesert #HadesGame #SteamDeck #DadLife #Podcast

Welcome back to New Dad Gaming! This week, Trevor and Jeff are surviving the wild energy of their kids—who are currently acting like Red Bull-fueled boars at a banquet.

With the family adjusting to life down in Medellín, the guys discuss bribing the kids with $100 to learn Spanish on Duolingo and how this educational "loophole" is racking up screen time. We also dive into the beautiful peace of a post-Roblox household, which has led the kids right back to the classics like Pokémon Sword and EA FC.

On the adult gaming front, Nintendo is testing our patience (and wallets) by charging a premium for retro Pokémon Fire Red ports, Trevor confesses to a slightly guilty relapse into Marvel Snap, Jeff returns to the Final Fantasy 14 grind, and we confront the terrifying reality of a 15-year-old pirating Balatro on school computers.

Apple Podcasts:
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Spotify:
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Others on Our Website:
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#podcast #podcaster #podcasting #fatherhood #gaming #dadgaming

 

Chapter Timestamps:

• 0:00 - Intro & The "Boars at a Banquet" Analogy

• 4:39 - The Duolingo Screen Time Loophole & Spanish Bets

• 10:51 - Life After Roblox: Kids Return to Pokémon & Soccer

• 15:06 - Nintendo's Wild $30 Price Tag for Retro Pokémon

• 22:16 - Relapsing into Marvel Snap & Smurfing Low Levels

• 26:23 - The Endless Cycle of Final Fantasy 14

• 30:05 - Kids Pirating Balatro on School Computers

• 31:49 - Outro & How to Support the Show

This week, Jeff is hustling as an Uber driver for his kids and subtly suggests they buy Skyrim VR, Trevor finished Hades 2 and is caught between endgame content and some retro fun with Pokemon Fire Red, and Trevor pulls a fast one as the dealer during a game of Flip 7 for a good cause.

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Others on Our Website:
https://newdadgaming.com/

#podcast #podcaster #podcasting #fatherhood #gaming #dadgaming

What happens when your teenager gets caught playing a bootleg version of Balatro on school computers? Do you ground them, or are you secretly a little proud? 😂 Plus, Trevor is moving his family to Colombia for the winter and had to make some heartbreaking choices about what gaming gear makes the cut!

Welcome back to New Dad Gaming! In Episode 383, Trevor and Jeff are breaking down the ultimate travel gaming setup for dads on the move—why the Xbox Series S and Switch made the trip, but the PS5 and gaming PC had to stay behind. We also dive into the absolute chaos of playing Valheim with our kids (spoiler: do not let your teenager lead a troll horde back to your newly built cabin),and our struggles with giant gaming backlogs as we try to make time for Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Hades 2.

 

👇 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 👇 Have you ever had to make a painful sacrifice with your gaming setup for a big move? Or do you have a hilarious story of playing co-op games with your kids? Let us know in the comments below!

🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE for weekly episodes on fatherhood, gaming, and finding balance: 

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• Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts

• Everywhere Else: https://newdadgaming.com

⏱️ CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:

Use these to jump straight to your favorite topics!

[00:00:00] - Intro: Twitch Live Streams & Podcast Updates [00:03:54] - The Big Move: Trevor Takes His Family to Colombia![00:05:26] - The Ultimate Travel Gaming Setup (What made the cut?) [00:10:10] - The Hardest Choice: Heavy Gaming PC vs.MacBook Air [00:19:20] - Expedition 33, Kingdom Come, and the Backlog Struggle [00:24:59] - My 15-Year-Old Got Caught Playing Balatro in Class![00:31:32] - Valheim With the Kids: Pure Co-Op Survival Chaos [00:36:10] - Outro & How to Support the Show

📱 CONNECT WITH US:

• Website: https://newdadgaming.com

• Twitter / X: https://x.com/NewDadGaming

#DadGaming #Valheim #Balatro #XboxSeriesS #TravelGaming #Fatherhood #Podcast #NewDadGaming

We are back for 2026! After a year-long challenge of purchasing zero new video games in 2025, Trevor and Jeff break down the aftermath. Did we survive the FOMO? What is the first game we bought in 2026?

In this episode, we dive into the "Dad Dust" of getting back behind the mic, the joy of finally playing Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and Hades 2, and the promising horizon of 2026 releases like Fable and potential Witcher 3 DLC.

We also discuss the state of gaming in our households: from successfully banning Roblox, to our kids discovering Skyrim with heavy mods, to the hilarious realization our children had while playing WWE 2K24—that you used to be able to unlock characters just by playing the game. Finally, Jeff shares his newfound obsession with Valheim on the Steam Deck and why its "beautiful ugly" aesthetic is perfect for gaming dads.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Dusting off the mics: We are back for 2026!

• 00:03 – The "No New Games in 2025" Challenge: The Verdict

• 00:06 – Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 & The Freedom of 2026

• 00:08 – The 2026 Gaming Horizon: Fable & Witcher 3 rumors

• 00:09 – The Great Roblox Ban & What the kids are playing now

• 00:10 – Review: Clone Drone in the Danger Zone (Voxel Roguelike)

• 00:14 – WWE 2K24: Kids are shocked by "Free" character unlocks

• 00:17 – Skyrim in 2026: Mods, Special Editions, and Family Sharing

• 00:22 – Valheim Review: The "Beautiful Ugly" on Steam Deck

Links & Resources:

• Join the conversation: newdadgaming.com

• Connect with us on social: @NewDadGaming

About the Show: Welcome to New Dad Gaming, a show about fatherhood, gaming, and new fathers figuring out their gaming lives. Hosted by Trevor and Jeff, we prove each week that just because you became a dad, does not mean it's Game Over.

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:

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

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🎧 Other Platforms:
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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:
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🎧 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/