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Punished Series
Having trouble snagging a PS5 or Xbox Series X | S? You’re in luck! Here are three sleeper 2021 indie games you can play on a modest PC.
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.
Latest Articles
Punished Series
Having trouble snagging a PS5 or Xbox Series X | S? You’re in luck! Here are three sleeper 2021 indie games you can play on a modest PC.
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.
In our Finding Frankie review, learn whether this horror meets parkour game delivers on both elements for a satisfying experience.
In our latest Fantasy Gaming update, learn how the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is impacting our teams and potentially shaking up the standings.
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 our KARMA: The Dark World review, learn whether this Remedy-esque, David Lynchian horror game lives up to its incredible inspirations.
In our Promise Mascot Agency Review, learn if you’ll enjoy this management-sim Japanese driving adventure as much as our editor did.
In our Final Fantasy XIV TTRPG review, find out if you can (and should) take the award-winning MMORPG to your table.
Reviews
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In our Frostpunk 2 review, find out if the new city survival management game lives up to its predecessor.
In our Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Remastered review, learn whether this 2010 Telltale point-and-click adventure still holds up.
In our Early Access Review of Helskate, find out if the skater roguelite lands its tricks.
In our Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus review, read about the game’s gorgeous art, great aerial combat, and troubled publishing at Humble Games.
The Punished Podcast
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Video game adaptations are everywhere — shows, movies, books, board games, music, and more. But what makes them work? Let’s discuss.
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.
Punished Notes
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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.
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.
Punished Chat
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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.
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!
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.