I loved, loved, this podcast since it began. Great voices on staff, great conversations, great fun. Now I’ve lost some of that thanks to the admitted use of generative AI in their content. Hire someone to do that work, no matter how small. There are so many people who are struggling for even just a bullet point on their resume. It is really upsetting to see such a lovely podcast using technology that will only replace people, not support them.

Maybe, just maybe, some of the regular “cohorts” can put their prioritization of industry connections aside, actually play a game past its opening hours, and offer a genuine and informative review of its quality for once. Is that too much to ask for a video game podcast?

But minus one star for using cohort to refer to one person. Sickening.

I’ve enjoyed Ben since GI days. Love his personality. Get rid of Jacob Geller. We are tired of the politics.

Fun podcast with a lot of personality and community engagement. Easy to listen to friends talk about games and more (also to watch on YouTube!). Bonus points for being Minnesota-based! discord: Cal_333

Get a load of this: MinnMax is a great video game podcast with a cohort of hosts of ex-Game Informer staff as well as folks that have interesting thoughts to share about gaming. With a rotating cast of panelists, you might expect a ton of arguments or folks talking over one another, but I love how friendly this crew is, even when it comes time to decide on a top 20 list of games for the year. The main host of the show, Ben Hanson, is a masterful host, running the show like a great Dungeon Master, deftly making sure that everyone gets their opportunity to speak up. I’ve only been listening for just over a year (I just learned why there are two Ns in the show's title!) but I already feel like a part of an inclusive, welcoming community full of folks that eschew the “hardcore” or “casual” label. We’re all gamers who love nerding out together.

I’ve been listening to Minnmax since the very first episode, and it has only gotten better with time. The rotating cast of cohorts makes it easy to find people that share your same tastes in games while bringing a new energy to each episodes dynamic. Ben and the crew deserve all the success they’ve achieved over the past few years and genuinely deserve your support. swell001 on discord.

After discovering this group’s amazing Deepest Dive series, I’ve become a regular listener to this podcast and think they have the best vibes in gaming! They always share the most important news, have great discussions on games, and always introduce me to new games I wouldn’t have otherwise tried. I have so much fun listening to this crew every week Twitter/X: tocalla2014

The show is a weekly listen to me. Every cohort brings a unique perspective and are equally interesting to hear from. I think anyone interested in games will find a lot to love with their content. Looking forward to listening for many years to come! (aidaritos.bsky.social on bluesky)

This is one of my favorite podcast. I love how many different voices and opinions are on every week and all the new games I’m introduced to that I otherwise would never hear about. Twitter: @DJcolmenares305

Great energy between hosts! Wasn’t aware of this show until the giveaway but I’m spending the next while checking out the backlog! Continuing to hear more and more hype on 1000xResist, would love to play it! (I’m at potatotoes.bsky.social !)

Some of the most heartfelt people on the internet talking about games, media, and other things. I love everyone on the crew. I don’t know Alanah Pearce well but I’m excited to hear from her as well. Ig: zaetoday

The best gaming podcasts I’ve heard. A genuine passion mixed with comedy and minimal nihilism. Really a joy to listen to each and every week! Review from IG: @it.is.kit

MinnMax in general and the show specifically is truly special and is different from any other games media in my life. I appreciate all of the different voices, guests, and their perspectives. Even while the long-form format remains largely the same, it always feels fresh and time flies by. @honestjuicebox

This is the only show that makes me feel like I’m sitting in a friend‘s basement just talking about video games. The cohorts present a really good mix of personalities. And the show itself is kind of inspiring for how it spun off of Game Informer and started its own independent media outlet. Highly recommended. @sapiromichael on X

A very good videogame show covering the latest releases, featuring a fun and likable cast. Bluesky: @yaywalter.bsky.social

I love listening to this show (and all other MinnMax productions) because the conversations are in equal parts insightful, and kind. Coming from other gaming podcasts, I realize how many of those are spent talking down to each other, or trying to be the loudest voice in the room, whereas MinnMax has always felt super inclusive and interested in what every member and guest has to say. It's an easy listen for that reason, and I see how they're able to attract so many cool guests. Everyone feels included and I greatly appreciate that. Love the show! -Kel (@KLind.bsky.social)

@imjustsaiyan84 on x! I have been following these guys since Ben and the OGs left or were laid off from GI, and they were my favorite parts of that place. I found the magic that they kept there and brought with them, and I hope they keep up this great work forever!

I love you guys. Ben and the entire cohort and guests are always so funny, so informative, and so funny again. Leo Vader should be a household name and Janet Garcia might be the smartest video game pundit on the internet. I’m a YouTube person but I came all the way over to Apple Podcasts to write this review because I needed to share with the world how awesome you guys are. Also my social is @andremortonjr in case there is a giveaway happening or something.

I’ve been watching for a few months now and I’ve heard about a lot of great games I wouldn’t have heard about otherwise. IG: @bdotpng

Every time I listen, I end up writing down at least one game I would’ve missed if not for MinnMax. Great crew and large assortment of opinions. Best Game of the Year debates by far. Tried Mouthwashing solely based on their discussion and have been recommending it since. Bluesky: @thegonz.bsky.social

Been a fan since the GI days and I’ve been loving it more and more every year that goes by. Bsky: @theinfinitepet.bsky.social

Super positive/clean show for the most part. I really appreciate the knowledge and varied expertise that each cohort brings. Their Patreon community is awesome and the content is top notch, even being shared by huge companies like IGN. Ben Hansen is my favorite MC of any podcast. As owner of the channel, he does a great job pulling in varied talent from around the industry. I also love the lean towards more Indy games. So many amazing games I only found out about on this show. Instagram: @blakewilliambarber

Here for the 1000xResist lottery, stayed for the good podcast indiecorgi.bsky.social

Nice to have something that is so purely enjoyable to listen to. My favorite game podcast. -ninjon.bsky

As someone who lives in the Midwest, it’s nice to have a podcast and outlet based in the region still providing coverage after other outlets have closed. Such a fun group of people to listen to and a great way to keep up with what’s happening in the industry! danjer047.bsky.social

Continues to be one of few podcasts I still keep up with and the crossing the streams of other gaming podcast favorites is always a nice surprise. Big fan of the newer cohorts in Kelsey and Haley having more appearances on the main pod and this current iteration of the crew has such a great eclectic collection of tastes and takes (Bluesky: dsquirrelgames)

I really enjoy the crew and how they go about discussing games. Bluesky: @jstrider.space

Great people on the rotating cast. The show format keeps things relevant and interesting without getting stale. Positive and respectful attitudes, not caustic hot takes.

Been listening to MinnMax for a while now and I’ve never left a review so thought I should change that! Each week, this awesome group of people talk about videogames in such a way that brings me immense joy and pleasure. Couldnt to think of a better podcast and crew. Love it! Bluesky: @thezothman.bsky.social

MinnMax is a great group with tons of different shows and I love them all. I like to listen but love all the stuff on YouTube more. All the different content is great. Something for everyone. Keep it up. Discord: Gaav5663

Ive been watching/listening to Ben and the cohorts since launch a few years ago but I mainly use the Patreon and Youtube(for video) versions. Ben and I had the same GOTY in 2020 and 2024. You’ll have to check out their GOTY coverage to know what games they were. I was bribed by Ben to leave a review for the chance of getting a 1000xresist code. Outside of the bribe, if you happen to read this, give these diverse cohorts your love and check them out. Between Jacob’s essays, Sarah’s dress up games, Haley’s fps character streams, there is something for everyone. JeffMs chill streams are my favorite. Give these peeps a chance. Ben is an incredible interviewer as well.

My favorite videogame podcast. Great mix of game impressions, news, and fun conversations. . . . . . . . . (mok62 on the discord)

Long-time listener, first-time reviewer here! Listening to this podcast has been a consistent element of my weekly routine of consuming gaming commentary. Each conversation features thoughtful, informed, and funny discussion about this wonderful medium. Keep up the great work, team!

I’ve bounced off many video game podcast groups over the years because many of them either lean too much into the “friends hanging out” aspect or are informative but lack that “fun” factor. MinnMax manages to balance both well. It’s as entertaining to hear the cohorts banter w/ one another as it is to listen to a behind the scenes interview with an industry vet. They also to a great job bringing attention to indie devs and overlooked games every year and are responsible for me uncovering some excellent little games. Discord: adman117

Really love the show. Love all the different viewpoints of the cohorts. Like listening to a group of friends talk about games. What more could you want? Also you will hear about games you probably haven’t heard of as well as all the big releases. Can’t recommend enough. @chris-col-ru (remove the dashes) on the Twitter for the drawing. Thanks!

Love listening to the group for all their video game opinions! (bigfren.bsky.social)

MinnMax is one of the best gaming podcasts out there. The vibes are always off the charts. Please support them! Twitter: @antunderscore

Over the past few years MinnMax cohorts have become absolutely my weekly infusion of joy. I love their view on games. The positivity, chill vibe and good taste. A diverse group of experts bringing different perspectives to the table - always interesting. There’s 1000x reasons I could not resist 😎😎 to leave this review. You’re the best, thx, arobbie on x painter@bluesky

The MinnMax crew has evolved so much over the years and it has continued to be my favorite gaming podcast. Ben does a great job of steering the conversation into interesting places and proving industry context for every game and news item. Also, the diversity in the voices that they bring on to the show keep it interesting and expand your viewpoint to places that you might not otherwise have considered. Their 2024 Game of the Year discussion was so much fun. I highly recommend subscribing on Patreon to get access to their “pissy zone” discussion after you listen as well (they’ll go over the details of that during the episode). As someone who does not have much time to play games but loves to keep up with the latest blockbusters and indie darlings that are released every week, I cannot recommend this show enough. Give it a listen! (Twitter Handle: @DeranekThomas)

The show about “games, friends, and getting better” truly encapsulates all of those things! Ben and the cohorts feel like lifelong friends, they frequently improve based on viewer/listener feedback, and of course, there’s a ton of video games impressions, news, and reactions. cookevin.bsky.social

My favorite gaming podcast, hands down! Such a fun group of cohorts, that always have terrific insight about the gaming community. They also do so many fun, tangentially related things on their YouTube channel that always crack me up. IG @caleb.wolters

This group is fantastic. Made up of people from throughout the game industry, Minnmax is a fun well of knowledge in todays gaming world. Have not stopped listening since 2019! -gooseberry99. in Discord

Review: This is easily my favorite podcast. I’ve been listening since the beginning. Ben is the best in the business. Love the team he has assembled. Min max discord: papabjorn_

I’ve been listening to the MinnMax show for a bit over a year now and it quickly became one of my favorite weekly listens. The cohorts each bring a unique personality which keeps it fresh each week as everyone has their own preferences allowing an array of genres to be touched on as opposed to podcasts with a static cast. I really do like how much of a focus they give to various indie games as well as big titles, I’ve discovered so many in this last year I never would’ve heard about otherwise!

A podcast about games, friends, and getting better caps off each year with multiple episodes of chaotic fighting where the loudest person wins.

These guys are such a joy to listen to! Gaming conversations can often take a turn towards negativity but not here. The whole crew is smart and passionate about games but they always manage to keep things light hearted and encouraging.

Love shows with Sarah and Kelsie who are interesting and eloquent. Was one of the only podcast that wasn’t overtly political and full of DEI nonsense. Unfortunately Ben is hard to listen too now and caustic.

I look forward to listening every week! I enjoy the chemistry amongst all of the cohorts and their unique perspectives. For anyone interested in games, this is worth a listen. Discord: Zach da Mac | zachdamac.org

My favorite video game related podcast! They have a very worthwhile Patreon too. Highly recommended! Review by: @Nightfall_7 on X/Twitter