Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight and I, ZombiePie am once again honored to be your host as we look back at the site and staff-related news as well as the best user-created works from the previous week! And BOY, we'll get into it in a bit, but you all sure did like making Mario-related tier lists this week!
Nonetheless, first, and foremost, huge props to all of you that tuned in and supported the Giant Bomb Community Endurance Run last weekend. The group went on, non-stop, for three days straight and ended up raising $3,591 towards Pencils of Promise. I personally want to thank everyone that helped me to raise over $600 to the team and PoP's educational efforts. If you missed the event and are still interested in supporting the team, please consider donating as the team page is not going anywhere any time soon. Also, if you are a streamer, Pencils of Promise has an extension on Twitch. Likewise, you could consider joining the Giant Bomb PoP team and refer to your page throughout the year.
Chuck continues to plug away at importing missing content, podcasts, and streams that users report on the "site-tech-issues" channel on the Discord as well as through email via [email protected]. For example, After dan Auer pointed out a couple of missing episodes of the Devcast, all 16 episodes were restored on the site the same day of Dan's comment. Also , hey Dan, I hope everything has been alright for you and Will Carle recently.
As mentioned last week, friend of the site, Will Crosby, is trying to make a compilation video or homage of the first full year of Giant Bomb as an independent game site. To make their life so much easier, please consider using their Google Form to share which Giant Bomb moments stick out as true highlights of Giant Bomb's new independent streak.
Finally, as pointed out by Mario, this week marked a recent anniversary in Giant Bomb history. That's right, it's the anniversary of a certain Giant Bomb PAX Panel ending as a promo for the first incarnation of League of Heels:
Fan Art
Giant Bomb's Game Rating System (By: ke51n)
Are you like Walter Krunk and still complaining about Giant Bomb's switch to half stars? Well, as ke51n imagines on bluesky, would you like half stars more if they translated into staff based-icons like the GamePro review scale?
Community Articles
Let's Talk About 2026's Most Divisive Demo: Panzer Dragoon Zwei: Remake (By: ZombiePie)
Steam's Next fest event is months behind us, but ZombiePie felt the need to talk to the community about one demo that still has some people fuming: Panzer Dragoon Zwei: Remake. Why is this demo so controversial and hated by fans of the Panzer Dragoon series? ZombiePie lays everything out for you.
DOOM Port Corner, Entry 5: 3DO (By: ford_dent)
After dancing around this port for a bit, it's time for ford_dent to review what is widely considered the worst console port of Doom ever made: the 3DO version. What makes this game so universally reviled and hated? Check out their write-up for all of the gruesome details.
Indie Game of the Week 463: Hylics 2 +
RetroPiece Theater Special: Ape-ril (By: Mento)
Mento once again has two article worth reading with the first being a new edition of their "Indie Game of the Week" feature. This time around they played and reviewed Hylics 2 and share if they think the game increasing its scope and scale from the first game is a good thing.
Likewise, Mento also decided to review a smattering of games with monkeys or apes as a new article gimmick for April. If you want to join them in singing the praises of Donkey Kong '94 like Mike and Grubb, you should head on over to their RetroPiece Theater Special: Ape-ril.
Hades Duology Presents A Boy Band Called Snakes 1 (By: infantpipoc)
With more reports suggesting we might actually see a metal Gear Solid movie in the future, infantpipoc decided to do a dream recasting of the original Metal Gear Solid if Konami were to ever give the first game the remake treatment. Which Japanese voice actors do they think are best equipped to VO the characters?
What's the Greatest Video Game: Curse of Monkey Island (By: imunbeatable801)
Are any of you in the mood for some classic point-and-click adventure game fun? Well, imunbeatable801 has you covered with a new entry in their "What's the Greatest Video Game" series with this one reviewing The Curse of Monkey Island! Do they consider it the best entry in the series like some? Read to find out!
Forum Posts Worth Checking Out
Announcements
Let's Test The Video RSS Feed For Grubbsnax Premium! (By: chucktowski)
As shared in previous weeks, Chuck wants YOUR HELP in testing the new Video RSS Feed for Grubbsnax Premium to make sure the premium RSS Feeds are working as designed! If this is an issue that has plagued you before, drop a comment in this thread.
In fact, don't forget to check out the Video RSS Feed over here!
General Discussion
What Do You Game On? (By: marvinmorris)
With some decrying the current generation of video gaming we are in a noted decline in the console gaming experience, what are you gaming on these days? Do any of you have Steam Decks or their many imitators? How many of you exclusively play on a PC these days? Chime away in this thread!
Iron Galaxy Doing Some Permanent Downsizing (By: bigsocrates)
Layoffs and company reductions have been announced at Iron Galaxy. Is this another sign of the tough times facing middle-sized game studios? Join the discussion in this forum thread and feel free to share if you can pinpoint an exact moment when things started to look not so great for the company.
Hades II Post-Launch Patch 2 (By: gyratyne)
Have any of you returned to Hades II since the game's second post-launch patch dropped? What do you make of the game's balance as of right now and the new additions that have come to the game post-release? Additionally, what do you think still needs to be improved?
The GB Album Club 113 - Bossanova by Pixies (By: unclejam23)
The most recent pick for the Giant Bomb Album of the Week Club is Bossanova by Pixies! Are you a fan of this alt-rock group and their third studio album? Join the conversation, feel free to ask if you can join the club, and have fun talking about music!
What Are You Playing/Finishing/Abandoning This Week (April 12, 2026 Edition)? (By: laughingman)
What did you end up playing during the week of April 12? Was it a new AAA game or a smaller indie title? Did any of you take the time to make a dent on your backlog as we lurch closer to the Summer Game Drought? Feel free to share away with the rest of the community in this thread.
I've Been Playing A Lot Of GBA Lately And It Has Been Rocking My World (By: hyperfocus74)
We have a handful of Giant Bomb users that are rediscovering classic GBA games thanks to retro handhelds from Retroid or Miyoo. Do you have any recommendations for these users? Can you think of MUST PLAY games on the platform as well as buried treasures?
Do You Remember Shadow Hearts (By: chocobodude3)
Don't ask why, but we have a Shadow Hearts Appreciation Thread on the Giant Bomb forums! Do any of you recall this franchise? It was baller and if you agree, share away in the thread! Also, do any of you recall the spiritual successor to Shadow Hearts that was promoted on Kickstarter and now is in legal limbo?
How Does WWF No Mercy (And The N64 In General) Hold Up? (By: hyperfocus74)
Considering that the 2K wrestling games aren't everyone's cup of tea, what's it like going back to N64, PS1, and PS2-era wrestling games? Is WWF No Mercy still a timeless classic and what do you think is the secret sauce for those N64/PS1 era wrestling games?
Premium-Only
Cat Stats (By: mafuchi)
We have even more Giant Bomb users creating Magic the Gathering cards for their cats inspired by Chuck's 9 Lives of Mister Mistofelees feature on the site! If you have Giant Bomb Premium, check it out and join the fun!
Delayed Podcast Feeds (By: bonta)
Did you have issues with the Game Mess Mornings feed? The feed had the wrong date in the title and if you are still having issues, you can manually refresh the feed and it should be working as intended. If you are still experiencing issues, feel free to drop a comment.
Grubbsnax Question Thread (By: jeffgrubb)
For those of you with Premium subs, you can head on over to the Premium-Only board and possibly get a question answered during Grubbsnax if you write and post it in this thread. Huge props to Grubb for taking the time to engage with the forums to whip up some community engagement!
Suggestions & Bug Box
Bug - Video Player Not Resuming Last Played Position [More Input/Data Needed] (By: liquidirish)
Some users are reporting that the video player is not resuming from the last played position after pausing a video and closing a tab. If this includes you, please drop a comment and remember to indicate your browser and browser version in the report.
Lists
The 50 Worst Games I've Ever Played (By: thedrumkid92)
thedrumkid92 decided to join the Blight Club boys in spirit by listing the 50 worst games they have ever played on Giant Bomb! Learn what are the worst of the worst for them and consider making your own list. What are YOUR worst games?
My Favorite Games of 2024 (By: dukestinks)
After reviving their account on Giant Bomb, dukestinks relized they never published a GOTY list for 2024 and they went ahead and fixed that. Check out which games they think are the cream of the crop form that year and feel free to join them if you too don't have a GOTY list for 2024!
Tier Lists
Ranking Every Simpsons Game (Ongoing) (By: honestom23)
honestom23 is a known expert on video games with The Simpsons and they went ahead and made a tier list where they ranked every Simpsons game they have played from best to worst. And before you ask, yes, they have played Bart vs. the Space Mutants.
HylianSidekick's Legend of Zelda Tier List (By: HylianSidekick)
Likewise, The Legend of Zelda is user HylianSidekick's favorite game franchise. So, they went ahead and made their tier list ranking of the mainline Zelda games public, including their spicy "HOT TAKES!" Where do they stand when it comes to ranking major's Mask? Click to find out!
MajorMitch's Legend of Zelda Tier List (By: MajorMitch)
Speaking of tier list ranking the Legend of Zelda games, MajorMitch did a major revision of their old Zelda rankings to include new games they have played and completed as well as some second-thoughts about their previous rankings but now in tier list format! Give it a read and feel free to use their template if you have Premium!
Tier List Of Every Metroidvania I Have Played (By: sammonice)
sammonice decided to have a go at ranking every single Metroidvania they have played on the site! Here's the list they have made and if you love the sub-genre as much as they do, don't forget, you can make your ownlist if you have Giant Bomb Premium!
Mainline Metal Gear Games (By: barrabas)
barrabas took Dan's "Mainline Mario" franchise tier list concept, more info about that in a bit, and decided to apply the idea to the Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid games! How do they group the various "mainline" games along with the few handful of spin-offs and experimental entries in the series? You'll have to see for yourself.
Mike Minotti's Mainline Mario Tier List (By: tolkoto)
The Official Mainline Super Mario Tier List (By: tampy)
TheSolution's Mainline Mario Tier List (By: thesolution)
My Mainline Mario Tier List (By: sarge1445)
My Mainline Mario Tier List (By: worlddude)
HylianSidekick's Mainline Mario Tier List (By: )
Tiered Mario (By: dukestinks)
Mario? Merio? Who cares? This is THE LIST (By: nickmitch)
Main Line Mario Games (By: stonepitbull)
As was the case when they published a tier list ranking of the Zelda games, Mike has decided to give the same treatment for the Mario franchise. Some of you may notice that Mike's list is a reformed version of user borgmaster's tier list for the Mario games, but with more categories. Nonetheless, if you want to join the Mario tier list-making fun on the site and have Giant Bomb Premium, feel free to use Mike's template for your own tier lists!
Mainline Mario Games (OFFICIAL) (By: danryckert)
Mainline Mario Games (By: basicallilexi)
The Major Marios (By: Mento)
Mario Series' (OFFICIAL) (By: gregariousgreg)
Unlike Mike, Dan decided to get in the Mario tier list-making shenanigans but with a different "twist." Instead of listing out Mario games from best to worst, they decided to categorize which games they think are "mainline" Mario games and which ones are "minor" or spin-off games. It seems like a ton of people, Mike included, are perplexed by his decision to call Super Mario bros. Wonder "Experimental."
User Reviews
jjweatherman got to itch to play a "classic" Castlevania game so they went ahead and gave Castlevania: Circle of the Moon another go! Read why they were left somewhat disappointed by the game with the prime culprit being the amount of combat.
relentlessknight agrees that Mouse P.I For Hire is always the most fun to play FPS out there, but they also can't help but respect the game's artistic and aesthetical prowess and endless creativity. Read why they think it is a game that is more than the sum of its parts.