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

  • 11: Hollow Knight (with Jim Rodeman)

    Episode  |  January 3rd, 2022  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 13 mins
    game review, indie games, metroidvania, team cherry

    Dave is joined by anthropomorphic centipede Jim Rodeman to discuss Team Cherry's legendary metroidvania, Hollow Knight.

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    2021 In Review

    Episode  |  December 31st, 2021  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 14 mins
    break from the backlog, year in review

    Dave discusses his year in gaming, including the top games he played for the first time in 2021, each game he played that was actually released in 2021, and eventually naming his top 3 games from 2021 in the process.

  • 10: Silent Hill 2 (with Adelaide Lohkamp)

    Episode  |  December 27th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 13 mins
    game review, horror games, konami, ps2, silent hill

    Dave is joined by Adelaide Lohkamp (she/her), who emerged from the endless fog to discuss Konami's pillar of the survival horror genre, Silent Hill 2.

  • 9: Gone Home (with Jake Anderson)

    Episode  |  December 20th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 53 mins
    fullbright, game review, indie games, walking sim

    In the second entry in the Lazy Sunday series focusing on short indie games, Dave is joined again by newly typecasted Walking Sim enthusiast Jake Anderson to talk about Fullbright's groundbreaking hit, Gone Home.

  • 8: Death's Gambit: Afterlife (with Moonborne)

    Episode  |  December 13th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 51 mins
    game review, indie games, metroidvania, soulslike

    Dave is joined by stylish combat enthusiast Moonborne to discuss White Rabbit's incredible entry into the 2D soulslike genre, Death's Gambit.

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    7: Dragon's Dogma (with Adam Rivera)

    Episode  |  December 6th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 6 mins
    capcom, dragons dogma, game review, rpg

    Dave is joined by professional griffin rider Adam Rivera to discuss Capcom's uncanny western RPG, Dragon's Dogma.

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    Happy 20th Smash Melee + GameCube Games Tier List

    Episode  |  December 3rd, 2021  |  Season 1  |  49 mins 55 secs
    break from the backlog, gamecube, super smash bros, tier list

    In a very special bonus episode, Dave talks about good memories playing Smash Melee and then tier ranks 42 other GameCube games.

  • 6: SOMA (with Ryan Delaney)

    Episode  |  November 29th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 2 mins
    frictional games, game review, horror games, soma, walking sim

    Dave is joined by Ryan Delaney to discuss SOMA.

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    5: Firewatch (with Jake Anderson)

    Episode  |  November 22nd, 2021  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 42 mins
    game review, indie games, walking sim

    In the first in the Lazy Sunday series focusing on short indie games, Dave is joined by Jake Anderson to discuss Campo Santo's hit walking sim, Firewatch.

  • 4: Hades (with Aaron Angle and Jim Rodeman)

    Episode  |  November 15th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 15 mins
    game review, hades, indie games, roguelike, supergiant games

    Dave is joined by Aaron Angle and Jim Rodeman to discuss Supergiant's latest hit, Hades.

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    3: Hitman (2016) (with Scott Danielson)

    Episode  |  November 8th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 29 mins
    game review, hitman, immersive sim, io interactive, stealth games

    Dave is joined by Helmut Kruger enthusiast Scott Danielson to discuss the 2016 reboot of the Hitman series.

  • 2: Ghost of Tsushima (with Aaron Angle and Ryan Delaney)

    Episode  |  November 1st, 2021  |  Season 1  |  2 hrs 1 min
    game review, ps4, rpg, sucker punch productions

    Dave is joined by Aaron Angle and Ryan Delaney to discuss Ghost of Tsushima.

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    1: Rocket League (with Aaron Angle and Ryan Arrington)

    Episode  |  October 25th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 20 mins
    game review, multiplayer, sports games

    Dave is joined by Aaron Angle and Ryan Arrington to discuss Rocket League, one of the best modern sports games available.