Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the biggest game releases of 2025. Does it work? Does it deserve its score of 91? We share our thoughts.
Sam Martinelli
Sam Martinelli
Sam has been playing video games since his earliest years and has been writing about them since 2016. He’s a big fan of Nintendo games and complaining about The Last of Us Part II. You either agree wholeheartedly with his opinions or despise them. There is no in between. A lifelong New Yorker, Sam views gaming as far more than a silly little pastime, and hopes though critical analysis and in-depth reviews to better understand the medium's artistic merit. Twitter: @sam_martinelli.
In this podcast episode, we discuss the history of video game difficulty, what makes a game “fun,” Clair Obscur, Souls-likes, and more.
Watching my wife get into Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the first time is a joy, as it creates a new thing the two of us can share together.
Mario Kart World has plenty of incredible new and remixed music, but its most impressive track just might be a reimagining of a Super Mario 64 classic.
On the fence about Nintendo’s latest console? Six of our writers sat down to share our initial Nintendo Switch 2 impressions.
In this podcast episode, we discuss why we replay video games, what changes between playthroughs, old games versus new ones, and much more.
I have a new console, but I’m playing decades-old titles from GameCube on my Switch 2.
In this Punished Notes, Sam dives into how the latest Bethesda shooter harkens back to a simpler time in AAA gaming, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and more!
While we here at The Punished Backlog could not be more excited about a new Nintendo console, we also figured it now is the right time to pay tribute to the first Switch and all its best games!
In our latest Fantasy Friday, we recap the latest league developments, including our first waiver wire draft of the season!