Latest Articles
Greatest Hits
Punished Series
Latest Articles
Greatest Hits
We delve into the ending of Horizon Forbidden West, and explain how it prioritizes a hurried sequel setup over saving the world.
I share my thoughts on the cancellation of E3 2022, the upcoming PAX East 2022, and the overall state of video game tradeshows.
Hiromitsu Maeba’s composition includes 25 seconds of a sweeping, wistful violin: a dream yet unfulfilled. It’s not just a song, but a story.
For this Friday Fortissimo, in honor of the release of The Radical Dreamers Edition, we celebrate the music of Chrono Cross.
In honor of the release of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, we look back 17 years to when the original LEGO Star Wars first released.
Kick off your weekend by listening to the sweet, sweet jazz of Paradise Killer—featured track: “Paradise (Stay Forever).”
Reviews
View AllAfter a long wait, and many Persona 4 spinoffs, how does Persona 5 play? Does the 100+ hour JRPG deserve a spot in your backlog? Click to read our thoughts.
What Remains of Edith Finch is an adventure game long in development from developer Giant Sparrow. Does Edith Finch leave a lasting impression?
Review: The Legend of Zelda is a series that always seems to reinvent itself with each new entry. In Majora’s Mask, time-management was central to…
After five long years of development, thatgamecompany’s Journey is finally out for all Playstation owners to experience. Does it live up to the hype?
Greatest Hits
Weekend at Dave's
View AllTo help usher in the new year, The Punished Backlog editorial team hosts a 2023 gaming preview extravaganza, complete with a fantasy draft!
From Halo Infinite and Fable to The Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield, here’s what you can expect from Xbox & Bethesda at E3 2021.
From Final Fantasy XVI to Guardians of the Galaxy rumors, we share our hopes, expectations, and dreams for Square Enix at E3 2021.
From the Breath of the Wild sequel to 2D Metroid rumors, we dive into Nintendo at E3 2021 and share our personal hopes and predictions.
Going through a stressful time? Take care of yourself by playing these video games that promote mental health and well-being.
The announcement that Gearbox is being acquired by a larger fish begs the question: Should video game industry consolidation worry us?
Punished Notes
View AllIn Vol. 18 of Punished Notes, I discuss a pair of gaming remakes, MLB The Show’s take on baseball history, and the Super Mario Bros. movie.
In this Punished Notes, I discuss Xbox’s latest hit, a classic from the Nintendo 64 era, HBO’s latest hit show, and more.
Welcome to Punished Notes, Volume 26! For this edition, I’ll be discuss one of this year’s biggest releases, God of War Ragnarök. I’ll start off with a spoiler-free mini-review of the whole experience, mention some random things I liked and…
In this Punished Notes, I review Sam Barlow’s new game Immortality, delve into Splatoon 3, and share thoughts on a host of other things.
In Vol. 24, I discuss As Dusk Falls (Xbox’s only notable 2022 exclusive), highlight a Game Pass hidden gem, and rip into Ryan Reynolds.
Learn how the Mass Effect trilogy defined a gaming generation with its role-playing choices, DLC controversy, over-marketed ending, and more.
Punished Chat
View AllWant a fun way to celebrate, laugh, and/or cry about your favorite games of 2022? Introducing The Punished Backlog’s first ever prop awards.
Favorite characters, problematic approaches to Manuela, figuring out what that whole goddess thing was about… we discuss it all.
We review the first 12 months of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, including best games, console features, and most anticipated 2022 games.
We celebrate the life and legacy of Microsoft’s second console by chatting about our top Xbox 360 games, moments, and memories.
Wondering what to expect from Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 2? Want random speculation on when it’ll release? You’re in the right place.
For this edition of Punished Chat, we discuss the differences between PC and next-gen consoles, and what this means moving forward.
Punished Favorites
View AllLooking for a few more indie video games to play while enjoying the final weeks of summer? Look no further than these five gems.
Still hankering for some great indie video games to play over the summer? Here are five more excellent options available to you.
Think you’ve played all the best video games? Think again. Here are five great indie games that are criminally underrated.
An Eye for Detail Love ‘em or hate ‘em, seemingly every video game comes with a man, woman, or semi-autonomous vending machine more than willing to take your hard-earned gold (or credits/rupees/now-defunct German Marks). They may be shrewd, charming, devious,…
Coming Out Swinging Recently, the Punished Backlog team looked at the best video game end sequences in gaming. But an impressive opening level is just as important as a triumphant close. Whether it be an opening cinematic that instilled a…
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…