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

  • Elden Ring Bosses Tier List (with Jim Rodeman)

    Episode  |  July 27th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 53 mins
    break from the backlog, elden ring, fromsoftware, tier list

    Wrapping up Elden Ring month, as per tradition, Dave is joined by Jim Rodeman to tier-rank the Elden Ring bosses.

  • Break from the Backlog: Elden Ring for the FromSoftware Newbie

    Article  |  July 20th, 2022
    By Dave Jackson
    break from the backlog, elden ring, fromsoftware, podcast episode

    In this Break from the Backlog episode, Dave is joined by Aaron Angle and Ryan Arrington to answer one simple question- why is Elden Ring FromSoftware's most approachable game yet?

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    Elden Ring for the FromSoftware Newbie (with Aaron Angle and Ryan Arrington)

    Episode  |  July 20th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 26 mins
    break from the backlog, elden ring, fromsoftware

    Dave is joined by Aaron Angle and Ryan Arrington to discuss one simple question- why is Elden Ring the most approachable FromSoftware game for new players?

  • Break from the Backlog: FromSoftware and the Open World

    Article  |  July 13th, 2022
    By Dave Jackson
    break from the backlog, elden ring, fromsoftware, podcast episode

    In this Break from the Backlog episode, Dave is joined by the Friendly Neighborhood Gamers (Andrew Kimball and Dylan Wren) to discuss open worlds and FromSoftware's open world design choices in Elden Ring.

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    FromSoftware and the Open World (with Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers)

    Episode  |  July 13th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 11 mins
    break from the backlog, elden ring, fromsoftware, open world games

    Dave is joined by Andrew and Dylan from Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers to discuss open-world games as a whole, as well as how FromSoftware learned from the best to make Elden Ring.

  • Tales from the Backlog 36: Elden Ring

    Article  |  July 6th, 2022
    By Dave Jackson
    elden ring, fromsoftware, podcast episode

    In episode 36 of Tales from the Backlog, Dave is joined by Ryan Juengling from the List Off! podcast to discuss FromSoftware's long-awaited open world epic, Elden Ring.

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    36: Elden Ring (with Ryan Juengling- List Off!)

    Episode  |  July 6th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  3 hrs 22 mins
    elden ring, fromsoftware, game review, rpg

    Dave is joined by Ryan Juengling from List Off! to discuss FromSoftware's game of the generation candidate, Elden Ring.

  • Tales from the Backlog 35: Half-Life 2

    Article  |  June 29th, 2022
    By Dave Jackson
    fps, half-life 2, podcast episode

    In episode 35 of Tales from the Backlog, Dave is joined by Jay Davis from Super Bracket Bros to discuss Valve's foundational first-person shooter, Half-Life 2.

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    35: Half-Life 2 (with Jay Davis - Super Bracket Bros)

    Episode  |  June 29th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 20 mins
    first person shooter, game review, half-life, pc games, valve

    Dave is joined by Jay Davis (Super Bracket Bros podcast) to discuss Valve’s foundational FPS, Half-Life 2.

  • Tales from the Backlog 34: Yakuza: Like a Dragon

    Article  |  June 22nd, 2022
    By Dave Jackson
    jrpg, podcast episode, yakuza, yakuza like a dragon

    In episode 34 of Tales from the Backlog, Dave is joined by Rick Firestone from Pixel Project Radio to discuss Yakuza: Like a Dragon

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    34: Yakuza: Like a Dragon (with Rick Firestone - Pixel Project Radio)

    Episode  |  June 22nd, 2022  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 43 mins
    game review, jrpg, ryu ga gotoku, yakuza

    Dave is joined by Rick Firestone from Pixel Project Radio to discuss Ryu Ga Gotoku's refresh of the Yakuza franchise

  • Tales from the Backlog 33: Unsighted

    Article  |  June 15th, 2022
    By Dave Jackson
    indie games, metroidvania, podcast episode, soulslike, unsighted

    In episode 33 of Tales from the Backlog, Dave is joined by Nave (Gaming Together: A Cooperative Podcast) to discuss Unsighted.

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    33: Unsighted (with Nave - Gaming Together Podcast)

    Episode  |  June 15th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 8 mins
    game review, indie games, metroidvania, studio pixel punk, unsighted

    Dave is joined by Nave from the Gaming Together Podcast to discuss Studio Pixel Punk's inventive action game, Unsighted.

  • Tales from the Backlog 32: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

    Article  |  June 8th, 2022
    By Dave Jackson
    podcast episode, the legend of zelda

    In episode 32 of Tales from the Backlog, Dave is joined by Alan Nichols to discuss the Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

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    32: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (with Alan Nichols - A Top 3 Podcast)

    Episode  |  June 8th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 34 mins
    game review, nintendo, nintendo 64, retro games, the legend of zelda

    Dave is joined by Alan Nichols to discuss The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

  • Shadow of the Colossus

    Article  |  June 1st, 2022
    By Dave Jackson
    podcast episode, shadow of the colossus

    In episode 31 of Tales from the Backlog, Dave is joined by Adam Bucceri to discuss Team Ico's Playstation staple, Shadow of the Colossus