PAX East media badge is approved and plane tickets are booked, can't wait to see friends in Boston soon!

Another month brings another poll, and this month only, all patrons (paid and free tiers) can vote! So which of these cool indie games should I play and cover on the show? www.patreon.com/posts/januar...

First episode of The Tier List: A Video Game Podcast is now live on YouTube & podcast services In this episode, @tftblpod.bsky.social , Resident Evil 4 (2005) for The Tier List. Does it still hold up as a modern classic, or does it age like a rotting zombie? Links & places to vote below 👇

Almost 20 years later, Bioshock is still incredibly impressive. Rapture has gotten its flowers the whole time but it's still *so* interesting. The horror vibes, the setpieces, the environmental storytelling and so much more. I've had a great time revisiting it for the podcast.

Almost 20 years later, Bioshock is still incredibly impressive. Rapture has gotten its flowers the whole time but it's still *so* interesting. The horror vibes, the setpieces, the environmental storytelling and so much more. I've had a great time revisiting it for the podcast.

Hey it's me! The offical show page on BS! Come follow for more updates on the podcast

So I'm doing a new show! It's called The Tier List: A Video Game Podcast, and I'd love if you checked it out. More info down below 👇

All hail The Image

Announcing our lineup of featured indie games for Season 9 of our podcast! 🫖 Wanderstop with guest @nehapolitan.bsky.social 🏹 The Banner Saga 🤖 Gravity Circuit 🪡 Hollow Knight: Silksong with guest @tftblpod.bsky.social 🐝 Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (1/2)

New year, new awesome discussions on the podcast- here's what's coming in January! Guest lineup includes: @ctrlaltnoob.bsky.social @soccr.bsky.social @athunderheart.bsky.social @darrenhupke.bsky.social @kimchica.bsky.social Thanks to all who have checked out the show, and here's to 2026!

Top tier GOTY content

Drove 2.5h for a little get away trip before winter break is over. Thank goodness for great podcast episodes from @tftblpod.bsky.social @fulishfuji.bsky.social and @tinygamechronicles.bsky.social to help with the car ride! And Vietnamese ice coffee also helped lol

New year, new awesome discussions on the podcast- here's what's coming in January! Guest lineup includes: @ctrlaltnoob.bsky.social @soccr.bsky.social @athunderheart.bsky.social @darrenhupke.bsky.social @kimchica.bsky.social Thanks to all who have checked out the show, and here's to 2026!

It's that time, end of the year time, new year new me time, but first, let's look back on the year in gaming in 2025! I created a top 10 list out of your votes, then gave my own top 10. Hope you enjoy! LISTEN: talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/2025inreview WATCH: youtu.be/yMhvDL-F7v0

my favorite game I played this year was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for all the reasons everyone loves it. but I also really loved how brave both its act 3 and ending were. I think it's good for games to sometimes have endings where things just don't work out no matter what!

It's that time, end of the year time, new year new me time, but first, let's look back on the year in gaming in 2025! I created a top 10 list out of your votes, then gave my own top 10. Hope you enjoy! LISTEN: talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/2025inreview WATCH: youtu.be/yMhvDL-F7v0

I picked this Steel Soul playthrough back up almost 2 months later and beat Moorwing! I really don't consider myself to be a challenge runner at all, I'm still chalking this up to the game really honing my skills.

To close out 2025 Bryan, Josh, and Clint finally arrive in Pharloom and dive deep into Hollow Knight: Silksong! So join us as we explore and break down Team Cherry’s world of bugs, beasts, beauty, and bosses.

The world if first-person immersive sims were a mainstream genre

2025 was brutal for games media, but I'm seeing some glimmers of hope as worker-owned sites like @aftermath.site, @rascal.news, and @giantbomb.bsky.social have carved out vital spaces in the games community. Earlier this year, I made a huge Indie Games Media starter pack for y'all. Let's celebrate.

The world if first-person immersive sims were a mainstream genre

In case you missed it over the holiday, this week's episode about Astro Bot is up! @stillloadingpodcast.com and I had a blast chatting about it!

That time of year again!

A favorite holiday gaming memory of mine- My brother and I both got Game Boys and Pokemon Red/Blue for Christmas in 1998. However, I had never played an RPG and didn't know you could save, so I played until Brock's gym probably 25 times until school started again, and a friend showed me how to save.

We're all doing what we can to spread cheer around the holidays, and arguably no game does that quite as well as Astro Bot. @stillloadingpodcast.com joins me for a deep dive. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy! LISTEN: talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/197 WATCH: youtu.be/KbtAJL4OP-g

I'm on @tftblpod.bsky.social this week! Astro Bot is a really special game for me and Dave was kind enough to invite me on to chat all about it. Go give it a listen!

We're all doing what we can to spread cheer around the holidays, and arguably no game does that quite as well as Astro Bot. @stillloadingpodcast.com joins me for a deep dive. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy! LISTEN: talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/197 WATCH: youtu.be/KbtAJL4OP-g

Started a new one tonight- Death Howl by @theouterzone.bsky.social! Curious to see how soulslike ideas are put into deckbuilder. So far the art and atmosphere are great, the grid-based combat is engaging, and 3 hours disappeared in a flash. Thanks to @11bitstudios.bsky.social for the review code!

AAA video game character going to the toilet: "I'll take these stairs." "Ah, there it is, the bathroom." "Better open the door." "The door's open, nice." "Gonna pull my trousers down now." "Sitting down." "Okay, here we go." "I needed that." "Okay, time to fl

The series concludes this week. Check it out!

Started a new one tonight- Death Howl by @theouterzone.bsky.social! Curious to see how soulslike ideas are put into deckbuilder. So far the art and atmosphere are great, the grid-based combat is engaging, and 3 hours disappeared in a flash. Thanks to @11bitstudios.bsky.social for the review code!

It's going to get even messier as those of us opposed to genAI (for a myriad of reasons) are forced to reexamine games where genAI use wasn't disclosed up front...almost how we reassess our relationship with our favorite art if the artists turn out to be shitheads after the fact. I'm so tired lol

Weird weekend, huh? Took a crack at breaking down the whole Clair Obscur genAI situation, and its bizarre fallout, as best as possible. My main takeaway right now is that people really need to figure out exactly what they're criticizing or it's going to get messy. www.polygon.com/clair-obscur...

Matt and Geoff are joined by Chris Coplien of @retrohangover.bsky.social to discuss the Sega Saturn's complicated legacy, the ups and downs of the console's construction, and many of the great titles that are still only on the Sega Saturn. funandgames.libsyn.com/episode-203-...

This is awkward, but as of yesterday I'm no longer employed with Nightdive Studios. I'm currently looking for full-time work and would be happy to share more info via DMs. I'm also open to freelance work!

I do hope things like this send a message through the industry that Gen-ai use is bad for your game. As a critic who is against gen-ai it definitely gets messy. Do I throw out whole games for being caught & unknowingly praise those that just weren’t? 2026 is gonna be a hellscape for these thoughts

I am so deeply sorry to be in the position to have to pull this lever again, but I just watched my car get towed away and I don't really know what else to do anymore. More details in the update & description, but if you're able to help out or share, we would be grateful beyond words.

This is incredibly painful for me. I have never asked for help like this before. But I have had people reach out to me asking if they can help, so I am sharing my story and finally asking for help. I've been lucky to have a lovely group of followers here, please share if you can, anything helps <3

I say this with zero irony: if you are even tangentially a part of a retro video game community, it is your civic duty to push back against this company and shun anyone who doesn't. This is fascism tapping gently at the door and as soon as you let it in, it's going to invite its friends.

It's a pleasure as always to join Rick for this close look at Nier Automata!

YEAR IN REVIEW: The Best RPGs Of 2025

Hey hey! Gothic romantic horror season continues! Join me and @tftblpod.bsky.social as we chat all things Frankenstein (novel), Mary Shelley's dramatic life, differences between 1818 and 1831 editions, and critical analysis! Big ol' episode, you don't want to miss it!

Pre-order the Retro Game Zine 2025 ANNUAL now! Shipping starts 12/31. $60 for 418 pages of retro gaming goodness. This collection has an original cover by @wiloverton.bsky.social. Read more about it and get your own copy from the link below! pixelsandpolygons.net/products/ret...

Love yourself, love each other, love the scene. See y'all in 2026 <3

Trans rights are human rights and it's not negotiable, you fucks

Scientists have discovered that taking a nap and playing a few rounds of Sektori have the same effects on alertness and energy levels.

Keep thinking about this term "pre-digested" that Kojima used to describe art that's instantly gratifying. And how it's better when people grow to love something instead. I've gravitated, as player and designer, toward the latter, but that term "pre-digested" is new and feels very strong.

New Tales from the Backlog! @andresplays.bsky.social joins me for a discussion about Sword of the Sea! It's good, but also might be a lesson in not listening to your haters. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy! LISTEN: talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/196 WATCH: youtu.be/Iyz1TOsQXd8