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# A Lot Of Great Games Will Never Win A Game Award
- URL: https://aftermath.site/podcasts/a-lot-of-great-games-will-never-win-a-game-award/
- Published: 2025-12-12T20:05:25.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-12T20:38:40.000Z
- Description: While the industry celebrated Clair Obscur several times over, we talked about the wonderful December releases that are more interesting than The Game Awards.
- Author: Chris Person
- Tags: Podcasts, Skate Story, Rhythm Doctor, Angeline Era, elden ring: nightrein, demonschool, Arctic eggs, Shadow Labyrinth, UGSF, podcast

This week, Gita, Riley, and Chris talk about many games that came out recently that will never win a Game Award, and what our attitudes about the event are. First, the enigmatic Ys-alike *Angeline Era*, a beautiful game with [thoughtful](https://even-kei.medium.com/divest-from-the-video-games-industry-814a1381092d?ref=aftermath.site) [design](https://melodicambient.substack.com/p/the-book-of-bumpslash-action-level). Second, the toe tapping *Rhythm Doctor* which feels like it takes cues from *Rhythm Tengoku* and iNIS games like *Ouendan*. 

Then we discuss *Skate Story*, Faustian *Tony Hawk* with an incredible soundtrack that reminds us of *Arctic Eggs*. We give a shoutout to *Demonschool*, which has surprisingly good combat. Finally we discuss *Shadow Labyrinth*, the Dark Pac-Man game (announced at The Game Awards) that came out over the summer and has shockingly deep roots in [UGSF lore](https://ugsf-series.com/en/?ref=aftermath.site).

Lastly, we shout out *Nightreign* as one of our favorite games of the year and talk about its freaky new characters. We also answer your questions about peppermint treats, the NY game dev scene, AI and more!