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

  • 137: Deadly Premonition (with Patrick & James - Retro Spectives)

    Episode  |  October 9th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 48 mins
    game review, horror, xbox 360

    Dave is joined by Patrick Arthur and James Tuerlings from Retro Spectives to discuss Access Games' surreal 2010 survival horror game, Deadly Premonition.

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    136: Omori (with Aaron Angle - A Top 3 Podcast)

    Episode  |  October 2nd, 2024  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 23 mins
    game review, horror, indie games, jrpg

    Dave is joined by one of his A Top 3 Podcast co-hosts, Aaron Angle, to discuss Omocat's 2020 RPG, Omori.

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    135: Lost Odyssey (with Ryan Batie - Lightning Strikes Thrice)

    Episode  |  September 25th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 53 mins
    game review, jrpg, mistwalker, xbox 360

    Dave is joined by Ryan Batie from Lightning Strikes Thrice to discuss Mistwalker's 2008 RPG for the Xbox 360, Lost Odyssey.

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    134: A Space for the Unbound (with CGDannyB)

    Episode  |  September 18th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 3 mins
    game review, indie games, mojiken studio, toge productions

    Dave is joined by streamer, YouTube creator and PlayLog Podcast host CGDannyB to discuss Mojiken Studios' 2023 suburban fantasy adventure narrative, A Space for the Unbound.

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    133: Final Fantasy IV (with Chris Coplien - Retro Hangover & Jenny E.)

    Episode  |  September 11th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 25 mins
    final fantasy, game review, snes, square enix

    Dave is joined by Chris Coplien (Retro Hangover) and writer Jenny E. to discuss Square's 1991 entry in its flagship series, Final Fantasy IV.

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    132: Pony Island (with Chris - 1H1D)

    Episode  |  September 4th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 25 mins
    daniel mullins games, game review, indie games

    Dave is joined by Chris (1 Hour, 1 Decision) to discuss Pony Island, the breakout meta comedy game by Daniel Mullins Games.

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    131: Animal Well (with Jenny Windom - Geeks & Grounds)

    Episode  |  August 28th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 9 mins
    bigmode, billy basso, game review, indie games, metroidvania

    Dave is joined by Jenny Windom (Geeks & Grounds) to discuss Billy Basso's exploration and secret-focused metroidvania, Animal Well.

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    130: Dave the Diver (with Dave Cox - Monster Dear Monster)

    Episode  |  August 21st, 2024  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 10 mins
    game review, mintrocket

    Dave is joined by Dave Cox (Monster Dear Monster) to discuss MintRocket's scuba diving/restaurant management hybrid, Dave the Diver.

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    129: Pizza Tower (with Aaron Klaassen - Super Pod Saga)

    Episode  |  August 14th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  57 mins 21 secs
    game review, indie games

    Dave is joined by Aaron Klaassen from Super Pod Saga to discuss Tour de Pizza's frenetic, cartoony platformer, Pizza Tower.

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    128: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (with Deadbeatpunk - WTFDYW!?)

    Episode  |  August 7th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 23 mins
    game review, rpg, yakuza

    Dave is joined by Deadbeatpunk from WTFDYW!? to discuss Ryu Ga Gotoku's latest in the long running Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

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    127: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (with Katie Lesperance - Left Behind Game Club)

    Episode  |  July 31st, 2024  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 28 mins
    game review, kojima, konami, metal gear

    Dave is joined by Katie Lesperance (Left Behind Game Club) to discuss Konami and Hideo Kojima's highly acclaimed 2004 stealth action game, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

  • 126: Cocoon (with Brenden Groom - Pass the Controller)

    Episode  |  July 24th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 15 mins
    annapurna interactive, game review, geometric interactive, puzzle games

    Dave is joined by Brenden Groom (Pass the Controller) to discuss Geometric Interactive's mind-bending 2023 puzzle game, Cocoon.

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    Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (Preview) (with Charlie Young)

    Episode  |  July 21st, 2024  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 9 mins
    elden ring, fromsoftware, game review

    In this bonus episode of Tales from the Backlog, Dave and guest Charlie Young discuss Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. FromSoftware have done it again (take that as you may)!

  • 125: Gris (with Eric Gess - The Unlockables)

    Episode  |  July 17th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 4 mins
    game review, indie games, nomada studio

    Dave is joined by Eric Gess (The Unlockables) to discuss Nomada Studio's 2018 emotional journey of a platformer, Gris.

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    124: Lisa: The Painful (with Rick Firestone - Pixel Project Radio)

    Episode  |  July 10th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 42 mins
    dingaling productions, game review, indie games

    Dave is joined by Rick Firestone (Pixel Project Radio) to discuss Dingaling Productions' 2014 RPG, Lisa: The Painful.

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    123: 1000xRESIST (with Michael Higham)

    Episode  |  July 3rd, 2024  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 55 mins
    fellow traveler, game review, indie games, sunset visitor

    Dave is joined by Michael Higham from IGN to discuss sunset visitor's memory hopping science fiction adventure, 1000xRESIST.