Latest Articles
Latest Articles
A Classic Or a Failure? While I haven’t written very many video game reviews, I could probably take any game I’ve ever played and assign it some kind of rating out of ten. Breath of the Wild? 10/10. Tomb Raider…
Journey Back to Europa Following lukewarm reception to the 2017 spin-off Valkyria Revolution, Sega has announced that Valkyria Chronicles 4 is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in 2018. The announcement was made via the “Valkyria Project” portal on Sega’s…
Ending on a High Note You’ve spent the entire game learning new mechanics, upgrading your skills, fighting boss after boss after boss. It’s finally time to face the head honcho, the final boss, your game’s Bowser. Before you walk through…
Settling World Affairs Like Actual Gentlemen People’s Chess was perhaps the craziest thing I saw while exploring Paris Games Week 2017’s bustling show floor. A small booth sandwiched between two other independent games, People’s Chess caught my eye almost immediately. In a French…
Out Now on Steam Early Access There were a lot of excellent games to play at Paris Games Week 2017, from Monster Hunter: World to the new Shadow of the Colossus remake. However, among all the massive booths and AAA…
Paris And All Of Its Wonders From November 1-5, Punished Backlog writer David Silbert spent hours exploring the halls of Paris Games Week 2017, taking in the impressive sights and sounds of the big games on display. While you can…
Revisiting One of Mario’s Greatest Adventures Everyone is enjoying Mario’s latest excursion (you can read David Silbert’s excellent Super Mario Odyssey review here), and they should be! Super Mario Odyssey is a marvel in open-world game design, presenting players with…
Around the World in 80 Power Moons To say that Super Mario Odyssey had big shoes to fill is an understatement. In 2007, Super Mario Galaxy essentially took the franchise someplace it had never gone before: outer space. As crazy of an…
The Punished Podcast
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In this Fantasy Gaming-centric episode, we recap the first half of 2026 before delving into our first waiver wire of the year.
In this episode of The Punished Podcast, we discuss the rise and fall of E3, game trailers, authenticity, and the big bucks.
In this episode of The Punished Podcast, we discuss the past, present, and future of games media and journalism.
In this episode of The Punished Podcast, we reflect (and debate) the games that should be prioritized in our backlog in 2026.
In this episode of The Punished Podcast, we discuss the role of review scores in the gaming industry, especially for us as critics.
In this episode of The Punished Podcast, we discuss and listen to the best video game soundtracks, composers, and sound design.
Punished Notes
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In the latest Punished Notes, Sam talks about Splatoon Raiders, Kingdom Hearts, Denshattack!, and…baking?
In a Punished Notes dedicated entirely to Resident Evil Requiem, Sam wonders if the post-zombification of the game’s world bears a resemblance to our own post-pandemic one.
In his latest Punished Notes, Sam gets into some New Year’s Gaming Resolutions, as well as a few predictions (and hopes) for some big gaming anniversaries coming up. Also: Wuthering Heights?
In the latest Punished Notes, Sam covers Doritos and Mountain Dew games, Kirby Air Riders, and… the blues?
In this edition of Punished Notes, Sam discusses how the incredible fall game release lineup is kind of killing him, among other thoughts
In the latest edition of Punished Notes, Sam talks about Lumines, visual novel and Roger, and other random thoughts from random games.
Punished Chat
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Mina the Hollower released last month to rave reviews. How do the writers at The Punished Backlog feel about it?
As part of our Game of the Year coverage, here are some DIFFERENT awards for the year’s best games!
Hollow Knight: Silksong is one of this year’s biggest new releases. What do the writers at The Punished Backlog think of it so far?
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.
Punished Favorites
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Some of the best indie games and AAA games of 2026 are already here! Our list covers 18 (and counting) great video games.
From the bird and the bear to the earliest console shooters, here are The Punished Backlog’s top 16 Nintendo 64 games of all time!
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Game Boy Advance, here are The Punished Backlog’s favorite GBA games of all time!
The Punished Backlog writers have already covered their favorite Pokémon games. But what about our actual favorite pocket monsters?
In our list of the best Pokémon Games, find out how the generations stack up in honor of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary.
In our list of the best GameCube Games, see how classics like Metroid Prime, Melee, and Double Dash stack up.