web01.fireside.fm Sun, 10 May 2026 23:15:37 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Tales from the Backlog - Episodes Tagged with “Deckbuilder” https://talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/tags/deckbuilder Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400 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. en-us episodic A video games podcast where Dave Jackson and guests take a game out of the backlog, play it and discuss their experiences in depth, with no spoilers until they warn you. Dave Jackson 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. yes games, video games, games podcast, video games podcast, video game critique, video game analysis, gaming discussion show, podcast about games, game review podcast, Dave Jackson talesfromthebacklogpod@gmail.com 208: Death Howl (with Bryan Skursha - Pixelated Playgrounds) https://talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/208 3ec5e205-8345-4b5e-8484-5c8d7e3772f7 Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Dave Jackson full Dave Jackson Dave is joined by Bryan Skursha (Pixelated Playgrounds) to discuss The Outer Zone and 11 Bit Studios' 2025 Soulslike deckbuilder, Death Howl. 2:24:39 yes <p>Support my work on Patreon- <a href="https://patreon.com/realdavejackson" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://patreon.com/realdavejackson</a><br> Discord, Socials and more- <a href="https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog</a></p> <p>Join Dave and guest Bryan Skursha as they deep dive Death Howl (The Outer Zone, 11 Bit Studios, 2025) on their journey through the underworld to find out what the hell a soulslike deckbuilder even is. Brutal turn-based combat, a story about grieving and a mother's love, and all the fucked up guys a gamer could ask for. Listen in to find out more!</p> <p><strong>Guest info: Bryan Skursha (he/him)</strong> </p> <ul> <li>Check out Pixelated Playgrounds <a href="https://www.pixelatedplaygrounds.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.pixelatedplaygrounds.com/</a> </li> <li>Follow on BlueSky <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/bsushi.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bsky.app/profile/bsushi.bsky.social</a> </li> </ul> <p><strong>TIMESTAMPS</strong></p> <ul> <li>0:00 Title Card</li> <li>0:18 Introductions</li> <li>5:39 Our Histories with Death Howl</li> <li>10:50 Top-Level Thoughts</li> <li>15:42 Story Setup</li> <li>23:58 Dreamy, Hazy Visuals and Sound</li> <li>40:01 Combat Basics and Deckbuilding Strategy</li> <li>54:58 Is It Soulslike?</li> <li>1:05:00 Open-Ended Structure and Side Quests</li> <li>1:10:22 Combat Depth</li> <li>1:16:40 Who Should Play Death Howl?</li> <li>1:19:00 Pixelated Playgrounds</li> <li>1:22:55 Spoiler Wall &amp; Patron Thank-Yous</li> <li>1:24:58 Spoilers- Favorite Areas, Bosses, Decks</li> <li>1:41:00 Spoilers- Final Area and Final Bosses</li> <li>1:55:46 Spoilers- Story Discussion</li> </ul> <p><strong>Music used in the episode is credited to Chris Bjørumslet &amp; Malte Burup. Tracks used:</strong> Death Howl, Olvi, Shadows of Rot, Cantharsis, Meadows of Delusion, Moon Eel, Ever Since Your Heart Stopped Beating</p> <p><strong>Cover art</strong> by Jack Allen- find him at <a href="https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures</a> </p> games, video games, games podcast, video games podcast, video game critique, video game analysis, death howl, death howl review, death howl analysis, death howl critique, indie games, indie game reviews, soulslike games, soulslike reviews, deckbuilder, deckbuilder reviews Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and guest Bryan Skursha as they deep dive Death Howl (The Outer Zone, 11 Bit Studios, 2025) on their journey through the underworld to find out what the hell a soulslike deckbuilder even is. Brutal turn-based combat, a story about grieving and a mother's love, and all the fucked up guys a gamer could ask for. Listen in to find out more!

Guest info: Bryan Skursha (he/him)

TIMESTAMPS

  • 0:00 Title Card
  • 0:18 Introductions
  • 5:39 Our Histories with Death Howl
  • 10:50 Top-Level Thoughts
  • 15:42 Story Setup
  • 23:58 Dreamy, Hazy Visuals and Sound
  • 40:01 Combat Basics and Deckbuilding Strategy
  • 54:58 Is It Soulslike?
  • 1:05:00 Open-Ended Structure and Side Quests
  • 1:10:22 Combat Depth
  • 1:16:40 Who Should Play Death Howl?
  • 1:19:00 Pixelated Playgrounds
  • 1:22:55 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
  • 1:24:58 Spoilers- Favorite Areas, Bosses, Decks
  • 1:41:00 Spoilers- Final Area and Final Bosses
  • 1:55:46 Spoilers- Story Discussion

Music used in the episode is credited to Chris Bjørumslet & Malte Burup. Tracks used: Death Howl, Olvi, Shadows of Rot, Cantharsis, Meadows of Delusion, Moon Eel, Ever Since Your Heart Stopped Beating

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support Tales from the Backlog

]]> Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and guest Bryan Skursha as they deep dive Death Howl (The Outer Zone, 11 Bit Studios, 2025) on their journey through the underworld to find out what the hell a soulslike deckbuilder even is. Brutal turn-based combat, a story about grieving and a mother's love, and all the fucked up guys a gamer could ask for. Listen in to find out more!

Guest info: Bryan Skursha (he/him)

TIMESTAMPS

  • 0:00 Title Card
  • 0:18 Introductions
  • 5:39 Our Histories with Death Howl
  • 10:50 Top-Level Thoughts
  • 15:42 Story Setup
  • 23:58 Dreamy, Hazy Visuals and Sound
  • 40:01 Combat Basics and Deckbuilding Strategy
  • 54:58 Is It Soulslike?
  • 1:05:00 Open-Ended Structure and Side Quests
  • 1:10:22 Combat Depth
  • 1:16:40 Who Should Play Death Howl?
  • 1:19:00 Pixelated Playgrounds
  • 1:22:55 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
  • 1:24:58 Spoilers- Favorite Areas, Bosses, Decks
  • 1:41:00 Spoilers- Final Area and Final Bosses
  • 1:55:46 Spoilers- Story Discussion

Music used in the episode is credited to Chris Bjørumslet & Malte Burup. Tracks used: Death Howl, Olvi, Shadows of Rot, Cantharsis, Meadows of Delusion, Moon Eel, Ever Since Your Heart Stopped Beating

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support Tales from the Backlog

]]> 111: Balatro (with Matt aka Stormageddon & Aaron Klaassen) https://talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/111 5cd39835-f91f-4d26-ba8d-ec37c42eb12a Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400 Dave Jackson full 1 Dave Jackson Dave is joined by Matt aka Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite, Screen Snark) and Aaron Klaassen (SuperPod Saga) to discuss LocalThunk's breakout deckbuilding roguelike hit, Balatro. 1:20:34 yes <p>SURPRISE! <strong>Balatro</strong> comes for us all. Developed by solo developer <strong>LocalThunk</strong> and published by <strong>Playstack</strong>, the poker-themed roguelike deckbuilder has singlehandedly caused productivity to drop by 7% worldwide since its 2024 release. <strong>Thank you to Playstack and LocalThunk for providing me with a review code</strong> so that I could become a statistic! Joining me to talk about the game, its strengths and weaknesses, our favorite strategies and beginner tips are Matt aka Stormageddon (<a href="https://linktr.ee/dj_stormagedddon" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">"Fun" and Games, Reignite, Screen Snark podcasts</a>) and Aaron Klaassen (<a href="https://www.superpodsaga.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">SuperPod Saga</a>). Check their shows out, they are worth your time!</p> <p><strong>TIMESTAMPS</strong><br> Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 1:43<br> SICKO SHOP TALK WALL 56:01</p> <p><a href="https://patreon.com/realdavejackson" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon!</a> or <a href="https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">buy me a coffee on Ko-fi</a>!<br> <a href="https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!</a><br> <strong>Social Media:</strong><br> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Instagram</a><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/tftblpod" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Twitter</a><br> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromtheBacklog/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Facebook</a><br> <strong>Cover art</strong> by Jack Allen- find him at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/</a> and <a href="https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">his other pages</a></p> <p>Listen to <strong>A Top 3 Podcast</strong> on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-top-3-podcast/id1555269504" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2euGp3pWi7Hy1c6fmY526O?si=0ebcb770618c460c" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Spotify</a> and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)! </p> games, video games, games podcast, video games podcast, video game critique, video game analysis, Balatro, Balatro critique, Balatro review, Balatro analysis, roguelike games, roguelikes, roguelike deckbuilders SURPRISE! Balatro comes for us all. Developed by solo developer LocalThunk and published by Playstack, the poker-themed roguelike deckbuilder has singlehandedly caused productivity to drop by 7% worldwide since its 2024 release. Thank you to Playstack and LocalThunk for providing me with a review code so that I could become a statistic! Joining me to talk about the game, its strengths and weaknesses, our favorite strategies and beginner tips are Matt aka Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite, Screen Snark podcasts) and Aaron Klaassen (SuperPod Saga). Check their shows out, they are worth your time!

TIMESTAMPS
Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 1:43
SICKO SHOP TALK WALL 56:01

Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Social Media:
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages

Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!

Support Tales from the Backlog

]]> SURPRISE! Balatro comes for us all. Developed by solo developer LocalThunk and published by Playstack, the poker-themed roguelike deckbuilder has singlehandedly caused productivity to drop by 7% worldwide since its 2024 release. Thank you to Playstack and LocalThunk for providing me with a review code so that I could become a statistic! Joining me to talk about the game, its strengths and weaknesses, our favorite strategies and beginner tips are Matt aka Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite, Screen Snark podcasts) and Aaron Klaassen (SuperPod Saga). Check their shows out, they are worth your time!

TIMESTAMPS
Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 1:43
SICKO SHOP TALK WALL 56:01

Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Social Media:
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages

Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!

Support Tales from the Backlog

]]>