Explore every episode of the podcast Tales from the Backlog
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 231: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (with Gooey & McKenna - Flashback 64) | 23 sept. 2026 | 02:59:10 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson One of these days it was bound to happen, the remake announcement solidified it- it's time to give The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo, 1998) the Tales from the Backlog treatment. This was Dave's favorite game for decades and is still by far one of the most influential games in his life, but this was the first time in a while that he had played all the way through it. Join Dave and special guests Gooey and McKenna of Flashback 64 for the deep dive. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy! Guest info: Gooey (they/he) and McKenna (she/her)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Koji Kondo. Tracks used: Title Theme, Kokiri Forest, Saria's Song, Forest Temple, Kakariko Village, Hyrule Field, Gerudo Valley, Zora's Domain, Zelda's Theme Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| Do Video Games "Hold Up"? (with Retro Spectives) | 16 sept. 2026 | 02:03:01 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson When we talk about older games, we often use phrases like "this holds up!" or "this hasn't aged well!", but what do we mean when we say stuff like that? What do they hold up against? What aspects age well or poorly? Are there better ways to convey our thoughts? To help me dig into this, I've brought Patrick and James from the Retro Spectives Podcast back to the show. Hope you enjoy the discussion! Guest info: Patrick Arthur (he/him) and James Tuerlings (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode:
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 230: Quest 64 (with Mike aka Quest64Official) | 09 sept. 2026 | 02:01:41 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson What's the worst game you've ever played? That's the question of the day, and a fairly common answer to that question for a long time has been Quest 64 (Imagineer, 1998). But does Quest deserve to be in that conversation? What is it actually like as a game, outside of the memes and reputation? That's what we're exploring in this episode, and to do so, I brought on the man doing his part to heal the conversation around Quest, "bad" games, and the Nintendo 64 in general, Mike aka Quest64Official. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy! Guest info: Mike aka Quest64Official
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Masamichi Amano. Tracks used: Holy Magic Century, Holy Plains, Highlands, Battle, Dondoran, Final Battle, Staff Roll Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 229: The Beginner's Guide (with Matt aka Stormageddon - "Fun" and Games, Reignite) | 02 sept. 2026 | 02:31:36 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson After the breakout success of The Stanley Parable, Davey Wreden's next game is a bit darker and a lot more personal. The Beginner's Guide (Everything Unlimited Ltd, 2015) examines a lot of things, but at the forefront is the relationships we have with others and some complex and slippery situations that can arise. To say more would be to start spoiling things, but luckily we have a discussion longer than the game itself. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy! Guest info: Matt aka Stormageddon (they/them)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Ryan Roth. Tracks used: Vertibrae, The Whisper Machine, Stars, D.S. Al Coda, Escape from This Place Check out Dave on Super Pod Saga talking about some great games you can get for under $5 full price- https://superpodsaga.com/episodes/5-buck-bangers-downwell Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 228: Golden Sun (with Rebekah Valentine) | 26 août 2026 | 02:32:39 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson It's not every day you revisit a favorite game from your teenage years, but today is that day as special guest Rebekah Valentine (Kotaku) joins me to discuss Golden Sun, one of the most beloved Game Boy Advance games. Camelot and Nintendo ended up splitting the game into two, and in this episode we focus on the first game, though we do discuss The Lost Age quite a bit as well. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy! Guest info: Rebekah Valentine (she/her)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Motoi Sakuraba. Tracks used: Main Theme, World Map, Enemy Battle, Lighthouse Theme, Sol Sanctum, Main Menu, Battle With Saturos, Vale and Vault Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 227: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (with Gen Moonen - "Fun" and Games) | 19 août 2026 | 02:23:09 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Gen Moonen ("Fun" and Games) as they discuss Konami's 2006 entry in the Castlevania franchise, Portrait of Ruin. By this point, the series had largely moved past dual-screen and touchscreen gimmicks, settling on putting the menus and map on the bottom screen with the action on top. Add in a dual-protagonist setup and you've got a recipe for a good metroidvania experience. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it's likely got what you're looking for, and there's value in that. Check out the discussion for more, and as always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy! Guest info: Gen Moonen (they/she)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Michiru Yamane unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Gallery of Labyrinth, Invitation of a Crazed Moon (Yuzo Koshiro), Chaotic Playground, Victorian Fear, Name Entry, Crucifix Held Close, The Night Flows Check out Dave on Nostalgium Arcanum talking about Final Fantasy X: https://nostalgiumarcanum.fireside.fm/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 226: Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (with Andre - Fine Time) | 12 août 2026 | 02:32:40 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Andre (Fine Time, Neo Geo Go!, The Silent Discographer) as they discuss Square Enix's latest entry in the main Dragon Quest series, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. For a certain style of RPG (that Dragon Quest arguably pioneered), it doesn't get better than this. Dragon Quest XI doesn't reinvent any part of its genre, but executes at top level throughout, though we still have some questions about directions that the story goes. This is a masterpiece, and we hope you enjoy the conversation. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy! Guest info: Andre (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Koichi Sugiyama. Tracks used: Overture, The Hero Goes Forth with Determination, Olé! Sylvando!, Unflinchable Courage, Bustling Town, Rab the Wizard, Light Though the Leaves of Love, Echoes of an Elusive Age
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 225: Arco (with Luis Aguasvivas) | 05 août 2026 | 02:14:34 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Luis Aguasvivas as they discuss Arco (Franek, Max Cahill, Bibiki and Fayer, 2024). Arco blends tactical turn-based combat with a revenge story spanning multiple protagonists. It's an ambitious game that coalesces in some magical ways, but falls short in some others, making it ripe for discussion. As always, no spoilers in the episode for a while- enjoy! Guest info: Luis Aguasvivas (he/they)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Bibiki. Tracks used: Arena y Alquitrán, Forgotten Memories, Blood Spit, Whispers of Magic, Where Iyos Live, Sempiternal Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 224: Titanium Court (with Emily Merritt - No Small Games) | 29 juil. 2026 | 02:31:15 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Emily Merritt (No Small Games) as they do their best to unpack AP Thompson's Titanium Court. Even AP Thompson's simplified description of "a match-3 tower defense game for people who like to read" still hides a mountain of detail, so this was a fun discussion about those component parts and especially how they tie together into a genuinely interesting narrative and commentary on the way we play games and "consume" media in general. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy! Guest info: Emily Merritt (she/her)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to AP Thompson. You can purchase the soundtrack on Steam. Tracks used: Chimera Solo, Timeskip Titlecard and the Ten Years Later, The One AP Doesn't Like, Metamind Defense Grid Blues, Biome Select, Fourth Quarter, For a Dollar Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 223: Pokémon Conquest (with Jared Moss - Play Along Podcast) | 22 juil. 2026 | 02:05:17 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Jared Moss (Play Along Podcast) as they take over the land in Pokémon Conquest. This crossover between Pokémon and Nobunaga's Ambition puts the familiar monsters in tactical grid-based combat, with satisfying (if slow) progression. It's a fun twist on the familiar, even if it makes zero effort to tell an accompanying story with any juice. Please enjoy the discussion, and as always- no spoilers for a while! Guest info: Jared Moss (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Shin-ichiro Nakamura, Ayako Toyoda and Takashi Yoshida. Tracks used: Main Theme, Episode Opening, Normal Battle, Dungeon Theme 1, Map Theme 1, Staff Roll Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| Video Game Music Appreciation 101 (with Rick Firestone & Charlie Young) | 15 juil. 2026 | 02:16:52 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guests Rick Firestone (Pixel Project Radio) and Charlie Young for an introductory lesson about how to listen to and discuss video game music in more effective ways. The episode starts with some terminology and examples, then moves to a "close listening" exercise where you can apply what was taught earlier. Hope you enjoy! Guest info:
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode:
Video-
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 222: Mina the Hollower (with Matt aka Stormageddon - "Fun" and Games) | 08 juil. 2026 | 02:36:26 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Matt aka Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite podcasts) as they discuss Yacht Club Games' long-awaited action adventure game, Mina the Hollower. Blending several influences from The Legend of Zelda, Castlevania, FromSoftware's catalogue and more, Mina the Hollower still managed to carve out a strong identity of its own while leaving a lasting impression. Listen in to find out more, and as always, no spoilers for a while. Guest info: Matt aka Stormageddon (they/them)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Jake Kaufman unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Cinematic - Intro, A Sinking Feeling (Loner's Landing), The Congealed, Gator Gallop (Nox's Bayou), A Sickly Shore (Bone Beach), Central Ossex, The Brilliant Truth (Radiant Manor), End Credits Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 221: Minishoot' Adventures (with Roger Reichardt - Gamerheads Podcast) | 01 juil. 2026 | 01:40:34 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Roger Reichardt of Gamerheads Podcast as they discuss Soulgame Stuidio's 2024 top-down twin-stick shooting adventure, Minishoot' Adventures. The weird apostrophe will catch your attention, but the fantastic controls and satisfying gameplay will keep you grinning from ear to ear from start to finish. Or at least, that's how it went for us. As always, no spoilers in the episode until we warn you! Guest info: Roger Reichardt (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Séverin Larose. Tracks used: Main Title, Dungeon, Boss, Battle, Overworld, Credits Check out an interview with Séverin Larose on "Fun" and Games podcast: https://funandgames.libsyn.com/episode-210-minishoot-adventures Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 220: Pyre (with AJ Fillari) | 24 juin 2026 | 02:33:00 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest AJ Fillari as they discuss Pyre (Supergiant Games, 2017). As your crew makes their way through their underworld hellprison, you take part in competitive rites with the goal of earning your freedom. The game explores the rhythms of sport and competition, win or lose, as well as political allusions, what it means to return home, and much more. Dave and AJ also discuss Supergiant's continuity as a studio and how it helps them consistently put out good games. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy! Guest info: AJ Fillari (they/any)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Darren Korb. Tracks used: In the Flame (with Ashley Barrett), Surviving Exile, Glorious Tradition, Thrash Pack, Strange Voyage, Never to Return (with Ashley Barrett), Bound Together (with Ashley Barrett) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 219: Drakengard (with IdolismJ) | 17 juin 2026 | 02:36:43 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest IdolismJ as they tackle Drakengard (Cavia, Square Enix, 2003). Drakengard has a reputation for being bad, unplayable, interesting and edgelordy to a certain extent, and we can confirm that some, but not all of those, are correct. Drakengard challenges the player in ways that most games don't, driving you crazy alongside the protagonist. Whether the effect is intentional or accidental, Drakengard certainly left an impression on us. Listen in to find out more, and as always, no spoilers for a while! Guest info: IdolismJ (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Takayuka Aihara unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Weapon Select, First Chapter - Sky, Fifth Chapter - Ground, Fourth Chapter - Ground (Nobuyoshi Sano), Fifth Chapter - Sky, First Chapter - Castle Interior, Eighth Chapter - Closing (Nobuyoshi Sano), Route C Staff Roll, Mission Clear (Nobuyoshi Sano) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 218: Fire Emblem: Three Houses (with Claire - Date With Us) | 10 juin 2026 | 02:54:15 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Claire as they deep dive Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Intelligent Systems, Kou Shibusawa, Nintendo, 2019). They discuss the life sim and battle elements, how they tie together to make you fear permadeath even more, the four playthroughs, and much more. As always, no spoilers for a while! Guest info: Claire (she/her/any)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode:
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 217: Many Nights a Whisper (with Flora Merigold) | 03 juin 2026 | 02:36:09 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Flora Merigold (Epilogue Gaming, Left Behind Game Club) as they discuss Many Nights a Whisper (Deconstructeam, Selkie Harbour, 2025). Many Nights a Whisper puts you in a high-pressure situation and asks you to make tough choices that will have an impact on whether you make the climactic shot or not. We discuss the marriage of narrative and mechanics, our approaches to granting or denying wishes, the shot, and much more. As always, there are no spoilers for a while. Guest info: Flora Merigold (she/her)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to fingerspit. Tracks used: Many Nights a Whisper, Ten Years Ago You Were Chosen, Doing My Best Is All I Can Give Them, New Strength, My Heart's Faint Call, The Ceremony, Into the Moonless Night Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 216: Isles of Sea and Sky (with Jesse Guarascia) | 27 mai 2026 | 01:44:13 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Jesse Guarascia (noclip, noclip_2 and more) as they strengthen their block-pushing muscles for a deep dive into Isles of Sea and Sky (Cicada Games, 2024). They discuss its rich world full of secrets, why Sokoban-style puzzles feel like a great foundation for weird narratives or layers of secrets, whether the open-ended design works well, and much more. As always, no spoilers for a while. Guest info: Jesse Guarascia (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Craig Collver. Tracks used: Isles of Sea and Sky, Ancient Island, Stoney Cliffs, Tidal Reef, From Sea to Sky Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 215: Kingdom Hearts (with Leah Haydu) | 20 mai 2026 | 02:31:43 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Leah Haydu (Cane and Rinse, Character Issues) as they discuss Kingdom Hearts (Square Enix, 2001). Leah is a longtime fan and Dave just played for the first time, and that led to a great conversation about the infamous story, the Disney and Final Fantasy tie-ins, the action-RPG combat, and the simplicity at the "heart" of it all. Listen in for more, and as always, no spoilers for a while. Guest info: Leah Haydu (she/her)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Yoko Shimomura: Dearly Beloved, Destiny Islands, Hollow Bastion, Welcome to Wonderland, Traverse Town, The End of the World, Dearly Beloved -Reprise- Check out Unlockables Podcast for an extensive dive into the story of Kingdom Hearts: https://unlockables.fireside.fm/tags/guiding%20keys Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 214: Cairn (with Rachel Watts) | 13 mai 2026 | 02:41:45 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Rachel Watts (Thinky Games, Indieventure podcast) as they discuss Cairn (The Game Bakers, 2026). Cairn is a meticulous, thoughtful climbing game that takes you into the mind of an elite athlete as she attempts a climb that has never been done before. While it has some (unintentionally) frustrating moments, Cairn is an extremely strong and affecting game- listen in to find out more, and as always, no spoilers for a while! Guest info: Rachel Watts (she/her)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Martin Stig Andersen, Gilda and The Toxic Avenger. Tracks used: The Mountain is Calling, Rise, Fatigue Is In Your Head, Only the Mountain, In My Gut, Stars, Part of a Whole Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 213: Hitman 3 & Freelancer Mode (with Scott Danielson) | 06 mai 2026 | 03:10:06 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and returning guest Scott Danielson as they dive into the third and final entry in the Hitman: World of Assassination Trilogy (IO Interactive), as well as its roguelike mode, Freelancer. This whole package is an absolute treat, and this also brings the Tales from the Backlog Hitman Episode Trilogy to a close. Listen in for allllll (most) of our thoughts! Guest info: Scott Danielson (he/him) TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Niels Bye Nielson. Tracks used: Death Awaits, Best-Laid Plans, Sceptres of Dubai, End of an Era, Planning, Death in the Family, Chongqing Requiem, Mission Accomplished Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 212: The Séance of Blake Manor (with Brian Edwards - Cane and Rinse, Character Issues) | 29 avr. 2026 | 02:13:43 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Brian Edwards as they dive into one of 2025's most acclaimed games, The Séance of Blake Manor (Spooky Doorway, Raw Fury, 2025). It's a captivating mystery set in an Irish countryside manor-turned-hotel, full of both literal and figurative ghosts, culminating in a grand séance. It's full of memorable characters, fantastic voice performances, Irish folklore and mythology, and always manages to keep you guessing. Check out the podcast for more. Guest info: Brian Edwards (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Clement Panchout. Tracks used: The Séance of Blake Manor, Vincent Varley, Blake Manor I, Courtyard, The Ritual, Serenade for Evelyn Deane (End Credits) Check out Dave's guest DJ set on Chillscape: A Chill VGM Podcast: https://superpodnetwork.com/podcast/chillscape-a-chill-vgm-podcast Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 211: Baby Steps (with Josh Galecki - Pixelated Playgrounds) | 22 avr. 2026 | 02:20:21 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Josh Galecki (Pixelated Playgrounds, Moonroof Studios) to take a long walk into the woods of Baby Steps. Developed by Bennett Foddy, Gabe Cuzillo and Maxi Boch and published by Devolver Digital, Baby Steps is an extremely unique game, one where its story of its failson protagonist meshes with its frustrating-yet-rewarding gameplay for a very rewarding and genuinely funny experience. Check out the podcast for more. Guest info: Josh Galecki (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Sound clips in episode were captured in game. The Secret Lives of Games interview with Bennett Foddy & Gabe Cuzillo- https://eggplant.show/152-walking-over-it-with-gabe-cuzzillo-and-bennett-foddy-baby-steps Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| Is It Harder for Video Games to Be Funny? (with Doug Lief & Gen Moonen) | 15 avr. 2026 | 01:57:29 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Guest info: Doug Lief (he/him) and Gen Moonen (they/them)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode:
Dave's guest appearance on Play Along Podcast- https://linktr.ee/PlayAlongPodcast Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 210: Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines (with TroytlePower) | 08 avr. 2026 | 03:07:11 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest TroytlePower as they discuss Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines, developed by Troika Games and published by Activision in 2004. Any recommendation to play Bloodlines comes with all sorts of disclaimers attached, which makes it nearly irresistable for someone with a brain like mine. And while all of those bad things I had heard about the game turned out to be extremely true, it's still a fascinating game that led to a fun discussion. Check out the podcast for more! Guest info: TroytlePower (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Rik Schaffer. Tracks used: Main Menu, Downtown, Disturbed and Twisted Combat, Generic Combat, Santa Monica, Crypt Combat Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| PAX East 2026 Wrap-Up | 05 avr. 2026 | 00:19:05 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Dave recaps 13 indie games that he played on the PAX East 2026 show floor. TIMESTAMPS
Game links:
Music used:
For more PAX and indie game coverage, check out:
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 209: Chants of Sennaar (with Travis Colenutt - Left Behind Game Club) | 01 avr. 2026 | 02:24:18 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and guest Travis Colenutt on their language-learning journey up the tower in Chants of Sennaar (Rundisc, Focus Entertainment, 2023). What do our languages say about our culture, and how can learning another language change the way we see the world? All of this and more in the discussion! Guest info: Travis Colenutt (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Thomas Brunet. Tracks used: The Call, Out of the Cavern and into the Light, Catch Me!, Envers, Bonds Reforged Catch Dave on Nostalgium Arcanum talking about Rocky https://nostalgiumarcanum.fireside.fm/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 208: Death Howl (with Bryan Skursha - Pixelated Playgrounds) | 25 mars 2026 | 02:24:39 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson 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
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 | |||
| 207: Skate Story (with Josh Leslie - IndieQuest) | 18 mars 2026 | 02:07:15 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join Dave and special guest Josh Leslie as they discuss Skate Story, developed by Sam Eng and published by Devolver Digital in 2025. How does the skating compare to touchstone games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater or skate.? How does its poetic storytelling land? How do the aesthetics enhance other aspects of the game? All this and more- enjoy! Guest info: Josh Leslie (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode: Collapsing, Like Clouds Into Smoke (Blood Cultures), Where the City Can't See (Blood Cultures), Redvoid (John Fio), Lyceum (John Fio), Alcian Blue (Blood Cultures), Hole in the Sun (Blood Cultures), Godhook (John Fio) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 206: Bioshock (with Joseph Hooper - Crossplay Conversations) | 11 mars 2026 | 02:31:05 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Bioshock is a title that carries weight, nearly 20 years after its 2007 release by 2K Boston and 2K Australia, and it feels like one that every gaming podcast eventually talks about. And hey, it's our turn this time- Bioshock has long been a favorite of mine that I've revisited through the years. But when put under the Tales from the Backlog microscope, does it hold up under pressure or does it spring a leak? Listen in to find out. Guest info: Joseph Hooper (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Garry Schyman unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Under the Sea (Bobby Darin), Welcome to Rapture, Mr. Bubbles - Little Sister, Dancers on a String (Reprise), Through the Docks, Cohen's Masterpiece, Leaving Rapture Gameplay footage used with permission from World of Longplays on YouTube, gameplay by Spazbo4. www.longplays.org Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 205: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (with Steve aka Blinkoom) | 04 mars 2026 | 02:02:27 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson I always tend to take note when a game from previous generations gets a remaster and the general consensus is "hell yeah, finally!", which just so happened to be the case when Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Capcom, 2010) got the HD treatment in 2023. The DS is a real blind spot for me, as are the works of ShuTakumi, so this has been on my backlog list for a while now. Listen in to find out how my guest and I felt about it! Guest info: Steve aka Blinkoom (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Masakazu Sugimori. Tracks used: Ghost Trick, Prologue, Cabanela, Lynn ~ A Targeted Redhead, 4 Minutes Before Death, The Last Desperate Struggle, Epilogue ~ The End of the "Night" Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 204: Ghost of Yōtei (with Jacob Price - The Pre-Order Bonus) | 25 févr. 2026 | 02:52:36 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Ghost of Tsushima (2020) was one of my favorite games of that year, and happens to be episode 2(!!) of this podcast, an early game that screamed to me "you should talk about this into a microphone for 2+ hours). That being the case, Sucker Punch's follow-up, Ghost of Yotei, was an instant day-one buy. And while the things I expected to impress were great, there were certain aspects of the game that felt worse to me than Tsushima's version. Did I change over the past five years? Did the game adjust to industry trends? A secret third answer? All of this is part of the discussion, so I hope you enjoy it! Guest info: Jacob Price (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Toma Otowa: Ghost of Yotei, The Yotei Six, The Wrath of the Ghost, The Wilds of Ezo, Battle No.3, Battle No.1, Atsu's Theme Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 203: Pokémon Legends: Z-A (with Kenneth Shepard) | 18 févr. 2026 | 01:51:57 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson The Pokémon franchise got a long-awaited shakeup with 2022's Legends: Arceus, changing the game structure, catching and battling mechanics and setting. But now that Legends has become its own subseries with 2025's Legends: Z-A, all eyes were on its own innovations and changes, such as the new real-time battle system and one-city setting. Check out the discussion for our thoughts on all of it! Guest info: Kenneth Shepard (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode has a large ensemble of composers and no individualized credits at this time. All credits to Game Freak and The Pokémon Company. Tracks used: Lumiose City (Day), Battle Zone, Trainer Battle, Lumiose City (Night), Hotel Z, Battle! Vs Trainer (Z-A Royale) Check out Dave on Pages of Play for "The Meeting of the Makers"- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mom-the-meeting-of-makers/id1755937349?i=1000749250884 Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 202: Goodnight Universe (with Jill Grodt - The Indie Informer) | 11 févr. 2026 | 01:51:46 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Goodnight Universe had a lot to live up to as the spiritual successor to Before Your Eyes, utilizing the same innovative webcam-based gameplay mechanics to tell a story...about a psychic baby? Well, the premise sounded weird but these creators had earned my trust, and it turns out that this might be the perfect way to play as a baby in a video game. Goodnight Universe turned out to be interesting, if not great, and won me over in a few key ways. Check out the discussion for more! Guest info: Jill Grodt (she/her)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Oliver Lewin. Tracks used: Homecoming, A New Channel, Normal Boy, Being Orson, Your Room Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 201: Madden 2005 vs ESPN NFL 2K5 (with Chris Coplien & Adam Gumbert) | 04 févr. 2026 | 01:41:44 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson In the eyes of many football fans, 2004 was the greatest year for football games. It also happened to be the last year before EA secured the exclusive rights to the NFL license, leaving many fans wishing we could go back to the way things were back then, and we were left with two games that many consider to be some of the best sports games ever made- Madden 2005 (EA Tiburon) and ESPN NFL 2K5 (Visual Concepts). 20+ years later, which game stands on top? That's what we aim to decide in this episode! Guest info: Chris Coplien (he/him) and Adam Gumbert (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 200: Dark Souls II (with Ryan Batie - Lightning Strikes Thrice) | 28 janv. 2026 | 02:36:02 | |
Want more Dark Souls 2 podcasts? Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Every beloved series has its black sheep- Mario has Sunshine, Zelda has the DS games, and Dark Souls has Dark Souls 2. But to me, the things that make Dark Souls 2 divisive are the things that make it interesting. Not every new decision is a home run, but they're all ripe for discussion. And hey, good thing we have this podcast! And it's episode 200! Guest info: Ryan Batie (they/them)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Motoi Sakuraba, unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Main Menu, Majula, Ruins Sentinel (Yuka Kitamura), Milfanito, Fire Keepers, Fume Knight, Remains Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 199: Hollow Knight: Silksong (with Jenny Windom - Geeks & Grounds) | 21 janv. 2026 | 03:23:28 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Very few games have ever had the hype cycle that Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry, 2025) had, so the question remained once the game was finally released- did it live up to the hype? Clown masks and Nintendo Direct comment section explosions quickly gave way to Discourse surrounding Silksong's difficulty and sometimes anti-QoL approach. So was the juice worth the squeeze? Listen in to find out. Guest info: Jenny Windom (she/her)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Christopher Larkin. Tracks used: Silksong, Bone Bottom, Trobbio, Cogwork Dancers, Bilewater, Far Fields, Lost Lace, Fleatopia Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 198: Crazy Taxi (with Darren Hupke - Pixels & Polygons) | 14 janv. 2026 | 01:03:53 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson In the midst of so many games and podcasts with heavy story themes, sometimes it's nice to just play a video game-ass video game. And so here we have Crazy Taxi (Sega, 2000), plowing through a bunch of mailboxes on its way to the podcast schedule. This is a seminal game, especially for Dreamcast owners and arcade-goers, that I had somehow never played before. So what was it like playing for the first time in 2025? Listen in to find out! Guest info: Darren Hupke (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode: All I Want (The Offspring), Ten in 2010 (Bad Religion), Change the World (The Offspring) Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| Backlog Resolutions 2026 | 07 janv. 2026 | 02:19:51 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson For the past few years, we've been making "backlog resolutions" each year- choosing a list of games from our libraries that we keep telling ourselves "I'm gonna play that someday" and....playing them! What a concept! Well, we're playing most of them. In what's becoming a yearly tradition, I'm joined by some friends to discuss our experience throughout the year. Guest info:
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode:
Check out Dave talking about NieR: Automata on Pixel Project Radio https://linktr.ee/pixelprojectradio Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 2025 In Review/Games of the Year | 31 déc. 2025 | 01:23:33 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson All paid patrons can listen to a bonus episode about our favorite non-2025 games that we played this year! https://www.patreon.com/posts/our-favorite-non-146887020 It's that time! End of the year time! Games of the year time! This year I polled Discord and Patreon members on their favorites of the year, tallied them up, and here are the results! Then, I close out the show with my own top 10 and some other thoughts as we bring the 2025th year to a close. Please enjoy! TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode:
Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 197: Astro Bot (with Josh Covel - Still Loading Podcast) | 24 déc. 2025 | 02:21:28 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson With the world being the way it is, it's a rare treat to play a game that's just pure joy from start to finish, and that is exactly what Astro Bot (Team Asobi, Sony, 2024) brings. From the opening cutscene to the final boss, Astro Bot is both one of the greatest platformers ever made and a joyous celebration of 30 years of Playstation history. I treasure a game like this as a player, and almost even moreso as a critic. I hope you enjoy the discussion! Guest info: Josh Covel (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Kenneth C M Young. Tracks used: I Am Astro Bot (ASTRO BOT Remix), Disco Tree, Big Wave, You Know What You've Got To Do, Drake's BOTtune, Bot of War Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 196: Sword of the Sea (with AndresPlays) | 17 déc. 2025 | 01:52:08 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson There is a certain type of atmospheric (usually) indie game that gets praised for its tone, vibes and emotional impact, but sometimes criticized for underbaked or limited gameplay mechanics. Walking sims used to get the brunt of this, but the same could also be said for games like Sword of the Sea director Matt Nava's most famous works, Journey and Abzu. Sword of the Sea may not be an intentional response to those criticisms, but it does add more "involved" gameplay into the fold, incorporating sand surfing and tricks into your verb set. It then begs the discussion- on paper, adding more involved gameplay is good, right? But is that always the case? Guest info: AndresPlays (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Austin Wintory. Tracks used: From a drop, a flame, One drop remained, Unpredictable and joyous, Swimming in the sky, Sacred River, A city where none live Check out Dave on Geeks & Grounds analyzing Final Fantasy X https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/ Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 195: Legend of Grimrock 2 (with Shane Selterre - Retro Hangover) | 10 déc. 2025 | 02:19:13 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson One of the best things about the thriving indie game scene is that dead genres come back to life, and nothing exemplifies that more than the return of the blobber/first-person dungeon crawler with Almost Human's Legend of Grimrock series. Combining the thrill of exploration in those old school games with modern sensibilities, Legend of Grimrock 2 is one of the best RPGs I've ever played, and I couldn't wait to discuss it on the show. Guest info: Shane Selterre (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Scoring Helsinki: Main Theme, Prologue (The Isle), Battle Is On Pt. 1, Master and the Apprentice, Credits Theme Check out Dave on Geeks & Grounds https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/ Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 194: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (with Michael Berger - Bits of Time) | 03 déc. 2025 | 02:28:13 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson What could Nintendo possibly do to follow up the game that "saved gaming" for me? Well, they simply iterated on and evolved everything about Breath of the Wild to make one of the most creativity and freedom-focused games ever. It's simple, really- why don't more people think of this? Sarcasm aside, Tears of the Kingdom is an absolute wonder, and we're lucky to have it. Hope you enjoy the discussion! Guest info: Michael Berger (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Hajime Wakai, Manaka Kataoka, Maasa Miyoshi, Masato Ohashi and Tsukasa Usui. Tracks used: Title, Hyrule Castle - Upheaval, Shrine Battle, Seized Construct Battle, Skydive, Lookout Landing, Ganondorf's Theme, Final Dive Check out Dave on Geeks & Grounds https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/ Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 193: Asura's Wrath (with Nick & Will - Friday Night Gamecast) | 26 nov. 2025 | 02:13:19 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Some games just stand out from the pack, and with its episodic anime structure, QTE-heavy cutscenes and South Asian religious inspirations, there is nothing quite like Asura's Wrath (CyberConnect2, Capcom, 2012). A quintessential flawed game that everyone should try, Asura's Wrath overcomes its bad combat and dated approach to player engagement by just simply being cooler and more hype than basically every other game. Listen in to find out more! Guest info: Nick (he/him) and Will (he/him) of Friday Night Gamecast
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Chikayo Fukuda. Tracks used: Main Theme, Furious, Orphan Wolf Legend - Fang, One Who Spins Ideas, Option, Asura's Wrath, In Your Belief, Trembling Belief Catch Dave on Geeks & Grounds all of November and December for a deep dive into Final Fantasy X: https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/ Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 192: Heaven's Vault (with Rebekah Valentine) | 19 nov. 2025 | 02:35:21 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Ever have one of those games that sits in your library, untouched for years, until something finally gives you the push to play it...and you end up kicking yourself for waiting so long? That's Heaven's Vault, and without our community Backlog Resolutions challenge, I would have missed out on one of the coolest games I think I've ever played. Listen in to find out why! Guest info: Rebekah Valentine (she/her)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Laurence Chapman. Tracks used: An Ancient Language, The Desperate Ways, Before the Fall, The Nebula, Fantasia on One Good Moon, Heaven's Vault, An Ancient Language (Cello & Piano) Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 191: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (with Kate & Emily - No Small Games) | 12 nov. 2025 | 02:44:15 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Modern Pokémon games are divisive, but rarely due to technical performance. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (Game Freak, 2022) released in an embarrassing state, and are hoping for a comeback with their recent Switch 2 editions. So now that the bugs are squashed and the framerate is stable, what kind of game was lurking under all of those issues? Listen in to find out. Guest info: Kate Hunter (she/any) and Emily Merritt (she/her)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode:
Check out Dave on Geeks & Grounds in November and December- https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/ Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 190: Pseudoregalia (with Bo__Po - Underplayed) | 05 nov. 2025 | 01:52:42 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Pseudoregalia (Rittzler, 2023) represents a few things that are either making a resurgence or breaking out within indie games lately- retro PS1/N64 style graphics, megastructures, and 3D platformers. Combining incredibly tight and expressive platforming with nonlinear Metroidvania design and a vibey soundtrack, Pseudoregalia is a very good snack of a game, though not without some critical discussion points. Guest info: Beau aka Bo__Po (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode:
Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 189: Lies of P (with Rob & Kelvin - The Gaming Duo) | 29 oct. 2025 | 02:47:01 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Nobody is more skeptical of a new Soulslike on the block than me. Too often, Soulslikes build around the superficial qualities of FromSoftware's hits and neglect the secret sauce (or miss it entirely). Luckily for me and those who feel the same way, Round8 Studio and Neowiz knocked it out of the park with their Pinocchio-inspired Soulslike, Lies of P. I felt right at home playing through this, and it turned into a really fun conversation. Guest info: Rob Garcia (he/him) and Kelvin Rolon (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is from the Lies of P OST. Tracks used:
Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||
| 188: Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye (with Rick Firestone) | 22 oct. 2025 | 02:10:09 | |
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson As I said way back in The Outer Wilds episode, I respect the hell out of that game and think it's a miracle, but I didn't love it as much as others, and I kind of wish I could Eternal Sunshine that game out of my mind and try again. But as it turns out, the Echoes of the Eye expansion gave me just that chance. Did lightning strike twice? Did the game that "you can only truly play once" work again? Listen in and find out. Guest info: Rick Firestone (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
Music used in the episode is credited to Andrew Prahlow. Tracks used: The River, River's End, Elegy for the Rings, Echoes of the Eye, Departure Check out Dave on Retro Hangover's King of Games '99 series: https://linktr.ee/retrohangover Social Media: Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures | |||