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Punished Series
In The Punished Podcast episode 2, we discuss the ideal game length. What makes a great 2-hour game? 100-hour epic? Tune in for our thoughts.
In episode 1 of The Punished Podcast, we discuss the difference between remakes and remasters, then share memories of the Nintendo DS for the Punished Hall of Fame.
Latest Articles
In The Punished Podcast episode 2, we discuss the ideal game length. What makes a great 2-hour game? 100-hour epic? Tune in for our thoughts.
In episode 1 of The Punished Podcast, we discuss the difference between remakes and remasters, then share memories of the Nintendo DS for the Punished Hall of Fame.
In our The Last Caretaker preview, learn why this game inspired by Subnautica, Zelda, and other greats is worth keeping on your radar.
After going back to Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, I’ve realized that permadeath, which I used to hate, is essential to what makes the series great.
Where The Last of Us Part II challenged players by making them think, Season 2 of the HBO show is catering to the lowest common denominator.
PAX East is back in Boston, and we’re scouring the show floor for hidden gems. Here are the best games of PAX East 2025.
In our The Horror at Highrook review, learn why this TTRPG-inspired occult game is much more than the sum of its parts.
In our Cookie Cutter review, learn whether this punk-rock-inspired Metroidvania does enough to stand out in a competitive genre.
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In our Kingdom Come: Deliverance II review, learn whether Warhorse’s massive medieval sequel measures up to its biggest inspirations.
In our Expelled! review, learn whether indie developer inkle Studios’ newest story-driven game stacks up to its other titles.
In our Split Fiction review, learn why Hazelight Studios and Josef Fares’ latest co-op adventure is their best effort yet.
In our Carmen Sandiego (2025) review, learn if Gameloft’s newest title lives up to the nostalgic hype. (Spoiler: It doesn’t.)
The Punished Podcast
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In The Punished Podcast Episode 20, we talk about all the hottest gaming news that broke this summer. Plus, our Fantasy Gaming league!
In this podcast episode, we discuss the history of video game difficulty, what makes a game “fun,” Clair Obscur, Souls-likes, and more.
In this podcast episode, we discuss why we replay video games, what changes between playthroughs, old games versus new ones, and much more.
In the latest episode, we go through the best (and worst) video games of 2025 so far, and provide a Fantasy Gaming league update!
In The Punished Podcast Episode 16, we discuss the best old school games, what retro even means, preservation, and much more.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we discussed romance in games. Learn our favorite romance mechanics, characters, subplots, and more.
Punished Notes
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In the latest edition of Punished Notes, Sam talks about Lumines, visual novel and Roger, and other random thoughts from random games.
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!
In this new Punished Notes, Sam talks about the mystery behind Avowed’s dialogue options, what it means when you say a game takes time to “get good,” and more!
For this edition of Punished Notes, Sam lists some brief and simple New Year’s resolutions, shares some games from 2024 that just missed the deadline for his tier list, and discusses his latest TV binge being on… CBS?!
So far, there hasn’t been a game that has pulled me out of post-election despair, and maybe that’s not a bad thing.
In this edition of Punished Notes, Sam gets into his thoughts on the reveal of Gears of War: E-Day, his favorite part of Hellblade II, and other thoughts.
Punished Chat
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From the classics to new releases, we discuss the “Big Three,” the best anime ever, and what makes these series stand the test of time.
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.
On the fence about Nintendo’s latest console? Six of our writers sat down to share our initial Nintendo Switch 2 impressions.
After a drama-packed premiere, our writers got together to share our The Last of Us Season 2 impressions so far.
Let’s see how The Punished Backlog’s excellent writers feel about that explosive Nintendo Switch 2 reveal!
Avowed has taken the gaming world by storm in recent weeks. What do the writers at The Punished Backlog think of Obsidian’s latest so far?
Punished Favorites
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In our list of the best GameCube Games, see how classics like Metroid Prime, Melee, and Double Dash stack up.
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!
Indie games are labors of love, and this year, it looks like there will be a lot to love! These are our most anticipated indie games of 2025.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of the Nintendo DS, check out the very best Nintendo DS games ever created.
From straight-up horror games to RPGs and cute indies, here are some of the best horror game moments of 2024 so far!
Waiting for Hollow Knight: Silksong? Make the wait easier by reading and playing our picks for the best Metroidvania games ever made.