Once a year, each of our Patron get to suggest a game or topic for us to play. Nick Porch, host of the Nothing New Under The Porch podcast, requested that we play Elden Ring, and joins us on the show to discuss our experiences with it and to crown one of the hosts as "Elden Lord". We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by checking …

This week Josh kicks around the idea of whether or not its sinful to M rated video games. Or something like that. We're all over social media and we'd like to hear from you! Click Here to visit our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown The Backlog Breakdown is a proud member of the Play Well Network, a network of podcasts that seek to app…

What does our time tell us about what we value? How much time should we spend playing video games? Is a late-night gaming binge really that bad? It's about time that we tackle some of these subjects, so strap in and listen up! We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by checking out our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown…

In this episode, Nate invites on Jeff Wofford to discuss the recent goings-on at Bungie; their layoffs and the future for the developer. We're all over social media and we'd like to hear from you! Click Here to visit our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown The Backlog Breakdown is a proud member of the Play Well Network, a network of po…

Corporate culture has steadily been making its way into video game creation, production, and distribution. What are some of the effects of corporate bloat on my gaming landscape, and is there a way forward? We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by checking out our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown And if you'd like t…

On this week's bite sized episode, Josh asks the question "Can allegory be used in video games"? We're all over social media and we'd like to hear from you! Click Here to visit our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown The Backlog Breakdown is a proud member of the Play Well Network, a network of podcasts that seek to approach recreation …

Are you Destined to be a sweaty casual? One of our Patrons, Arkone, requested an episode on Destiny 2, so Nate invites him on (along with his brother, Deuce), to talk all things Bungie and the Final Shape of the game! Check out Arkone's blog here: Lightwave's Musings | Arkone Lightwave | Substack We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our…

Welcome to the Backlog Breakdown! We've been doing this podcast for around 5 years now, so there's some history and baggage that comes along with it. If you're not interested in all of that, we'd like to give you a primer on why we do what we're doing with the podcast, and hope you'll join us. We're all over social media and we'd like to hear from …

With 2024 halfway over, the boys convene to reflect on and discuss what they've played in 2024 and whether their gaming time may have been good enough to contend with the rest of the Official Top 100 Games list. Check out Josh's recommendation of this video on Chrono Trigger's music here: https://youtu.be/TeCtO_9E0LE And you can check out…

This week, Nate jumps on to talk about Battlepasses and Microtransactions: the good, the bad, and the predatory. Check out Upper Echelon's video on How Video Games Play You (language warning) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJG2dli2LTg Jump in our Discord and let him know how much you enjoyed the episode! Click Here to visit our LinkTree…

Most of the time, we play video games to be entertained. But can the medium do more than that? What happens when a video game intentionally make you, as the player, feel uncomfortable? This week, Mark from Quick Play and Jake & Landry from The Bitcast join us to discuss how intentional dissonance can be a powerful way of telling stories and creatin…

Most of the time, we play video games to be entertained. But can the medium do more than that? What happens when a video game intentionally make you, as the player, feel uncomfortable? This week, Mark from Quick Play and Jake & Landry from The Bitcast join us to discuss how intentional dissonance can be a powerful way of telling stories and creatin…

This week, Josh gives some of his thoughts on the benefits of video games and a some warnings not to overindulge. Check out Upper Echelon's video on How Video Games Play You (language warning) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJG2dli2LTg Jump in our Discord and let him know how much you enjoyed the episode! Click Here to visit our LinkTre…

This week, Nate and Josh reconvene to discuss whether it's better to be driven by nostalgia or if recency bias is more compelling. Should your favorite games continue to be your favorite games, or should it evolve over time? Does the ability to make new kinds of experiences in gaming invalidate the old? Should it cause us to look at them in a diffe…

Oh Xbox, what is you doin, baby?This week, Mark from Quick Play joins Nate to talk about the current state of Xbox and whether or not there is a way forward, given their trajectory. Mark has been a happy Xbox owner, but will that continue to the next generation, or might there be better options? And when you're done, be sure and Check out the Quick…

With Josh away in Texas this week, Nate ropes in his good friend Parker to talk about whether or not video games are just a waste of time. Being a listener of video game podcasts, you may assume the answer to be a strong "no", but Nate and Parker reference some Scripture that may have you thinking about the way you play. We'd love to hear from you!…

Nate & Josh talk Bluey, Bakuman, Calvin & Hobbes, and how all roads lead to Xenoblade Chronicles 3. This bite sized is an excerpt from our Brohang recordings, which are exclusive to our Patreon members. If you're interested in hearing the full recording, you can check out our Patreon at patreon.com/thebacklogbreakdown. Jump in our Discord and let h…

With each new console generation comes a considerable upgrade in computing and processing power and a promise to change the gaming landscape. But how much has gaming changed over the last generation of hardware and what has raw power to do with it? And looking ahead, what might the future hold? Nate and Josh share their thoughts on this and more on…

This week, Josh comes with a question: does critical acclaim translate to game sales? To find some answers, he's taking a look at the top selling games on Nintendo Switch. Jump in our Discord and let him know how much you enjoyed the episode! Click Here to visit our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown The Backlog Breakdown is a proud me…

What do you do when you can't decide on which game to tackle next? You grab some friends and ask them to help decide! This week, we're talking the Backlog draft--what it is, what games we played, and what we think about said games. We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by checking out our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbrea…

This week, Nate has on Alex C and Amazing Josh to discuss current Fantasy Critic League standings and some thoughts on rosters. You can check out our current standings here: https://www.fantasycritic.games/league/b470ce3b-0032-4449-8432-b4b8b21c2d9a/2024 Jump in our Discord and let him know how much you enjoyed the episode! Click Here to visit our …

MIcrotransactions have become commonplace in gaming, even to the point of having games built around a model of monetization. The recent release of Dragon's Dogma 2 has caused a stir because of its use of microtansactions. But are they all bad? How should we think about their implementation? And how can we be wise stewards of our time and finances t…

This week, you're getting a beefy bite sized episode, courtesy of Nate and Wesley Rea, the Henshin Dad Himself! When you're done with the episode, check out Wes's podcast, Retronim here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/retronim Jump in our Discord and let him know how much you enjoyed the episode! Click Here to visit our LinkTree: http…

This week, the guys are talking difficulty in games: how it's changed over time and how it affects the way we interact and enjoy some of our favorites. Some recommendations this week include: Midtown - Tenebrae : https://youtu.be/q8oxpHO7yaY?si=qn-41dmrUaB44CeC&Sold a story: https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/ We'd love to hear from you! …

Josh has a few thoughts on co-op, AI, and building robust communities. What do these things have in common? Well, you'll just have to listen, won't you? Jump in our Discord and let him know how much you enjoyed the episode! Click Here to visit our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown The Backlog Breakdown is a proud member of the Play We…

This week, Nate invites his teammates on to talk about the chaos of co-op! Some recommendations this week include: Expedition Bible: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpeditionBible&Radical - Hard to Reach: Japan: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPWYBBat7NTkhJrM-_OwGbvN1YzvSqBEb We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by checking out…

This week, we're airing an exclusive episode of Nothing New Under the Porch News. Even though it's coming from Australia, this news segment has ripple effects all over the world. Jump in our Discord and let him know how much you enjoyed the episode! Click Here to visit our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown The Backlog Breakdown is a p…

With a huge backlog of games, it's easy to get overwhelmed, feeling like you're never going to finish all of the games that you've piled up. Well, part of that feeling may be justified (and a nice dose of reality), but can that feeling lead us to a healthier place, where we can view our recreation time as reinvigorating, or does it inevitably lead …

On this bite sized episode, Nate interviews his nephew, Caedmon, to get a Gen Z perspective on gaming in 2024. You can also continue the conversation over on social media by Clicking Here to visit our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown Or emailing us at thebacklogbreakdown@gmail.com. The Backlog Breakdown is a proud member of the Play …

Who reviews the reviewers? What is the point of a review? Number scores can be helpful at a glance to know the general consensus on a game, but is it helpful in the long run to try and boil down every video game into a few pithy quotes and a number ranking? What about games that are continuously updated? We may not have very many answers, but we at…

This week, Josh gives his review of the first game he's beaten down this year: Chroma Squad. You can also continue the conversation over on social media by Clicking Here to visit our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown Or emailing us at thebacklogbreakdown@gmail.com. The Backlog Breakdown is a proud member of the Play Well Network, a ne…

Nate and Josh discuss the book "Digital Liturgies" by Samuel D. James. How do the internet, social media, and video games effect the way that we think? It's pretty easy to point to some of the obvious side effects of gaming, like frustration or an adrenaline rush, but what does prolonged play teach us over time? Check out the Hopeless? Project here…

On this bite sized episode, Nate and Josh discuss the rules and how to join in on the 2024 Backlog Beatdown meta. You can view the official rules for the 2024 Beatdown here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H1t8s78-efcaC2NsHmMrOE-eikeEz2LeyH_fNpBe8lY/edit?usp=sharing You can also continue the conversation over on social media by Clicking Here to…

This week, the guys have on Parker to talk about the state of the Big 3 video game companies: Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony. And Parker has a mustache. We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by checking out our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown And if you'd like to support us, you can visit our Patreon: https://www.pa…

This week, Nate shares a quick update on what's coming in February before digging into the idea of exclusivity on current platforms and whether or not it's actually profitable. You can also continue the conversation over on social media by Clicking Here to visit our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown Or emailing us at thebacklogbreakdo…

The guys take a look back at what games they played through, accumulated, and appreciated over the last year, and hand out awards to the most deserving games of 2023. We'd love to hear from you! Join us on our social media by checking out our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdown And if you'd like to support us, you can visit our Patreon:…

Enjoy these stories from our Patrons and have yourself a Merry little Christmas! You can also continue the conversation over on social media by Clicking Here to visit our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thebacklogbreakdownOr emailing us at thebacklogbreakdown@gmail.com. The Backlog Breakdown is a proud member of the Play Well Network, a network of podc…

This week, the guys look at the official Backlog Breakdown Top 100 Games of All Time and make some edits for the 2024 edition. You can view the Top 100 list by Clicking Here. And you can also join us over on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter (or X, whatever), Instagram, and Discord. You can also email us at thebacklogbreakdown@gmail.com…

This week, Josh gives an update on what's been going on over the last few weeks. He's not dead, just...cold. And you can also join us over on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter (or X, whatever), Instagram, and Discord. You can also email us at thebacklogbreakdown@gmail.com. And if you'd like to support us, you can visit our Patreon. If y…

With Josh absent this week, Nate is joined by his good friend Parker and Micah from The Reformed Gamers to discuss the PS4 swan song: Ghost of Tsushima. Is it worth knocking it off your backlog, or should you leave it ghosted? Find out this week on the Backlog Breakdown! And you can also join us over on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter…

For this bite sized episode, Nate runs solo and discusses a number of news item surrounding the video game sphere, from publisher announcements to game remasters and beyond!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! We're thankful for you.Remember to play well.

This week, Nate and Josh welcome Jordan Leithart, of LuxCor Studios, on the podcast to talk about his experiences in the video game industry and what he hopes to see grow from his game studio. Follow what he's doing over at LuxCorstudios.com! And follow Jordan on Twitter X by clicking here. And you can also join us over on social media! We're …

Nate is a huge fan of the original Valkyrie Profile. How does last year's Valkyrie Elysium hold up as a sequel? While it was lukewarmly received by critics, is it worth a playthrough? And you can also join us over on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter (or X, whatever), Instagram, and Discord. You can also email us at thebacklogbreakdown@…

This week, Josh shares some bite sized thoughts on storytelling in video games and the artistic merit of some games. Should we evaluate games based on their stories? What about games that have no story? These questions are posed, but can they be answered? And you can also join us over on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter (or X, whatever…

Happy Spooptober! This year to celebrate, the boys are playing the most horrifying game they've ever experienced! In Faith: you play as John Ward, an ex-Roman Catholic priest and exorcist. When an exorcism ends in ways that are not ideal, John is forced to grapple with the consequences of his actions, which leads him into a wretched hive of scum an…

This week, a bunch of friends from Discord came on to talk about their experiences tackling some of the 3D Final Fantasy games. We talk Final Fantasy 7, 8, 12, and 16--and of course a little but on IV and VI, because they're great. And you can also join us over on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter (or X, whatever), Instagram, and Discor…

This week, Nate talks about the horror deck building game Inscryption. While the game itself can be finished in about a dozen hours, the ways that you interact with the game change throughout its play through. Is it worth a shot this spooky season? Listen and find out! And you can also join us over on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter (…

The boys are taking it easy this episode and discussing what the rest of 2023 has in store for each of them. What is there to look forward to, and what are the obstacles they're facing in beating down their backlogs? And you can also join us over on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter (or X, whatever), Instagram, and Discord. You can also…

For this week's bite sized, Nick Porch from Nothing New Under the Porch talks about his experience platinum hunting, with all of its rewards and pitfalls. Platinum hunting can be an enjoyable and challenging experience, but it can also devolve into completing mindless chores or endless frustration. Where are the lines drawn for you? Click here to c…