Latest Articles
Top Articles
Punished Series
Coronavirus may be ravaging the globe, but games are eternal. On this episode of Weekend at Dave’s, I share my top 10 games of PAX East 2020.
Weekend at Dave’s – Episode 5: David Silbert discusses the value of Xbox Game Pass, his backlog “keys” to fall 2019’s games, and why Quantum Break is so stellar.
Latest Articles
Coronavirus may be ravaging the globe, but games are eternal. On this episode of Weekend at Dave’s, I share my top 10 games of PAX East 2020.
Weekend at Dave’s – Episode 5: David Silbert discusses the value of Xbox Game Pass, his backlog “keys” to fall 2019’s games, and why Quantum Break is so stellar.
In our Carmen Sandiego (2025) review, learn if Gameloft’s newest title lives up to the nostalgic hype. (Spoiler: It doesn’t.)
The first Steam Next Fest of 2025 is underway, and we have games to recommend! From collectathons to cozy games, horror roguelikes to open worlds, don’t miss these Steam Next Fest demos.
Want to know more about this year’s Best Picture nominees? Check out what Zack Gulinello has to say about them (and how he ranks them)!
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we discussed romance in games. Learn our favorite romance mechanics, characters, subplots, and more.
Horses in video games should be treated better, especially the one in Stardew Valley. There’s a few simple ways it could be better.
A fiery comment on one of our reviews prompts a deep-dive into Mario Kart, DEI, anti-woke grifters, and the state of the world.
Reviews
View All
In our Noreya: The Gold Project review, learn whether this bite-sized Metroidvania measures up to the heavy hitters of the genre.
In our Nine Sols review, learn whether this tough-as-nails Metroidvania offers enough thrills to overcome its sluggish pacing.
In our Indika review, learn whether this genre-bending horror game is worth the price tag, despite tonal shifts and a short runtime.
In our Paper Trail review, learn whether these zen vibes and origami-inspired puzzles are worthy of your time.
The Punished Podcast
View All
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.
In The Punished Podcast Episode 14, we crown our Fantasy Gaming 2024 winner and host our 2025 draft—with a new dynasty format!
For The Punished Podcast Episode 13, we recorded a Final Fantasy VII Rebirth spoilercast. Come for the ending analysis; stay for the music.
Punished Notes
View All
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.
In this Punished Notes, Sam dives into Balatro, a replay of Fallout: New Vegas, and more.
Punished Chat
View All
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?
We’re launching a new brand and logo for The Punished Backlog! Let’s take a look back through the years and reflect on our past logos.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has been out for about a month. How do the writers at The Punished Backlog feel about it so far?
Punished Favorites
View All
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.
As the 25th anniversary of the PS2 approaches, help us celebrate by checking out our list of the 23 best PlayStation 2 games ever.