Video games have changed immensely across decades. What hasn't changed? Apparently, @sam-martinelli.bsky.social 's appreciation for "Doritos and Mountain Dew" games: punishedbacklog.com/punished-not...

"While you could watch #Dispatch alongside your favorite streamer or experience it in a six-hour YouTube video, I would wholeheartedly recommend experiencing it for yourself." Read our #review of the finale episodes of @adhocstudio.com's superhero delight: punishedbacklog.com/dispatch-rev...

Two class-based, massively popular, Japanese RPGs enter the ring: Which one reigns supreme? Find out in this head-to-head crossover showdown: #FinalFantasyXIV vs. #MonsterHunterWilds! punishedbacklog.com/ffxiv-monste...

"Subway Builder understands an important thing: It is fun to build trains." Check out our #review of the public beta of Colin Miller's #SubwayBuilder! If you like train games, simulation games, and/or public transit, this is an #indiegame for you: punishedbacklog.com/subway-build...

Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi both got awesome 2D entries this year. But which is better? The latest from Donovan Harrell: punishedbacklog.com/ninja-gaiden...

Want to know the best way to play some of the best (and not-so-best) Silent Hill games this Halloween? @dancingmedievalist.bsky.social has you covered: punishedbacklog.com/best-ways-pl...

Even a decade after its release, SOMA's psychological thrills continue to resonate. The latest from @forthekids.space : punishedbacklog.com/revisiting-s...

Does @futurlab.co.uk's @powerwashsimulator.co.uk 2 do enough to justify the "2" at the end of the title? Find out in our review: punishedbacklog.com/powerwash-si... #gamereview #review #videogames

Want to know what it's like to make dresses, but have little patience for sewing? Check out the prototype for Dressmaker: punishedbacklog.com/dressmaker-i...

Yooka-Replaylee from @playtonicgames.com is a solid do-over of the original, not without its flaws but more than worth a try for 3D platformer fans. The latest review from @sam-martinelli.bsky.social : punishedbacklog.com/yooka-replay...

Ever dream of starring in your own superhero flick? #Dispatch, the inaugural episodic adventure from @adhocstudio.com (led by former #Telltale devs) is shaping up to offer that opportunity. Learn why Dispatch shows promise based on our initial #review: punishedbacklog.com/dispatch-epi...

Ghost of Yotei is a great "checklist" game. Maybe it's time, though, that we stopped getting these kinds of checklist worlds for a little while. The latest from @sam-martinelli.bsky.social : punishedbacklog.com/ghost-of-yot...

We're big fans of the new Sheepherds! demo by @ultimodisco.bsky.social, available to try for free on Steam. Amanda shares how it's a delightful, colorful co-op game perfect for fans of Overcooked! and Castle Crashers. punishedbacklog.com/sheepherds-p...

How do the folks at The Punished Backlog feel about @teamcherry.bsky.social's Hollow Knight: Silksong so far? It's one of the biggest games of 2025, and we have a LOT to say about it: punishedbacklog.com/hollow-knigh...

In his latest Punished Notes, @sam-martinelli.bsky.social discusses how excited he is by all the big new games coming out...and also being OVERWHELMED by it all. punishedbacklog.com/so-many-cool...

Despite some messiness, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls played great in its recent beta, and has a lot of potential for fighting game fans. Check out our preview: punishedbacklog.com/marvel-tokon...

Want to play something that will calm you down in a world gone mad? Check out the following emotional safety tool games: punishedbacklog.com/best-video-g...

#HollowKnightSilksong has sold 4 million copies and counting, but at least one person isn't partaking in the latest #TeamCherry adventure: our own Amanda Tien. Learn why Amanda's skipping #Silksong -- and why it's perfectly okay if you do, too. punishedbacklog.com/its-okay-not... #HollowKnight

Anime. We don't discuss it often on the site, but when we do, we go all out. In the latest Punished Chat, we talk the "Big Three," our favorite starter anime, hidden gems, shojo, and much more. punishedbacklog.com/best-anime-b... #anime #NARUTO #BLEACH #ONEPIECE #DragonBallZ #SailorMoon

The GameCube is one of the most beloved consoles in Nintendo's history. But what are its best games? Check out the latest Punished Favorites! punishedbacklog.com/best-gamecub...

No matter how badly you think God of War III holds up, its worse. Check out the latest from @sam-martinelli.bsky.social : punishedbacklog.com/god-of-war-i...

And Roger is one of this year's best new games, but if you want to really enjoy it? Go in blind. That and more in the latest Punished Notes from @sam-martinelli.bsky.social : punishedbacklog.com/and-roger-is...

Donkey Kong Bananza is one of this year's biggest games. Nearly a month after its release, how do our writers feel about it? Check out our thoughts in the latest edition of Punished Chat: punishedbacklog.com/donkey-kong-...

Is Assassin's Creed Shadows good? Our own Amanda Tien argued with herself in two dueling pieces this morning: 7 Things #AssassinsCreedShadows Gets Right: punishedbacklog.com/things-assas... 🆚 9 Things #AssassinsCreed Shadows Gets Wrong: punishedbacklog.com/things-assas... #videogames #Ubisoft

Love classic 2D action series? We've never been more back. In our review of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, learn why the latest from @thegamekitchen.com and @dotemu.bsky.social has the makings of a potential classic. punishedbacklog.com/ninja-gaiden... #NinjaGaiden #NinjaGaidenRagebound

🎙 New pod alert! 🎙 In the latest episode of The Punished Podcast, we talk video game difficulty. What makes a game tough, and does that equate to "fun"? We also talk #Soulslikes, #Roguelikes, #ClairObscurExpedition33, and much more. punishedbacklog.com/the-punished... #podcasts #videogames

In our Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (@playwuchang.bsky.social) review, learn whether this lightning-fast #SoulsLike from Leenzee Games and @505games.com is worth a play despite some story issues and nasty performance woes. punishedbacklog.com/wuchang-fall... #Wuchang #WuchangFallenFeathers #videogames

Looking for a new album to binge this summer? Zack Gulinello's got a suggestion: Something Beautiful by Miley Cyrus! punishedbacklog.com/miley-cyrus-...

Ever wonder what a #PaperMario RPG would look like with the combat of #SlaytheSpire? Enter Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson from @ritualstudios.bsky.social and @poriginals.bsky.social. Learn why Fretless is worth a play - despite some balance and QA issues: punishedbacklog.com/fretless-the...

Looking to game on a budget? Look no further than Kill the Crows, a bite-sized shooter with outsized appeal. Our backlog review of this 2023 gem: punishedbacklog.com/kill-the-cro... #videogames #Steam #NintendoSwitch #NintendoSwitch2

A month and a half after the release of #EldenRingNightreign, players are finally figuring out "the meta." Were initial impressions wrong? Learn why outlets had an impossible task when reviewing this ever-evolving game: punishedbacklog.com/elden-ring-n... #EldenRing #Nightreign #SoulsLikes

Looking for that #Chibi-Robo sequel that'll never arrive? You're in luck, because @miscatinytale.bsky.social offers all your favorite thrills and more. Our review: punishedbacklog.com/misc-a-tiny-... #indiegames #collectathons #platformers

It can be a true joy to see your partner (who doesn't normally love video games) get really into one that you used to play religiously. The latest from @sam-martinelli.bsky.social : punishedbacklog.com/the-joy-of-s...

Playing #MarioKartWorld like every other Switch 2 owner? Whether you're loving it or lamenting recent online changes, there's no debating one thing: The music slaps. Check out our favorite MKW tracks -- including one reimagining you need to hear to believe. punishedbacklog.com/dire-dire-do...

Looking to scratch that collectathon itch ahead of Donkey Kong Bananza? In our review of @zockrateslabs.bsky.social's Ruffy and the Riverside, learn why this indie platformer is greater than the sum of its rougher parts. #indiegames #platformers #collectathons punishedbacklog.com/ruffy-and-th...

Want to embrace your inner weebhood? Our writer Jason Toro has a few tips for you: punishedbacklog.com/beginners-gu...

While @11bitstudios.bsky.social's The Alters has its imperfections (including recent acknowledgment of minor use of GenAI), it's still a great game made by real people, as seen in this endearing Easter Egg. Read about it here: punishedbacklog.com/the-alters-e... #TheAlters #videogames

How do our writers at The Punished Backlog feel about the Switch 2 roughly a month after release? Check out their thoughts in the latest Punished Chat! punishedbacklog.com/nintendo-swi...

In his latest edition of Therapy Gaming, @forthekids.space discusses the messiness of grief and family dynamics in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: punishedbacklog.com/clair-obscur...

relevant: punishedbacklog.com/arkham-knigh...

Ten years after its release, how should we feel about Batman: Arkham Knight? The Punished Backlog's Mark Bowers says...it's complicated: punishedbacklog.com/arkham-knigh...

Sometimes the best use of a brand new console is playing a 22-year-old game on it. Check out the latest game diary from @sam-martinelli.bsky.social on Soulcalibur II: punishedbacklog.com/soulcalibur-...

Doom: The Dark Ages is fast, gory, and...the best Xbox 360 game of 2025? Check out this take and more from @sam-martinelli.bsky.social's latest edition of Punished Notes: punishedbacklog.com/doom-dark-ag...

Another #gamereview! Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo from @pockettrap.bsky.social and @pmstudios.bsky.social released last month, and it is simply sublime. Great Zelda-esque overworld, terrific puzzles, and many more secrets to uncover. Our review: punishedbacklog.com/pipistrello-...

#TheAlters from @11bitstudios.bsky.social releases tomorrow! Amanda Tien wrote about what she thinks of the new sci-fi survival management sim. The Alters offers addicting gameplay with an interesting story, a mix of #Severance and #Mickey17. Read here: punishedbacklog.com/the-alters-r...

While we're excited about the #NintendoSwitch2, it's the perfect time to pay tribute to its predecessor! Read our list of The 23 Best Games on the Nintendo Switch: punishedbacklog.com/best-nintend...

We're starting to see some coverage from our preview at PAX East hitting! Check out this fantastic piece by our friends over at The @punishedbacklog.bsky.social punishedbacklog.com/the-last-car...

Here's the latest Game Diary from @sam-martinelli.bsky.social on how he's come around on the permadeth system in the Fire Emblem games: punishedbacklog.com/fire-emblem-...

Shout-out to the goat. #PAXEast #BCEC #NewEnglandCoffee

At a dark time for this industry, it's important to remember why we play games in the first place: to face setbacks, find new opportunities, and always hit continue. To honor game devs and journalists alike, we're proud to share our top 50 #videogames ever: punishedbacklog.com/best-video-g...