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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes271Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesGamesLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Tales from the Backlog

Latest Episodes

Support my work on Patreon- patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

It's not every day you revisit a favorite game from your teenage years, but today is that day as special guest Rebekah ... more

Support my work on Patreon- patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest Gen Moonen ("Fun" and Games) as they discuss Konami's 2006 entry in the Castlevania franchi... more

Support my work on Patreon- patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest Andre (Fine Time, Neo Geo Go!, The Silent Discographer) as they discuss Square Enix's lates... more

YouTube

Support my work on Patreon- patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest Luis Aguasvivas as they discuss Arco (Franek, Max Cahill, Bibiki and Fayer, 2024). Arco ble... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Emily Merritt
Host of No Small Games Podcast
No Small Games
Episode: 224: Titanium Court (with Emily Merritt - No Small Games)
Jared Moss
Host of Play Along Podcast
Play Along Podcast
Episode: 223: Pokémon Conquest (with Jared Moss - Play Along Podcast)
Matt Ak Stormageddon
Host of Fun and Games and Reignite; guest on Mina the Hollower episode
Fun and Games, Reignite
Episode: 222: Mina the Hollower (with Matt aka Stormageddon - "Fun" and Games)
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)
Jesse Guarascia
Podcaster and producer for Noclip
Noclip
Episode: 216: Isles of Sea and Sky (with Jesse Guarascia)
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)
Josh Galecki
Host of Pixelated Playgrounds; Moonroof Studios developer
Pixelated Playgrounds, Moonroof Studios
Episode: 211: Baby Steps (with Josh Galecki - Pixelated Playgrounds)

Hosts

Dave Jackson
Host of Tales from the Backlog; central figure guiding discussions and coordinating guests.
Flora Merigold
Guest host, writer and critic with roles at Left Behind Game Club and Epilogue Gaming.
Jesse Guarascia
Guest and Noclip producer; puzzle-game design insights.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 246 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 Kingdom3 months 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 Statesa year 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.

Spoiler policy is among the best structures for a podcast that discusses games that have been out for a wide range of times.
Host is praised for thoughtful, well-researched discussions and a calming presenting style.
Guests are consistently described as knowledgeable and engaging, adding credible perspectives to varied games.

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
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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 depth-first show that examines one game per episode, unpacking mechanics, story, music, and design choices while keeping spoilers clearly separated by a dedicated wall. Guests range from indie critics to developers and fellow podcasters, contributing diverse perspectives on pacing, accessibility, and player choice. The format tends to favor careful, well-researched analysis, thoughtful critique, and a welcoming, spoiler-aware discussion that helps listeners decide what to play next. Noteworthy strengths include a calm, conversational host, a consistent spoiler structure, and a rotating roster of guests who bring strong specialist insight into game design, narrative, and audio. Potential listeners who enjoy nuanced conversations... more

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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. Retronauts
4. Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
5. Retro Hangover

How many episodes of Tales from the Backlog are there?

Tales from the Backlog launched 5 years ago and published 271 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. Emily Merritt
2. Jared Moss
3. Matt Ak Stormageddon
4. Claire Afterall
5. Flora Merigold
6. Jesse Guarascia
7. Leah Haydu
8. Rachel Watts

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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