About the show

A video games podcast where Dave Jackson and guests break down and discuss the games they play. Each episode looks at one game in depth, focusing on mechanics, story, music and other aspects, with no spoilers until a clearly marked spoiler wall in the middle.

Tales from the Backlog on social media

Episodes and Blog Entries

  • 162: Prey (2006) (with Asa GreenRiver)

    Episode  |  April 23rd, 2025  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 1 min
    fps, game review, prey, xbox 360

    Dave is joined by Asa GreenRiver to discuss Human Head Studios' 2006 sci-fi first person shooter, Prey.

  • 161: Wanderstop (with Matt aka Stormageddon & CGDannyB)

    Episode  |  April 16th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 45 mins
    cozy games, game review, indie games, ivy road

    Dave is joined by Matt aka Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite podcasts) and CGDannyB to discuss Ivy Road's 2025 tea-making game, Wanderstop.

  • 160: Sifu (with Ryan Juengling - List Off)

    Episode  |  April 9th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 44 mins
    game review, sloclap

    Dave is joined by Ryan Juengling (List Off) to discuss Sloclap's 2022 action game, Sifu.

  • 159: Metaphor: ReFantazio (with Scott White)

    Episode  |  April 2nd, 2025  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 13 mins
    atlus, game review, jrpg, persona

    Dave is joined by Scott White (RPG University) to discuss Studio Zero and Atlus' 2024 RPG hit, Metaphor: ReFantazio.

  • 158: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (with Geoff Moonen - "Fun" and Games)

    Episode  |  March 26th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 49 mins
    game review, kojima, konami, metal gear solid, ps3

    Dave is joined by Geoff Moonen ("Fun" and Games podcast) to discuss Konami's 2008 stealth/action game, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

  • 157: Unpacking (with Kate Hunter - No Small Games)

    Episode  |  March 19th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 59 mins
    game review, indie games, witch beam

    Dave is joined by Kate Hunter (No Small Games podcast) to discuss Witch Beam's 2021 organization/puzzle game, Unpacking.

  • 156: Mouthwashing (with Ash Parrish)

    Episode  |  March 12th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 51 mins
    game review, horror games, indie games, wrong organ

    Dave is joined by games reporter Ash Parrish to discuss Wrong Organ's 2024 psychological horror game, Mouthwashing.

  • 155: Shenmue (with Luis Aguasvivas)

    Episode  |  March 5th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 52 mins
    game review, sega, shenmue, yakuza

    Dave is joined by games writer and critic Luis Aguasvivas to discuss AM2 of CRI and SEGA's 2000 adventure game, Shenmue.

  • 154: Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (with John Rogers - Gaming in the Wild)

    Episode  |  February 26th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 23 mins
    citizen sleeper, fellow traveler, game review, jump over the age

    Dave is joined by John Rogers (Gaming in the Wild) to discuss Jump Over the Age (Gareth Damian Martin)'s 2025 narrative RPG, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector.

  • 153: Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War (with MarcoMeatball)

    Episode  |  February 19th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 56 mins
    ace combat, game review, namco, playstation 2

    Dave is joined by MarcoMeatball to discuss Project Aces/Namco's 2004 air combat game, Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.

  • 152: The Plucky Squire (with Roger Reichardt - The Gamerheads Podcast)

    Episode  |  February 12th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 20 mins
    all possible futures, devolver digital, game review, indie games

    Dave is joined by Roger Reichardt (Gamerheads Podcast) to discuss All Possible Futures and Devolver Digital's 2024 adventure game, The Plucky Squire.

  • 151: Tacoma (with CtrlAltNoob)

    Episode  |  February 5th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 58 mins
    fullbright, game review, indie games, walking sim

    Dave is joined by streamer, writer and YouTube creator CtrlAltNoob to discuss Fullbright's 2017 sci-fi exploration-adventure, Tacoma.

  • Review- Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

    Article  |  January 30th, 2025
    By Dave Jackson
    citizen sleeper, indie games, review

    Dave reviews Jump Over the Age's Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector.

  • 150: Mad Max (with Jacob Price & Cameron Warren - The Pre-Order Bonus)

    Episode  |  January 29th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 14 mins
    avalanche studios, game review, mad max

    Dave is joined by Jacob Price and Cameron Warren (The Pre-Order Bonus podcast) to discuss Avalanche Studios' 2015 open world action game, Mad Max.

  • 149: Nine Sols (with Josh)

    Episode  |  January 22nd, 2025  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 41 mins
    game review, indie games, metroidvania, red candle games

    Dave is joined by community member Josh to discuss Red Candle Games' 2024 Metroidvania, Nine Sols.

  • 148: Pathologic 2 (with Jack)

    Episode  |  January 15th, 2025  |  Season 1  |  3 hrs 1 min
    game review, ice-pick lodge, pathologic

    Dave is joined by community member Jack to discuss Ice-Pick Lodge's harrowing 2019 survival game, Pathologic 2.