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Artwork for Tales from the Backlog

Tales from the Backlog

Dave Jackson
Grief
Character Development
Indie Games
Baldur's Gate 3
Metroidvania
Nintendo
Mental Health
Elden Ring
Video Games
Max Payne
No Small Games
Silent Hill
Final Fantasy IV
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Hideo Kojima
Unpacking
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Blue Prince
The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To the Past
Nostalgia

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes265Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureVideo GamesGames

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Artwork for Tales from the Backlog

Latest Episodes

Support my work on Patreon- patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guests Rick Firestone (Pixel Project Radio) and Charlie Young for an introductory lesson about ho... more

Support my work on Patreon- patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest Matt aka Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite podcasts) as they discuss Yacht Club Games... more

Support my work on Patreon- patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest Roger Reichardt of Gamerheads Podcast as they discuss Soulgame Stuidio's 2024 top-down twin... more

Support my work on Patreon- patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest AJ Fillari as they discuss Pyre (Supergiant Games, 2017). As your crew makes their way thro... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Claire Afterall
Host of Date With Us podcast, streamer
Date With Us
Episode: 218: Fire Emblem: Three Houses (with Claire - Date With Us)
Flora Merigold
Writer and critic; host on Left Behind Game Club; Epilogue Gaming contributor
Left Behind Game Club; Epilogue Gaming
Episode: 217: Many Nights a Whisper (with Flora Merigold)
Leah Haydu
Host of Character Issues Podcast and Cane and Rinse contributor
Character Issues Podcast; Cane and Rinse
Episode: 215: Kingdom Hearts (with Leah Haydu)
Rachel Watts
Editor at Thinky Games, co-host of Indieventure, free solo climber
Thinky Games / Indieventure
Episode: 214: Cairn (with Rachel Watts)
Brian Edwards
Host of Character Issues and Cane and Rinse, Cane and Rinse Podcast regular
Cane and Rinse, Character Issues
Episode: 212: The Séance of Blake Manor (with Brian Edwards - Cane and Rinse, Character Issues)
Josh Galecki
Host of Pixelated Playgrounds; Moonroof Studios developer
Pixelated Playgrounds, Moonroof Studios
Episode: 211: Baby Steps (with Josh Galecki - Pixelated Playgrounds)
Gen Moonen
Host of Fun and Games Podcast
Fun and Games Podcast
Episode: Is It Harder for Video Games to Be Funny? (with Doug Lief & Gen Moonen)
Travis Colenutt
Member of Left Behind Game Club, certified polyglot
Left Behind Game Club
Episode: 209: Chants of Sennaar (with Travis Colenutt - Left Behind Game Club)
Josh Leslie
Guest, member of IndieQuest and Monthly Mishap
IndieQuest; Monthly Mishap
Episode: 207: Skate Story (with Josh Leslie - IndieQuest)

Host

Dave Jackson
Host of Tales from the Backlog

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 231 ratings
  • Episode 30 Ds3

    Good formatting and liked the talk but some of the takes in the talk were bad as the dlc is much better than they portray it and PvP is part of the game so don’t hide and kill your character before they can start a fight when they find you

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Hollowknightfan123
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Fantastic

    Really appreciate the thought that goes into what games the guests play, the conversations, and the spoiler policy is one of the best structures for a podcast that discusses games that have been out for a wide range of times.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pandabudd
    United States9 months ago
  • Podcast Addict
    rckfrstn
    a year ago
  • Great show

    Dave might be the best interviewer in any video game centric podcast. Fun and informative

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Corndoggingsteve
    United Statesa year ago
  • The Backlog is 5x5

    Tales from the Backlog covers indie and majors in a very approachable format, with a great host and very notable guests. Spoilers are separate if you hear a game you want to play, and when opting to listen to spoilers, that game you questioned might change your mind.

    Very thoughtful and well versed approach to all genre of the art we call entertainment.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dlevi
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are described as excellent and the discussions as deep and well-researched.
Spoiler walls are repeatedly highlighted as a standout structure that respects listeners' time and game choices.
The host is praised for thoughtful, spoiler-aware conversations and high-quality interview flow.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

182: Bionic Bay (with Harry Loizides - Six One Indie)
Q: What about Bionic Bay stuck out to you?
The game has a very cool vibe with strong sci-fi elements, great sound effects, challenging platforming, and a good mixture of mechanic flips.
165: SUPERHOT (with Emily Merritt - No Small Games)
Q: What kind of person would you recommend play this game?
I would genuinely recommend this to somebody who wasn't sure if they liked first-person shooters or hadn't had a lot of experience. It's a really approachable introduction while still being fun for seasoned gamers.
165: SUPERHOT (with Emily Merritt - No Small Games)
Q: What did you think of the time manipulation mechanic once you got your hands on it?
It was as fun, if not more fun than I thought it was going to be. It allows players to control the flow of time in a unique way, making it feel like a puzzle game in real-time.
148: Pathologic 2 (with Jack)
Q: What type of person would you recommend play Pathologic 2?
Anyone who is interested in game design and games systems.
115: Xenogears (with Michael Berger - Bits of Time)
Q: What makes the character dynamics in Xenogears compelling?
The character dynamics are compelling because they integrate deeply rooted themes of love, loss, and the quest for identity across generations, making the relationships poignant and relatable.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Tales from the Backlog

What is Tales from the Backlog about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful gaming discussion show that dives deep into a single title per episode, balancing mechanical analysis, narrative notes, and sound design with a clearly marked spoiler wall. Hosts and guests routinely explore how games age, what makes them tick, and how design choices shape player experience, with a mix of indie and big-budget titles and a steady stream of expert guests from development, media, and podcasting circles. A standout feature is the structured spoiler sections that let listeners decide when to engage, paired with approachable, well-researched conversations and a warm, curious host dynamic that keeps complex topics accessible for a broad gaming audience.

Where can I find podcast stats for Tales from the Backlog?

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How many listeners does Tales from the Backlog get?

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How many subscribers and views does Tales from the Backlog have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Tales from the Backlog has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Tales from the Backlog?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Tales from the Backlog:

1. Watch Out for Fireballs!
2. The Cane and Rinse videogame podcast
3. Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
4. Retronauts
5. The MinnMax Show

How many episodes of Tales from the Backlog are there?

Tales from the Backlog launched 5 years ago and published 265 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Tales from the Backlog?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Tales from the Backlog?

Recent guests on Tales from the Backlog include:

1. Claire Afterall
2. Flora Merigold
3. Leah Haydu
4. Rachel Watts
5. Brian Edwards
6. Josh Galecki
7. Gen Moonen
8. Travis Colenutt

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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