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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#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!

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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:

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• 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:

📝 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!

#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:
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🎧 Spotify:
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🎧 Other Platforms:
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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:

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🎧 Other Platforms:
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Arc Raiders is the hot new extraction shooter everyone’s talking about… and the community is actually nice?! 😅

This week on New Dad Gaming, Trevor and Jeff crack open the last of the pumpkin beers, dive into the surprise hype around Arc Raiders, and unpack the controversy around AI voice acting and what it means for real voice actors and future games.

From there, it’s full-on dad mode: Trevor raids eBay for cheap Magic: The Gathering cards to build a cube and see if his kids can handle the chaos of modern MTG rules… while he struggles to remember what lifelink even does.

Jeff, meanwhile, goes galaxy-brain with Dyson Sphere Program, turning chill dad evenings into interstellar automation spreadsheets, all thanks to their ongoing “year of no new games” challenge. They wrap with a quick (and painful) update on Jeff’s 25-minute, zero-progress attempt at Silksong, driven entirely by his determined teen.

If you’re a gaming dad trying to balance backlog guilt, new releases, kids who are better at games than you, and the ethics of AI in gaming—this one’s for you.

⏱ Episode Timestamps (approx.)

• 00:00 – Cold open, dad life, and missed episodes

• 02:30 – Pumpkin beers, espresso porter review & maybe… Christmas beers?

• 07:20 – What is Arc Raiders and why is everyone loving it?

• 10:30 – PvPvE, surprising kindness & emergent co-op in Arc Raiders

• 15:30 – AI voice acting, ethics, and what it means for voice actors

• 23:50 – Magic: The Gathering with kids, cube drafting & card complexity

• 34:40 – Dyson Sphere Program: the ultimate dad automation game

• 40:45 – Jeff gets wrecked in Silksong at his kid’s request

• 42:20 – Outro, community shout-outs & how to reach the show

🎮 About New Dad Gaming

New Dad Gaming is a podcast about fatherhood, gaming, and new dads figuring out their gaming lives. Hosts Trevor (dad of a 10 & 8-year-old) and Jeff (dad of a 15 & 12-year-old) share stories from the trenches: backlog struggles, co-op with kids, late-night sessions, and the games they want to play vs. the games they actually have time for.

📬 Share Your Story

Played Arc Raiders? Have thoughts on AI in games? Trying to teach your kids Magic: The Gathering or hooked on Dyson Sphere Program?

👉 Reach out at newdadgaming.com – we’d love to feature your story on a future episode.

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Just because you became a dad does not mean it’s game over. 🎧🎮

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:
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The Dads are back with pumpkin in their beer,
With notes from listeners they definitely hold dear.

Breaking the bank with a skin from Fortnite,
And will a kid save for a Playstation? He just might.

👉 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/