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Punished Series
Weekend at Dave’s – Episode 2: David talks Deltarune, the second season of Netflix’s Castlevania TV series, and that bonkers Smash Ultimate direct.
Weekend at Dave’s – Episode 1: David talks Spider-Man, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Octopath Traveler, and a little open-world game called Red Dead Redemption 2.
Latest Articles
Punished Series
Weekend at Dave’s – Episode 2: David talks Deltarune, the second season of Netflix’s Castlevania TV series, and that bonkers Smash Ultimate direct.
Weekend at Dave’s – Episode 1: David talks Spider-Man, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Octopath Traveler, and a little open-world game called Red Dead Redemption 2.
Final Fantasy XIV is terrific, but the Dawntrail expansion suffered from pacing woes. Learn if Final Fantasy XIV patch 7.1 fares better.
There are too many side quests in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, so here are the very best for you to explore (and not get burned out).
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day (and absolutely nothing else)! Let’s escape today’s doldrums with some Final Fantasy coverage.
Even if it feels silly to get sucked up in the hype, it’s actually fine (and maybe even good) to just be excited about the Switch 2.
In our Paper Perjury review, learn if this Ace Attorney-inspired detective game lives up to the Phoenix Wright name.
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?!
Reviews
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Kudzu’s reliance on charm and nostalgia fails to conceal its greater failings. Learn more in our Kudzu review.
The FIFINE AmpliGame H6 headset is cute, but the price point is even cuter. Read more about the product in our AmpliGame H6 review.
In our Botany Manor review, learn whether this gardening puzzle adventure from Whitethorn Games manages to flourish, or wither.
In our Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review, learn whether Cloud and company’s latest reimagined adventure lives up to its own ambitions.
The Punished Podcast
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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
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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
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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
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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.