Latest Articles
Top 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.
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.
In our Dead Letter Dept. review, we take an ode from this horror game’s unique hook and share our critique the old-fashioned way: by letter.
Shall we take a look at how I fared against last year’s resolutions? I’m genuinely asking… should we? I’m not so sure it went well.
In our Citizen Sleeper 2 review, learn how Starward Vector builds on its award-winning predecessor while maintaining the same heart.
In our Dreamcore review, learn whether this psychological horror game based on liminal spaces is bone-chilling or bone-dry.
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.
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.
Reviews
View All
In our Saviorless review, learn whether the debut title from Empty Head Games and “first Cuban indie game” lives up to its weighty honorific.
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.
The Punished Podcast
View All
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.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we discussed romance in games. Learn our favorite romance mechanics, characters, subplots, and more.
Punished Notes
View All
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.
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.
Punished Chat
View All
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!
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?
Punished Favorites
View All
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.